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Though they raise money for charity, sell cookbooks and often wear wedding dresses to authenticate the lace and tassel fashions of the late 1800s, there is nothing prissy about the Wild Women of the Frontier.

They’re likely to call you a “skunk- smelling cactus face” or, if they take a particular interest in you, a “possum-faced scallywag.” They whoop and they holler and they’ll warn you to keep an eye on your menfolk, your women and your wallet when they storm into town.

Their paths often meander on the wrong side of the law and are littered with ex-husbands and fools who should have known better. These gals are reincarnates of outlaws, gun slingers and madams storming back from the past to remind us and themselves of the famous phrase from historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich that “well- behaved women seldom make history.”

Unrepentant heartbreakers, they do have one true love: their horses. They coax and pamper their steeds through rigorous training to condition them to the roars of firecrackers, guns and cowgirls. And then they ride them hard.
Founded in 1996 by a group of 35 local women who shared an interest in horses and history, this nonprofit group saddles up for parades, arena performances and even the occasional wedding reception— with no prior promise they won’t abduct the groom.

“During parades we ride down the street making as much noise as we can.

We like to flirt with people and get them into a hee-haw yelling contest from one side of the street to the other,” says Jane Pennington, a Wild Women rider for the past three years.

Their one big secret—though don’t let them know that we wrote this—is that they all lead secret lives. The cowgirl characters are all unruly personas portrayed by shockingly respectable modern-age businesswomen, community leaders and kind souls with—are you ready for this?— somewhat bookish dispositions.
Each real-life cowgirl is required to choose a historical figure and write a biographical sketch of her character. There are even rules for cultural authenticity. The cowgirls create their own historically accurate costumes before riding out with the pack.

During the performances, they tell people about their characters and impart some pioneer history.
“We strive to preserve history through education,” explains Pennington.
But all that sensitive book-smart business doesn’t mean they aren’t the most hellacious riders to ever put on a pair of bloomers. And if you have a problem with that,theWildWomenwillprobablyletyou know you’re just a lily-livered coward.

STORY BY STACEY JO GEIER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON DAILEY

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Chances are you have never seen one of these bright-colored, boxy little railroad cars that march along railroad tracks across the country in what looks like a caravan of yellow, orange and red Chiclets. Called “motor cars,” “speeders” or “putt-putts” by railroaders, these vehicles were once used to inspect railroads and have been adopted by hobbyists who restore them and then tour the scenic U.S. countryside from the vantage point of a short line railroad track.
Dave Calwell of Topeka is a motor car enthusiast, to say the least. He should also be labeled a railroad historian, museum cura- tor, mechanic and travel writer. All four of these unofficial titles play into his motor car hobby. A railroader at heart, he worked for Santa Fe for 34 years, retiring in 1995, and that is where his appre- ciation for the tiny yet mighty motor car began.

“THE CAR WILL RUN AT THE SAME SPEED RUNNING BACKWARDS AS FORWARDS.THERE IS NOTHING TO STEER.YOU OPERATE IT VERY MUCH LIKE A RIDING LAWN MOWER—AND IT’S A LITTLE NOISY.” –DAVE CALWELL

According to Calwell, it’s important to know the history of motor cars to appreciate the hobby. The first models were put into use in the early 1900s to peruse the miles and miles of railroad tracks crisscrossing the country and help prevent train derailments. A railroad inspector would have an assigned territory of approxi- mately 100 miles of track and would travel it back and forth on the motor car to identify any problems.

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SITTING AT THE STOPLIGHT at SW 10th and Gage Boulevard in central Topeka, the hustle and bustle of the city is at full tilt with traffic, retail venues, fast food chains and the Topeka Zoo nearby.
But take a short jaunt to the west and the hubbub of the city vanishes as a clearing appears and a beautiful neighborhood emerges. Harried drivers slow and gaze at the manicured landscaping, winding trails, fishing ponds and old-world European architecture. A statue of horses greets residents and welcomes guests into the residential community of McFarland Farm.

“The bronze horses at the entrance just make us feel like we are coming home,” says Joyce Lutz, one of the principal developers of the neighborhood. Created in 2001, the development was named after the area’s original McFarland Farm owned by Dr. Kenneth McFarland, who bred and sold championship Tennessee Walking Horses on the land.

Joyce and her partners aimed to preserve that rural atmosphere as they created a master plan for an entire neighborhood. The plan included 82 lots in maintenance- free gated communities. These are divided into sections: The Villas, with European-style, unified architectural themes, and a newer section, The Reserve, with more individualized construction. The area where the Lutzes currently live, The Estates, features customized homes on 69 lots that are an acre or more in size.

McFarland Farm homes have access to community walking trails, three well-stocked fishing ponds and a pool. Most of the homes throughout McFarland Farm are built by Heritage Homes, a construction firm owned by Joyce’s son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Cathy Lutz.

“What we have accomplished at McFarland Farm is a standard of quality craftsmanship and innovative design,” says Joyce. “From the woodwork, the masonry and the faux work, it takes dedication to craft a sense of pride.”

“YOU HAVE TO ENJOY NATURE TO ENJOY MCFARLAND FARM.” – JOYCE LUTZ

Joyce and her husband, Ron, who works as chairman of the board for Peoples Financial Group, moved into their first McFarland Farm home in 2001. In 2008 they relocat- ed to a customized home in The Estates that combines the look of country French and English architecture with early craftsmanship. “The use of trusses and stonework creates a timeless look,” says Joyce.