Great Ideas for Kansas

We had a board meeting yesterday. Board members are John and Debbie Divine, Salina; Lynda Fort, Ulysses; Gene Merry, Burlington; Ellen Morgan, Salina; and Shelia Lampe, Piqua.

We've been trying to figure out if the Kansas Sampler Foundation should stay small or go big. In the end, we realized that all that matters is that we continue to educate the public about Kansas and support rural communities the best we can. We think we've come up with some unique ways to do this in the most economical way possible. More on the details as time happens. Martha Slater, First Generation Video of Wichita and former board member, made a presentation of some exceptional ideas that include DVD and CD and some other online technology that further our mission in a very exciting manner. The board (I call them boardies because I just love them!) talked all over each other in responding to Martha's plan. President John had to work hard to contain all the instant brainstorming so that Martha could finish her presentation.

I look forward to sharing the plan as we go forward. Kansas has so much to offer and we need to let the world know how to experience rural Kansas. Also, there are so many opportunities for rural communities if we think with a fresh perspective and see rural with new eyes. We've got some ideas!

Fun Names and Fun Ideas are Good for Community!

Meet Jay Yoder, Kansas Explorer #108. This guy has one of the most creative minds I know. He built the bicycle you see in the picture -- and I can't really describe why it's impossible to ride but it might be because the shaft with the handle bars swiggles around.

Anyway, Jay had this great idea for the Partridge Family Fest--Partridge being his community of 250. He came up with the Partridge Pedal Party and has devised all sorts of clever events around the bicycle theme. Soon others got caught up in clever thinking and before you could put a clothespin and card on your bicycle spoke they had a great day planned! It will feature a parade of these impossible to ride kind of custom-designed bicycles. But have you ever seen a Low Gear Bicycle Race or a Slow Race (winner is the one that comes across the line last -- and that's not easy!). Bicycle Poetry. Bicycle Photography. Custom and Vintage Bicycle Show. He gave bicycles to each of the grades at Partridge Elementary for the kids to decorate so that will be part of the Art Bikes. Oh, I think they are having an inner tube toss over bike handles that will be set in the ground a certain distance from the tossing line. Probably more ideas will be invented that day... It's all good.

This Partridge Family Fest and Partridge Pedal Party will take place Saturday, October 18.

There is something about small towns... You don't have to do anything regular and there aren't a lot of regulations to adhere to. Small towns lend lend themselves to creative thought. You have an idea? Make it happen! Just like Lucas, the Mecca of Grassroots Arts. This weekend will be their Toilet Seat Live Auction to help pay for the grassroots art public restrooms they are designing. Elk Falls (pop. 120) will soon host their Outhouse Festival. Their best fundraiser is selling pieces of gravel that you can sign and then deposit in the pothole of your choice on Elk Falls unpaved streets! Meg Perry of Oak Hill, population 36, started the Middle of Nowhere Festival.

Be clever, small towns! Fun brings a community together and brings people to your community!

Get Kansas! Kansas Explorer #2 Marci Penner

Kansas Diversity - visit the Red Hills!

Our state has great physio-geographic diversity with eleven different regions ranging from the Glacial Hills in the northeast to the High Plains of western Kansas. One of the most eye-popping of those regions is the Red Hills. The pictures above reflect a springtime trip so don't be fooled. The colors in the Red Hills will be different this time of year -- but they are always stunning!

There are a couple of recommended ways to see the Red (Gypsum) Hills. One is to travel the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway, U.S. 160 west of Medicine Lodge and to Coldwater. The other is to take the rustic Gyp Hills Scenic Drive into the heart of the Red Hills. Directions for these backroads are to start about 3 miles west of Medicine Lodge on U.S. 160, then 7 miles south on Gypsum Hill Road, then west. Watch for small green signs, and follow them. This trip is approximately 22 miles round trip and takes you on unpaved roads through rolling hills and red mesas past Flower Pot Mound and other landmarks. Lake City Road will take you north again to U.S. 160.

Of course it's always fun to stop at Buster's in Sun City when you're in this area. Sun City is in northwest Barber County. Pictures above show WenDee, KE #36, going in to Buster's for her very first time and to celebrate she's imbibing in one of their specialties. I'm eating a very juicy hamburger (and was the designated driver).

Buster's hours are Monday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. or longer. 620.248.3256.

By the way, the Gyp Hills Scenic Drive was a finalist for the 8 Wonders of Kansas!

Visit Medicine Lodge, Sharon, Hardtner when you're in Barber County!

Bring lawn chairs; watch barn logo being painted; explore Dexter area!

The place to be on October 18 at 1 p.m. is Shannon and Grady Martin's barn located 1/2 mile north of Dexter on K-15.

But there will be much going on in Dexter and area that whole day. It's a bit complicated to explain so I'll tell about different aspects below but know they will all mesh seamlessly together for a great day!

"BRING YOUR OWN LAWN CHAIR" (B.Y.O.L.C.) is a rural awareness series of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Dexter is the fourth and last of our 2008 communities to feature. Our purpose is to invite the public to bring their lawn chairs and hear directly from community members about their issues and opportunities. This official conversation of the B.Y.O.L.C. will start at 1 p.m. beside the stone barn that you see above.

