Keya Paha County was the first full-length play written by Red Shuttleworth... in 1987.  As rancher "Cole" dies from prostate cancer, he also copes with a young lover, a crazed ex-wife, his prodigal son, and the Farm Crisis of the 1980's.

Keya Paha County was first produced in 1989 by State University of New York at Fredonia, where it was directed by Thomas W. Loughlin.