One of the biggest mistakes Kansas City has made was not keeping the FFA convention here with the American Royal. The FFA groups from Missouri now send their delegations to Louisville, Kentucky. Kansas City had the group forever. When I was in high school, a carload of us guys went to the American Royal every year.

One year, we were at the Royal and it was getting late. We were in the doorway of Shipley’s Saddlery and Boot Store across the street from the Golden Ox Restaurant. We were looking at a two-headed stuffed calf in the window, when a shady looking guy came up to us and wanted to know if we wanted to buy a couple of expensive hot watches. When a police car came by, he had us stand in front of him so they wouldn’t see him.

We couldn’t wait to pool our money and buy two of these expensive shiny gold wrist watches. We hopped in our car and headed down 40 Highway (I-70 wasn’t there yet) to Joe Story’s Service Station. Joe had hired a drifter to keep his station open nights. They sold groceries, soda pop, and candy bars.

This guy was our expert on everything and us high school boys liked him and listened to his advice, which he gave freely. We knew he could tell us what these stolen watches were really worth. When he looked at the watches, he wanted to know how much we had paid for these expensive watches. When we told him $20.00, he explained that they were sealed. When we asked him what that meant, he said, they could never be worked on and were virtually worthless.

One thing about Kansas City and the American Royal, farm boys could get a lesson that would last a lifetime. ——— Jack can be reached at PO Box 40, Oak Grove, MO 64075 or jackremembers@aol.com