Pairie State Park Jubilee, Missouri

September 27, 2008


Prairie State Park Jubilee is held on even years. We were lucky to catch it this year! A state park ranger back at Ozark Lake told us that the park had bison and that brought us driving this direction even though we usually avoid most large crowd events. The park consists of 3,964 acres of tall-grass prairie landscape, the largest in Missouri. The landscape was filled with grasses and wildflowers. When we arrived we went straight for the hayride out to see the bison. We got pretty close; we could hear them snort and chomp on the grasses. A ranger in an ATV kept them happy feeding them food pellets. There were about a dozen with a few young ones. Bison are fasinating creatures, so big and yet very gentle.

From there we peeked inside the visitor center where there is a stuffed bison that you can stand right next to. He seemed small after being out with the real ones. The Living History Loop, part of the Jubilee, had a covered wagon, one-tent school, country doctor, early settler, trappers with tepee and Osage Indian lodge. There were crafts: Ranger Diane Tucker taught us how to make wound medallions, we learned about edible plants (Did you know you can bake Queen Ann’s Lace seeds into any cake or cookie? They are good eating.) and made a tea bag of dried leadplant, clover and mint with Carol and Linda, and the pull bread came fresh from the Dutch ovens was good.

In the background all day was live music. Under the big tents were exhibits and food. Lunch was pulled bison with potato salad and fresh homemade pie for desert; we went with the desert.

John Gulick, from the Barton County Chamber of Commerce chatted with us a bit picking our brains and sharing information. There is a lot of stuff around here! Wyatt Earp started his law enforcement career as Lamar’s first Constable in 1870. He married a local girl, Urilla Sutherland. Her burial site is located in the Howell county cemetery. Here is one for all you horse people out there: Heartland Horseshoeing Academy, started in 1995, is a hands on training ranch. Give them a call if your in the area; Chris and Kelly Gregory love to show off their skills. (417-682-6896).

We stopped at the picnic area and made dinner then headed north to Nevada, pronounced "na vae da" as the sun set.









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