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Pioneer Harvest Fiesta: It's about the music, too
Music has traditionally been a part of the annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta for several years and for the last six or seven years, Floyd Feezell has been there.
Feezell, a Fort Scott resident, will be among several other musicians who plan to perform as part of the 57th annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta this weekend at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. Music is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday in the entertainment tent.
Feezell said he enjoys singing folk tunes, "cowboy music" and old hymns. He has been friends with local musician Ralph Carlson, who organizes the music for the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, since they were kids. The two got together even later in life and started sharing their love of music.
"It's nice to have the talent," Carlson said. "He really has a nice voice."
Feezell said performing in front of people is not something he's been accustomed to his whole life. He was 39 years old the first time he sang publically in church.
"I had sung all my life - just never in public," he said.
Now Feezell sings at churches and has been a regular performer in the Friday Night Concert Series offered each Friday at the Heritage Park Pavilion in downtown Fort Scott. Carlson said Feezell is also part of the team that helps put together the Friday night concerts.
"Now I don't do it unless I'm asked," he said. "I'm not someone who just says 'I'll sing for you.' But I do the best I can, and I love to do it."
Feezell said he enjoys singing as it gives him a chance to let some of his creativity show. He also likes trying to understand music and lyrics.
"I like the songs, music and lyrics that touch me," he said. "It's a fundamental, basic thing ... it's really enjoyable. It's really gratifying when the music touches somebody."
Feezell said spiritual tunes such as gospel and hymns "really resonate with folks."
Carlson said Feezell's patriotic music also has "so much punch."
Feezell's favorite song, which Carlson said may be his signature song, is the old Irish ballad, "Danny Boy." Carlson said the folk song is "timeless." While many people may have different interpretations of the true meaning of the song, Feezell said he has a certain image in his head whenever he sings the song.
"I think of a father speaking to a son," he said. "The bagpipes are calling all the young men to go to war. The fear, worry, the love, the promise to be here, and be here even in the hereafter; they're all in the lyrics of that song if you listen."
Each time he sings, Feezell said he tries to "see the scenes appropriate for that song."
Other performers at the entertainment tent this weekend will include Don and Mim Carlson, Gary Dixon and Carlene Smith, Marilyn Adcock and friends, David Prickett, and Mike Lundeen. Carlson said there will also be some "make up jam sessions in between" scheduled performances.
Carlson said he has organized the entertainment for the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta for the last six years. He said he also helped with the music for the event several times in the early 1970s. He said the music portion of the fiesta has "become a tradition."
"We're hoping to expand it," he said. "We're hoping for it to be partially a folk and traditional music festival as well as the Pioneer Harvest equipment."
Carlson said organizers plan to put up a 20-foot-by-40-foot tent on Thursday, inside of which all of the music will be performed. Carlson said music is a "natural element" of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta. Carlson said the musical entertainment is scheduled to take place, rain or shine.
"We're in a tent, so we're going to go," he said. "If it rains, we might get a bigger crowd."
The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta kicks off with a parade of antique, classic farm implements, steam and gas engines, and tractors at 6 p.m. Thursday. Events and activities will continue through Sunday at the fairgrounds.