By Trish Svoboda/Image courtesy Kansas Sampler Foundation
The Kansas Sampler Foundation’s Big Kansas Road Trip (BKRT) is more than just a travel event—it’s a statewide effort to introduce Kansans and visitors to the heart of rural communities. Beginning in 2018, BKRT is designed to help the public learn about rural life by experiencing it firsthand.
Marci Penner, Kansas Sampler Foundation Director, said that unlike traditional tourism events, BKRT doesn’t rely on food booths or entertainment. Instead, participating communities are encouraged to “be good at being themselves,” showcasing everyday places like local grocery stores, museums, businesses, and natural landmarks. The idea is to offer visitors a behind-the-scenes look at small-town life and culture.
“It’s sort of like a giant open house for the public to come in and get to know the community, whether it’s to visit a museum or to shop at the grocery store, or to learn some behind the scenes story about a business, a barn, an attraction, or natural landmark. We try to help people see and learn something that they didn’t know about the community,” said Penner.
Each year, a different region is chosen based on previous locations and new developments within potential host communities. There’s no formal application process. Instead, Penner said the Foundation selects places they believe are ready to tell their story and benefit from increased visibility.
Communities often take the opportunity to freshen up for the event and local business owners report a greater-than-expected impact afterward. Most attendees are members of the Kansas Explorers Club, a group that supports rural preservation and spends intentionally in local shops and attractions.
The Foundation recently introduced “BKRT Pop-Ups,” smaller, one-day events focused on a single town or county. These shorter events make it easier for communities to participate and for visitors to attend multiple experiences throughout the year. Pop-Ups are already scheduled for Ulysses on Sept. 6 and Sheridan County on Oct. 4. As for next year, Penner said, “We’ve got a few places in mind for 2026 that we’re not ready to announce yet.”
BKRT is a project of the Kansas Sampler Foundation and the Kansas Explorers Club, both dedicated to preserving and sustaining rural culture. More information can be found at BigKansasRoadTrip.com or on the Foundation’s Facebook page.
