John-Boy's truck breaks down and he meets the author, A.J. Covington. John-Boy jeopardizes a timber contract badly needed by the family.

Maggie McKenzie would like to see the ocean once more. John-Boy takes her but must miss an important dance. Grandpa helps the children save an injured bird. Earl Hamner makes his only appearance in the series as Maggie's husband. The director of this episode, Harry Harris, who would eventually direct almost 50 episodes, was nominated for an Emmy award.

John-Boy heads for a mountain retreat and finds an old school mate who is expecting.The baby arrives with John-Boy's help. The mule, Blue makes his first appearance in this episode.

The Country Fair has come to Walton's Mountain. Grandma has entered a quilt in the competition. Ben sells a pig for the greased pig contest and Olivia's old suitor, now politician, visits the fair.

Grandma's 68th birthday is here and the 2 faces of age are keenly felt by her as Grandma is confronted by old age. Mary Ellen, now 14 years old, poses an impossible barrier between her and a college student who lays claim to her heart.

Olivia finds out she is pregnant and the children set out to make her and the baby a variety of presents. Elizabeth is jealous because she thinks because she is the youngest that her Mom will not love her the same way or will never have any more time for her. In the end Olivia loses the baby

Mary Ellen, aspring nurse, makes a diagnosis about Grandma's illness which almost costs Grandma her life.

When John's equipment breaks down and Jim-Bob breaks his, John decides maybe he has had enough. Jeffrey builds himself a soapbox car sponsored by Godsey's store.