For a few great days we joined the Royal Dutch Symphonic Band on their US tour through Missouri. Kate did the event planning for the 'finale' event of the "Harvest Ball" and barn dance, there we performed for several hundred musicians and host family members. Other activities the night of October 27. 2000 were popcorn and hot cider, bobbing for apples, and the famous Cow Chip Throwing Contest! It was rounded out with pumpkin carving, and square dance demonstrations and 'lessons'. Here we offer a photo album of some of the day's activities. If you have any more to add, please email them to Chris Kuehnel, webmaster.
There are lots of photos on this page, please be patient while it continues to load....... or go to the article that appeared in the local paper about the event.
 |
 |
 |
| Rebecca works at high speed helping with prep and setup. Check out that kewl dance floor! | Band member Mike Mathes perfects his technique before the cow chip throwing contest. | Rachel, Ann, and Debbie prepare two 'sample' jack'o'lanterns for the Dutch team, most had never carved a pumpkin! |
 |
 |
 |
| Jammin' a bit in Woodies garage Thursday evening. | ||
 |
 |
 |
|
We really enjoyed playing for the seniors Friday noontime. |
Nick helps with setup at the barn. |
|
 |
 |
|
| The "Swinging Rabbits" entertained Friday and Saturday evenings, they area sub-group of the KBH that does great Dixieland music. | ||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Many visitors had a chance to carve their first jack-o-lanterns. | ||
 |
 |
 |
| Ann and Nick were great teachers in carving technique and Halloween fun!! | ||
 |
 |
|
| "Scoop" Kauffman works to teach the proper rules, etiquette and technique for the Cow Chip Throwing Competition. | ||
 |
 |
 |
|
On-lookers cheer their favorite Chip Tossing entrants. |
What a look! |
|
 |
 |
|
| Turkey calling demonstration at its finest | Kauffman gets to congratulate the lucky winners in the cow chip throwing event! | |
 |
 |
 |
| The jumping mule readies itself, this gal won the MO State Fair event a few years ago with a 70 inch jump! | ||
 |
||
| Woodie's great bonfire was a fun time for sing-a-long and some-mores. Will we ever know what those loud laughing Dutch songs translated to? | ||
Scroll down to review an article about our trip.
Check out more KBH pictures at our special page for them.
Go to Top of Page.
Following is an article written by Mike Mathes and provided Courtesy of Kiel Tri-County Record, Kiel, WI
About 100 members of a touring Dutch Symphony orchestra and their host families were treated to an old-fashioned barn dance in Missouri this past weekend, thanks to the help of an Eastern Wisconsin folk/bluegrass band.
Members of the Red Star Express (based out of Newton) and their families traveled to Princeton, Missouri to offer the Dutch visitors a taste of American culture, historical-style.
Friday's barn dance was performed for 100 members of the Royal Dutch Symphonic Band, known in their native language as the Koninklijke Biltse Harmonie (KBH). For the final social event of their weeklong tour of Missouri, they were entertained at Mercer County's largest barn, located just north of Princeton, a county-seat community of about 1,000 people.
The Dutch band spent a week staying with host families throughout Missouri, while performing concerts in a wide range of communities. Their trip to the US was part of a year-long celebration of their 100th anniversary.
Kathy Pearce, Cleveland, a member of the Red Star Express served as the coordinator for the event, thanks to her connections with University of Wisconsin meat science professor Dr. Robert Kaufmann. Kaufmann coordinated this tour of the KBH, as well as a similar tour in Wisconsin in 1992. His family owns the farm in Princeton, MO, where the barn dance was held. Pearce studied under Kaufmann at UW-Madison.
At Friday's barn dance, the music of the Red Star Express served as the entertainment, complete with square dance calling and a guest accordion player. The barn dance also offered a bonfire, cow chip throwing, and demonstrations ranging from turkey calling to jumping mules.
While in Princeton, members of the Red Star Express also performed a public concert at the Princeton Senior Center, sharing their mix of tunes for senior citizens and other guests of the center.
Members of the Red Star Express on the tour included Pearce, Jerry Jost, Eldon Klein, Chris Jost, Mike Mathes and Chris Kuehnel. Ab van Essenberg, a member of the KBH, accompanied the Red Star Express with his banjo on several tunes.
Family members who served in a support capacity at the barn dance included Debbie and Nick Jost, Leone Klein and Ann and Rachel Mathes.
The Red Star Express, which performs for local historical functions, arts fairs, community events and other invitation requests, offers old-time music, including folk, bluegrass and some homespun tunes. In 1998, the band played for the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Wagon Train Tour. They have performed recently in the Kiel City Park summer concert series and at the Sheboygan County Historical Society's summer rendezvous. The band also plays for area nursing homes.
For more information about the band or its Missouri tour, you can check out their homepage at www.redstarexpress.homepage.com. For more information about local appearances, the public is welcome to call Pearce at 693-3141, Jerry Jost at 693-8311,or Mike Mathes at 894-2828.