To celebrate the Kansas grape and wine industries, the Kansas Department of Agriculture will host the eighth annual Kansas Grape Stomp this Saturday at 3:00 p.m. on the Lake Talbott Stage at the Kansas State Fair.
The grapes for the event were grown by Mission Valley FFA members RaeLynn McClelland, and Jade and Cole Hodge as a part of their Supervised Agricultural Experience, which gives FFA members hands-on experience working in an agricultural setting.
Public officials, agricultural and economic leaders and other dignitaries have been stomping grapes at the Kansas State Fair since 2004.
The 2013 participants include:
Marcus C.L. Tetwiler, University of Kansas Student Body President, Paola
Eli Schooley, Kansas State University Student Body President, Clay Center
Elizabeth Allen, Kansas State FFA Officer, Holton
Daryl Simmons, Kansas State FFA Officer, Barnard
Virginia Crossland-Macha, Kansas State Fair Board Member, Iola
Barbara Stone, Department of 4-H Youth Development Assistant Director, Manhattan
New to the event this year, the Kansas Grape Stomp will open participation up to fair visitors.
Ag Secretary Dale Rodman encourages Kansans young and old who plan to be at the fair on Saturday to stop by to try their hand in grape stomping and learn more about growing grapes in Kansas.
Kansas wineries produced 107,419 gallons of wine and hosted a total of 251,870 visitors in 2010. Total sales at winery tasting rooms in Kansas in 2010 were nearly $3.5 million.