This episode recalls early efforts to conserve and protect America’s first national river. Featured is an interview with long time area resident and photographer Ed Alexander, who’s father, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologist Harold Alexander was one of the early pioneers in seeking to protect the river.

In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, President Nixon signed the bill creating a new national park, the Buffalo National River. 2022, then, is a fiftieth anniversary, and Ozark Highlands Radio is joining the celebration. Everything that millions of visitors to the park have experienced on the Buffalo, or are planning to experience, will be here. The 135-mile jewel of a mountain river, the legendary bluffs, shoals for camping and swimming, forested trails to waterfalls, shelter caves, and historic sites, wildlife, including smallmouth bass and other species to challenge your fishing skills.

This series is made possible with cooperation from the Buffalo National River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Buffalo National River Partners, The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Ozark Folk Center State Park, The Committee of One Hundred, Stone Bank, and the Arkansas Arts Council. For the Buffalo theme song written and performed by Charley Sandage with music by Tim Crouch.

This episode investigates the impact of human activity on the river environment and ecology, as well as policies and guidelines designed to mitigate such issues for America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with park ranger and interpreter Lauren Ray, park ranger & interpreter and Buffalo National River Partners Board member Kevin Middleton, and long time area resident and photographer Ed Alexander.

In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, President Nixon signed the bill creating a new national park, the Buffalo National River. 2022, then, is a fiftieth anniversary, and Ozark Highlands Radio is joining the celebration. Everything that millions of visitors to the park have experienced on the Buffalo, or are planning to experience, will be here. The 135-mile jewel of a mountain river, the legendary bluffs, shoals for camping and swimming, forested trails to waterfalls, shelter caves, and historic sites, wildlife, including smallmouth bass and other species to challenge your fishing skills.

This series is made possible with cooperation from the Buffalo National River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Buffalo National River Partners, The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Ozark Folk Center State Park, The Committee of One Hundred, Stone Bank, and the Arkansas Arts Council. For the Buffalo theme song written and performed by Charley Sandage with music by Tim Crouch.

This episode describes the park staff and volunteer support structures as well as the immense logistical challenges of maintaining America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with Buffalo National River Chief of Interpretation Cassie Branstetter, area native and long time Buffalo National River staff member Zed Davenport, Buffalo National River Partners Board Chairperson Terrie Martindale, park ranger and interpreter Lauren Ray, and long time area resident and photographer Ed Alexander.

In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, President Nixon signed the bill creating a new national park, the Buffalo National River. 2022, then, is a fiftieth anniversary, and Ozark Highlands Radio is joining the celebration. Everything that millions of visitors to the park have experienced on the Buffalo, or are planning to experience, will be here. The 135-mile jewel of a mountain river, the legendary bluffs, shoals for camping and swimming, forested trails to waterfalls, shelter caves, and historic sites, wildlife, including smallmouth bass and other species to challenge your fishing skills.

This series is made possible with cooperation from the Buffalo National River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Buffalo National River Partners, The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Ozark Folk Center State Park, The Committee of One Hundred, Stone Bank, and the Arkansas Arts Council. For the Buffalo theme song written and performed by Charley Sandage with music by Tim Crouch.

This episode inventories natural resources and the history of economic activity around America’s first national river. Featured is an interview with park ranger & interpreter and Buffalo National River Partners Board member Kevin Middleton.

In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, President Nixon signed the bill creating a new national park, the Buffalo National River. 2022, then, is a fiftieth anniversary, and Ozark Highlands Radio is joining the celebration. Everything that millions of visitors to the park have experienced on the Buffalo, or are planning to experience, will be here. The 135-mile jewel of a mountain river, the legendary bluffs, shoals for camping and swimming, forested trails to waterfalls, shelter caves, and historic sites, wildlife, including smallmouth bass and other species to challenge your fishing skills.

This series is made possible with cooperation from the Buffalo National River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Buffalo National River Partners, The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Ozark Folk Center State Park, The Committee of One Hundred, Stone Bank, and the Arkansas Arts Council. For the Buffalo theme song written and performed by Charley Sandage with music by Tim Crouch.

This episode recounts the controversy over, and political maneuvering that resulted in the creation of America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with writer, professor, and regular Ozark Highlands Radio contributor Dr. Brooks Blevins, and Buffalo River area native and long time Buffalo National River staff member Zed Davenport.

In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, President Nixon signed the bill creating a new national park, the Buffalo National River. 2022, then, is a fiftieth anniversary, and Ozark Highlands Radio is joining the celebration. Everything that millions of visitors to the park have experienced on the Buffalo, or are planning to experience, will be here. The 135-mile jewel of a mountain river, the legendary bluffs, shoals for camping and swimming, forested trails to waterfalls, shelter caves, and historic sites, wildlife, including smallmouth bass and other species to challenge your fishing skills.

This series is made possible with cooperation from the Buffalo National River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Buffalo National River Partners, The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Ozark Folk Center State Park, The Committee of One Hundred, Stone Bank, and the Arkansas Arts Council. For the Buffalo theme song written and performed by Charley Sandage with music by Tim Crouch.

This episode examines the history of human activity and historic cultural sites along America’s first national river. Featured is an interview with Buffalo National River archaeologist Suika Rivett.

In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, President Nixon signed the bill creating a new national park, the Buffalo National River. 2022, then, is a fiftieth anniversary, and Ozark Highlands Radio is joining the celebration. Everything that millions of visitors to the park have experienced on the Buffalo, or are planning to experience, will be here. The 135-mile jewel of a mountain river, the legendary bluffs, shoals for camping and swimming, forested trails to waterfalls, shelter caves, and historic sites, wildlife, including smallmouth bass and other species to challenge your fishing skills.

