Wichita Riverfest picks its new Admiral Windwagon Smith, his 26 high school-aged helpers

Denise Neil
·2 min read

Wichita Riverfest season gets closer every day, which means it’s time for the annual selection of the festival’s figurehead — who will be known as Admiral Windwagon Smith for the duration of festival season — and of his 26 high school helpers.

This year’s Admiral is Lyle Schuette, a longtime Riverfest volunteer who has been a part of the festival’s core volunteer group, known as The Red Shirts, for 30 years.

Schuette has been participating in the festival since he was stationed at McConnell and tried out for the base rowing team, which always raced in the festival’s bathtub races — a big attraction in the 1980s and 1990s.

Longtime Wichita Riverfest volunteer Lyle Schuette will serve as the 2024 Admiral Windwagon Smith.
Longtime Wichita Riverfest volunteer Lyle Schuette will serve as the 2024 Admiral Windwagon Smith.

Schuette, who is retired from the Kansas Air National Guard, and his wife, Debbie, are parents of three grown children and recently became grandparents. The couple also founded and for 25 years ran Schuette’s Dirt Works.

The Admiral’s Riverfest duties include donning the ceremonial red jacket and black admiral’s hat, speaking to civic organizations and visiting events throughout the 52nd festival, which will be May 31-June 8 in downtown Wichita,

He’ll be joined by the 2024 Prairie Schooner Mates, a group of high school juniors selected by their respective high schools to serve as youth representatives for the Riverfest. Their names and high schools can be found below.

2024 Prairie Schooner Mates:

Mason Bailey – Wichita Northwest High School

Lillie Beckner – North High School

Mycah Biering – Eisenhower High School

Alexsis Burkus – Wichita South High School

Andrew Clouse – Andover Central High School

Kehlen Craig – Campus High School

Samuel Doell – North High School

Mathhew Hibbs – Sunrise Christian Academy

Vada Hurst – Wichita Southeast High School

Kaylinn Hutchinson – Mulvane High School

Leona Jamaleddine – Maize South High School

Ryan Khalife – Wichita Collegiate

Olivia Leon – Wichita Heights High School

Mason Lipsey – Independent School

Liam Mabry – Sedgwick

Vy Nguyen – Wichita East High School

Bella Ochoa – Goddard High School

Airryn Powell – Andover High School

Cheyenne Qualls – Wichita West High School

Bennie Randolph – Valley Center High School

Reagan Rink – Eisenhower High School

Adelynne Scribner – Circle High School

Will Sorochty – Bishop Carroll

Alexis Thompson – Maize High School

Salene Tran – Northeast Magnet

Enzo Tsen – Wichita East High School