News Release: Call of the West Program at Saint Benedict Center

Marci Broyhill and her sister, Teresa Kay Orr, will present a program titled, Call of the West: Challenges and Opportunities on August 23, 2026, 3:00 p.m., at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler. This presentation is made possible by the Speakers Bureau of Humanities Nebraska, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and Saint Benedict Center.

Marci and Teresa implement music, stories and PowerPoint to address the different aspects of the American Western Movement that occurred in Nebraska. The timeline of this presentation is 1830s through the early 1900s. This program will acknowledge the lure of adventure and economic opportunities, physical and emotional struggles, importance and evolution of the Great Platte River Road guiding travelers west, impact on the Native tribes, homesteading guidelines, and the role of horses. It is a reflection on the rural and small-town lifestyle in Nebraska, a culture for which many people yearn.

Teresa and Marci grew up on the family's century old farmstead within the spokes of the Cedar-Dixon County Line in northeast Nebraska, which encompasses the Outlaw Trail, Highway 12. Their father offered them hands-on education through hard work and responsibility. Teresa picked up a guitar and developed a true appreciation for many styles of music because of her mother's influence. As a singer/songwriter, her original music stirs the heart with songs of family, history, and love of country. Marci visits small town museums, giving life to stories with her poetry and has participated in poetry gatherings in six states. She balances her presentations with information, reflection and humor. She published two CDs of her original poetry. Call of the West: Challenges and Opportunities is one of approximately 300 programs offered through the Humanities Nebraska Speakers Bureau.

There is no Admission Fee. A free-will offering is requested.