The purpose and goal of the "Grassland Heritage Festival" is to support the Morton County Historical Society's efforts to increase cultural awareness and tourism in southwest Kansas.   The Festival and supporting outreach events surround the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital "Saddle-Up" Trail Ride, a popular annual event which brings Santa Fe Trail, Cimarron National Grassland and equine enthusiasts into Morton County, Kansas.   Artists programming will focus on Southwest Kansas heritage featuring drama, dance, and traditional music.

The mission of the "Grassland Heritage Festival" is to educate and present performing arts that celebrate the culture of the Santa Fe Trail's historic travelers and to inform audiences about the need to preserve the Cimarron National Grassland and the high plains prairie where this convergence of culture continues.   The Festival is a series of events designed to promote Eco-tourism and the area's cultural heritage through sharing the history of the Santa Fe Trail and Cimarron National Grassland.

The Festival is the product of many different people and organizations. The Festival itself was born out of a $20,000 grant from the USDA Forest Service and National Endowment for the Arts. Additional grant help also has come from the Kansas Arts Commission and the Kansas Department of Commerce, Travel and Tourism. Heading up the project at ground zero, powered mostly by volunteer work, is the diverse members of the Morton County Historical Society.