Source: John Briggs, 785-532-0140, briggs1@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Stephanie Jacques, 785-532-0101, sjacques@k-state.edu
Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011
TASTING IN THE TALLGRASS: FUNDRAISER AT KONZA PRAIRIE TO AID GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH
MANHATTAN -- Konza Prairie Biological Station, a tallgrass prairie ecological research site jointly owned by Kansas State University and The Nature Conservancy, and managed by K-State's Division of Biology, is hosting Tasting in the Tallgrass to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Tasting in the Tallgrass is a wine- and beer-tasting celebration from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Konza. The event will feature wines from grasslands around the world, including South Africa, Argentina, Australia and Kansas, donated by Nespor's Wine and Spirits in Manhattan and the Oz Winery in Wamego.
For those non-wine drinkers, Tallgrass Brewing Company, located outside Manhattan, will be providing a firkin, a signature brew for the event, as well as select Tallgrass favorites.
Complementary food pairings for both the wine and the beer will be provided by Ray's Apple Market.
The event will take place at the Konza Prairie Biological Station in the historic limestone and cottonwood Dewey Ranch barn, renovated into a meeting hall in 2008 from funds donated from the Cortelyou family. The barn is nestled in the valley of Konza Prairie headquarters and surrounded by more than 8,600 acres of tallgrass prairie.
A framed and matted print of the Konza Prairie, "Forgotten Windmill," has been donated by Chod Hedinger and will be raffled off at the tasting for a dollar per entry. Each guest will also receive a souvenir Konza Prairie wine glass. Weather permitting, guests may have the rare opportunity to view the majestic fall colors of Konza's tallgrass prairie during the event.
Tickets to the event are $100 each and space will be limited. All proceeds from Tasting in the Tallgrass will benefit graduate student research on Konza Prairie.
Additional sponsors include Caterpillar Work Tools, KanEquip, Wamego Telecommunications and Waters True Value Rental. Konza Prairie is 6.3 miles south of Kansas Highway 177 on McDowell Creek Road along the east side of the Kansas River. The area can also be reached from Interstate 70 by taking exit 307 and traveling north 4.9 miles on McDowell Creek Road/Riley County 901.
For more information or to register for Tasting in the Tallgrass, visit the Konza Prairie website at http://kpbs.konza.ksu.edu or http://www.found.ksu.edu/prairie.
