Another convert...

Read this article by Greg Henderson through to the end, please...


http://www.drovers.com/news_editorial.asp?pgID=675&ed_id=8251

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Really nice Flint Hills article on Yahoo!

Thanks to Contributing Editor, Robert Pfroom, for great Yahoo! article: "Day Trips from Kansas City, Missouri: The Flint Hills of Eastern Kansas." Great publicity piece. Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Last Flint Hills Cattle Drive

Most of you have probably seen this story, but it is worth mentioning, if you have not. Check it out in the Eagle: http://www.kansas.com/2010/11/08/1578551/on-a-flint-hills-ranch-tradition.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Do you know "Flintknapping"?

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve will focus on the history of the Flint Hills in a program this coming Saturday during a series of special events:

American Indian

Bison

Flintknapping

Check it out, and maybe you will learn something, as well! 


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Visions of the Flint Hills Art Benefit and Sale

The Visions of the Flint Hills Art Benefit and Sale will be held at Buttonwood Art Space, 3013 Main, Kansas City, Missouri, which opens the first Friday weekend, October 1, 2010, and a second show on Friday, November 5, 2010.

Check the link for a lot more detail, if you have not yet seen it!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Pioneer Bluffs activities on Sat, September 18

From Lynn Smith news email:

"Prairie Talk on rural revitalization, "Small Town, USA," at 2 p.m., Saturday, September 18.
and,
Art exhibits with focus on nature will open at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, September 18.

See link, above, for contact information, if needed."


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

October 9 Hog Roast at Pioneer Bluffs - Plan to attend!

HOG ROAST

From Lynn Smith news email:

"HOG ROAST: A Celebration of Community and Local Food, October 9.
This annual festival will be extra-special this year, with live music by
FOUR bands, demonstrations such as solar cooking, an arts and crafts fair,
and of course, delicious local food! All this for only $10 for adults, $5
for youths. All the details included."

See link, above, for contact information, if needed.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

At Pioneer Bluffs on Saturday, Sept 11: Addie returns!

Addie returns!

From Lynn Smith news email:

" Addie returns! Adaline Rogler Sorace and her daughter, Deborah
Prutzman, will be guests of honor at a Pioneer Bluffs reception from 1:30 to
3 p.m., Saturday, September 11. They are visiting Kansas to accept a Kansas
Notable Book award for "Addie of the Flint Hills." Join us in congratulating
this great mother-daughter author team"

See link, above, for contact information, if needed.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Sep-Oct Pioneer Bluffs Newsletter a "must read!"

Just received my "News from Pioneer Bluffs" email - are you getting it?

Attached was the really neat Sep-Oct Pioneer Bluffs Foundation newsletter, including great photos of past and upcoming events. I hope you support the Foundation programs.

A timely item: "Return to PrairyErth" to air on Wichita PBS on Sunday, September 5 and on Topeka PBS on Thursday, September 16.

To keep current on Pioneer Bluffs activities or make a donation, contact:

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!  ;-)

Third Annual Flint Hills Film Festival in Geary County

Be sure to check out the Third Annual Flint Hills Film Festival in Geary County on Sept 10-12 in Junction City, KS. The link has detailed information and contact information for interested persons.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Geology and the Prairie brochure from NPS

If you have been wondering about the geology of the Flint Hills, check out this fine brochure from the National Park Service at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

For download, click: http://www.nps.gov/tapr/upload/Geology brochureFinal.pdf


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Voices of the Wind People time approaching

Visit: Voices of the Wind People for more details, if you have not seen them.

This is a fine local show about the Flint Hills region and local culture!

See you in the Flint Hills!  ;-)

Interested in Kansas Gardening?

Have you seen Garden Musing? Kansas gardening. Interesting!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

See Coutts Museum lastest Exhibit

The El Dorado times has a good story on their current exhibit. Check it out!


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Flint Hills Photo-Cycling Tour - is it for you?

Flint Hills Photo-Cycling Tour - is it for you?

The Flint Hills Photo-Cycling Tour is scheduled for September 10. Check the website link for more details. This looks like a really interesting project for serious photographer-cyclists!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Nice Update to Portal on the Prairie

Check out the article by Linda A. Thompson in the cjonline.com article: Portal on the Prairie.

It provides a nice update on the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan, KS, which broke ground on July 7, just a month ago.


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Cyclist Blog through the Kansas Flint Hills

See a nice cycling blog through the Flint Hills:
http://bikedave.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/august-4-harvey-county-park-east-near-newton-ks-to-eureka-ks/

Note that he met: "... a westbound cyclist from Hong Kong." Small world!


