By Lucky Kidd
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — During opening ceremonies Friday morning at Peoples Bank and Trust Arena, State Fair Ambassador Richard Shank paraphrased a quote made 100 years ago by legendary Kansas publisher William Allen White, “Things start in Kansas that finish in History,” by saying something very special started in Hutchinson that keeps rolling along with age.
Other speakers during the ceremony included Hutchinson Mayor Greg Fast,who shared some statistics from the fair involving his family, such as 265 times he’s attended the fair, 345 Pronto Pups consumed, 123 root beers purchased, and 66 concerts his family has attended. He also said this year’s fair will set an attendance record.
General Manager Bryan Schulz in his remarks reviewed the number of improvements over the past two years, some of which Shank noted made getting around the grounds difficult over the past few months. Schultz also said putting on the fair takes a lot of support from the people of Kansas, fair staff, sponsors, and the 13 members of the Kansas State Fair Board who were introduced by Board President Bob Atkisson of Stockton.
Two of the Board members who are quite talented musically, Paula Landoll Smith of Marysville and Dylan Evans of Lebo, led those in attendance in the singing of the National Anthem to start the program and, with the rest of the Board, in signing of the official state song of Kansas, “Home on the Range,” at the conclusion.
During the opening there was also a recognition of Lindsborg’s American Legion Post 140 for spearheading an effort to provide US Flags for the Fairgrounds. Bob Hulse from Post 140 said this started out as a project to provide one flag, which grew to two, and then Fair Board Member and Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Holly Lofton got involved, and challenged them to fund more flags, and then even more.
Ultimately working with 55 different posts, auxiliary units, Sons of the American Legion squadrons and Legion Riders chapters, they raised enough to get those flags, plus two large flags for fairgrounds buildings.
The Fair’s largest free stage is sponsored by Peoples Bank and Trust, based in McPherson with 17 locations across eight counties in central, southern and western Kansas. Peoples Chairman of the Board Tom Pruitt said “Our core focus is to impact the communities we serve. We feel like being a sponsor of the Kansas State Fair year over year is not only a great way to support the communities we serve, but those surrounding communities and the state as a whole.”
Kansas Highway Patrol Lieutenant Candace Brashear also shared remarks during the ceremony with the KHP Honor Guard presenting the colors at the start of the program.
