The Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC) will be 18 years old as an organization this October but we've already started celebrating.  On May 5, 2010, more than 375 guests attended the Katy Prairie Bash 2010- where the wild things are - to support the Katy Prairie Conservancy's first annual fundraising event.   Attired in their best prairie chic, party-goers gathered on the beautiful grounds of Astrid and Gene Van Dyke's bayou-side home in River Oaks for a fun-filled evening that included dinner, dancing amidst table "landscapes" generously donated by Thompson + Hanson.  FKM, now to next, donated their services to create a wonderful video and Peter Boyle Graphic Design did a fabulous job designing the invitation, program, and related print materials. 

This event honored two families who have shown an extraordinary commitment to keeping the Katy Prairie a flat out wonderful destination for wildlife and people who like the great outdoors. The event honored Dr. Mavis, Gaye and John, Ann and Tom, and Wendy and Mavis Kelsey; Stephanie and Brad and Joyce and Louis Tucker; and all the Kelsey and Tucker children and grandchildren.  The Kelsey family put a conservation easement on 478 acres of land they own in 1996, and the Tucker family placed an easement on 630 acres in 2008, thereby ensuring the conservation of these lands on the Katy Prairie for all time. 

The event was co-chaired by Cindi and Bob Blakely and the honorary co-chairs were Cornelia and Meredith Long.  Host Committee members were: Laurence and Bill Anderson, Marshall Ashmore, Carol and Les Ballard, Lucia and Louis Brandt, Nona and David Carmichael, Bettie and Rick Carrell, Margot and John Cater, Betty and Bill Conner, Dorothy and Sam Crocker, Lana and Chip Cureton, Nancy and Cletus Dodd, Clayton and Shel Erikson, Sidney and Ab Fay, Susan Garwood and George Peterkin, Cynthia and Ben Guill, Kay and David Hedges, Sarita and Bob Hixon, Jay Jones, Julie and Jim Kemper, Sherry and Jim KempnerI, sabel and Ransom Lummis, Lisa and Will Mathis, Susan and Jim McCuistion, Laurie and Reed Morian, Betty and Steve Newton, Betsy and Bob Phillips, Elisa and Cris Pye, Lennox and John Reed, Mike Stude, Dianne and Eliot Tucker, Mary and Roger Wallace, and Marion and Ben Wilcox.

It was truly a magical evening - the weather cooperated with a cool breeze, the setting was wondrous, and people were in a party mood, talking, visiting with old and new friends, and even dancing.  The event introduced city folk to KPC's efforts to protect this special place and raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for prairie conservation.  Many thanks to Cindi and Bob Blakely for their extraordinary leadership in making the event a great success and kudos to the Kelsey and Tucker families for their conservation spirit.

If you did not attend the 2010 bash, make sure that you are on our mailing list for the 2011 event.