It’s fundraising season again, and I wanted to let you know that the Mount Mitchell Prairie Guards will be participating in both the Alma Community Foundation’s Match Day on August 26th and the Wamego Community Foundation Match Day on October 2nd.

Dear Prairie Guards and Friends of the Mount Mitchell Heritage Prairie Park, Greetings from the Tallgrass Prairie!

I want to report that our 20th Anniversary Celebration and dedication of the new Park entrance on June 21st was a great success. 100 people, including Mitchell family members, dignitaries, volunteers, donors, and local residents braved the heat and wind to celebrate the Prairie Guards’ accomplishments of the last 20 years.

Wildflower walks, tours of the Mitchell log cabin and a ribbon cutting were features of the day. In the weeks before the event a new Park entrance sign was installed at Mount Mitchell Road, as was additional interpretive and directional signage within the Park.

Local media coverage of the event was extensive. This was a milestone, and we want to thank everyone who has contributed time, money and resources over the years. You should be proud of the Park you have created.
It’s fundraising season again and I wanted to let you know that the Mount Mitchell Prairie Guards will be participating in both the Alma Community Foundation’s Match Day on August 26th and the Wamego Community Foundation Match Day on October 2nd.

We will not be participating in the Emporia Community Foundation’s Match Day this year. We are an all-volunteer organization and due to the time and travel required to participate it wasn’t feasible this year. We hope that those who contributed in the past to the ECF’s Match Day will participate in the Alma or Wamego Match Day events.

Needed funds raised this year will support the Park’s yearly operating expenses, trail improvements, and the continued development of visitor amenities and educational resources.

Here are the ways to donate during the Second Annual Alma Match Day where we could secure $5,000 in matching funds. All donations are fully tax deductible.

• Alma Area Foundation Match Day August 26, 2025
• Ways to give to the Mount Mitchell Prairie Guards

Your donation will support the maintenance and development of the Mount Mitchell Heritage Prairie Park and will receive a 50% match on your gift.

Mail a check TODAY to the Alma Area Foundation at P.O. Box 192, Alma, KS 66401

Check must accompany the donation form on this page. Just click on the form to download. Must be postmarked on or before August 26, 2025.

Donate by Donor Advised Fund: Fill out the Match Day Donation Form with your donation preference. Bring in, mail, or email the completed match day donation form to the Alma Area Foundation.

A Gift of Grain donation: Must be arranged prior to Match Day. A gift of grain can be utilized for Match Day giving, but planning ahead is important for the grain producer, grain elevator, and the community foundation.

Donate from an investment account: Must be arranged through your professional advisor prior to Match Day. Donors can use an IRA or other assets such as a 401(k), Keogh, or 403 (b) to make Alma Area Foundation Match Day donations. Your personal tax advisor can help you make this transition prior to August 26, 2025.

Donate by Stock: Must be completed at least one week prior to Match Day. Call the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation office for transfer instructions for your brokerage firm.

Give at the Live Event: at the Alma Community Center from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Come visit with Prairie Guards’ volunteers and board members.

Give Online at: www.ALMAMATCHDAY.com Gifts can be made online from 12:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 26 until 11:59 p.m. that evening.

Contact Marla or Sally at the GMCF office at 785-587-8995 with any questions you may have.

The attached 2025 “Alma Match Day Donation Form” must be submitted for all types of donations.

Thank you for your support of the Mount Mitchell Prairie Guards and our work at Mount Mitchell

For the Board of the Mount Mitchell Prairie Guards: John Hund, Christy Crenshaw, Bruce Waugh, Kathryn Mitchell Buster, Dr. Brian Peterson, Christian Bishop, Michelle Crisler, and Susan Adams
Michael Stubbs, President

The Mount Mitchell Prairie Guards wish to invite you to a celebration on June 21st, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the formation of our group and the completion of our 2019 Education Expansion Project.

With your help, the Project has accomplished the following:

• Expanded the Park from 45 to 164 acres by completing the purchase of 125 acres of the former Mitchell farm adjoining the Park on the north.
• The construction of a new main entrance and trailhead at 29000 Mount Mitchell Road.
• The construction of an interpretive kiosk that tells the many fascinating stories associated with the site and its prairie.
• The installation of visitor amenities, including a drinking fountain for people and pets, electricity for events, restroom facilities, an ADA trail to the ruts of the Topeka/Fort Riley Road, trail signage, and historical and prairie ecosystem interpretive signage.
• Guided wildflower walks and tours of the Mitchell log cabin across the road from the Park will be given from 9 am until noon. The cabin was a station on the westernmost branch of the Underground Railroad. Escaping slaves were given shelter there on their journey to freedom in Canada.

20th Anniversary Mitchell Farm and Prairie Celebration

At 11 am, descendants of William Izott Mitchell, who envisioned the Park in 1953 and donated the original acreage, will be present at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in a tent located at the bus turnaround in the new parking area. Golf carts will be available to ferry visitors from their cars to the tent.

The Board of the Prairie Guards wish to thank all of the individuals, foundations, and supporters whose contributions have made the Park the success it is today. Special thanks to our “Acre-Makers” and the family foundations who made the purchase of additional acreage and infrastructure development possible.

Major contributions from foundations include the Miller Hammond Charitable Fund, HHM Charitable Fund, Sunderland Foundation, Dwane and Velma Wallace Foundation, Carsey Living Trust, Lewis H. Humphreys Charitable Trust, Samuel George Terbovich Fund, Brian & Judith Litle Charitable Trust, Michael & Ceil Pulitzer Trust, Cohen Charitable Trust, Ward & Brenda Morgan, Francis Family Foundation, Alma Area Foundation, Hughes Charitable Fund, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, and the Wamego Historical Society. Signage listing Acre-Makers and Major Contributors will be installed near the new kiosk, but not in time for the June 21st celebration.

Sincerely, Michael Stubbs for the board of the Prairie Guards, Christy Crenshaw, Bruce Waugh, Michelle Crisler, John Hund, Kathryn Mitchell Buster, Christian Bishop, Brian Peterson, and Susan Adams.