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In 2019, a group of representatives from Fort Scott National Historic Site, Gordon Parks Museum, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Fort Scott Community College, Bourbon County Historic Preservation Assn. and other partners, began work on a grant proposal.
The project title is Student Researched Unsung African American Heroes of Bourbon County.
The proposal idea came from Carl Brenner, who has been the Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management at FSNHS since 2018.
The idea for a grant proposal came “from the dark recesses of my mind,” Brenner said.
“The fort has told the stories of white (mostly male) people coming….but Native American, women and African American stories need to be brought into the story.” he said.
“This project is funded through the National Park Service to work with community youth to uncover those stories that are little known or untold or under told,” he said. “It is a partnership with the Park, the Gordon Park Museum, Fort Scott High School, and Fort Scott Community College.”
“Our historian, Dominic Henry, and other local volunteers, will assist students to research local African American leaders and those who fought for or ushered in change in our community and beyond,” Brenner said. “Once they have completed their research, they will create videos and social media posts to share their newly found stories in their own ‘voice’ to better connect with other youth.”
Those videos and social media posts will be shared on the park’s web and social media platforms and also shared by the Gordon Parks Museum, Fort Scott High School, and Fort Scott Community College.
“As the project is wrapping up, we will work with all of the partners to develop exhibits to share these stories and the student’s work with our visitors,” Brenner said.
“Through small stories like these, the hope is to have conversations about equality and equity and discuss the history and what we have learned from it,” Brenner said.
A kick-off for the project was planned for April 25, but due to unforeseen circumstances will need to be rescheduled, Brenner said.
Brenner is Acting Superintendent Since March
Brenner recently has been designated as the FSNHS Acting Superintendent, since former Superintendent Betty Boyko left in March 2022. He is also Acting Superintendent of Fort Larned National Historic Site and also providing guidance and training to Nicodemus National Historic Site.
The park phone number is 620-223-0310, its website https://www.nps.gov/fosc/index.htm
Fort Scott National Historic Site Schedule of Annual Events
Civil War Encampment – April 23
Experience artillery, cavalry and infantry troops preparing for battle. Hear, see, and smell history come to life in a weekend of living history demonstrations and stories.
Symbols of Sacrifice – Memorial Day Weekend:
Approximately 7,000 flags commemorate the ultimate sacrifice members of the United States Armed Forces have made to keep this country free.
Good Ol’ Days – First Friday-Saturday of June:
Relive yesteryear in a town-wide celebration of Fort Scott’s history. Each year a different historical theme will be highlighted.
Independence Day Celebration – July 4th Weekend:
This holiday weekend feature talks, tours, demonstrations, and living history programs about Fort Scott’s role in pivotal events of American History in the place where they happened!
Labors of the Fort – Labor Day Weekend:
Learn about the jobs and tasks vital to the survival of the fort. Rangers and volunteers demonstrate skills and trades of the 1840’s.
Naturalization Ceremony – September 23:
Reflect on the privileges of US citizenship as you witness new citizens take the oath of allegiance to their newly ad- opted country.
Veterans Day Programs – Veteran’s Day Weekend:
Flags honoring our nation’s veterans will be on display and we will host discussions around service and the meaning of service.
Candlelight Tour – December 2-3:
1,000 candle lanterns illuminate the site as reenactors (including you) bring the fort to life. Ticket sales begin November 1st.
Katie Hueston, Chad Guthrie and Zach Ross became certified in shooting sports at Rock Springs Ranch in Junction City on March 25-28.
Hueston with be the Southwind District 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator.
” I will be helping with the logistics of the project, making sure instructors have what they need to be successful, proper paperwork is turned in, and help with planning and organizing of the project and events,” she said.
“You must be an active certified instructor to teach shooting sports in 4-H,” she said. “Chad Guthrie was certified in the shotgun discipline and Zach Ross was certified in bb, air rifle and .22 rifle”.
The sport shooting venues for practice will be at different places.
” This depends on the discipline, BB, air rifle can be done inside with the proper backdrop and targets,” she said. “An .22 rifle and shotgun will be outside at different ranges. Locations are to still be determined on how many kids from what counties sign up.”
The children from 8-years-old on up have until May 1 to sign up for the project.
To compete in a discipline, a bulletin will state what age group are allowed.
“We will be doing a starter/ safety class this summer for the bb, and air rifle,” she said. “And this fall (we will)be ready to go strong with the shotgun discipline, in hopes to have kids ready for competitions.”
