The Pride of the Buffalos Marching Band takes to the field during halftime in the game against Girard. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)
A program that has built on its success over the past few years, the Prairie View marching band scores big with competition judges, community members, football fans – and the USD 362 Board of Education.
By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com
LA CYGNE – More than $1,000 each for 50 new uniforms for the school’s marching band. That was the quote that Prairie View High School band director Jeffery Russell handed the USD 362 school board during its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
And there was one caveat on the $56,500 price tag: That was the price that he was quoted in July, and Russell said the Fruhauf Uniforms Inc. representative said there had been an adjustment since the quote was given. But the sales rep didn’t say how much the increase would be.
Russell explained to the board that the last time the district had purchased new uniforms was for the 2008-09 school year.
However, now buttons were popping off, and collar snaps weren’t staying fastened. And with high school band uniforms following the trend of university band uniforms, the current uniforms were getting dated. He noted that the 15-year-old uniforms cost about $830 per student, meaning that over their lifespan the uniforms had cost the district about $55 each per year.
The new uniforms proposed by Russell can be worn several ways to give the band several different looks. And the uniforms come with fastening systems that allow the legs and arms to be lengthen or shortened to fit the student.
Proposed uniforms for the band can be altered to give several different looks, according to band director Jeffery Russell. He used this image on an overhead to show school board members the different ways that the same uniform could be changed.
The band director told the board that he just wanted to put it on their radar for the next meeting. He also told the board the band now had 40 performances per year including concerts, special events like the recent Veterans Day programs and parades.
The “Pride of the Buffalos” marching band, as itis announced at every home football game, has had a great deal of success this year. For the second year in a row the band has received a I rating at the fall marching band festival at Baker University in early October.
The 43-member band has also been a show stopper at area parades. Intricate marching routines, whether on the football turf or marching down Main Street, have become an integral part of the band’s performances.
Color guard members, from front, Danica Brake, Jillian McCarty, and Cheyenne Moss perform with the band.
And at Mound City’s Sugar Mound festival parade at Mound City in mid-October, the band stopped in front of the announcers, formed a square-shaped “dance floor” and played John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as pre-arranged pairs of dancers did the two-step.
The same thing happened at the Kincaid Fair parade. (This parade is a favorite of area high school band directors because of the experience and each band that marches receives $200 to cover expenses.)
Board member Rita Boydston said she heard from friends in Garnett about the band’s performance at Kincaid.
There was dancing in the streets as the band played "Take Me Home, Country Roads" during the Sugar Mound parade in Mound City in October.
Late in the football season, fans at home games were invited to come out of the stands to dance at halftime shows. And scores of them did.
At the last home football playoff game, the band donned Christmas lights at the end of the game. And as the stadium lights had been shut down, the band literally glowed as they marched with lights draped around their necks and their instruments. (The glow routine was so popular at last year’s Christmas parade in La Cygne that an encore is expected at this year’s parade on Dec. 8.
The band performs in a glow-show following the playoff game against Iola on Nov. 8.
Fans at home football games have developed a sense of pride in their band, applauding and cheering at performances. And the band has reciprocated, giving spirited performances during breaks in the action on the field and cheering loudly in support of the athletes. And of course it helps that several band members are also on the football team.
At the school board meeting Prairie View Middle School Principal Andrea Richardson told board members how being members of the band with the high school students had motivated eighth-graders to keep their grades up.
Although the manufacturer has a significant lead time to make the uniforms, meaning they likely won’t be ready until next year, Russell suggested the board could take the question up in December. But the board didn’t want to wait.
Board Member Wade Teagarden made a motion to approve the $56,500 uniform purchase with a contingency for up to a 10% price increase. The measure passed unanimously.
Band members include seniors Rylan Cline, Mason MItzner, Paul Ryan, Joseph Sramek, Elijah Williams; juniors Ke’Shawna Case, Bailey Hughes, Daniel Marmon; sophomores Abigail Alvarez, Nathanial Herring, Joseph Pribble, Christian Raphael Martin, Mary Ryan, Ethan Teagarden, Caden Young; freshmen Aaden Bevan, Alan Buren, William Egidy, Hayleigh Feugate, Erick Grove, Ethan Holler, Solomon Law, Payton Marmon, Aleena Miller, Dawson Moore, Gloriany Penales, Rhett Pope, Grace Ray; eighth-graders William Alvarez, Mallory Cline, Elijah Egidy, Michael Huff, Emilia Jordan, Emmett Kern, Landon Schull, Brilee Shrum, Christopher Sramek, and Jersey VanDyke. Freshman Melanie Merriman is the baton twirler, and the color guard includes sophomore Jillian McCarty and juniors Danica Brake and Cheyenne Moss. Jenny Trumbly is the color guard coach.
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