An American Story

Sign painter Mike Meyer adorns his hometown of Mazeppa, MN, with his work

Mechanic Andy Swift restores fire engines for his community of Hope, Maine.

Contractor and attorney Shelley Halstead works with women in Baltimore to restore old homes and teach them the carpentry skills needed to save the properties.

Outfitter Jessie Allen has been breaking horses, guiding fishing trips and packing hunters into the Wyoming backcountry since she was a teenager. Today, Jessie uses her expert know-how to introduce other women to the wild beauty of her home state.

Wren Zimmerman dreamed of jumping horses in competition, but in her late teens she lost her vision to a rare eye condition. Refusing to give up, Wren went from never riding a horse to taking on competitions nationwide.

Pilot Paul Steklenski devotes his aviation skills, time and money to rescuing dogs from crowded shelters and flying them to new homes.

With no farming experience, Cindy Elliott left her corporate New York career to purchase 60 acres in Jackson, MS. Passionate about small scale farming, Cindy now runs her own farm to give her community access to fresh produce.

Naturalist Kiala Dean knew from an early age that the great outdoors are a place to find peace in a fast-moving world. Today, she shares her passion and unveils the wonders of the Ohio backcountry to visitors from all over America.

Multiple generations of Cajun woodworkers gather for a Christmas tradition of building massive bonfires in the Bayou. While much has changed since the first bonfires in the 1800s, their passion for keeping this celebration alive has never been stronger.

Three generations of African-American cowgirls reflect on racing horses and how the sport of rodeo has evolved. Overcoming discrimination to win championships, all three seek to provide inspiration for new generations of minorities within rodeo culture.