About Country Woman

In 2005, Country Woman celebrated its 35th anniversary with more than 1 million subscribers! The bimonthly magazine reflects the diversity, strength and spirit of country women throughout North America. Most of the material is written about, and by, real country women.

Country Woman is a 68-page, full-color, bimonthly magazine for women who live in or long for the country. It is a positive, upbeat, entertaining and informative publication. The publication reflects the many interests and roles of its readers through short, photo-illustrated profiles of rural women doing interesting things, be it having a special hobby or avocation, running a rural-based business, or engaging in a special volunteer activity.

Every issue features a large food section filled with mouth-watering recipes for today’s country cooks. The heart of the food section is the recipe contest, with the winning recipes printed on recipe cards. There are also ideas for easy country decorating, casual entertaining, crafts, gardening, fiction, puzzles and nostalgic photos and reader remembrances.

The publication also includes informative articles on health and lifestyles with country women in mind. It includes a reader-written “Everyday Miracles” section and advice column. Reading this interesting and heart-warming and magazine has been described as being like “sitting down for a cup of coffee with a good friend.” Subscribe today or give a gift of Country Woman.

Meet Your Country Woman Staffers

Editor Lori Lau Grzybowski

“Hearing what's important to our readers—whether I’m talking with them or reading what they've written—is my favorite thing about working on Country Woman,” shares Lori. “Their creativity and insights constantly amaze and inspire me.”

She enjoys the many duties that keep her busy—from reading manuscripts to selecting stories and photography or editing stories and judging contest entries. “But I have to admit,” Lori says with a grin, “the food-tastings are fun, too!”

Lori and her husband and have two sons and a daughter at home. They spend much of their time cheering at events as well as participating in various church activities. “In my spare time, I love to read,” says Lori. She also plays a mean game of Boggle and recently got hooked on Sudoku (thanks, in part, to Country Woman)!

Creative Editor Sharon Selz

What has Creative Editor Sharon Selz enjoyed the most in her years with Country Woman? Interviewing fascinating rural women from across the country and sharing their stories. “How else could I have obtained such a great insight into the life of an Amish woman and expert quilter or the how-to’s of raising Longhorn cattle?” asks Sharon.

“I’ll always remember the very first story I worked on,” says Sharon. “It featured a Wyoming ranch woman who took guests on five-day trail rides using covered wagons she and her family built.” Having been raised in the country surrounded by rural women, Sharon is thrilled to show the world how special they are. “Some of our readers don’t notice their own uniqueness or the value of what they contribute to their families and communities and to society,” adds Sharon.

Food Editor Wendy Stenman

As Food Editor for Country Woman, Wendy works with the magazine staff to plan each issue. She constantly turns to the readers of Country Woman to find recipe ideas and suggestions for quick and light recipes as well as submissions for the recipe contests. Armed with the family favorite recipes from cooks all over the country, Wendy tests them on her own or with help from the Taste of Home Test Kitchen home economists.

Throughout her career, Wendy’s work experience has been in the food industry. Before joining our Test Kitchen staff nearly 10 years ago, she taught high school home economics and was a nutritional educator. “I’ve also done some catering and ran taste-testing panels that critiqued new salad dressings and sauces,” she adds.

“But even after working around food all day, I still enjoy coming home and cooking a good meal for my husband and four children,” adds Wendy. When she’s not in a kitchen, she enjoys walking, hiking, biking, skiing and reading.

Craft Editor Jane Craig

Craft Editor Jane Craig has been testing, writing and editing craft instructions sent in by readers for nearly 10 years. She also designs crafts for Country Woman and other magazines and books from Reiman Publications. “Country Woman is so honest and uplifting,” says Jane. “It feels good to work on every issue.”

Jane knows what it means to be a country woman, having grown up on a dairy farm. She and her husband also own and operate a farm. Prior to joining Reiman Publications, Jane taught at a middle school, a county technical college and a career college. In her spare time, she knits, sews, quilts and uses many of Country Woman crafts for a monthly community craft class she teaches. Jane also enjoys spending time with her three sons and their families, including four grandchildren.

Editorial Assistant Joanne Wied

Joanne was a reader and subscriber to Country Woman and its “sister” magazines from Reiman Publications long before starting with the company. “Country Woman is just a terrific magazine for all women,” says Joanne. “You don't have to be from the country to enjoy the features in it. It’s always been a magazine I’m proud to leave out for anyone to see.”

Joanne’s favorite part of her job is reading mail from our readers. “They add so much to our magazine,” she says. Before this full-time job, Joanne worked full time taking care of her husband and their nine children. For extra income, she made wedding cakes (including one for each of her children). Joanne loves sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting and doing many other types of crafts.



Contributing Editor Ann Kaiser

Who would think you could make someone into a camel herder…corn detasseler…honey harvester? But these are just a few of the exciting, unique and challenging jobs Contributing Editor Ann Kaiser has done for Country Woman.

The “Editor in the Country” series has taken Ann to all 50 states and most of the Canadian provinces. Ann started accepting invitations from readers to “come work a day with me” in 1976. Her hard-working country hostesses have taught her a thing or two—and put her to the test in many memorable ways. (Check out more from Ann’s Editor in the Country Scrapbook from Country Woman‘s 35th Anniversary Issue).