By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Most minnows live unspectacular lives. But a few of the small fish can seek true glory at the 50th Annual After Harvest Festival in Ellinwood on July 15. Kansas Wetlands Education Center Director Curtis Wolf said dry weather made the turtle races too difficult last year, and the minnow races have been a fun and suitable replacement.
"It's guttering off a house, basically," he said. "You set it up with the water in there. You take a minnow and put it in one end. The kids can coax the minnow down - we have little sticks they can use to try to get them to go and get them to the other end."
This year's After Harvest Festival activities have been moved downtown to Wolf Park near the bandshell on Main Street. Wolf encouraged families to make a pit stop and try out a minnow race.
"In the past, we've had it a little more structured, come and register, then we run it like a tournament," he said. "This year, we're going to have it as more of a come-and-go activity where people can come up, we let you race a time or two, then move on from there."
Minnow races will take place around 11:30 a.m. following the After Harvest Festival Parade. The Family Fun Fair at Wolf Park will also include a magic show, balloon characters, inflatables, animal shows, and more.