Pioneer Bluffs first 2009 Saturday workday

I'd like to share this note I received; a great volunteer opportunity in the heart of the Flint Hills:

"This Saturday, January 3, is the First Saturday. And the weather is
predicted to be warm! Please consider joining us at Pioneer Bluffs
for:

"8:30 am - Coffee and treats in the house. We will be brainstorming
ideas for future Prairie Talks and planning the 2009 calendar of
events. (If you have ideas for programs you'd like to see offered at
Pioneer Bluffs but won't be available Saturday, please call or email
me!)

"9:00 am - Volunteer workday! Among the chores we need help with are:
moving a loom from the barn to an upstairs room in the house, removing
Christmas lights from the cabin, and un-decorating inside the house.
We'll end with lunch.

"You might want to bring work gloves and a beverage cup.

"I look forward to seeing you Saturday! Lynn

Lynn Smith
Executive Director
Pioneer Bluffs Foundation
620.753.3484 office
785.393.1569 cell
www.pioneerbluffs.org"


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Friends of the Flint Hills Fund - Year End Thought

While we all are feeling a little tight in the purse, right now, I urge each of you to consider a Year-End contribution to the Friends of the Flint Hills Fund. Your tax-deductible contribution will help send a bus load of school kids to visit the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve educational program next summer. $25 would be appreciated, if not $50 or $100. Please do it, today.

The Friends of the Flint Hills Fund is now officially affiliated with the Kansas Rural Communities Foundation. Click on Affiliates, left navigation bar; click on Friends of the Flint Hills; and click on to donate to the Fund. I used option 3, to download a printable pdf donation form, added my check for $100, and sent it off to Wamego by mail (this saves $5 for use of a credit card). However, if making an online contribution using a credit card works better for you, please do so! Thank you!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

The Pioneer Bluffs Foundation

The Pioneer Bluffs Foundatioin web site is worth a regular visit. On Saturday, 7 February 2009, the Winter Prairie Talks series continues at 2 p.m. with speaker Ustaine Talley [I know Ustaine and I recommend any of her presentations!]. She will share the story of: Settlers in the Flint Hills: the African-American Experience.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Your Next Cash Crop?

Jan Jantzen and the RC& D Agritourism group are again in 2009 offering their business development course focused on authentic rural experiences and the related dining, lodging, shopping and entertainment business opportunities in the Kansas Flint Hills.

To learn more about these training and opportunities upcoming, mark your calendar to attend one of the two identical information meetings, early in January. The first will be in Junction City on January 7, 2009, at Cloud County Community College's Geary County Campus, 631 Caroline, from 6:15 pm until 8:30 pm. The second meeting, a repeat of the first, will be in Wamego, on January 8, 2009, at the Columbian Theatre, 521 Lincoln Avenue, from 1:15 pm until 3:30 pm.

For more information, call Jan or Bruce at: 620-340-0113, ext. 9.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Alma Chamber Christmas

Saturday, December 13, from 4 to 8 pm, celebrate the Alma Chamber Christmas in Alma, KS. Music, Santa, Soup Supper, Sleigh Rides, Christmas Drawing and more. Check out the schedule of activities. Also, see CJ Online article.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Traveling Exhibit update

Clay Center is the current host to the Traveling Exhibit of Jim Richardson's photos from the National Geographic's April 2007 issue examining the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas. The exhibit will be at Orr's Furniture City through January 9, 2009.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Alexander ArtWorks - Council Grove

Alexander ArtWorks is a great addition to the many great places to visit and shop in Council Grove. They were featured in a neat front page story in the Emporia Gazette last week.

Phone ahead (620.767.6698) for hours, as they can only be open a few days a week, at present. Hours in the paper were: 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2-4 on Sunday. Please support this new local business. We need one of these in each of our small towns!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

The Heritage House at Canning Creek Ranch

The Emporia Gazette had a nice front page story on this Council Grove Bed & Breakfast that evokes the Victorian era: The Heritage House. Check it out! I love their website photos and info!


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Alta Vista Christmas Celebration

Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. brings Christmas Celebration to Alta Vista.

Christmas parade down Main Street! Lighting of the Christmas Tree near Alta Vista Post Office. Songs by the tree and soup supper at the American Legion Soup Supper.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Bells, Boots, and Buggies - Peabody

December 6, 2008, brings Bells, Boots, and Buggies to Peabody Main Street.

This celebration will take you back to the wild west with Peabody's 1880's atmosphere. The event includes kids crafts and games, craft and cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, a parade, Santa and more.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

An Old-Fashioned Cowtown Christmas

From December 5 at 6 p.m. to December 6 at 9 p.m. a "Currier and Ives" type holiday celebration comes alive in Old-Cowtown in Wichita.

The entire 25-acre site is trimmed with greenery as the Museum welcomes guests into their 1870's homes. Visit the individual buildings and interpretive sites to learn Christmas traditions of 100 years ago.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

El Dorado Christmas Lights, special events

December 5 is the occasion of "Christmas Lights...Camera...Action" by the El Dorado Main Street organization this year.

There will be great shopping with specials galore, a BIG parade, Santa Frantastica and the Mayor "lights up the town" - Fun for all!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

What do you do in the tallgrass prairie?

The question above is the title of the 26 Nov 2008 blog post by Dennis Toll at Flint Hills, Tall Grass. In my view, it is his best post yet. Please read the whole post, including the comments. We are so fortunate to have someone able to write so well, with such passion, about one of our favorite subjects.


