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Garden City, KS
May 29 - June 1
The High Plains Roamers gathered in Garden City on May 30th – June 1 for the Beef Empire Days. We had four rigs show up, which isn’t too bad of a showing considering all the different directions our club has went this month! On Thursday evening members enjoyed supper at Jax’s Bar & Grill then later went to Baskin & Robbins. Friday the club visited the Sandsage Bison Range and Wildlife Area. Here we were taken out on the prairie to visit the oldest publicly owned bison herd in Kansas. At present there are 75 – 80 head. On this tour we also observed the many different and unique plants that grow on the Kansas Prairie. Out tour guide, Jamie has just graduated from high school and was very informative about the bison and prairie plants. After the bison tour we took a drive past the Sugar Beet Factory. It is now owned by Wheatland Electric. The factory closed in 1955. Friday afternoon we toured a cattle milking barn, hospital barn and feed shed. The group observed a calf being born and a “hoof trimming”. The milk produced at this dairy goes to Wichita for processing and then is sold through Hyland Dairy Products. There are 1500 head of cattle that are milked three times each day. This family-owned dairy has been in operation since 2003 and employs 19 people. Friday night the last of the group, the Haerich’s showed up.
Saturday we enjoyed a “chuckwagon breakfast” in Stevens Park which kicked off the 40th annual Beef Empire Days. We shopped, enjoyed the Beef Empire Days parade, partook in the chuckwagon beef cook-off, and generally participated in the events of the day.
Friday we went to a church service in the park. The United Methodist Church in Garden City hosts this service every Sunday in the park during the summer. With that, we packed up, said our goodbyes and headed home to get ready for the next camping adventure.
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Thursday, May 29
Arrive anytime after 9:00 a.m.. - Finney County Fairground - 501 S. 9th St.
Friday, May 30
Morning - Possibly tour an Ethonal Plant/Feed Yard or Visit Sandsage Bison Range and Wildlife Area,
Point of Rocks, Two Ghost Towns, and Sugar Beet Factory.
Afternoon - 2:00 p.m. - Tour Plymell Dairy
Evening - Eat out - See list of restaurants:
El Charro Adam’s Rib Bar - B - Que
Golden Dragon Applebees
Jade Buffet Peking Garden II
Lone Star Wheat Lands
Grain Bin Widow McGees
Jax Bar & Grill Golden Corral
Saturday, May 31,
6:30 - 9:30 a.m. Commerce Bank Chuckwagon Breakfast - Stevens Park
7:30 a.m. Hoof It To Health Road Run - Garden City Family YMCA
8:00 a.m. Beef Empire Days Tennis Tournament - Grimsley-Harmon Complex
8:30 a.m. Bikers for Beef Poker Run - Clarks Motorsports West
9:00 a.m. Horseshoe Tournament - Finnup Park Horse Shoe Pits
9:00 - 2:00 p.m. Buffalo Dunes 4 Person Golf Scramble - Buffalo Dunes Gold Course
10:30 a.m. Aquila Beef Empire Days Parade - Main Street
11:30 a.m. Chuckwagons in the Park - Stevens Park
Noon 3 on 3 Basketball Frenzy Tournamnent - Finnup Park Basketball Courts
5:30 p.m. Spaghetti Dinner - Bring a bread or salad & a dessert & eating service.
Evening Games and visiting
Sunday, June 1
8:00 a.m. Beef Empire Days Tennis Tournament
8:00 a.m. Breakfast - Everyone bring a finger food for breakfast and eating service
9:00 a.m. Church service
After Good by and safe trip home.
All Day Beef Empire Days Activities