A Companion Exhibit to
Crossroads: Change in Rural America
A Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit
Early Spring in Wabaunsee County. Photo by Patty Reece
Online and Virtual Events
March 13 – April 25, 2021
All events are free
We are excited to tell our local story alongside the traveling Smithsonian exhibition examining the changing landscape of rural America.
Deep Roots and New Growth in Wabaunsee County explores the rural culture of ranching and the small-town life we treasure. It tells real stories of real people.
The exhibit has been designed by committees in the local community with help from the Wabaunsee County Historical Society. They have worked steadily since May 2020, discussing what makes our community unique – why we value our traditions and how we look ahead to the future… our own story of Rural America.
Each week will focus on a different aspect of our local story, taking viewers on a journey through history, weaving a tale that starts with grass and brings the story of Wabaunsee County full circle.
Virtual Grand Opening
Saturday, March 13 at 1pm | Join us online for the Pre-recorded Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and a sneak peek of the Crossroads exhibit. Governor Laura Kelly, Julie Mulvihill, Executive Director at Humanities Kansas, and Patty Reece, Founder of The Volland Store will help kick-off the festivities. Click here to watch the video.
Explore Wabaunsee County
Explore our online information about important local heritage sites, and access our driving tours for a real-life adventure.
Ranching in Wabaunsee County
The rocky, rolling terrain of the Flint Hills may be unsuitable for cultivated crops, but excels at growing nutritious grass for cattle. Learn more about ranching in Wabaunsee County through video interviews exploring inter-generational ranching, past ranching techniques, and new sustainability-seeking technology.
Thursday, March 25 at 7 pm | Join us for an introduction to ranching by Barb Downey (Downey Ranch), and Amy Langvardt (Lyons Ranch). Click here to watch the video.
Commitment to Community
Drawing on our historic roots, while appealing to new audiences, social events like barn dances, mulligans, quilting bees and pitch tournaments have paved the way for Hot Alma Nights, Vintage Motorcycle Exhibits, the Paxico Blues Fest, the Tractor Crank-up Tour, and the Pumpkin Patch. Click to learn more about the people behind the events that build community.
Thursday, April 8 at 4pm | “Paxico on the Porch” (Zoom). Join Bud Hund, John Hund, Doug Holladay, and Dan Wagner to hear about their big dreams for getting Paxico on the map for its Blues Fest, neighborhood music scene, and antiques. Click here to watch the recorded presentation.
Healthy Moving
BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas Foundation is sponsoring yoga sessions to encourage you to take the Change Challenges which offer ideas on healthy lifestyle habits that can be practiced within your own community.
Tuesday, April 13 at 9:30am – and Wednesday, April 14 at 6:30pm | Two free yoga sessions with yoga instructor Heather Beggs, who owns and operates Flint Hills Yoga on the main street of Alma. Click here for details and to sign up.
Tallgrass Prairie
Our story begins and ends with grass. The Tallgrass Prairie is a beautiful and diverse ecosystem with the ability to survive drought, flood, bitter cold and scorching heat. The combination of various grasses and forbs that make up the prairie are more resistant to change than a single plant type or monoculture. Grass is an important natural resource in Wabaunsee County. As cattle graze in the hills, the nutrition in the grass is converted to protein. Stewardship plays an all-important role in the continued success of the ranching industry.
Thursday, April 22 at 7 pm | Join us for a conversation with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam, Joe Carpenter and Barb Downey as they talk about what the land means to them. Click here to watch the video.
Thank you to our Community Partners, without whom the exhibit would not have been possible.
CROSSROADS COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Presenting Partners
Humanities Kansas
Volland Foundation
Arla & Tony Barelli
Kansas Beef Council
Wabaunsee County Historical Society
Community Exhibit Partners
Alma Area Foundation
Bruce & Tina Breckenridge
Bank of the Flint Hills
Downey Ranch
Hendricks Hardware
Carl & Mary Ice
Jim & Barbara Meinhardt and KanEquip, Inc.
Lyons Angus Ranch
M7 Ranch – McGee Family
Matfield Station
Mount Mitchell Prairie Guards
The Native Stone Scenic Byway
Heidi & Nelson Nast
Henry & Cara Newell
Patty & Jerry Reece
Stockgrowers State Bank
George Terbovich
Wabaunsee County Farm Bureau
Community Event Partners
Alma Chamber of Commerce
Alma Cooperative Oil Association
Antique Emporium
Eskridge Lumber LLC
Farm Bureau Financial Services, Wab. Co.
Farmers & Drovers Bank
Flint Hills Prairie Bison Reserve
Flint Hills Stone
Frank’s Plumbing
Kent & Janna Glasscock
Hafenstine Construction
Hier Insurance Services, Inc
Bill & Kathy Hogue
Lawyers Title of Kansas
McFarland Pride
Cindy & Roger Manz
Arturo and Wrenn Pacheco of Pacheco Beef
Paxico Foundation
Paxico Longbranch Bar & Grill
Lawrence & Janiece Vohland
Wabaunsee Pines Golf Course
Greg & Dina Wingfield
Community Friends
DJ’s Bar and Grill
Flint Hills Bank
Flint Hills Yoga
Mill Creek Lodge at Volland Point
Prairie Heritage, Inc.
S&S Auto Body and Collision
Stop-2-Shop
Wyldewood Cellars Winery
EXPLORE Map printed courtesy of Wabaunsee County Economic Development Office
