September 10, 2014
Letter from V.P. Jeff Morris: State Fair Day celebrates purple pride
The sights and sounds of the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson are an annual reminder of the energy and vitality of our home state. While the fair has always had a tilt toward the purple side, our deliberate effort to ramp up the K-State presence in recent years has definitely had an impact.
As we celebrated K-State Day at the Fair on Sept. 7 this year, an impressive number of people showed up wearing purple. K-State Director of Bands Frank Tracz and President Kirk Schulz welcomed a record crowd at the noon kickoff pep rally. With attendance at the fair estimated at more than 100,000 for the day, the event is a great opportunity to connect with our base.
A great K-State Day at the Fair does not happen by accident. With the leadership of this year's chair, Dr. Jackie Hartman, many months of planning are required by folks from all four campuses and our statewide research and extension teams. The result is a powerhouse demonstration of the reach and impact our university has on the daily lives of the state's citizens.
K-State's influence could be found in virtually every corner of the sprawling fair grounds. Sunday was an important day for the K-State brand and it is rewarding to see the consistency across the various exhibits and displays. We definitely put our best purple foot forward!
Many thanks to the hundreds of K-State faculty, staff, students and alumni who planned, toiled and assisted with this effort. On a bright, shining day, our university shone the brightest.
Thank you to all who participated in this team effort!
Jeff Morris
Vice president for communications and marketing