“4-H has a strong background to ‘learn by doing’,” she said. “We are giving them the opportunity to learn their first shot fundamentals though competition level skills, all while providing a positive youth development environment.”
Short History of 4-H Shooting Sports
“The Shooting sports is not a new project; it has always been an option to the 4H youth,” she said. “There are many other disciplines such as archery, muzzle loading, western heritage and pistol that we will want to have instructors certified in to grow our youths options as well.”
The COVID-19 Pandemic halted many of the shooting programs.
“With COVID they could no longer meet in person so that specific project was unable to continue,” she said. “Since COVID halted many of the current programs we are starting by evaluating what equipment we have, while kids continue to join until May 1st,” she said.
“We will be looking for sponsors and donors to help with some new equipment and have some fun fundraising ideas planned once meetings begin, to update and upgrade what we do have,” Hueston said. “So far everyone has been super supportive and the previous instructors Joe Foulk and Gary Buntain have been fabulous in helping answer any question and willingness to help continue the project.”
A state league mountain bike race will be in Fort Scott on April 23.
Kansas NICA is coming to Gunn Park Trails!
The primary goal of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) is to get more kids on bikes, according to information from NICA. NICA provides opportunity for student athletes, 6th through the 12th grade, to compete in the growing sport of mountain biking, and develop the life-long skill of cycling.
Gunn Park will be closed April 23-24 to the Public
On April 24, Fort Scott’s wooded and hilly Gunn Park Trails will be one of the venues this year for the Kansas League of NICA. Setup will begin on Saturday, April 23, and Gunn Park will be closed for the weekend except to spectators, volunteers, and obviously participants.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking IS for flatlanders too.
Mountain biking is synonymous with off-road biking/trail-riding, as opposed to paved or gravel trails. As long as you have elevation, rocks and dirt, you can have a trail, according to information provided by Frank Halsey, who is the liaison between the race organizers and The City of Fort Scott.
Halsey is an avid mountain bike rider and hosts other local mountain bike races in Gunn Park during the year. He initiated the trails in the park and started the Gunn Park Trails organization several years ago.
He was contacted by Tina Kahn, Director for Kansas NICA, about eight weeks ago, for permission to host a mountain bike race on Gunn Park Trails. He approached the city commission about “this great opportunity to showcase our local trails as well as the awesome hospitality of Fort Scott,” Halsey said, and the city commission approved.
“To host this type of event is an honor for our team of volunteers and tremendous opportunity for Fort Scott”, said Halsey. “The whole thing is very, very organized, and follows a 200-page rules and regulations book produced by the NICA. It’s kids, so they are ultra-careful about doing things safely and professionally”.
“It is quite the production,” he said. “Their infield/staging area is awesome with vendor and sponsor tents set up, everything fenced off, creating a pro-sport atmosphere. It’s all about the experience for the athletes.”
New Fort Scott Team Next Year?
“The nearest team is currently from the Pleasanton-Louisburg area, but I hope we can field a team next year,” Halsey said. “There are currently about 140 (Kansas) student athletes, making up eleven different teams from across the state.”
To learn more about the Kansas league: https://www.kansasmtb.org/
NICA’s Kansas League is asking for 40-50 volunteers to help with the event and one can sign up here: https://signup.com/go/oFWBuyG
To learn more:
by Marley Sutton
Several Uniontown 4-H Club members have been busy competing in local Aggie Day events recently. On March 25th members competed at Fort Scott Community College Aggie Day in Meat Evaluation, Livestock Evaluation and Vet Science. The highlight of the day was our Junior Meat Evaluation teams as they finished 1st and 2nd overall in the contest. Marley Sutton was 2nd, Makinlee Bloesser 3rd, Austin Maycumber 4th, Kendyl Bloesser 5th, McKinley Sutton 6th and Seth Shadden 7th.
Two weeks later members competed in the Allen Community College Aggie Day Livestock Judging contest. The teams ranked 5th and 8th overall with Makinlee Bloesser leading the way with an 18th place individual finish.
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Submitted by Hannah Montee
The second annual Southeast Kansas Spring Classic was held at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds in Fort Scott, KS on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Kids from across Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma came out for a shot at winning banners, cash, and prizes.
This is a one-day cattle show featuring bulls, breeding heifers, market heifers, market steers, and a showmanship class for all ages.
