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People have a chance to relive the days of Jesse James on Saturday, June 13, during the annual Friends of the James Farm Reunion.

The events, open to the public, include a variety of activities to revive times of the infamous outlaw. There will also be some new activities this year.

Bus tour

Among the new activities is the “Jesse James was my Neighbor” bus tour through Clay County. It will start at high noon at the James Farm, 21216 James Farm Road, just outside Kearney. The tour will include sites like New Hope Baptist Church, where a re-enactor will portray the Rev. Robert James, father of Frank and Jesse. Lunch will be served at the church.

The bus tour was the brainchild of Jim Baldwin.

“It came about through a love of the area,” Baldwin said. “I know a lot of the historic facts.”

Baldwin is a lifelong Clay County resident, business owner and recently ran for a seat in the legislature. Baldwin said history is a hobby, especially given his roots. A 1958 graduate of Kearney High School, Baldwin said several classmates were related to someone connected to the James brothers.

“But we didn’t talk about things like that then,” Baldwin said.

Now, though, Baldwin said he searches for relics.

“A lot … is natural history that some doesn’t come out of the history books,” Baldwin said.

He said he tried to back up most of the information.

“It’s what I enjoy,” Baldwin said. “History should be a bigger part of our education.”

Historians will be aboard the bus tour.

“I think it’s going to be very exciting to a lot of people who, like me, think they know all they need to know,” said Jeanne Ralston, member of Friends of the James Farm.

Showtime

Another new attraction to the reunion is “The Cole Younger and Frank James Wild West Show and Extravaganza.” A pair of local men will portray the two historic figures in the show.

“Both of them teamed up because they were broke,” Friends of the James Farm President Christie Kennard said of Cole Younger and Frank James.

The duo started the show in 1903.

“It’ll be hysterical and funny,” Kennard said.

The show will start at 7 p.m. at the James Farm and will include dinner.

Books

There will also be two writers on hand for signings. Laura James, author of “The Love Pirate and the Bandit’s Son: Murder, Sin, and Scandal in the Shadow of Jesse James,” will be signing her book starting at noon.

“She had done extensive research on the son of Jesse James,” Ralston said.

Johnny Boggs, author of “Killstraight,” will talk about Western writing from 5 to 6 p.m.

Shootout

Sticking with tradition, the reunion will include a black powder shoot at 9 a.m.

Schedule

Black Powder Shoot

- Time: 8:30 a.m. registration, 9 to 11:30 a.m. shoot competition and awards

- Cost: $15 registration

Jesse James was my Neighbor bus tour

- Time: ‘High’ noon

- Cost: $20, includes lunch, tickets available in advance

Book signing by Laura James

- Time: noon

- Cost: free

Western writing talk by author Johnny Boggs

- Time: 5 to 6 p.m.

- Cost: free

The Cole Younger and Frank James Wild West Show and Extravaganza

- Time: 7 p.m.

- Cost: $15, includes dinner

All events take place or start at the James Farm, 21216 James Farm Road.

For more information, call 736-8500 or visit jessejames.org.

Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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