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COACH GOLDING O N C O R E VA L U E S , S E A S O N E XPE C TATI O N S AND MORE O LE M I S S ATH LE TI C S IS LOCKED IN TA I LG ATE R E CI PE S FO R S E C R I VA L G A M E S ROAD G A ME RE ADY FOR NASHVILLE

F OOTBALL

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Our Take

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113 Social Hour 127 RSVP 128 Post Toast

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IN THIS ISSUE 26

Return of the Rebels

Backed by a laser-focused coach, an experienced offensive duo and diehard fans, Ole Miss football is primed to go all the way.

Leading Man

Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding talks about his expectations, coaching philosophy, favorite pastimes and more.

Locked In

NCAA tournament appearances are becoming the norm across Ole Miss varsity sports.

Going Pro

Several players from the 2025 Ole Miss roster are now part of NFL teams, joining a growing list of professional players who got started as Rebels.

A Heart for Home

By celebrating Southern culture, family life and SEC football, an Oxford artist builds both her art and her audience.

Hotty Toddy Meets Honky-Tonk in Nashville Explore Music City, host to two Ole Miss football games this season.

Recipes 4 Rivalries

The Cycle Culture

North Mississippi’s vibrant and diverse cycling community welcomes bikers of all skill levels to participate in weekly rides, events and activities that promote the growing sport.

102 Come and Get It!

Honor system roadside farm stands draw neighbors and passersby for produce, flowers, eggs and more.

Add creativity to your tailgate this fall with these fun snacks inspired by the SEC rivals coming to Oxford.

History in the Making

Lee Harper’s miniature replicas do more than surprise and delight — historical facts and precise architectural details keep her fans and patrons wanting to learn more.

ON THE COVER Heisman Trophy candidates and star players Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy are leading the charge for the 2026 Ole Miss football season. Read more about them and the team they’ll lead onto the field this year on page 26. PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRUCE NEWMAN

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OU R TAKE WITH

f you painted a picture of heightened drama, fierce rivalry, high emotion and tough competition and added a stroke of great talent and ambition, then you might have a picture of the 2026-27 Ole Miss football team. It’s a team of great expectations and a whole lot of grit.

Add to that, not one but two Heisman Trophy candidates on a top 25 team. It’s a rare and exciting narrative to say the least. It could be a story for the ages. All that’s left now is to see how the Xs and Os go from the white board to the gridiron, and how the nuances of football play out week after week. No doubt, it will be an exciting story to watch unfold. While much of this magazine is about how history might come alive for the Ole Miss football team this season, we are also offering several other stories you don’t want to miss. On page 80, see how Oxford artist Lee Harper’s creativity has brought back the history of Mississippi one tiny piece at a time with her amazing creations. Find a guide to honor system farm stands that dot country roads all around north Mississippi on page 102. Visit Nashville on page 64. Meet artist Christian Wash Garvey — a huge Ole Miss fan — on page 56. And before you head to the stadium, be sure to check out our Recipes for Rivalries on page 72 — it’s a treat you won’t want to miss. Here’s to a fantastic season with opportunities galore. Ole Miss is ready. It’s our time! Are you ready?

@ I N V I TAT I O N OX F O R D @ I N V I TAT I O N M A G A Z I N E

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@ I N V I TAT I O N M A G A Z I N E S

PUBLISHER Rachel West

E D ITO R I A L

ART

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Emily Welly

Bryan Nigh

EVENTS EDITOR

SENIOR EDITORIAL

AND SOCIAL MEDIA

PHOTOGRAPHER

COORDINATOR

Joe Worthem

Meg Kennedy CONTRIBUTING FOOD EDITOR

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sarah Godwin

AND ILLUSTRATORS

COPY EDITOR

Ashley Arthur CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Amy Conry Davis Dawn Denham Lindsay Pace Eugene Stockstill Sonia Thompson

Emers Buckley Rebekah Clayton Nina Fudge Sarah Godwin Miller Meisenheimer Bruce Newman Lindsay Pace Lisa Roberts

A DV E R T I S I N G ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

O FFI C E

DISTRIBUTION

Alise Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham

Allen Baker Brian Hilliard

ADVERTISING

BUSINESS MANAGER

Hollie Dalton

DESIGNERS MAIN OFFICE

662-234-4008

Paul Gandy Markka Bartlett Ryan Strickland

For advertising information, contact ads@invitationoxford.com. To subscribe to one year (10 issues) or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com. To request a photographer at your event, email invitationmag.events@gmail.com. Invitation Magazines respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community. SEPTEMBER 2026 | INVITATION

TH E TALE NT LEIGH LOWERY

ADVERTISING CONSULTANT

Leigh Lowery has worked for Invitation since 2009. She enjoys the relationships that are made through her position as an advertising consultant, and says it’s always rewarding when a client loves their finished product. She and her husband, Dan, have two daughters, one at Ole Miss and one at Oxford High School. When not working, she enjoys spending time with my family and friends, going to Pilates and traveling.

MARKKA BARTLETT

DESIGNER

Markka Bartlett joined Invitation Magazines in 2022 as a graphic designer, bringing a decade of experience in creative direction and design. Before joining the magazine, she spent eight years with Ole Miss Football as a graphic designer and Director of On-Campus Recruiting. Today, she enjoys a slower pace of life at home with her 3-year-old daughter, Palmer, while she and her husband, Braxton, await the arrival of their little boy this fall. Through her work with Invitation, Markka continues to find joy in creativity and storytelling through design.

L I N D S AY PAC E

WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER

H O LLIE H ILLI A R D DA LTO N

BUSINESS MANAGER

Lindsay Pace is a feature writer and editorial photographer who has worked for publications across north Mississippi. As a full-time travel writer, she has a special appreciation for people, who give meaning to place. When she isn’t documenting the lives of creatives like Christian Wash Garvey (page 56), she’s baking sourdough or taking her pup, Scout, for a walk.

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Hollie Hilliard Dalton is a native of Oxford, with more than a decade of experience at Invitation Magazines. She is currently in her 12th year as business manager, overseeing financial and administrative functions. Now living in Louisiana, Hollie and her husband, Jim, share their home with their three dogs — Sage, Louie and Coco. She brings a deeprooted commitment to her work and community, and she enjoys traveling and spending time with family.

SARAH GODWIN

FOOD EDITOR AND ILLUSTRATOR

Sarah Godwin is an Oxford native and Ole Miss alum. Sarah works full-time as a watercolor artist, often contributing illustrations for stories. She is also our food editor, and she loves combining her passion for cooking with the creativity of styling photos. She lives in Oxford with her husband, Trevor, and son, Abel.

A MY CO N RY DAV I S

WRITER

Amy Conry Davis is a writer, photographer and traveler who grew up everywhere and nowhere. Her work has been published in Lonely Planet, Matador and Southern Living as well as local and regional publications, and she’s an active member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). Her current home base is an Airstream on a small homestead in West Point.

DAWN DENHA M

WRITER

A transplant from the Northeast to Mississippi, Dawn Denham now calls Water Valley her forever home. She’s been riding a bike since she was a little girl outside Washington D.C. and rides with Oxford’s B Group, all of whom kick her butt! She is a writer, educator, arts advocate and community organizer. She holds an MA in Rhetoric and Composition and an MFA in Writing and teaches undergraduate writing at the University of Mississippi.

