explore_controller.rb

@states = State.find(params[:id])
        @towns = @states.towns.paginate(:page => params[:page], :per_page => 9).order("town")

        @towns.each do |t| 
          t.postcards.last
          t.postcards.count
        end
end

state.html.erb

<h1 class="pagetitle"><%= params[:state] %></h1>


<%= render 'layouts/search' %>

<div class="page_left">
	
	<div class="ex_index">
		
		<% @towns.each do |town| %>
                     <% if !town.postcards.empty? %>
  			<div class="span5 highlight">
				<a href="/explore/state/town?town=<%= town.postcards.last.city %>">
			  		<span class="btn pcount"><%= town.postcards.count %></span>
			  		<span class="location-overlay"><%= town.town %></span>

					<%= image_tag town.postcards.last.image_url(:featured), :class => "imgb image-shadow" %>
				</a>
			</div>
                 <% end %>
		<% end %>

	</div>

	<div style="clear: both;"></div>

	<div class="flickr_pagination">
		<%= will_paginate @towns, :class => "page_paginate" %>
	</div>

</div>



<%= render 'layouts/sidebar' %>