For ten days each September, a celebration of both Kansas culture and people takes place in the form of the Kansas State Fair. A nicely wrapped bow on the present that is summer, the annual event is held in Hutchinson.
The fair begins with an event that has a particularly special place in our hearts here at B&W Trailer Hitches—the 4-H and FFA Grand Drive. From the swine market show and beef showmanship event to the Grand Drive & Gala that takes place Saturday evening, this three-day window during the Kansas State Fair highlights The Sunflower State’s main industry: agriculture.
It’s in 4-H barns around Kansas where America’s next generation of farmers will germinate their love of farming and raising livestock; it’s at this state fairground where they cultivate that love with other like-minded youth. We were fortunate enough to meet a few contestants and hear what they had to say about their involvement in 4-H and FFA:
Entering her fourth year as a 4-H participant, Collins Dickson sprouted a love for livestock in her hometown as it’s her community’s way of life. From the southwest Kansas town of Johnson City, Collins brought two goats, a sheep, and her favorite heifer cow named Honey (pictured above).
Just north of Collins’s hometown, Kenzi Martinez of Dighton is only 15 years old, but has been showing swine for seven years already. Her mother was heavily involved in 4-H growing up and encouraged her to do the same. Kenzi plans to leverage her 4-H experience into a career in agricultural communications, reporting on the industry at a media outlet in the future.
Hailing from eastern Kansas out of the town of Overbrook, Ally Williams’s upbringing consisted of going to sale barns with her father Greg as he was purchasing cattle. She wanted to follow in his footsteps, and joined 4H as an eight-year-old. Now 16, she’s aiming to be a livestock nutritionist in the near future, and when asked about her favorite part of FFA now, she said, “serving as a role model for the next generation of 4-H and FFA participants like those who I looked up to when I first got into it”.
And finally, from our own backyard here in Humboldt, Sophie Barlow brought a crossbred steer named Dash with her to Hutchinson. She has aspirations of being a veterinarian someday, which stems from her time in 4-H and FFA.
All four contestants grew up in a family that exclusively tows their livestock with B&W Trailer Hitches. Whether it’s because of the reliability of the products, the versatility of the Tow & Stow and Turnoverball, or the fact that the brand is a born and bred Kansan like them, they and their families all had similar thoughts as to why the brand is the leader of the towing space in the Kansas agricultural industry.
B&W Trailer Hitches is a proud sponsor of the 4-H and FFA Grand Drive, because we know the young Kansans competing across these events will go on to feed the world in coming years. We salute all the contestants who showcase their best livestock, and we'll always look forward to celebrating some of the last days of summer by dropping by the Kansas State Fairgrounds each September.
Interested in attending the Kansas State Fair? Visit https://www.kansasstatefair.com/ to plan your visit.
Kansas residents interested in competing can also learn more about the rules and requirements through the Kansas State Fair website or by contacting their local 4-H and FFA programs.
