The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

The Everly Heritage Museum invites the public to a free special event on June 5 celebrating the history of 6-on-6 girls' basketball in Iowa.

This event marks the close of an exhibit currently on display at the museum, on loan from the Women's Archives located at the University of Iowa. A visual history, it is entitled "6-on-6 Basketball and the Legacy of Girls' and Women's Sport in Iowa."

Museum steering committee member Connie Goeken is excited about the prospect of having a fitting wrap-up to the exhibit's time at the facility.

"It has been our inaugural touring exhibit, and we've received lots of great response from those who've seen it," she said. "This luncheon will be a fun and fitting way to finish it up."

The museum has also invited back all 6-on-6 Everly Cattlefeeder players, hoping they'll be reuniting with former teammates.

"But we really encourage anyone who has an interest in the unique and progressive history of women's sport in Iowa to join us. It will be a lot of fun," Goeken said. "You certainly don't need to be a Cattlefeeder to attend."

In addition to the dessert luncheon and time for reminiscing, the highlight of the event will be a presentation by Dr. Jennifer Sterling, lecturer in the Department of American Studies at the University of Iowa. Dr. Sterling, a former 6-on-6 player herself, was directly involved with the research and development of the 6-on-6 exhibit, and has a broad and interesting knowledge of the history of women's sport in Iowa. She invites sharing insights and stories from those attending.

The event is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Hap Ketelsen Community Center in Everly. Desserts will be served at 1:30 p.m., and Dr. Sterling will speak at 2:00. The event is free and open to the public, and is made possible by a grant from the Speakers Bureau of Humanities Iowa.

For more information, call (712) 834-2156 or via email at everlyheritage@gmail.com.