Magazine News

Julie Gowing Hayes, a Bella Vista, Arkansas artist, draws inspiration from nature, especially birds and landscapes viewed from her home studio. After overcoming health challenges in 2022, she’s returned to her creative practice, painting both in her studio and outdoors with fellow artists. Hayes is active in regional art organizations, exhibits her work locally, and continues to celebrate the beauty of the natural world through her art.

Show Me The Ozarks Magazine’s “Singles in the City 2024” spotlights ten independent, ambitious individuals from the Four States region, each thriving in their careers and personal lives while seeking meaningful connections. The group includes business owners, creatives, and professionals in fields like real estate, writing, sales, and photography. Each single shares their interests, values, and what they seek in a partner, highlighting a diverse mix of personalities who value family, faith, adventure, and authentic relationships.

Ozark Off Road Cyclists (OORC) has played a key role in developing and maintaining mountain biking trails across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley for over 25 years. Supported by passionate volunteers and significant community investment, OORC builds and cares for popular trails, hosts major events like the Buffalo Headwaters Challenge, and encourages riders of all ages to enjoy the outdoors. Their efforts have helped make the region a destination for mountain biking enthusiasts and fostered a strong, inclusive cycling community.

Dave and Jenny Marrs, known for their HGTV show "Fixer to Fabulous," balance a busy life in Northwest Arkansas running multiple businesses, raising five children, and engaging in charitable work. Their priorities center on family, community, and meaningful projects, from home renovations and a mercantile to supporting education for at-risk youth in Zimbabwe. Through teamwork and shared passion, they continue to grow their impact locally and globally while keeping family at the heart of everything they do.

Kristen Fenimore and her daughter Kaitlynn have made running local races a fun, healthy tradition, starting with stroller runs and now participating in themed 5Ks and even out-of-state events together. Their shared activities foster physical fitness, mental well-being, and a strong mother-daughter bond, with Kaitlynn also enjoying other sports like volleyball and basketball. The duo chooses races for their fun themes and looks forward to continuing their active adventures.

Erimish, a local bracelet company, partnered with the Seneca School District to help renovate the high school’s locker rooms, providing funding and materials beyond what the district could cover. Their $25,000 lead pledge and hands-on involvement enabled significant upgrades, aiming to give students a memorable, college-level experience. The project reflects Erimish’s commitment to giving back and supporting local youth.

Connect2Culture kicks off the new year with performances at the Cornell Complex, featuring Joplin pianist and composer Glenda Austin playing Broadway favorites, and 123 Andrés, a Latin GRAMMY-winning duo, presenting a lively bilingual family show. Both events aim to entertain and inspire audiences of all ages, celebrating music, culture, and community.

The inaugural Uplift Film Fest, organized by Great Wonders Productions, will bring together filmmakers from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas for screenings, workshops, and awards in Joplin and Webb City, Missouri. The festival, born from a local nonprofit’s mission to inspire and connect regional filmmakers, will feature nearly 90 entries and premiere “The Butterfly People,” a documentary about the 2011 Joplin tornado. The event aims to foster creativity, collaboration, and community in the Four-State Region’s film scene.

Show Me The Ozarks Magazine spotlights a diverse group of local leaders whose dedication, innovation, and service have made a significant impact in their communities over the past year. From healthcare and construction to retail, hospitality, and nonprofit work, each honoree is recognized for their professional achievements, commitment to helping others, and efforts to foster positive change. Their stories reflect teamwork, resilience, and a shared passion for supporting and uplifting the Four States region.