This photo is another neat one from the post. Thanks to Dennis for another of his views of the tallgrass prairie.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Bison in the Flint Hills article

The Huffington Post had an interesting article on bison in the Flint Hills today. The tallgrass prairie in Osage County, around Pawhuska, has much in common with the Kansas Flint Hills. We need to be aware of what they are doing, and all benefit from the activities of each. Osage County in in the Green Country tourism region of Oklahoma, headquartered in Tulsa.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Old Time Christmas as Pioneer Bluffs

As one of the stops on the Chase Country Christmas Homes Tour, Pioneer Bluffs is offering a variety of activities from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 29. These include music, caroling, seasonal stories, popcorn and cranberry garlands, homemade cookies and hot cider.

In addition to touring the decorated 1908 home of Henry and Maud Sauble Rogler, Bennie Holtsclaw will have his guitar for live music and caroling. Paula Roper of Paula's Creations will provide traditional crafts for all ages, including pinecone angels and more. At 1:30 p.m., Carrie Riggs will entertain with the reading of Christmas stories.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Lebold Mansion Christmas Tours

In Abilene, enjoy the Christmas Splendors of the Victorian Era at the Amazing 1880 Lebold Mansion, Nov 21 through Jan 4, 2009.


Begin the Holiday with a tour of this beautiful 1880, 23 room historic mansion. The mansion is fully decorated from the parlor to the maid's room.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Chase County Country Christmas

Chase County begins its annual celebration of the beginning for the Christmas season on November 29 this year throughout the county. Activities include the annual holiday homes tour in Chase County, annual fruitcake toss across the Cottonwood River, arts and crafts, special sales in area businesses, music, caroling, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, horsedrawn wagon rides and the annual lighting of the historic Chase County Courthouse and Cottonwood River Bridge.

For more information, call 620.273.8469 or chasechamber@sbcglobal.net. See the Chase County website: http://www.chasecountychamber.org.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

'Extreme Makeover' comes to the Flint Hills

Chapman, in Dickinson County, near I-70 west of Junction City, is the site this week of the ABC project: "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."(link is to the local TV station website, KTKA.com. An Associated Press article also appeared in the Thursday Emporia Gazette, and likely other local paper. The Topeka Capital-Journal had this story, today.

It is a wonderful story. We are very pleased that the ABC project chose the Chapman family and community for the program!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Tall Grass Prairie related Newsletters

Please do check out the 10 Nov 2008 edition of Flint Hills, Tall Grass. Dennis lists and discusses a number of newsletters that should be of interest to most of you. Each of these has a focus of its own, of course... some will have more interest to some of you than others.


Since this blog has recently focused on events, and events are a bit more sparse in the late fall and winter, I highly recommend you check out the newsletters that Dennis suggests, and follow the ones that interest you, as some of your regular reading materials.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Winfield Isle of Lights

This is the first of our reports of Year-End Holiday Celebrations around the Kansas Flint Hills. The light displays in Winfield begin November 16 and run through the end of the year.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Flint Hills Initiative

Dennis Toll (see his Blog at: Flint Hills, Tall Grass) shared with me the Flint Hills Initiative website of the Nature Conservancy, pointing out the work of the Tallgrass Legacy Alliance (scroll to bottom of page). We are so pleased to see this broad-based group of individuals and organizations working together for the preservation of the essence of the Kansas Flint Hills! Much can be accomplished we so many diverse interests come together for a worthwhile cause!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Gathering in the Grove Fine Art Show and Sale

November 7th through the 9th is Gathering in the Grove Fine Art Show and Sale. The event is held in the Bowers Community Center, 317 West Main Street, Council Grove.

Displaying art by area artists, this is the perfect event to find one of a kind holiday gifts! For information, call Linda at 620-767-6103

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Walter's Pumpkin Patch - Burns - last chance this week

Walter's Pumpkin Patch is all about fun for the whole family - the last week of the season is upon us!


See the website for hours and the wide variety of activities available - corn maze and haunted cannery included.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Madison Fall Fest - Oct 25, 2008

Check out Madison Fall Fest, Saturday, October 25, 2008, including a costume contest, parade, sloppy joe feed, food sales, and arts and crafts.

At the link, above, click on the Chamber link and see their nice website, featuring their two museums in town - look real interesting!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Historic Courthouse - Marshall Co - Marysville

My final story on our visit to Marysville last Friday is the Historic Courthouse, where we actually had our meeting. Kansas is very fortunate to have preserved some fine hundred plus years old county courthouses.


The Marshall County Historical Society now owns and operates this fine old building, included a good genealogical research library. Several of the rooms are filled with interesting exhibits of early Marshall county history. Here is an exhibit about early fur traders and explorers:

And, another about ethnic settlements in the county:

We held our meeting in the historic courtroom, upstairs; I may add a photo of our meeting, later... stay tuned.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Koester House Museum - Marysville

Also on Friday, as noted the last couple of days, we briefly visited and toured the Koester House Museum in Marysville. Here we are at the House:


Note on the link the reference to the "lions and dogs" seen by Laura Ingalls Wilder when she passed through in 1894,noted in one of her books. The dogs were the first thing I saw as I arrived (they are to the left rear in the photo above). The lions are right behind me as I took the photo, above; one shown below, second is to the right, on each side of this entrance.


