Fall 2020

This has been a difficult summer as we have dealt with the virus restrictions followed by a troubling beginning to fall with an increase in COVID cases and the need for additional precautions. It would be easy to despair, but we must always remember to give thanks for the privilege of living in the great state of Missouri. Here in Glasgow, we are beginning to have some COVID-19 cases and the need for masks and distancing is becoming more clear to us.

Sheltering at home is the ideal opportunity to visit interesting Missouri locations online as we create a list of “future travels” IRL. To aid in that for you, I have researched some Missouri sites.

What could be more in line with Missouri country and simple living than a Farmer’s Market?
ColumbiaFarmersMarket.org and SedaliaAreaFarmersMarket.com are just a few. Several markets also offer crafts and wares as well as senior discounts. There are so many that you can type in farmer’s market followed by the name of a town or neighborhood. You might be surprised how many responses show up.

Fall always makes me think of apples and cider. Just south of Kansas City in Belton is Dunn’s Cider Mill, which can also be found at
MillSite.homestead.com/Index.html. They even have cider doughnuts! I don’t know what they taste like, but I am itching to try one.

For years, I have driven past the Millersburg exit 137 on I-70, and say something like,“ I should go there to visit.” Even though I know some folks from there, I have never visited. Millersburg was laid out by Thomas Miller in 1829. In spite of the shared name, I do not think I am related, but I could be. Information on the community can be found at
CallawayMoHistory.org/millersburg. It is a pretty interesting page and I plan to visit IRL soon.

Of course, every fall nature paints the valleys and hills in beautiful reds, yellows and oranges that can take your breath away. This year will be no different. Of course, you can just leave your house and drive without following one of the routes suggested at
VisitMo.com/articles/take-fall-drive-missouri, but you should still visit the page to view the many photos and explore the six suggested fall routes. Whether you travel IRL or online, there is a lot of interesting and beautiful places for your viewing pleasure as you travel.

So, as we social distance and try to protect ourselves and those around us from the virus and any other issues, we can still travel and share good things about our great state. We are stronger than the fears and problems that keep us from growing and sharing. We can spend the fall and the rest of the year sharing the things that make Missouri such a wonderful place to live. If we cross paths at a farmer’s market or while visiting a Missouri small town, say hello and we’ll do a safe elbow bump.

COVID or not, we Missourians can still be friendly.

J.Y. Miller lives in Glasgow and is a regular contributor to Show-Me Missouri. His e-mail address is jymiller@ShowMeMissouri.net.