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Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner
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Questions about the Central Kansas Free Fair? Find the information you need!
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Vote in the
Central Kansas Free Fair
's Barn Quilt Fan Favorite Contest! Ways to vote: click the Barn Quilt Fan Favorite tab on the Visit Abilene Kansas Facebook Page or online.
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HOMETOWN COWBOY AND COWGIRL
Samples, Bryant, compete at Abilene rodeo
Cowboys and cowgirls from across 22 states will stream into Abilene this week for the 73rd annual Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo.
And among those nearly 500 rodeo athletes are a cowboy and a cowgirl who won't have far to go, to compete in Abilene.
Ty Bryant, a Hope, Kan. native who now lives northeast of Abilene, and Micah Samples, who was born and raised in Abilene, will compete in their hometown rodeo.
Bryant is a team roper who will make his run on Thursday, August 2; Samples, a barrel racer, runs that night as well.
The two not only are from the area, but they are engaged to be married. They have known each other since they were kids, competing at the same junior rodeos, then high school and college rodeos. When Samples moved back to Abilene after college at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva three years ago, they began dating in earnest.
Bryant grew up going to Wednesday morning slack at the Abilene rodeo. His dad, Cary, a team roper, loved to watch the team roping. "A lot of time, the better team ropers were up (in slack) and you could watch thirty teams rope that morning," Bryant said.
Bryant competed as a tie-down roper and team roper in high school and college but focuses on the team roping only now. He is a header, heading for heeler Taylor Schotte from Marysville. Bryant has been a Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association member on and off since he was eighteen and also rodeos in regional rodeos: the Kansas Pro Rodeo Association, the Central Plains Rodeo Association, and the United Rodeo Association. He and Schotte are choosy about where they go. "We go to the (PRCA) circuit rodeos that are close, and quite a few (regional) rodeos." They competed in Nebraska and Kansas this past week: PRCA rodeos in Manhattan, Kan. and Burwell, Neb., and regional rodeos in Newton, Marquette, Concordia, Attica, and Hardtner, Kan., and McCook and Stockville, Neb., before coming to Abilene.
Bryant will ride a fifteen-year-old bay horse named Pops who was originally owned by his grandfather, Phil Bryant. The horse bucked more than Phil wanted, so Ty got him. Pops had begun his training as a heading horse and Ty put the finishing touches on him. He loves the horse. "I've made so many runs on him, I know what he's going to do and he knows what I'm going to do before I do it."
Bryant is the son of Cary and Beth Bryant. He works for Micah's dad, taking care of cattle, at the Salina Livestock Barn, and day working for other cattlemen in the area.
Samples is no stranger to the Abilene rodeo.
The daughter of Mike and Donna Samples, she was a Bankes barrel racer before she became a member of the Women's Professional Rodeo Association, and the only "novice" barrel racer that ever won money at the Abilene rodeo.
She will compete at rodeos in Hill City, Phillipsburg and Dodge City before she runs in Abilene on Thursday night, and she plans on riding her eleven-year-old sorrel gelding named Addison. She has three barrel horses and uses them in whichever situation fits them best. All of her horses were raised by her family, a fact of which Micah is proud.
Mike Samples, Micah's dad, started with race horses twenty years ago but as his daughter grew up and became more competitive in barrel racing, his focus shifted to barrel horses.
Samples works for her dad at the Salina Sale Barn, of which he is part owner, and with the horses. She helps with the breeding and trains them for barrel racing.
Samples was the featured rodeo athlete on the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo buckle in 2015; her mother Donna was on the buckle in 1993. Bryant's grandfather Phil was on the buckle in 1997; Ty's father Cary was on in 1990, and Ty in 2004.
The Abilene rodeo runs August 1-4, beginning at 7:30 pm each night. Tickets are $11 in advance and $14 at the gate. Children's tickets, ages four to ten, are $8. They are available online at
www.CKFF.net
, at West's Country Mart, and at the gate.
Note: The Abilene Visitor Information Center gift shop has a few remaining Wild Bill Hickok collectible belt buckles for sale. Years available: 2003, 2004 (Bryant) & 2005.
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Central Kansas Free Fair Parade
Each year residents and visitors look forward to the Central Kansas Free Fair. The parade is always held the first Thursday of the fair.
The parade begins at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 2 at 7th Street/Buckeye and proceeds south to 3rd Street and west to Washington Street.
Remember to bring lawn chairs, blankets and bottled water. Come early to reserve your choice spot!
Can't attend the parade? The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau will film the parade on Facebook Live.
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National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo
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August 3-4, 2018
Shockey & Landes Building
Abilene, Kansas
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J
oin us for the annual National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo Competition held in Abilene, Kansas, during the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo and the Central Kansas Free Fair. Tons of fun and amazing cowgirl and cowboy poets come together to win championship buckles, prize money and more! Entry forms and more information available on the web at
www.ncpr.us.
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Chisholm Trail Western Music Show
The Chisholm Trail Western Music & Cowboy Poetry Show is scheduled for Saturday, August 4, 2018, at 5:00 p.m., at the amazing Great Plains Theatre, 401 Cottage, Abilene, Kansas. Reserved table seating includes complimentary beverages and appetizers at your table, $25.00 per person. Additional reserved tickets are $15.00, General Admission tickets are $10.00 and children 6-12 years old are $5.00 (5 & under free).
