George Allen (Jim) Prater was one of 9 children born to Glen and Ethel Prater on Feb 15 th, 1923. They couldn't decide which name to give him so they named him George and called him Jim. Dorothy Margaret Craig was the 1st of 2 children born to Olah and June Craig. She was born on Oct. 14th, 1923. Jim and Dorothy graduated together from Fillmore High School. They were married on May 8th 1943. Jim was drafted into the Navy in 1945 .A son, Lon Craig was born in 1946 while Jim was serving in WWII. A daughter , Ramona June was born in 1947 and another son, Alan Ray was born in 1950. Jim and Dorothy farmed, raised cattle, hogs, sheep, chickens and their children on a farm owned by Dorothy's Uncle and Aunt which is right next to the Bluegrass Festival Farm. The Festival is held where Dorothy and her brother Raymond grew up. Jim and Dorothy bought the home place (the Festival Farm) and moved there after they retired. Craig, Ramona, and Alan all attended a country school, Clay Center ,and graduated from Fillmore High School. Jim and Dorothy and children attended Antioch Church and went to lots of square dances . Dances were held in an old farm house and all the neighbors attended. The children danced along with them until they fell asleep on the benches as the night grew late. They attended lots of dances in the Fillmore VFW Hall and also in the Bolckow and Rosendale area. Music was a very important part of their lives. Jim and Dorothy fell in love with bluegrass music and started traveling and camping at bluegrass shows before starting one of their own.
Craig , Ramona, and Alan were all involved with music and each loved to dance. They entered and won dance contests often. Craig graduated and attended college and went to Kansas City, Mo. and then moved on to California where he lives today. He is Director of the Bangkok Film Festival and spends about 40% of his time in Bangkok, Thailand . Ramona, who works as an Office Manager in St. Joseph, Mo. , married Jerry Spoonemore and lives at Fillmore, Mo. She has 3 sons, Kirby, Kevin, who married Linda Wilson, and Jamie. She has 3 step children, Deanna, Kit and Tom and one grandchild and 6 step grandchildren. Alan works and lives in Lansing Kansas and is hoping to retire in about a year so he can go do some more of Bluegrass that he loves!!! He has two children,Josh who is married to Kim,and two sons Jace and Kenyen,Stephanie who is married to Warrin Clark which they have three boys Devin,Cyris,and Tru. Alan had his on Bluegrass Band for 8 years!!
Jim and Dorothy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 8th , 1993. On May 16th, 1994, Jim Prater passed away. Alan and Josh have taken over the task of the Prater Family Bluegrass Show along with Dorothy on the gate, Kim in the Cook Shack, Jerry and Ramona in the Ice Cream Shop and other family members helping here and there as needed. The love of Jim Prater and music keep the Festival going.
-Ramona Spoonemore