tourism topics - june 2016

Kicker Country Stampede turns the big 2-1! Now,for the really big news: Tim McGraw and DierksBentley are mere days from appearances on themain stage at Tuttle Creek State Park. Twenty yearsare in the books, with a slight format change tothis year’s three-night event. Country Stampede?Better than ever!

Over the years, Manhattan has seen acts fromJason Aldean and Clint Black to Keith Urban, ClayWalker, Trisha Yearwood and Dwight Yoakam per-form in the Flint Hills at Tuttle Creek State Park.Stampede has hosted 2.5-3 million visitors throughManhattan for this classic country music fest. Out-of-state visitors by the thousands fill hotel roomsand restaurants around The Little Apple® and posttruly staggering numbers for Manhattan tourismfigures. Stampede officials estimate the economicimpact to exceed $10 million for the community.

In two weeks, McGrawmakes his fourth appear-ance as CountryStampede’s headline act.Fitting, since he toppedthe billing at the veryfirst Stampede 20 yearsago, back on June 29,2006, when “All I Want isa Life” was his hit songand sparks were flyingwith now-wife Faith Hill.Dierks Bentley joinedMcGraw as a Stampedeheadliner 13 years later, and they’re together againat the top of the ticket in Manhappenin.

Joining McGraw and Bentley will be Jake Owen forSaturday’s curtain-closing show. Sam Hunt andCassadee Pope (June 23), Chris Janson (June 24)

and Chase Rice (June 25) are more headline actsfor Country Stampede No. 21. Interested in volun-teer opportunities at the Visit Manhattan informa-tion booth during Stampede? Let us know, [email protected].

June 2016Volume 12, Issue 6A publication of the

ManhattanConvention &Visitors Bureau

Kicker Country Stampede has high-degree impact on MHK economy

Manhattan pools opened May 28 for the season. www.mhkprd.com

Welcome new students on college journeysKansas State University has justintroduced a shining model toserve as a grand entrance to theuniversity. The Berney FamilyWelcome Center is adjacent tothe Alumni Center, and hastransformed the east side ofMemorial Stadium into one ofthe first facilities in the nation toincorporate many different ele-ments of campus as a single-facility introduction to new stu-dents.

This central location will housethe departments of Admissions,Financial Aid, Housing/Dining

Services and New Student Services. Additionally, Career and Employment Services offices willcounsel current students concerning career onset and progression, essentially bookending theK-State student experience.

In June, a dozen sessions of K-State enrollment will bring incoming students and family mem-bers to Manhattan for orientation activities on campus. June 9-11 is the first of three weeklysegments (June 14-18, June 21-24). These sessions will continue to be held in the K-StateStudent Union, based on sheer size of the sessions. Incoming students meet with advisors withclass enrollment among the agenda. We’re happy to work with the K-State Family and bringnew members into the fold to learn the Wildcat Way!

Symphony in the Flint Hillsembarks on second decadeAs Country Stampede enters its third decade, Symphony inthe Flint Hills hits the trail on the second decade of classi-cal music roundups in the bucolic, unadulterated master-piece of the scenic Flint Hills. Symphony’s 11th offering isJune 11 at South Clements Pasture in Chase County, justoutside of Cottonwood Falls. Symphony in the Flint Hillscelebrates the history, ecology and culture of the last standof native tallgrass prairie in North America, and rotateseach year to a different site in the Flint Hills region. VisitSymphonyintheflinthills.org for ticket information, or [email protected] (620.273.8955).

Kansas Travel Guide ordersThe Visit Manhattan office is all about promoting tourismand trips to our city. Additionally, our office serves toconsolidate business promotion through the KansasTourism office (department of wildlife, parks andtourism). The official state travel guide publishes annuallyand is a highly visible medium for business promotion.Chamber members draw tangible and intangible benefits,and through our existing relationships, Visit Manhattanwill maintain listings for the 2017 Kansas Travel Guide.

Review your listing and provide any updates toManhattan CVB: Marcia Rozell, Tourism Sales Manager,[email protected] or Emma Hubbell, ServiceCoordinator, [email protected]. Listings includeyour business title, address, phone and web address witha brief description of your business operation. Each list-ing is $85 (highlighted listing, $125). For inclusion in theguide, submit information to Visit Manhattan by June 19.Payment deadline is July 17, and our office will invoice your business.

A note of attention: this is a separate listing from the Manhattan Visitors Guide, as sales effortsfor the Manhattan Visitor’s Guide will begin in August.

MHK hosts Beef Improvementresearch symposium

Fire up the grill forKansas Beef Month. Thisbares special signifi-cance for Kansas ranch-er, and the state econo-my: the beef industrygenerates more than $9billion in annual incomefor Kansas and supportsnearly 50,000 jobs.

“Kansas is known across the globe for the high quality of itsbeef,” Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey claims.

In that spirit, the Beef Improvement Federation hostsProgress on the Prairie Research Symposium, June 14-17 atManhattan Conference Center. BIF expects to draw inexcess of 750 livestock producers to the convention, withmultiple educational seminars and a full day devoted totours and regional seed-stock visits.