MILLER MEISENHEIMER

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER

Miller Meisenheimer is a student at Oxford High School with a passion for both athletics and the arts. He enjoys running cross country, participating in speech and debate, studying video productions, hanging out with friends and spending quality time with his golden retriever, Penny. His favorite part of the job is going to many different events and meeting new people. SEPTEMBER 2026 | INVITATION

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RETURN of the REBELS BACKED BY A L ASER-FOCUSED COACH, AN EXPERIENCED OFFENSIVE DUO AND DIEHARD FANS, OLE MISS FOOTBALL IS PRIMED TO GO ALL THE WAY. WRITTEN BY EUGENE STOCKSTILL | PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN AND JOE WORTHEM

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le Miss fans need no reminder of how close the Rebels came to hoisting the big prize last season. Or how much seems to be riding on this upcoming one. Just ask athletic director Keith Carter. “We were 18 seconds away from playing for a national championship,” Carter said. “Miami was good. They made a great play.” Carter, of course, is talking about Carson Beck’s dramatic 3-yard run that pushed Miami past the Rebels in a nail-biter of a semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl. Indiana went on to beat Miami for the national title. Coming that close to glory a few months ago has only whetted the appetites of the team going into September, Carter said. “If you don’t believe it and talk about it, it’s not going to happen,” he said. “They’re talking about winning a national championship.” As of this writing, Ole Miss was ranked No. 9 in the nation in the AP Top 25 preseason poll and No. 10 in the AFCA coaches poll — and that’s as a part of one of the most competitive geographical regions in the country. In July, the SEC preseason media poll predicted the Rebels to finish third in the conference. The SEC demands a laser-like focus from week to week just to survive, coach Pete Golding said. “We’ve got Louisville, who’s a Top 25 team, in a neutral site (Nashville) to open this thing up,” Golding said. “If we’re worried about anyone outside of Louisville, you better hold on.” One of the bigger stories this season is that returning quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy not only pack a wallop for the team’s offense but also give the school two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates. Red, white and blue signs touting “Trinidad Kewan ’26” started circulating back in midsummer. So how exactly do you cope with the tensions of a brand-new season on the heels of last year’s big run, especially considering that hated LSU comes to town in week three? “It takes what we already know,” Lacy said during a press conference in July. “Preparation, work, being dialed in.” Chambliss, whose return to Ole Miss has generated big headlines, made an appearance on the program SEC Now a few weeks ago. He said that last season has become almost pure motivation for the Rebels. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to come back to Ole Miss,” he said. “I feel like we have unfinished business. Last year was last year. We went far, but we’re hungry for more.” It doesn’t take an advanced degree to recognize the importance of Chambliss and Lacy. Continued on page 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 | INVITATION

GOOD DUDES

HEAD COACH PETE GOLDING IS BUILDING A TEAM AROUND GOOD PEOPLE. “Rule No. 1 in our program is be a good dude,” he said from the podium at SEC Media Days in July. Here are a few ways players are demonstrating those “good dude” qualities:

•

Defensive tackle Will Echoles held a meet-and-greet in his hometown of Houston, Mississippi, last spring, and he helped coach an East Coast Sox youth baseball team this summer.

•

In June, several Ole Miss players visited patients at Children’s of Mississippi in Jackson and met students at Quitman County Middle School in the Mississippi Delta.

•

Trinidad Chambliss hosted a FlexWork Sports camp at Oxford Middle School for 350 participants this summer, and he participated in other football camps including a free one-day camp held in Sanford, Florida.

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16 Rebels football players earned spots on the SEC Academic Honor Roll last fall.

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Linebacker Suntarine Perkins was honored with this year’s Chucky Mullins Courage Award for exemplifying courage, leadership, perseverance and determination.

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Continued from page 27 “We can speak to what we see on the field, and the explosive nature of those guys,” Carter said. “They’re just two quality men, good teammates, good in the community. Those guys could have gone probably anywhere in the country that they wanted.” Ole Miss has a total of 17 players returning, including 10 starters, as well as 52 new faces. One noteworthy portal addition is Keaton Thomas, a standout linebacker who left Baylor for Oxford. Returning is placer-kicker Lucas Carnerio, who has a reputation for scoring big points from 40 or more yards away. The enthusiasm among returning players has been building ever since Pete Golding slid into the driver’s seat as the head coach down the stretch last fall, when Carter said what looked like a disaster turned into a perfect storm of opportunity for the Rebels. “It was a trying and challenging time,” Carter said. “I couldn’t be more excited about Coach Golding. He had a long-term vision for Ole Miss. It was a perfect fit.” In advance of this season, Carter, Golding and several players embarked on a six-stop, three-week “Rebel Road Trip” to energize fans who repeatedly proved their loyalty to the Rebels at the end of last season. “What I thought was so cool was the support from (the fans). I got a ton of text messages that I, unfortunately, was not able to answer.” At least, he said, not all at once.

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Ole Miss 2026 Football Schedule: Sept. 6 vs. Louisville in Nashville (6:30 p.m. – ABC)

Sept. 12 vs. Charlotte (6:45 p.m. – ESPN2)

Sept. 19 vs. LSU (6:30 p.m. – ABC)

Sept. 26 at Florida (Time TBA)

Oct. 10 at Vanderbilt (Time TBA)

Oct. 17 vs. Missouri (Time TBA)

Oct. 24 at Texas (Time TBA)

Oct. 31 vs. Auburn (Time TBA)

Nov. 7 vs. Georgia (Time TBA)

Nov. 14 at Oklahoma (Time TBA)

Nov. 21 vs. Wofford (11 a.m. – SECN+)

Nov. 27 vs. Mississippi State (11 a.m. – ABC)

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Leading Man

OLE MISS HEAD COACH PETE GOLDING TALKS ABOUT HIS EXPECTATIONS, COACHING PHILOSOPHY, FAVORITE PASTIMES AND MORE. WRITTEN BY EUGENE STOCKSTILL | PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN

ead coach Pete Golding sat in a hot seat late last season, the likes of which most will never know, leading the under-the-gun Ole Miss Rebels deep into the postseason and paving the way for what’s to come. We talked with Golding recently about football, life and this upcoming season. Here’s what he had to say.

WHAT WERE THE FIRST THINGS GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU WERE NAMED HEAD COACH? The retention component was the first thing that went through my mind. The second thing that came to my mind was that Wednesday was signing day. I was not concerned at all as far as from the defensive standpoint, because I had a personal relationship with all those guys in the recruitment. But the offensive guys, they weren’t in my area. So, building that relationship with the parents and them and letting them know the stability of the program and our vision and all those types of things. HOW DO YOU COPE DAY-TO-DAY WITH THE PRESSURE OF BEING THE HEAD COACH? Having been in this business now for 21 years, I don’t know if I define this as pressure as much as I would responsibility. And I think that responsibility changes based on what your title is. The only thing that changed for me was that now,

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you’re responsible for so many more people and not only them but also their families, making sure that we’re making the best decisions not only for our university and our players and myself but also for them and their families. So, I don’t think about the pressure. If you get in this game, I don’t think you focus on pressure. You focus on, ‘Hey, how can I do the best job to give us our best chance on the field and off the field?’ WHAT ARE THE CORE VALUES OF YOUR COACHING PHILOSOPHY? No. 1 to me is discipline, the self-discipline piece that we talk about to our players and our coaching staff. You have to get to a place to make yourself do things that you really don’t want to do because it’s for the betterment of you and the organization and your players. And then also on the flip side of that: There’s a lot of things that we want to do that we know we’re not supposed to do. Can we keep ourselves from doing it? If you don’t have discipline in whatever you do in your life, you’re not going to be very successful. To me, the competitive piece of things I call a

competitive character, like this is a competitive game and they keep score. So, you know, competition is one of our core values. We’re going to compete in everything that we do. Hard work, obviously. I’ve never been able to do anything in my life without working harder than the other people that are doing it. So, there’s a piece there of interior motivation. I think it’s part of my responsibility to make sure I’m surrounding myself with people that are interiorly motivated. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHANGES YOU EXPECT OFFENSIVELY THIS YEAR? I think the biggest thing is that we’ve got a lot of depth across the board that’s really, really different in different pieces. So, I think the combination of multiple different personnel groupings based on what this team looks like, I think every year is independent of its own. And I think you’ve got to do a really good job. Who do we have this year? What do they do well? What package are we going to create to put them in position to be able to excel and do well? So, I think we'll be a little more multiple in personnel, two-back sets, multiple tight-end sets. I think that the core of what the offense has been is still going to be there. We’re going to play extremely fast, make people get their cleats in the turf. We’ll probably have a few more alternative formations to cause a few more problems from a

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defensive standpoint, communication and shifts in motions. But I think the concept of hiring JDB (offensive coordinator John David Baker) was the stability of that locker room. Having the same language within reason and the concept staying the same. And I think every year you dress them up a little differently and try to streamline things. HOW ABOUT THE DEFENSIVE SIDE? ANY BIG CHANGES YOU SEE THIS YEAR? This is the most depth from a defensive standpoint that we’ve had. And so I think we’ve got to do a really good job of making sure that we’re using all our pieces. That’s kind of where the college model has changed. When you start paying players, you’ve got to make sure that the money is on the grass. I think we’ve got a lot of guys up front and at the second level that could play winning football. We’ve always believed in rotating players and having multiple packages, but I think you'll see more rotation this year. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM YOUR FATHER (A LONGTIME HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH)? The biggest thing is do the best you can with what you got. I learned that at a very early age

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that regardless of whether I’ve been DII, I-AA or in the SEC, you’ve got the hand that you were dealt, and it’s your responsibility to do the best you can with it. HOW DO YOU RELAX? When I’m outside of football, it’s all about my kids. What I really, really enjoy is being around them, doing what they love to do. All three of my kids really love to compete and be outdoors. And so for me, whether it’s on the golf course with my boys or watching my girl at a gymnastics meet or having the availability to take them on vacation and see them smile and laugh and enjoy new experiences. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST KEYS TO SUCCESS ON THE FIELD THIS YEAR? No. 1, humility. It’s easy sometimes to climb the mountain. It’s harder to stay there. Awareness is really important. I always talk about blind spots, what you think you are and what you really are. You’ve got to have humility to be able to see that, but you also have to have awareness. It’s really, really important for us to understand what it takes to win and not think about winning. That focus is really, really important to me.

