By Dan Deming
Yes, the 2024 Kansas State Fair has gone but several things were so impressive on the final day that one more review is justified.
First let’s highlight unsung heroes at the fair. In this case, we’re talking about grandstand concert guides along with parking aids and crowd attendants who made visitors more comfortable, safe and welcome. I saw multiple examples of fair-workers going the “extra mile” to assist disabled guests, accommodate the elderly and make people feel they were wanted and respected on the fairgrounds.
While Kansas Highway Patrol Troopers always do a great job of handling problems on the grounds and patrolling roads leading to the fair they are receiving regular and overtime pay while part-time attendants work long hours for minimum compensation….another reason why they deserve praise and thanks for their many positive contributions to making the fair a success.
There have been numerous changes and upgrades to the Kansas State Fair since General Manager Bryan Schulz arrived several years ago. Schultz obviously knows what he is doing and put on another really impressive show that Hutchinson and the state can be proud of.
This year’s ten days of activity wrapped with another solid grandstand concert, worthy of far more attendees than the relatively small but highly enthusiastic crowd.
As enjoyable as the Oak Ridge Boys were, I was just as impressed, as were several others, with their opening act: a six-member musical family out of Nashville called Rockland Road. Paul and Jamie Martin started their professional career in 2010, adding four now adult children along the way. The Martins are multi-talented in singing and playing a variety of instruments. It’s little wonder since Oak Ridge Boys founder Duane Allen is Jamie’s father, and one of his granddaughters is a lead singer.
When the Oaks actually retire (they are on an extended farewell tour that will continue into 2025), it’s not difficult to see the Martin family taking over as a touring tribute band to their parents and family. They’re good enough now to do that, and while not many people are familiar with the Rockland Road name, they should be because, frankly, they are terrific in both sound and stage performance.
Three of the original Oak Ridge Boys are still singing and the tour goes from Hutchinson to Dollywood in Tennessee for three days. Allen, who narrates much of their act and comes across as sincere and appreciative, may have lost a small portion of his vocal talent. Overall, all three Oaks, along with their 28-year-old newcomer, have such classic sound there’s very little lost from an audience perspective.
The Oaks first appeared at the Kansas State Fair in 1977, and this was their 14th time on the local stage.
