Growing up in Farmington, Missouri, my older sister and I would ride our bikes up and down the street, to the park that was behind our home and to our grandparents’ houses.  I even remember mastering the art of riding with no hands. As I got older and my parents moved out of town, my bike riding days came to an end. That is, until the past year or so.

Inspired by friends at church who ride, my husband started riding in 2009. I really wasn’t interested then, but as time went on I realized that this non-athletic girl needed a way to exercise. So when we upgraded my husband’s bike, I kept his old one, bought the necessary gear, and my cycling days began.

I have discovered a rich cycling community in the Farmington area, with the central hub being a Facebook group. Included in this varied group of people are business owners, young adults, teachers, retirees, salespeople and others, all joined together by their enjoyment of riding their bikes.  Three to four rides per week are organized, and each ride offers different demand levels so all cyclists can find a ride that is appropriate for them.  After a group ride, one of the riders will post in the group information about the ride—things like where they rode, who was involved, the average speed, and how many feet of climb they had. If there was a funny or interesting story, it will be shared, and invariably, the good natured jokes will flow.

As a rookie rider, one of the things I appreciate about the group is the encouragement given to cyclists at all levels. Even when I ride a short ride and post in on Facebook, I know it will get likes and comments of encouragement. You don’t have to be a top-notch rider to be welcomed, and everyone is willing to help and answer questions when asked.

The athletic abilities and accomplishments of the group members are impressive. Members’ accomplishments include the 2011 Missouri State Time Trial Champion for women and a King of the Mountain jersey in the Category Four state road race for men. There are also runners and tri-athletes as well. Many of the group members have lost a significant amount of weight and have made major, lasting changes in their health as a result of cycling.

One of the members who made major health changes is the creator of the group, Brian McEntire. He is currently riding across America on the TransAmerica Trail, which runs through Farmington. You can follow his progress by liking his Facebook Page or following his blog.

Additionally, Farmington has distinguished itself on the TransAmerica Trail by having one of the finest hostels dedicated to cyclists, according to the guests who have stayed. Al’s Place was established in September of 2009 and is in the old county jail in downtown. It is named in honor of late Farmington resident, Al Dziewa, who brought his love of cycling to the area. The cyclists have a place to store their bikes, do laundry, have complimentary Internet access, comfortable beds and modern kitchen and bath facilities. In the spring of 2011, TransAm Cyclery bike shop opened across the street from Al’s Place, further strengthening the commitment Farmington has to cycling.

What started as a way for me to exercise has grown into a group of people I likely would not have met any other way and I am glad to be part of a fun, supportive community.

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Jennifer Wassenaar is a music educator, memory keeping enthusiast and is active in her church family and lives in Farmington, Missouri. Find her online at www.mycmsite.com/jenniferwassenaar or on Facebook at Jennifer Sitzes Wassenaar.

Farmington Fall Fest 2009, Photo by MilligFunk

Guest Post by Jody McDowell

The annual Farmington Fall Festival is happening downtown this Saturday, the 24th, from 9:00 to 3:00. West Columbia street will be lined with festive booths featuring handmade arts and crafts from local artists, and delicious eats.

Downtown Farmington, Missouri, Photo by MilliGFunk, 2009

There is sure to be something for everyone! Animal lovers can attend Pet Fest at the courthouse square at 11:00, sponsored every year by First State Community Bank. Music fans will be in for a treat all day with live performances at Bauhaus Kaffee from 9:00 to 11:00, and The Vault is hosting more music in front of Long Memorial Hall from 11:30 to 3:00. Kids can hang out with special guest Diego and participate in activities by Parents as Teachers and the Farmington Public Library. Throw in a quilt show, sidewalk sales from some of your favorite downtown businesses, beautiful Missouri fall weather, and you get small town charm at it’s finest. Hope to see you there!

