Rep. Mann Celebrates Storied History of Kansas State Fair

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize the Kansas State Fair for its vast traditions and ability to bring Kansans together. As the representative for Hutchinson, which has hosted the Kansas State Fair over 100 years, Rep. Mann celebrates its significance to the culture of the Big First District and the state of Kansas.

Rep. Mann’s Remarks as Prepared:

Mr. Speaker, this week, thousands of Kansans across our state will travel to the Big First District to partake in the annual tradition of the Kansas State Fair. My family and I had the privilege to travel to Hutchinson this weekend for the fair, and there truly is nothing like it. Typically, Congress is not in session during the first week of the fair and I am able to spend a few more days there with my fellow Kansans. While I'm saddened I couldn't stay longer this year, I want to take a moment on the House Floor to recognize the significance of this tradition and the people who make it possible.

The State Fair is one of the crown jewels of Kansas tradition. For more than a century, families have made the trip to Hutchinson every September to celebrate agriculture, spend time together, and to showcase the very best of our state. It is a place where urban and rural Kansans alike come together, where grandparents bring their grandkids to see livestock shows, enjoy funnel cakes and candy apples, ride the Ferris wheel, and come together to honor agriculture as the backbone of our economy and our culture. The State Fair is truly a reflection of who we are as Kansans.

In Kansas, agriculture is more than an occupation — it is a calling. A calling that is the heartbeat of the Big First District. The fair celebrates that and honors the men and women who devote their lives to feeding, fueling, and clothing the world. From livestock shows to crop displays, the fair is a reminder of the faith, work ethic, and service that define our communities. It is also a place where we invest in the next generation by highlighting the accomplishments of FFA and 4-H students who will carry our agricultural tradition forward and emerge as future leaders of agriculture in our state.

On Saturday, I had the privilege of announcing the annual Legislative Showmanship competition alongside Mary McCurry, the Chairwoman of the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation Board. This event is unlike anything else in the country. It gives lawmakers the opportunity to learn directly from Kansas FFA and 4-H students about how to show livestock and, more importantly, about the commitment and dedication it takes to care for those animals. These young people are the future leaders of agriculture, and I was inspired by their passion and knowledge. I would also like to acknowledge Mary Kane with Kansas FFA and Ann Sankey with the Kansas State Fair Foundation Board for putting on a great event. Congratulations again to this year’s winners and thank you to everyone who made the event possible.

I also had the opportunity to hear from our state’s farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, and industry leaders on Saturday morning. We reflected on how Congress delivered big wins for Kansas agriculture this summer through the Working Families Tax Cuts, but we still have work to do. Kansas farmers and ranchers still need a fiscally conservative, five-year Farm Bill that addresses the needs of today, not those of 2018. My House Agriculture Committee colleagues and I are working hard to deliver Farm Bill 2.0 to further support the men and women who show up every single day with the determination to feed, fuel, and clothe the world.

Mr. Speaker, the Kansas State Fair is about more than rides, exhibits, and shows. It is about honoring the Kansas families and traditions that make agriculture strong, and investing in the next generation who will maintain that leadership tomorrow. Kansans are proud of this tradition, and I am proud to represent Hutchinson and the Big First District — home of the Kansas State Fair — here in the House of Representatives.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield.

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