Seven young performers from fourth grade through high school brought Nevada history, humor, and grit to the stage Saturday, April 18, during the Young Chautauqua final performance at the Churchill County Museum. Museum Director Mel Glover served as master of ceremonies, introducing each student as they stepped into character for the Lahontan Valley Literacy & Artistic Society program.
This year’s theme, “The Art of Storytelling”, highlighted how history, imagination, and performance help connect generations. As the program’s introduction noted, “Storytelling is one of the oldest and most powerful ways we connect with one another. It helps us understand the past, share perspectives, and inspire the future.”
Students researched their historical figures for weeks, developing first‑person monologues that blended fact, personality, and local color.
Mark Twain (Charlie Samaguey) opened the program with a lively account of his Nevada years from 1861–64 — from failed mining attempts to his early newspaper days in Virginia City. His retelling included sharp humor, a coyote anecdote straight from Twain’s writings, and the duel challenge that ultimately sent him to San Francisco.
Laura Mills (Emma Slentz) followed with a warm portrait of the beloved Fallon teacher and photographer. She described Mills’ early years, her one‑room schoolhouse in Owyhee County, her strict‑but‑fair classroom style, and her award‑winning iris photography that became a local hallmark.
Mary Walker Foster (Aspen Fisher) shared stories of a life spent behind the camera, from childhood adventures in Colorado to running photo studios in Ely and Fallon. Her monologue traced long days in the darkroom, photographing mines and miners, and raising three children while keeping the business afloat.
Robert Laxalt (Ander Fisher) recounted the Nevada author’s journalism career, Basque heritage, and memorable assignment to Argentina for National Geographic. His story included being detained and questioned under military rule before traveling to the Pampas to document gaucho culture.
Georgie Sicking (Valerie Antus) delivered cowboy poetry and personal history with the humor and toughness that defined the famed Nevada cowgirl. She spoke about breaking horses as a child, leaving school to ranch full‑time, writing poetry on paper bags, and becoming the first Nevada woman inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
Mary Nevada Walker Lambert (Melody Plank) reflected on growing up as a “Maine Street brat” in Fallon, helping her mother in her photo studio, and developing the work ethic that shaped her later career as an artist and writer. She shared memories of one‑day photo development, childhood chores, and the lively rhythm of Maine Street in the 1930s and ’40s.
Firmin Bruner (Andy Samaguey) closed the program with a portrayal of the longtime local figure, rounding out a lineup that celebrated the region’s storytellers, artists, and everyday history‑makers.
After the performances, the students took questions from the audience and shared what drew them to their historical figures. Several said they were intrigued by names on the project list that had little or no information attached, prompting them to dig deeper into local history. Valerie Antus chose Georgie Sicking after noticing her name stood alone without dates or accomplishments, and later discovered that she was a cowboy poet and feminist icon.
Others selected their characters for personal interests, from military history to photography, or for their admiration of the resilience and creativity of the people they portrayed. Many said the research process was their favorite part, especially when local archives, family stories, and community connections helped bring their characters to life.
The museum’s Young Chautauqua program emphasizes research, performance, and confidence‑building, giving students a chance to embody the people who shaped Nevada’s past. Glover thanked families and community members for supporting the performers and encouraged the audience to continue celebrating local history.
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