The 2013 NCA Convention

"CARRY-US-ALL TO KANSAS"

The NCA convention for 2013 was held in Leavenworth, Kansas on September 25 through September 29. Here are some of the highlights!

Thursday - Abilene, Topeka,
and the Wizard of Oz Museum

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We were greeted by the Good Witch of the North during a surprise visit to the Wizard of Oz museum! The Abilene Parker Carousel Building surrounded by NCA Conventioneers NCA President Bette Largent presents Abilene Heritage Center director Jeff Sheets with a 100 year award for the Abilene Parker carousel! The Abilene Parker carousel is powered by this steam engine Tom and Linda Allen getting ready for a ride on the Abilene Parker Carousel!

A Kansas Howdy from one of the Abilene Parker horses with Melba Clapp ready for her ride NCA vice president elect Vickie Stauffer and John Caruso on the Abilene Parker Carousel The Gage Park Carousel in Topeka, Kansas Rita and Bill Sharkey on the Gage Park carousel NCA Members waiting for the next ride on the Topeka Carousel NCA member Anne Stauffer, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, and NCA president Bette Largent

Friday - Kansas City Zoo, Worlds of Fun,
and K.C. Royals Stadium

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The Kansas City Zoo Carousel Building Bette Largent presents a commerative plaque to Randy Wisthoff at the Kansas City Zoo Carousel Noel Hinde on the Peacock Chariot at the Kansas City Zoo The Illions Grand Carousel at Worlds of Fun A chariot on the Worlds of Fun Illions carousel Dave Bywater of Worlds of Fun, Bette Largent, and Rol Summit listening to Rol's stories about Illions A row of horses on the Illions carousel at Worlds of Fun

The carousel at the Kansas City Royals statium Our group received a tour of the Kansas City Royals Stadium We stopped for a theater organ performance in Kansas City, presented by musician Dr. Marvin Faulwell New board member Jim Schulman tried his hand at roping a calf after a barbecue dinner at the Benjamin Ranch. Don and Bette Largent teamed up to milk a cow after dinner on Friday Cathie and Chuck Crawford won the milking contest, shown here next to the realistic dairy cow used for the contest.

Saturday - C.W. Parker Carousel Museum
and Banquet

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This cake was waiting for us at the Parker Museum. Nobody wanted to be the first to cut into it though, so it remained untouched until a tour group came in the next morning and ate most of it Linda Allen and Jean Bennett trying their hand at cranking the NCA Primitive Carousel Outgoing NCA treasurer Nancy Morris received a carousel thimble for her service on the NCA board Sharon Black received a jumbo ticket in appreciation for her service on the NCA board Outgoing board member Chuck Crawford received a ship's bell in appreciation for his service on the board. The Artizan band organ was in service at the 1913 C.W. Parker carousel at the Parker Carousel Museum. The organ was purchased with funds donated by Melissa Etheridge, who grew up in Leavenworth where her father was the band teacher at Leavenworth high school.

A view of the 1913 C.W. Parker Carousel from the upper deck at the Parker museum The 1913 C.W. Parker Carousel at the Parker museum features these three child-sized ponies A horse on the 1950 Paul Parker carousel at the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum Don "Cowardly" Largent getting ready to help out at the fundraising auction The NCA Auction Crew, from left to right: Rich "Tinny" Kenyon, Chuck "Scarey" Crawford, "Great and Powerful" Jerry Reinhardt, Cathy "Dorothy" Crawford, Sharon "Greenie" Black, and Don "Cowardly" Largent

Sunday - Breakfast and
General Membership Meeting

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Nancy Morris received one of the coveted NCA Brass Ring awards from Bette Largent for her commitment to the restoration of her home town carousel in Republic, WA Rich Kenyon also received a Brass Ring award for his commitment to the restoration of his home town carousel in Schenevus, NY

Bill Sharkey and Don Largent tell us about the 2014 convention to be held in Long Island and New York City!

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