Civil War Reenactment Transforms Kelso Park in Jefferson

Local students to participate in educational living history event

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:25pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring repeated images of a Civil War soldier's uniform, weapons, and other equipment, conceptually representing the hands-on learning experience for students at the upcoming reenactment.A vibrant pop art interpretation of the everyday items used by Civil War soldiers, highlighting the educational focus of the upcoming reenactment event.Rippey Today

Tomorrow afternoon, Kelso Park in Jefferson will be the site of a Civil War reenactment organized by local history teacher Dena Boyd and Civil War reenactors David Burkett and OJ Fargo. Around 25 students from Boyd's Iowa History class at Greene County High School will take part, learning about the daily life of Civil War soldiers through drills, marching, and other hands-on activities. The park will be closed to the public for the safety of the participants.

Why it matters

This reenactment provides a valuable educational opportunity for local students to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the experiences of Civil War soldiers, particularly the young 'Schoolboy Soldiers' from the nearby town of Rippey who enlisted during the conflict.

The details

The reenactment will feature students from Dena Boyd's Iowa History class at Greene County High School participating in drills, marching, and other activities to learn about the daily life of Civil War soldiers. Local Civil War reenactors David Burkett and OJ Fargo will be leading the event, which is focused on educating the students about the 'Schoolboy Soldiers' from the nearby town of Rippey who enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War.

  • The reenactment will take place tomorrow afternoon at Kelso Park in Jefferson.
  • The park will be closed to the public for the duration of the event.

The players

Dena Boyd

A social studies teacher at Greene County High School who is organizing the student participation in the Civil War reenactment.

David Burkett

A local Civil War reenactor who will be leading the reenactment activities.

OJ Fargo

A local Civil War reenactor who will be assisting with the reenactment activities.

Scott Peterson

The city administrator of Jefferson, who has noted that the public will hear musket fire and that the park will be closed for safety reasons during the reenactment.

Greene County High School

The school that the participating students in the reenactment attend.

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What they’re saying

“You may hear some muskets going off then too in that area. So just know that again, it's a Civil War re-enactment in that area and of course, what they're shooting there is blanks. But, really looking forward to this and I think it's just a wonderful education opportunity for the students.”

— Scott Peterson, City Administrator

“Boyd hopes the students learn about what life was really like during the Civil War so they can put themselves in a soldier's shoes to gain a better understanding and appreciate the boys that fought in the war.”

— Dena Boyd, Social Studies Teacher

What’s next

The reenactment is a one-time event scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at Kelso Park in Jefferson.

The takeaway

This Civil War reenactment provides a unique hands-on learning experience for local students to gain a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices and daily lives of the young 'Schoolboy Soldiers' from the nearby town of Rippey who enlisted during the conflict, helping to bring history to life.