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NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES ARE BECOMING THE NORM ACROSS OLE MISS VARSIT Y SPORTS, A TESTAMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY’S COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS. WRIT TEN BY EUGENE STOCKSTILL | PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY OLE MISS ATHLETICS

veryone knows all about the Ole Miss football team’s big effort in the playoffs last go-around. That the school’s baseball team made it to the College World Series again. And that the women’s basketball team made a fifth straight appearance in the national tournament. But did you know that also competing at the highest levels in the NCAA are the Ole Miss women’s and men’s golf teams, the school’s rifle team, the women’s and men’s cross-country teams, the women’s and men’s tennis teams, the women’s and men’s track teams, the volleyball team? Football may be king in the Deep South, and the big three sports may get most of the attention, but there’s a whole lot more going on athletically at Ole Miss, athletic director Keith Carter said. “We’ve known it forever, that football drives the train. You’ve got to be really good at football to have a seat at the table,” Carter said. But, “we talk a ton about having a comprehensive athletic program. We’ve been pretty successful.” That’s especially important, Carter said, when you’ve got 425 student-athletes on campus. Here’s a roundup of what’s been happening with Ole Miss athletics in recent years.

he men’s golf team, coached by Chris Malloy, won the SEC championship last April and finished third in the regional championships to earn the chance to play in the NCAA championships in Carlsbad, California.The women’s golf team made its biggest splash with a national title in 2021. Under the leadership of head coach Kory Henkes, they have made seven NCAA championship appearances in the past nine seasons, including last year. The golf teams compete in early fall and in the spring every year.

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he women’s and men’s cross-country teams make regular appearances at SEC, regional and national competitions. The men’s team has finished in the top 25 at NCAA Championships nine consecutive times. The fall sport culminates with NCAA Championships in late November.

oached by Will Shaner, the university’s rifle team made program history by winning the small-bore event at the NCAA Championships last spring. They finished third place overall at the tournament, and Audrey Gogniat won the individual air rifle title for the second consecutive year. The college rifle season is from October to March.

FOOTBALL FOOTBALL FOOTBALL MAY BE KING MAY BE MAY BEKING KING IN THE DEEP IN THE IN THEDEEP DEEP SOUTH, AND SOUTH, SOUTH,AND AND THE BIG THREE THE THEBIG BIGTHREE THREE SPORTS MAY SPORTS SPORTSMAY MAY GET MOST OF GET MOST GET MOSTOF OF THE ATTENTION, THE THEATTENTION, ATTENTION, BUT THERE’S BUT BUTTHERE’S THERE’S AAWHOLE LOT WHOLE A WHOLELOT LOT MORE GOING ON MORE GOING MORE GOINGON ON ATHLETICALLY AT ATHLETICALLY ATHLETICALLYAT AT OLE MISS. OLE OLEMISS. MISS.

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rack coach Connie Price-Smith, a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame, has led her squads to 16 NCAA individual titles, has coached 188 All-Americans and counts 34 Top 25 national team finishes. Indoor track season is December-March, and outdoor season is March-June. In late July, four student-athletes (Jordan Urrutia, Dekell Minor, Aiden Britt and Arvesta Troupe) qualified for and competed in the 2026 Toyota USA Track and Field Championships in New York City, with Urrutia making finals in the 200-meter dash.

he school’s volleyball team, coached by Bre Henry, has made NCAA tournament appearances in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2021 and 2024. It opened this year’s season at home in late August. The SEC and NCAA tournaments are held in November and December.

OLE MISS

WOMEN'S WOMEN'S GOLF WOMEN'SGOLF GOLF MEN'S MEN'S GOLF MEN'SGOLF GOLF RIFLE RIFLE TEAM RIFLETEAM TEAM CROSS-COUNTRY CROSS-COUNTRY CROSS-COUNTRY VOLLEYBALL VOLLEYBALL VOLLEYBALL WOMEN'S WOMEN'S TRACK WOMEN'STRACK TRACK MEN'S MEN'S TRACK MEN'STRACK TRACK WOMEN'S WOMEN'S SOCCER WOMEN'SSOCCER SOCCER WOMEN'S WOMEN'S TENNIS WOMEN'STENNIS TENNIS MEN'S MEN'S TENNIS MEN'STENNIS TENNIS he women’s soccer team, under a new coaching staff including head coach Todd Shulenberger, also started play in August. And college tennis gets underway in September with individual play; team play is January-May. The men’s tennis team made the NCAA tournament last spring.

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going pro SEVERAL PL AYERS FROM THE 2025 OLE MISS ROSTER ARE NOW PART OF NFL TEAMS, JOINING A GROWING LIST OF PROFESSIONAL PL AYERS WHO GOT STARTED AS REBELS. W R I T T E N B Y E M I LY W E L LY | G R A P H I C S P R O V I D E D B Y N F L C O M M U N I C A T I O N S | P H O T O S P R O V I D E D B Y O L E M I S S A T H L E T I C S

urn on an NFL game this fall, and you will likely find a former Ole Miss Rebel on the field. More than 40 Rebels are now listed on the rosters of 20 different NFL teams. At least five of them are NFL rookies. Four of them have more than 10 years in the league. Three of them were Super Bowl champs last year. The newest class of NFL rookies includes two Ole Miss players who were chosen in the NFL Draft in April. Wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling was the first pick of the second round (the 33rd pick overall) by the San Francisco 49ers. Stribling, who was with the Rebels for the 2025 season, was an important part of the offense, probably most remembered for his clutch 40-yard reception in the Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia. Offensive lineman Jayden Williams was selected in the seventh round by the Arizona Cardinals. Williams’ entire college career was at Ole Miss, where he started in 34 of 45 career games, including all 15 games of the 2025 season. Stribling and Williams are not the only rookies coming from Ole Miss this season. Several others were picked up as undrafted free agents in the weeks and months following the draft, including: Harrison Wallace III (Arizona Cardinals); Diego Pounds (Baltimore Ravens); Tahj Chambers (Indianapolis Colts); and Kapena Gushiken (Philadelphia Eagles). Wydett Williams Jr., Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright also found spots on NFL rosters but made headlines in mid-August when a court order granted them an additional year of college eligibility. At press time, Harris and Wright were heading back to the NCAA; a decision by Williams was pending. To further complicate matters, the SEC issued a statement it was opposed to professional athletes returning to college football, and the NCAA was actively fighting other similar court rulings.

Harrison Wallace III

Zxavian Harris

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Wydett Williams Jr.

Diego Pounds

Kapena Gushiken

De'Zhaun Stribling

Jayden Williams

Tahj Chambers

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Ole IMiss N THE THE FOLLOWING FORMER OLE MISS REBELS CURRENTLY PL AY IN THE NFL:

Princely Umanmielen

Jaxson Dart

Tre’ Harris

Walter Nolen III

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*This information is accurate as of the time this magazine went to press and may not account for final changes to NFL rosters.