Come join us for a western-themed music show featuring Cowboy Entertainer, Geff Dawson & Dawn, along with our Special Guest, Del Shields, a western music recording artist, cowboy poet, and featured entertainer and co-host of Best of America by Horseback on RFD-TV. along with fellow cowboy and cowgirl poets and the newly crowned NCPR Champions. Also, be sure to come and watch the competition during the days (August 3 & 4, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. until approximatley 2:00 p.m. each day). There is no admission for the competition event between the hours of 8:30 and 2:00 p.m. each day.
Matinee Show tickets are limited. Children's and General Admission Tickets ($5.00) will be available at the door. Visit our web site for more information at
www.ncpr.us
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Vintage Base Ball Game - Saturday, August 4
Wichita Bull Stockings vs. Abilene Iron Cutters
** 1860s Game Rules:**
No Gloves
Underhand Pitching
Fair or foul balls may be caught on the bound for an out
No leading off
No base stealing
No sliding
Audience participation is encouraged to help sway the referee rulings for your team!
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Take me out to the ball game--a vintage base ball game that is. Bring your family and friends for a free, fun outing Saturday, Aug. 4, on the campus of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, 200 SE 4th, Abilene.
This marks the ninth year the Victorian era base ball game has been held in Abilene. Catch the action at 1 p.m. when the "Abilene Iron Cutters" face the "Wichita Bull Stockings" of the Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club. Be sure to bring your lawn chairs and sunscreen.
The players don uniforms and use equipment similar to the 1860s era. The game is played using Victorian era rules, which are quite different from today's game. For example, no gloves are used, outfielders can catch the ball on one bounce for an out and base stealing and sliding are prohibited. Crowd participation is highly encouraged and often impacts the rulings on the field, and, yes, "base ball" was two words back then, too!
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Throwback Thursday
The Salina Journal
November 11, 1996
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5 Star Reviews - Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home
Full of history and exhibit about President Eisenhower. They're renovating but still plenty of exhibit, weapons, military items, historical relics, nice gift shop, good bathrooms. Overall great experience for me and family.
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"The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene."
Dwight D. Eisenhower
June 22, 1945
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Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Steam Engine
Make reservations to ride the rails with the longhorns at the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Saturday, September 1 - 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. (during Chisholm Trail Days at Old Abilene Town)
The Steam Engine will also run Sunday, September 2 and Monday, September 3.
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Dickinson County Heritage Center
The Dickinson County Heritage Center is a unique collection of two in-door museums, that continues out-the-back-door where you will find actual buildings from around the county, all depicting life on the Great Plains.
Don't miss the 1901 C.W. Parker Carousel - the oldest operational C.W. Parker Carousel.
Summer Hours:
Monday-Friday
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (note time change)
Sunday
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Great Plains Theatre
Great Plains Theatre is proud to present Shrek the Musical coming to the stage August 10
th
through the 19
th
. This cult classic film turned Tony nominated musical is a bright spectacle of delight for all ages. Featuring new musical numbers that explore the characters of Shrek, Princess Fiona, and even the villainous Farquaad, fans of the movie will still have much to learn and experience in this staged presentation.
The titular role is played by James Fairchild, most recently seen on stage as the Big Bopper in the national tour of The Buddy Holly Story, who is returning to Great Plains Theatre for his second show. Shrek's lovable, if a little chatty, sidekick Donkey is also portrayed by a returner to GPT's stage, Vaughn Meccod, last seen in the 2017 production of Ragtime. Shannon Cochran plays the Not-Your-Average-Princess Princess Fiona, a role that was originated by Sutton Foster, and Matthew Aaron plays the short-tempered Lord Farquaad.
Tickets are on sale now for this comedic tale of adventure, bravery, and daring to change your destiny. Go online to greatplainstheatre.com, stop by the box office at 401 Cottage Ave in Abilene, or call 785.263.4574 to reserve your seat today. Great Plains Theatre, together we are more.
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Greyhound Hall of Fame Museum
Greyhound Hall of Fame Museum
Open daily 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Free admission
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Old Abilene Town
Wild Bill's Gunfighters
Saturdays
Noon, 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Sundays
1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Chisholm Trail Days
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Seelye Mansion
Abilene's Historic
Seelye Mansion
is a must-see! Furnished with items from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright and home to a wooden
bowling alley that's more than 120 years old, it's no "wonder" this beautiful mansion was named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas - Architecture winners by the Kansas Sampler Foundation.
Tours Daily!
Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m
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Upcoming events:
- Central Kansas Free Fair - August 1-6
- Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo - August 1-4
- National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo - August 2-4
- Vintage Base Ball Game - August 4
- Shrek the Musical @ Great Plains Theatre - August 10-12, 14-19
- Chisholm Trails Days @ Old Abilene Town - August 31 - September 1
- Not Another Christmas Letter @ Great Plains Theatre - November 30-December 2, 4-9
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Share your news!
Have an upcoming event? Help us, help you. We do our best to stay up-to-date, but please make sure to include us in your event and special promotions. Please send announcements to
director@abilenecityhall.com.
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