For us at Country Roads, 2019 brought yet another year of remarkable storytelling, fantastic adventures, and—as is now par for the course in this world of publishing—lots of change.
Settling in to observe the dawn of a new decade, we first flipped our way through the twelve issues we've sent into the world this past year, and—using the magic of 21st century analytics—learned a bit about our readers. The stories you most enjoyed from our misadventures, investigations, and discoveries of 2019 include: a mad dash around coastal Mississippi, celebrations of this year's Small Town Chefs, discoveries of ancient forests, revitalization efforts on the coasts and in Louisiana's small towns, plus conspiracy theories, old ladies rocking out, and an ethical taxidermist. And lots more.
For all the chronic reminiscers out there, you can find all of our stories from 2019 (and all the way back to 2016), in our Issue Archive. If you'd like to stay up to date with our work in 2020 (and beyond!), be sure to subscribe here.
The Mad Lifestyle Journalist of the Marigny meanders over to Mississippi
by Chris Turner-Neal
Courtesy of Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast
Four Baton Rouge women defying stereotypes, three minutes at a time
by Jason Christian
After a traumatic injury, Kyle Baughman found his calling in stained glass
by William Browning
By moving to the Caribbean, the Woodville native developed a new perspectives on familiar foods
by Lucie Monk Carter
In the middle of a Tangipahoa Parish swamp, the last uncut primary growth cypress forest north of Lake Pontchartrain stands strong
by Chris Staudinger and John Hazlett
Prairie Ronde Rice offers single-variety, freshly milled rice
by Deborah Burst
Using natural and nurtured beauty to revitalize a tiny Tensas Parish town
by Lauren Heffker
FBI agent Randy Deaton helped end the forty-year career of a mostly unknown forger
by Ruth Laney
The path to tea cultivation in the South
by Christie Matherne Hall
For this woman-led Courir de Mardi Gras, the Prairie des Femmes erupts in a wild chicken chase
by Jordan LaHaye
The Bayou State Rabbit Hunters Federation upholds the declining practice of hunting rabbits with beagles
by Jonathan Olivier
With ample evidence, Ernie Gremillion hopes to clear the name of Huey Long's alleged killer
by John Wirt
Paul Fitch takes pride in his portraits, antiques, and meticulously restored home
by Ruth Laney
The owner of Hambone loves life on the Northshore
by Beth D'Addono
Ethical Taxidermist Bunny Lane creates a carnival of the animals
by Chris Turner-Neal
Could coastal restoration bring waterfowl back to the Maurepas Swamp?
by Jonathan Olivier
Bravery positions Yvette Landry for breakout success
by Tom Scarborough
An exploration of the African American experience in one man's artful home
by Jordan LaHaye
In Pointe Coupee Parish, Pat and Jack Holden's lovingly created tribute to life in colonial Louisiana is up for sale
by Ruth Laney
Courtesy of the Holden Family