Pioneer Bluffs

Prairie Talk: Stories of Chase County
2026-08-22 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Intrigue in Chase County: Murder, Politics, Gambling and Bigotry
The rich history of Chase County is filled with stories of conflict, controversy, and the
complexities of human nature. Themes of murder, political maneuvering, high-stakes
gambling, and the challenges of bigotry have all played a part in shaping the community
over the years.
Firsthand Accounts from Jeff Davidson
Pioneer Bluffs board president Jeff Davidson will share compelling historical accounts drawn from his own Chase County ancestry. Through his stories, listeners will gain insights into the significant events and social dynamics that have influenced the county’s development.

Prairie Talk: The Scribner Ranch
2026-08-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Ranching has been a way of life for several generations of the Scribner family. Their ranching operation currently involves 3 brothers along with some of their children. They own a cow-calf operation and run yearlings in the Flint Hills of Northeastern Butler County. To sharpen their cattle handling skills, they are often seen participating in area ranch rodeos. Come and join us as Doug and his family share their ranching story with you.
(Photo: from left, David Scribner, Sterling Scribner and Doug Scribner)

Ice Cream Social & Day of the Cowboy: “What Makes a Good Cowhorse”
2026-07-25 18:30 - 20:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Join us for our annual Ice Cream Social and special Day of the Cowboy program on the cowhorse, who plays such a big part in Flint Hills ranching.
We’ll gather at 6:30 p.m. for our old-time Ice Cream Social plus homemade cobbler, and time to visit and look around the barn and grounds.
Around 7:00 p.m., the program will begin with a special talk by Eureka 4-Her Allie Knowles: “Horse of Many Colors.”
Celebrate Day of the Cowboy at Pioneer Bluffs with an Ice Cream Social, cobbler, and a cowhorse panel at the historic 1915 Rogler Barn in the Flint Hills.Then our expert panel of cowboys and cowgirls will discuss “What Makes a Good Cowhorse.” Gwen Hoy, Marcia & Wayne Bailey, and Shawn Rogers will share their knowledge on this topic, gained from many years of working and moving cattle from horseback.
The program will take place outside on the shaded lawn by the restored classic 1915 Rogler Barn. In case of rain, festivities will be inside the barn. There will also be horse-themed art on display and for sale.
As the “Center for Flint Hills Ranching Heritage,” Pioneer Bluffs participates in the National Day of the Cowboy whose goal is to “permanently protect our cowboy culture and pioneer heritage for all generations to come.”

Prairie Talk: Woody Invasion of the Tallgrass Prairie
2026-06-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Our Prairie Talk Panel will address the issue of woody encroachment on grasslands. This program is for ranchers, land managers, and laypeople.
Note: This is our first annual “Josh and Jim Hoy Memorial Prairie Talk,” and continues the educational mission of the Symphony in the Flint Hills.
Schedule
2:00 Welcome by Jeff Davidson, President, Pioneer Bluffs Board of Directors
2:05 Luke Westerman – Introduction to the program: “The Problem of Woody Encroachment”
2:20 Jackson Lindamood – “Woody Cover Impact on Grassland Values” – discuss economics of woody invasion
2:55 Break
3:05 Katie Schmidt – “Cedars, Flower & Pollinators” – how the proliferation of cedars affects nearby populations of flowers and pollinators
3:35 Luke Westerman – “Solutions to Woody Encroachment”
3:45 All Panel – Q & A
4:00 Snacks downstairs
Panelists
Luke Westerman has worked for NRCS for 23 years. All of those years being in Kansas. He started as a Soil Conservationist for NRCS in 2002 and is currently a Supervisory District Conservationist in the Eureka Field Office. Luke received an undergraduate degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Kansas State University and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Biology from Emporia State University. Luke is passionate about teaching others about the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and the importance of the Flint Hills of Kansas. In Luke’s spare time he enjoys birdwatching, woodworking and teaching the young and old about the natural world around them.
Jackson Lindamood is from a ranching family in Greenwood County, and earned his Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. His thesis work examined how environmental factors, primarily woody encroachment and water restriction policies, affect agricultural land values across Kansas.
Katie Schmidt has served as the grounds manager and horticulturist at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston, KS for ten years. She manages the greenhouse, provides landscape consultations and design services, and maintains Dyck Arboretum’s thirty acres of lawns, gardens, prairie reconstruction and pond. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from Bethel College and is currently pursuing a masters degree in ecology from WSU.

