MOUNTAIN CITY, Georgia — Just off U.S. Highway 23, along the spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, T.J. Smith spends his days continuing the tradition of the iconic Foxfire Fund: an enterprise driven by young people whose respect for the land and culture, and understanding of the importance of preserving that culture’s stories, has persevered for more than 50 years.

If you grew up in Appalachia, you likely owned a set of the Foxfire books, or had the Foxfire magazine in your home, giving you an opportunity to see your very heritage in its pages.

Recommended Stories

How the Democrats lost the white working class

There are deep roots in these mountains

American folklore is more than just scary stories; it carries a value system