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Unruh covers Heat-Moon visit to Chase County

Most of you have probably seen the latest "Flyover People" article by Cheryl Unruh, "A deep map" - but if you missed it, here is the link in the Emporia Gazette! Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Flint Hills Nature-Based Ready-Made Adventure

Kansas Travel and Tourism website now has the Flint Hills Nature-Based Ready-Made Adventure. Have you shared it with your friends, to encourage them to visit? It is very nicely done and friends and family would enjoy the entire tour.


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Another review of the premiere screening of “Return to PrairyErth” at Pioneer Bluffs near Matfield Green

Another review of the premiere screening of “Return to PrairyErth” at Pioneer Bluffs near Matfield Green in the Emporia Gazette. Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Pioneer Bluffs: Overflow crowds visit the farm

I was so pleased to read this story in the Wichita Eagle about the Pioneer Bluffs event!  ;-)

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

More Flint Hills acres into conservation easement

7,000 more acres of Flint Hills native tallgrass prairie have been put into conservation easements by Rod Moyer of Junction City per an announcement by the Kansas Land Trust.

See story at: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/20/2095016/more-flint-hills-acreage-to-be.html

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Flint Hills Nature Trail

Have you checked out all the activity at the Flint Hills Nature Trail website lately? Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Want to get better photos in the Kansas Flint Hills?

If you want to be more satisfied with the photos you take out in the Kansas Flint Hills you will surely want to follow the new blog, flint hills imagemakers; I do!

http://flinthillsimages.blogspot.com/

These are three photographers from Council Grove who are sharing their experience and insights with the rest of us. Be sure to leave a comment on their blog posts to let them know you appreciate what they are doing there!


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills - with your camera!  ;-)

A Flint Hills garden tour coming up in Marion

Annie Calovich has a nice article in the Wichita Eagle about the July 24 Marion Garden tour in the Kansas Flint Hills. Check out the details:

http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/17/1407687/marion-grows-its-own-flint-hills.html

AND, the tour benefits a great cause, as well: The Marion Public Library!

Hope you can be there...  ;-)

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Kansas Flint Hills in The Daily Beast

Have you seen the latest Kansas Flint Hills story in The Daily Beast?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-07-17/visiting-the-flint-hills-kansas-for-brisket-and-riding/

An American Prairie Feast by Sophie Menin goes on for three pages, and includes recipes from your own Rose and Kent Bacon. Enjoy!

I don't know about you, but my mouth is watering just reading the highlights!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Read Beccy Tanner's article on "Return to PrairyErth"

Be sure to see Beccy Tanner's article in the Wichita Eagle:
http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/17/1407726/prairyerth-returns-home.html

It includes a really neat opening video clip the the new Flint Hills documentary and many more useful comments and bits of information. I know you will enjoy reading it!

There is also a similar, related story, in NEWSOK:
http://newsok.com/film-about-flint-hills-to-be-shown-next-week/article/feed/173863?custom_click=headlines_widget


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

312th Army Band in Marysville on July 20

See this announcement at Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)


http://kansasflinthills.travel/events/312tharmyband


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Eric Benjamin sees the Kansas Flint Hills through camera and eyes

Eric has some nice Flint Hills photos....  ;-)

http://www.theadventuremonkey.com/blog/?p=2511

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Pioneer Bluffs: Latest activity report

I just received this announcement from Lynn Smith, Executive Director:

July 24 is the much-anticipated day when Return to PrairyErth comes to
Pioneer Bluffs! Please join us for the premier of this documentary film and
a Prairie Talk by bestselling author William Least Heat-Moon. There is no
charge for this community event.

The fun begins at 4 p.m. with a matinee viewing of the film, and continues
on until the last showing of the film at dusk. All the information is
attached. If you'd like to purchase a "picnic on the prairie" prepared by
our great volunteers, please let me know you'd like to make a reservation.

It's going to be an exciting day! Feel free to share this information with
your email groups, or print it off to post at local businesses. We want
everyone to have the opportunity to meet William Least Heat-Moon and see the
film that features local people.

