Friends of the Cottonwood Ranch

08/15/2026

Last week Cottonwood Connections producer/director Ed Lowry spoke to a group of military representatives from countries around the world at the International Student Media Day at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Ed has previously interviewed professors from the CGSC for Cottonwood Connections episodes, and spoke to the students at this address about the value of sharing local stories for fostering community identity and building understanding with others. Looking forward to more local community stories from Cottonwood Connections? A new season will premiere Sunday, Sept. 20, on Smoky Hills PBS!

07/10/2026

This image was taken during the 1990 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site. The excavations explored an outbuilding that was constructed around 1890 and removed in 1911 after storm damage. Cottonwood Ranch near Studley in Sheridan County was the home of Abraham Pratt and his family. Pratt was from Yorkshire, England, and he raised sheep on his Kansas ranch. The state of Kansas purchased 23 acres of the ranch in 1982. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Learn more about the history of the ranch and the Pratt family at www.kansashistory.gov/11767

06/29/2026

Season 8 of Cottonwood Connections may have come to an end, but the stories don't stop there!

You can stream all eight seasons anytime with Smoky Hills PBS Passport. Explore the people, places, and history that shaped Kansas whenever it's convenient for you.

📺 Just download the PBS app on your smart TV or mobile device and become a Smoky Hills PBS Passport member for as little as $5 per month. Your support helps keep local productions like Cottonwood Connections on the air for generations to come. 👉 https://bit.ly/432yWF9

06/28/2026

06/26/2026

05/31/2026

It’s a great night to explore Cottonwood Connections! 🌾

Download the PBS app and dive into the stories, history, and people that make our region unique. From Kansas history to local stories that shaped the High Plains, there’s always something new to discover.

📺 Stream anytime on the PBS app!
https://to.pbs.org/34w6vFA