Take Me To Post Comment Form A friend in Salina invited several of us to a tea party Saturday afternoon. I didn’t even play tea party with dolls when I was young — so this was an experience. Perhaps the biggest challenge was finding the proper dress. Our hostess asked that we not wear denim. Of course, part of the conversation at the tea party was about clothes — what we used to wear and what we wear now. To our credit, only one of us showed up in denim. But her T-shirt sparkled with rhinestones, so we gave her a pass. Our hostess served tiny egg salad sandwiches with the crusts cut off, chocolates, pastries and about a half-dozen kinds of tea. It was a pleasant way to spend a hot Saturday afternoon. Only one problem: I can produce a newspaper, but cannot follow directions on how to fold a tea napkin. So much for my future as another Emily Post. Several events are planned this month in Ellsworth. Here’s a sampling: The Ellsworth Area Arts Council is sponsoring its first writing contest, “Writers of the Prairie.” Cash prizes will be awarded. Age divisions will be: adult — 18 and older — and youth — 17 and younger. Youth must submit their ages. Categories are short stories and poetry with no requirement on subject matter. Authors may enter as many times as they wish by paying a $3-per-entry fee. Mail the entries to the EAAC Writing Contest, 223 N. Douglas Ave., Ellsworth, Ks. 67439. Entries must be postmarked by Sept. 15, 2011. Further rules, entry forms and other information are available at eaac.writingcontest@gmail.com or by calling (785) 472-5658 between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or call (785) 472-5682 and leave a message. Co-sponsors of “Writers of the Prairie” are the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter and the Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation. The cattle are coming — again. As part of the state’s 150th birthday celebration, a group of cowboys will herd 400 head of longhorns from southern Kansas to Ellsworth, the End of the Trail. The cattle and their drovers will move north on Douglas Avenue at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. Many activities are planned by the Ellsworth-Kanopolis Chamber of Commerce and the National Drovers Hall of Fame Association in conjunction with the cattle drive. The association plans a western concert at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Performers will be Judy Coder, the Prairie Rose Wranglers and Barry Ward with Geff Dawson as master of ceremonies. Tickets will be available this week at the Ellsworth-Kanopolis Chamber of Commerce, Citizens State Bank & Trust Co., Ellsworth Steakhouse and the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter. Advance tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for children, age 12 and younger. Adult tickets will be $15 at the door. The Happy 150th Birthday Kansas! Cake Decorating Contest will be at the Ellsworth Area Arts Council gallery, 223 N. Douglas Ave. It is open to youth in two categories: 9-12 years old and 13-18 years old. The adult category will include anyone older than 18 years. First place winners will be chosen by a panel of three judges with the winners receiving gift certificates from the Ellsworth-Kanopolis Chamber of Commerce. Cakes will be judged on overall appearance, neatness and originality using the theme “Happy 150th Birthday, Kansas!” Voting for a People’s Choice Award will take place between 12:30 and 4 p.m. Saturday. Winners will be announced after 4 p.m. Rules are available at the arts council gallery, which is open from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Cakes must be delivered to the gallery by between 6 and 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23. The cakes will be sold at silent auction during the western concert with proceeds going to the National Drovers Hall of Fame Association and its renovation of downtown Ellsworth’s signature Insurance Building. The I-R will have extensive coverage of the cattle drive. In addition, longtime rancher and western historian Jim Gray plans daily updates of the event on this website. He will be on the drive, from its start south of the Kansas-Oklahoma border to Ellsworth.