Just one photo inside, here, the piano; it was said to be appraised by the Smithsonian Institution at in excess of $100,000 in value:

Again, I have shown 2 of the five museums in Marysville. I hope this will cause to to stop by and enjoy them one day soon! Be sure to leave a donation to these fine organizations. I did!! ;-)

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Marysville Pony Express Museum Photos

As promised yesterday, I'm including here three photos I took at the Pony Express Museum to "tease" you a bit to hopefully encourage you to visit Marysville. By the way, this is one of five neat museums in Marysville. I have photos to share of two more of them, later.


A series of dioramas highlight the history of Marysville, above shows Mr. and Mrs. Marshall and some of their "stuff." There are several of these on the balcony level. Nice variety of displays.


This is a photo of a painting on the wall of the original ferry across the Big Blue River that made Marshall rich, initially.


Finally, this is neat display from the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express. A good variety - many more not even hinted at here. Stop by and see it for yourself!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Pony Express Home Station No. 1

Marysville, KS, is home to Pony Express Home Station No.1, located at 106 S. 8th St.


Last Friday, we visited the Home Station No. 1, in Marshall Co, for our Flint Hills Tourism Coalition monthly meeting - just a month after visiting the Hollenberg Station in Washington County, to the west.

During our visit, a "re-rider" came right down the same street as the rider with the mail from Sacramento would have come in 1860-61. Home Station No. 1 was the first station west from St. Joseph where riders were changed. At the intermediate stations, only horses were changed. Therefore, the same riders rode back and forth between St. Joseph and Marysville. Different riders rode the next leg west to Home Station No. 2 and back. An enjoyable visit. Good displays inside the museum. Have some photos I'll try to share later.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Historic Stone Fence Workshop - Update

On Tuesday, October 07, 2008, I wrote about this workshop being conducted by certified stonemason Rocky Slaymaker of Emporia this weekend (Oct 18 and 19). Today, Friday, Oct 17, I drove through Alma on the way to a meeting in Marysville - in the morning, in a hurry, I saw Rocky working, along the road (K-99). On the way back, about 4 p.m., he was just finishing up, and I got to stop and talk to him.
Rocky had spent the day, with others, laying the foundation for the stone wall they will be "building" at the workshop on Saturday and Sunday. He said "this is the hardest and most important part" of building a proper stone fence.


As a reminder, here is the photo I showed, before, of a completed stone fence (south of Alma), from previous year's workshop. A really professional process and product! I'll enjoy seeing the new one, when done, north of Alma, along K-99.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Flint Hills Traveling Exhibit to Independence

The Flint Hills Traveling Exhibit featuring photographs from the National Geographic Magazine will be at the Independence Historical Museum from Tuesday, October 21 to Saturday, October 25.

The exhibit will be open from 10 am to 4 pm on those days. Admission is free.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Prairie Harvest Festival and Barn Dance

At the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, on Saturday, October 18: An Old-Fashioned Prairie Harvest Festival and Barn Dance!


Enjoy an old-fashioned harvest festival as living history characters get ready for winter. Cider making, hay rack rides, live music, and pumpkin carving from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Barn dance from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the Tallgrass Express String band. Refreshments served. For more information call 620.273.8494.

The preserve's ranch headquarters is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, daily except for Thanksgving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Arkalalah - Annual Fall Festival - Arkansas City

Arkalalah is an annual fall festival featuring 3 parades, Queen Alalah coronation, craft show, carnival, street games, food vendors, and lots of fun. It runs from Oct 18 to Oct 25. Visit the Ark City website for details of each event and the complete schedule of events.

Arkansas City residents have a tradition of annual celebrations going back at least to the mid-1880s. What a great tradition!

We'll hope you all join us for the 2009 Flint Hills Heritage Conference on Festivals on February 20, 2009, at the El Dorado Activities Center, to discuss how these important local heritage celebrations fit into and strengthen the entire Flint Hills Heritage Area.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

"Three" - a Marysville, KS, art show

The Marshall County Arts Cooperative presents "Three", an art show featuring the work of local artists Betty Fincham, Carol Caffrey and Stacy Holle.

The art will be on display at the Lee Dam Center for Fine Art on Sundays noon to 4 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Oct 15 to Nov 7, 2008). For more information, call 785.562.2828 or email: krusewayne@gmail.com

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

en plein air Art Fair - El Dorado

On Saturday, Oct 11, 2008, from 10 am to 5 pm, at the Butler County Courthouse, 205 W. Central, El Dorado - a fine arts fair including painting, drawing, sculture, ceramics, photography, live music and a Quick Draw Contest (not the kind you might think).
See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Ghosts in the Grass Program at Council Grove

The Kaw Mission Council's 2008 education program will wrap up with "Ghosts in the Grass: In Search of Forgotten Voices" on Oct 18, with programs at 3:30 and 7 p.m. at Kaw Mission State Historic Site, 500 North Mission in Council Grove. The program is free and open to the public. For more information on the program, contact 785.272.8681.



This is the final program in the council's educational program: "Our Fabulous Flint Hills: The Hills are Alive!" program. This final program will be presented by Marva Weigelt, who will present Ghosts in the Grass. This information was reported in the Oct 8 edition of the Emporia Gazette based on a press release from the Kansas Historical Society.

