From the Editor
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 6
From the Editor
Homegrown dreams are flourishing
Don’ t you just love it when people bet on themselves, in turn betting that their community will support their dreams?
It can be a difficult process. There’ s economic uncertainty, overhead driven up by inflation or market factors and the simple fact that none of us know what the future holds.
But, you’ ve got to believe. You’ ve got to believe in yourself, in the process and that people will buy what you’ re selling.
We highlight in this special Progress edition people who believe in themselves, and many who have sprouted from right here. The play on words is not coincidence, which is why we thought it would be fun to take a look at Stillwater’ s growing floriculture market, as well as ag producers, boutiques and even local musicians.
We think some of the most interesting stories out there come from people who have realized they have a talent for things they can share, and who saw a need or want and decided they could provide it.
Interest for growing flowers and supporting local food producers grew during the pandemic, but when people come to realize how much pleasure it can be to grow something or how much more wholesome and tasty fresh food products are, it seems like we might have a chance to sustain these businesses.
We’ re grateful to anyone who invests in their local communities, who provide for their communities and the people who patronize our local businesses. We’ re helping each other fulfill our dreams.
STORY BY Beau Simmons Editor Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
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THRIVE FLOWER FARM
Florists ' mission supports orphans
OKLAHOMA IRIS SOCIETY
Where science and beauty coalesce
A FLOWER IN THE ROUGH
Customers come first at Big Creek Nursery
Q & A with SEC. BLAYNE ARTHUR
Optimism is high for future of agriculture
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What ' s up?
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THE LOCAL SOURCE
Fresh from the farm to the market
THE CRUSTACEAN STATION
Farm-raised prawns not far from home
JO & CO. BOUTIQUE
Store sprouts from sense of necessity and style
FORMAL FANTASY
A personal touch for those special eventss
405 MERCANTILE
Keeping up with trends for nearly a decade
HE ' S GOT THE BLUES
Musician Connor Helm is an old soul
STEVE ' S WORKSHOP
Planting new roots for future musicians
AN ORIGINAL SEED
OSU instructor tells story of Jesse Ed Davis
ON THE SCENE
Photo collage
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 6