The Barn Dance
2026-05-02 18:00 - 21:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
The Pioneer Bluffs annual old-time barn dance will be held on what many consider to the “the best dance floor in the Flint Hills.”
The main dance begins at 6:30 p.m., but beginners are invited to come at 6:00 p.m. for caller-led-dance instruction. The dance will end at 9:00 p.m.
Dances will alternate between dances for couples (two-step and waltz) and caller-led, group or “contra” dances (in lines, circles and squares).
Caller Lisa Harris has extensive experience and specializes in calling for all levels of dancers, including beginners.
The evening will feature the seven-piece Land Band, including musicians from several popular Kansas bands who come together on special occasions: Lauralyn Bodle on fiddle, Lisa Grossman on bass, Matt Kirby on hammer dulcimer & accordion, Frank Martin on Irish flute and banjo, Chris Martin on accordion, Annie Wilson on guitar, and Ann Zimmerman on keyboard.
Everyone is invited to dance, or simply come and enjoy live music provided by the Land Band. Songs will include old-time fiddle tunes and as well as classic and vintage country music.
Snacks and drinks will be provided. The dance is free, but donations are appreciated.
For questions: call 620-753-3484 or info@pioneerbluffs.org.

Fall Roundup 2025
2025-10-11 14:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
TWO fun and special programs are in store for our annual Fall Roundup – with special appeal for folks who love animals, ranching, and music.
2:00 Welcome, Year-in-Review, and Vet Panel
3:30 Concert – Jennylou & the Buckaroos
This is also our fundraiser for Pioneer Bluffs. One hundred percent of the proceeds that day will fund the barn repair and repainting. Come show your support for preserving and celebrating Flint Hills Ranching Heritage! Please consider a donation of $25 or more.
We’ll begin at 2:00 with a Welcome and quick year-in-review of Pioneer Bluffs.
Vet Panel – Best Ranch Stories
Then we’ll turn it over to our panel of experienced veterinarians for “Flint Hills Vets tell their Best Ranch Stories.” These ranch docs will share memorable experiences – funny, wild, sweet – working with horses, cattle, dogs and people on ranches across the Flint Hills.
The panel will include (from left to right in photo) Drs.:

Bill Brethour of Wamego,
Jessica Gernhard of Marion,
Tom Jernigan of Council Grove,
Duane Henrikson of Emporia, and
Audra Blasi of Council Grove.

Concert – Jennylou & the Buckaroos
For the finale, starting at 3:30, the award-winning band “Jennylou and the Buckaroos” will perform, with hilarious front man Ranger Stan Greer who is guaranteed to keep you grinning between songs.
You won’t want to miss this performance as three state champion instrumentalists join America’s sweethearts, Jennylou and Josh Melcher.
Homemade cookies and refreshments will be served.

Day of the Cowboy
2025-07-26 18:30 - 20:15 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Day of the Cowboy
Come and join us as Pioneer Bluffs celebrates National Day of the Cowboy!
We will start with an Ice Cream Social, followed by program featuring Bruce Brock, our own local, multi-talented Flint Hills cowboy.
Described as a “Renaissance Man,” Bruce enjoys sharing his ranching and cowboy experiences through his acrylic-based paintings, sketches, poetry, and written stories. He is also known for his leather work, which includes boot and saddle repair. Bruce has written three books containing poems and stories about himself and other cowboy friends in the Flint Hills.
Bruce will share his art, poems and stories with us, and he may even have a few rope tricks up his sleeve!
On this day of celebrating “cowboy life,” we will also remember the lives of Jim and Josh Hoy, honoring them with a special tribute.

