Events & Appearances
Join Dr. Tom Rainey as he takes his insights, experiences, and passion for storytelling on the road. Don’t miss your chance to meet the author, hear him speak, and be part of an engaging experience. Below are some of his upcoming appearances and past events.
Upcoming Events & Appearances
February 2026
Meet the Author | Highland Hammock State Park, Central Florida
Step back into the 1930's with Dr. Tom Rainey!
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Join us for a captivating journey through history with Dr. Tom Rainey, a sixth-generation Floridian from nearby Wauchula, as he shares the story of Highlands Hammock State Park, one of Florida’s first state parks and a New Deal conservation landmark.
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Dr. Rainey grew up exploring the park’s ancient landscapes, where his family helped build its roads and trails with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression. Now a distinguished professor of Russian and Eurasian history, he returns home to connect personal stories, family heritage, and the broader historical and economic forces that shaped Highlands Hammock.
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Learn how a community’s vision and CCC labor created a lasting model of conservation, and discover what the park’s past reveals about its future, from someone who lived it and never forgot his roots.
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Saturday, February 14 at 1:30pm
Highlands Hammock State Park | 5931 Hammock Road, Sebring, FL 33870
February 2026
Special Event | Hardee County Library
Join us for the latest news from Wauchula native and author Tom Rainey, as he returns to the Hardee County Library to share stories from his new release, Crackers in Paradise, Volume II — now available on Amazon.
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In this engaging continuation of his Florida frontier saga, Rainey reveals how the families from Volume I navigated the sweeping changes of the early 20th century, from the roaring 1920s and the hardships of the Great Depression to the challenges and triumphs of the World War II era. Discover how Bonita, Bud, and Buddy come full circle as Florida transforms from a rugged frontier into a land of opportunity and renewal.
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Don’t miss this special event celebrating local history, storytelling, and the spirit of Wauchula.
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Monday, February 16 at 1:30pm
Hardee County Library | 315 N 6th Ave, Wauchula, FL 33873
March 2026
Putin’s War and Climate Change: A Petrostate’s Ecological Dilemmas
Join us for an engaging Olympia World Affairs Council Speaker Series program with Dr. Tom Rainey, Professor Emeritus at The Evergreen State College, as he examines the intersection of Russia’s fossil-fuel economy, environmental degradation, and geopolitical ambition. As the world confronts accelerating climate change, Putin’s reliance on oil and gas exports both fuels conflict and deepens ecological vulnerabilities. He will explore how the war in Ukraine, global sanctions, and the energy transition reveal the contradictions and dilemmas facing a petrostate in a warming world.
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With his signature blend of insight and storytelling, Rainey connects past and present to help audiences better understand the challenges and opportunities these international dynamics pose for our future.
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Thursday, March 19 at 6:30pm
SPSCC Lacey Campus | 4220 Sixth Ave SE Lacey, WA 98503
Past Events & Appearances
July 2025
Podcast Feature | Your Community Podcast
Tom recently joined Dick Pust on KXXO Radio's Your Community Podcast to talk about the making of his book Crackers in Paradise and his creative process. He also reflects on his experiences leading students in Russia and his thoughts on the Russia–Ukraine war.
Listen Here: The Restless Historian