Trey Amos

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A Heart for Home BY CELEBRATING SOUTHERN CULTURE, FAMILY LIFE AND SEC FOOTBALL, AN OXFORD ARTIST BUILDS BOTH HER ART AND HER AUDIENCE. WRIT TEN A N D PHOTO G R A PH ED BY LIN DS AY PACE

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hristian Wash Garvey didn’t set out to build an online following. She was just sharing stories of the South. “We have this very selfdeprecating sense of humor,” Wash Garvey said. “We know the way that we come across to the rest of the world, and we lean in in a way that I really appreciate.” Today, that instinct has grown into an online following that centers around Southern culture, art and SEC fandom. Her TikTok account has more than 53,000 followers and over 2 million likes; her Instagram has nearly 19,000. Her first video to go viral, though, wasn’t about football — it was about her son, Red. When someone misheard his name as “Bread” and didn’t flinch, Wash Garvey knew she was onto something. “I was so taken aback that I didn’t correct her,” Wash Garvey said. “I made a video, and I was like, ‘The South is so funny because we have just inoculated each other to the weirdest names.’” It’s the kind of moment Wash Garvey has built a career on noticing, which began shortly after a move to Oxford when her husband, Dave, accepted a position as the director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in 2022. The move followed a chance stopover. Both major sports fans — so much so that their dog is named after former Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson — the couple had passed through Oxford one Thanksgiving on their way to visit Wash Garvey’s family in Laurel. They were charmed. “That December the job opening popped up,” Wash Garvey said. “He got hired in January, so it felt pretty ordained.” The eccentricities of life in a close-knit college town have not only been a perfect medium for storytelling — they’ve also been solid ground to build on as an Etsy artist. Working with different mediums keeps Wash Garvey creatively engaged. She specializes in screen-printed bandanas and tote bags, as well as acrylic bag charms, game-day buttons, handstitched apparel and jewelry — though she’s best known for pieces that highlight the “inside jokes” of Southern, sports-loving life. “I feel grateful that I have built a customer base that enjoys what I make. I don’t take that lightly,” Wash Garvey said. “It’s a gift.” That gift wasn’t part of any plan. With a background in education and no formal art training, she didn’t intend to pursue a business. Like her social media presence, it happened organically. Continued on page 60

Bandanas with Bowen Christian Wash Garvey’s daughter, Bowen, shows off one of her mom’s custom bandanas. Here's how she styles it.

1. Start smooth.

Unfold the bandana completely so the fabric lies flat and even.

2. Fold into a triangle.

Fold the bandana corner-to-corner once to form an even triangle, then gather the edges for a relaxed look.

3. Tie it off.

Secure the bandana with a simple knot.

4. Wear it your way.

Whether it’s a headband, neck scarf or bag accent, the finished look is ready for a day around town.

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Step-by-Step Screen Printing 1. Build and stretch the frame.

Wash Garvey’s husband, Dave, builds the wooden frames. Then, she stretches the mesh over them.

2. Coat the screen.

In a dark room, she smooths a thin layer of UV-sensitive emulsion across the screen letting it dry completely.

3. Design and cut the stencil.

Wash Garvey sketches her design in Procreate, then sends it to a Cricut machine, which cuts the image into vinyl. It’s mirrored so that it transfers perfectly once printed.

4. Expose the design.

She places the vinyl cutout onto the coated screen and exposes it to UV light for just 15 seconds to set the design in place.

5. Rinse and reveal.

Then comes the fun part: Wash Garvey rushes the screen to the sink and rinses it with water. The emulsion beneath the vinyl washes away, while the rest hardens, revealing an open stencil in the shape of her design.

6. Print.

Once the screen is dry, she pours fabric ink across the top and pulls it down with a squeegee, pressing the ink through the mesh and onto the fabric below, completing the piece.

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Continued from page 57 “I feel very lucky to have ended up here,” she said. As for her devotion to SEC football? It long predates her move to Oxford, dating back to family allegiances in childhood. Growing up in Nashville in the late 1990s, Wash Garvey watched the Tennessee Vols win a national championship, an event that came with its own household controversy. “They made us learn Rocky Top in choir,” she said. “And my mom was horrified. She was like, ‘You have red hair. You can’t pull off that orange.’” Despite the household’s Tennessee ties, Wash Garvey has been an Ole Miss fan since her early 20s, a loyalty she’s kept even without having attended the university. For her, the appeal of college football was never really about the game itself. “(Sports fans) are such a diverse group,” she said. “You probably wouldn’t be brought together for any other reason, except that you’re cheering on this team of 18-year-olds. It’s a nice escape from whatever else is going on.” Her knack for finding joy in all things Southern, from a college football rivalry to a Saturday afternoon in The Grove, is the throughline of Wash Garvey’s work, both online and off. “(The South) is such a peculiar, delightful, whimsical, complicated-without-even-meaning-to-be, nuanced place,” she said. “All I have to do is be observant and communicate.”

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MEETS

HONKY-TONK IN

NASHVILLE

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EXPLORE MUSIC CIT Y, HOST TO TWO OLE MISS FOOTBALL GAMES THIS SEASON.

HOTTY TODDY

s football season kicks off, it’s the perfect time to reshape the way you travel — by following your favorite team on the road. Instead of seeing an away game as just another date on the schedule, use it as an invitation to explore somewhere different and experience a place you might not have chosen otherwise. Let tailgates and team spirit guide the weekend but make extra time for good meals, local attractions and unhurried strolls at each destination. Ole Miss opens the season with a game against the Louisville Cardinals at Nissan Stadium in Music City — Nashville, Tennessee — a fitting first stop for what could become a new travel tradition. Just four hours north of Oxford, this makes for an easy road trip for Rebels fans. If you’d rather fly, daily nonstop service connects Tupelo Regional Airport to Nashville International Airport in about an hour. With nearly 200 hotels to choose from across the city, there are lodging options for every budget and taste. Blocks from Broadway and Printers Alley, Hotel Noelle offers historic charm and fantastic views from its rooftop bar, Rare Bird. Dolly Parton’s stylish hotel, the SongTeller, has its own museum as well as live music venues. Over in the Gulch, the attention to detail at the W Nashville makes for a luxurious stay. When it comes to getting around, rideshares are readily available but don’t overlook the city-wide WeGo public transportation system, bike rentals or Hop on-Hop off trolleys and open-air buses. Nashville’s most iconic culinary staples may start with hot chicken and Southern comfort food but they certainly don’t end there. One of the best ways to get a feel for its eclectic food Continued on page 68

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ON THE ROAD AGAIN

issed the first game? There’s another chance for a Tennessee road trip when Ole Miss returns Oct. 10 to play against the Vanderbilt Commodores. The game will be held at FirstBank Stadium on the grounds of Vandy’s gorgeous, tree-lined campus. Make a day of it and explore the Hillsboro Village/Belmont neighborhoods close to the university. Eat brunch at Pancake Pantry or Biscuit Love, then follow it with artful pauses at the various street murals in the area. Lastly, head over to Centennial Park for walking paths, a life-size replica of the Parthenon and a gold statue of the goddess Athena.

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Continued from page 65 scene, especially for first-time visitors, is by sampling the local favorites at Assembly Food Hall. For watch parties and alumni events, Odie’s Bar is a regular hangout for the Music City Rebels and known for beer, burgers, and a vibrant happy hour. Peg Leg Porker serves Memphis Style dry ribs with a side of Kool-Aid pickles or you can settle in for a more refined farm-totable dinner at Husk Nashville. Bad Idea won the Michelin American South Sommelier Award and the Catbird Seat is not-to-be-missed for its Michelin Star meals. Balance out stadium time with tours of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, or the National Museum of African American Music. If you’re traveling with children, the Martin ArtQuest area of the Frist Art Museum is an excellent interactive play space for young artists. Hear from songwriters and musicians in intimate settings like the Bluebird Cafe or the Listening Room. Before you leave town, be sure to include visits to Nashville’s independent shops. Pick up a box of Goo Goo Clusters, a poster from Hatch Show Print, or browse the intentionally curated goods at ABLE, Imogen + Willie, or White’s Mercantile.

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Recipes

Rivalries

ADD CREATIVITY TO YOUR TAILGATE THIS FALL WITH THESE FUN SNACKS INSPIRED BY THE SEC RIVALS COMING TO OXFORD. RECIPES BY SARAH GODWIN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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Sept. 19

T R A I T O R TAT E R S 1 (22- to 26-ounce) bag frozen waffle fries 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning ½ cup diced andouille sausage Queso, for topping ½ cup shredded pepper jack cheese Sliced scallions, for garnish Pickled jalapeno slices, for garnish Sprinkle fries with Cajun seasoning, and bake according to package directions. While baking, saute diced sausage over medium heat until browned. Once the fries are baked, place on a serving plate, and drizzle with queso. Top with pepper jack cheese, sausage, scallions and jalapenos. Serve warm.