Two Prairie Talks: Five Oaks Ranch and Miles McKee
2025-06-21 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
12:00 Barbecue Meal – compliments of Five Oaks Ranch
For meal, please RSVP by June 16 to 620-753-3484 or info@pioneerbluffs.org. [No RSVP needed for talks]
1:00 Story of Five Oaks Ranch
Talk will include stories and historic photos of this ranch west of Elmdale on its 100th birthday: including early German and French homesteaders, colorful era of the Wiley draft horse ranch, the Middle Creek Fair and rodeo, and beginning in 1925, the Kansas City Stockyards-based Browning Ranch, grazing Texas cattle on Flint Hills grass, operated by the McKee, Cauthorn, Burnett, Wilson and Hancock families. Presented by John & Annie Wilson, Katie Wilson Hancock, and Jane Cauthorn.
2:00 Break and Ranch 100th Birthday Cake
2:30 Legacy of Miles McKee
Miles McKee, Professor of Animal Science at K-State from 1959-2005, grew up on this same ranch west of Elmdale. He went on to become a beloved and much-celebrated teacher and advisor, having an enormous impact on his students as well as the Kansas beef industry. The McKee family will tell about his legacy in this Prairie Talk, with time at the end for his former students to share their favorite stories and recollections.

Prairie Talk: Ranching and Conservation in Namibia
2025-06-07 13:00 - 14:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Namibia, in southern Africa, is one of the least densely populated countries in the world, with vast rangelands, cattle ranches, and diverse wildlife. Like Kansas, much of its land is privately owned ranchland. Ryan and Ron Klataske will explore the similarities and differences between Namibia’s ranching heritage and conservation culture with the Flint Hills. Drawing on their travels together and Ryan’s immersive anthropological research, they will share striking photography and stories of how Namibian ranchers have developed innovative conservation partnerships—revealing unexpected connections between ranching in southern Africa and Kansas.
Homemade cookies and refreshments will be served. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required. They can be made to 620-753-3484 or info@pioneerbluffs.org.

110th Barn Birthday and Annual Barn Dance
2025-05-03 16:00 - 19:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
On Saturday, May 3rd Pioneer Bluffs will celebrate its historic barn’s 110th birthday and 10th anniversary of restoration with presentations and reception, followed by the Annual Old-Time Barn Dance featuring the Land Band. The schedule for the afternoon is as follows:
4:00pm: Welcome
4:10pm – 4:45pm: Barn Talk featuring barn architect Ben Moore and contractor Rick Mitchell
4:45pm – 5:15pm: Barn Restoration Video Premiere
5:15pm – 6:30pm: Guided barn and house tours
5:15pm – 6:30pm: Reception with heavy snacks and barn birthday cake

Old-Time Barn Dance
6:00pm Beginner Instruction
6:30pm Barn Dance
RSVPs are appreciated, but not required. They can be made to 620-753-3484 or info@pioneerbluffs.org.

Prairie Talk: Ranchland Trust of Kansas Grassland Conservation Series
2025-03-23 15:00 - 16:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
This prairie talk will be Sunday, March 23rd at 3:00pm.

Pioneer Bluffs will host a unique Prairie Talk along with Ranchland Trust of Kansas.

This Prairie Talk will feature a panel of families that were part of RTK’s Grassland Conservation Series. Last spring, RTK teamed up with Emil Redmon’s Cow to produce a series of interviews focused on the topics of grassland conservation and stewardship. Included were Bill Sproul, Matt and Tom Perrier, Heather Fuesz and Irlene Huntington, and Glenn Walker.

Pioneer Bluffs Flint Hills Ranching Heritage Center is a long-time supporter of Mark Feiden’s Emil Redmon’s Cow project. Together, we will host an open panel discussion with the interviewees.

Attendees are asked to watch the interviews (at the link provided) in advance and be prepared to ask questions. http://www.redmonscow.org/grassland.htm

This promises to be an enlightening conversation on a subject of increasing importance as threats to our prairie ecosystems increase. Reservations are appreciated to SammyJo at 620-753-3484. Refreshments will be served.

