Rural Marketing

OUTdrive Episode 164 with Annette Alden Missouri has a rich history of winemaking and in fact has been credited with helping to save the French wine industry. Today, there are nearly 130 wineries, hundreds of grape growers and thousands of jobs in this growing industry, right here in our state. To help make it grow,…

OUTdrive Episode 163 with Kari Mergen Every year at this time, our advertising agency is busy putting the finishing touches on the marketing campaign for the Missouri State Fair, one of our oldest clients. We love the fair and all the traditions that make the fair what it is, which is what inspired the theme…

OUTdrive Episode 162 with Aaron Oelger It’s almost a perfect scenario in marketing when you’re at a place where the story practically tells itself. Great brand with history and reputation. Great people with a real passion for what they do. Great products that you just can’t get enough of. Our guest today is proud to…

OUTdrive Episode 161 with Michael Wright There are a lot of cool things going on in our schools today that many people might be surprised to hear about, like robotics. Innovation is driving technology and our local high school is leading the way with a nationally recognized robotics program that gives students the opportunity to…

OUTdrive Episode 160 with Justin Hubbs It’s always interesting when business models change to meet our changing world. A great example is real estate where the online auction platform has transformed the industry. Listen in to my conversation with Justin Hubbs, a Real Estate District Manager with BigIron Realty. BigIron burst on the scene in…

OUTdrive Episode 158 with Taylor Moreland You know, sometimes we get a bad rap out here in the country that we’re behind the curve in the use of technology and innovation, but honestly, nothing could be further from the truth. Our guest today is proof of that. Taylor Moreland is the founder and owner of…

OUTdrive Episode 157 with Bub Caldwell Agriculture is the biggest industry in Missouri and its importance to feeding the world is enormous. In addition to growing crops for food and fiber, storage and distribution are vital tasks in the process. Our guest today has been producing for nearly 50 years grain bins that enable farmers…

OUTdrive Episode | Solocast Twice a year, our agency principals team up with other small agency owners around the country to catch up and help each other be better. We’ve been involved in a peer group for nearly 20 years and it’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to stay relevant and current with…

OUTdrive Episode 155 with John Smiddy I always love talking shop with other agency owners. In this intriguing episode, I interview John Smiddy, founder, president and chief strategist at LeadPlan Marketing in Michigan. He’s also the author of the book Stop Guessing Start Marketing and the host of The Marketing Fundamentals Podcast. John got his…

OUTdrive Episode 154 with Robert Harrington We believe we’ve got it pretty good out here in rural America, where we enjoy a high quality of life, with plenty of great opportunities and a safe environment in which to live, work and play. It may be the world’s best kept secret. Our guest today is a…

OUTdrive Episode 153 with Jim Marino It’s always amazing how one experience in life prepares you for the ones that follow. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, right? Our podcast guest, Jim Marino, got his start during college working for a construction, development and marketing conglomerate in Missouri. From there, he took his sales,…

OUTdrive Episode 152 with Dave Leathers Most people today recognize that digital media has revolutionized modern marketing plans. Yet, nothing replaces the look and feel of a high-end magazine. Every day, millions of people throughout rural America and the world consume content found in magazines, and then they pass them along. Today’s guest has built…

OUTdrive Episode 151 with R.J. Lindstrom Very few family businesses survive past a third generation and a fourth is a rarity. Zephyr Manufacturing is one of those elite companies that has not only survived but thrived for nearly 100 years. Our guest today is R.J. Lindstrom, who is the current president, owner and great-grandson of…

OUTdrive Episode 149 with Taylor Howard Some people just know from a young age what they want to do when they grow up. For Taylor Howard, it was marketing. Early on, she was interested in why advertisers said and showed what they did and that curiosity has carried over into her career in the B2B…

OUTdrive Episode 148 with Steve Moore There are literally thousands of opportunities in today’s world to find a career that fits well with your interests and strengths. Our guest today was fortunate to find one right out of college that fit so well, he stayed for a 30 year career. Steve Moore is a chemical…

OUTdrive Episode 147 with Steven Sims The Missouri State Fairgrounds is known primarily for the State Fair which is held every year around the middle of August. What you may not know though is there are events there year-round. From rodeos, quinceañeras and weddings, to picnics, concerts, camping, and livestock shows, the Missouri State Fairgrounds…

OUTdrive Episode 146 with Tucker Perkins The propane industry is changing, and innovation and new technologies are driving this misunderstood clean energy to the top of the energy charts. In this fascinating episode, Cliff visits with Tucker Perkins, the President and CEO of PERC, the Propane Education and Research Council. Learn how the industry has…

OUTdrive Episode 145 with Katie Imler Ice Cream Factory owners Katie and Shannon Imler love to make people happy, and they do it with ice cream. What started out as a scoop shop in Eldon serving the ice cream they make by hand has turned into a bustling operation selling 30-plus flavors in over 2,000…