An Afternoon with Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Claire Koshar about the life, the friends, and the cooking of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Yearling. Moderated by Dr. Peter Cannon, this program will explore the Florida inspiration for many of the works written by Rawlings and her years living in the Cross Creek community in central Florida.

Claire Kosha grew up in Rockland County, NY. She is a life member of the MKR Society and a member of the Friends of MKR Farm. Claire continues to be  an active member of the Rawlings Society and is a trustee emerita.  She was deeply involved in the reconstruction of the Barn at the Rawlings Farm, as well as the reconstruction of the tenant house.  Claire served as a docent for the Farm, and is currently the Chairperson of the Markers and Memorials Committee and in her second term as the MKR Society Historian.

Claire graduated from the State University of New York at Potsdam with a BS in Education in 1956. She then married Martin Koshar and they raised their family in Denver and Central Florida. Claire is a professional dog trainer, AKC licensed handler, judge, and breeder of Flat Coated Retrievers, and was the owner and director the 3-J Dog Training School for 40 years. She was the President of the Citrus Council of Girl Scouts, was the secretary of the Flat Coated Retriever Society of America, and founded the Southern Skies Flat Coated retriever Club. 

Among her publications are her book, A Guide to Dog Sports – From Beginners to Winners – Doral Publishing, and multiple articles. Claire has had an interest in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ writings since reading the Yearling at age 8. Claire enjoys reading, travel, sailing, and her beloved dog, Rosie.