Completed in 2014, the Lair White House is a pillar of the Kansas State Fair with many picturing it instantly whenever it’s brought up. While it may be a well-known piece of the Fair, few have ever been inside. This has left much of the general public and fairgoers alike wondering, “What IS in the Lair White House?”
Many people are familiar with the Kansas State Fair Museum that is currently housed in the lower level of the Lair White House during the Fair. Each year, a dedicated team comes together to create informative and entertaining displays featuring Kansas State Fair History.
However, it is obvious that the Lair White House is much larger than the space used by the museum. The second floor of the White House remains a mystery— until now. Of course, many readers who have been involved with the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation for any amount of time may already know. The second floor of the White House has been dedicated to housing the Foundation office, among other things.
Not only does the second story of the building function as an office, it also works as a meeting room, an event space at times, and even a photography studio at others. This is where all the action of running a nonprofit like the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation takes place, and we are fortunate that it is so lovely and comfy!
Here are some routine Foundation activities that take place in the second story office of the Lair White House:
- Paperwork (wow!)
- Cutting lemons and limes and prepping garnishes for events
- Sorting, folding, stuffing, sealing and stamping thousands of mailings
- Writing articles (like this one!)
- Sharing snacks and eating lunch (or dinner, or whatever meal you have at either 3pm or 8pm)
- Tasting menus and drinks for events
- Meetings and Minglings
- VIP events during the Kansas State Fair
- Storing auction items for Boots and Bling (this gets out of hand at times!)
- Prepping merchandise for the Kansas State Fair
- Photographing auction items (you should see the setup we use!)
- And so much more!
There’s a lot more to share about the Lair White House, so keep your eye out for Part Two! Before all is said and done, we will show-and-tell all the different areas of the building, the history, and what we love most about our beautiful office!
Did you like this first edition of Around the Grounds? Around the Grounds is a new monthly E-Update series that explores the buildings of the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Most buildings have a lot to uncover, so they’ll appear in multiple parts over time. We won’t always cover those parts back-to-back—rather, we’ll move around the Fairgrounds and highlight different buildings along the way. Over time, Around the Grounds will create a growing look at many different spaces—one article at a time.
Join us as we continue to explore the Fairgrounds! Be sure you (and your friends!) are signed up for our First Friday E-Updates to receive future Around the Grounds features straight to your inbox.
About the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation
The Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation (KFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Founded in 2003, KFF’s mission is to further the renovation, construction, preservation and beautification of the Kansas State Fairgrounds with a vision of inspiring excellence and understanding of Kansas agriculture, industry and culture through the Kansas State Fair, activities, educational programs and opportunities. The Foundation exists to enrich the unforgettable memories and traditions people experience only at the Kansas State Fair and at the 500+ events on the Fairgrounds year-round.
