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By Special to the I-R
Last Updated: February 24, 2009
The Kansas Sampler Foundation announced the results today (Tuesday, Feb. 24) for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce, as determined by public vote. In alphabetical order, the top 8 are:
Big Brutus, West Mineral
Brant's Meat Market, Lucas
Frontenac Bakery, Frontenac
Hemslojd, Inc., Lindsborg
MarCon Pies, Washington
Moon Marble Company, Bonner Spring
Stafford County Flour Mills, Hudson
Vonada Stone Company, Sylvan Grove
More than 9,800 people casting votes represented every state in the union and many foreign countries. Votes came from schools, nursing homes, and worldwide customers. The total of 9,805 was an increase from the previous contests of Architecture (8,036) and Art (9,149).
One e-mail address could only be used three times to vote and each person was allowed one paper ballot vote. Of the 9,805 total votes, 1,395 were by paper ballot.
The 8 Wonders of Kansas contests are a project of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. The contests are designed to help educate the world about Kansas and encourage travel. Being publicly accessible is one of the criteria. The contest mission was not to find the most lucrative businesses in the state but to showcase Kansas-owned business that set the gold standard in their field.
The 24 finalists ranged from manufacturers with a world-wide customer base to small retail stores. One finalist, Big Brutus, represented historical commerce.
Foundation director Marci Penner said, "What can we learn from the outcome? Maybe that locally-owned shops have quite a loyal following. It had to be difficult to choose between large manufacturers and small niche shops but in the end, the public showed great affection for small retail shops."
The next contest will showcase Kansas Cuisine. Public nominations will be accepted in the month of March. See criteria at 8wonders.org starting March 1.
Information about all finalists can be seen at www.8wonders.org.
The other 16 finalists for Commerce were:
Baxter's Bait & Tackle Shop, Stockton
Bowersock Mills & Power Company, Lawrence
Brookover Feed Yards, Garden City
Cloud Ceramics, Concordia
Cobalt Boats, Neodesha
Dessin Fournir, Plainville
El Dorado Oil Field
Koerperich Bookbinders, Selden
Mill Creek Antiques, Paxico
Millers of Claflin, Claflin
RANS, Inc., Hays
Ringneck Ranch, Tipton
The Grasshopper Company, Moundridge
Wichita Aviation Industry
Winter Livestock, Dodge City
Wolf Creek Generating Station, Burlington
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