Flint Hills Roadtrip - and photo

Check out Terry Ownby's latest Flint Hills photo and comment! His quote:

"Being out on the prairie where you can see for miles and hear nothing but wind, birds, swaying grass and your own heartbeat is fabulous!" The photo confirms that image!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

National Volunteer Month - April

April is National Volunteer Month. I suspect most of my readers are already active volunteers, but everyone can find a cause for which to volunteer - add a new cause, if you can find the time. It can be very satisfying. It can make a real contribution to your community. Every community, large as well as very small, needs volunteer effort to survive, and thrive. I'd love to hear from you what you have done, or plan to do. Enter your Comment, below! Thanks! ;-)

As you have noticed, I regularly report on "Work Day" at Pioneer Bluffs, for example - just a few days ago, actually. The Symphony in the the Flint Hills is built on volunteerism. There are many other opportunities to volunteer, around the Kansas Flint Hills! Just do it! You, and your community, will be better for it!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Casebeer/Krallman Workshop - Plein Air Painting

Taking place at Camp Wood in association with the Flying W Ranch, near Elmdale, KS, this unique workshop in April is a very special opportunity for interested persons. In this workshop, you will be painting outdoors, from life.


The workshop will concentrate on composition - line, shape, value and color. What inspired you to paint a particular scene? By focusing on this one idea, the plein air experience can be less intimidating.

The $285 per person includes 18 hours of workshop instruction, 2 nights lodging at Camp Wood, dinner at Camp Wood Friday, breakfast and lunch Saturday and Sunday, and chuckwagon dinner at Flying W Ranch Saturday night. Does not include painting supplies. See web link, and here, for more details.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Cabin Fever Challenge - Wamego

In Wamego, on Mar 28, starting at 7:30 a.m., to Mar 29, ending at 2:30 p.m., enjoy the Cabin Fever Challenge - RIDE FOR TRAILS!

The new proceeds from this bicycle ride will help fune the WAM-SAG-MAN Recreational Train that will begin in Wamego and connect with Saint George and Manhattan's Linear Trail. You can visit this web site for more information and to download a registration form.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

The latest from Pioneer Bluffs

Just received the following from Lynn Smith, and I wanted to share. I also pulled a paragraph from the news release that I thought would be helpful:

Lloyd Rogler will be coming to Pioneer Bluffs on Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 pm
for a Prairie Talk! The complete news release is attached. He promises to
share stories about Pioneer Bluffs that he heard from his father, Charles
Rogler, who was Wayne's first cousin.

[From News Release:
Rogler will share stories about his roots in the Flint Hills of Kansas. He says his visit to a setting homesteaded in 1859 by his great-grandfather, Charles Rogler, will be “profoundly exciting and meaningful.” Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Lloyd H. Rogler, Phd, is one of America’s most distinguished medical researchers and has been dedicated a “Superstar” in medical research by Columbia University. A founder of the field of cultural psychiatry, he has conducted pathbreaking research in mental health and Hispanic health. He is currently Fordham University’s Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities Emeritus. Barrio Professors is his ninth book.]

Lloyd will also give a reading from his latest book. Barrio Professors is
about his life growing up in Puerto Rico, and he says we will see the
influence of the Flint Hills. Hope you can join us next Tuesday for a
fascinating discussion!

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

Mark your calendar for more upcoming community events at Pioneer Bluffs:
April 4 Volunteer Workday
April 18 Prairie Talk at 2 pm: A Passion for Nature: the Life of John Muir
presented by Don Worster, PhD
May 2 Volunteer Workday
June 6 Volunteer Workday
June 6: Shades of Wonder, wildflower and prairie grass hike with Glenn Fell
June 13: Symphone Day Open House and Juried Art Show

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

All Nations Native American Pow Wow

If you are or could be near Arkansas City on Mar 28-29, please consider attending the All Nations Native American Pow Wow. It is an important Kansas Flint Hills Heritage festival.

The event runs from 7 pm on Mar 28 and runs to 4 pm on Mar 29. Come enjoy the beauty of the costumes and rhythm of the drums.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Flint Hills Foundwood Carvings - Classes

Check out Millard Harrell's Found Wood Carvings blog for the current list of classes through the spring and into the summer. What a fascinating prospect! Travel into the Flint Hills to locate and harvest cottonwood bark, that will then be carved into a wood spirit.


Four classes are on the current schedule, in Topeka, Baldwin City, and in Emporia. What a great experience!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Kansas Regional Field Trials - Eureka

March 20 through March 29 participants, dogs and horses compete at the Regional Dog Trials competitions. Spectators from across the country come to watch.

Watch exceptional dogs from across America and Canada compete for top honors. Bring your horse, ride, visit, or just come and enjoy the beautiful Flint Hills at the Bechtel Ranch. RV hookups, hot showers, and laundry facilities, along with on premise breakfast and lunch are just some of the amenities offered. Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Greater Prairie Chicken Viewing at the Konza

Greater Prairie Chicken Viewing at the Konza starts Mar 15 and runs through Apr 20, 2009. Viewing the courtship behavior of the Greater Prairie Chick will be allowed by reservation only and is on a first-come-first-served basis. This is a program of the Konza Environmental Education Program, four weeks each spring.


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

2009 Kansas Agritourism Conference

The 2009 Kansas Agritourism Conference will be held on March 25-26 at the Highland Hotel & Convention in Great Bend. I attended the one in the fall of 2004. It was a great experience... well run.

Learn marketing basics, putting together your business plan, pricing your product, financing, food safety, school tour ideas, working with your local community and much, much more at this don't miss conference, sponsored by the Kansas Department of Commerce, Rural Development Division.

Sign up by March 16 to receive an early-bird discount.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

"No Child Left Inside"

Thanks to Louise Carlin for sharing this neat article on kids and nature (perhaps you've read it already!):

http://www.kansas.com/topstories/story/721849.html

What can you do, to help?

One way would be to donate to the Friends of the Flint Hills Fund at the Kansas Rural Communities Foundation (click on Affiliates, and choose Friends of the Flint Hills) - the fund wants to contribute to these kinds of projects. Thank you for working with us, on this. Questions and comments always welcomed.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Cassoday Today

See Flyover People Daily News for March 7th for a great set of photos of Cassoday. We always enjoy Cheryl Unruh's column and blog, but this one has a special flavor of Kansas Flint Hills current Heritage being made, today. Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

A Chase County Cowgirl

Minta Van Nortwick, Cottonwood Falls, presents A Chase County Cowgirl at 2:00 pm on March 7.

One of the top women trick riders from the 1930s through the 1950s, Marge Roberts of Chase County began performing in the Clyde Miller Wild West Show at the age of 13 and she won the 1940 ladies Bronc Riding Championship. Learn about Marge Roberts in this first-person debut performance by Minta VanNortwick of Cottonwood Falls. It will be held at Pioneer Bluffs Historic Ranch, one mile north of Matfield Green on Highway 177.

Location and Contact:
695 Ks Hwy 177
Matfield Green, KS 66862
Phone: (620) 753-3484

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)