Join the journey as Francisco Martinez, a vibrant force in economic development, shares his transformative story from graphic and web design to spearheading growth initiatives in Wilkesboro. Together, we explore the impact of the Entrepreneur Grant Program and the vital role of the Small Business Center at Wilkes Community College in cultivating a fertile entrepreneurial landscape. We also delve into the boons of co-working spaces for startups, painting a picture of a community that's not jus...

Embarking on a voyage through the transformative world of co-working spaces, we're joined by Doren Tripp, the quintessential serial entrepreneur whose life tapestry is interwoven with threads of innovation from Oklahoma City to the bustling optimism of Wilkesboro. With a backstory that spans continents, Doren's eclectic upbringing has honed his savvy in marketing and real estate, eventually leading him to play a part in the realization of Masthead Coworking. This episode is a treasure trove o...

Have you ever been struck by the allure of a hand-crafted piece of art, only to wish you knew the story behind its creation? That's the magic Jim Lyall and his business partner Steve Key capture in Taupe Gallery, a haven for art lovers nestled in the scenic foothill of the Blue Ridge Mountains. On our latest episode of 'Find your Backroad,' we chat with Jim about the transformation from a modest clay gallery to a vibrant cornerstone of the regional art community. Journey with us as we e...

From Megan White: We own a Scottish highland cow farm in Hamptonville, North Carolina. We bredScottish highlands and we host events including paint parties, yoga, photographysessions, meet and greets, and educational farm tours. We are passionate abouteducating the public and allowing people to get to know these beautiful animals. A little more about our farm, we are situated in Wilkes County, the foothills of NorthCarolina on 80 acres. Our farmland has been used by our family for over 200y...

The Annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is one of the largest one-day arts and crafts festivals in the Southeast. The Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club owns, operates, and organizes the event each year. The Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is not just this club's largest fundraiser, but has become one of Wilkes County's biggest fundraisers. Over 100 civic, church and other non-profit organizations participate in the festival. For many of them, the festival has become the biggest fundraiser of the ...

The Walker Center was created to address Wilkes Community College’s mission components of culture, business, industry, and training. Dr. David Daniel, WCC president at the time, took the lead in the effort to construct the center and WCC’s Foundation, the development arm of the institution, embarked on a fundraising drive that would raise $2.2 million. In March of 1983, ground was broken on the building thanks to the 1,500 donors who contributed to the vision of the center. When construction ...

Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Swan Creek Wine Appellation within the Yadkin Valley, family-owned Raffaldini Vineyards brings Tuscan charm to North Carolina. Known widely as “Chianti in the Carolinas” Raffaldini currently produces only classically dry Italian style wines ranging from reds like Sangiovese Classico, Montepulciano Riserva, Sagrantino and Grande Riserva with the white being Vermentino and a sparking Prosecco style wine called Auguri. Raffaldini hosts public and private e...

FaithFest is a tremendous undertaking and planning is a year-round endeavor. It takes hundreds of volunteers and an army of supporters to make this happen. Organizers say, "this is not a money-making event, rather it is for the single cause of lifting up and glorifying Jesus Christ." Find out more information or grab your tickets at https://faithfestnc.com/ This program is sponsored by Wilkes EDC. Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Wilkes County serves as the pivotal hub...

From White Lightning to Lightning Fast! The "Wilkesboro: Find Your Back Road" Podcast covers all the people, places, and things that make Wilkesboro a one-of-a-kind Mountain destination. Enjoy lively conversation with hosts as they welcome artists, local business leaders, event organizers and creatives from Wilkesboro. To request an interview spot or to advertise in front of this podcast, email us at [email protected]. (This program is also aired on BizRadio.US.) This program is sp...

As the daughter of a minister and kin to a lot of church folk Nikki grew up listening to traditional gospel/christian music and spent much of her grade school days involved in school band playing clarinet and oboe. But, despite her early exposure to music, it wasn’t until the tender age of 28 when she finally began to start making music of her own. Nikki was born and raised in North Carolina but Chicago is where she found her first home as a performer and songwriter. Starting out in the open ...