Brands of the Flint Hills Centerpiece of Wabaunsee County Fairgrounds
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Brands of the Flint Hills centerpiece of Wabaunsee County Fairgrounds renovation fundraising efforts By Donna Sullivan, A demonstration of Editor the willingness of the fair The Wabaunsee Coun- board and the communi- ty Fairgrounds are a com- ty to get in and get their pletely different place hands dirty was seen when today than what Darold they gathered to tear down Marlow first set foot on a couple of the old build- the week before the Coun- ings to make the space ty Fair back in 1950. The ready for the new. An ex- livestock was housed pense that was estimated across the railroad tracks, at $15,000 was reduced to the clothing was displayed about $2,000, with only the and judged in the Amer- cost of skid loader gas and ican Legion Hall, and all a dumpster rental as the the booth displays were volunteers did the work. set up in store windows Other fundraising on Main Street in Alma. A plans are to have commer- small carnival was held in cial signage available in the City Park. Convinced the arena, as well as nam- that 4-H families should ing rights to the buildings, not have to go all over town doors, bleachers and a big for their projects, he set to fan in the arena. There work to set up a central- will also be the opportu- ized location for the fair. nity to sponsor a chair, It took a few years, but in with a small plaque with time, a location was pro- the donor’s name. A 501(c) cured and buildings began (3) account has been set to be erected in 1953 and up for tax deductible do- in the years to follow. nations. The Wabaunsee Now, the Wabaunsee County Fair has a Face- County Fairgrounds are book page where more in- set to take another giant - formation on how to do- step forward, thanks to Brands of the Flint Hills are featured on the branding wall that is part of the fundraising efforts for the Wabaun nate can be found. You can an anonymous matching see County Fairgrounds. Photos by Capoun Photography also contact Adam Lukert gift of $50,000 that got and fund the fairgrounds. spring livestock shows of at 785-256-3021, or email the ball rolling, and the Fair Board president the year and shattered [email protected]. Dona- hard work of Fair Board Mary Reed Spencer said previous participation tions of all sizes are ap- members and the commu- work began about two records with 656 animals preciated. nity to keep the momen- years ago, using donations shown by 235 youth. “We A legacy that began tum building towards the and grants to upgrade the jumped through all the with Darold Marlow $350,000 needed for all north exhibit building. “I hoops to make the show all those years ago, now the planned renovations. think that showed the com- safe during COVID,” said marches boldly into the They’ve currently raised munity we could do it,” Spencer. “And we did the future, with an enthusias- about $200,000. she said. “The communi- same with the fair.” No tic fair board, motivated The centerpiece of ty and county support has issues with the virus were volunteers and a support- their fundraising efforts been just amazing.” experienced from either ive community. No doubt, is a branding wall, filled “The community has event. Marlow would be proud. with past and present been very supportive,” brands of the Flint Hills. It Lukert agreed. “The fair- now serves as announcer grounds are sixty years stand, auction block and old, and it’s just time.” picture backdrop for the Lukert said the number Smoke curls off the branding iron as a new brand is fair and will be the focal of youth participating in added to the wall. point of the new arena 4-H has been trending up ilies with multiple kids. to reorganize where the that is part of the plan. Ac- since 2005. “While it may “Good club leadership stock is placed. “We’re a cording to Adam Lukert, be a shrinking program in was probably the biggest pretty small fairgrounds, who chairs the renovation other places, in our county driver,” he said. so we’re going to rearrange project committee and the it’s a growing program.” The new arena will be to maximize our space,” fundraising, the wall has He attributes the growth insulated and enclosed so Lukert said, adding that already pulled in about to a combination of good it can be used for other they hope to gravel their $30,000, and there is plen- community leaders, and community events be- grass parking lot as part of ty of room for more brands Extension staff that was sides just the fair. It will the upgrade, as well. to be added. “It’s brands on board with 4-H growth have big garage doors that The first weekend in of the Flint Hills, not just during those years, and can be opened up for big June the Fair Associa- Wabaunsee County,” he the right mixture of fam- events. They are planning tion hosted one of the first explained. “Our county is made up of mostly grazing, and a lot of the owners of those cattle are out-of- county.” Brands also don’t have to be currently active to be included. All present and past brands are invit- ed to pledge $500 or more to be a part of the project. They are also collecting histories of every brand which will be compiled for people to read while at the fair, adding a histori- The Marlow brand was placed on the wall at the live- cal, educational element stock sale with Denver Marlow, Darold’s son, doing to the project. The goal, the honors. The senior Marlow was the Extension which they fully expect to - accomplish, is to have the The Maple Hill 4-H Club gathered in front of the Brand Wall that will serve as the agent that lead the effort to build the current Wabaun new arena built and ready announcer stand, auction block and picture backdrop. see County fairgrounds. for the 2021 fair. Going forward, Lukert Kansas Forest Service assists on wildfires in Colorado and other western states plans to have an annual Each summer, wildland fire- of positions while on assignment, ing, but also to provide incident Grizzly Creek Fires in Colorado Brands of the Flint Hills fighters with the Kansas Forest including hand-crew members, support when local authorities and the Red Salmon Complex in fundraiser to help sustain Service answer the call for help public information officers, time- request assistance.” California. The Pine Gulch Fire from western states to manage keepers, engine bosses, geograph- With a staff of ten people, the has alone burned more than wildfires. ic information systems specialists KFS wildland fire management 30,000 acres to date, causing the KFS is the primary state agen- and more. program offers training, firefight- evacuation of several communi- cy with the authority to provide Rodney Redinger, an assis- ing equipment and incident sup- ties in the area. personnel and equipment to na- tant fire management officer with port to 13,500 firefighters across The Predictive Services at the tional wildland fire incidents. As KFS, received the first-ever na- 600 fire districts in Kansas. National Interagency Fire Center of August 11, 32 full-time staff tional fire assignment for KFS Now in the 18th season of ac- predicts above normal significant members and fire protection spe- in 2003 when he deployed with cepting national fire assignments, fire potential across much of the cialists with KFS assisted on 26 the Mid-Plains Interagency Hand- KFS personnel face a new kind Great Basin, northern California, incidents, a total of 469 workdays. crew. of safety hazard for personnel as Pacific Northwest and northern “Qualifications and experi- Before accepting a full-time they accept assignments during Rockies. This prediction indi- ence to help manage wildland position with KFS, Redinger an international pandemic. cates that KFS personnel will fire and other all-hazard inci- worked for several years as a While on assignment, crews likely be called on to assist with dents at the local, state and na- wildland firefighter including and units operate as a “module wildfire response and manage- tional levels is not the typical several seasons as a hotshot. In of one,” or family units, to re- ment. skill set traditionally associated addition to his duties for KFS, duce exposure to other resourc- “No fire season is like another, with university faculty and staff,” Redinger also serves as an oper- es within the incident and the but 2020 is more abnormal than said State Forester Jason Hart- ations section chief on a national public. The practice is the same most,” Hartman said. “As they man. “The unique relationship incident management team. concept implemented by families always have, the staff of KFS have between KFS and K-State allows “KFS leadership recognized during the pandemic; by limiting stepped up to the challenge of us to provide incident response the need for our fire program exposures to others outside of the providing response in the COVID- at a level of dedication and ser- staff to keep our skills sharp and family unit, crews insulate them- 19 environment. I, and all Kan- vice in high demand across the maintain current National Wild- selves from exposure to the virus. sans, can be proud of the contri- country.” fire Coordinating Group qualifi- Maintaining the health and butions of these professionals,” KFS is a state agency housed cations,” Redinger said.