From the press release: "Marva Weigelt lives and works on Homestead Ranch and assists with a cow-calf operation. She also provides support for the Homestead Range Renewal Initiative, a private effort aimed at developing more sustainable range management techniques. Weigelt is an amateur historian and naturalist and has a background in communications. She currently is working on piecing together the history of Charles Rogler's 1859 homestead for the Pioneer Bluffs Foundation. Weigelt has researched the past secrets of the Flint Hills extensively, expecially in southeast Chase County." [the photo above was take this past summer at the Homestead Ranch]

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Jim Bell and Son opened again in Cottonwood Falls

I was very pleased to see that Jim Bell and Son has reopened according to an article in the Emporia Gazette. "The current store has been returned to its historic root business (with) the most authentic real western ranch and work wear as well as fashion available," the article quotes Kerry Ahlstrom, operations manager, in a press release.

The store closed earlier this year, but reopened under new ownership in August. A grand reopening will be held the weekend of Oct 34-26 in conjunction with the opening of the Chase County Courthouse following major renovation and restoration. Many activities at the store are listed in the article in connection with the grand reopening.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Historic Stone Fence Workshop - near Alma

Certified stonemason Rocky Slaymaker of Emporia will be the lead instructor of the third annual Historic Stone Fence Workshop on Oct 18 and 19. The workshop will be held at the Don and Jule Meseke Farm, 1.3 miles north of Alma on Kansas Highway 99. The class is limited to 20 participants... Applications can be downloaded at www.wabaunsee.com or call Marita Elliott at 785.449.7212.
During the first two years of the workshop, the class restored a fence on the Thowe farmstead 4.5 miles south of Alma on K-99, pictured above.

The historic stone fences were authorized by the Kansas legislature in 1867 and many can be seen along the Native Stone Scenic Byway in Wabaunsee County. Slaymaker said: "I find it truly exciting and rewarding to build or restore historic stone fences using the dry masonry methods of our forefathers. Participants will learn the nine essentials for building or restoring stone fences without use of mortar."

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Grillin in the Grove - Sunday, Oct 12

The 2nd Annual Grillin in the Grove Cook-off & BBQ Contest is set for Sunday, Oct 12th, on the banks of the Neosho River in Historic Downtown Council Grove.


Enjoy a delicious day of BBQ in the Neosho Riverside Park - both Grillers and Eaters are encouraged to participate.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Old Time Country Music Festival

The first annual Old Time Country Music Festival will be held Oct 9-11 (Thurs, Fri, Sat), 2008, at The Quail Valley Fun Barn in Winfield.

Featured will be Daryl Schiff & Co. (Martina McBride's daddy), Cowboy Jim Garling from Oklahoma, Bob & Barb Lewis from southern Missouri, and many more - see The Fun Barn festival website for even more details.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Blackdog Festival - Dexter, Kansas

October 4 & 5 is the annual Blackdog Festival in Dexter, celebrating the Black Dog Trail - 200 miles along the southern tier of Kansas counties. See the website for details.


The festival shares in an entertaining and unique, hands-on way, the binding of two cultures and demonstrates the important changes that touched America in a very special way.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

National Geographic Traveling Exhibit - Winfield

The National Geographic Traveling Exhibit of Jim Richardson Flint Hills Photos will open in Winfield on Oct 7 and run through Oct 10 at the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce. More detail is available at the Winfield web site. There is no charge to view the exhibit.

It is another fine opportunity to view this exhibit in the Flint Hills region. Don't miss this opportunity!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Vin Vivante Winery in Wamego

We just missed the opening event, but I wanted to share this with you anyway.

The newest winery in Kansas has opened in the middle of the Flint Hills, in Wamego. Winemaker Britt Nichols, who also founded the Oz Winery and Ozlandia in Wamego, has organized Vin Vivante in the tradition of hands-on, artisinal winemaking. Retail sales are to commence in the second half of October. You may call 785.458.2930 for more information.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Santa Fe Trail Days - Overbrook

From the Emporia Gazette:

The Second Annual Overbrook Santa Fe Trail Days will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct 3 & 4, in Overbrook, in nearby Osage County. Features of the event are scheduled to include a spinner, quilter, Indian customs and dress, mountain man encampment, horseshoeing and old time tools and barbed wire.

A history of the Santa Fe Trail will be given; a cannon will be shot; the history of 1860s Kansas and other re-enactments will be provided, among other evens. There is an admission charge, see the article in the Emporia Gazette for more information.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Friends of the Flint Hills Fund

The Friends of the Flint Hills Fund is now officially affiliated with the Kansas Rural Communities Foundation. Click on Affiliates, left navigation bar; click on Friends of the Flint Hills; and click on to donate to the Fund. I used option 3, to download a printable pdf donation form, added my check for $100, and sent it off to Wamego by mail (this saves $5 for use of a credit card). However, if making an online contribution using a credit card works better for you, please do so!

This blog typically has 25 readers a day. If you enjoy this blog, and the effort I put into providing this service to the Kansas Flint Hills, I urge you to consider a contribution to the Friends of the Flint Hills Fund to further the educational opportunities that can be provided. These donations are tax deductible to you personally. If each of my 25 readers, today, made a contribution of $100 - the fund would grow by $2500! We are working with several other foundations to obtain a matching grant of $1 grant for each $1 donation - so, that would cause your donation to grow to $5,000! That is helping a lot of school-age youngsters, perhaps, be able to visit the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve for a day, for example, that might never see it and take part in the educational programming there, otherwise.

A portion of the funds may be used for programming of a Heritage Area. Another portion may be dedicated to assisting senior citizens to partner with the youth in better understanding of the importance of preserving and maintaining the Kansas Flint Hills for future generations. Do you have other ideas for the Committee overseeing the Fund? Let me know, and I'll be happy to share them with the committee.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Conservation Easement announced

I am pleased to bring to your attention another critical Conservation Easement announcement in the Kansas Flint Hills. These agreements assure the preservation and integrity of pasture lands in the region, and, in this case, provide an additional buffer for the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, as well.