Geaux to Hell, LSU!

Continued on page 74

his football season, take a few playful shots at the teams coming to town with tailgate recipes that pay homage to their home states and signature flavors. From LSU-inspired Traitor Taters to Mississippi State Dawg Chow, these dishes bring a little rivalry to the table — and give Rebel fans plenty to dig into before kickoff.

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Continued from page 73

Oct. 17 T O A S T E D R AV I O L I ¼ cup olive oil 1 egg 2 tablespoons milk Pinch of salt and pepper ¾ cup Italian breadcrumbs 10 ounces frozen or fresh cheese ravioli Marinara sauce, for serving Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a sheet pan with olive oil. In a medium bowl, stir together egg, milk, salt and pepper until combined. Place breadcrumbs in a separate shallow bowl. Working with one hand, dip ravioli, 1 at a time, in egg mixture, letting excess drip off. Transfer to breadcrumbs, flipping over to coat completely, and place in a single layer on prepared sheet pan. Bake for 7-8 minutes. Flip raviolis over, and bake 7-8 minutes more. Serve warm with marinara sauce.

Toasted ravioli, or “t-ravs,” are a St. Louis specialty that the Food Network recently named Missouri’s most iconic food.

Oct. 31 CONECUH SAUSAGE CHEESE BOARD

1 pound cooked Conecuh sausage, cut into bitesize pieces ½ pound cheddar cheese cubes Spicy pickle slices (such as Wickle’s) Crackers Pickled red onions Pimiento cheese Brown mustard Arrange all ingredients on a board or platter, starting with sausage and cheese cubes and placing remaining items around them as desired.

This popular hickory smoked sausage is available onsite in Conecuh Sausage’s Evergreen, Alabama, store or online for shipping, or check your local grocery store. Continued on page 76

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Continued from page 74

Nov. 7 PEACH CHUTNEY ½ cup diced yellow onion 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger ½ teaspoon garam masala ¼ teaspoon ground coriander ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 3-4 large, fresh peaches, peeled and diced 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 3 tablespoons brown sugar ½ teaspoon salt 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, softened, for serving Pita wedges or chips, for serving In a medium saucepan, cook onions in olive oil over medium heat until soft. Add spices, and saute until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Add peaches, vinegar, brown sugar and salt; reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring regularly, until jammy, 15-20 minutes. Serve over cream cheese with pita or chips.

has a Peach Team that conducts research on peach production and collaborates with other peach researchers around the world to apply their f indings to the industry.

UGA

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Nov. 27 D AW G C H O W 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 cup creamy peanut butter 7-8 cups crispy rice cereal squares (such as Rice Chex) 1 ½ cups powdered sugar In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter over low heat, stirring until smooth. Place cereal in a large bowl, and pour half of peanut butter mixture over cereal, gently folding to coat cereal. Gradually add remaining peanut butter mixture to cereal, stirring until coated after each addition. Once thoroughly coated, place in refrigerator for about 10 minutes, removing to stir cereal halfway through chill time. When cereal is about room temperature, remove from refrigerator, and add 1 cup powdered sugar, stirring to coat well. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and serve.

Since their f irst meeting in 1901, Ole Miss’ record against Mississippi State is

68-47-6.

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History in the

Making LEE HARPER’S MINIATURE REPLICAS DO MORE THAN SURPRISE AND DELIGHT — THEY ARE BRIMMING WITH HISTORICAL FACTS AND PRECISE ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL THAT KEEP HER FANS AND PATRONS WANTING TO LEARN MORE. WRITTEN BY SONIA THOMPSON | PHOTOS BY JOE WORTHEM

Continued on page 82

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Continued from page 80

nyone who has ever played with or admired a dollhouse knows what a joy miniatures are to behold. The tiny windows, the itty-bitty chairs, the wee cups of coffee. But for Oxford artist Lee Harper, the fun is actually in the research. “I love objects that can tell history,” Harper said. “The history part is really important to me. I need to have a story. I need some facts. I need some kind of context.” Harper has been creating historically accurate, detailed and scaled replicas of Oxford’s most iconic buildings since 2019. From local businesses including Oxford’s Square Books and The Gin to private homes like Shadowlawn and the Stick Fence House, Harper’s work is instantly recognizable. But there is always more to learn, even with the most familiar places. “I want to know, ‘is it dirty around the doorknob because everybody uses this door as opposed to that one?’ Little things like that,” Harper said. “In fact, if the building is perfect, it’s kind of boring. The more wear and tear, the more character.” The history of how Harper began creating this artwork involves two of her favorite people: her son and the late Ron Shapiro. When her son, Ben, was young, she started making miniature Halloween skeletons for him as a substitute for the popular Christmastime Elf on the Shelf. As the tradition continued, Harper began adding more details. Those details morphed into artistic dioramas that would come to include catacombs, St. Roch’s Chapel in New Orleans, Typhoid Mary, Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution, to name a few. It became a series titled “History Bones.” “I myself am drawn to the odd and curious,” she said. “So now [the skeleton] had clothes. Now we have a cobblestone street because of the time period. What are the buildings like? What would the outfits be? What kind of facial hair would men have?” At the same time Harper was creating “History Bones,” she made a special piece for the annual Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Christmas ornament auction fundraiser. It was 2019, the year Ron Shapiro died, and Harper decided to make a replica of Shapiro’s coffee shop/arthouse movie theater The Hoka to honor him. Her Hoka became a precursor to her current series. “That right there changed the total trajectory of my life and my work,” Harper said. “It brought everything I love doing into one wheel-

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“ In fact, if

the building is perfect, it’s kind of boring. The more wear and tear, the more character.

”

– LEE HARPER

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house. It combined history, storytelling, asking people about their stories and making art.” Since then, Harper’s artwork has been featured in magazines including Southern Living, Delta Magazine and Garden & Gun. More career highlights include exhibits at the Museum of the Mississippi Delta and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. She cherishes memories of creating a commission for William Eggleston’s family and meeting Walter Anderson’s children Mary, Leif and John for her re-creation of Oldfields, the Anderson home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. “There are no photos of the interior of their house besides the attic,” Harper said. “And they gave me the blueprint through their stories that made it possible to make a model of Oldfields.” In 2020, Harper, with her friend the late Pableaux Johnson, self-published a collection of her work, titled “Tiny Oxford Volume 1. Mississippi Memories in Miniature.” Her second book, slated for publication by University Press of Mississippi in August of 2027, casts a wider net. It will include photos of her pieces from around the state, everything from the wellknown Graceland Too in Holly Springs to the Mayflower Café in Jackson to oddities like the Moonshine Submarine in Port Gibson. For Harper, there are so many stories she still wants to tell about her home state. “I thought, if we’re going to do a Mississippi book, why not make it a wonderful celebration of art, music, food, writing, everything,” she said. “We all know Mississippi has a lot of hideous chapters. But we do have a lot to celebrate, too. You just have to be positive and find the good, and above all, be curious about things.”

