Junction City, KS: Most Kansans are familiar with the stories of grasshoppers so big that cowboys could ride them, or summers so hot that corn popped in the field. At the annual meeting of Geary County Historical Society on Nov. 14, Emporia State University professor Jim Hoy will explore the facts and fiction behind these tall tales in his presentation and discussion, “Kansas Legends and Folktales.”
The historical society’s annual event kicks off with a roast beef dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, in the museum auditorium at 530 N. Adams St. in Junction City. The meeting of the Board of Directors begins at 7:15, followed by the presentation and discussion by Jim Hoy. The meeting and presentation are free to attend, while dinner tickets cost $14.
Hoy’s presentation explores the exaggerated narratives of Kansas, which help us understand the character of our state and its people. This presentation will explore some of the many legends and folktales from around the state, and what they say about the communities that keep these stories alive.
A Flint Hills native and an authority on the folklife of ranching, Jim Hoy is a professor of English and the director of the Center for Great Plains Studies at Emporia State University. He has lectured internationally on the folklife of ranching and is the co-author of “Plains Folk,” a syndicated newspaper column.
The menu for the annual dinner features cowboy fare, including roast beef, baked beans potatoes au gratin, green beans with bacon and almonds, cornbread, and a fall dessert. To RSVP for the dinner or to purchase tickets, contact museum staff at 785-238-1666.
“Kansas Legends and Folktales” is part of the Kansas Humanities Council’s Kansas Stories Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and discussions that examine our shared human experience—our innovations, culture, heritage, and conflicts.
The Kansas Humanities Council conducts and supports community-based programs, serves as a financial resource through an active grant-making program, and encourages Kansans to engage in the civic and cultural life of their communities. For more information about KHC programs,
contact the Kansas Humanities Council at 785-357-0359 or visit the KHC website at www.kansashumanities.org.
For more information about “Kansas Legends and Folktales” and the annual meeting, contact Geary County Historical Society at 785-238-1666 or email GearyHistory@gmail.com.