Conservation Easements are vital to preserving and maintaining the Kansas Flint Hills ecosystem for future generations. If you own property in the region, and have not yet considered an easement, please give it some serious study and thought.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Annual BroomWeed Festival - Cottonwood Falls

The annual BroomWeed Festival takes place in Cottonwood Falls on Saturday, Sept 27. The festival is named for the broom weed that grows this time of year. The festival includes live music and a car show. All activities are in Cottonwood Falls.

For more information, contact 620.273.6020 or prairie-maid@sbcglobal.net.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Elk River Festival - Howard

The 2008 Elk River Festival will be held Saturday, Sept 27, at the Elk County Courthouse Square in Howard, sponsored by the Howard Chamber of Commerce.

This year's festival will celebrate the completion of the Jackson Park Memorial Walking Trail.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Rails n Trails Festival - Herington

The Rails n Trails Festival will be held in Herington on September 27, 2008.

In addition to the many activities listed on the website, I'm told by organizers that the evening will include Cowboy Entertainer, Jeff Davidson, one of our favorites, in the Community Building at 7 p.m.
This is a photo of Jeff I took last Spring at our 2008 Flint Hills Heritage Conference at the Rock Springs 4-H Camp. Jeff provided a fine musical program on Kansas Flint Hills and USA heritage themes.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Hollenberg Pony Express Station

I strongly recommend a visit to the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, in northeast Washington County, if you have not been there. It is a State Historic Site of the Kansas State Historical Society. I enjoyed my visit on Friday as part of our monthly meeting of the Flint Hills Toursim Coalition, Inc. where we visit a different community and destination site each month.


Gerat H. and Sophia Hollenberg ran both a stop on the California and Oregon Trail AND a Pony Express Station. The visitor center sits on a ridge to the west of the Trails (see photo above) and the Station sat on the ridge to the east (see photos below); part of our group walking to the station (wagon is at far right, ahead, below).
This is the original station, sitting on a restored foundation. Note: you can drive from the visitor's center to the Station.
Duane Durst, site administrator, served as guide and educator to our group. Here he explains how the special saddles were used by the Pony Express riders. There are numerous exhibits in the Station, including clothes the "kids" can try on to simulate being a traveler, or Mr. or Mrs. Hollenberg. Dr. Bill could not resist the opportunity - he should probably "get in shape" before starting on the walk to Oregon...
Duane also showed us the beautiful mural in the visitor's center. This is just a piece of it.

The Flint Hills Tourism Coalition was there for our monthly meeting. Here Carole Jordan, new Director of the Kansas Rural Opportunity office at the Department of Commerce, speaks tothe group.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

8th Annual "Autumn Wonders" Mountain Bike Tour

The 8th Annual "Autumn Wonders" Mountain Bike Tour will be held in Alta Vista on Saturday, October 18th, 2008; registration at 8 am in City Park. Download the detailed brochure at the website.

Put away your road bike, get down the mountain bike and join the Autumn Wonders Mountain Bike Tour for 30 miles of beautiful prairie in the Flint Hills around Alta Vista, Kansas.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Weaver Preservation Society Fall Festival

The Weaver Preservation Society Fall Festival will be held on Sunday, September 21 at the Waterville Opera House in Waterville, Marshall County, Kansas.


The Dinner Theater Event "South of the Border with the M & M Sisters" will begin at 3 pm. For more information, call 785-363-2343.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Art in the Park and Craft Show - Marion

Art in the Park and Craft Show in Marion completes the trio of Sept 20 activities in Marion County. Artists from several states will be displaying their wares, including limestone and metal art, food products, soaps, candles, baskets, clothing, jewelry, baby items, furniture and photography.

Call the Marion Chamber of Commerce at 620-382-3425 for more information.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Fair - Sept 20

The Hillsboro Arts & Crafts Fair is celebrating 39 years of supporting hand made arts and crafts on Saturday, Sept 20, 2008, in downtown Hillsboro, Marion County, Kansas.

About 400 artists and craftsmen selected by a committee of judges come from all over the country to display and sell their one of a kind creations. The fair is rated among the top 100 arts and crafts shows in the country in several categories. Local food and hometown hospitality add flavor to this already spectacular event.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Fall River Barbeque

Come one, come all, to the Fall River Barbeque in Downtown Fall River in the southeast corner of Greenwood County, on Friday and Saturday, September 19 and 20, 2008.

For two exciting days you can enjoy a free barbeque and many activities including: rodeo performances, a parade, the church arts and crafts fair, pony-pulls, kid's games, a dance, and the Miss Fall River contest. Call 620-658-4841 for more information.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Views of the Flint Hills - Art Show

Lindsborg Town Talk 13 September 2008 reports:

The Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg is hosting a new show, Views of the Flint Hills, featuring oils and acrylics by Mary Binford Miller. The show runs through October 26th.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Prairie Talk: Ecology

I'd like to share the following press release of interest:

We hope you will join us Saturday, Sept 20, 2 pm at Pioneer Bluffs for our
next Prairie Talk: Ecological Site Restoration.

Jonathan Todd, president of Todd Ecological Design, will lead this
discussion on ecological technologies for environmental restoration. This
community event will explore ecological design, a science based on applying
the principles that govern the natural world to human systems. It promises
to be fascinating!

