History:

In 1990, Mil and Marci Penner had a book signing party for their first Kansas guidebook, Kansas Weekend Guide. They invited places in the book to come help support the purpose of the book which was to inspire travel throughout Kansas. These attractions filled one big tent. It was a cold November day with rain turning into snow but still a thousand people came to the farm. The event became the Kansas Sampler Festival in 1991 and was held until 1997 on the Penner farm near Inman. In 1993 the Festival became a project of the newly formed Kansas Sampler Foundation.

It was decided to take the festival on the road starting in 1998 to expose more people to the festival exhibitors. After a bid process, Pratt was chosen to host the event in 1998 and 1999. Ottawa hosted the festival in 2000 and 2001. Independence was the host for the festival in 2002 and 2003, and Newton was the host in 2004 and 2005. Garden City was the host for 2006 and 2007 followed by Concordia in 2008 and 2009. Leavenworth will host the festival in 2010 and 2011. The host for 2012 and 2013 is Liberal located in southwest Kansas. Wamego will host the festival in 2014 and 2015. Bid information for 2016 and 2017 will be announced in January 2014.