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WINFIELD – Today, Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) is introducing a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives honoring 50 years of the Walnut Valley Festival. The full text of the resolution is below.

RESOLUTION Supporting the idea of celebrating the 50th year of the Walnut Valley Festival.

Whereas Bob and Kendra Redford founded the Walnut Valley Festival in the Fourth District of Kansas back in 1972;

Whereas Bob Redford served more than 40 years as its president until his passing in December 2016;

Whereas Bob and Kendra Redford’s son Bart is the Executive Director of the Walnut Valley Festival;

Whereas Bob and Kendra Redford’s dedication to live music resulted in this legendary event, which is one of the longest-running music festivals in United States history, and for 50 years, pickers and music lovers have journeyed to this special place on the Kansas plains to celebrate life with music;

Whereas Bob and Kendra Redford have given so much to the community in Cowley County, Kansas, and dedicated years of service to leading and promoting this iconic festival that has become known as Pickers Paradise;

Whereas the Walnut Valley Festival is home to the National Flat Pick Championships, the International Finger Style Championships, and the International Autoharp, National Mandolin, National Mountain Dulcimer, National Hammered Dulcimer, National Bluegrass Banjo, and Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle Championships;

Whereas Bob Redford’s legacy lives in the community of musicians and music lovers from around the world, who will gather the third weekend in September in the pecan grove along the Walnut River in Winfield, Kansas, for the 50th Annual Walnut Valley Festival, where thousands return year after year to experience outstanding live music in the grandstands, performed by world-famous musicians, along with legendary campground jams; and

Whereas the Walnut Valley Festival has long prided itself on being educational as well as enjoyable, but most of all, the Festival is a homecoming not just because of the music and community, but coming home to a place in the soul and the heart with a spirit of celebration: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the idea of celebrating the 50th year of the Walnut Valley Festival.