Whether you’re a Karla by blood, a Nelson by marriage, or part of the beautiful blend we’ve created together, this day is for you. It’s time to pause our busy lives, share a meal, swap old stories, and make new memories with the people who know us best.
The second day was all about play. A makeshift obstacle course, built from hay bales and wooden planks, turned the fields into a battleground of friendly competition. The “Grandpa Jim Relay”—where participants carried a sack of feed while reciting a family proverb—ended with more giggles than triumphs, and the prize was a handmade wooden spoon engraved with “Nelson Strong.” karla+nelson+family+reunion
Karla Nelson is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist known for hosting a significant family reunion each year in Fawn Creek, Kansas Whether you’re a Karla by blood, a Nelson
As Karla enters her late 70s, planning has begun for the 20th reunion in 2028. Her grandchildren are already designing a documentary and a cookbook. The hope is that long after Karla is gone, the will continue—not as a museum piece, but as a living, breathing celebration of a woman who simply refused to let her family become strangers. A makeshift obstacle course, built from hay bales