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NORTH MISSISSIPPI’S VIBRANT AND DIVERSE CYCLING COMMUNITY WELCOMES ROAD AND MOUNTAIN BIKERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS TO PARTICIPATE IN WEEKLY RIDES, EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE THE GROWING SPORT. WRITTEN BY DAWN DENHAM | PHOTOS BY JOE WORTHEM

hether you prefer road, gravel or mountain biking, north central Mississippi offers plenty of ways to get on two wheels. From paved rail trails and quiet country roads to hand-built singletrack, the region has become a destination for cyclists of all ages and skill levels — and the local cycling community is growing right along with it. Oxford’s cycling scene is particularly active, with weekly group rides, mountain biking clubs, gravel events and ongoing efforts to expand trails and connect existing bike routes. For newcomers, riding with a group is one of the easiest ways to get started. For experienced cyclists, there’s no shortage of challenging roads, hills and trails to explore. The region’s cycling infrastructure has deep roots. At the end of the 19th century, north central Mississippi towns existed because of mills, farms and rail lines. Today, some of those former rail lines have found a new life as recreational trails, connecting communities and giving cyclists a chance to experience the landscape in a whole new way. The Tanglefoot Trail, located in the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area, follows 44 miles of the old Gulf and Ship Island Railroad, once owned by our own Falkner family. The Long Leaf Trace stretches 44 miles along the former Mississippi Central line, beginning in downtown Hattiesburg and ending in Prentiss. Since opening in 2013, the Tanglefoot Trail has become a major destination. It was named one of 10 new National Recreation Trails in 2015 and voted into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in 2019, helping drive economic development in the three counties it crosses. Its success has inspired other communities to transform former rail lines into paved, multiuse trails. In Oxford, the multiuse Oxford Depot Trail runs from Molly Barr Road to the historic Oxford Depot over Jackson Avenue and connects with roads that have designated bike lanes. Oxford’s commitment to cycling has earned the city recognition from the League of American Bicyclists as a “bicycling friendly city.” These paved paths are used daily by people of all ages and backgrounds for recreation and sport, including cyclists who travel from out of state, and they are continuing to expand. Plans are underway to extend the Tanglefoot Trail 20 miles north from New Albany to Ripley. In Oxford, efforts are focused on improving and creating parks, connecting existing multi-use paths and designated bike lanes and building new trails. The Yalobusha Greenway Alliance, a nonprofit based in Water Valley, is working to convert the former Illinois Central line from SEPTEMBER 2026 | INVITATION

FIND YOUR RIDE •

Oxford Cycling hosts informal A-Team and B-Team group rides throughout the week that are open to anyone. There are weekend options as well as afternoon and evening weekday rides. Find the most updated information at facebook.com/ OxfordCycling.

•

The website rideoxford.com compiles information on local group rides, upcoming cycling events, cycling clubs and more.

•

In Tupelo, group rides take place Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Find information at corecycleandoutdoor.com/group-rides.

•

Core Cycle + Outdoor has locations in Tupelo (1697 N. Coley Rd.) and Oxford (1009 N. Lamar Blvd.) Check them out for gear, apparel, footwear, helmets, maintenance and repairs.

•

The Ole Miss Bike Shop, located in the Department of Transportation building at 980 Whirlpool Drive Suite A, is helmed by long-time MRB enthusiast and advocate Steve Valliant and offers student and staff rentals, repair and maintenance. Valliant, a dedicated trail maintenance volunteer, organizes the annual MTB Cry Baby Time Trial and other events. Find information on services offered through the bike shop, safety tips and more at olemiss.edu/parking/bike-page.

•

Keep up with the Gnarmadillos youth mountain biking team by following them on Facebook or contacting them at northmsnica@gmail.com.

•

Support the organizations working to expand trails in the area, such as Tanglefoot Trail (tanglefoottrail.com) and Yalobusha Greenways Alliance (yalobushagreenways.org) by attending their meetings, donating or volunteering at events.

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Grenada to Holly Springs, through Taylor and Oxford, into a multiuse park. The organization currently maintains nearly 2 miles of the Yalobusha Greenway in downtown Water Valley. According to TrailLink by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, “Cycling in Mississippi grew out of old rail and farm roads and has turned into an organized, fast-growing scene built around rail-trails, singletrack, and quiet rural pavement.” That description fits: Whether you’re looking for a leisurely ride, a challenging climb, a fast group road ride or miles of gravel and dirt, there’s a route — and a community — to help you find it.

ROAD RIDING For those seeking that “quiet rural pavement,” north central Mississippi offers “some of the best road cycling in the state, including hills for climbing,” said Claude Gunter, founder of Oxford’s Velvet Ditch Gran Fondo, an annual multi-distance ride. The region’s rolling hills and natural beauty make a 25- to 50-mile ride a welcome challenge, but sharing the road requires awareness from both cyclists and drivers. Gunter said today’s technology has made road cycling safer than many people realize. Side mirrors, magnetic lights, radar systems and reflective clothing all give riders additional tools to stay visible and aware of their surroundings. Most state, county and town roads in Mississippi still lack bike lanes or even generous shoulders, yet cyclists of all ages and abilities regularly take to the open roads of the Hill Country, often in groups. Sital Sigh, an avid cyclist whose husband and children also ride, joined several local riding groups and felt welcomed immediately. “The barrier,” she said of cycling in Mississippi, is being alone. “I worry about safety, and here, you can always be part of a group.” That sense of community can make all the difference. Dogs, fast drivers and motorists who are unfamiliar with or fail to follow Mississippi’s safe-passing law can add risk to what some consider an inherently vulnerable pastime. But there is strength in numbers. Local cycling groups offer support, camaraderie, clinics and a variety of riding experiences, from no-drop and fast rides to trail and gravel rides. Oxford Cycling hosts group rides that depart from Oxford throughout the week. The “B-Team” rides on weekend mornings from Yocona Ridge and Plein Air in Taylor and on specific weekday afternoons from M-Trade Park. Additionally, the “A-Team” rides daily and

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RULES OF THE ROAD Compiled by the Ole Miss Bike Shop

Bicyclists and motorists alike should be familiar with bike safety rules: 1. Never ride against traffic. Ride with traffic to avoid collisions. 2. Be predictable while biking. Use hand signals to tell other vehicles and pedestrians what you intend to do. 3. Bicyclists may use the full lane. 4. Always wear a helmet. Helmets reduce the risk of head injury in a bicycle accident. 5. Use bike lights and wear reflective clothing at night or when visibility is poor. Learn about state bike laws at bikelaw.com/laws/Mississippi.

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SAVE THE DATE Ride with like-minded folks in noncompetitive, multi-distance events benefitting local causes and organizations: Sept. 26: Tallahatchie River Ride, New Albany: visitnewalbany.com/ tallahatchie-riverfest Oct. 10: Tour de Bodock, Tanglefoot Trail: tanglefoottrail.com Also mark your 2027 calendars for these popular annual rides: the Natchez Trace Century in May in Jackson; Pedaling for Hope and Ride for the Light in June on the Tanglefoot Trail; Bikes, Blues & Bayous in August in Greenwood; and the Velvet Ditch Gran Fondo in August in Oxford.

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welcomes experienced riders looking for a fast and reputably tough group. Local cyclists also lead pop-up rides on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. For current ride information, visit Oxford Cycling’s Facebook page. New riders are typically added to GroupMe threads for individual riding groups, making it easy to find a ride that matches your experience.

ON THE DIRT Mountain biking has a long history in Oxford and the surrounding hills — in fact, the sport took hold here first. The Whirlpool Trails offer a diverse network of dirt and mountain bike trails, while the South Campus Rail Trail provides a 2.5mile gravel corridor that’s popular with mountain bikers as well as walkers. Oxford and Lafayette County have expanded and refined two major singletrack systems, with more than 35 miles of hand-built trails ranging from beginner-friendly routes to challenging terrain for experienced riders. Paired with nearby forest roads and rolling farmland, these trails allow cyclists to mix pavement, gravel and dirt in a single ride, helping establish the Hill Country as a mid-South mountain biking destination. The North Mississippi Gnarmadillos Mountain Biking Team, based in Oxford, gives middle and high school riders the opportunity to learn, train and compete through the Mississippi Interscholastic Cycling League (NICA). The club emphasizes health, strength and inclusion while giving student-athletes opportunities to serve their community through trail maintenance and stewardship. A girls’ program actively encourages more female riders and coaches to join the sport.

GRAVEL GETS GROWING Gravel riding — which combines smooth pavement with rough dirt roads — is currently the fastest-growing cycling style in the U.S. Riders are drawn to the freedom and relative solitude of gravel roads, the variety of distances and terrain, and a community that tends to emphasize fun and camaraderie over the intensity of elite competition. North Mississippi has plenty of gravel, with rides organized by cyclists throughout the region from the Memphis area to Collierville, Hernando, Oxford and Tupelo. Gravel bikes are built specifically for this type of riding, with features that set them apart from both traditional road and mountain bikes. The North Mississippi Gravel Rides Facebook page posts about group rides on various trails, including Ashland and Potts Camp. As one avid gravel rider puts it, “There’s good gravel to be had out on Highway 30E in the Holly Springs National Forest as well as in Water Valley South of Enid Lake.” No matter your discipline — or your bike — there’s a place for you in north Mississippi’s cycling community. Seasoned cyclist or first-time rider, roadie or mountain biker, gravel enthusiast or trail explorer, there are clubs, group rides and local bike shops ready to help you find your way. Get in the saddle, turn the pedals and enjoy the wind in your face. There may be no better way to experience the beauty of Mississippi.

