Bluestem Farm & Ranch: Start your Agri-Tour with a stop at the legendary store where the real cowboys shop. From hats and boots to 15,000 pairs of jeans, you’ll have plenty to choose from. They’ve got you covered with ropes and work gloves, gifts, and apparel for all ages–and if you’re looking for pet or livestock supplies, you can pick up everything you need right here. You’ll find seed potatoes and asparagus crowns, as well as hard-to-find household goods like specialized canning jars and small appliances. And who can resist “Chick Days”! Each month, you’ll see hundreds of tiny chicks and ducks under cozy, warm lights–and you can take one home with you! Bluestem has catered to cowboys and city slickers alike for more than 50 years–don’t miss their expansive offerings! Bluestem is located at 2611 West US Highway 50.

Bourbon Cowboy: Don’t miss the bull! Seriously, this huge bar in the heart of downtown Emporia that’s home to live country music and two-steppers offers mechanical bull rides for those daring enough to try and hang on for a bone-jarring seven seconds! Cold beer, pool tables, karaoke, and a welcoming vibe make Emporia’s only woman-owned bar a must-see whenever you hit town! Bourbon Cowboy is located at 605 Commercial Street in Emporia. Visit their website or find them on Facebook for event dates and times.

Flint Hills Beef Fest: We care deeply about the beef industry here in ranching country. The Flint Hills preserve one of the last remaining native tallgrass prairies in North America, and grass-fed cattle ranchers contribute greatly to that conservation state of mind. This nearly 40-year-old festival celebrates all things beef, from cattle shows and beef industry seminars to a ranch rodeo and lots of beef!

There’s a ranch feed, a free hamburger feed, a steak dinner–and live country music entertainment and plenty of country dancing! Flint Hills Beef Fest 2024 dates are Aug. 23-25, and it’s held at the Lyon County Fairgrounds, 2700 West US Highway 50 in Emporia. Visit their website for current event information.

Lyon County Fair: You can’t put much more ag culture into a rural ag celebration than with a county fair! A long-standing tradition in nearly every county in Kansas, the theme of this year’s Lyon County Fair aptly sums up the essence of our state’s heritage: “Back to Our Roots–Buckles and Boots.” For county 4-H youth, the fair is the culmination of a year’s work on projects ranging from raising cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and more to photography, entomology, robotics, foods, and crops.

These youngsters are learning the building blocks for the future of feeding America. In the Open Class, adults compete for the coveted purple ribbon in areas as wide-ranging as flower arranging, quilts, garden produce, antiques, fine art, and pet shows. And everybody loves the PeeWee Rodeo, Mutton Bustin’, Horse Show, and Ranch Rodeo. Don’t miss the Antique Tractor Pull competition, Demolition Derby, Carnival Midway, and live country entertainment. 2024 marks the inaugural Barbecue Competition, as well. Lyon County Fair dates are Aug. 4-17, 2024, at the Lyon County Fairgrounds, 2700 West US Highway 50 in Emporia. For more information, consult the online Lyon County Fair Book.

Rodeo: The Flint Hills are the heart of Kansas rodeo country, and numerous World Champions proudly call the area their home. From barrel racers to bull riders, rodeo thrills are never-ending. The events, many of which offer sizable prize purses, feature top professional rodeo contestants competing in the seven traditional rodeo events: Bareback Riding, Barrel Racing, Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, and Tie-Down Roping. Some now include Women’s Breakaway Roping.

There’s a rodeo happening nearly every summer weekend. The Flint Hills PRCA Rodeo, the oldest consecutively-held rodeo in the state of Kansas, is traditionally held on the first weekend of June. The Lyon County Fair Ranch Rodeo is slated for Aug. 4, 2024, with the Pee Wee Rodeo earlier the same day.  The Lyon County Fair 4-H Rodeo is Aug. 7 at the fairgrounds and features youth competing for prizes in Goat Tying, Pole Bending, Ribbon Roping, Chute Dogging, and more.

Barbecue and Beef: No Agri-Tourism trip can be complete without barbecue–and Emporia’s got you covered. From the granddaddy of local ’que, Bobby D’s Merchant St. BBQ (“It’s All ‘bout da Meat!”) at 607 Merchant Street, to new kid on the block, Schrockbier Old Smokehouse featuring delicious smoked meats cooked low and slow (707 Commercial Street), you’ve got plenty of local barbecue and beef purveyors to choose from.

The Cowboy Cafe at the Emporia Livestock sale barn offers solid American comfort food and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s located at 502 Albert Street. Craving steak? Head on over to the family-owned Wagon Wheel Grill and Bar, Emporia’s oldest bar and grill, at 2909 West Ninth Avenue. In the mood for burgers? Don’t miss a long-time Emporia favorite, J’s Carryout, rated “Best Burgers in the State of Kansas” by AAA, at 27 Commercial Street. In Emporia, we’ve got barbecue, burgers, and beef for all ages and tastes!

David Traylor Zoo: While it’s not strictly rural in the Agri-Tourism sense, no visit to Emporia is complete without stopping at our beautiful gem of a zoo. One of the smallest accredited zoos in the United States, it features naturalized exhibits of native and exotic birds and animals, including bison, a mountain lion, prairie dogs (have you ever actually seen one?), and a variety of ducks paddling through the waterways of the beautifully landscaped area.

The David Traylor Zoo is located at 75 Sodens Road in Soden’s Grove Park, which includes a small train that operates during the summer months, the historic Marsh Arch Bridge, and the All Veterans Memorial. Admission is always free.