Pioneer Bluffs Fall Roundup
2024-10-12 14:00 - 16:30 | Pioneer Bluffs: Flint Hills Ranching Heritage Center, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, KS, 66862, United States
How can today’s Flint Hills ranchers and residents find guidance for the future from cultures who have lived here for millennia? Pioneer Bluffs will focus on Native Heritage in the Flint Hills in their annual Fall Roundup on Saturday, October 12 , from 2:00 to 4:30 in the historic 1915 barn.
2:00 Welcome and the Year in Review
The afternoon will begin with a welcome and brief presentation reviewing the past year of Prairie Talks and activities.
2:10 Prairie Talk – “Native Heritage and Place in the Flint Hills”
Presented by celebrated Native American speaker and songwriter Elexa Dawson, this talk will explore themes of Native traditional knowledge, and philosophy of kinship with the land. Dawson will discuss how Indigenous ways of viewing the land – the plants, creatures and bounty of the Earth – can lead us forward. She will share about her work in community gardening with the Goodway Gardens program in Emporia. A member of the Citizen Band Potawatomi Nation, Dawson will explain the origins and culture of the Potawatomi, and how today they are a vibrant and living people with sovereign nations and current relevance in modern society.
3:00 Break
Refreshments will be provided downstairs.
3:20 Concert by Weda Skirts
The Weda Skirts are one of the Flint Hills’ most successful bands, headlining on the main stage at the national Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield again this year. This special concert will focus on Elexa Dawson’s original Native-themed songs. Deeply connected to land, her lyrics speak of the earth, community, and celebrating all relationships – with family, friends, children and nature.
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Visitors are invited to come early to tour the grounds and see updated displays in the historic 1908 ranch house at Pioneer Bluffs. A National Register Historic District, Pioneer Bluffs is located fourteen miles south of Cottonwood Falls or one mile north of Matfield Green on Flint Hills National Scenic Byway K-177 – 695 Kansas Highway 177.

Tallgrass Express 20th Anniversary Celebration & Concert: a Pioneer Bluffs Fundraiser
2024-09-08 17:30 - 20:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
For our Pioneer Bluffs fundraiser this year, everyone is invited to join Tallgrass Express members – past and present – for a celebration of the band’s 20th year of making music in the Flint Hills (including at Pioneer Bluffs!).
NOTE: This activity is taking place on a Sunday.

5:30 BBQ Dinner provided by Owen Reed – Smokin’ O’s Custom Catering – RSVP for meal by Mon Sep 2 via text, phone or email; Ph: 620-753-3484 EM: info@pioneerbluffs.org (seats limited – may want to reserve early)
6:30 Doors Open – for those not attending Dinner; Walk-ins are welcome (no RSVP needed): cake, visiting with band members, and short jam session of Band alumni
7:30 Concert – Featuring current members: rancher-songwriter Annie Wilson on guitar and vocals – named the “Flint Hills Balladeer” by the Kansas Governor in 2013; Carl Reed on vocals, bass and harmonica; and Derrick Doty on fiddle and mandolin.

Suggested Donations:

Dinner $15+
Concert $10+
Both $25+

Note: This event is sponsored in part with a grant from the International Western Music Association, Kansas Chapter. And, thanks to other anonymous sponsors, ALL donations go directly to Pioneer Bluffs.
All Albums Available: All six of the band’s albums will be available at special concert prices, including their new 2024 double CD: “Out on the Tallgrass Prairie.”
For more info about Tallgrass Express, visit www.tallgrassexpress.com .

National Day of the Cowboy
2024-07-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Relax in the shade, cool off with ice cream, and sing along – or just sit back and listen – as Jeff Davidson and Annie Wilson play classic cowboy songs of the trail. Out on the lawn next to our beautiful 1915 barn. We will have chairs available, but feel free to bring your own as well. Music indoors in case of rain.

