Kansas Acoustic Arts Association

So, we all have events we attend, see lots of folks, have fun and then go home! But seldom does a thought cross our minds regarding what or who made it all possible. It’s time we take a look at the Walnut Valley Festival and see what goes on behind the strings.

Everyone knows that Mr. Bob Redford is the man with the plan and we thank him tremendously for the foresight and vision to make this festival what it is today. Mr. Redford leads a group of very industrious folks who put heart and soul into making sure each year’s event is better than the previous years. It is this kind of dedication that has led to the success of the Walnut Valley Association.

Did you know that it takes about 1600 folks (including vendors), working thousands of combined hours to make sure we all have a wonderful and safe time!?! A recent phone visit with Robyn Voss, Communications Officer WVA, revealed that there are 6 folks who work year round at the office and about 500 people who work directly for the WVA before, during, and after the festival, many behind the scenes and some where you are sure to remember seeing them. So let’s take a look at some of those folks…

Craft Director Paulette Rush is one of those aforementioned “industrious folks,” and wears many different hats in her service to the WVA. During the festival you can most often find her under the grandstand at the craft information booth.

Martha Cole – Supplies Coordinator (which really means – feisty gal who keeps everyone on their toes). She’s the one you always see zipping around in a golf cart seeing to it that everyone has what they need to get the job done.

When Rex Flottman isn’t dabbling around in photography or playing guitar with the Walnut River String Band you will find him performing the duties of Publicity Director and Press/ Media Liaison for WVA.

By far the hardest working guy at the festival is Grounds Coordinator Rick Myers (AKA Mr. Mayor). In early August, he is assembling crew chiefs (Jerry, Larry, Harry, Terry, Jerry and Ron) and laying out plans for the assembling of a festival. These guys are busy helping out whenever they can until way after the festival is over and all signs of the festival are put away until next year. You’ll know Rick Myers when you see him, even when you find him emptying the trash dumpsters at 3 AM.

According to Crew Chief Larry Hittle, whose responsibility it is to oversee the assembly of Stage One, it takes 25-30 hard workers the better part of 12 hours to unload and assemble the stage. There are three other crews that build the other stages. Most of the “hard workers” are folks just giving a few hours of brow sweat in exchange for a ticket. It also brings a feeling of satisfaction to give a little of yourself back to that which gives us all a “comin’ home” kinda feeling in our hearts!

This is but a handful of the hard working folks that keep the wheels turning for the WVA and all of us.

Before all the campfire smell fades away from your guitar case and before the final reports are in these folks are all already thinking about next year and the to do lists are starting to take shape – behind the strings…