Victory on the Prairie: Topics of the Kansas Home Front During WWII

News Release Date:
September 13, 2024

Contact:Heather Brown, 620-273-8494

STRONG CITY, KS - On September 21, 2024 a new special event, Victory on the Prairie, will be held at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Come to the preserve and listen to special speakers, watch demonstrations, and participate in kid's activities focusing on how rural Kansans helped win World War II. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with activities throughout the day. Exhibits and presentations will be held in the historic barn with historic tractors and daily life demonstrations throughout the ranch complex.

In the historic barn from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Mark Will, Historian from the Herington Museum will present a history of the Herington Army Airfield.

From 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Professor Alfred Eckes will present "Soldiers of the Soil: How Rural Kansans Helped to Win World War II." After Pearl Harbor a large number of young Kansans enlisted in the military and went off to fight in World War II. On the home front thousands engaged in patriotic service producing large quantities of food and armaments (especially airplanes) to support the war effort and to aid America's lend-lease allies. This presentation examines how Kansas farms and ranches succeeded in increasing production significantly despite a shortage of workers. It will show how farm workers had the necessary work ethic and skills to help the fledgling aircraft industry in Wichita build B-29 bombers. Using many visuals from the war era, the talk will focus attention on the patriotic efforts of rural families to support the war effort. It will revisit various wartime conservation and austerity measures -- such as rationing, victory gardens, and bond drives, as well as the use of German prisoners of war to harvest crops. Professor Alfred Eckes is Ohio University Eminent Research Professor Emeritus and a former Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission.

In the historic barn from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Trae Johnson from the Kansas State Historical Society will have hands-on materials from our past, including a reproduction of Dwight D. Eisenhower's famous "Ike" jacket. Stop by to learn about the role Kansans played in World War II, both on the battlefield and on the home front.

Throughout the ranch buildings from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., watch historic canning demonstrations, hear impromptu talks about rationing of sugar, gas, and rubber, and participate in kid's activities as interpreters talk about the daily lives of rural Kansans during WWII.

Adjacent to the visitor center, The Flint Hills Antique Power Association of Emporia, KS will display vintage tractors in the grassy area from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn about the individual tractors and the part they played in our heritage and the war effort. At 11 a.m. watch a live historic hay baling demonstration employing a tractor to run the 1930 International Harvester stationary baler. At 3 p.m. listen to the wonderful sounds of John Deere, Farmall, Case, and Oliver tractors as the Parade of Power will take place on the grounds. All activities are free of charge. Come join the fun and learn about daily life on the home front during WWII.

Daily Schedule

10:30 a.m.	Mark Will, Historian from the Herington Museum will present a history of the Herington Army Airfield.
11:30 a.m.	Professor Alfred Eckes will present "Soldiers of the Soil: How RuralKansans Helped to Win World War II."
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.	Trae Johnson from the Kansas State Historical Society will have hands-on materials, including a reproduction made "Ike jacket"
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.	Watch historic canning demonstrations, hear impromptu talks about rationing of sugar, gas, and rubber, and participate in kid's activities.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.	The Flint Hills Antique Power Association of Emporia, KS will display vintage tractors in the grassy area.
11 a.m.	Live hay baling demonstration in the grassy area adjacent visitor center.
3 p.m.	Antique Parade of Power of historic tractors from the era make a parade on the preserve grounds.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve invites you to discover the meaning of national parks and how your park inspires you - both in personal connections and memorable experiences. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located two miles north of Strong City on Kansas State Highway 177 (the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway) and is a unique public/private partnership between the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy. For additional information on Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, please visit www.nps.gov/tapr, email [email protected], call the preserve at (620) 273-8494, or visit the preserve's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NPS.TallgrassPrairie. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy in Kansas, visit the Conservancy's website at www.nature.org/Kansas or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TNCKansas .

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