Locals compete in tall tales qualifier over weekend at TCHS museum
Contributed photo
Participants at Saturday’s Tall Tale Tryouts and Storytelling event gather for the inaugural qualifier in Tonganoxie. The state competition will be next April in Downs.The Tonganoxie Arts Council’s Tall Tale Tryouts and Storytelling event attracted some 60 audience members who heard tales told by several competitors Saturday at the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society Museum.
Those telling their tales were Perry Walters, McLouth; Bob Norris, Lawrence; Ray Morgan, Tonganoxie; Jason Platter, Wichita; Larry Brown, Columbia Mo.; Gary Kuntz, Gladstone, Mo.; Gary Bichelmeyer, Tonganoxie; and Cindi Lowe, Edwardsville.
Volunteer judges were Lisa Harkrader, children’s author; Kaye McIntyre, Kansas Public Radio host; Paul Strickland, national storyteller from Kentucky; and Jeri Lee and Glennys Doane, Downs Kansas Festival members.
In the end, judges selected Larry Brown as the champion for his tall tale, “Wings.” He advances to the finals at the Annual Kansas Storytelling Festival April 24-25, 2026, in Downs.
As laughter filled the barn walls at the Tonganoxie Historical Society, throughout the tall tale contest, audience members enjoyed desserts donated by members of the Tonganoxie Community along with dinner from 1866’s food truck. Audience members finished the night with an amazing and entertaining storytelling performance, by nationally known storyteller, Paul Strickland, who will be featured in the Downs Kansas Storytelling Festival in April 2027.