Eliza Blue is somewhat of a jack of all trades, as she never felt that a standard study-to-salary path was right for her.
“I am a musician, an author, a shepherd, and I produce and host a traveling concert TV show called Wish You Were Here with Eliza Blue,” she said. “My most creative endeavor, however, is probably parenting.”
But before she found her path, she saw many changes in scenery.
After many years of writing and performing her music in Minneapolis and on tour, she wound up heading to Bison, SD, to work on her music.
“Sometimes it feels like I am from everywhere and nowhere, but I’ve now been in South Dakota for 11 years, which is longer than I’ve lived almost anywhere else.” -Eliza Blue
When Blue first came to South Dakota, she didn’t expect to fall head over heels for it and what it had to offer. What she found, she says was pure joy she didn’t think she would ever be able to find.
“I spent the first half of my adulthood as a touring musician. Then I fell in love with two bottle lambs and a cowboy, and I knew my days on the road were over—at least as a full time job.”
And the Nominees Are…
Wish You Were Here was nominated for the Upper Midwest Emmys under arts and entertainment in long form. The Emmy Awards Gala took place on October 9.
Blue then invested more time into writing, and she now has a weekly column titled “Little Pasture on the Prairie” carried by 12 publications, contributes to South Dakota Public Broadcasting and Prairie Public Radio, has a regular column with Daily Yonder, and has released her book called Accidental Rancher.
“My latest project is a virtual gathering place for rural storytelling called The Home Farm Journal,” she said. “I love sharing my songs and stories with audiences, and I also love being there to tuck my kids in at night. Virtual offerings allow me to do both, and for that I am very thankful.”
“My music is inspired by the prairie and the people who call it home.” -Eliza Blue
Blue shares more depth on her multifaceted life on the prairie.
WISH YOU WERE HERE IS ABOUT… sharing rural stories through art, music, and poetry.
PEOPLE MIGHT KNOW ME FROM… the TV show or my audio postcards on SDPB and Prairie Public.
THE BEST PART OF MY JOB IS… getting to share my heart with audiences and getting to collaborate with other creatives.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER THE SHOW WAS… all the great people I’ve gotten to work with along the way. Every episode has been a creative inspiration to me personally, and I am so thankful to all the folks who make the show great.
I STARTED EXPLORING BEING A SHEPHERD… after I brought home two bottle lambs. I was only supposed to take care of them temporarily, but I fell completely in love and knew there was no going back to city life.
“I have a million projects going at once, but I feel very lucky to say I love all of them, so it’s a very joyful kind of busy.” -Eliza Blue
SOMETHING THAT IS INFLUENCING ME RIGHT NOW IS… The Great British Baking Show. I just watched the new season, and with winter coming I’m excited to be baking again.
I LOVE TO GRAB A BITE OR DRINK… anywhere that I’m not the one cooking! We grow a lot of our food, and I cook almost all of our meals from scratch. I love cooking– feeding people is one of my favorite things to do–but three meals a day, every day, is a lot. So it’s always nice to get a break and let someone else cook now and again.
MY FAVORITE PLACE TO GO FOR INSPIRATION IS… the narrow canyon in our north pasture. There are two grandmother cottonwoods who offer shade and deep roots to remind me to stay grounded. And a red-tailed hawk reminds me when I am sweating the small stuff to climb a little higher and look for the long view.
Follow Her
Facebook: /elizabluesings
Instagram: @elizabluesings
SOMEONE LOCAL WHO I ADMIRE IS… Christian Begeman, the videographer and editor of Wish You Were Here. He is a brilliant cinematographer and a great person to work with as a creator. We have so much fun brainstorming segments–we decided early on to focus our collaborative process on finding joy, and it has made every decision a pleasure.
AN AMBITIOUS GOAL OF MINE IS… to start going to bed earlier. I’ve always been a night owl, but one of these days I’m going to get on a better schedule, I swear.
