From the Editor

WHEN THE MOUNTAINS CALLED four years ago, the Spencer

family answered.

That’s when the winners of Country’s first View from Our Place Contest moved to Montana. John and Monica Spencer dreamed of living out west and wanted to give their kids a childhood with the freedom to roam, and the chance to live in harmony with the land and grow up with the values of small-town America. And the move was an opportunity for Monica, an amateur photographer, to focus her lens on the wide-open spaces all around them. You’ll see her photos and read more about the family on page 22.

Amber Mitchell is another reader who chased her dreams. Almost 30 years after a photo of an idyllic farm surrounded by glorious fall foliage captured her imagination, Amber finally saw it in person. On page 16, she recounts her journey to Vermont’s Sleepy Hollow Farm.

As the leaves change, the acorns drop and we carry on beloved traditions, autumn becomes a time to think about the past year. If you’re planning the perfect Thanksgiving, ponder Field Editor J’Nel Wright’s advice on page 14. I’ll certainly keep it in mind when my family gathers on Turkey Day or for an afternoon of outdoor fun. Have a blessed fall and a happy Thanksgiving.