Native American dances. Tractor show. Merchandise and food sales. Live music. An open museum. These were key ingredients in Geary’s Native 66 Festival held Oct 22 on the town’s Main Street.
It was a nice start for a first-time effort. Amanda (Amy) Wood, the lead planner, hopes to expand events next year. She had 15 volunteers and six financial donors; with more, she can make expansion a reality.
Where did proceeds from vendor fees, festival t-shirts and financial donations go? The money will help fund three projects for the Canadian Rivers Museum. Roger Margerum, a volunteer, said priorities include roof repair, a new photography display and renovating a room to house a 1960s exhibit. What’s shown matters because it’s one of the only operating museums in Blaine County.
Mid-morning, four Cheyenne & Arapaho Indians demonstrated traditional dances for the crowd: Friendship, Snake, Buffalo, Fancy, and others. Children and adults joined in. Dwight Whitebuffalo, who is Cheyenne-Lakota, wowed the crowd with two Men’s Fancy Dances. Afterwards, he explained the Indian perspective on nature: “Everything natural has a spirit: water, birds, trees.”
Across the street, owners of 15 old tractors (1936 to 1958) waited on awards. Jim Strack from Watonga smiled as his 1958 John Deere 720 won two of the five: Best Restoration and Best of Show. At age 81, he still farms winter wheat, alfalfa, and owns 75 cattle. “A person needs to stay busy and active,” he remarked.
Fifteen merchandise and food vendors showed off their products. They included United Healthcare (Cashion), Cinnamon Glazed Nuts (Geary) and Scentsy (Chickasaw). Local storefronts Angel’s Attic, Shear Bliss Hair Salon and the Adb Photography Studio and Oopsie Daisy Boutique opened for customers too.
The Bank of Western Oklahoma, The First Christian Church of Geary, Cherokee Travel Plaza, Sweet Tea Creation and Oklahoma’s Arts Council provided donations. Anna Putman, a 49-year employee of The Bank of Western Oklahoma, said, “We want to support the community.' Devin Pratt, a board member of the First Christian Church, echoed that. “We are trying to help promote any activities to make the town better and get our community together.”
Mayor Bobby Allen explained the festival’s themes. “Cheyenne and Arapaho have a lot of history… we try to promote that. Probably 40 percent of Geary is Native American.” He said Route 66 goes through town, so it was natural to combine the two.
Wood provided a mid-day update. “We had a pretty decent turnout,” she stated. “I really appreciate everyone coming out. We hope to make it better and better.” She acknowledged big help from Jim Gregerson, Caitlin Garrett and Allen. Wood estimated 350 people came to the festival.