To celebrate the Kansas grape and wine industries, the Kansas Department of Agriculture will host the eighth annual Kansas Grape Stomp Saturday, September 7, at 3:00 p.m. on the Lake Talbott Stage at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

The grapes for the event were grown by Mission Valley FFA members RaeLynn McClelland, and Jade and Cole Hodge as a part of their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), which gives FFA members hands-on experience working in an agricultural setting.

“The annual Kansas Grape Stomp is a fun, exciting way to celebrate the Kansas’ grape and wine industries and showcase this growing industry to Kansans at the fair,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Dale Rodman.

Public officials, agricultural and economic leaders and other dignitaries have been stomping grapes at the Kansas State Fair since 2004. The 2013 participants include:

• Marcus C.L. Tetwiler, University of Kansas Student Body President, Paola

• Eli Schooley, Kansas State University Student Body President, Clay Center

• Elizabeth Allen, Kansas State FFA Officer, Holton

• Daryl Simmons, Kansas State FFA Officer, Barnard

• Virginia Crossland-Macha, Kansas State Fair Board Member, Iola

• Barbara Stone, Department of 4-H Youth Development Assistant Director, Manhattan

New to the event this year, the Kansas Grape Stomp will open participation up to fair visitors. Secretary Rodman encouraged Kansans young and old who plan to be at the fair on September 7 to stop by to try their hand in grape stomping and learn more about growing grapes in Kansas.

Kansas wineries produced 107,419 gallons of wine and hosted a total of 251,870 visitors in 2010. Total sales at winery tasting rooms in Kansas in 2010 were nearly $3.5 million. In an effort to support growth in this expanding sector of Kansas agriculture, the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) was involved with legislation in 2012 that allows wineries to sell wine by the glass at farm winery locations and sell bottles to individuals attending tasting sessions at special events. KDA also recently elected nine members to the newly formed Grape and Wine Industry Advisory Council. The council will advise the secretary of agriculture, and other state agencies, on strategies needed to support and grow the industry.

For more information about the event please contact Annarose Hart at (913) 259-3345 or Annarose.Hart@kda.ks.gov. For more information about the event, visit the KDA website.

To celebrate the Kansas grape and wine industries, the Kansas Department of Agriculture will host the eighth annual Kansas Grape Stomp Saturday, September 7, at 3:00 p.m. on the Lake Talbott Stage at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

The grapes for the event were grown by Mission Valley FFA members RaeLynn McClelland, and Jade and Cole Hodge as a part of their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), which gives FFA members hands-on experience working in an agricultural setting.

“The annual Kansas Grape Stomp is a fun, exciting way to celebrate the Kansas’ grape and wine industries and showcase this growing industry to Kansans at the fair,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Dale Rodman.

Public officials, agricultural and economic leaders and other dignitaries have been stomping grapes at the Kansas State Fair since 2004. The 2013 participants include:

• Marcus C.L. Tetwiler, University of Kansas Student Body President, Paola

• Eli Schooley, Kansas State University Student Body President, Clay Center

• Elizabeth Allen, Kansas State FFA Officer, Holton

• Daryl Simmons, Kansas State FFA Officer, Barnard

• Virginia Crossland-Macha, Kansas State Fair Board Member, Iola

• Barbara Stone, Department of 4-H Youth Development Assistant Director, Manhattan

New to the event this year, the Kansas Grape Stomp will open participation up to fair visitors. Secretary Rodman encouraged Kansans young and old who plan to be at the fair on September 7 to stop by to try their hand in grape stomping and learn more about growing grapes in Kansas.

Kansas wineries produced 107,419 gallons of wine and hosted a total of 251,870 visitors in 2010. Total sales at winery tasting rooms in Kansas in 2010 were nearly $3.5 million. In an effort to support growth in this expanding sector of Kansas agriculture, the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) was involved with legislation in 2012 that allows wineries to sell wine by the glass at farm winery locations and sell bottles to individuals attending tasting sessions at special events. KDA also recently elected nine members to the newly formed Grape and Wine Industry Advisory Council. The council will advise the secretary of agriculture, and other state agencies, on strategies needed to support and grow the industry.

For more information about the event please contact Annarose Hart at (913) 259-3345 or Annarose.Hart@kda.ks.gov. For more information about the event, visit the KDA website.