The convention includes an opening reception at WeberArena at Kansas State University, evening dinner at StanleyStout Center just north of Kimball, and evening reception atFlint Hills Discovery Center.

KSU Foundation

Fifth annual Colbert Charity Classic in JuneColbert Hills just hosted the Konza Prairie Amateur Championship, a KGA-sponsored tour-nament, and in two weeks plays host to the fifth annual Colbert Charity Classic, an AdamsPro Tour event. Three days of practice rounds are interspersed with a Tuesday pro-am, andthe three-day tournament June 22-24. This will be a bustling week for Manhattan hoteliers, asthe APT event overlaps with Country Stampede, and draws around 100-125 golfers.The tournament has a $100,000 purse, with $15,000 to the winner. In 2015, that was DustinMorris from Baytown, Texas, who has won four times on the APT loop and competed inthree PGA Tour events. The free event is open to the public, and for additional informationgo to Colberthills.com and Adamsprotour.com.

Cultural and local sporting events

Flint Hills Discovery Center• Amazing Dinosaurs, through Sept. 11. Discover the most wondrous creatures that ever walked the Earth. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open until 8 p.m. Thursday).

• Go See It! Lecture series, 6:30 p.m. June 16. Wamego Fireworks: A LookBehind the Magic.

• Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest finals, 7 p.m. June 10. Cowboy poetscompete for trophy belt buckle.

FlintHillsDiscovery.org

Country Stampede main stage performers• June 23: Sasha McVeigh, 2:30 p.m.; David Ray, 4 p.m.; Ryan Hurd, 5 p.m.; Cassadee Pope, 6:30 p.m.; Sam Hunt, 8 p.m.; Dierks Bentley, 10 p.m.

• June 24: Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys, 2:30 p.m.; High Valley, 4 p.m.;Josh Abbott Band, 5:30 p.m.; Chris Janson, 7:30 p.m.; Tim McGraw, 10 p.m.

• June 25: Courtney Cole, 2:30 p.m.; Tucker Beathard, 4 p.m.; CaseyDonahew, 5:30 p.m.; Chase Rice, 7:30 p.m.; Jake Owen, 10 p.m.

Museums• Beneath the Prairie Sky, Photographs by Jim Richardson, explore life and meaning on the Great Plains. Beach.K-State.edu

• Behind the Glass Eye: Photographs by Toyo Mikatake. Documentsthe lives of interned Japanese Americans. Beach.K-State.edu

• Minidoka on My Mind: Paintings and Prints by Roger Shimomura.Prints based upon West Coast incarceration camps. Beach.K-State.edu

• Stan Herd’s "Cairns on the Beach" highlights the natural beauty to the region's geology, honors the history of stone structures inKansas. Beach.K-State.edu

• Abstract Flint Hills Landscapes, Robert Sudlow and Robert Wright early works, through June 18. Strecker-Nelson Art Gallery. Strecker-Nelsongallery.com

Music• Symphony in the Flint Hills features the Kansas City Symphony, 6:45 p.m. June 11, South Clements Pasture, Chase County.

• Keith Anderson with Tim Nowell, 8 p.m. June 17, The Hat. Thehatksu.com

• Randy Rogers Band, 8 p.m. July 1, The Hat. Thehatksu.com

Beneath the Prairie Sky

Keith AndersonDivision of Communications and Marketing, KSU

Take a hike! Konza trails openKonza Prairie trails have reopened to thepublic, and visitors are encouraged to follow posted rules and observe prohibi-tions, specifically those against pets.

On June 12, enjoy a guided Konza Prairietour on the Butterfly Hill Trail and learnabout native plants in bloom. The annualWildflower Walk will start at 6:30 p.m., atKonza Prairie Headquarters near thenature trail kiosk. This event is sponsoredby Friends of Konza Prairie (FOKP).

• $10 per person

• Free to FOKP members

• Children 12/under free

Karen Hibbard, [email protected]

Marcia Rozell, Tourism SalesManager

[email protected]

Luke Wiggins, Convention SalesManager

[email protected]

Emma Hubbell, AdministrativeAssistant/Service Coordinator

[email protected]

Manhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau Staff

June 20161-3 88th FFA Convention

Kansas State University785-532-6424

3 Prairie Keepers, Kaw River ValleyFlint Hills Discovery Center8 a.m. - 12 p.m.785-587-2726

3 Tallgrass Tales, Are you a Bee? By Judy AllenFlint Hills Discovery Center10:30-11:30 a.m.785-587-2726

3 Arts in the Park: Rave on! (Billy McGuigan)Manhattan City Park8 p.m.

4 Ranching SaturdaysTallgrass Prairie National Preserve10 a.m.620-273-6034

4 Wine in the WildSunset Zoo7 p.m.785-587-2737

4 15th Annual Weenie Dog Races and Paws on PoyntzPoyntz Ave, Manhattan10 a.m.

5 Tornado Awareness EventPeace Memorial Stadium7 p.m.785-539-5767

5 Master Garden Tour1 p.m.785-537-6350

6-10 Gracie BullyProof Summer CampHackerott's Leadership Academy9 a.m.785-539-0909

7 Taste of DowntownLittle Apple Optimist ClubDowntown Manhattan4:30 - 8:30 p.m.785-537-9683

7 96th Season Larry Norvell Band - Manhattan Municipal BandCity Park7:30 p.m.

