By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

Details of Saturday's celebration of the 30th anniversary of the rediscovery of the endangered black-footed ferret have been set.

Activities begin at 1 p.m. at the Tim and Rebekah Peterson farm 15 miles west of Oakley on U.S. Highway 40.

The Petersons stepped forward and agreed to host the celebration at their farm after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unsuccessfully sought to conduct events in Oakley schools and at the county-owned 4-H building.

After being booted out of both venues, the event was rescheduled to Mitten's Truck Stop, but that too was canceled due to pressure from customers.

At Saturday's event, a black-footed ferret from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will be on display, as will a skunk and two prairie dogs.

Several of Saturday's activities will mirror those scheduled for Monday at a second -- and separate -- celebration takes place at Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

The Peterson event will include discussions by wildlife biologists Dean Biggins and Travis Livieri.

Tours are scheduled for the ranch that is now home to the largest of two ferret reintroduction projects in Logan County. The tours leave at 2 and 4:30 p.m., returning about two hours later.

Live music featuring Ann Zimmerman, Salina, will be ongoing at the Peterson farmstead, as will snacks and food.

A discussion session has been scheduled for 2:30 p.m. to talk about how to use black-footed ferrets and the prairie habitat as a tourist destination.

A session on the future of ferret reintroduction is planned for 7 p.m.