Staff writer

Have you ever considered keeping arrowheads as a tradition? How about growing tobacco as a crop? or square dancing? or even making sorghum or cream candy?

Sue Massek has. Massek is a folk-lorist with the Kentucky Arts Council and she is spending four weeks with Caneyville Elementary students and teachers helping them realize the wealth of tradition here in Grayson County.

Many things are classified as traditions. Traditions are activities or objects handed down through the generations and they can be anything from a collection of buck-eyes to your grandma's recipe for cornbread, or grand pa's favorite gig dance.

Massek has been with the Kentucky Arts Council since 1977 as an Artist in Residence. She is originally from Goff, Missouri but her ancestors are from Kentucky. She has learned a lot about her ancestors and says coming to Kentucky "felt like coming home." Currently she lives in Willisburg, Ky. and travels across Kentucky for the Kentucky Arts Council.

She is a folk singer, dancer, and lorist. Her abilities are a talent for the council and her job is to share these talents with others in an educational setting.

Massek is teaching Caneyville students different types of traditions including folk dances.

Part of Massek's tradition includes singing songs her mom taught her. Traditions are just that easy to find. They have been handed down in song, dance, work, cooking and stories.

Traditions are well known for being shared among families, but they are also shared by schools, churches, communities and work.

For example a tradition that the Caneyville community has observed for nearly 70 years is their fair and homecoming days during the first of October.

School traditions can be seen in colors and awards for good performances. Church traditions are celebrated with annual reunions and revivals.

Massek is looking for a variety of traditions to show Caneyville students in December. She is hoping to find people who are willing to participate in the school festival.

She is looking for occupational folklife such as tobacco farmers, coal miners, hunters, fishers, and ginseng or mushroom hunters. Crafters include such people as quilters, whittlers, potters, basket or chair makers, and wood workers.

Musicians, cloggers, and dancers, writers and storytellers are welcome to come. Historians and collectors are needed too. If you collect arrowheads or civil war memorabilia, dolls or glassware.

Traditions passed down in foodways are important too. Apple stack cake or bee keepers or sorghum makers and cream candy pullers are encouraged to come share their talents.