Trail Ruts
A newsletter for Santa Fe Trail Center Museum and Fort Larned Historical Society
Published: May, 2021
Authored by Kathleen Foster
Meet the Director: Seth McFarland:
A director has been hired for the Santa Fe Trail Center. Seth McFarland brings to the Trail Center knowledge and years of experience in museum operations. We welcome him and are glad to have him on board.
We are incredibly grateful to Seth for agreeing to move to Kansas from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Seth was an Operations Manager at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. If you have ever had the opportunity to visit or read about this museum, you know how outstanding and valued it is. For Seth to agree to even consider leaving such a prestigious position, was humbling, but for him to agree to moving to Larned, Kansas and assume the responsibilities of the Santa Fe Trail Center and Museum (SFTC). After the passing of former director Becca Hiller, Vice-President of the SFTC Board, Ron Van Cleave agreed to be acting director. In Ron’s own words, he never imagined he would serve in that position for over a year.
When Seth stepped into the director’s position at the Santa Fe Trail Center, he had literally stacks of challenges waiting for him on his desk. There was no time at that moment to even look at the challenge ahead because Seth arrived just in time to be the director and oversee the annual Tired Iron Show. There was no “honeymoon “period for Seth. After the Tired Iron Show, there were other challenges waiting in line to have his immediate attention. Here it is the end of May, and so many things have happened. Seth has managed to move things forward. He has handled immediate and then long-range goals and concerns.
As our community and state emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, more people come through the door of the museum. Some come as visitors traveling across the country, some are groups of school children, and others are interested and vested community members coming to give Seth advice and suggestions on how to run/direct this museum and resource library. There are not enough hours in the day to be available for all the daily challenges. Yet, somehow, Seth has moved the SFTC forward and gained more and more community support.
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New Board Members and Those that have Retired from the Board – The new members on the SFTC Board: Rita Kurtz, Gary Waggoner, and Beth Slack, bring new ideas and energy to the Board. Ramona Howard stepped aside to care for her parents and other family members; however, she still is very much involved in the Tired Iron Show. Doug Springer’s term on the board ended, but we continue to call on Doug often for his many talents. He and his wife Pat are very generous with their volunteer time.
In Memoriam
We have lost two great men this year. Jerald Hadley passed away July. His absence is so noticeable. Jerald mowed the grounds and volunteered in so many other ways. He left a void in our hearts. Recently, Tom Stejskal passed on. We miss both men as they were both caring and involved board members.
Interns and Volunteers
Sarah McMahon a recent graduate of Larned High School interned at the Trail Center for a six-week period. Sarah assisted in various components of the Museum. Sara plans to use her writing skills as a creative, professional writer.
This summer, Nicole Hartman a Fort Hays college student majoring in history is cataloging items for the archives.
Becky Gabel, a National Honor Society member from Larned High school plans to volunteer her time at the Trail Center assisting with upcoming events and other museum related fields.
Today and Tomorrow –
Join us as we work together
There is new energy at the Santa Fe Trail Center. Excitement is building as the community becomes aware that the SFTC has many events that are enriching and affordable. Visitors traveling through the area, share their appreciation for the detail of history in the exhibits as well as the resources to purchase in the gift shop.
Our goals for the future are many. We are focusing on special events for this year, and in the future, we will host others. Join us as we work towards continued growth, and success of the Trail Center.
We have short term and long-term goals. There is much we want to do and much to accomplish. There is never a finish line. Always we move forward with one eye on today and another on the future as we develop and further expand the many valuable resources and wonderful opportunities the Santa Fe Trail Center will capture and renew.
Upcoming Events:
On Saturday, May 29 SFTC is presenting Lynda Beck Fenwick, author of Prairie Bachelor. Lynda writes about a young man who comes to Stafford County to homestead in the late 1880s. His experiences are familiar to those of today’s Kansas farmers. His frustrations led him to join the Farmer’s Alliance and take a stand against the injustices being handed to the famers and other labors of the land. Through the efforts of many unrepresented workers, the Populist movement began. Lynda Beck Fenwick’s books are available for purchase.in the SFTC gift shop along with many other adult and children’s books relating to the Santa Fe Trail.
Heritage Day June 11 and 12
The SFTC staff have organized a new event titled Heritage Day… a two-day event featuring local talent who will demonstrate skills and crafts from our great grandparents’ days. There will be sixty some individuals demonstrating and teaching quilting, blacksmithing, carving, sewing, spinning wool, etcetera. This will be one of many events organized as a fund raiser for the SFTC. Dates for Heritage Days are June 11th and 12th. This event will be both a fund raiser and an educational experience.
June 12 Evening entertainment band and dancing. “Back-2-Back” band will entertain as you dance under the stars. Band begins at 7:00 p.m. A fee will be charged.
July 17th Boots and Brew- an evening social event- band to dance by under the Kansas Stars. Outdoor Night sky
August 28th and 29th –Craft and Peddlers Bazaar —All the quilters, and crafters, as well as the vendors that sell the supplies will be available to demonstrate, teach and sell their wares. The vendors will be on site to make the event a “one stop deal”. The vendors will have needed items for purchase. You and your friends can learn, buy, and then make your own craft or quilt.
September 3rd A members-only VIP event: The formal opening of the Bison
September 4th through October – Bison Traveling exhibit from the Kauffman Museum on behalf of the National Buffalo Foundation: “star event.”
September 11th Gunsmoke Days Autumn, harvest, gathering of crops in preparation of the winter months ahead demonstrated as our elders always did. Mix of the fall harvesting, gathering demonstrations and events in with the Gunsmoke days of our cowboy past. Fun events and times for the family.
October 9-10 Tired Iron Annual Show of Tired Farm Tractors and more
December 11- Christmas on the Prairie An event reflective of cultural tradition as the holiday season arrives. Evening visit to the museum and buildings on the ground promised excitement for the young and old alike.
“Other Members- Only Events” in the works but not yet on the calendar:
Ice – Cream Social
Bar-B -Q
Home on the Range speaker
Social event for Women and daughters… reflecting on the Lives of Women on the Prairie
For a detailed scheduled of exhibits and schedule of events, go to the Santa Fe Trail Center Facebook page, website or call 620-285-2054
How to Stay in Touch using Social Media and Newspaper articles
Follow us on the Santa Fe Trail Center FACEBOOK page. We post often throughout the week. Snap shots of news and events are quickly available to Facebook users.
Weekly newspaper column provides information of upcoming events.
Each week the local newspaper, The Tiller and Toiler prints a column, Dust on the Trail, featuring upcoming events, historical facts and stories, and other information related to the Santa Fe Trail Center. Both social media, and print are timely communications. Followers of the FACEBOOK page check daily on the posts. Information is quickly disseminated to FB followers. The Tiller and Toiler column, Dust on the Trail, is a weekly article or story related to the history of the Santa Fe Trail, or information regarding upcoming events. Both have followers and are a convenient means of communication.
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