Early morning reflections mirrored in the flourishing pond at Clear Creek Vineyard & Winery suggest a perfect terroir – a French term pertaining to a region’s climate, soil and terrain that affects the taste of the wine. With grape vines stretching across most of his 10 acres in Camp Verde, Clear Creek Vineyard & Winery Owner Ignacio Mesa has cultivated sustainable solutions for his viticulture paradise. He purchased the land in 1998. Today, he produces about 1,150 cases of red and … [Read more...] about Turning Dreams into Wine
FBN Spotlight
Going the Distance
The time it takes most of us to get ready in the morning is just about the time Flagstaff professional runner Stephanie “Steph” Rothstein Bruce ran this year’s Boston Marathon. At 2:28:2, Stephanie placed 12th overall and was the 2nd American at the Boston Marathon 2022. In the last eight years, she has been ranked among the top 10 runners in the United States and sixth at the U.S. Olympic Trials. “Impressive” just doesn’t seem to describe Stephanie, who trained hard but also had a … [Read more...] about Going the Distance
American Cowboy Keeps Northern Arizona’s Thirsty Rangeland Watered
If Jack Rodgers’ life had a theme, it would be all about water. On the night this fourth generation cowboy was born, Sept. 23, 1955, the rains came: 17 inches in the little city of Rotan, Texas, near Sweetwater, marking the end of a devastating drought. “I remember my dad talking about the bad drought in Texas that happened in the early ‘50s. It was so bad, they would take propane burners and burn the needles off prickly pear so the cattle could eat the cactus for moisture,” said … [Read more...] about American Cowboy Keeps Northern Arizona’s Thirsty Rangeland Watered
Royal Plumbing Owner Chose Flagstaff for Family and Business
Royal Plumbing & Rooter Services owner Gabriel “Gabe” Ontiveros’s career successfully came about when he took over his uncle’s business 19 years ago. “When my family and I visited Flagstaff in 1997, my uncle, Ruben, offered me a job at his plumbing business,” he said. “At the time, I was working at Smith Pipe and Supply as an irrigation warehouse manager in Oxnard, California. My kids were young and I thought Flagstaff would be a good city to raise them in. So, we moved here.” After … [Read more...] about Royal Plumbing Owner Chose Flagstaff for Family and Business
Former Wrangler Shares Grand Canyon Life Through Art
Although Artist Mary Lois Brown had never traveled more than 20 miles outside of her small town in Pennsylvania, a river trip at the Grand Canyon in the late 1970s swept her miles away to a new home and a new job. Not only did that trip spur a love for the canyon, but also a love for the mules. In 1981, Brown accepted a job as one of only two women wranglers at the Grand Canyon. “I wanted an outdoor job,” she said. “There was one other woman wrangler that year, Shirley Bell, but I was the … [Read more...] about Former Wrangler Shares Grand Canyon Life Through Art
