By Bobbi Mlynar
mlynar@emporiagazette.com
Customs of Emporia and Cottonwood Falls were among the top vote-getters in the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s “8 Wonders of Kansas” competition.
Marci Penner, director of Kansas Sampler, announced the winners this morning, after about six weeks of voting by hard-copy ballot and online.
Emporia’s win was for its custom of commemorating Veterans Day. It was through the efforts of an Emporia shoe repairman, Al King, and a U.S. Congressman, Ed Rees, that Congress agreed to change the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day, in an effort to honor veterans of all branches of military service.
Another Kansan, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, signed the bill into law.
Cottonwood Falls won for its lively Friday evening jam sessions at the Emma Chase Cafe in Cottonwood Falls.
Other winners in the contest were:
• The University of Kansas Rock Chalk Jayhawk fight-song chant, touted as one of the best in the nation.
• Oz attractions in Wamego and Liberal that tell the story of the Wizard of Oz. The custom named was “clicking your heels three times and saying ‘There’s no place like home.’”
• Displaying ethnic handicraft, the traditional and pop-art Dala horses that can be seen throughout Lindsborg.
• Ordering a soda fountain treat at any of the 38 operating soda fountains remaining in Kansas.
• Riding a carousel at the C.W. Parker carousels in Abilene and Leavenworth.
• Using natural material for fencing; learning the story of the fence posts at the Post Rock museum in Lacross, and seeing them throughout the Smoky Hills.”
“This was the closest race we’ve had to date and though it was the hardest to explain, it won my heart,” Penner said in announcing the winners. “If you go to 8wonders.org and click on pictures of all the 24 finalists, you can read some of the most fascinating and endearing stories and facts about our cultural traditions.”
More than 12,000 votes were cast in the competition; they came from Kansas as well as every other state in the union and from some foreign countries.
The Customs contest was one in a series that features “wonders” of Kansas in an assortment of categories.
Earlier contests have named the overall 8 Wonders of Kansas and the top eight in architecture, art, commerce, and cuisine.
Geography is the next contest and will begin in November.
History and People competitions will finish the series.
create (anonymous) says...
I know what a Jayhawk is, but can someone tell me where the Rock chalk comes from?
Yeah Emporia !!! And Thanks again to Justin Klumpe for painting the helicopter this past summer. God Bless you Justin!!!
November 11 is just around the corner. Thanks to all who have contributed to upkeep of our memorial at Soden's Grove.
October 23, 2009 at 5:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rcakmon (anonymous) says...
Google: ku.edu rock chalk chant
There is a good explanation on the origination of the chant.
October 25, 2009 at 1:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )