Friends of the C.F. Coffee Galley
Purpose of the Gallery is to:
Develop and describe the origin, evolvement, and development of the cattle industry on the High Plains and said industry’s past, present, and future social and economic effect on the High Plains;
Transmit and extend to the public the cultural, literary, and historic knowledge of the cattle industry; provide a resource for research; and,
Extend and support the academic programs of the College as they relate to the cattle industry.
To learn more, visit http://cfcoffeegallery.com/
Trek to “The Spade”
This four-year program will provide an opportunity for a participant/student to trek in the boot steps of early day ranchers. You will learn (1) how early day ranches were capitalized and managed, and (2) the impact of land settlement and homesteading laws that shaped land settlement.
The period of study is 1863 through 1935.
FREE to Members of the ‘Friends of the C.F. Coffee Gallery’
Pre-Register below or at the Front Desk of the Sandoz Center at Chadron State College
Upcoming Events
The Spade Ranch Reunion
Historic Ranch Tour
September 26, 2026 | Event information coming soon
$25 Per Person for General Admission Tickets
September 7, 2026 | The Spade Company Town, Ellsworth, Nebraska
Tour & Program 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | Lunch Provided
Registration Opens in May 2026 | RSVP or Pre-Registration Required
Event is Free to Members of the ‘Friends of the C.F. Coffee Gallery’
Use code FIRSTYEAR to get your first year membership for free
The Trek to “The Spade” - Annual Events
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The Trek to the Spade
The Trek to the Spade traveling exhibit is on display at the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center at Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska. Each panel subject includes four detailed panels:
More About:
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The Spade Ranch Reunion
The Spade Ranch Reunion traveling exhibit is on display at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance, Nebraska. Each panel subject includes four detailed panels on exhibit:
More About:
Coming Soon
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Event Information
The Spade Ranch Reunion on September 7th (Labor Day)
Schedule and Program - Coming Soon
You Must Pre-Register for this Event!
Historic Ranch Tour on September 26th
Event Information - Coming Soon
Recommended Resources for this Event
THE NEBRASKA SAND HILLS: The Human Landscape, C. Baron McIntosh, 1996
BARTLETT RICHARDS: Nebraska Sandhills Cattleman, Bartlett Richards, Jr., 1980
Retracing Old Trails, Frank O’Rourke, 1970
Friends of C.F. Coffee Gallery Membership
“Friends” Membership Levels
Friend: Annual support of $30 single, $50 couple, $100 family/entity
Friend (Contributor): Greater than $100
Friend (Lifetime Membership): $1,000 and greater
Exhibit Sponsor Level: Annual support of $5,000 and greater
Other Support
Founders Level: Gifts of $25,000 and greater
Endowment Level: Help build the C.F. Coffee Gallery endowment to over $5 million
The Objectives of ‘Friends’ is to:
Assist and provide financial support to Chadron State College (CSC) for the continued development of the C.F. Coffee Gallery (Gallery) exhibit area, repository, programming, and website; and
Provide support to CSC’s rangeland/agricultural academic programs and facilities.