Prairie Talk: Frederic Remington
2024-07-13 14:00 - 15:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Join us at 2:00 Saturday, July 13 for a Prairie Talk Featuring Frederic Remington and presented by Doug Claassen.
Frederic Remington (1861 – 1909) was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U.S. Cavalry.
Claassen grew up in the Plum Grove community in northwest Butler County and is still involved with the family livestock and crop farm. His interest in Remington began at an early age with the stories told by his grandfather about Frederic Remington. Claassen and his brothers purchased the Remington sheep ranch in 1983, which further sparked his interest to learn more about Remington’s.
Homemade cookies and water will be served at the Prairie Talk. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required, and can be made to 620-753-3484, info@pioneerbluffs.org, or on the Pioneer Bluffs Facebook event page. Donations will support future program events.

The Journey to Kyrgyzstan
2024-07-06 14:00 - 15:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
What did Josh and Jim Hoy see and learn in the high Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan? The story will be told in a Prairie Talk at a historic ranch near Matfield Green at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 6.
In 2017, the Hoys toured the country extensively, riding hundreds of miles of mountains with nomadic herdsmen, traveling with a warlord through his vast holdings, and hunting with eagles. In the Prairie Talk, the Hoys will speak of the nomadic culture, horsemanship, and stockmanship of the Kyrgyz people, and the flora and fauna of the high steppe. They will contrast the culture to what they have seen in the Argentina gaucho, Australian outback stockmen, American cowboy and buckaroo, and Mexican vaquero.
Josh Hoy plans to bring a horse to demonstrate with gear and artifacts from Kyrgyzstan.
Homemade cookies and water will be served at the Prairie Talk. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required, and can be made to 620-753-3484, info@pioneerbluffs.org, or on the Pioneer Bluffs Facebook event page. Donations will support future program events.

Prairie Talk: The Crocker Ranch
2024-06-29 14:00 - 15:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
At 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 29, the story of the Crocker family will be shared by Matt Methvin in a Prairie Talk at Pioneer Bluffs.
The Crocker Ranch, with extensive cattle and farming operations, was begun in 1866 by Captain Erastus Bryant Crocker, a Civil War veteran. The Captain’s sons, Edward and Author Crocker, expanded and by 1918 had a 10,000 acre ranch, one of the most extensive in the area.
Today, the Crocker Ranch is an excellent example of an early 20th century working cattle ranch complex and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Homemade cookies and water will be served at the Prairie Talk. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required, and can be made to 620-753-3484, info@pioneerbluffs.org, or on the Pioneer Bluffs Facebook event page. Donations will support future program events.

Barn Dance at Pioneer Bluffs
2024-05-04 18:00 - 21:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
It will be a classic, old-time Barn Dance in the loft of our 1915 barn, considered by some to be the best dance floor in the Flint Hills.
Pioneer Bluff historic ranch is located just north of Matfield Green on the beautiful Flint Hills Scenic Byway.
Dances will begin at 6:30 and alternate between couple’s dances (two-step and waltz) and caller-led, group or “contra” dances (in lines, circles and squares). Beginners are invited to come at 6:00 p.m. for caller-led-dance instruction.
New to the event this year, Lisa Harris is featured as caller for the group dances. She specializes in calling for all levels of dancers, including beginners.
Music will be provided by top notch musicians from across Kansas – in the seven-person Land Band. Specializing in traditional music – fiddle, accordion, etc. – songs will include old-time fiddle tunes as well as classic and vintage country music.
For more info: contact Annie – five_oaks_ranch@yahoo.com

