The West Riley

10/04/2026

This weekend was magical. Just magical.
❤️🖤❤️

“You are always 17 in your hometown” Cody Canada

There is something magical about homecoming in a small town. This year in Dexter it was extra special.

Alumni from all ages came home. The Spartan football team was victorious. A new queen was crowned. Neighbors visited with each other downtown.

The whole community of 200 plus over a thousand guests enjoyed live music under the beautiful new pavilion that they built.

Justin McKee motivated over 300 attendees on coming together as a community and the benefits of a rural lifestyle.

90’s country artist Chris Cagle and the red dirt superstar Cody Canada wowed the crowds.

We laughed, hugged, watched fireworks, enjoyed wonderful food, shopped and loved coming Back to the Valley.

10/01/2026

The West Riley will be open 9am - 4pm on the Second Saturday, October 10, 2026 in downtown Dexter, Kansas!

Bonus: We also will be open THIS Saturday, October 3, for Dexter’s first Back to the Valley festival!

09/28/2026

From a pile of fabric and plain wooden boxes, to beautifully finished footstools - we had so much fun this weekend! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our beginner upholstery workshops!

09/26/2026

We caaaannnooootttt WAIT to show you this collaboration we’re stitching together!

We’re talking seriously talented western women. Silversmiths, fine artists, potters, leather toolers, upholsterers (🙋🏻‍♀️) and one dreamy chair 😍 all from the Kansas Flint Hills.

She’ll be available at auction during Gathering in the Grove in November! (Also - she needs a NAME!)

09/22/2026

Last call for our LAST beginner upholstery workshop of the year in Dexter, Kansas!

We have 2️⃣ SPOTS left for Saturday morning (Sept 26th), and 2️⃣ SPOTS left for Saturday afternoon’s class!

So grab your bestie and get registered! Link is in the comments 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

09/20/2026

Just finished custom reupholstering and restaining a set of eight of these chairs!

Four are done in a solid faux leather (because kids and budgets!) and four have this easy-care Pendleton-Sunbrella fabric on the top with matching faux leather seats.

Most importantly, we replaced the webbing on the seats so the family doesn’t “sit in a hole” at the dinner table anymore!

09/17/2026

Want to learn basic upholstery techniques with us in Dexter, Kansas?? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Hurry, our last classes of the year are almost full!

We have 6 spots left for Saturday, Sept. 26 (4 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon session).

👉🏻 Register on our website at thewestriley .com

Select the time you want to attend from the dropdown options. 💥 Don’t forget to check out and pay through your shopping cart! Just clicking “attend” won’t get you registered.

The details: Learn basic upholstery techniques and create your own custom footstool with The West Riley in downtown Dexter, Kansas. Each registration is for a 3-hour class, and includes everything you need to create your footstool, including the frame, foundation and finish materials. All tools (and SNACKS!) provided.

09/16/2026

West Riley friends - You know you’re from a small town when you have to switch hats for a bit, right?! 🤠

I’m part of the planning committee for an incredible new event we are hosting in our little hometown. Long read, but check out what the Dexter Hometown Association is putting together: Back To The Valley

October 2-3, 2026 are going to be two incredible days of homecoming, reunion, community, music, food, games, vendors, and memories in Dexter, Kansas! But… We need your help with sponsorships, donations, and most important - we need you to come join the fun!

We have almost reached our sponsorship goal, and the recognition deadline is September 18th. Sponsorships include your logo/name on signage, VIP seating at the concerts, drink tickets and t-shirts, and banquet tickets!

To become a sponsor, please contact the Dexter School or fill out the sponsorship form at https://www.usd471.org/o/district/page/back-to-the-valley-festival

What’s going on?! 👉🏻

🏈 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2ND
We’ll kick things off with the Back to the Bleachers Tailgate before Friday night’s football game, followed by a FREE CONCERT by Chris Cagle!

🎉 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD
Saturday morning will begin with a 5k run and an Alumni Breakfast, followed by a full day of activities for the entire family.

An evening banquet (tickets required) featuring keynote speaker Justin McKee from The Cowboy Channel will be followed by another FREE CONCERT! Savanna Chestnut and The Fieldhands will open for Red Dirt’s own Cody Canada and The Departed! Did we mention the concert is FREE?!?

There will also be a B**r Garden, food and market vendors, kids’ inflatables, big kid tournaments and many opportunities to gather, visit, celebrate, and enjoy time together.

⛪️ SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH
To wrap up an amazing weekend with great friends, join us at Church in the Valley, 10am in the concert Pavillion!

📅 OCTOBER 2ND & 3RD
📍 DEXTER, KANSAS
👉🏻 https://www.usd471.org/o/district/page/back-to-the-valley-festival

09/14/2026

Newest upholstered piece by TWR ~> for sale! A simple stool with an upholstered swivel top - perfect for a vanity or just extra seating when you need it!

Message us for more info and pricing!

09/11/2026

We are honored to be recognized by K-State's Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development as one of six winners for the 2026 Huck Boyd Leaders of the Year in the "Craftsmanship and Manufacturing" category!

We're excited that our friends at The West Riley are this week's Kansas Profile feature for "Now That's Rural." Read the feature here: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news-and-publications/news/stories/2025/08/kansas-profile-the-west-riley-furniture-store.html