The Friday Finish - "Creekers" Share Alumni Award - Little Lerners Meet Local Heroes - Meal Deliveries Reduced 20% - Quilt Sold - Apple Pies Workshop
October 9, 2026
Red Bird “Creekers” Share Alumni of the Year
Ashton (Class of 2022) and Jagger (Class of 2020) Bowling attended Red Bird School from preschool (Early Childhood Development) until graduation with opportunities to grow their talents for music under now retired Music Director Mark Smallwood. They are now living a dream of travelling around the United States as members of “The Creekers”, a talented group of bluegrass musicians that mostly grew up on the creeks of Leslie County. They were catapulted to success when their band’s song, “Tennessee” written by guitarist Allen Hacker, jumped to the top 5 of Spotify’s Viral 50 – USA Chart in the summer of 2025 and now has been streamed millions of times. The band signed on with Warner Music Nashville last year, and made their first Grand Old Opry appearance in August.
The Bowling brothers who grew up on Birch Fork of Jack’s Creek were introduced at a special RBCS chapel on Wednesday by their neighbor, Tonya Asher, RBCS Business teacher and Red Bird School Alumni Association (RBSAA) Treasurer. As part of Spirit Week leading up to Alumni Homecoming, Wednesday was designated “Creekers Day” with students wearing overalls (a common on-stage dress when The Creekers are in concert) and Creekers t-shirts. The request to come back for a chapel to sing on “Creekers Day” for the students was the cover to surprise them with the RBSAA Alumni of the Year Award since they will be on the road in Atlanta, Georgia and Raleigh, North Carolina this weekend during the annual Alumni Homecoming.
Two of “The Creekers”, Allen Hacker and Scott Sutton, joined the Bowling brothers to play along with a Red Bird Choir and Cardinal Singers standard, “Glory Land”. The choir then sat and listened with the entire student body as the quartet of “Creekers” played and sang a couple of old bluegrass songs. Four students volunteered to join them singing “Tennessee”, but the majority of students seated sang along, too.
Tonya and Patty Vance, 4th- 5th Grade teacher and RBSAA President, called Ashton and Jagger back into the room to present the Co-Alumni of the Year Award to them. Mark Smallwood joined in the presentation sharing the pride all of Red Bird has for these musicians, appreciation that they are sharing their talents with the world, and to assure them of continued support saying, “We want to continue to pray for you guys.
I pray for these guys that God will keep helping you through.
We serve a big God and He’s got you in His hands.”
Jagger expressed his appreciation and counseled the current RBCS students saying,
“We were blessed to have a place like this [RBCS] to go to school.
Don’t wish your life away. Be grateful to have the teachers you have that love and care for you.
“
Never forget where you come from. We travel all around, and [we] always remember home.”
Ashton, admitting he doesn’t talk much because he just “plays the box”, sincerely stated,
“We’re grateful to have these [awards] and feel honored. We’re glad to be home!”
Strengthen the Legacy – Double Your Gift
Who knows which students will continue the legacy of Red Bird School alumni leading and serving like Ashton and Jagger? Our alumni know the impact Red Bird School had on their successful careers of leadership and service throughout the globe. That’s why the Red Bird School Alumni Association dedicates its efforts to providing extra support to enrich the student experience, and it’s why the late Dr. O. Taylor Collins rallied alumni to also raise support for instruction as part of the annual Alumni Homecoming.
Two alumni have pledged $45,000 in matching funds to match dollar for dollar each gift given to Red Bird Christian School during this year’s Homecoming Challenge to raise funds for student educational expenses this fall. Make your gift this weekend to count towards the $150,000 goal set by alumni to honor 105 years since the founding of Red Bird School. You can give online by using the link below, or mail your gift to Red Bird Mission, Inc., 70 Queendale Ctr, Beverly, KY 40913-9607 marked “Homecoming”.
Little Learners Meet Local Heroes
There’s something special about folks taking time to teach our little ones, and this week at Red Bird Preschool, there was plenty of that kindness to go around. During Police Officers and Firefighters Week, the kiddos got to meet some of the people who help keep our community safe—and have a whole lot of fun along the way.
One of the week’s adventures was a trip up to the Red Bird Volunteer Fire Department, a favorite annual tradition since the 1970s! Clifford Berry and Cordia Gray taught the children about fire safety, and they got to take a ride on the big yellow fire truck! With bags of treats and firefighter hats of their very own, our kiddos had plenty to smile about.
The excitement continued with a visit from Deputy Dewey Grubb and Deputy Darrell Goins of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. The youngins tried out real handcuffs, climbed inside a police car, heard the sirens, and discovered just how heavy an officer’s safety vest can be. The deputies even brought juice and bags of goodies to make the visit extra special. Who knows—we may have a few future deputies and firefighters walking our preschool halls!
We’re mighty thankful to Clifford Berry, Cordia Gray, the Volunteer Fire Department, Deputy Grubb, and Deputy Goins for sharing their time with our children. And we’re grateful for the preschool teachers who keep finding ways to bring learning to life. Here at Red Bird, these visits are a chance for our little ones to dream about who they might become when they grow up, while getting to know the good folks who serve their community every day.
— Kayla Smith, Development Gifts and Media, Red Bird Mission
Senior Meal Deliveries Reduced 20%
With government funding already spent, due to state budget cuts, over a 70% cut from last year to Red Bird Mission, we are solely operating day to day on donations to feed our vulnerable isolated seniors. We have had to go from 60 meals a day to 48 meals delivered daily; we have reduced staff, and are reducing deliveries to 4 days a week to continue as long as we can. We are traveling over 160 miles a day to reach those most in need.
We have signed a petition addressed to the Governor’s Office requesting immediate relief, as his public correspondence assured fully funding senior meals and reported over 1 billion surplus state dollars. We want to thank everyone for the donations to date that have made this week of meals possible. Please continue to pray, call legislators, sign the petition and send donations or food.
Make a donation online to help cover all or a portion of the $2,500 needed each week using the secure donation link below, or mail a check to Red Bird Mission, Inc., 70 Queendale Ctr, Beverly, KY 40913-9607 marked “Elderly Meals”. A monthly gift of $180 covers the meals for one person each month.
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