Grand Marshall Kenneth Castor and his wife Deb led the parade for this celebration. 

If you haven’t seen my post about this wild west wicked cow town the link is right here and to say Ellsworth was rowdy and wicked is putting it mildly. 

In the 90’s Michael was a cowboy and I was a saloon dancing girl doing the re-enactment of the “Shooting of Sheriff Chauncey B. Whitney”.

Oddly, a town could survive without a doctor or bank, but it had to have a blacksmith. 

Never in a million years would I have thought this toddler turned man could grow this kind of beard!

Buffalo Soldiers came right on through to lend a helping hand. 

150 Texas Longhorns were driven along the parade route. Spectators took a step or two backwards to be safe. 

He has his eye on you!

A small fraction of the longhorns!

I would never do this! Check out the drone in this picture!

One more bad boy! 

They followed the Chisholm Trail from Texas to Ellsworth!

Back in 1992 this picture was taken. Big hair, fancy dresses, and if interested, I’m the one in the gold dress, back row with glasses of era. 

We had a booth on the Cow Town Plaza. These pics are partially set up both above and below. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t add in that we painted, wrote, produced and published a children’s book, Shadow and Friends Celebrate Ellsworth KS 150th Birthday!

In this children’s picture book and seventh book in our ‘Shadow and Friends Series’, Shadow and Friends Celebrate Ellsworth, KS, 150th Birthday, two dogs and a family of squirrels decide to help Ellsworth celebrate the 150th birthday of the town’s history. This book coincides with the actual 150th birthday of Ellsworth in the summer of 2017. Illustrations are found on each page, most of them painted. Big Whitey tells the history of Ellsworth, and Fort Harker, with historical buildings, notable landmarks, and scenes painted by the author. At the end of this story, Little Whitey asks his father if they can re-enact the old west, dress like cowboys, and do a pretend cattle drive just like Ellsworth, KS. The squirrels dress in cowboy and cowgirl gear, and they even have a chuck wagon cook. They herd longhorn cattle, sing the state song of Kansas, and have lots of fun during their re-enactment. At the end of the story, they enjoyed a barn dance, celebrated the 150th birthday of Ellsworth, and Uncle Stubby took pictures and ‘selfies’. Children will love seeing the old west come alive with two dogs and a family of squirrels dressed in western attire, and using a small amount of cowboy slang. This delightful and funny book for children, targeted at ages 4-8, is easy to read and perfect for home or classroom. The story illustrates how cattle drives worked, the long dusty trails, life in the old west, and illustrations that produce pure imagination in children. Note: Actual gunfights and ‘adult type’ history were left out in this wild western history of Ellsworth, KS.