A new voice for rural Oklahoma

June 2025

Here at Oklahoma Living, we know the best stories are the ones that come straight from the heart. The ones you hear sitting around a kitchen table or leaning against a pickup at the co-op. That is why we are eager to introduce a new voice to our pages — Cory Cart and his column, “Dispatches from Rural Oklahoma.”

Cory, grew up in Binger, a little town of fewer than 500 people. Most know it as the hometown of baseball legend Johnny Bench. Cory even received a scholarship from CKenergy Electric Cooperative, which led to a rewarding career in journalism and public relations. After traveling the country, he’s returned home to his roots. Cory knows what rural life is all about because he has lived it, and it shows in every word he writes.

He was shaped by the storytellers he grew up listening to. Paul Harvey kept him company on the tractor, Andy Rooney let him know when it was time to call it a day and Charles Kuralt sparked a lifelong curiosity about the world beyond the farm gate. Those influences come through in his writing, which is warm, thoughtful and full of heart.

Every month “Dispatches from Rural Oklahoma” will offer a window into genuine Oklahoma goodness, whether he is sharing stories about a family’s peanut farming legacy, an appreciation for aging post offices or the everyday moments that make rural life so special. We are proud to have him as part of the Oklahoma Living family. I think you will feel right at home reading his words, just like catching up with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while.

We work hard to make sure every page feels special, like it was made just for you. If a column sparks a memory, an idea or even your own story worth telling, we would love to hear from you. Who knows? You just might inspire one of Cory’s future dispatches.