What we are doing at Pioneer Bluffs is newsworthy! Check out these two
feature stories in today's edition of the Topeka Capital Journal:
http://cjonline.com/life/2010-07-10/growing_together_at_pioneer_bluffs
http://cjonline.com/life/2010-07-10/matfield_green_expands_art_scene


Hope to see you July 24! 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!  ;-)

Flint Hills Author Deborah Vogts 2nd novel now available

Because she promotes the Kansas Flint Hills in her novels and all of her appearances, it is always a pleasure to promote her efforts whenever I can. Here is a recent blog interview about her 2nd novel, just out, Seed of Summer, the second in the Seasons of Tallgrass series.

http://megandimaria.blogspot.com/2010/07/welcome-deborah-vogts.html

Megan does a fine job interviewing Deborah, and Deborah always has very interesting answers to interview questions.

Also, please note, that Country at Heart - the blog by Deborah Vogts, is at the top of my list to the right. Stop over there, read her blog, and sign up for her excellent newsletter. She also has a neat Deborah Vogts Readers Group on Facebook, if you are there as well. Look her up!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Pioneer Bluffs: A very special Kansas Flint Hills farm

Pioneer Bluffs: A very special Kansas Flint Hills farm

I feel very fortunate to have been around and met a lot of the people responsible for making Pioneer Bluffs, near Matfield Green, in Chase County, what it is today. What that is, is nicely described in a recent cjonline.com article by Angela Deines: "Growing together at Pioneer Bluffs."

I have posted notices about activities at Pioneer Bluffs over the earlier years of this blog. If interested, feel free to roll back through the years to see more, including photos, now and then.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Flint Hills items of interest - July 12

Flint Hills July 12

Two highlights from my "Flint Hill" Google Alert:

1. ABC Good Morning America feature:
A Sea of Grass: Kansas' Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve by Kate Santichen

We always love to see Flint Hill of Kansas stories like this. Come on over!!  ;-)

2. The Photo Forum asked:
So you want some blue skies and open land?

You need to scroll down a bit to see the three beautiful Flints Hills photos!

Thanks for posting! Love them!


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Jim Hoy to speak in Iola

See the Iola Library Web Site for information on Jim Hoy speaking there on September 18.

Kansas Department of Commerce to host agritourism workshop

Kansas Department of Commerce to host agritourism workshop

Farmers, business owners and entrepreneurs interested in agritourism are invited to attend a free agritourism workshop July 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Netawaka Community Building in Netawaka, Kan.
The two-hour session will provide an overview of agritourism, including how rural entrepreneurs can start a new agritourism business or incorporate agritourism into an existing business. The session will be led by Jan Janzten, director of Rural Tourism Development for the Flint Hills Resource Conservation & Development and owner of Kansas Flint Hills Adventures, one of the region's most successful agritourism operations.
The informational session is free, and registration is not required.
The event is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Commerce; Flint Hills Resource Conservation & Development; and Glacial Hills Resource Conservation Development.
"Agritourism" typically is defined as the crossroads of traditional agriculture and tourism. Farmers across Kansas are realizing the benefits of tailoring their operations to tourists, who are increasingly longing to visit a working ranch, rope a calf, ride a horse, pick their own apples or tour a winery. These activities provide lifelong memories for tourists and additional revenue for Kansas farmers who host them. If you are a Kansas producer looking to grow your business, then becoming an agritourism vendor may be the perfect way to do it.
The Kansas Department of Commerce promotes agritourism in Kansas through various programs and services, including the Kansas Agritourism Attraction Development Loan, the Agritourism Educational Scholarship Program and the Simply Kansas trademark program. For details, visit www.kansascommerce.com/agritourism.
For more information, contact Becki Rhoades with the Kansas Department of Commerce at 785-296-3737; Jan Jantzen with Flint Hills RC&D at 620-340-0113, extension 9; or Jessica Bowser with Glacial Hills RC&D at 785-945-6292.
Info Courtesy of: High Plains/Midwest AG

See you in the Flint Hills of Kansas!  ;-)

Flint Hills Discovery Center Groundbreaking

Flint Hills Discovery Center Groundbreaking

See photos and story of the groundbreaking for the Flint Hills Discovery Center that took place on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at the Mahanttan, Kansas website.


See you in the Flint Hills of Kansas!  ;-)

Dr. Bill ;-)

http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/
Author of "Back to the Homeplace"
and "13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories"
http://www.examiner.com/x-53135-Springfield-Genealogy-Examiner

Rural Kansas - a program of Kansas Sampler

Check out Rural Kansas sponsored by the Kansas Sampler Foundation, I believe.

Good for the Flint Hills of Kansas!

It will be well worth the effort!

Dr. Bill  ;-)


http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/
Author of "Back to the Homeplace"
and "13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories"
http://www.examiner.com/x-53135-Springfield-Genealogy-Examiner