February 9th & 10th, 2024 in historic Fort Scott, Kansas — LIMITED SEATING
Featured Speakers
We're delighted to welcome new and returning speakers to lead the conversation:
Allan Carlson
Author: The Natural Family Where It Belongs
Marc Barnes
Editor, New Polity
Amy Fahey
Teaching Fellow, Thomas More College of the Liberal Arts
William Fahey
President, Thomas More College of the Liberal Arts
Alan Cornett
Kentuckian and Friend of Wendell Berry
Jason Craig
Author: Leaving Boyhood Behind
2024 Schedule
Friday, February 9th
- 6:30pm
- Registration
- 7pm
- Marc Barnes What is a "Traditional" Family? Medieval Answers to a Modern Question
- 8pm
- William Fahey Fahey on Belloc
- 9:15pm
- Afterglow
Saturday, February 10th
- 9am
- Registration
- 9:30am
- Allan Carlson Distributism, American Style
- 10:45am
- Amy Fahey Why Willa Cather Left Home
- 12 noon
- Lunch on your own
- 1:30pm
- Alan Cornett Why Wendell Berry Stayed Home
- 2:45pm
- Jason Craig The Liturgy of the Land: Cultivating a Catholic Homestead
- 4pm
- Q&A Panel with Presenters
- 5:30pm
- Close
- 7:30pm
- Whiskey & Cigar Soiree with the Speakers, with musical entertainment by the students of St. Martin's et alia For VIP pass-holders only
Frequently Asked Questions
What lodging options are available in Fort Scott? The Courtland Hotel at 620.223.0098 and the Sleep Inn at 620.223.2555 are excellent options and they have taken very good care of Troubadourians in past years. When you call to book please mention that you're attending the Prairie Troubadour.
Are there discounts available? Yes, discounts are available for students, youth, St. Martin's Academy families, and members of Mary Queen of Angels parish. Please email info@prairietroubadour.org and we will send you the appropriate discount code that you can use at checkout.
Is childcare available? Yes. Free childcare is available on Saturday only. Please contact Margaret Mary Kerr at mmkerr@udallas.edu for details and to sign up.
About Us
The Prairie Troubadour is named in memoriam of poet, song-writer and man of the Kansas prairie, Gerald Francis Kerr.
What is the Troubadour?
Faithful to Holy Mother Church, The Prairie Troubadour is a group of friends inspired by the likes of Cardinal Newman, ChesterBelloc, John Senior, and other stalwarts of the Faith, to live and share the Joy of Christ through stories, song and good red wine. Through our annual symposium, we intend to create an authentic Catholic experience where the Good, the True and the Beautiful are glimpsed through lively discourse punctuated by earnest prayer, toothsome food, strong drink and the real mirth found in friendship. Catholicism needn't be stodgy and narrow. Quite the contrary! As G.K. Chesterton reminds us, the walls built by the Church through doctrine and discipline are not the walls of a prison, but the "walls of a playground." And as Belloc wrote, "Wherever the Catholic Sun doth shine, there's always laughter and good red wine. At least I've always found it so. Benedicamus Domino."Indeed it is so. Let us bless the Lord!
Dr. Gerald Kerr
1944 – 2015Patriarch, physician, poet, farmer, troubadour, true Kansan and lover of the prairie. Beloved husband, father of 6 and papa to 31 grand-children. Catholic son.
Stay in Touch
Not ready to register but want a reminder about this event? Just fill in this form and we'll keep you posted:
Questions? Email us at info@prairietroubadour.org.
