Submitted to Sumner Newscow — On Monday, May 20th, at the Memorial Auditorium, 208 N. Washington, Wellington, at 6:30 p.m., the Sumner County Historical and Genealogical Society hosts speaker Jim Bales, Vice President of the Chisholm Trail Museum Board, who will present the program “The Very First Wheat Festival”

Bales said that the first Wheat Festival was held in September of 1900, and Bales will bring facts and photos, and talk about the early events held, events such as wheat and corn judging contests, entertainment exhibits, and the very popular Austrian quartet, “the Tyrolean Singers,” whose skills included yodeling.

Bales said that according to his research, the most popular event that year was the Tyrolean Singers.

“But,” Bales added, “it was held at a beer garden….”

Bales said that the very first Wheat Festival featured also featured a Ferris wheel and another very popular event was the Coronation of the Wheat Queen.

Bales said that he became interested in volunteering at the museum after his wife volunteered, and added that he helps wherever needed at the museum, whether fixing the building, cleaning up and refurbishing, putting together exhibits, or digitizing documents.

“I do really like history,” Bales said, “And I do a lot of genealogy work on my own.”

There will be no evening meal prior to the program. For questions or bad weather cancellation information, contact President Jane Moore at 620-447-3266, or Vice President Sherry Kline at 620-326-3401.