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Jody Mcdowell is a crafter and artist from Farmington, Missouri with a passion for photography, local history, and treasure hunting for vintage supplies. Learn more by visiting her blog and Etsy shop, Peach Parlor.

I was impressed that there was a race in town at all on the weekend of Thanksgiving, but I was even more impressed that a 5K and a 10K were being offered. 10Ks (6.2 miles) are my current race length of choice, but they’re not as common as 5K (3.2 miles) races.

As it turned out, the race itself was a cross-country race. The course wound through fields, gravel and wood chip trail as it made its way past two ponds, through the woods and past a creek.

Despite the rougher terrain than I usually train on and one of the first cool mornings of the year, I managed to set my personal best 10K time, shaving almost a minute per mile off of the average mile time of my September half marathon (13.1 miles). I left the race feeling absolutely great about life.

Unfortunately, my high on life ended later in the weekend when some things didn’t go quite as planned for me. Onward and upward though, and forward to future runs. The upcoming run I’m most excited about? A jog with my best friend over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco in two weeks. That’s right; this small town girl is about to get a change in scenery. San Francisco and some of my closest girl friends are calling my name.

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The Farmington Turkey Trot 5K/10K Walk/Run was presented by a new small business in town called Fitness Fuel. Did you know that Saturday was also Small Business Saturday? What are some of your favorite small town Missouri businesses?

The Farmer's Story, photo by MilliGFunk Photography

Author Kathryn Simpson and I share two things; our hometown and our passion for words.  Her first novel, The Farmer’s Story, was published earlier this year.

When Insider 573 Magazine asked me if I’d like to cover Kathryn’s Farmington, Missouri book signing at Bauhaus Kaffee, I was thrilled. She and I were introduced months before via Facebook by a mutual friend in Farmington, and I was excited to help promote her work in ” the 573″.

On the day of her book signing, Kathryn gave me a free copy of The Farmer’s Story. I wasn’t able to start reading the book until several days later, but once I started it, I had trouble putting it down.

Kathryn’s more than a great writer though; we’re undeniably kindred spirits, and she’s become great friend to me. She’s consistently reached out to me on Facebook and Twitter to comfort and support me in my freelance writing work, blogging, and my struggles with life in rural Missouri.

I’m proud that I was able to write this story about Kathryn Simpson and The Farmer’s Story. The story is on page 33.

The site, devoted to creating a “home on the web for Missouri’s Parkland” was founded by a Parkland-area native now living and working the Washingon D.C. Metro Area. Some of you may already follow Nick (@nbarron) on twitter, but if you don’t, you should. Nick is a a small town boy who’s taking what he’s learned on the East Coast about marketing and building online communities to create a web-based community for the Parkland that’s the first of its kind.

People like Nick who are prepared to devote their personal resources to making small town Missouri communities stronger are the kind of people I like to surround myself with.

I couldn’t be happier that Nick and I have remained friends for more than a decade after we met in high school Spanish class. I’m thrilled to be able to support Nick’s endeavors on ParklandUSA by contributing photos and blog content to the site.

If you live in or near Missouri’s Parkland, please visit the site often for gas prices, sports updates, and, of course, insights and images from A Small Town Girl’s Guide and MilliGFunk Photography. You can read the announcement Nick posted on ParklandUSA about syndicating Small Town Girl’s Guide here.

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If you’re interested in republishing content from A Small Town Girl’s Guide through syndication, please contact me. Click on the following links for more information on hiring me as a freelance writer or as a freelance photographer. I’m also available to speak on social media strategy, blogging and marketing.

Kettle Corn

Seems all I do these days is go to festivals and contemplate corn.

Last time, it was corn on the cob at the Moses Austin Festival. I was pictured in the newspaper with wannabe Willie Nelson, eating my corn on the cob. This time it was fresh kettle corn (I know you’re jealous) with a real life cowboy in the background at Sprottfest, held on a family’s farm in Sprott, a tiny community in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri.