SESQUICENTENNIAL BARN LOGO is a project of the Kansas Barn Alliance. To bring attention to barns and to honor Kansas's 150th birthday in 2011, the plan is to encourage each county in the state to choose one barn on which to paint the official logo (sunflower and dates 1861-2011). Shannon and Grady Martin and Augusta artist Kerry Unrein have decided to add a Kansas version of Mt. Rushmore and include portraits of four famous Kansans (as you see above in a drawing). The four are Dwight Eisenhower, Amelia Earhart, Bob Dole, and Governor Robert Docking who lived and worked in nearby Arkansas City. On October 18, Kerry will finish this painting on the barn. The Kansas Barn Alliance folks will also be on hand to explain the project. The picture you see above is artist Unrein prepping the barn roof for painting.

Dexter is in Cowley County and has much to offer Kansas Explorers Club members and explorer types on October 18. At the Stone Barn Mercantile is shopping, corn maze and pumpkins starting on Friday night and all day Saturday. There are agri-tourism open houses throughout eastern Cowley County that day. The Gathering Place restaurant is open in Dexter as are Creek Water Wool Works and Henry's Candies. Make sure you see Helium Park off Main Street, too.

RECOMMENDATION: Just get to Dexter as soon as you can on Saturday morning and maybe start at The Gathering Place. They'll have all the information you need for the day. Be at the stone barn north of Dexter on K-15 at 1 p.m. with your lawn chair so you can join in on the official Explorer B.Y.O.L.C. discussion! It'll be great!

Get Kansas! Kansas Explorer #2 Marci Penner

ECHOechoechoecho...

You can really hear an echo when you throw your voice against Echo Cliff! It's so still and quiet here that you can hear the echo well.

Where are these sandstone cliffs that are probably at least 70 feet high? They are 2 miles west of Dover, then 1 mile south on Echo Cliff Road. Just before the old iron bridge you'll see the cliffs and a truly odd assortment of picnic tables.

Mission Creek is the shallow stream that flows at the base of the cliffs. Right now the fall colors should be great here!

Dover is an unincorporated town on the west border of Shawnee County on K-4.

You'd think the village of Dover had been named for the white cliffs of Dover England when it was formed in 1863. Maybe it was but the book 1001 Kansas Place Names says that early settlers may have chosen the name Dover from Dover, New Hampshire or from Dover, England. There were several English immigrants living in the township of Dover, which preceded the village.

See if the general store/cafe at the main intersection in Dover is open. If so, order sandwiches to go and have a picnic at Echo Cliff. It's one of those great Explorer places!

Get Kansas! Marci Penner, Kansas Explorer #2

It's the Real Buffalo Bill!

The legend of Buffalo Bill is as real as this double-life sized statue located at U.S. 83 and 2nd Street at Oakley. Leoti's Charlie Norton and wife Pat were the sculptors of this massive work of art.

Here is the story in brief. In 1868 and about 10 miles from the location of the sculpture a contest was held to determine whether buffalo hunter Bill Comstock or Bill Cody should get to use the monicker "Buffalo Bill."

Both Bills were paid to provide a specific amount of buffalo meat for the railroad work crews each day. Bill Cody was becoming well known for his abilities as a buffalo hunter and his friends began referring to him as "Buffalo Bill." Well, Fort Wallace, further west, had their own "Bill" hunting buffalo for them and felt that if anyone deserved the title of "Buffalo Bill" that he did. Their hunter was Bill Comstock.

The only logical thing to do was have a buffalo hunting contest to see who would forever be known as THE Buffalo Bill. The contest was designed to determine who could bring down the most buffalo in a single day (the buffalo meat was then used as food for the workers). A wager was set and the contest was held. At the end of the day, Bill Cody had brought down 69 buffalo and Bill Comstock 46. From that day forward Bill Cody has been THE Buffalo Bill.
(story source Wild West Historical Foundation, Inc.)

You can find more information about the contest at a fine display located at the sculpture site.

The Buffalo Bill sculpture is one of the finalists for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art. Go to www.8wonders.org to see all 24 finalists and to vote. To learn more about this sculpture and all other finalists just click on their picture. The last day to vote is October 15!

Take advantage of this beautiful fall weather and go see some of the wonders of Kansas!

Get Kansas! Kansas Explorer #2 Marci Penner

Have you voted for Kansas Art yet?

Only 8 more days to have your say in the top 8 Wonders of Kansas Art! There are 24 diverse choices. Learn more about them and vote at www.8wonders.org. This Kansas Sampler Foundation is designed to help educate the WORLD about Kansas and to inspire travel in the state.

Have you seen the beautiful art work on Wichita North High School? It's so impressive! Kansan Bruce Moore's colorful bas-relief sculptures and decorative panels are found in several places on the exterior of the building. The high school is at 13th and Rochester. Construction was started in 1928.



This neat Red Barn Studio in Lindsborg was the working studio of professional artist/craftsman Lester Raymer (1907-1991). It's filled with his diverse art and craftwork, most of which are made from recycled materials. My favorite piece is the hand-stitched "sun" quilt! Open Tuesday-Sunday 1-4 p.m. at 212 S. Main.


Wow! That's the first word you'll say when you enter this church in the unincorporated city of St. Benedict. The town is located 1 mile west of Seneca on U.S. 36, 3 miles north on K-127, 1/2 west.

The restoration of this lavish ornamentation earned this G.F. Satory-painted church a Kansas Preservation Alliance interior restoration award.

As I researched for all 24 finalists my awe for Kansas grew. Hopefully this sampling will take you to the website at www.8wonders.org to see all 24. But the best is to go out and see these places in person!

What a great state we live in! Kansas Explorer #2, Marci Penner