The Folks Back Home

Ulrike McCarty is a Buchanan Buck by way of Germany, marrying Greg McCarty of the well drilling family and moving here in the late 80s to join our community and raise her family. She shares what it was like leaving her home country to embark on an unknown adventure across the world and how welcomed she felt from the very start. She recently started another adventure, opening her own Yoga Studio downtown last year after a long journey of exploration and discovery. Inspired by her mother’s love for yoga (she took her to her first class at the age of 16) and a passion for connecting with nature, River of Life Yoga opened in 2021 as a place to provide rest and rejuvenation for everybody. Offering hatha yoga, restorative yoga, prenatal yoga, Reiki Bodywork sessions and oil sessions, private lessons, and healing sound baths, check out the class schedule at riveroflifeyoga.com. Ulrike’s story is a journey for connection and purpose, and she continues to give back to the town that welcomed her with open arms so many years ago. Support the show

Patricia Robinson is a Benton Harbor native and a recent transplant to Buchanan by way of position. As the first Black Superintendent for Buchanan Community Schools, Trish joined our community in the fall of 2020 during the height of the pandemic. We talk about what drew her to Buchanan and how she handled an unorthodox introduction due to gathering restrictions, masks, and unprecedented times for all of us. Trish shares stories about her background as a member of a large family and as a first-generation college student. She also talks about her educational experience as an elementary teacher turned unplanned administrator and the value she places on building relationships and partnerships. Her story is one of optimism and perseverance, faith and hard work. Trish is all-in on Buchanan, seemingly everywhere all at once - from athletic events to awards banquets, parades, and pre-school classrooms. Just wrapping up her second year, she has big plans for the district and believes it is crucial to include all stakeholders along the way.Support the show

Liz Martin is a 2013 Buchanan Grad, the founder of Bike Buchanan, and an influential young leader in our town. We talk about growing up on Madron Lake Road, exploring the woods and water of SW Michigan, and leaving home to discover a new world of possibilities at Michigan State University. We also talk about how Liz's natural curiosity led her to a career in the field of UX (User Experience) and how this experience drives many other aspects of her life. Liz explains the origins of Bike Buchanan and its growth over the last 5 years, including her partnership with River Saint Joe and the Buchanan Community Schools physical education program. Liz Martin is an "includer and encourager" and she has a great story to share, one that is just starting to unfold. This episode is sponsored by River of Life Yoga, a small town studio located in the heart of downtown Buchanan. If you like our content and want to hear more episodes, simply click on the “Buy Me a Coffee” link in the episode description to make a $3 donation. buymeacoffee.com/folksbackhomeSupport the show

Teresa Green is the founder of Redbud Fitness and Lifestyle Center and Redbud Health Services. In the Spring of 2018, Teresa and her husband built and opened a state-of-the-art fitness center and health services center in downtown Buchanan. This gym soon became the epicenter of a health and fitness movement in Buchanan and continues to be a gathering place for members interested in building friendships and a healthier lifestyle. Teresa shares how a mid-life interest in physical fitness grew into a calling on her life to create a space for her community to gather and get healthy. We chat about the intentional design of the fitness center, the incredible work being done at the health services clinic, as well as the impact of Covid just two years after opening. It’s a remarkable story about teamwork, taking chances, and chasing big dreams. She believed she could, and she did. Support our show with a $3 donation at buymeacoffee.com/folksbackhomeSupport the show

Jim Finley and Dave Murray are two of the four founders of Redbud Roots. On this episode, Jim and Dave tell us the origin story of Redbud Roots, including how the company got its name and the series of events that led four guys from Chicago to leave their careers and start a new adventure on Post Road. From a crazy idea to becoming Michigan's premier craft cannabis cultivator, producer, and supplier - It’s quite a story, and one you won’t want to miss. If you like our content and want to hear more episodes, simply click on the “Buy Me a Coffee” link in the episode description to make a $3 donation. buymeacoffee.com/folksbackhomeThis episode is sponsored by The Moving Horizons Team of D Mottl Realty Group in downtown Buchanan. Support the show

Mr. Tom Gazella spent over 30 years as a Buchanan High School guidance counselor and English teacher, and 40 years behind the scorer's table at the basketball games. Mr. Gazella was a beloved figure in the halls of BHS and continues to mentor his former students, even years after his official retirement. In this episode, we take a walk down memory lane and discuss how Mr. G got to Buchanan in the first place, what it was like being a part of such a legendary crew of teachers, and what he’s been up to since leaving his classroom. Spoiler alert, he hasn’t slowed down…at all. If you were around Buchanan in the last 40 years, you’re going to love this episode and the stories he shares. Support this show with a $3 donation at buymeacoffee.com/folksbackhomeSupport the show