I’ve been given the a-maize-ing suggestion that I also contemplate – and blog about – some candy corn this fall, so leave me a comment if you’re aware of any particularly notable Missouri candy corn. I need a Saturday afternoon adventure, and I’d be all for something corny. (Aw, shucks…)

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Note 1: Thank you @teddymexico and @sbolen for the pun, and thanks to @Famous_E for the candy corn recommendation.

Note 2: I happen to know the man in the black cowboy hat, and he’s truly a cowboy. None of that suburban cowboy nonsense at this small town festival.

Farmers Market, photo by smalltowngirl

The vendors had beautiful produce, not limited to squash, zucchini, apples and peppers. I’ve written previously about the Farmington Farmers Market, but I was more impressed by the Washington County market than I was by the Farmington Market.

Washington County Farmers Market, photo by smalltowngirl

My favorite vendor was a Washington County farmer who taught me something I didn’t know; that green peppers eventually turn either red or yellow if left to grow long enough. Who knew?

mulit-colored peppers, photo by smalltowngirl

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The Washington County Farmers Market is held from June through October. On Saturdays, the market is held from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Washington County Court House, and on Wednesdays the market is held from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the County Health Department.

Why dress a dog in a skirt? Because it’s hiLARious.

Dogs in dresses, photo by smalltowngirl

The only thing funnier than a dog in a skirt is a male dog dressed in pink sparkles:

Cross-dressing puppy, photo by smalltowngirl

And the only thing funnier than a boy dog in pink sparkles is a boy dog in a pink skirt.

These first two pictures were from the Moses Austin Festival, but I also saw dressed up dogs yesterday at the Fall Festival in Farmington. One of those dogs was, in fact, a boy dog in a pink, sparkly dress.

Unfortunately, I missed that photo opportunity. To compensate, here’s a dog dressed as the Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz:

Scarecrow dog, photo by smalltowngirl

I used to think that New York City was more liberal than rural Missouri. Now I think Missourians are just taking their closet-liberal leanings out on their unsuspecting canine pals.

I’d been in New York City long enough to have become one of those people who counted on regular yoga classes to keep me centered, balanced, and, well…sane.

Yoga was a big enough deal to me that I wouldn’t have accepted the job here if I hadn’t found a place in Farmington that offered regular yoga classes.

When I walked into my first class, I was disappointed to find that I was the only person in the room under 40. It didn’t take me long, though, to realize that my elders could kick my butt ten times over in some of the poses. Maybe 40 isn’t so bad afterall.

One of my favorite people in the class is also one of the oldest. A retired California police officer (or maybe sheriff?)-turned beefalo (half cow, half buffalo) farmer, this gentleman would arrive to class in overalls and work boots, underneath which he donned sweatpants and a t-shirt for class. By his side was always his white miniature poodle, Bridgette.

Bridgette became one of the bright spots in my weeks when my transition from NYC to MO was at its hardest points this spring and summer. She would curl up on a pillow beside her owner’s mat and nap through class, and when she woke up to stretch, she did her own little doggy yoga with her big, sleepy puppy stretch (i.e. downward facing dog).

A few weeks ago, Bridgette was diagnosed with lung cancer. This Monday when I arrived to class, her owner was there but she was not. They’d put her to sleep that same morning, and her absence in the class left a sinking spot in  my chest.

It’s amazing what a very small part of one person’s life can do to help make very big, very hard pieces of her life more bearable. Bridgette truly was a bright spot in a fairly dark transition for me, and I’m sure she was a shining star in the lives of the man and woman who had to put her down on Monday.

I found myself fighting back tears as we ended Monday night’s class. RIP, little yoga dog Bridgette. This yoga girl misses you.

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Westmount Wellness World is located at 164 Westmount Drive in Farmington, Missouri, on the back side of the Citizen’s Chiropractic Office. Yoga, Meditation and Tai Chi classes are all offered at Westmount Wellness World. For more information, visit www.citizenschiropractic.com.