Dodge City in Ford County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

High Plains Journal

“Kansas Wheat Shock” by Artist Hoss Haley

— A Gift from High Plains Journal in honor of current and past employees —

High Plains Journal Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2022

1. High Plains Journal Marker

Inscription.
This 32-foot-high original fine art sculpture titled “Kansas Wheat Shock” was built in 1980 and for 40 years welcomed visitors to the High Plains Journal headquarters at 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd.

Since 1876, the High Plains Journal and its predecessors have been based in Dodge City. Joe Berkely, Nix C. Petersen, Herbert Etrick, Ross Hogue, and Jim Williams started Journal, Inc., in 1945 after acquiring Dodge City Journal. Recognizing the opportunity to deliver agricultural news to farmers and ranchers across the Plains and beyond, Dodge City Journal was renamed High Plains Journal in 1949 and became known as “The Farmer's Paper.” It since grew to be one of the largest agricultural publications by paid circulation in America. Publishers have included Joe Berkely, Duane Ross, Tom Taylor, Holly Martin, Nelson Spencer Jr. and Zac Stuckey. As of 2022, High Plains Journal continues to be based in Dodge City having added digital media, marketing services and events to complement its weekly paper.

The statue was created as a project of Ted Carlson, former art director of High Plains Journal, on behalf of the owners. Hoss Haley,

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a Dodge City native, was awarded a $5,000 commission to build the sculpture, which he did with Corten Steel, an all-weather steel product. It is the first public work created by then 20-year-old Master Metalsmith/Sculptor Haley. Haley proceeded to have a long and prolific career and is widely known for creating large public works. As of 2022 Haley lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and continues to return to Dodge City to see his family.

Dodge City, Ford County and the greater High Plains region continues to be a significant producer of Wheat, in addition to livestock and other commodities such as Sorghum, Soybeans, Corn, Cotton and Alfalfa.

[photo captions]
• Photo taken in 1982 of artist Hoss Haley and his “Kansas Wheat Shock” sculpture
• Past High Plains Journal Publishers (from left to right); Tom Taylor, Joe Berkely, Duane Ross.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Arts, Letters, Music • Communications. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 37° 45.182′ N, 100° 1.335′ W. Marker is in Dodge City, Kansas, in Ford County. It is at the intersection of West Wyatt

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2022

2. High Plains Journal Marker

Looking south. The sculpture is in the median between the eastbound and westbound lanes of Wyatt Earp Boulevard.

Earp Boulevard and 5th Avenue, on the right when traveling west on West Wyatt Earp Boulevard. The marker and sculpture are on the south side of the Boot Hill Museum parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 West Wyatt Earp Boulevard, Dodge City KS 67801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

on the Great Plains,

on the Southern Plains,

on the High Plains,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comanchería,

the Dust Bowl,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Boot Hill Special (a few steps from this marker); Rosemary & Lewis Mock (within shouting distance of this marker); Boot Hill Cemetery (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dodge City, a frontier legend (about 400 feet away); My Trails Have Become Your Highways (about 500 feet

“Kansas Wheat Shock” image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2022

3. “Kansas Wheat Shock”

away); Boot Hill (about 500 feet away); H.B. (Ham) Bell (about 500 feet away); Wyatt Earp (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dodge City.

Also see . . . High Plains Journal (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: High Plains Journal is a regional weekly agricultural news publication published in Dodge City, Kansas with a core circulation reaching twelve states in the Great Plains and Midwest region. As of 2018, it had 42,000 subscribers. Each week the publication covers farming and ranching topics with award-winning editorial, up-to-date industry reports, markets, weather, and the largest classified section in the region. The publication devotes issues to certain topical information such as farm and ranch management, seed, cattle feeding, agribusiness and more.

(Submitted on August 11, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.