Set against the backdrop of a bright sunny, blue sky, the Augusta Historical Society held their annual Spring Tea fundraiser on Friday, May 6th and Saturday, May 7th inside the historic C.N. James cabin.
C.N. James Cabin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This was the first time the event has been held since the pandemic began in 2020.
Tables were decorated by volunteers with their own personal china, linens and handkerchiefs to accompany the theme of “Grandmother’s Handkerchief.”
Tables were decorated in the theme: Grandmothers’ Handkerchief.
The guests were dressed in florals and many wore hats for the festive occasion dined on finger sandwiches, and an array of desserts along with tea from the Spice Merchant.
Sierra Marie Bonn, Miss Butler County, welcomed guests and visited with them during the tea on Saturday.
“We’ve been doing this for 25 years and we’re so excited to be back again,” said Priscilla Templin, Executive Director of the Augusta Historical Society and Museum.
Priscilla Templin, Executive Director of the Augusta Historical Society, right, with Miss Butler County Sierra Marie Bonn.
The Haas family has been attending the tea party for 20 years and was glad for the event to return.
Chris Haas, left, enjoyed tea with her family. Pictured right is Ashley Haas.
“We first came when my daughters were 4 and 6,” said Chris Haas, mother to Abby, 24 and Ashley, 26.
They, along with Chris’ mother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece have made the tea party an annual girls’ day ever since.
Funds raised through the Spring Tea will contribute to the overall goal of $40,000 needed to restore the C.N. James Cabin.
C.N. James Cabin estoration fundraising goal is $40,000
The cabin was built in 1868 by Chester (C.N.) James and his wife Augusta. The cabin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 and is one of only two log cabins on its original site in the State of Kansas. It is the oldest building in Augusta and one of the oldest landmarks in Butler County.
“There she is,” in the iconic words immortalized by Bert Parks, “the dream of a million girls who are more than pretty.”
From left to right: Augusta’s Teen Candidate Emmie Johnston, Miss Augusta 2022 Anna Holman, Miss Kansas 2021 Taylor Clark, Miss Butler County 2022 Sierra Marie Bonn, Butler County’s Teen Candidate Grace Isch.
Sierra Marie Bonn was crowned Miss Butler County and Anna Holman was crowned Miss Augusta during the annual Miss Augusta/Miss Butler County Scholarship Competition held at Augusta High School on Saturday, October 2, 2021.
Bonn, a resident of Butler County, an El Dorado High School alum and Miss El Dorado 2021. She served the community as Miss Augusta 2019.
.Miss Butler County 2020-21 Allie Gier crowns her successor Miss Butler County 2022 Sierra Marie Bonn. Gier served two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
She is a graduate of Wichita State University with an engineering technology degree. Bonn advocates for STEAM education through her SII “Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead!” STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
“‘Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead!’ was founded to empower individuals of all ages to develop the critical thinking and collaboration skills needed to advance in their personal and professional lives,” said Bonn. “Additionally, the program works to resolve the inequity and underrepresentation in STEAM fields.”
Holman is a resident of Columbus, Kansas and she was Miss Augusta’s Outstanding Teen 2019. She is a Junior at Pittsburg State University and her educational focus is exercise science with a pre-physical therapy emphasis. She advocates for physical fitness and inclusion for people with disabilities through her social impact initiative, “Fitness for All.”
Six young women competed for the titles of Miss Augusta and Miss Butler County and the scholarship dollars that accompany those titles. The candidates were Maddie Livingston, Tyler Pollard, Payton Keller, Katie Brooks, Anna Holman and Sierra Marie Bonn.
“Both Sierra and Anna will receive a wonderful scholarship and wardrobe assistance for the Miss Kansas Competition in June 2022,” said Miss Augusta/Miss Butler County Executive Director Larry Strong.
Bonn won an additional $100 scholarship as the overall interview winner. The scholarships can be paid directly to the institution they are attending or towards student loan payments.
The phases of competition include a private interview with judges, a Social Impact Initiative (SII) pitch and on-stage question, talent performance and red carpet wear.
Augusta’s Teen Candidate Emmie Johnston, left, and Butler County’s Teen Candidate Grace Isch, right.
Two Miss Kansas’ Outstanding Teen (MKSOTeen) Candidates, Emmie Johnston and Grace Isch, made their first official appearance as well. Jonhston will represent Augusta and Isch will represent Butler County at the MKSOTeen Competition March 25-27, 2022 in Pratt, Kansas.
The Miss Augusta/Miss Butler County Scholarship Competition is a local competition within the Miss America Organization and Strong has been involved with the organization for 47 years.
Larry Strong, center, with Miss Butler County Sierra Marie Bonn, left, and Miss Augusta Anna Holman, right.
“The first Miss Butler County Scholarship Pageant was held on September 3, 1975,” said Strong.
“In 2006, the Miss Augusta title was part of the White Eagle Festival,” said Strong. “In 2008, both the Miss Augusta and Miss Butler County titles merged to become an official local of the Miss Kansas Organization, Inc.”
Throughout his many years of involvement, Strong has a successful track record of helping young women with their personal and professional development.
As a volunteer, he works to fulfill the mission of the Miss America and Miss Kansas Organizations, to “prepare great women for the world and prepare the world for great women.”
This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the Miss America Organization. The Miss America Organization is a nationally recognized non-profit and serves as one of the largest providers of scholarship assistance to young women in the world.
Since 2010, Strong estimates that the Miss Augusta/Miss Butler County Organization has awarded over $35,000 in scholarships.
Strong said 6 women from the organization that have gone on to become Miss Kansas. They are Heather Lynn Clark, Michelle Walthers, Emily Deaver, Lauren Werhan, Hannah Wagner and the current Miss Kansas, Taylor Clark.
