Alabama: Butch Anthony’s 80-acre family compound puts Seale, Alabama, on the map. The compound, filled with art, attracts artsy types to the unique and wildly creative destination.

Folks come to buy art at the Possum Trot, a barbecue restaurant and junk auction house run by Mr. Anthony and his father and attend the annual “Doo Nanny,” a folk art “micro” festival, as Anthony calls it. His compound once belonged to his grandfather, a cotton farmer.

Hawaii: Hawaii County would provide free gravel, cinder and other materials so residents can fix their rural roads, according to a nonbinding proposal advanced by a County Council committee last month. Hamakua Councilman Dominic Yagong introduced a resolution asking the Department of Public Works to take material from the county’s six quarries and deliver it to residents or community groups wishing to patch up roads to their homes. Yagong says the partnership will save money and expedite repairs to dirt roads vulnerable to erosion. Area residents say roads are in a state of disrepair and need immediate attention.

Indiana: With a shortage of veterinarians nationwide, Purdue University is looking to increase enrollment by 20 percent in the next two years. Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed said some predictions indicate the demand for veterinary services will increase about 35 percent by 2016.

“Small farmers, farmers who have a limited number of animals are unable to find veterinarians to supply needed services to maintain the health of their animals,” said Reed. In addition to increasing enrollment, Purdue is working to increase the number of veterinarians by reaching out to middle and high school students to educate them on the opportunities available in large animal veterinary medicine.

Contact: Virginia Wolking, virginiaw@cfra.org or 402.687.2103 x 1017 to submit items for Across the Nation.