Emil Redmon's Cow: Wisdom Keepers
2024-04-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Join us at Pioneer Bluffs on April 28th to hear more stories from Emil Redmon’s Cow!
Mark Feiden – photographer, videographer, and creator of Emil Redmon’s Cow – returns to share his latest round of interviews funded in large part by a generous grant from the Trusler Foundation of Emporia, in collaboration with Pioneer Bluffs Center for Flint Hills Ranching Heritage, and the Wabaunsee County Historical Society and Museum.
This ongoing project seeks to preserve great stories from Flint Hills farm and ranch folk, focusing not on the stories of people’s lives so much as it is the “tales that people tell—folklore.”
To date, more than 250 thoroughly entertaining stories have been archived at www.RedmonsCow.org
As has been the case in years past, you are sure to recognize any number of familiar faces!
The presentation will begin at 2 pm in our historic 1915 Barn, followed by an informal reception for our VIP guests – the storytellers themselves! Cookies and water will be provided. Come early to tour our grounds and see updated displays in our historic 1908 ranch house. RSVP appreciated, but not required.

Volunteer “Work-Is-Fun” Brunch at Pioneer Bluffs
2023-12-02 09:00 - 13:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
We invite all past, present, and potential future Pioneer Bluffs volunteers to join us for a special brunch, prepared by volunteer coordinator Tracey Graham.
A brunch buffet featuring Eggs Benedict, Biscuits & Gravy, Breakfast Bundt Cake, Bacon/Egg Muffins, Cheesy Hash Browns, Peach Blackberry Flognarde, French Toast, Donuts, Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, and Hot Cider will be served at 11 am.
Those who really wish to “work” on our volunteer day are welcome to come as early as 9 am to put away the tables and chairs in the barn, but no-one is required to do any work on this day. We just want a fun time for our Pioneer Bluffs “family” to come “home” and enjoy each other’s company.
Please RSVP if you can by emailing pbtracey@yahoo.com, marking “going” on the facebook event page, or texting Tracey at (620) 343-4397. Please let Tracey know if you have any form of dietary restrictions.

Where the Buffalo Roam
2023-11-11 12:00 - 17:00 | Pioneer Bluffs: Flint Hills Ranching Heritage Center, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, KS, 66862, United States
Photo courtesy of Zach Bell
The American Bison was named the official state animal of Kansas in 1955. Come celebrate the “Monarch of the Plains” with us on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
12-1 pm: Locally-sourced smoked buffalo lunch by Chef Tracey Graham and other Pioneer Bluffs volunteers. Suggested donation $15-25, depending on your appetite!
12-4 pm
. Bison Art Show – interested in showing? Contact Tracey at PBTracey@yahoo.com for details.
. Bison Coloring Contest for the kids.
. Bison wool spinning demonstrations.
. Take a selfie with a bison!
1 pm “Buffalo George” LeRoux – Sharing a wealth of bison facts and artifacts.
2 pm: Prairie Talk: – A Bison Expert Panel, moderated by Josh Hoy.
Locals (Zack Bell, Tony Capizzo, Jim Hoy, George LaRoux, Stuart
Schrag) will share what they’ve learned raising bison here in
Kansas. Bring your questions!
Reservations are requested, but not required. We just want to make
sure we have enough BBQ and seating available. No-one goes
hungry at Pioneer Bluffs!
For reservations or additional information, contact us at
info@pioneerbluffs.org or (620) 753-3484

Pioneer Bluffs Fall Round-Up
2023-10-14 12:00 - 18:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Reception 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
An “open barn” reception will welcome and thank Executive Directors at Pioneer Bluffs. Lynn Smith, the recently retired Executive Director, and Christie Reinhardt, the new Executive Director, will greet visitors in the barn. The community is invited to stop in and visit, enjoy light refreshments and stay for the Round-Up activities. Smith is the first Executive Director of the nonprofit and helped the organization grow into the well-respected Center for Flint Hills Ranching Heritage that it is today. Reinhardt is originally from Kansas, and has recently retired from a public health leadership position in Alaska.
Originally planned for Saturday, September 2nd, this reception had to be postponed due to illness. This is the rescheduled event.
1:00 Ranch Activities for all ages
2:00 – 3:00: Prairie Talk: Prairie Talk: Kansas Music History by Derrick Doty

Derrick Doty
In addition to the talk, Derrick Doty will include a music performance featuring the fiddle of Henry Rogler. This activity is sponsored by Humanities Kansas.
Cowboy Poetry

3:15: Scott Wiswell
3:45: Carl Stueve

4:30 – 6:30: 3 Trails West

This performance features vintage Western Music drawn from the Silver Screen Era of Cowboy Music and Bob Wills-style swing. Laced with humor and audience interaction, 3 Trails West is a family-oriented show band.