This year there were 6 Bulls, 93 Breeding Heifers, 6 Market Heifers, 51 Market Steers, and 71 Showmanship entries (ages 7-18) + a peewee and adult class, for a total of 152 calves and 227 total entries. There were 18 total breeds represented between the bulls and heifers.
The show is hosted by Adam and Hannah Montee of Arma. They hosted the show for the first time last year to give kids another chance to showcase their animals. Plans are already underway for next year’s show.
A huge thank you is extended to the Bourbon County Fair Board for the use of the fairgrounds. Their support and help throughout the process is greatly appreciated.
The results of the show:
Bull show –
Champion Angus: Easton Newsome
Grand Overall: Adysin McCarley – Lim-Flex (Girard, KS)
Reserve Overall: Josie Wilkins – Maine-Angus (Lamar, AR)
Top 2 breeding heifers –
• Angus: Grand – Grant Ward || Reserve – Corbin Ellerman
• Balancer: Grand: Hadlee Ketcherside
• Charolais: Grand – Jaden Teter || Reserve – Kensi Reed
• Charolais Comp: Grand – Braelynn Reed || Reserve – Kristy Beene
• Chi: Grand – Stockton Scott || Reserve – Carmun Scott
• Commercial: Grand – Mayci Wilkins || Reserve – Addy Burns
• Hereford: Grand – Grant Ward || Reserve – Drew Ballard
• Limousine: Grand – Aliston McCarley || Reserve – Maddix Small
• Lim-Flex: Grand – Adysin McCarley || Reserve – Clara Farran
• Maine-Angus: Grand – Cassidy Barker || Reserve: Stockton Scott
• Maine-Anjou: Grand – Dexter Small || Reserve – TJ Mills
• Maintainers: Grand – Madison Mcgee || Reserve – Braxtyn Evenson
• Mini Hereford: Grand – Morgan Pattimore || Reserve: Jayson Peterson
• Red Angus: Grand – Lucas Bowling || Reserve – Greta Rosenhagen
• Shorthorn/Shorthorn Plus: Grand – Wyatt Fechter || Reserve – Kristin Penn
• Simmental: Grand – Ethan Kunkel || Reserve – Hayes Rickstrew
• % Simmental: Grand – Olivia Walrod || Reserve – Elsie Rickstrew
Breeding Heifers Final Drive Results –
Grand: Grant Ward (Angus)
Reserve: Cassidy Barker (Maine-Angus)
3rd: Corbin Ellerman (Angus)
4th: Olivia Walrod (% Simmental)
5th: Ethan Kunkel (Simmental)
Market heifers:
Grand: Mayci Wilkins (Lamar, AR)
Reserve: Wyatt Fetcher (Howard, KS)
Market Steer Final Drive Results –
Grand: Wyatt Collard (Class 9)
Reserve: Kyanna Lankton (Class 10)
3rd Overall: Wyatt Collard (Class 4)
4th Overall: Jarrett Birk (Class 5)
5th Overall: Halle Delk (Class 3)
Top 5 Senior showman –
Grand: Josie Wilkins (Lamar, AR)
Reserve: Kyanna Lankton (Le Roy, KS)
3rd: Corbin Ellerman (Atchison, KS)
4th: Lilly Parks (Emporia, KS)
5th: Clara Farran (El Dorado Spring, MO)
Top 5 Intermediate showman –
Grand: Elsie Rickstrew (Wamego, KS)
Reserve: Olivia Walrod (Bronaugh, MO)
3rd: Kennedi Hettinger (Drexel, MO)
4th: Jaylynn Birk (Yates Center, KS)
5th: Drew Ballard (Inman, KS)
Top 5 Junior showman –
Grand: Mayci Wilkins (Lamar, AR)
Reserve: Halle Delk (Harrison, AR)
3rd: Stockton Scott (Havana, KS)
4th: Braxtyn Evenson (Eureka, KS)
5th: Josephine Razey (Augusta, KS)
Results from our peewee and adult showmanship classes:
• Adult showmanship –
Grand: Austin Waltz
Reserve: Brook Falk
• Peewee showmanship –
Grand: Kash Hettinger
Tie for Reserve: Kane Stainbrook and Emery Mengarelli
He has served with assisting his church’s Vacation Bible School and taught Sunday School classes.
The facility is located across from Fort Scott High School at 1002 S. Main. The phone number is 620-223-4700.Ryan Goodbody, Emily Diebolt, Judy Hood and Marge Madison.
