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I first heard of Colt Shelby when the link to his podcast kept popping up in my Facebook feed. He and two friends who call themselves the Franklin County Rough Riders sit around a table in front of barn doors. Colt is positioned in front of a Winchester case one might assume is full of rifles, and wears a ball cap. He sips from a metal coffee cup.

The inaugural episode provides this description: "The Franklin County Rough Riders Podcast exposes the lack of transparency from the governor's office and the poorly chosen site for a proposed 3,000 bed-prison in Franklin County, Arkansas. We dive into Arkansas politics and whatever else grabs our attention, exposing lies, delivering facts, and standing firm on the true principles of Arkansas. No 'Southpark'-style smugness here ... we reject the elitist attitude of those who think they're above the taxpayers, pushing government overreach and secrecy to bully local communities into unwanted projects. Join us for raw, truth-driven conversations that fight for the people. Regnat Populus: the people rule."

It has been nothing short of thrilling for me to watch the community of Charleston become politically engaged and stand up against the prison forced on them by the bully we elected governor. I am happy to see the community winning. I was born in Charleston and live not far from there now. The prison site is 20 minutes from my house. God knows I don't want it.

And on another level, it has been inspiring and gratifying to see the power of people paying attention. When I ran for office in 2020, many of the same people fighting this prison were under the spell of MAGA and bought in to the narrative that Democrats were demonic. They wouldn't listen to our warnings about LEARNS, rural health care, or anything else. Like most of the state, Franklin County was all in for Trump and anyone else with an R by their name.

I wasn't a partisan and wasn't their enemy. But so many weren't paying attention. A few years later they threw that same kind of allegiance behind Sarah Sanders gn her first campaign for governor. But she has betrayed them, like she has betrayed all of Arkansas. Like her former boss has betrayed America. They have proven to be out for themselves, which means serving only the rich, regardless of what happens to the rest of us. Serving the rich has been their ticket to power.

Colt Shelby hopes to change that. And when I interviewed him for my vodcast, I became convinced he is capable of doing it.

Those who are interested can also find out more at his website, Colt Shelby for Arkansas Governor. It contains this background information, which I verified with folks who have known him since childhood. It is accurate.

"Colt grew up in Cecil, Arkansas, the son of Ronnie and Lisa Shelby, and is a proud sixth‑generation Arkansan. Colt attended Cecil Methodist Church for nearly 30 years, and it remains an important part of his life.

"Soon after graduating high school, Colt went to work on drilling rigs for Thornton Drilling out of Van Buren, Arkansas. He stayed with that company for nearly 16 years, working through two buyouts before moving on to a large oil company based in Houston, Texas. Over the last twenty years, Colt's managed hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts and led teams of men and women with one shared mission: work safely and work responsibly.

"Colt bought his first home in 2003--where he still lives today--and in 2006 he married his longtime best friend, Elizabeth Burt of Charleston. Together they've raised three children: Riley, Cooper, and Truett. Like many families, they dreamed of owning a farm, and in 2016, purchased their first piece of land. Little by little, they expanded it. While Colt worked away from home, the family tended the cattle and worked the fields. It was the Arkansas dream--raising a family and building a farm through hard work and faith.

"Colt's interest in public service began in 2024 when Governor Sanders announced plans to place a 3,000‑bed prison just four miles from his home. As he traveled across multiple counties, he realized that many Arkansans shared concerns not only about this issue but about the overall direction of our state. Colt has attended meetings and events across Arkansas, meeting people who care deeply about our future.

"Colt has listened to frustrations about education, fiscal responsibility, government transparency, the farm economy, healthcare, infrastructure, crime rates, food insecurity, infant mortality, women's health, and more. These conversations made one thing clear: Arkansans want common‑sense leadership that puts people first.

"Our state motto, Regnat Populus--The People Rule--should mean something. Too many Arkansans feel like their government is hiding things from the hardworking taxpayers who keep this state running. Colt is running to restore trust, transparency, and accountability to the governor's office.

"Colt hopes to earn your vote on Nov. 3, 2026. He believes he's the right person for this job because he's willing to listen, to work, and to stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the people of Arkansas. Colt can't fix these issues alone--it will take all of us."

His high school English teacher, who happens to be my good friend, gives this description: "Colt is one of my favorites. He's whip-smart, good as gold, and ornery in the best way."

Sounds like Arkansas' kind of governor.

Gwen Ford Faulkenberry is an author, teacher, and award-winning columnist from Ozark. Email her at gfaulkenberry@hotmail.com. Watch her vodcast here: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/, https://www.nwaonline.com/news/podcast/smalltowngirl/.

Gwen Ford Faulkenberry is a mother, author, English professor, and award-winning columnist from Ozark, Arkansas. She has written for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2021.

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