Mission Valley Ranch

More from the Paxico Blues Festival.

Thankful to be surrounded back around these beautiful humans again. Sara Fox

The girls have been spending quite a bit of time out west at the Flint Hills pastures, adding a little “women’s touch” to all the work the men have been busy with this Summer. Between post-rain catch up and the blessing of hosting a Celebration of Life for a beautiful soul that loved the grassland so very dearly. Here’s a sample of the clean up, posting fresh boots on Boot Hill Road of grandpas, museum clean up and more. And check out these adorable chicken muck boots!!! All ranch women should have matching pairs…Blessed with the best!

Wow! Congratulations on the Volland Foundation’s presentation of “Kansas Abridged”. A historic presentation of the History of Wabaunsee County, leading with the prehistoric days to the 20th century.

What made this event even more special was our very own, Kathleen Hogue, wrote and assisted with “Limestone Con Queso”. A historic directive, utilizing the ancestors of the Mission Valley Ranch’s Flint Hills property settled by the Kuenzli family. Her piece, a humored tale educating on the critical production of both cheese and w**e on the Flint Hills soil.

History, humor, in a melodrama of sorts with audience interaction bringing laughs and education for two summer evenings. The event was originally scheduled at Volland’s outdoor space, but due to the unstable forecast, the Historic Wabaunsee High school offered their timeless and spectacular space. The Wabaunsee Museum also offered a wonderful location for the meal and fundraiser ahead of production. SO many beautiful volunteers came together to make this happen.

A night to remember! And a wonderful fundraising opportunity for the Wabaunsee Historical Society and Museum. https://wabaunseecomuseum.org

Consistently…the sunsets and stormy night skies…rarely disappoint.

Our Lords promise of provision. The soil has sure provided beautiful firsts of the seasons.

Little delay due to flooding this season. But growing season is among us. Proud of these guys and their work and care for the land

Grandma and grandpa every Memorial Day weekend would go out and deliver floral displays to what has now accumulated to over 60 gravesites across northeast Kansas and multiple counties. They’ve never made a public ordeal of it but I find it inspirational, carrying on the memory of so many loved ones over the years. It’s no small task and usually includes several of the ranch ladies constructing and collecting through the year. While we continue passing down the ranch legacy, that’s included so many discussions of ancestry and story telling, we keep in mind some of the best traditions and continue to honor the memory of those gone before us.

Memorial Weekend offers the ability to both celebrate and remember those we’ve lost and loved.
One respected speaker, a descendant of the Exodusters shared the powerful sentiment that “you die twice — once when you are laid in the earth, and again when you are no longer remembered.”
Kathy, and the two oldest granddaughters took time from delivering florals to graves to attend a meaningful memorial at Alma Cemetery honoring the recently identified and commemorated 80 previously unmarked graves, many belonging to Black residents from the Wabaunsee County area. The event also served as a celebration of Black history and the lasting contributions of these community members. Historians and volunteers dedicated countless hours to researching their lives, preserving their stories, and respectfully memorializing each gravesite with headstones or a commemorative stone wall. Potter’s Field, referenced in the Bible, now serves as a place of remembrance for these valued members of the Wabaunsee County community.