A Night of Country Legends and a Heartfelt Surprise: How One Guitar is Helping Tornado Relief in Grinnell

On May 3rd, the Colby Event Center was filled with boots, hats, and harmonies as NWKS Radio proudly hosted its Country Legends Concert, featuring none other than The Frontmen of Country — a powerhouse trio of chart-topping voices from the golden era of ‘90s country.

The crowd sang along to hit after hit, led by Tim Rushlow of Little Texas, Larry Stewart of Restless Heart, and Richie McDonald of Lonestar. Each brought their signature sound and charisma to the stage, reminding us all why their songs still echo through radios and rodeos alike.

But the music wasn’t the only memorable part of the night.

In a special moment during the concert, The Frontmen autographed an acoustic guitar, which was then auctioned off in a silent, text-to-bid format. The rules were simple: highest bidder takes home the guitar, and the total amount would be donated to a charity of their choosing.

The final bid? A generous $1,300.

The winning bidder chose to remain anonymous — and at the time, undecided on where

the donation would go. But that changed dramatically after May 18th, when an EF3 tornado struck Gove County, leaving devastation in its wake and the small town of Grinnell reeling.

Last week, our anonymous auction winner spent time volunteering in the tornado’s aftermath. Moved by the strength of the community and the real needs on the ground, they made their decision.

The full $1,300 is being donated to The City of Grinnell to aid in tornado disaster relief efforts.

Sometimes a night of music turns into something more. A signed guitar became a symbol of generosity. And a concert that celebrated country legends ended up helping a Kansas community begin to rebuild.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the show — and an extra special thank you to our anonymous bidder. This is country music at its best: heartfelt, humble, and always ready to lend a hand.