Tourism coalition
heritage conference
The Flint Hills Tourism Coalition recently announced in a news release that it will hold its second heritage conference April 18 at the Rock Springs 4-H Center. The first conference was held in October at Cottonwood Falls. The second conference, organized by the Flint Hills Heritage Task Force, seeks to bring together residents of the Flint Hills to “discuss issues relating to the unique culture, history and landscape of the famed Kansas Flint Hills” and to “focus on the need to understand, preserve and share the story of the Flint Hills” said the release. Participation by farmers, ranchers, historians, teachers, members of the tourism industry, chamber of commerce members, elected officials and anyone else interested in the success of the Kansas Flint Hills region are encouraged to attend.
Speakers, who will focus on the role National Heritage areas have “played in promoting local stories around the country,” include Jim Hoy, noted author of Flint Hills cowboy stories and professor of English at Emporia State University; John Cosgrove, president of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas; Sue Pridemore, heritage area partnerships coordinator for the National Park Service Midwest regional office; Judy Billings, director of the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau and “an instrumental leader in the effort to establish the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area”; and Linda Craghead, director of the Flint Hills Tourism Coalition.
The cost of registration for the one-day conference is $45 each person, which includes morning and afternoon refreshments and lunch at the Rock Springs 4-H Center. Registration will be from 8:30 to 9 a.m. For more information or to download a registration form, see Flint Hills tourism at www.KansasFlintHills.travel or call Linda Craghead at (785) 765-2622 or toll free at 866-660-2622.