In recent years, several Michigan-based retailers have dedicated additional shelf space to locally made jams, sauces, condiments, chips, cookies and the like – sometimes even dedicating prime aisle space with special “Made in Michigan” signage.

When it comes to sharing Michigan history, Candice Smith brings it to life like no other. She’s been soaking up a wealth of knowledge about her own family as well as notable figures in the state’s history since childhood. She was raised in the small town of Perry (Shiawassee County, population about 2,100), where her paternal great grandparents, William and Ida Smith, lived.

For those who enjoy the great outdoors, Michigan is a vast playground full of waterways, forests, state parks, national lakeshores and the largest section of the 4,800-mile, eight-state North Country Trail (which stretches from North Dakota to Vermont, with about 1,150 miles running through Michigan’s two peninsulas). Michigan is home (and home-away-from-home) to paddlers, bikers, hikers, campers, anglers, stargazers, birdwatchers and others who are eager to escape the noise of the world and find ways to connect (or reconnect) with nature in the simplest of ways.

Some of the most successful operations are born out of necessity or passion. For Sandy Arens, both were driving factors in her founding of Alcona Brew Haus (676 US-23 N, Harrisville). The seasoned businesswoman and graduate of the culinary program at Schoolcraft College is also the mother of 10 – three of whom battle severe food allergies which require constant attention and awareness.

Drive through the rural countryside and you’ll find barns of all shapes, sizes and conditions dotting the landscape as a testament to the agricultural heritage that shaped and still impacts the state of Michigan (the second-most agriculturally diverse state in the country, behind California). According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the food and agriculture industry contributes $104.7 billion to the state’s economy.