Rural Development Division at the 2009 Kansas State Fair
The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Rural Development Division sponsored a series of activities at the 2009 Kansas State Fair to showcase the state’s agricultural producers.
As in past years, the Division hosted the People’s Choice Wine Judging event on Sept. 11 in the Bluestem Building. This year’s event featured wines from members of the Simply Kansas trademark program. Judges, who pre-registered for tasting sessions, sampled wines from 12 vineyards and then cast ballots for their two favorite wines. Nearly 200 participants determined the following winning wines:
1st Place: Holy-field Vineyard & Winery (Basehor) -- Yogi Berry Blackberry
2nd Place: Smoky Hill Vineyard & Winery (Salina) -- Traminette
3rd Place: Blue Jacket Crossing Vineyard & Winery (Eudora) -- Seyval
In addition to the wine judging event, the Bluestem Building was the location for the Simply Kansas Showcase. The Showcase provided an opportunity for fair-goers to meet with Simply Kansas companies from across the state, learn about Simply Kansas products and services and sample the trademark products. In all, 14 companies were featured in the Showcase.
For those curious about what goes into great-tasting Kansas wine, a daily “Meet the Winemaker” session provided the ideal setting to meet Kansas winemakers and learn what it takes to make the perfect bottle of wine. Vinters from seven Kansas vineyards, as well as a representative from the Highland Community College’s Viticulture (grape growing) and Enology (wine making) degree programs, explained the wine-making process to Fair-goers.
Mini-grape stomps were a new addition to this year’s schedule of activities. This event allowed contestants to participate in a grape-stomp competition against other fair-goers! Each contestant stomped a bushel of grapes in an attempt to extract the largest amount of juice. Austin Bray of McPherson was declared the Big Stomper of the 2009 Kansas State Fair, with a total juice quantity of four quarts, 20 ounces, and received a Simply Kansas gift basket for his efforts.
During the last weekend of the Fair, artist Anastasia Easterday of Atwood dazzled fair-goers by completing an original watercolor, which features the state’s agricultural industry and depicts the changing face of Kansas agriculture.
To everyone who visited us at this year’s State Fair, thank you for your support and your interest in Kansas agriculture.
For more information on how the Rural Development Division works to promote agriculture in Kansas, contact us at ruraldev@kansascommerce.com.