Kansas State Fair Board member Holly Lofton was the overall victor in the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s 20th annual Kansas Grape Stomp. Lofton was among 12 participants stomping to help celebrate the grape and farm winery industries in Kansas. Her winning total was 60 ounces.
Lofton is currently in her seventh year of serving on the State Fair board and shared with Ad Astra Radio that this is her second year doing the grape stomp competition. She was just asked to fill in for someone last year.
“The gal that usually wins… I beat her,” Lofton said. “I was surprised because she’s very good at it.”
The grape stomp competition is a fun event the board gets to do to interact with fairgoers according to Lofton.
“And for me, it’s important because I get to share how I got to be on the board with future leaders who are going to replace us someday,” Lofton said.
Examples Lofton gave were FFA leaders and 4-H leaders who are here to learn how they can get to be on the fair board, whether that’s through the extension, Department of Agriculture, Commerce, etc.
Lofton serves as the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director in Lindsborg. She also serves for the Travel Industry Association of Kansas, which is a very different part of the fair. Her background in marketing makes her love that portion of the fair.
“I don’t know tons about the animal barns and things, but I serve with people that are experts, and we have a board that’s one of the most functional boards I’ve ever served on,” Lofton said. “Wonderful people. We can disagree with each other, and we can still be super great friends at the end of the day and get a lot accomplished.”
Lofton is very proud of what the board has done in the seven years she has been a part of it. She also believes Kansas State Fair General Manager Bryan Schulz has been “exceptional in his leadership” as well.
“I can look around the fairgrounds and just see so many things that have been accomplished during the time I’ve been here,” Lofton said.
