After heavy rains earlier this week left parking lots unusable and fairgoers wading through mud, the Kansas State Fair is pressing ahead with a full schedule of events, music, and history.
On Tuesday, more than two dozen school bands performed inside the People’s Bank and Trust Arena, including Rose Hill and Sedan.
"I talked to one band director who indicated they got up in the dark of the morning or the night, whichever, and drove three and a half hours to Hutchinson, and they had instructions to be back in time for football practice." said Longtime fair historian and foundation member Richard Shank.
Shank, who first attended the fair in 1957, recalled memories of the infamous 1965 flood that left parts of the grounds under several feet of water. “We’ve seen wet years before, but the leadership team has handled it well, bussing in folks from the Hutchinson Sports Arena lots,” he said.
This year marks the 112th Kansas State Fair, first held in 1913. With the exception of 2020, when COVID-19 forced a cancellation, the fair has continued even through wartime gas rationing. Fair leaders, including General Manager Bryan Schulz in his fifth year, have overseen significant improvements in recent years. Projects by the Kansas State Fair Foundation include the 1861 Club, restoration of the historic Lear House, Capper Cooperative Park, and ongoing work at the Bison Building.
Despite the weather challenges, crowds topped 100,000 over the opening weekend. Shuttle buses continue to run daily from the Hutchinson Sports Arena, Uptown Mall, and Bold 3PL, with handicapped parking available near Gate 5.
Entertainment has included wrestling, Christian rock group Josiah Queen, and the Oak Ridge Boys — the act that has performed at the Kansas State Fair more times than any other. Upcoming events include the Governor’s Awards and a Pronto Pup eating contest at noon on Sunday.
For Shank, the fair remains a place where history, community, and commerce all meet. “We’ve bought everything from tractors to lawnmowers here for the farm,” he said. “The fair has always been about more than food and fun — it’s where Kansas comes together.”