Jerome, Don, and Greg Vite are three brothers and co-owners of Vite Greenhouses, a family-owned Buchanan-based business started by their parents, Bill and Maddy, in the 80s. Just south of town on Redbud Trail, the Vite Brothers grew up on the farm that was originally owned by their great grandfather and, after setting off on their own adventures after high school, eventually returned to the family homestead to raise their own children and join the family business. If you’ve never been to Vite Greenhouses, you’re missing out on the very finest in annual, perennial, and specialty flowers and plants in a huge assortment of varieties. But it didn’t start out that way. Take a listen as the brothers share the story of how it all started, from truck farming to selling vegetables at the South Bend Farmer’s market to their growing business today. And we even heard from the next generation of the Vite family business as Greg’s son Caleb joined the team and joined us in the studio to give us his perspective on growing up in a greenhouse. Whether you have a green thumb or a black one, you’re going to love this episode.If you like our content and want to hear more episodes, simply click on the “Buy Me a Coffee” link in the episode description to make a $3 donation. Your $3 donation helps keep the microphones on and the audio rolling.buymeacoffee.com/folksbackhomeSupport the show

Jen Tabor is the founder and owner of Souldier, the world’s premier guitar strap company. In 2017, she moved her family and her business from Chicago to Buchanan and jumped right into our little community. In this episode, we hear the story behind Souldier and how it grew from a little side hobby to a rapidly expanding lifestyle company with products ranging from guitar straps and headbands to purses and journals and everything vintage in between. And, as the new owner of the old Stark elementary school building, Jen reveals her plans and vision for its new role in our community. Support The Folks Back Home with a $3.00 episode donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/folksbackhomeThis episode is sponsored by Honor Credit Union. Visit honorcu.com to learn more!Support the show

There’s nothing quite like the holidays to make the heart yearn for home, so for those who can’t make it back this year, here’s a Christmas letter from The Folks Back Home. I hope I can capture a little of the magic for you from the Nicest Place in America. Support the show

Michael and Elaine Rowland are a Bucktown Power Couple making big things happen all over town. From Gateway Community Foundation to Fernwood, the Rowlands are key players in the non-profit world and dedicated members of our community. They are passionate about small-town development and in today's episode, they reveal their big plans for their newest property acquisition downtown - a beautiful building with a rich history and exciting future. In addition to their dreams for the future, we also talk about what brought them to this point and how their lives intertwined back in Denver over a decade ago. Each brings a unique set of skills and experiences, earned from a lifetime of taking chances and learning along the way. Talk a listen to the many adventures that led them across the country...and ultimately right back home.Support the show

Richard and Cheri Martin are longtime Buchanan residents and creators of Chippewapalooza, a music festival that started in their backyard many years ago and has since grown to a two-day community concert in the summer at the Buchanan Common. Rich and Cheri tell their stories, complete with hitchhiking trips across the country, a stint in the military, young married life as part of the U.S. Forestry Service in Wyoming, and careers in the medical field and IT. We talk about their love for the outdoors and Rich’s music project that turned into a Regionally Famous band and Cheri’s art and fabric passion that turned into a little studio. The duo also discuss why it was important for them to come back home and raise their family here, and why they are passionate about the idea of growing roots – both in a community and in planting trees as part of the Buchanan Tree Friends. Support the show

This episode features members of the Buchanan Band – Director Deanna Russell, Trumpet Section Leader Garrett Brackett, and Drum Major Brennen Weaver. We talk about the intensity of marching and competition season and discuss what it's like to be involved in a program that functions more like a family. Our guests talk about their origin stories and what role music plays in their lives and their futures. We learn a few insider tips on how performance is actually created, from ideation to execution, and hear some fun stories about trips to New York City and the process for becoming a drum major. Their passion comes through in this interview and listeners will appreciate the leadership and vision of this talented group.Support the show

As a second-generation owner of Weldy Sales and Service, Phil and his wife Dale raised a family and ran the business for over 30 years, serving their community and building friendships along the way…one chainsaw at a time. In this episode, we talk about what it was like to move to Buchanan in middle school and grow up as a farm kid learning the value of hard work and getting the job done. We discuss his initial career path of youth ministry and how he and Dale eventually found their way back to Buchanan to take over his father’s business while playing a large role in the youth group of their home church. We also talk about raising four girls and their favorite job, being grandparents. His application of the Golden Rule in both life and business allowed him to build lasting relationships and loyal customers.Support the show

