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

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Preparing his flowers the night before the Saturday Farmers ' Market. J.T. Slate, freshman in secondary education, reaches for a tie to secure the bundles. He began cutting flowers each Friday evening to make them presentable for the market the next day. Once. someone brought in flowers. Slate said, and I rebundled them and sold them and made more money. Catrina Rawson Merchants, including freshman J.T. Slate, bring homegrown products to Farmers ' Market; Slate brings a colorful perspective with music, flowers and fun lOstudent life

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Evolution of K-State Purple and White by Corbin H. Crable It took more than 50 years for purple to be recognized as the official school color. It was not discussed as an option until Kansas State Agricultural College was open for more than three decades, said Pat Patton, research specialist in University Archives. In 1896, there was a student committee, and (the committee members) chose royal purple because of its regal beauty and because it wasn ' t found at any other school, Patton said. Although the student committee made its selection, it was not official until 1921 when faculty voted. Nearly 30 years later, on Dec. 15, 1950, the Student Council voted white as the complimentary color. The faculty seconded the approval Jan. 24, 1951, and the colors became official, Patton said. It took 10 years for purple to break in tlie sports scene, said Tim Lindemuth, editor of K-Stater magazine. Years ago, people wore jackets and ties and dresses to sporting events, Lindemuth said. They dressed up when they went to football games. It was during the Vince Gibson era, during the 1960s and 1970s, that sport coats became purple polyester. Lindemuth said before the 1960s, cheerleaders and members of the men ' s pep club - the Wampus Cats - and the women ' s pep club - the Purple Pepsters - wore purple to sporting events. Players sported brown and black uniforms. There had always been purple there, but it was very dressy and classy at the games, not so much the jeans and T-shirts and purple body paint, he said. There ' s been a transition through the decades. It ' s an evolution. In the the student section duringtheOct. 8K-State vs. KU game, Anothony Fox, sophomore in landscape architecture, cheers with his friends. Fans found many ways, including painting their bodies, to show their K-State pride. It ' s our school color, Adam Wildhaber, freshman in civil engineering, said. It represents who we are as a whole. It ' s simple, it ' s K-State. Christopher Hanewincke iff %■ MK .

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Perfecting his display, Slate arranges bundles of flowers on his handmade cart. I usually have about five or SIX types of flowers, Slate said, It changes, because in different weeks different things are in bloom, Slate sold flowers from 9 a.m, to 1 p,m. each Saturday during marl et season. Catrina Rawson Sometimes there ' s not very much coior out nere. And if Im going to be out here for four hours each Saturday, I might as well nave music. J.T. Slate, freshman in secondary education Flamenco music blended with conversation and the summer sun as Manhattan residents shopped the Farmers ' IVIarket, Sept, 10, J,T, Slate, freshman in secondary education, sold flowers and produce to admiring shoppers. Zinnias, gomphrena and daffodils sat in buckets of water on his handmade cart. The music flooded out of the open trunk of his car and into the market crowd. This is the first year I ' ve played music, Slate said, I thought it would add some spice to the market, I ' m going to put on the (K-State vs, Marshall) football game, though - it ' s more important, The Manhattan Farmers ' Market operated May through October at two locations - downtown at Fifth and Humboldt streets Saturdays and north of CiCo Park Wednesdays. Slate sold at the market Saturdays, and Wednesdays he took his flowers to the People ' s Grocery at 17th and Yuma streets. The radio announced a Wildcat touchdown, and Slate relayed the news to the produce stand across the stream of shoppers, I meet quite a few people out here, and I get to see a lot of people I know, Slate said, Half of the kids from the high school walk by and say, ' What? He grows flowers? ' Slate ' s cart displayed his merchandise and showed his artistic ability. After living in Costa Rica as an exchange student in 2004, he bet his father he could make an ox cart for less than $50 - he spent $60, The cart is their international symbol in Costa Rica, Slate said. It ' s kind of like our covered wagon. Slate ' s father occasionally helped him prepare for market, but he completed most of the work alone. I try to cut everything the night before, Slate said, and I spend about two and one-half hours cutting and four hours bundling them all together. Slate said he appreciated the company of other vendors as much as their products. Freal Frazier, Manhattan resident, sold homemade soap from the stand next to Slate ' s. Everything here is either grown or handmade by the citizens of Kansas, Frazier said, and it ' s all natural. As he advertised the benefits of his homemade soap, Frazier ate cookies made by Barb Jones, whose stand was near the soap and flowers. How can I tempt ya? Jones said as she greeted her customers. A retired teacher, Jones spent her time baking for the market each Wednesday and Saturday. I just think J.T. is the cutest kid in the world, Jones said. He is bright and fun and a great addition to the market. Slate said his market season ended after the first frost, when his flowers could no longer withstand the weather. He said he sold flowers for fun, but he was glad to make $100- 120 each Saturday. I think I ' ll continue selling stuff, but I don ' t think it will ever be a really big business, Slate said. I think it will always just be something I do for fun. farmers ' market flowers 11