The 2007 Symphony in the Flint Hills this past Saturday, June 16, was a huge success for symphony goers and our neighboring local communities in Wabaunsee County alike. We had never been to the Symphony before. My wife, both sons and my older sons' girlfriend accompanied me to this event. The organization, community participation, the setting, and the event itself were very impressive. The weather was perfect.

Imagine a very rural county playing host to a symphony by the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra - an event that brings in 6500 people in one day - a great number of whom travel from Kansas City, Lincoln, Omaha, Wichita, and elsewhere in the region (and nationwide). Imagine the event site being in a very remote part of the host county, approximately 7 miles from the nearest community, accessed by a seldom traveled gravel road. Imagine the site itself lying atop the highest ridges in the area, on classic Flint Hills pasture, overlooking the headwaters of a tributary of Mill Creek. Imagine an uninterrupted view of approximately 30 miles north from the top of that ridge, down through a beautiful valley surrounded on both sides by successions of ridges and hills. Imagine that this site is transected by three historic trails, and that you can still see the depression of a buffalo wallow. Imagine that in the midst of this remote prairie is a concert sized, portable, high-tech covered stage pavilion with a simple but highly effective sound system, and large tents for information, tickets, chair rentals, interpretive presentations, food and drinks. Imagine that there is a walking trail 2/3 mile long from the parking area to the event site, and that along that trail are interpretive guides and outriders, the latter on horseback and in full cowboy/cowgirl regalia. Imagine a number of frontier era Conestoga wagons with teams, taking people on tours of the ridges. Imagine the prairie in deep green after recent rains, highlighted by the red ochre of Indian Paintbrush. That was the setting for this incredible event.

Every community in Wabaunsee County geared up for this event in a most impressive way. We went down to the site via Highway 99 through Alma and Eskridge. We stopped in Alma (which was packed!) drove around town, and had lunch at the Cornerstone Café. We meandered down the Stone Fence Scenic Byway (99) south to Lake Wabaunsee, where we drove around the lake and stopped in at an open house showcasing a lakeside property for the heck of it (2 story, 3 bedroom, 3 outdoor decks, an outdoor Jacuzzi, its own dock, etc. Very Nice!) We took the rest of the beautiful drive to Eskridge (also packed!), where we visited all the art and craft exhibits, bought coffee, etc. Then we got in line and drove to the concert site.

As noted above the concert site was really beautiful.

Some high points:

Watching the Fort Riley Honor Guard ride horseback in formation - slowly - in full 1860's uniforms and equipment - into the concert site, flying flags of the United States, Kansas, the Big Red One, and Fort Riley. My thought was that this was the first time in about 140 years that a “Mounted Patrol of the United States” crossed this very ground! Watching the groups of outriders and historic wagons moving slowly around the concert site as the orchestra played - a living adjunct to the music. Listening to the narrators - between musical selections - read firsthand accounts written by people who dared settle this area in the 1850's- 1870's - a counterpoint of human hardship and indomitable spirit to the music. Listening as the orchestra played “Shenandoah” and then the theme from “Dancing with Wolves” while watching the sun begin to set and shadows begin to lengthen across the hills. Watching our Wabaunsee County neighbors in their blue jeans, western shirts, boots, cowboy hats, tennis shoes, baseball caps, and sunglasses, with their relaxed style and friendly manners, display their obvious skill in organizing and hosting this major event while showing their “pride of place”. You Aced It!

All in all - a tremendously stirring and emotional event! Even my “emo/rock/grunge” music kids thoroughly enjoyed it!

Finally - here's some special recognition and thanks:

To Suzan Barnes, Cottonwood Falls and Emily Hunter, Matfield Green for providing the leadership to ensure that the Symphony continues to be an annual event.

To Katie Carlgren, Wabaunsee County Economic Development and Linda Craghead, Alma for a terrific job in getting your county and all its communities geared up to host this event.

To Louise Carlin, Strong City, C. Kay Hutchinson, Council Grove, and Judy Meinhardt, Paxico, for helping me find additional tickets for Pottawatomie County people.

To Caterpillar Work Tools, Wamego, KanEquip, Wamego, and Jim and Barbara Meinhardt, Wamego, for helping sponsor the event.

To all the Volunteers and Outriders from Highland Community College, St George, St Marys, Wamego, and Westmoreland who helped with this event, including Scott Kohl, his students and colleagues, Michelle and Morris Crisler, Josh Huff, Barry Jacques, Deb and Jim Kiker, Kris Shaw, Alex Miller, Mitch Hubbard, Cathy and Jason Lopez, Dawn Smith, Blair and John Taylor, and Susan Furney. (If I missed you I'm sorry)

The 2008 Symphony in the Flint Hills will be in Morris County.

For a one-day event - the business and economic impact for local communities is quite impressive. We here in Pottawatomie County need to identify sites and develop sponsors so that we can host this remarkable event - hopefully in the not too distant future! (About which - more later.)

See: www.symphonyintheflinthills.org for more information.