David City played host to three sell-out performances of Heartland, a tribute to prairie farm heritage by composer Deborah Fischer Teason. The five-movement work was performed by the Butler County Community Choir accompanied by violinst Dr. David Neely, the American Czech Brass Band, a children's choir, and button accordion ensemble. Wonderfully poetic lyrics for the piece were written collectively in open workshops. Themes of community, family, farming, tradition, and nature are symbolized by a barn, mothers' hands, windmill, quilt, and weather. School children worked with artist Ruth Nichols to create five large murals for display during performances and for permanent display in the historic Thorpe Opera House.