Todd Ecological Design of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, is an award-winning
water and natural resources planning firm. More details on the talk
published in the Emporia Gazette at:
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2008/sep/08/pioneer_bluffs_talk_will_focu
s_restoring_ecology/

Pioneer Bluffs is located one mile north of Matfield Green or fifteen miles
south of Cottonwood Falls on Flint Hills National Scenic Byway K177. It
lies on the east side of K177 and has a distinctive limestone fence.

Lynn Smith, Executive Director, Pioneer Bluffs Foundation, 620.753.3484 office,
785.393.1569 cell

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum Pioneer Festival

The Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum Pioneer Festival takes place on Sunday, Sept 14, at the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum in Arkansas City.

The Pioneer Festival is a celebration of the Cherokee Strip Land Rush, pioneer and western heritage of the area.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Antique and Arts Fair - Florence

The second Saturday in September means it is time for the Florence Antique and Arts Fair (Sept 13th). This is a Free Fair for shoppers with free parking close to downtown and no admission.

There are plenty of local food vendors - Call 620-878-4296 for more information.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Heritage Rendezvous Weekend - Council Grove

The Heritage Rendezvous Weekend, Sept 11, 12, 13, in Morris County kicks off on Thurs, Sept 11th, with the arrival of the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race Endurance Ride participants.

Among other weekend highlights, the Voices of the Wind People Pageant begins at 8 pm on Fri, Sept 12th. Other activities include the "Prairie Art Walk" and a free concert with Johnny Western and the Diamond W Wranglers (formerly the Prairie Rose Wranglers).

On Sat, Sept 13th, the Horse Race riders begin their final let of the race from the Kansa View Area of the Council Grove Federal Reservoir.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

In one week - Walnut Valley Festival begins

Wednesday, September 17, through Sunday, September 21, is the Walnut Valley Festival and National Flatpicking Championships in Winfield. For details, see their website.


This 37th annual world famous bluegrass and acoustic music festival also includes contests, concerts, workshops, arts and crafts, camping, kid's events, food and family fun.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Post Office Oak - Update - Santa Fe Trail

Press release of great interest in the Kansas Flint Hills:

The Post Office Oak stump on the Santa Fe Trail in Council Grove, Kansas, a National Historic Landmark, is to be cut down on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 9 am, because it is rotten in the center and in danger of falling. This is one of the most historic trees in Council Grove. The stump is 20 feet tall and 13 feet in diameter. The Post Office Oak, about 270 years old when it died in 1999, had a cache (hole) near the base where travelers going west or east on the Santa Fe Trail left messages for other travelers. This was a common practice for 20 years. The messages might be about water, dangers or opportunities.

One of the earliest settlers in the grove of trees, later named Council Grove, was Frances Xavier Hebrank, a German immigrant who built his home with his brewing business in the cellar a few feet from the oak. Business was brisk and the cache in the tree handy. Hebrank's daughter lived in the home after her father died and added a wooden front porch. The porch was later removed and a cement and stone porch put onto the side of the house. The Post Office Oak is in the southwest corner where the steps come down from the porch.

Almost by accident the rotten condition was discovered when weeding and trimming nearby plants. What at first appeared to be a small area, when rotten wood was taken out, was a cavity large enough to put one's arm into up to the elbow. The Kansas Forestry department was contacted and arborist Kim Bomberger of Dwight, KS examined the tree. She confirmed the rotten interior and sounded the need for care because it is in grave danger of falling. It is leaning against the bottom stone hand railing of the steps with two thirds above the post. Others who work with trees either as vocation or hobby have looked at the stump and offered suggestions.

At an open community meeting, it was decided that the stump should be cut before it falls, the wood treated with a preservative, and placed at or near its present site with protection such as a roof over it. Special equipment will be used to lift sections off the tree.

Preservation of the pieces of the stump will be expensive. No decision has been made about how much of the stump can be treated until it is cut and examined but the Morris County Historical Society is aware that this historic tree warrants the best efforts that can be mustered.

Submitted by:

TinaRae (TR) Scott
Executive Director
Council Grove/Morris County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
620.767.5413
" Thank you for your interest in Council Grove, Morris County, and the Flint Hills!"

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Kansas Flint Hills Traveling Exhibit Update

The Traveling Exhibit of the Jim Richardson photographs of the Kansas Flint Hills that appeared in the National Geographic's April 2007 issue moves to Ottawa on Sept 8 through the 14th.

If you haven't reviewed the National Geographic article for a while (or ever), I certainly encourage you to take a few minutes to review it!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Native Plant Weekend

The Kansas Native Plant Society is reminding us Native Plant Weekend at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve on Sep 13 and 14. Society members will partner with with preserve personnel to present a wide variety of programs, hikes and activities showcasing the fall plants and wildflowers of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem.

On Saturday, Mike Haddock, editor of Kansas Wildflower and Grasses, will lead a presentation on photographing tallgrass prairie wildflowers and grasses at 10 am and 11 am to get the day started.

For more information, call the preserve at 620-273-8494.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Celebrate Zeb Pike Month

Let's each join Flint Hill, Tall Grass in celebrating Zebulon Pike Month and using the opportunity to read and learn from the words of the early explorers of the Kansas Flint Hills region. They provide unique insights, especially as shared with us through the interpretation of our friend, Dennis Toll.

His quote from Sibley applies to the Flint Hills as well today as it did in the early 1800s. Would Pike and Sibley and others really recognize the Kansas Flint Hills, today? I think they would, if they stood in quite a number of selected spots that they described. This is a key aspect of the distinctiveness of the Kansas Flint Hills that is so important to preserve as a National Heritage Area. I hope each of you will join us in this effort.

