Grainfield Community Development Committee

03/04/2025

Grainfield’s Website is Live!

One of GCDC’s big 2024 projects is finally launching in 2025, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. Creating grainfieldks.com was such a fun experience—bringing together everything we love about our small town and putting it out there for the world to see.

The website is packed with community resources, local business listings, events, organizations, parks, real estate, and a glimpse into our history and daily life. Whether you live here, grew up here, or are just passing through, there’s something for everyone.

We’re still adding updates, so be sure to check back often. If you’d like to be part of the site, we’d love to include you! Whether you’re a business, organization, real estate listing, or have job openings in Grainfield, we want to help share your information with the community.

Reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to add your details to the site. Take a look, explore, and let us know what you think. We hope you love it as much as we do!

Visit https://grainfieldks.com/ and see what makes Grainfield such a special place. And click that share button!

Grainfield is a community that embodies the serenity and charm of rural Kansas life. With a proud and hardworking population, Grainfield offers a safe, clean, and active environment for families to call home. Residents warmly welcome new faces to their tight-knit neighborhood, inviting you to experi...

11/13/2024

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Friends of the Cottonwood Ranch for their generous $5,000 donation to the Kansas Honor Flight. GCDC Youth members Natalie Bixenman, Brielle Hanna, and Evangeline Godek have been actively fundraising to send local veterans on this meaningful trip. During the American Legion Pheasant Hunters’ supper in Grainfield, the girls raised over $600 in additional donations, plus the incredible $5,000 gift.

With a $1,000 match from GCDC, the $5,600 total has grown to an amazing $6,600!

If you’d like to join in their mission to honor our veterans with this well-deserved trip, you can reach out to the girls directly or send a donation to GCDC, PO Box 25, Grainfield KS 67737. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, your contributions are tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us make this dream a reality for our veterans!

11/11/2024

A big shoutout to our GCDC Youth—Brielle Hanna, Natalie Bixenman, and Evangeline Godek! These dedicated young ladies checked off a goal from their 2024 project list by raising funds to send a veteran on an Honor Flight. They set up at the American Legion during the Pheasant Hunters’ supper on Saturday night, and the generosity from those who attended was truly inspiring.
If you'd like to contribute to this wonderful cause, donations can be mailed to GCDC, PO Box 25, Grainfield, KS 67737, or given directly to one of these young ladies. And here’s an extra reason to give: GCDC will match every dollar donated, up to $1,000!
If you’re unable to donate, simply letting these girls know how impressed you are by their commitment to honoring our veterans is a wonderful way to show support. Their dedication is truly admirable!
We also wanted to share a special achievement: Evangeline created an artwork that won First Place at the First District Congressional Art Competition last school year. Her artwork is now proudly displayed in our Nation’s Capital for an entire year—a tremendous honor and testament to her talent!

10/29/2024

2021/2022 - New High School Stadium Bleachers

In 2020, it was determined that upgrading the bleachers at the high school football field would be a priority project for 2021. To kick off the effort, GCDC, Principal Todd Flinn, and members of the USD 292 Board of Education held a joint meeting, where they agreed that GCDC would apply for the Kansas PRIDE Volunteers Impact Pride (VIP) Grant.

One key requirement of this grant was a commitment to match a portion of the funds—at least 40% of the project cost—through in-kind contributions, including volunteer labor, donated materials, or equipment hours. To meet these criteria, many volunteers stepped up, giving generously of their time, skills, and resources, all while dealing with challenges, setbacks, and interruptions due to COVID-19.

Thanks to their hard work and resilience, the new bleachers were completed just in time for the Wheatland High School Homecoming game on September 24, 2021!

10/17/2024

A little Grainfield history I found from: https://fhsuguides.fhsu.edu/kansasheritage/govecounty

Grainfield was platted in June 1879 as a station for the Kansas Pacific railroad. The Post Office was established May 10, 1879. In 1880 Grainfield had a hotel, a Post Office, a newspaper, a depot, a express and telegraph office, 2 lumber yards, a livery stable, stores of various kinds and a public well.

Charles Johnson was the first resident of the town site of Grainfield. A colony of Holland Dutch settled near the town site in 1878. The first newspaper in Gove County was "The Grainfield Republican" first printed in 1880. It went out of business within a short time and was replaced in 1885 by the "Grainfield Cap Sheaf". In a short time, Grainfield boasted 3 hotels: the New City hotel, the Keystone hotel and the Occidental hotel, which was the largest of the three. The first grade school building was built in 1887.

Churches were, of course, of great importance. The Methodist Episcopal Church was chartered in 1887. The Methodists met in a small frame building, which was shared with the Congregationalists. The Catholic Church was built in 1910.

