by Caleb Jones
Growing up on the farm, there was a hierarchy for just about everything. By the time I got a pair of coveralls or jeans, they had already been worn by my older brother and usually had a hole or two to prove it. The one exception was boots. I always got a new pair, not because I was special, but so they’d be broken in for my brother when he eventually got them back. Nothing was wasted, and everything had a purpose.
Even the Rural Missouri followed a strict hierarchy in our house.
You could always find the latest issue of Rural Missouri at the top of the basket full of magazines next to Dad’s recliner. Before we had phones in our pockets or could pull up the world with a swipe, that magazine was how we learned what was happening in our community, at our co-op and across our state. It was our window to the world outside Moniteau County.
After it made the rounds in the living room, the magazine moved to its second stop in the hierarchy: the bathroom. That was where, if I’m being honest, the majority of its reading actually got done.
And after it had served its full reading purpose, it reached its final assignment – the fireplace. We heated our home with wood, and a well-read Rural Missouri was as good a fire starter as you could ask for. I like to think the Rural Missouri was a “full-service” magazine.
All these years later, I still look forward to opening each issue. The world may have gone digital, but magazines still matter – not because they’re old-fashioned, but because they’re personal. There is both trust and familiarity that comes from holding something that has lived in Missouri homes for generations.
This month, you may notice a refreshed design. It’s more inviting, and it keeps the spirit that makes this magazine feel like a neighbor stopping by with a good story. The look has changed through the years, but the heart of Rural Missouri has not.
Our editors, writers and photographers still work hard to tell stories that feel local no matter where you live. I’m sure you’ll find something worth reading, whether it’s a recipe you clip out, a restaurant you want to try or a small business you visit on your next weekend drive.
As we roll out this updated design, know that we don’t take your loyalty lightly. You invite us into your home each month, and that’s a privilege we deeply value. I hope you continue to enjoy Rural Missouri magazine – wherever you read it.
Caleb Jones is the CEO of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. He is a member of Boone Electric Cooperative. Email him at cjones@amec.coop.