The Music of Patsy Cline
2023-09-23 14:00 - 17:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Kim Coslett and her band perform all of Patsy’s hits, while including biographical information, history, and the stories behind the songs. Sponsored by an anonymous donor, this is a fundraising event to support future music programs at Pioneer Bluffs.
2pm Happy hour with cash bar and light appetizers
3pm Concert
Reservations recommended
Cost: $50 per person, half of which is a tax deductible contribution

Prairie Talk: The Anderson/Patton/Johnson Stories
2023-08-19 12:30 - 14:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Matt and Julia Anderson, along with their son and daughter-in-law, manage the family ranch outside of Alma. They run an award-winning cow-calf operation, annually raising roughly 500 head of Angus cattle from birth until the calves are one or two years old. They also offer birth to butcher beef, direct to consumer.
The Patton and Johnson families came to southern Chase County shortly after the Civil War. The Pattons settled west of Matfield Green and the Johnsons settled east of Matfield Green. Both families farmed the fertile soil along the creeks and ranched in the rich upland native tallgrass prairie pastures. Six generations later, some Patton/Johnson ancestors still live and work in the Flint Hills. This Prairie Talk will focus on how farming and ranching were equally important to the economic survival of pioneer Flint Hills families. The symbiotic relationship between farming and ranching still exists in 2023.
12:30 Anderson Story
1:30 Patton/Johnson Story
Feel free to bring a picnic lunch and come out early to visit with friends. Picnic tables are provided.

National Day of the Cowboy
2023-07-22 11:00 - 20:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Music and ice cream social: 5:30pm – 8pm
5:30 Ice Cream Social
6:00 Music by Jeff Davidson
7:00 Music by Annie Wilson
In addition to the National Day of the Cowboy, July 22nd marks the 100th Anniversary of the railroad coming to Matfield Green.
A model train exhibit from the Chisolm Trail Model Train Club will be on display from 11am – 7pm

Feel free to come out early, bring a picnic (picnic tables provided), enjoy the trains, and visit with your friends as we celebrate these notable events..

Prairie Talk: The Bill House and Methvin Family Stories
2023-07-01 13:30 - 15:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Flint Hills ranch families have stories to tell of their unique heritage. We will have the opportunity to hear two such stories from Carol House and Nancy Methvin.
1:30 The House Story
2:30 The Methvin Story
At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 1, Carol House of Arkansas City will discuss her late husband, Bill House, who went from being an attorney to raising Grand Champion Herefords. After practicing law in the 1940’s, Bill House returned to the family Hereford business in Chautauqua County. By the early 1950’s, House had risen to the top of the National Order of Hereford Growers, winning Grand Champion four times at the American Royal in Kansas City, MO. In his 65 years of ranching, House was a strong influence in legislative initiatives that impacted the entire beef cattle industry. He served as past president of the Kansas Livestock Association, the American Hereford Association, and the American National Cattleman’s Association, now the National Cattlemen’s Association. In 1964, House was named Distinguished Jayhawk of the Year by then Governor Anderson. During the Prairie Talk, Carol House will tell many stories, possibly even how an 1,800 lb plastic ornamental bull came to be in her front yard.
At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 1, Nancy Methvin of Lincolnville will tell how her Louisiana ranch family’s summer adventure turned into 46 years of living in, and loving, the Flint Hills of Kansas.The Methvin family ranched in Louisiana Bayou Country on land that had been in the family since 1714. The family came to the Flint Hills for one summer in 1977, and stayed on land that was once part of the original 101 Ranch and the Frye/Ronsick Ranch. Nancy will discuss the history of the areas they have lived.
There is no cost to attend these Prairie Talks, but donations are appreciated and will support future program events.
Refreshments will be available. Reservations are requested but not required and will help ensure plenty of chairs are out.
RSVP on the Facebook event page or contact the Executive Director, Lynn Smith, at lynn@pioneerbluffs.org or 620-753-3484.
Feel free to bring a picnic lunch and come out early to visit with friends. Picnic tables are provided.