Nine years ago, Sean and Alejandra Finn took a Sunday drive to the West side of Buchanan and fell in love with a blue farmhouse on a hill. They packed up their belongings, and their two little boys, and traded a suburban neighborhood in South Chicago for fourteen acres of land on a dirt road. They became a part of the community and took a chance on a new way of life, and Finn's Steak and Eggs Ranch was born. What started out as a few chickens and a couple cows has turned into a thriving family business of providing all organic, 100% grass fed, pasture raised meat of many varieties to farmer's markets (and pick-up locations) throughout the Chicagoland and surrounding areas. In this episode, Sean and Alejandra talk about how it all began and pull back the curtain to share the ins and outs of a working farm business. Their commitment to community and desire to provide quality food to their customers is what drives their operation, and their success story is a true example of ingenuity and hard work. Support the show

The father and son duo of Marv and Brian Pruett are familiar faces around Buchanan as the town’s locksmith and the high school’s vice principal. With deep roots in Buchanan and a family tradition of service to country and community, the Pruett men are pillars of our town and responsible for many of the “behind the scenes” things that make Buchanan the nicest place in America, like placing the flags in the cemetery for Memorial Day or lining the fields for the soccer games. In this episode, we talk through the generations, starting with Marv on growing up here in the 50s and 60s to serving in Vietnam and coming home to raise a family, run a business, and serve as the Commander of the American Legion. With Brian, we chat about life as a Bucktown kid in the 80s and 90s and what it’s like to raise a family here now and give back as an educator and administrator of Buchanan schools. Both Marv and Brian are strong family men who share a sense of deep commitment and dedication to Buchanan and the folks that call it home. Support the show

If you’re curious about Buchanan in the 40s and 50s, this is the episode for you! Mr. Dick Swem joined me in the studio to discuss growing up in Buchanan during and after World War II, and what it was like to work and live in the funeral home his father established here in the 1930s. Mr. Swem talks about the importance of trust in his line of work, his calling to serve others, and his involvement in the military, Lions Club, and The Presbyterian Church. His great sense of humor and his strong sense of humility are both on display during this interview, and it’s obvious that his commitment to the families of Buchanan combined with his strong sense of faith provided him with the strength he needed to help others during their most difficult days. He is a longtime leader of our town and a friend to many. Support the show

Jeff Butler is a graduate of the Buchanan High School Class of 1979 and remembered for his athletic accomplishments on the football, basketball, and baseball teams of the 70s. Inspired by his own teachers, Jeff pursued a career in education and coaching and recently retired after 30 plus years as a history teacher in Mattawan. Jeff reminisces about growing up in Bucktown and connects the lessons he learned here as a kid to his development as a parent and leader of student athletes. Coming off a recent national championship as the coach of a club volleyball team and the wedding of his daughter, Jeff and his wife Wilma share their plans for retirement and their passion for developing and loving those around them. Support the show

Mr. Doyle Vergon is a native Buchanan Buck with decades of experiences and adventures around the globe. He is a veteran of the Korean War, a former marketing executive with Clark Equipment, and an elected commissioner and one-time Mayor of Buchanan. In this episode, we chat about his military and business experience, his time as a public servant, and his foray into small business and historical building restoration as the former owner of an antique store downtown. He tells the story of how he met his lovely bride, Judy, and how he spends his time in retirement, jumping out of airplanes and serving at military funerals with the American Legion. Support the show

Mr. Mark Nixon is a beloved and longtime principal of Moccasin Elementary school. While Mr. Nixon isn’t from the area originally, you’d never know it by the impact he’s made on multiple generations of Bucks. After a unique start in education out West, Mr. Nixon applied for a job in Buchanan in 1986 and, having never heard of it before, wasn’t sure what he was going to find when he moved his family here to become part of the community. It’s a move that the whole town is glad he made, because he spent the next 30 plus years giving back to students, community organizations, and the school farm. In this episode we talk maple syrup, tractor mishaps, and his philosophy on what kids need. Support the show

Dr. Bob White is a native Buchanan Buck and a pioneer in the field of neonatology. After graduating from John Hopkins University School of Medicine and being part of the early days of infant intensive care, he returned to Michiana to raise his family and start the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hospital where he continues to practice medicine today. We talk about what it was like to grow up in Buchanan in the 60s and he recalls some of the greatest influences on his life. Dr. White shares his experience from his early days of medicine and how traveling to other regions of our country and other areas of the world shaped his specific area of interest - the impact of the NICU environment on the health and well being of babies. We talk about his life, his faith, and his commitment to care for the littlest among us. Support the show