HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KWCH) — Fairgoers flocking to the Kansas State Fair this week have opportunities that go beyond classic carnival food and midway games — from discovering missing money to helping feed neighbors in need.
Unclaimed cash and college savings at Meadowlark Building
The Kansas State Treasurer held an unclaimed property event at the Kansas State Fair.(KWCH)
Visitors walking through the Meadowlark Building could walk away with extra money in their pockets courtesy of the Kansas State Treasurer’s Office.
State Treasurer Steven Johnson and staff members are assisting attendees with searches through the state’s unclaimed property registry to see if funds or assets are waiting for them. The booth features computer terminals where fairgoers can conduct lookups on the spot.
“We get new things every year, so people will check and we’ll search for them,” Johnson said. “We do have screens they can search on themselves, and of course you can do it at home.”
Staff members are also providing information about state-administered tax-advantaged savings programs, including Learning Quest 529 education savings plans. Those unable to attend the fair can check for unclaimed assets online through the state’s portal at missingmoney.ks.gov.
Dillons and Kansas Food Bank team up for fairground meal packing
Across the grounds, fairgoers stepped out of the heat to lend a hand assembling meal kits for families facing food insecurity.
Dillons presented a $15,000 donation to the Kansas Food Bank on Wednesday while organizing a volunteer packaging drive that produced roughly 1,000 meal kits. Organizers invited fair attendees to join the effort throughout the morning before volunteer shifts concluded at 1:30 p.m.
Kansas Food Bank Director of Operations Ken Regier noted that demand for food assistance remains elevated across the region.
“I think across the board there are a lot of folks trying to access food banks and food pantries, so a lot of our places are delivering more food all across the state,” Regier said.
Mounted shooting brings fast-paced equestrian action
Equestrian competition also took a unique turn with cowboy mounted shooting, an event competitors describe as a hybrid between agility riding and target shooting.
Dating back to the 1990s, the sport features riders navigating course patterns at high speed while firing blank black-powder rounds from two single-action revolvers at mounted balloon targets. Events held across the state draw competitors ranging in age from 5 to more than 90.
“You see horses run fast in barrel racing, but something happens here,” said Ryan Chambers, president of Prairie Fire Mounted Shooters. “The difference is you’ve got people who aren’t just staring straight forward the entire time — they’re looking in every direction trying to hit targets as they fly on by. It’s basically barrel racing on steroids.”
Organizers anticipate roughly a dozen riders competing in the fairground showcase on Thursday. More information on local clinics and events is available through prairiefireshooters.com.
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