Wonders contest a puzzle

The Kansas Sampler Foundation has created a slew of “8 Wonders of Kansas” lists, but the one naming nominees to the 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce list is a bit of a puzzle.

On the list are a bait shop in Baxter Springs, a meat market in Lucas, a really big steam shovel (Big Brutus) that hasn’t worked in 30 or 40 years. And a giant feed lot in Garden City? I guess that’s a wonder, but it ain’t wonderful smelling.

I know the foundation is rural-oriented, I know they’re trying to spread the awards around, and I know it does list the aircraft industry, but come on. A bait shop.

How about: Koch Industries and its scary black headquarters; the Coleman Co. which goes back to 1903; or Old Town.

  • martha

    Dan — You can’t win the lottery unless you buy a ticket! I called the Sampler Foundation when I read your comment, and nobody had even sent in a nomination about those businesses. The nominees also have to be open for public tours, or have a museum exhibit about them, if they are not open to the general public.

    The purpose of the contest is to highlight unique, quality, home grown businesses that are renowned for what they do. The bait shop you deride is considered a “gold standard” of mom and pop stores. We might be surprised how many votes it ends up getting.

  • newshound

    Your lack of knowledge about anything outside the borders of Wichita is showing. Again.
    Oh, come on. Koch’s headquarters “scary”?? You must scare easy. Maybe when you’re a little braver, you can actually creep out of your shell and venture all the way to Baxter Springs. But do be careful. You might learn something. We wouldn’t want that to scare you.