Fun in the beautiful green Flint Hills of Kansas will benefit four most worthwhile causes.
It’s the “Gator Rally” Wednesday through Saturday evenings, June 10-13, starting at the cattle pens right off the Kansas Turnpike just 17 miles south of Emporia.
“The Gator Rally is planned by PrairieLand Partners John Deere Emporia as a special benefit for the Big Brothers Big Sisters, Emporia Friends of the Zoo, Friends of the Emporia Animal Shelter and the Beau Arndt Foundation, which is a program that promotes youth in the outdoors,” announced Paul du Toit, manager of the Emporia PrairieLand location.
“Prairieland Partners Emporia believes in giving back to our community, and this is one way to do it. Our PrairieLand Partners staff has worked very hard planning this Gator Rally with all proceeds raised from the event going to these most worthwhile charities,” promised du Toit.
In clarification, the John Deere Gator is a family of small all-terrain utility vehicles produced by John Deere, typically featuring a box bed, in a variety of configurations ranging from two to six wheels. They are designed to serve on farms, worksites and ranches, rather than as a pure off-road vehicle.
A number of corporations are sponsoring the fundraiser fun-in-the-hills, but individual participants also pay a token fee.
“Drivers and riders will be enjoying the beautiful scenery of being out in the Kansas Flint Hills by being ‘off road’ traveling through pastures, creek beds and steep prairie hills. This experience gives people the opportunity to view the Flint hills in a new way. It definitely includes adventures while really enjoying God’s creation,” du Toit promised.
“The Flint Hills are so vast that people can get lost out there. This can best be described as the ‘ultimate night out’ in the Flint Hills,” he added.
While PrairieLand Partners John Deere will be providing most of the Gators, a number of satisfied Gator owners will bring their own for the Flint Hills tour.
“We will be leaving promptly at 5 o’clock from the cattle pens each evening,” du Toit said. “All of the Gators will be there ready and waiting. But, for those who bring their own Gators, it would be best to arrive beforehand to unload and be ready to head out with the group.
“Participants will be guided through the Flint Hills and end up at an area where volunteers will have supper ready for enjoyment and social gathering alongside a shaded creek. After supper, the sun will be setting, and participants will enjoy a scenic “sunset” drive through the pastures,” du Toit detailed.
Information is available from PrairieLand Partners John Deere Emporia at 888-753-0103.