Many students set to shine at Kansas State Fair

Derrick Hoff, Sugar Beet copy editor • September 18, 2025

Kansas State Fair goers line up to enjoy a Pronto Pup on Sept. 13, 2025. The State Fair is held in Hutchinson Kansas every year, this year the fair was Sept. 5-14.

The annual Kansas State Fair kicked off on September 5th and lasted until the 14th. The Kansas State Fair, which has been the largest gathering of Kansans since 1913, is expecting over 350,000 people to show up this year.

“It is an opportunity for students to get to showcase a lot of the projects they’ve done throughout the year. Sometimes this looks like 4-H and sometimes it is FFA projects,” Elizabeth Huck, Ag teacher, said.

Braeden Boyd, a Trade sophomore, presented homemade croissants for the food category, and a photo of a bird he took for the photography category. Boyd received purple (the highest rating) on his food, and a blue (the second highest rating) for his photography.

“The State Fair to me, is the pinnacle of achievement that you can get with your activities, whether you are showing cattle, or entering food or photography,” Boyd said.

Another student that represented Garden City at the state fair was Public Service sophomore, Macy Hands. Hands presented floral arrangements, a pumpkin, a bouquet and showed cattle. Hands placed second for her floral arrangement, but unfortunately was unable to place for her pumpkin and bouquet. Hands didn’t get a call back for regular showmanship of her beef, however she was champion lightweight, chianina, and reserve champion for legislative showman.

“[The State Fair] is definitely a great opportunity. Hopefully next year I can place higher and go to nationals,” Hands said.

Huck, a former 4-H and FFA member is now a member of the Farm Bureau in Finney county, and teaches ag leadership, welding 1 and animal sciences. Huck strongly believes in the opportunities that come with The Kansas State Fair.

“I think it helps students become more aware, if you aren’t aware that these careers exist, then you are much less likely to go get them. I think it encourages people in agriculture to feel supported and have the network to succeed. Being able to network is one of the great things that I think the FFA organization brings to our school and to the nation, being the nation’s largest youth-led organization,” Huck said.

The Kansas State Fair is really resilient as an organization, this year they had to deal with flooding and multiple parking lot changes to be able to host it. But everyone was able to safely present their material.

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About the Contributors

Derrick Hoff, SB Copy Editor

Derrick Hoff is a Health junior. This is his second year on the Sugar Beet staff and is the copy editor. His extracurricular activities include church, cross country, swim (unfortunately), and track. His favorite things to do include games, watching and playing sports, writing and very rarely reading. Long overdue Derrick finally decided it was time to “hit the weight room”. Derrick Hoff is a follower of Christ and does his best every to be what he considers to a “class act”.

Abigail Elam, SB Editor in Chief

Abigail Elam is the Co. Editor-in-Chief of the Sugar Beet this year. Abigail is a Public Service senior and this will be her third year in the program. She enjoys spending her time with friends and attending church. After graduating in the spring Abigail plans to attend college to major in English Education and minor in Communications and if all else fails become a Taylor Swift Blogger.