Prairie
Education

Prairie Education Programs are an important part of the day of the Symphony. The program is both experiential and presentational. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the hundreds of acres of tallgrass deep in the Flint Hills, the site of the Fifth Anniversary Concert.

 

 

 

 

At the Concert Site
From 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

  • Horse Drawn Covered wagon rides from: 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
  • Wildflower/prairie walks led by Kansas Native Plant Society members
  • After concert star gazing

 

 

Presentations

Concertgoers are invited to participate in presentations and discussions on a variety of topics relating to the tallgrass prairie, the Flint Hills and the region’s fascinating culture and history. ‘A sense of place’ arises from knowledge and experience. Wildflowers, birds, grasses, and the human stories of the area are rich subjects.

 

RANCHING ON THE TALLGRASS PRAIRIE

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

1:00 P.M.

Ticket gate opens

Rides to concert site begin from Wait and Ride Tent

Wildflower walking trail to concert site opens

Barbeque and beverages served in the Food Tent and Beverage Tent until 11 p.m.

1:00 till Concert Intermission

Symphony in the Flint Hills Silent Art Auction

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A juried selection of paintings inspired by the Flint Hills will be offered by silent auction in the Art &Silent Auction Tent.  One painting is chosen for the 2010 limited edition fine art print

1:00 – 6:00

Horse-drawn covered wagon rides

3:00, 4:00, & 5:00

Ranch horse demonstration, Rex Buchman

1:00 – 5:30

Kansas City Symphony Instrument Petting Zoo

1:00 – 6:00

Prairie Walks and Interpretation

Learn about native grasses, wildflowers, birds and other wildlife, habitats, geologic formations, and cattle-grazing on the tallgrass prairie from Kansas Native Plant Society, Audubon of Kansas, Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, and Kansas Grasslands Water Quality Project.

2:00 - 6:00

PRESENTATIONS IN HISTORY AND HERITAGE TENTS (see following pages)

1:30-4:30

Solar Telescopes for viewing the Sun

1:30

Galileo Galilei – 400 Years of Astronomy & Solar System Walk

2:15

Shadows and Silhouettes & Planetary Motions

3:00

Phases of the Moon  & Galileo Galilei – 400 Years of Astronomy   

3:45                                 

Solar System Walk & Shadows and Silhouettes

4:30

Planetary Motions & Phases of the Moon

6:45 – 9:00

CONCERT (90 minute performance plus 20 minute intermission)

During intermission, food and beverages will be available in the Food Tent and Beverage Tent.

The Flint Hills Store Tent will be open; Silent Auction closes at end of intermission.

AFTER THE CONCERT

9:15 – 11:30

Dancing to traditional western acoustic band.   Food and beverages continue to be served in the Food Tent.

Story circle

9:00 till deep dark

Stargazing at the Hillside Observatory with telescopes. Hosted by Kansas Astronomical Observers and the Salina Astronomy Club

 

HISTORY AND HERITAGE TENTS 2010

Sunflower Tent: Flint Hills Natural History

2:00-2:20 Birds of the Prairie: Prairie Chickens Ron Klataske
2:30-2:50 Ponds, springs, rivers, and ranching Rex Buchanan
3:00-3:20 Managing Grass for Ranching Clenton Owensby
3:30-3:50

Conservation Easements:
Preserving the Prairie

Rancher Bill Haw with Brian Obermeyer, TNC
4:00-4:20 Prairie Wildflowers Dee & Phyllis Scherich
4:30-4:50 Birds of the Prairie: Prairie Chickens Ron Klataske
5:00-5:20 Environmental Change and the Peopling
of the Flint Hills after the Ice Age

Rolfe Mandel

5:30-5:50 Ponds, Springs, Rivers, and Ranching Rex Buchanan

Blue Wild-Indigo Tent: Stories from the Site

2:00-2:20 Railroads and Ranching Phil Miller
2:30-2:50 Pioneer Bluffs Ranch, est. 1859 Marva Weigelt
3:00-3:20 The South Clements Pasture Ed Bass/Bill Haw
3:30-3:50 Ranch Horses of the Flint Hills Frank Buchman
4:00-4:20 Railroads and Ranching Phil Miller
4:30-4:50 Pioneer Bluffs Ranch, est. 1859 Marva Weigelt
5:00-5:20 Texas-to-Kansas Cattle Trails Jim Hoy
5:30-5:50 Ranch Rodeo in the Flint Hills

Panel from Buck Creek Ranch & Lonesome Pine Ranch:
Randy Peterson, Bud Higgs, Adrian Vogel, Grady Gibb.
Earl Kuhn, WRCA, Moderator

Butterfly Milkweed Tent: Ranching in the Flint Hills

2:00-2:20 The South Clements Pasture Ed Bass/Bill Haw
2:30-2:50 Texas-to-Kansas Cattle Trails Jim Hoy
3:00-3:50 Some Cowboys Are Girls Women ranchers/cowgirls:
Arlene Bailey, Leigh Ann Crofoot, Bobbi Hammond, & Pat Potts.
Moderator, Mike Beam
4:00-4:20

Conservation Easements:
Preserving the Prairie

Ranchers: Paul & Jackie Seeley
with Brian Obermeyer, TNC
4:30-4:50 Ranch Horses of the Flint Hills Frank Buchman
5:00-5:50 Flint Hills Ranchers

Panel:  Tom Burton, Pat Sauble,
Cliff Cole, Joe Mushrush.
Dee Likes, KLA, Moderator

Evening Primrose Tent:  Prairie as Muse

2:00-2:20 History of Cowboy Music Kelly Werts
2:30-2:50 Prairie from a Plein Air Perspective Lisa Grossman
3:00-3:20 Poetry Inspired by Place Steven Hind,
Caren Mirriam-Goldberg,
H.C. Palmer. 
3:30-3:50 History of Cowboy Music Kelly Werts
4:00-4:20 William Stafford:  Poetic Voice of Kansas Steven Hind, Denise Low,
William Sheldon
4:30-4:50 Prairie from a Plein Air Perspective Lisa Grossman
5:00-5:50 Makers of Custom Cowboy Gear Panel:   Jack Kellogg,
Matt Hunn, Bruce Brock, Jay Adcock.
Richard Keller, Moderator

CONCERT
6:45 Concert begins (90 minute performance plus 20 minute intermission)
During intermission food and beverages will be available in the Beverage Tent and the Food Tent

AFTER THE CONCERT
9:00 – 11:00 Music with The Blackbury Band: L.B. Taulbee – Lead guitar, Garry Bury – vocals, Bob Black – Fiddle and Vocals, Richelle Basgall – Fiddle and Vocals, Dick Kruger – Bass, Felix Baz-Dresch – Banjo
Ongoing food and beverages served at the Food Tent until 11:00 p.m.
Stargazing at the Hillside Observatory with telescopes. Hosted by Kansas Astronomical Observers and the Salina Astronomy Club until everyone has gone home.

The walking trail and parking lot will be illuminated as darkness falls.
Linger and enjoy a prairie evening. The parking lot is expected to be congested for a long while.