Country Stampede Receives A $20,750 Attraction Development Grant!

By Madinah Hazim, Public Information Officer
Photos courtesy of Country Stampede

This year, Country Stampede, celebrates its 10th Anniversary. That's right! The Country Stampede has been bringing the hottest country music stars to fans throughout the Midwest for 10 years and Wayne Rouse, president and general manager of Country Stampede, plans to keep it that way.

"We have been hearing rumors from people for months that Country Stampede was going to relocate due to the construction on the dam," Rouse said. "That simply is not true. We love Manhattan and we're here to stay."

Once Rouse heard the rumors that Country Stampede was not going to be held at Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan, Kan., he knew that he had to do something about it.

"We've decided to do an ad campaign to let our patrons from other states know that Country Stampede will stay at Tuttle Creek State Park, despite the construction on the dam," Rouse said. "The construction on the dam is not going to interfere with the Country Stampede."

According to Rouse, he and his colleagues are still working on the media plan, but they plan to place billboards, radio and print ads, in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Oklahoma to let patrons know that Country Stampede is staying at Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan, Kan.

Rouse applied for an attraction development grant from Kansas Department of Commerce to help with funding for the ad campaign. He found out last month that Country Stampede received the grant. Country Stampede received a $20,750 Attraction Development Grant, which is derived from Kansas Lottery proceeds, to help with the ad campaign.

"The grant will be a real positive thing for us," Rouse said. "We just need to educate people that Tuttle Creek State Park is alive and well, not only during the Country Stampede, but throughout the whole year."

Rouse said this grant is great for Manhattan's economy.

"This grant will help the Manhattan economy by bringing out-of-state tourists to Kansas," Rouse said.

Rouse said that he also wants to thank the Kansas Lottery for the success of Country Stampede.

"The Kansas Lottery has been part of our success since day one," Rouse said. "They are great partners."

The headliners for this year's Country Stampede are ZZ Top, Big & Rich, Keith Urban, and Montgomery Gentry. For more information or to purchase general admission tickets and campsites call, (800) 795-8091 or visit www.countrystampede.com.

If you have a small business and are interested in the From the Land of Kansas program, contact the Kansas Department of Commerce at www.kansascommerce.com.

Somebody's always winning at the Kansas Lottery! Thanks to Lottery proceeds, economic development is growing in Kansas communities.

To read more economic development stories visit the economic development page .

For information regarding Kansas Lottery money distribution visit the where the money goes page.