Stop by the Heritage Tab at kansasflinthills.travel and participate! Enter a comment, below, to let us know you concur with our efforts to preserve the Heritage and the landscape of the Kansas Flint Hills so our grandchildren and their grandchildren will be able to enjoy the beauty and serenity just as Zeb Pike did, and we do today.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Views of the Flint Hills - Art Show

A new show, "Views of the Flint Hills," begins Sept 2nd at the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg and runs through Oct 26th.

"Views of the Flint Hills" features oils and acrylics by Mary Binford Miller.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Marion's 30th Annual Art in the Park and Craft Show

Marion's 30th Annual Art in the Park and Craft Show will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, in beautiful Central Park, downtown Marion, Kansas.

Artists from several states will be displaying their wares. Many of your favorite items will be returning, such as limestone and metal art, food products, soaps, candles, baskets, clothing, jewelry, pet items, baby items, furniture, photography, Swedish woodcrafts, scrapbook items, felted wool, and cook books.

For more information, please call the Marion Chamber of Commerce at 620-382-3425.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Mark DeCou Studio

We have many fine artisans in the Kansas Flint Hills. I'm going to feature one, today. I'd welcome suggestions on others that I might highlight on this platform.

Mark DeCou Studio is located in rural Chase County, near Cottonwood Falls and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. He creates a variety of Art-Furniture, Fine-Art, and unique items - most of his work is on commission. His website is very comprehensive; give it a good look. I'm sure he would love to hear from you.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Voices of the Wind People - Sept 12 and 13

The Voices of the Wind People pageant is a multimedia presentation that combines live-action scenes set in a Kaw village and Council Grove in the 1800s and features Council Grove citizens and Kaw Indians. Historical artwork and photographs, images of the Flint Hills, and videotaped segments are projected onto a large screen.


This production was last performed in 2006. It involves approximately 125 people per performance. Make every effort to attend this special presentation this year.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Labor Day Festivities - Eskridge

Join in the Labor Day Festivities in Eskridge: 7 am August 31 to 11:05 pm Sept 1, 2008; includes 2 days of rodeo performances Sunday and Monday.

Lake Wabaunsee Garage Sales; Chamber of Commerce Pancake Feed: 7-11 am at the Eskridge Fire House.

See the map of Wabaunsee County, if you need directions.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Traveling Exhibit moves to Fredonia on Labor Day

The Traveling Exhibit of Jim Richardson's Flint Hills photos from the National Geographic moves to Fredonia on Labor Day, for a week: Sep 1-7.

Fredonia is located at the rim of the scenic Flint Hills, and is the seat of Wilson County.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Flint Hills painter Judith Mackey exhibits in Leawood

The exhibit, Judith Mackey: Flint Hills Vistas, features new plein air landscapes from renowned Flint Hills artist Judith Mackey.

Visit The Rice Gallery of Fine Art's new location in Park Place (just north of 117th and Nall) at 11535 Ash Street, Leawood, Kansas. Ms. Mackey will be in attendance of the opening reception from 5 to 9 on Friday evening, Aug 29. Festivities continue from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday, Aug 30. This show will run through mid-October. Gallery hours are 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday and by appointment.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Lazy T Ranch Adventures

Check out the website of Lazy T Ranch Adventures near Manhattan - to experience an historic ranch in the scenic Flint Hills of Kansas.

The Wilson family has prepared a comprehensive list of activities for a family outing, corporate picnic, historic tour, hayrack ride or a fun night out in the country. Give them a call.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Camping begins for the Walnut Valley Festival

Camping begins for the Walnut Valley Festival on Thursday, August 21. REALLY??


Yes. While the Festival itself doesn't begin until Sept 17, camping opens for die-hard bluegrass and acoustic music fans on August 21, in Winfield. Check it out! See the Camping rules and ask lots of questions if you are a first-timer... lots of tradition you need to know.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Exhibit: Kim Casebeer: From the Ground Up - Studies to Studio

Kim Casebeer shows us the artist's process with drawings, studies, and paintings of the Konza - at Strecker-Nelson Gallery in Manhattan - beginning Aug 22 and running through Sep 27, 2008.

Kim's work also shows her efforts in the Flint Hills of Kansas and the vistas of New Mexico. Several other artists also are shown in the exhibit.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Smokin' Behind the Barn Sanctioned State BBQ Cook-off

In two weeks, August 29 and 30, plan to be at the Smokin' Behind the Barn Sanctioned State BBQ Cook-off at Quail Valley Fun Barn, in Winfield, KS.


Come enjoy mouth-watering BBQ and enjoy sounds of area bluegrass bands; as well as arts and crafts booths.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Ranching Weekend - Aug 16-17 - Strong City

If you missed the 1st weekend of August, you have another chance on the 3rd! Experience daily activities on a working ranch as you visit with living history interpreters.


Special activities at Ranching Weekend may include historic cooking, music, quilting, carpentry, roping, gardening, saddling, and blacksmithing. Programs begin at 10 am and 2:30 pm, on Saturday and Sunday. 2 miles north of Strong City at the Tallgrass Prairie National Peserve. 620-273-8494.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Made your Labor Day Weekend plans!

The Florence Labor Day Parade is an event that has occurred for over 70 years. There are many activities over the weekend into Monday which can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. Visit the website for more details.