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101

COME AND GET IT!

HONOR SYSTEM ROADSIDE FARM STANDS DRAW NEIGHBORS AND PASSERSBY FOR PRODUCE, FLOWERS, EGGS AND MORE. W R IT TEN BY EU G EN E STO C KSTI LL | P H OTO S BY LI SA R O B ERTS | I LLU STRATED BY SARAH GODWIN

“C

ome and get it!” That old-fashioned shout-out has real meaning for north Mississippi farm stands that run on the honor system. The small stands are sprinkled all around country roads in this corner of the state in the summertime selling their goods. Customers can find fresh eggs, fruits and veggies, breads and sweets, jams and jellies, and more. We chatted with proprietors of several selfserve farm stands in the northeast corner of the state. It can be a bit of an adventure to see what such stands are offering at any given time because stocking times and open-for-business hours vary, but most of these stands have official Facebook or Instagram sites where they post updates. They all accept cash and most use Venmo and/or other cash apps for purchases.

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Magnolia Poultry 187 McComb Avenue, Saltillo

Magnolia was established in October 2022, William Sloan said. It all started when the family began raising Coturnix quail at their home for the meat and eggs. “As friends and family learned about what we were doing, they began requesting fresh eggs, meat and our homemade pickled quail eggs,” he said. “When the egg shortage occurred, we added chickens, and we opened.” All of Magnolia’s poultry is pasture-raised, Sloan said. The business specializes in hatchto-order quail and chickens. Incubators can hold up to 600 chicken eggs. Processed quail and chicken are also available on request. The business plans to add fresh veggies next year.

FUN FACT: The pickled quail eggs are made from a recipe that Sloan and his son have developed over the years.

HOURS: Open 7 a.m. until dark daily.

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The Backyard Market

TNT Farmworks

The Backyard Market started back in 2023, after retiree Larry Hood’s daughter saw something on Facebook about farm stands in another part of the country and told her father about it. “I have grown a garden pretty much all my life,” he said. “This is a family affair.” His wife, Dianne, makes salsa and pepper sauce, their daughter Stacia creates jams and jellies and their other daughter Stephanie prepares pickles. Located on a well-traveled thoroughfare, the Backyard Market gets more than its share of traffic. “People love the acid taste of my tomatoes,” he said.

TNT opened last year. Rachael Thompson was one of the first ones to participate in the Saltillo Market but grew tired of troubling with the travel and the setup. So, her husband Tracy fixed up a self-serve stand using an old cooler. “We’ve only been robbed once,” said Tracy Thompson, who said the new business has helped renew his faith in humanity. “You’ve got to learn to trust people.” During this year’s awful ice storm, TNT helped keep customers supplied with fresh eggs that still had the bloom on them. “My wife’s a magician,” with jams and jellies and canning, he said, when asked about the business’ specialty.

358 CR 341, Guntown

FUN FACT: The business gets cucumbers from an Egyptian couple who relocated from Africa to just over the state line in Tennessee.

HOURS: Open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.

197 Birmingham Road, Saltillo

FUN FACT: The business is named for the Thompsons’ son, Trenton Nathaniel Thompson (TNT).

HOURS: Open daily.

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Simple Life Farm Stand 300 CR 408 Ripley (just off Tippah Lake Road)

Simple Life started the second week of March 2026, Shelley Jenkins said. She queried the Facebook world last Christmastime about opening a self-serve farm stand and received enough positive feedback to follow through. Simple Life offers sourdough bread, cinnamon rolls, sweet breads (including praline-pecan-zucchini bread), farm-fresh eggs and a variety of snack mixes (including something called Tippah Trash). Jenkins also makes a zesty pear barbecue sauce. Simple Life’s specialty? Jenkins’ renowned smoked chicken salad, which comes with or without nuts and is available in other varieties, too. “The whole experience takes you back to a time where life was much more simple,” she said. “Food like Grandma made, from scratch, with love, sweat and time.”

FUN FACT: The business site has a notepad on which

customers write down what they are buying, which helps with inventory strategies. Simple Life also has a monthly drawing for a free dessert.

HOURS: 7 a.m. to dark daily. “I put my weekly selection out on Thursday morning, and I restock as needed,” Jenkins said.

The Farm Stand 271 CR 526, Ripley

The Farm Stand started in the summer of 2023, said Connie Davis, whose daughter, Candace Hopper, came up with the idea. “I’ll be honest,” she said. “I thought it was a crazy idea. We live in the country and 11 miles from town. Who on earth would want to come to a farm stand where we live? I was absolutely stunned at the business we had.” Tippah County’s first farm stand quickly morphed from a teeny tiny white wood shack into a robust, openair shed, which sits on her grandparents’ old homeplace and was built with materials from an old chicken house they owned. Specialty items include a variety of chicken salads, sausage balls and sourdough rolls. The stand’s stock varies depending on the season. “I have lights,” she said, “and people are welcome to come after dark.”

HOURS: The Farm Stand is restocked about 3 p.m. every Friday and stays open until there’s nothing left.

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Onefiftyseven Farms 156 CR 157, Corinth

Onefiftyseven opened its farm stand two years ago, Matthew Joshlin said. “Our inspiration was to be able to provide fresh vegetables to our community at a low price,” he said. Onefiftyseven specializes in fresh veggies but also has baked goods.

FUN FACT: An expansion of Onefiftyseven is in the works.

HOURS: Every day, anytime.

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Little Blue House 305 CR 770, Walnut

Little Blue House opened May 24, 2025, Jennifer Brumfield said, years after she started making TikTok and Facebook cooking tutorials with her sons. One son, Jacob, told his mom she needed to start her own business. Not long after, a niece’s 20-year-old playhouse became the Little Blue House. “We offer sourdough breads, yeast breads, chocolate and fruit fried pies, old-fashioned chocolate oatmeal cookies, whipped tallow, goat milk soap, 3D prints and much more,” she said. “Our motivation runs much deeper than simply selling breads and treats.”

HOURS: The stand is stocked and open on Saturdays.

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S OC IAL HOU R

FORD CENTER SEASON PREVIEW n Aug. 15, the Ford Center released its 2026-27 season performances. Members of the community offered a preview of some of the shows that will be staged. See the insert in this magazine for more information.

PHOTOS BY RACHEL WEST

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Courtney Mize and Erin Miller Gracie Miller, Bennett Worthy and Bailey Boyd Jason and Danica Boyd Elizabeth Howorth and Meaghin Burke Jason Boyd, Rhonda Hackworth, Elizabeth Howorth, Danica Boyd, Rachel West and Meaghin Burke

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F O U R T H O F J U LY PA R A D E

xford celebrated Independence Day with a family-friendly July Fourth parade around the Square. Families decorated their wagons, bicycles, scooters and other parade vehicles for a festive community tradition that honors local veterans and brings residents together for the holiday.

PHOTOS BY NINA FUDGE

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Cathy and James Butler with Bailey Sarah, Noah and Trudie Denton with Emma Sipes Walker and Audrey Broun Millie, Ryn and Logan Herrington Carley and Rea Sailor Mila, Will and Isla Liberti

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“ 2 5 0 G R E AT T H I N G S A B O U T A M E R I C A”

ff Square Books hosted author and Mississippi-based storyteller Mark Jones July 22 to celebrate “250 Great Things About America,” his collection of observations and stories about the people, places and traditions that make America distinctive. PHOTOS BY MILLER MEISENHEIMER

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Melody Johnson, David Johnson, Lee Johnson and Richard Howorth Miller Delgado, Sue Ellen Bass and Marjorie Buckley Gary Fisketjon, Ryan Baesemann and Lee Clay Johnson Tara Ward with Dana and Elizabeth Gibbs Bobby Rea and Cody Morrison Ryan Baesemann, Lee Clay Johnson and Gary Fisketjon Lyn Roberts and Tom Caldwell

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GORDON GALLERY OPENING

he July 31 opening of Gordon Gallery in Water Valley brought art enthusiasts together to celebrate the launch of a new creative space where work by regional artists is showcased. The gallery features Bradley S. Gordon artwork alongside rotating exhibits by guest artists, and it will host special events throughout the year. PHOTOS BY NINA FUDGE

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Shane and Lindsay King Sophie Nowell, Genevieve Gordon and Andi Hale Michael Prater and Erin Austen Abbott Crystal and Paige Fusilier Earl and Samantha Dismuke Jacki and Casey Clevenger Bradley and Anne-Marie Varnell Gordon Josh Kyle Lauren Fassero Alias

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U N I T E D WAY F L A S H B AC K B A S H

nited Way of Oxford-Lafayette County hosted its annual Flashback Bash Aug. 1 at Oxford Conference Center, bringing people together for a nostalgic night of music, dancing, food and entertainment. Proceeds support United Way’s efforts to address community needs and promote opportunities for youth, healthy communities, financial security and resiliency throughout Oxford and Lafayette County.