10 Jazz in JuneKSU Hale Library7:30 p.m.785-532-7442

10 Annie Get your GunColumbian Theatre, Wamego7:30 p.m.785-456-2029

10 Dueling PianosWareham6:30 - 9:30 p.m.(785) 320-5089

10 Arts in the Park: ArtrageousManhattan City Park8 p.m.

10-12 Parade of HomesFlint Hills Area Builders Assoc.785-532-9080

11 Annie Get your GunColumbian Theatre, Wamego7:30 p.m.785-456-2029

11 11th Annual Autism WorkshopHilton Garden Inn8 a.m.785-313-3821

11 Little Apple Swim MeetCity Park Pool8 a.m.785-587-2757

11 Symphony in the Flint HillsLocation in Chase Co.1 p.m.620-273-8955

11 Dinosaur AcademyFlint Hills Discovery Center2 - 4 p.m.785-587-2726

11 Little Apple Duck DashCiCo Park Sledding Hill10 a.m. - 1 p.m.(785) 539-1947

12 Annie Get your GunColumbian Theatre, Wamego2 p.m.785-456-2029


16 3rd Annual Homecare & Hospice Charity Golf TournamentColbert Hills Golf Course1 p.m.785-537-0688

16 K-State Music Camp Final ConcertAll Faiths Chapel, K-State6:30 p.m.

16 Go See It! Wamego Fireworks: A Look Behind the MagicFlint Hills Discovery Center6:30 - 7:30 p.m.785-587-2726

17 Arts in the Park: The Howlin' BrothersManhattan City Park8 p.m.

17-18 Annie Get your GunColumbian Theatre, Wamego7:30 p.m.785-456-2029


19 Father’s Day SpecialFlint Hills Discovery Centernoon - 6 p.m.785-587-2726

18-19 Prairie PollinatorsTallgrass Prairie National Preserve8:30 a.m.620-273-6034


23-25 Country StampedeTuttle Creek State Park2 p.m.785-539-2222

24 Prairie Keepers, Carnahan CreekFlint Hills Discovery Center8 a.m. - noon785-587-2726

24-25 Annie Get your GunColumbian Theatre, Wamego7:30 p.m.785-456-2029

25 Horse-drawn mowing/ haying demonstrationTallgrass Prairie National Preserve10 a.m.620-273-6034

25 Kids’ Dinosaur Dinner TheaterFlint Hills Discovery Center5:30 - 9 p.m.785-587-2726



Manhattan Convention &Visitors Bureau

501 Poyntz Avenue Manhattan,KS 66502

(785) 776-8829(785) 776-0679 fax

Upcoming Conferences, Sports and Special Events in The Little Apple®

June..............................................Anticipated Attendance NumbersConferences/Meetings/Reunions03 Kansas Business and Professional Women State Convention................5007 Kansas Register of Deeds Association Annual Convention .................15008 Kansas County and District Attorneys Association Support Staff ...........

Conference ......................................................................................................20009 9th Infantry Division Society Annual Reunion.........................................10011 Raising Riley with Riley County Health Department Ooey Gooey for .

the Early Child Professional.........................................................................10013 Youth and School Services Food Service Staff Training ...........................6014 Kansas Health Care Association Nurse Leadership Conference .......15014 Beef Improvement Federation Annual Convention................................70020 Youth and School Services Food Service Staff Training ...........................6027 Kansas State University Office of Undergraduate Admissions Midwest

Mountain User Group.....................................................................................75

Sporting Events03 All American Events Baseball Tournament................................................30004 Kansas Golf Association Konza Prairie Amateur Championship ..............

Tournament .....................................................................................................10006 Kansas Golf Association Kansas Senior Championship ........................10009 Mid America Baseball Tournaments............................................................10010 Midwest Sports Productions MSP USSSA Girls Fastpitch Softball ..........

Tournament .....................................................................................................30011 Manhattan Marlins Little Apple Swim Meet .............................................30011 Disc Fanatics of Kansas Tournaments........................................................10016 Mid America Baseball Tournaments............................................................10017 Midwest Sports Productions Baseball Tournament ................................30020 Adams Golf Pro Tour/ Colbert's Charity Classic Tournament ............10030 Pastime Baseball Tournaments.....................................................................20030 Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department USSSA State Baseball ....

Tournament - Boys 10U - 14U ...................................................................300

CVB Mission Statement: To increase to local areaeconomy by attracting

visitors.

Evan Grier, Chair, DiningMeridith McKee, HotelJeff Wolfe, Meeting Planner/ KSUJennifer Fritchen, HotelBen Sigle, AttractionPenny Senften, EntertainmentNeal Farmer, BusinessDennis Hulsing, HotelAndrew Zender, Entertainment

Laird Veatch, SportsKevin Pierce, Retail

Ex-Officio MembersEddie Eastes, City of ManhattanLyle Butler, Chamber PresidentUsha Reddi, City Commissioner

Manhattan CVB Steering Committee