Michael Martin Murphey will be in Concert on Sunday, August 31, along with the other activities. Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Pioneer Bluffs work day on Saturday

If you'd like volunteer to help grow a great new Heritage asset in the Flint Hills, in the Matfield Green area, please consider coming out to Pioneer Bluffs on Saturday, Aug 16, beginning at 9 am. Lynn Smith, Executive Director, tells me they'll be working whether rain or shine - there is plenty to do in the house and barn if it is raining. Call ahead, if concerned: 620.753.3484 office; or cell at 785.393.1569

Garden tools are available, but bring work gloves. Lunch will be available for those who can work until noon. Many hands will make the load light and fun!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Night Sky Program - Flint Hills

Do you have your reservations for the Night Sky Programs at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, for August 11 & 12?


Experience the Persids meteor shower from the backcountry of the preserve from 9 to 11 p.m. Ages 5 - 18. Reservations required for this activity; and an admissions charge. 620-273-8494.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

27th Annual K&O Steam and Gas Engine Assn. Show

The 27th Annual K&O Steam and Gas Engine Association Show will take place in Winfield August 15-17, 2008
The Show is featuring International Farmall and hosting the North Central Regional Meeting of E.D.G.E & T.A. and Kansas Chapter #3 - 3rd Quarter Kansas Chapter Meeting.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Jeff Davidson Live, in Alma, KS

Saturday evening, August 9th, from 7 - 10 p.m., come to Alma, Kansas, at Pop's Place, 301 Missouri (785-765-2500) to see and hear Jeff Davidson, in person. Jeff presents Western/Cowboy Western Music and Storytelling. Jeff comes to Alma all the way from Eureka, in Greenwood County.


Jeff provided our lunchtime educational entertainment at the Spring Heritage Festival of the Heritage Task Force of the Flint Hills Tourism Coalition, Inc. Jeff is an active member of the Heritage Task Force - thank you very much!

Bring your lawn chair, to Alma, and enjoy the show!!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Flint Hills Traveling Exhibit - Eureka

The Flint Hills Traveling Exhibit moves to Eureka, in Greenwood County, on August 11 to 18.

If you haven't see the Exhibit, take this opportunity to help celebrate the Flint Hills.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Flint Hills Beef Fest

Make plans to participate in the Flint Hills Beef Fest, August 15th to 17th, 2008, at the Lyon County Fairgrounds, Emporia. Check out the several sets of activities, including the Ranch Rodeo and Barbeque competition.


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Campfire Program Series

Come this Saturday night, Aug 9, 2008, for a campfire program and nature trail hike, at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, north of Strong City, KS.

Learn about different natural history topics around a campfire beginning at 7 pm. An hour long nature trail hike completes the evening program at 9 pm.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Rathke’s Roundup

For the latest story in cattle roundups in the Flint Hills, check out the Weekend Emporia Gazette and/or the Gazette online... online, be sure to check the Photos section, as well as the story by Bobbi Mlynar. This same story could have run fifty, a hundred, or a hundred fifty years ago, with little change. That is one of the distinctive characteristics of the Kansas Flint Hills!

Check it out - you will be inspired! I was.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Flint Hills Traveling Exhibit - Update

The Traveling Exhibit of Flint Hills photos by Jim Richardson in National Geographic's April 2007 issue will be in Garnett, August 4-10. This is great opportunity for folks in the east central Kansas area to view the photos and be reminded of the fine scenery and distinctive landscapes located just a few miles to the west, in the Kansas Flint Hills.

A Jim Richardson photo, from the National Geographic article, was chosen for this week's Photo of the Week - see more details in Dennis Toll's Flint Hills, Tall Grass for August 1.

In addition, the Exhibit reminds everyone that just driving across I-70 to the west, or I-35 toward Wichita, is only a glimpse of the Kansas Flint Hills... plan a little extra time, and drive K-177, the Flint Hills National Scenic ByWay... stop off in Council Grove, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Cottonwood Falls, or any of the other fine small communities with distinctive characteristics reminding us of memories of our youth, on the farms and ranches, the rural areas of America of times gone by. Slow down, and drink in these memories and experiences - even for a few hours. Enjoy a few relaxing moments of silence on the prairie.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Blue Grass Jam at Pop's Place

Play an instrument? Bring it along & join in the fun - at Pop's Place, 301 Missouri, Alma, KS, on Saturday, August 2, 2008: 7-10 pm or later. Bring your lawn chair! For more info, call 785.765.2500.

Pop's Place - More than just Ice Cream & Sandwiches - It's Fun for the whole family!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

BBQ Queens - Emporia Farmer's Market

Interested in Free Grilling Classes and Samples of Gourmet Dishes?

Be at the Emporia Farmer's Market, Saturday, Aug 9, from 9 am to 1 pm. The World Famous BBQ Queens, Karen Adler and Judith Fertig, are experts on all things barbecue. They've blown away the competition at countless barbecue contests, they've cumulatively authored more than 20 cookbooks, and they've taught more than 75,000 culinary students all across the country. Featured on the Food Network, Better Homes and Gardens TV and appearing in numerous national magazines, including Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Cooking Light and many others, these ladies will help you become a grill master in no time with quick and easy recipes that will leave your guests cheering for more!
Local produce, beef, cheese and additional ingredients will be provided by area vendors. Come early to get a taste-samples will be available for only the first 80 people! This free event is courtesy of Flint Hills Technical College, the Emporia Area Chamber and Visitor's Bureau, KVOE, Emporia Main Street, and the Farmer's Market.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)