Pioneer Bluffs Fall Roundup
2024-10-12 14:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | 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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Day of the Cowboy
2026-07-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
A panel of local cowhands will address “What Makes a Good Cow Horse”.
Ice cream will be served at 6:00 and the panel will present at 7:00.

Prairie Talk: "Intrigue in Chase County: Murder, Politics, Gambling and Bigotry
2026-08-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
Jeff Davidson will provide some insight into the background and history of Chase County.

Fall Roundup
2026-10-10 13:00 - 17:00 | Pioneer Bluffs Ranch Main Barn, 695 Kansas Highway 177, Matfield Green, KS, 66862, United States
This year the Pioneer Bluffs Fall Roundup will focus on family activities such as face painting, pumpkin painting, carnival-type games, some demonstrations, etc. There are plans to have food trucks on site and perhaps some boutique vendors. The day will conclude with a performance by the 3 Trails West band. More information to follow.
