Following area museum social media paid off big time Dec. 10. Rooks County Historical Museum promoted a Cowboy Christmas Poetry Gathering, and Western Kansas folks demonstrated the meaning of gather. The enthusiastic crowd had the venue bursting at the seams! Thanks to a good sound system, those in the museum area could hear Ron’s and Jeff’s engaging performance from the chapel area.
Despite unexpectedly numerous participants, museum employees and volunteers covered their bases. They loaded a table with assorted Christmas cookies and healthy snacks so anyone who left hungry did so of their own accord. Someone or multiple someone’s creatively and beautifully decorated trees and placed them among displays that tell Rooks County stories. Guests who didn’t manage to find a seat in the presentation area until after other attendees left during intermission could listen to poetry, music, and banter while snacking or appreciating colorful Christmas decor.
Adding to the festivities, a Cowboy Santa happened to pass through and agreeably posed for photos with young and old. Not far from him, participants bid on donated silent auction items whose proceeds will support future museum programming.
When planning the event, manager Rick Gianni and Rooks County Historical Society Board chose to celebrate writing that “embodies the work and grit of the American Cowboy.” They invited multi-talented ranchers and writers/musicians Ron Wilson, owner of the Lazy T near Manhattan, and Jeff Davidson, a cattleman who calls Eureka, Kansas, home. These fellas know cattle business, its history, and the multi-faceted Kansas prairie. They could have presented a month-long seminar and barely have scratched their knowledge base. Better yet, they translate information into clever and touching poems and songs. Jeff’s knack for putting other people’s words, including Mary Powell’s and Ron’s, to music touched the audience’s hearts. Both have memories like elephants, which they demonstrated as they performed one song or poem after another without looking at a script. Wilson even wrote and autographed an original poem specifically for this event, handing every guest a copy. Apparently, he does this for all their presentations.
Area ranchers, cowboys, historians, and others who love a good celebration packed the place, enjoying catching up with one another pre-show, during intermission, and afterwards. As I walked through the crowd, I hugged or fist bumped several long-time friends while over-hearing people reminisce about good and bad days gone by.
While director Gianni commit his efforts to honoring Rooks County stories and people, he also plans to explore how they fit into Western Kansas history. Based on how many attendees came from neighboring counties to enjoy this show, his plan is working. He made a point of honoring county and area historians Don Rowlison, Leo Oliva, Angela Bates, and Ed Lowry. He acknowledged the Cottonwood Foundation’s support. All those listed have documented our region’s unique attributes along with revealing how it fits into much bigger pictures.
Clearly, Kansans hunger to learn more about how this region developed and those involved. Keep an eye on events coming out of Rooks County. Those living in wide-open spaces don’t complain about driving distances. In this case, the pay-off included tasty holiday treats, seeing old friends, and listening to extremely talented performers who vividly reminded us we live in a special place.