From a fascination with horses as a young boy and cleaning stalls to taking sanctioned rides as soon as he was sixteen, then heading to the winner's circle of the 1977 Iroquois Steeplechase, there is a story to be told.

Johnny Birdsong takes a walk with Lee Kennedy and finds out what he believes it means to be a Southern Gent.

As we kick off 2026’s celebrations of the greatness of America, Johnny Birdsong sat down for a conversation this issue with this great statesman, inventor, and in general, exemplary patriot – Mr. Ben Franklin.