June, 2022
Welcome back to "Cattle Tales from the Flint Hills," our monthly E-Newsletter with tales (and tails) that shape the Flint Hills

Branding Time is as much tradition to a cowboy as it is necessity. The sights and sounds, the smells and the dust, are part of the gathering of neighbors, friends, and family. The mark left by the iron is special to each rancher. It is like a coat of arms, a trademark signature so important that a cowboy will "ride for the brand."

Irons in the Fire is now on exhibit. This unique selection of local and national branding irons (and their stories) and can be seen at the Chase County Chamber office and the Chase County Museum. On June 2-4, the exhibit will be at the Flint Hills Rodeo. Then on July 23, the exhibit will move to Pioneer Bluffs for our Day of the Cowboy celebration. Also at the Pioneer Bluffs Day of the Cowboy celebration, you will see a demonstration of branding (on wood) by a true cowboy, Dennis Hague.

Irons in the Fire is a collaborative project of the Chase County Chamber of Commerce, Chase County Historical Society and Museum, Flint Hills Rodeo, Pioneer Bluffs, and the National Ranching Heritage Center, Lubbock. Irons in the Fire is sponsored by Porter Cattle Co.

Here is a little "History in Iron," from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum:
The purpose of Cattle Tales is to share the stories, or tales, of ranching. Our friends at Ranchland Trust of Kansas have a Brand Legacy program. For this program, Jim Hoy has written about his family and the story of the Flying H brand. Here is a glimpse:

About the brand itself: one April during World War I several hundred New Mexico steers were shipped into the Santa Fe stockyards at Cassoday for the summer grazing season. These big steers bore a Flying H brand, which attracted the attention of my grandfather. He registered that brand on the right hip for cattle and horses, and we (the Hoy family) have kept that registration current for nearly a hundred years now.

Jim Hoy has recently been inducted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Congratulations, Jim!
This month in the Flint Hills
June is a great time to get out in the Flint Hills. Beautiful weather, and much to do and see! Check out these highlights:

Flint Hills Rodeo, June 2-4, Strong City


Symphony in the Flint Hills, June 11, near Bazaar

Emma Chase Friday Night Music, June 3 & 17, Cottonwood Falls
Upcoming Events at Pioneer Bluffs
June 11, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Symphony Day Open House (and Barn)


July 9, 6:30 p.m. Butler County Brass in concert

July 23, 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Day of the Cowboy

July 27, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Girl Scout Day on the Prairie (registration required)

August 27, Doors open 6:30 p.m., concert starts at 7:00 p.m. Great Plains Jazz Orchestra

October 8, 2:00 p.m. Prairie Talk: the Bobbie Hammond story
Pioneer Bluffs
Center for Flint Hills Ranching Heritage

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