PHOTOS BY MILLER MEISENHEIMER

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Ernest Felker, Sherry Felker, Jennifer Friday and David Koon Miley Massey and Susan Massey Kevin Felker, Isis Arantes and Lance Felker Scott, Amanda and Luke Angle Melissa Elliott, Tammy Parham and Pam Chandler Casey Adams, Rachael Adams and Steven Prewitt Becky and Jay Evans Miley Massey and Zach Brunner Teasha Sanders and Marilyn Barnes Jake and Randi Quarles

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B ACK-TO -S CH O O L AT B R A M L E T T

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ramlett Elementary welcomed students and families back for the first day of the 2026–27 school year Aug. 5. The day marked the beginning of a new school year for kindergarten and first-grade students and the return of the school community to classrooms, teachers and familiar routines. P H OTO S BY R E B E K A H C L AY TO N

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8 9 5

Jeff and Abel Dupuis Jackie and Ella Hickinbottom Henry and Stacy Martin Adrianne and Harper Fondren Lia Cartagena Faith Andersen and Anna Waring Kara Hooks, Dr. Germain McConnell and Rickey Raine Gholam and Yazan Magaly Conger, Mateo Vargas and kindergarten student *Some families requested full names not be used.

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V E LV E T D I T C H G R A N F O N D O

yclists from across the region gathered at mTrade Park for the annual Velvet Ditch Gran Fondo, a noncompetitive ride through the Oxford area for riders of all experience levels.

PHOTOS BY MILLER MEISENHEIMER

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Dawn Denham, Jayne Gunter, Karen Christoff and Bo Aragon Ruby and Brian Walkington Jonathan Jones, Mollie Burgess, Helen Geary and Robert Maze Subhayu Bagchi and Helen Geary with Mollie and Elliott Burgess Jordan, Austin and Noah Hirsch Jonas and Leland King Tim Akers and Jayne Gunter David Woodward and Bruce Toppin Amanda Alpert Jessee, Laura Netten and Katie Sabatier

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SNAPSHOTS THE SIPP SUMMER SPRITZ P H OTO BY R E B E K A H C L AY TO N

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Mellisa Gragson and Haley Murphy Heather Moffatt and Alise Emerson Joeli Link and Lana Parrish Janet Scott with Eden Brooks and Ashley Jones Bodie Aleigha Fuentes with Kellie, Sherry and Dwight Wadkins

“ S TATE FA IR ” MU S I C A L AT TH E FO R D CE NTE R PHOTOS BY EMERS BUCKLEY

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R SVP

HAPPENING NOW OXFORD MISSISSIPPI

OLE MISS FOOTBALL VS. LSU S E P T E M B E R 1 9 | VAU G H T-H E M I N G WAY olemisssports.com

JUNIOR LEAGUE SPIRIT NIGHT SEPTEMBER 22 | EL CHARRO instagram.com/jrleagueoxford

C H A R D O N N AY TA S T I N G AT THE SIPP SEPTEMBER 23 | THE SIPP ON SOUTH LAMAR thesippms.com

DINNER AT THE DAHLIA'S SEPTEMBER 25 | FUDGETOWN FARM fudgetownfarm.com

9/11 MEMORIAL S TA IR CLIMB S E P T E M B E R 2 6 | VAU G H T-H E M I N G WAY facebook .com/O x fordFD

TA I LG ATE FO R PA L M E R EMERGENCY PR E PA R E D N E S S FA I R

THE LONGEST TABLE

S E P T E M B E R 3 | 1 3 8 9 C O O P E R AT I V E WAY

visitoxfordms.com

palmerhome.org/event s

SEPTEMBER 13 | THE CIRCLE

THE G ATLIN B ROTHE RS

JOHN TALT Y FOR “LANE BEING LANE”

SEPTEMBER 8 | THE FORD CENTER

SEPTEMBER 16 | OFF SQUARE BOOKS

olemiss.edu/fordcenter

squarebooks.com

THACKER MOUNTAIN SEASON PREMIERE

ELL A L ANGLEY CONCERT

SEPTEMBER 10 | THE POWERHOUSE

ellalangley.com

thackermountain.com

SEPTEMBER 26 | MANNING CENTER

SEPTEMBER 17 | THE PAVILION

OLE MISS SOCCER VS. MI S S I S S IPPI S TATE

KATHRYN STOCKET T BOOK SIGNING: “CALAMITY CLUB”

SEPTEMBER 11 | OLE MISS SOCCER STADIUM

SEPTEMBER 18 | OFF SQUARE BOOKS

olemisssports.com

squarebooks.com

OLE MISS FOOTBALL VS. CHARLOTTE

DATE NIG HT O N THE FA RM

S E P T E M B E R 1 2 | VAU G H T-H E M I N G WAY

SEPTEMBER 18 | FUDGETOWN FARMS

olemisssports.com

fudgetownfarm.com

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PO ST TOAST

BRYCEN SANDERS Brycen Sanders plays offensive line for the Ole Miss Rebels. This fall, he’ll also cohost a weekly podcast to reflect on the ongoing season.

Interviewed by Emily Welly | Photos by Bruce Newman

Q: A:

If you had to sum up last season in three words, what would those words be?

Dream come true. As a little kid, I always dreamed about playing college football, specifically playing in the SEC. Having the season we did with winning the Sugar Bowl and being so close to making the national championship is something I’ll never forget.

: You stepped up as a team leader during the playoff run. What was your focus at that time?

The most important thing to me was trying to win a national championship and make sure everyone else on the team had that same focus. I really tried to make sure everyone on the O-Line was focused and ready which was easy because we had some really good dudes in there. Also, other leaders on the team did a great job of stepping up in their respective position rooms. Everyone knew we were good enough to go on a run, so working toward that goal helped keep everyone focused.

What are your expectations for this coming season and how can fans support you?

Our goal and expectation is to win the national championship. Being the last team standing at the end of the season is the only thing that matters. We need the fans to be the loudest fans in the country this year!

Your grandfather played at Ole Miss. Can you talk about your family connection to the university and the football program?

Though my grandfather did play at Ole Miss, I honestly did not have a deeply tied loyalty to Ole Miss growing up. As a kid in Nashville and Chattanooga, I actually grew up as a big Alabama fan. However, every Saturday my grandfather would have the Ole Miss game on, so anytime I was with him we would be watching Ole Miss play. A special memory was being able to take my grandfather to a game

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when I was being recruited my junior year of high school. It was a moment I’ll never forget! Now, my family ties to Ole Miss are firmly rooted. I am an Ole Miss graduate, my parents and grandparents come to every game, my younger sister and my girlfriend are Ole Miss students. I love this place, and I am grateful for everything the Oxford and Ole Miss community have done for me.

You now have a finance degree and recently interned with a local real estate agency. That’s a lot to balance with football! Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully in the NFL! I’ve had a dream of playing professionally since I was a little kid, and that is something I still want to achieve. If football does not work out, I see myself doing something in the business world,

hopefully living a happy life, and playing a lot of golf! Most importantly being married and having a healthy family! Big shout out to O’Keefe Graham and Oxford Real Estate Collective for my spring internship. I learned a ton in my internship that will be valuable to me later in life.

Q: A:

What can we expect from your podcast with Chase Parham this fall?

Each week during the season, I will be recording The Brycen Sanders Show powered by NE SPARC hosted by Chase Parham of Rebels247 and MPW Digital. We plan to chat about football primarily by previewing upcoming games and debriefing previous games. Also, we will share some glimpses into my life off the field. I am excited to work with Chase, and I appreciate NE SPARC for being the headlining sponsor for our show!

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