From the Chamber
As classrooms reopen and a new school year begins, the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce is inviting the people who make education possible across Barton County to start the year with a celebration created especially for them.
The 11th Annual Business Showcase, presented by Credit Union of America, will take place Thursday, Aug. 13, from 9 – 11:30 a.m. at the Panther Activity Center (PAC), 2450 19th Street in Great Bend.
The private event is exclusively for Barton County teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, support staff, school board members, volunteers and other personnel serving local students. It is not open to the general public.
This year’s Showcase is bigger than ever, bringing together education professionals from USD 428 Great Bend, USD 431 Hoisington, USD 355 Ellinwood, USD 112 Central Plains, Barton Community College, Holy Family School, St. Joseph Catholic School, Central Kansas Christian Academy, Golden Belt Home Educators and Great Bend Seventh-day Adventist School.
At its heart, the Business Showcase is the local business community’s opportunity to say thank you to the people who educate, encourage and care for Barton County’s children. Businesses and organizations from throughout the area will fill the PAC with giveaways, activities, special offers, resources and plenty of fun to welcome school personnel back for the 2026–27 school year.
And because it’s the 11th annual celebration, attendees should come ready for some serious prizes.
This year’s Showcase will feature one of its biggest prize lineups yet, including gift cards, classroom items, local goodies and big-ticket giveaways. Attendees can also participate in the Premier Booth Passport Game, visiting participating businesses for opportunities to win grand prizes.
But the Showcase is about more than freebies.
Local businesses and organizations will introduce educators to programs, services and resources available right here in Barton County—many of which can benefit their classrooms, schools, students and families throughout the year. Some vendors will also have products available for purchase.
That connection between education, business and community is also an important part of the Chamber’s Elevate Great Bend Beyond Today strategic initiative. Creating stronger relationships between the businesses operating in Barton County today and the educators preparing its future workforce supports the Chamber’s focus on workforce development, business and people retention, and business and community marketing.
USD 428 employees may begin arriving at 9:00 a.m. All other invited Barton County school personnel and homeschool educators are welcome beginning at 9:45 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to allow at least 30–60 minutes to explore the Showcase.
Bring your coworkers, grab a tote bag and come ready to discover what Barton County has to offer, make new connections, have some fun and—quite possibly—head home with a great prize.
Most importantly, come ready to be celebrated.
The Business Showcase is the Chamber and local business community’s way of saying thank you to the educators, staff, administrators, board members and volunteers who show up for Barton County students every day.
For additional information about the 11th Annual Business Showcase, visit greatbend.org or contact the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce at 620-792-2401 or marketing@greatbend.org.