This series is made possible with cooperation from the Buffalo National River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Buffalo National River Partners, The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Ozark Folk Center State Park, The Committee of One Hundred, Stone Bank, and the Arkansas Arts Council. For the Buffalo theme song written and performed by Charley Sandage with music by Tim Crouch.

This episode details planned park festivities for the 50th anniversary celebration year and profiles a unique volunteer support organization for America’s first national river, the Buffalo National River Partners. Featured are interviews with Buffalo National River Chief of Interpretation Cassie Branstetter and Buffalo National River Partners Board Chairperson Terrie Martindale.

In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, President Nixon signed the bill creating a new national park, the Buffalo National River. 2022, then, is a fiftieth anniversary, and Ozark Highlands Radio is joining the celebration. Everything that millions of visitors to the park have experienced on the Buffalo, or are planning to experience, will be here. The 135-mile jewel of a mountain river, the legendary bluffs, shoals for camping and swimming, forested trails to waterfalls, shelter caves, and historic sites, wildlife, including smallmouth bass and other species to challenge your fishing skills.

This series is made possible with cooperation from the Buffalo National River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Buffalo National River Partners, The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Ozark Folk Center State Park, The Committee of One Hundred, Stone Bank, and the Arkansas Arts Council. For the Buffalo theme song written and performed by Charley Sandage with music by Tim Crouch.

This episode explores the myriad of wildlife that thrive both above and below the waters of America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologist Rachel Norton and Buffalo National River ecologist and aquatic wildlife specialist Shawn Hodges.

In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, President Nixon signed the bill creating a new national park, the Buffalo National River. 2022, then, is a fiftieth anniversary, and Ozark Highlands Radio is joining the celebration. Everything that millions of visitors to the park have experienced on the Buffalo, or are planning to experience, will be here. The 135-mile jewel of a mountain river, the legendary bluffs, shoals for camping and swimming, forested trails to waterfalls, shelter caves, and historic sites, wildlife, including smallmouth bass and other species to challenge your fishing skills.

This series is made possible with cooperation from the Buffalo National River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Buffalo National River Partners, The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Ozark Folk Center State Park, The Committee of One Hundred, Stone Bank, and the Arkansas Arts Council. For the Buffalo theme song written and performed by Charley Sandage with music by Tim Crouch.

This episode explains the geology and natural water systems that created and continue to sustain America’s first national river. Featured are interviews with Buffalo National River biological sciences technician Ashley Rodman and park ranger & interpreter and Buffalo National River Partners Board member Kevin Middleton.

In this special Ozark Highlands Radio series, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage celebrates 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river. On March 1st, 1972, President Nixon signed the bill creating a new national park, the Buffalo National River. 2022, then, is a fiftieth anniversary, and Ozark Highlands Radio is joining the celebration. Everything that millions of visitors to the park have experienced on the Buffalo, or are planning to experience, will be here. The 135-mile jewel of a mountain river, the legendary bluffs, shoals for camping and swimming, forested trails to waterfalls, shelter caves, and historic sites, wildlife, including smallmouth bass and other species to challenge your fishing skills.

This series is made possible with cooperation from the Buffalo National River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Buffalo National River Partners, The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Ozark Folk Center State Park, The Committee of One Hundred, Stone Bank, and the Arkansas Arts Council. For the Buffalo theme song written and performed by Charley Sandage with music by Tim Crouch.

This week, Cincinnati, Ohio based post-punk neo-folk acoustic oldtime string band The Tillers recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with The Tillers’ fearless leader, Mike Oberst.

“The Tillers have been thumping their own distinctive sound of string band style folk music for a decade, riding it all over the country and across the sea. Four studio albums and one live record have won them praise as modern folk storytellers of the national soundscape. The band features Mike Oberst on banjo & vocals, Sean Geil on guitar & vocals, Joe Macheret on fiddle, and Aaron Geil on upright bass.

“The Tillers got their start in August 2007 when they started thumping around with some banjos and guitars and a big wooden bass. Their look didn’t fit the stereotype. They were clearly recovering punk rockers with roots in city’s west side punk rock and hardcore scene. The punk influence gave their sound a distinctive bite, setting them apart from most other folk acts- a hard-driving percussive strum and stomp that brought new pulse and vinegar to some very old songs. But their musical range soon proved itself as they floated from hard-tackle thumping to tender graceful melody, all the while topped by Oberst and Geil’s clear tenor harmonies.

“Musically, the band wears many hats. Their sound has proven to be an appropriate fit with a wide range of musical styles- traditional folk, bluegrass, jazz, punk rock and anything else they might run into. They have shared the stage with a broad swath of national touring acts, ranging from renowned folk legends such as Doc Watson, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Guy Clark, Country Joe McDonald, Jerry Douglas, Iris Dement, Pokey LaFarge, The Hackensaw Boys and The Carolina Chocolate Drops to rambunctious rock daredevils like the Legendary Shack Shakers.”

www.the-tillers.com/bio

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark original fiddler Sam Younger performing the traditional tune “Smoky Mountain Shuffle,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

Author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage presents an historical portrait of the people, events and indomitable spirit of Ozark culture that resulted in the creation of the Ozark Folk Center State Park and its enduring legacy of music and craft. In this episode, Charley begins our celebration of 50 years of the Buffalo National River, America’s first national river.