Sam Schipani

The idea of Texas evokes images of open plains filled with cowboys and their herds alongside endless fields of crops under the sun and clear blue sky. That image of Texas may have been bolstered by old Western movies and country music --…
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Farming in Florida is a unique, tropical experience compared to other places in the country. Agriculture is the second largest industry in the Sunshine State, but the prevalence of large, established corporate farms booming industry makes…
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Though modern Georgia boasts bustling Atlanta, the busiest airport in the world and the headquarters for carbonated beverage behemoth Coca-Cola, the state has long been defined by its agricultural exports. Aside from the juicy fruit that…
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Over my four years of high school theater, I accumulated over a dozen show shirts, each screen-printed with a student-drawn show poster and the performance dates. Even though they each cost $10 and rendered the wearer as a living…
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In the mid-1800s, migrating Mormons fleeing religious persecution were drawn to Utah: its sparsely populated lands, its mountains flowing with freshwater streams and, most of all, its potential to be their “Promised Land.” They planted…
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As a writer for the “Homestead” section of the Bangor Daily News, I am almost ashamed to admit that I did not take to the “Little House” series as a kid. Laura Ingalls Wilder’s problematic literary treatment of Native Americans aside, I…
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California is the produce basket of the United States. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, over a third of the country's vegetables and two-thirds of the country's fruits and nuts are grown in California. The…
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Between beautiful beaches like Myrtle Beach and the quaint cobblestoned streets of its capital Charleston, South Carolina is something of a picturesque southern paradise. Though today it is better known as a tourist destination, South…
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The island state of Hawaii is a tropical paradise and a fantasy destination for most. It also affords unique opportunities for farmers and homesteaders. Hawaii is one of the only places in the United States where you can grow tropical…
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North Carolina is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation. From corn to Christmas trees, sweet potatoes to shrimp, the state’s farmers produce over 80 different kinds of commodities, growing crops and livestock on 8.4…
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Image by David Mark from Pixabay Tennessee boasts the country music capital of the world, so perhaps it is no surprise that rural life is a prominent feature of the state. Historically, the Volunteer State was built on agriculture, and…
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I struggle to get into the holiday spirit. Christmas music gives me a migraine, picking out presents makes me anxious and -- let’s be honest -- gingerbread houses are a waste of (frankly, mediocre) cookies. Since I’ve moved to…
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