Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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continued from page 8 by molly mersmann country stampede 1 1 IN THE MUD wrestling, which security ended for safety reasons. Twenty-one artists, including McEntire, John Michael Montgomery and Faith Hill performed at the concert. 1 think it ' s neat, Tami Odom, Topeka resident, said. It ' s almost like Woodstock. More than just the fans compared the stampede to the 1969 rock music festival. Comedian Bill Engvall, who performed Saturday, mentioned Woodstock as well. It ' s kind of a country Woodstock, he said. It ' s Cornstock. While the country music attracted fans from around the state and across the country, two acts added a different musical genre. Southern rock ' n ' roll bands, Kansas and Lynyrd Skynyrd, performed at the event with the country artists. While their music added variety to the weekend, Johnny Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd ' s lead singer, said the band has country roots. If you listen to early Lynyrd Skynyrd, there ' s always been a country influence, he said. Skynyrd ' s always had a country flavor. Despite the weather difficulties, officials said the Stampede ended well with fewer injuries than previous years and other problems, such as vandalism, were minimal throughout the weekend. From a management level, I felt the event was successful, said Larry Couchman, director of emergency services for Mercy Health Center and Riley County Emergency Medical Services.

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Fans take pictures of country singer John Berry during his periormanffe June 26. The sold-out VIP section contained 2,000 seats. Mist machines helped keep the section ' s audience cool in the degree weather. (Moro by Nan Kozo° During his opening song. John Bony shakes hands with audience members. He released his fifth album. ' Wildest Dreams: Sept. 28, three months alter his pedonnanoa. (Pfau by Ivan Kezar) Reba McEntire, the event ' s headliner, sings -ro Rather Ride Around With You ' Juno 27. Fans came to see McEntire even though two inches of rain caused flooding and prevented parking in designated areas. According to Pottowatomie Co. Undersheriff Big Henry. weather changes were the biggest concern of Stampede officials- ' Evacuation because of severe weather would be difficult: he said. The crowd never had to evacuate. (Phoio by Reed Dunn) 10 student life

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Brian Haug. sophomore in park resources management works on an Koh° cal research project. Haug worked 20 hours per week. The National Science Foundation chose Konza Prairie as one of 11 Long•Term Ecological Research sites in the United States. LTER researchers collected and maintained more than 70 long-term data sets containing information about weather, sods. vegetation. animal populations and ecosystem processes. (Photo by Steven Deminge° Testing the densities of native grasses. Nick Stiles, junior in business administration, works on Konza Prairie Research Natural Area Oct. 8 with Joanne Skidmore. Texas A M alumna. and research assistant Amanda Kuhl. graduate student in biology. While students in biology and other related majors benerded from working on Konza Prairie, others simply enjoyed working outside. I like to come outside? Stiles said. It ' s relaxing, and I gel paid? (Photo by Steven Domingo° Joanne Skidmore. Texas A M alumna, tests the diversity of native grasses, including big bluestern, little bluestern and Indiangrass. Wildflowers. reptiles. bison, mammals, amphibians and 208 bird species inhabited Konza Prairie. Researchers from all over the world visited Konza Prairie to study ecology. Skidmore said NASA officials used Konza Prairie to investigate the effects of carbon dioxide mitigation on the greenhouse effect. (Photo by Steven Demingo° 12 student life