Land Band Barn Dance
2023-05-06 18:00 - 20:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
6:00 pm Beginner Instructions
6:30 pm Old Time Barn Dance
Join us in the loft of our 1915 barn for an Old Time Barn Dance. Wear your dancing shoes or just come and enjoy the lively music of the Land Band, a 7-member band providing music for contra and two-step dances.
Cash bar available

Flint Hills Festival
2023-05-06 10:00 - 17:00 | KS
Flint Hills Discovery Center, Manhattan, KS
Pioneer Bluffs will be at the Flint Hills Festival at Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan. Stop in to experience the culture and beauty of the Flint Hills at the FHDC annual community festival, and say hi to our volunteers who will be sharing Pioneer Bluffs at this event.
You can find more information here.

Radius at the Ranch
2023-04-15 17:00 - 20:30 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
A fine dining experience in a historic barn
5:00 pm Happy Hour begins
5:30 pm *Music by Howard Glanton and Excier Rodriguez, Classical Guitar Duet
6:30 pm Dinner by Gus Bays, featuring Filet of Beef Tenderloin
FUNdraising Auction following dinner.
Cost: $150 per person, of which $100 is a tax-deductible contribution.
Chef Justin “Gus” Bays will be our guest chef for Radius at the Ranch.
Gus began his award-winning career right where he grew up, in Lawrence, Kansas, working at high-end restaurants. He was trained at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Scottsdale, Arizona. He then made his way back to Kansas where he accepted the position of Executive Chef at the Grand Central Hotel Bar and Grille in Cottonwood Falls. Today Gus is co-owner and Chef of Radius Brewing Company, Emporia’s first brewery since prohibition and full-service restaurant with a made-from-scratch menu.
*Classical guitar music is sponsored by Bryan Folk, Kathy Kelly, and Homestead Ranch.
Seating limited to first 100. Reservations required no later than April 7, 2023. To reserve your seats, contact Lynn Smith at lynn@pioneerbluffs.org or (785) 393-1569 (cell). After confirming seating is available, you can pay online using the donate link here, or bring a check that evening.
FUNdraising Auction
with Guest Auctioneer, Jeff Davidson
A few fun and unique items and experiences will be auctioned after dinner. Proceeds from the sale will support Pioneer Bluff’s programs and exhibits.
Auction includes:

4 nights in a 4-bedroom, 3,200 sq ft condo, facing the San Sophia Range near the town of Telluride, Colorado. The 4-night stay will be between May 27 – June 15 or September 18 – October 3 in 2023, or similar dates in 2024. Click here for photos and details.
Design a Beer experience with Radius Brewmaster Jeremy “JJ” Johns – style, design, create, and name your craft beer that will be on tap at Radius.
Handmade “Kansas Prairie” quilt, made by Candy Johnson, quilted by Monty Smith.
Tickets to Broadway show – Disney’s Aladdin at the Kansas City Music Hall, June 3 @ 2 pm.
“Running with the Storm,” photo by Dave Leiker. Canvas wrap. 32 ½” x 48”
“Pottawatomie County Sunset,” photo by Dave Leiker. Matted and framed. Photo size is 19” x 30 ½” – overall with frame is 28” x 39 ½”
Prairie Nature Walk & Music with Annie Wilson, Five Oaks Ranch, for 1-6 persons, to be scheduled at your convenience.
A homemade pie, made by award-winning baker, Janet Post.

An Evening of Enchantment
2023-01-14 17:30 - 20:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Historic Rogler Home, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
All seats are now taken for “An Evening of Enchantment.” Mark your calendar now for April 15, a special dinner in the barn by Guest Chef Gus Bays.