A group of businessmen from Gove and Grainfield formed and founded the Gove County Telephone Company.

In 1916, Grainfield was known as the "Tree City". Grainfield was especially known for the Opera House, which still stands on Main Street and is presently being renovated. The Opera House brought people to town after its construction in 1887. People came for shows and entertainment. The huge banquet room/auditorium was also used for County Graduation ceremonies.

The ethnicity of its settlers is unknown.

Aimed at preserving the heritage of central and western Kansas

09/26/2024

08/27/2024

2015 - City Park Playground Rock

Progressive enhancements to the city park playground began in 2007, thanks to donations made in memory of Delmar Heinrich and LeRoy Hartman. These contributions funded the purchase of a tire swing, spring motorcycle, swinging park bench, playset, infant swings, mulch, and borders. Family, friends, and community members came together to install these features, creating a welcoming play space.

In 2015, as the original mulch had deteriorated, the GCDC undertook a project to rejuvenate the area. The old mulch was removed, and approximately 175 tons of pea gravel were used to resurface the playground. Since then, the original equipment has been repainted, and a new expression swing, added in memory of Lisa Manhart Althouse, has further enhanced the area.

Today, the playground is a charming blend of new and original equipment, offering a delightful experience for young children.

08/22/2024

2015 Refurbished Christmas Decorations
Grant received from Kansas Community Empowerment (formerly Kansas PRIDE)
The Christmas decorations that line Main Street have been a cherished tradition in our community for many many years. Originally custom-made by local residents, these decorations hold a special place in our hearts. By 2015, however, time had taken its toll—the colors had faded, the garlands were crumbling, and the C9 incandescent bulbs had burnt out, becoming costly to maintain.

Recognizing the need for preservation, members of the GCDC, along with help from our local Boy Scouts, dedicated nine evenings to disassembling and restoring the decorations. We replaced 1,090 feet of garland and installed 530 energy-efficient LED C9 bulbs. Now, nine years later, they still shine as brightly as the day we brought them back to life.

Grainfield remains one of the few communities that still proudly displays these traditional Christmas decorations. They evoke a sense of nostalgia, taking us back to simpler times, with their classic palette of reds, greens, whites, and golds. These decorations remind us of family gatherings, homemade ornaments, and timeless Christmas carols.

The next time you're in the area during the holiday season, take a stroll down our Main Street. Stop by Meraki Market for a warm drink or The Feedlot for a festive cocktail, and enjoy the nostalgic charm of our Christmas decorations. As you take in the sights, we'll be wishing you "Happy Holidays" and proudly displaying "Noel"—or as some say, "Leon" (if you know, you know).

08/20/2024

2014 - The original yellowed stained flag was replaced by a new one in the Wheatland High School gymnasium. This flag was purchased by GCDC and flown over the United States Capital in Washington, D.C. In honor of Wheatland High School on December 3, 2013.

08/20/2024

2012 - American Legion Raised Flower Beds
Grant received from Midwest Energy

The American Legion Post 301 stands out as one of the finest in the area. Back in 2012, the GCDC recognized the potential of this well-maintained, modern structure and sought to enhance its appeal with the addition of flowers. With the guidance of a friend, we built four raised flower beds. Our resident green thumb, Carlene Gillespie, ensures these beds are brimming with vibrant flowers and thriving plants throughout the warm seasons. During Christmas, we adorn them with a nativity scene we acquired at a former member's benefit auction. Over time, our decorations have expanded to include Halloween, fall and spring themes.

However, we are not the only ones who have invested time and resources into the beauty and upkeep of Post 301. The dedicated members of the American Legion have repainted the brickwork, added an awning at the entrance, and completed numerous interior updates. In 2018 Zachary Gillespie built the beautiful metal flag as his Eagle Scout Project. I can confidently say that you won’t find a more beautiful American Legion post in all of Kansas.

08/16/2024

(Edited) 2014 Flag Retirement Ceremony American Legion Post 301 Grainfield. The purpose of an American flag retirement ceremony is to honor the flag as a symbol of the United States and its people, and to dispose of unserviceable flags in a dignified manner. The ceremony is a way to show respect for the flag's role in representing the country's freedom, values, and sacrifices. It also serves as a reminder to handle the flag with care and to preserve its legacy.

08/13/2024

Back in 2012, a visitor from South Africa was in Grainfield and stopped to take a photo of our Post Office. He remarked, 'I have to send this to my family to show them that America has buildings just like ours.' That was the moment we realized it was time for a change. And wow, what a difference a fresh coat of paint and a new awning can make!