On May 1st and 2nd, the Kansas Sampler Foundation(KSF) hosted a festival to promote places, people, and things to do and see in Kansas. There were several thousand people in attendance, it was held in Leavenworth, Kansas, where it will also be held next year. The festival moves every two years to a different area of the state. One of the main activities of the KSF is the Kansas Explorers, a group of adventurers that literally 'explore' the state. There are just under 6,000 members that spread out across the state with the aim of discovering places and people that were unknown to them previously. My sis, Barbara, her hubby, Charles, my hubby, Don, and I are members of this group and enjoyed attending the festival.
There is a segment of society that chooses to poke fun at the 'flatness' of the Kansas prairie, not realizing, apparently, that many of us find the subtle rolling hills, sculpted stream beds, prehistoric rock formations, and a horizon that exemplifies heaven and earth, as a thing of beauty. We have a little of everything; a hilly forested eastern region, a rolling productive central area, and an arid archaeological treasure trove in the west. At the festival, the various regions of the state were represented by cities and counties set up in huge tent pavilions ready to show you where they were and why you should visit their area.
Pavilions were filled with artisans goodies to taste or smell; there were bakeries, jams, BBQ sauces, salsas, mustards, meats, chips, cheeses, soaps, herbs, cremes and much more. There was a tent for sheep shearing, one for Kansas brewed beers and Kansas vineyards. There were living history exhibits "Freedom's Frontier" included the Mahaffie Stage Coach Station, John Brown, Alexander Majors the Santa Fe Trail merchant, Wyandot Nation of Kansas, LeCompton Players and the state's first capitol, and others depicting pioneer struggles. There was a tent honoring all the Kansas authors/poets and one that exhibited the works of our homegrown artists.
From time to time there will be some reports here regarding places and things in this wonderful state, and with good fortune, some recommendations for anyone wanting to explore the great prairie state of Kansas.
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