Our time preparing for the launch of this issue was spent inside with the makers and the preservationists of the Carolinas. These dedicated individuals carry the torch for our region’s rich outdoor tradition and advocate for its future.
People like John Hollifield, a maker of fine bamboo fly rods in Western North Carolina, and the aptly named Fritz Orr, a National Open Canoe Champion and crafter of paddles, not only create beautiful, functional wares but also champion their sports. Conservationists like small business owner Marc Williams of The Sporting Gent are on the ground level—in his shop, in the field, and in his waders—fostering the growth of upland game and waterfowl populations and promoing the health of our streams. Historians like Robbie Smith—a collector of and storyteller on the art of duck decoys—pay homage to our heritage while folks from the new generation, like Buffalo Jackson’s Xan Hood, encourage you to honor your wild.