“Taylor was Miss Butler County’s Outstanding Teen 2017 and went on to win Miss Kansas’ Outstanding Teen 2017,” said Strong. “Taylor was Miss Augusta 2020 and she is the first teen titleholder to also become Miss Kansas.”
Additionally, he is proud of the many girls from Miss Augusta/Miss Butler County who have gone on to place in the Top 5 and Top Ten, as well as the numerous preliminary winners.
Bonn and Holman will both go on to compete at the state-level, in the Miss Kansas Scholarship Competition in June 2022. To learn more about the Miss Kansas and MKSOTeen programs, visit MissKansas.org
It’s sunflower season and thanks to Diana Burress and her husband Walter, who plants these beautiful flowers each year and opens their field to the public for free, many family photos and senior portraits will be taken during the 10 day window that the flowers are in bloom.
Diana Burress points to her favorite sunflower on the silo.
But this year sunflower lovers have a new photo backdrop to enjoy. Last year the Burress’ decided to hire someone to paint an old forty foot silo on their property.
Burress used a scaffold from Kerry Unrein Painting and Signs in Augusta, in order to paint the forty foot silo.
“My husband wanted to see sunflowers from the front porch of our house so he put out a call for painters. While we had many people interested in the project, they wanted to charge a lot of money,” said Burress.
“We couldn’t afford to do it,” she said, “so I thought I can do this’ and voila.”
Burress doesn’t claim to be an artist but the silo says otherwise. Above is the first sunflower she painted.
Burress began painting the silo as soon as sunflower season was over last year and it took her from mid September until the end of October to complete.
“My kids call me the crazy sunflower lady,” said Burress. “I love sunflowers. They are my favorite flower and it is also the state flower,” said Burress, a Realtor located in Augusta, Kansas.
“Over 15 years ago my husband planted a few sunflowers around the house for me to enjoy and I would invite my clients and their families to come and take pictures. “
“After a few years, he started planting out in this field and more people started coming, just by word-of-mouth,” she said.
Burress keeps her clients and the public informed when the field is in bloom through her Facebook page “Diana Burress – B Realty Realtor/Broker.”
“They are almost ready,” said Burress. “I think by [Labor Day Weekend] the field should be in bloom.”
“They are only good for about 10-14 days. By day 10 they start to look raggedy,” she said.
The sunflower field, located Southwest of Augusta off of Thunder Road and 115th Terrace, is free and open to the public.
“This year we have a couple of different things going on as well,” said Burress. “ We will have signs with QR codes that will link you to my site so you can post your pictures on there. We love to share the pictures so we encourage people to do that.”
“We also have a QR that will link you to the Marketplace 67010,” she said. “I have some memorabilia there. Some t-shirts, postcards, and sunflower seeds for birds will be for sale.”
“Last year Walter planted 143 acres of sunflowers,” said Burress. “They are the black oil sunflower seeds for bird feed. The seeds will also be available at Schneider Feed, Lawn & Supply.”
“We want everyone to come on out to the field next weekend,” she said. “We don’t charge people to come and take photos,” said Burress “it’s a goodwill gesture.”
Largest olive oil and vinegar bar in South Central Kansas
Tonya Scott, owner of Marketplace 67010 along with husband Shane, are working to develop downtown Augusta and the Red Brick District as a travel destination in Kansas.
While the store is owned and operated by Scott, many of the items are created by local artisans and sold on consignment.
Marketplace 67010 owner Tonya Scott sells many gift items made by local artisans.
“We have men and women’s clothing, home decor, jewelry, hard to find gifts, flowers, fresh fudge and so much more,” said Scott.
There are many unique and hard to find gifts at Marketplace 67010.
The newly opened retail store, located at 601 State Street in Augusta, is hosting a grand opening showcase and ribbon cutting gala on Thursday, August 5th from 5-9 p.m. and the community is invited to help them celebrate.
he public is invited to the Grand Opening Showcase and RIbbon Cutting Gala to be held on Thursday, August 5th from 5-9 p.m.
“The evening is a one of a kind shopping experience featuring the largest olive oil and balsamic vinegar bar in South Central Kansas,” said Scott.
The store boasts the largest Olive Oil and Vinegar Bar in South Central Kansas.
The come and go reception will offer hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar and free samples of the many food items sold in the store.. Bella Dolce String Quartet will be providing the musical entertainment.
Scott and her husband Shane are the owners of World Famous Sugar Shane’s Cafe and The Mustard Seed, both of which are also located in the Red Brick District at 5th and State Street.
Fudge is made and packaged fresh by Divine Sweets owners Robert and Linda Hickman. Pictured here is proud Navy Veteran Robert Hickman.
It’s sunflower season and thanks to Diana Burress and her husband Walter, who plants these beautiful flowers each year and opens their field to the public for free, many family photos and senior portraits will be taken during the 10 day window that the flowers are in bloom.
Diana Burress, B Realty of Augusta, provided this sunflower field to the public free of charge each year.
“I love sunflowers,” said Burress. “Many years ago my husband planted a few sunflowers around the house for me to enjoy and I would invite my clients and their families to come and take pictures. “
Burress is a Realtor located in Augusta, Kansas.
“After a few years, he started planting out in this field and more people started coming, just by word-of-mouth,” she said.
Burress keeps her clients and the public informed when the field is in bloom through her Facebook page “Diana Burress – B Realty Realtor/Broker”
Sierra Marie Bonn, Miss Southwest, with Diana Burress. Bonn first learned of the sunflower field when she represented the community as Miss Augusta 2019.
Their sunflower field is located Southwest of Augusta off Thunder Road and 115th Terrace and is free and open to the public.
“We don’t charge people to come and take photos,” said Burress “otherwise, it would be like every other sunflower field and we aren’t like everybody else.”
Deanna Bonn 
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