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Wellington, Kan. —
A tradition going back decades, Wellington citizens anticipate the annual Wheat Festival all year, and now, thanks to a push by local officials, people from all over the state may have a chance to make the celebration their own.
It was Shelley Hansel-Williams, Executive Direcor of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, who approached District Representative Vincent Wetta about drafting a bill making Wellington’s annual Wheat Festival the official Wheat Festival of Kansas.
The bill has already passed on the House side of Congress, and Senator Steve Abrams is working to get it pushed through on the Senate side.
Hansel-Williams also talked with Governor Sam Brownback about the changes to the festival at a meeting held back in February. She said the Governor whole-heartedly supports the idea of taking the festival statewide.
“He said he would love to come down and be involved, if he has the time.”
Considering there are no other Wheat Fests in all of Kansas, hopes are high the bill will make it through the approval stages.
This isn’t the first time city officials have tried to get the Wheat Fest recognized on a state level. According to Hansel-Williams, there were attempts made in the 1980’s to have the celebration made into the official Kansas Wheat Festival, but nothing ever materialized.
Sumner County has held a summer festival for over a century. Originally called the Sumner County Harvest Jubilee and Wheat Carnival, the celebration has always revolved around the summer wheat crop.
With that in mind, event organizers are making a concerted effort to fit more wheat themes into the yearly celebration. Ideas, such as a show to display classic and modern farm vehicles, have been discussed.
“Why would we do a Wheat Festival if it’s not about wheat?” asked Hansel-Williams. “My hope is we get more support from all over Kansas to celebrate everything wheat.”
Even with the new changes to the festival, many of the traditional events associated with it will be making their return. “We’ll still have the carnival, the street dance, and all of the old favorites,” said Hansel-Williams.
Though there is no official timeline for the passing of the Wheat Festival legislation, city officials expect news soon.
A tradition going back decades, Wellington citizens anticipate the annual Wheat Festival all year, and now, thanks to a push by local officials, people from all over the state may have a chance to make the celebration their own.
It was Shelley Hansel-Williams, Executive Direcor of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, who approached District Representative Vincent Wetta about drafting a bill making Wellington’s annual Wheat Festival the official Wheat Festival of Kansas.
The bill has already passed on the House side of Congress, and Senator Steve Abrams is working to get it pushed through on the Senate side.
Hansel-Williams also talked with Governor Sam Brownback about the changes to the festival at a meeting held back in February. She said the Governor whole-heartedly supports the idea of taking the festival statewide.
“He said he would love to come down and be involved, if he has the time.”
Considering there are no other Wheat Fests in all of Kansas, hopes are high the bill will make it through the approval stages.
This isn’t the first time city officials have tried to get the Wheat Fest recognized on a state level. According to Hansel-Williams, there were attempts made in the 1980’s to have the celebration made into the official Kansas Wheat Festival, but nothing ever materialized.
Sumner County has held a summer festival for over a century. Originally called the Sumner County Harvest Jubilee and Wheat Carnival, the celebration has always revolved around the summer wheat crop.
With that in mind, event organizers are making a concerted effort to fit more wheat themes into the yearly celebration. Ideas, such as a show to display classic and modern farm vehicles, have been discussed.
“Why would we do a Wheat Festival if it’s not about wheat?” asked Hansel-Williams. “My hope is we get more support from all over Kansas to celebrate everything wheat.”
Even with the new changes to the festival, many of the traditional events associated with it will be making their return. “We’ll still have the carnival, the street dance, and all of the old favorites,” said Hansel-Williams.
Though there is no official timeline for the passing of the Wheat Festival legislation, city officials expect news soon.
