Sunflower Fair on Tuesday, Sept 22 is Information Extravaganza
/Good cheer, good times and trustworthy, practical information highlight the line-up of the 2026 Sunflower Fair, an annual event for older Kansans, caregivers, and families.
The one-day Sunflower Fair happens Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tony’s Pizza Events Center, 800 The Midway, Salina. Registration for the event is now available at www.ncfhaa.com or by calling 1-800-432-2703.
This year’s theme is “Cheers to You and the Red, White and Blue!”
The event is organized by the North-Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging, Inc. with major support from KS State Bank of Manhattan and Junction City and The Salina Regional Health Foundation. Other sponsors include Evergy, Kansas Health Foundation, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation, Visit Topeka! and the Kansas Initiative for Stroke Survival.
“This year we are celebrating the 250th birthday of our country, the freedom that we enjoy as Americans, and the resilience and spirit that make Kansas communities great places for older Kansans, their families and their caregivers,” said Julie Govert Walter, Executive Director of the North-Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging.
“There is no event like the Sunflower Fair. It’s a one-day fun ‘information extravaganza’ filled with good times, good friends, and trustworthy and practical information for Kansans of all ages,” Walter said.
“It’s a fact that right now fraudsters and scammers are creating a tsunami of problems for older Kansans—so, this year, we are highlighting topics providing practical information about what older Kansans need to know to identify fraud and protect their identity, their finances and peace of mind.”
The line-up of experts includes morning keynote speaker Mark Fentenhoff, Senior Advisor with AARP’s national Fraud Watch Network, who will focus on current trends and schemes in frauds and scams. In the afternoon, Ronnie Williams, an expert on technology, will present an easy-to-understand session on Artificial Intelligence.
Fourteen breakout session presentations on topics of interest to older Kansans and caregivers including “Cyber Security,” “Alzheimer’s and Dementia, “Estate Planning Basics,” “Making Your Phone Your Friend,” “Hoarding,” “Food As Medicine,” “Veterans Benefits Update,” “Pet Health,” and “What’s Happening with Kansas Healthcare?”
The event includes a sit-down banquet lunch and more than 60 exhibitors offering information and useful resources. Also:
Free health screenings and flu vaccinations
Hearing and vision tests
Music and prize drawings
At lunchtime “Sensational Sunflowers,” volunteers selected by counties throughout the North-Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging region, will be recognized for their “true blue” dedication to their communities.
Pre-registration is $25. Tickets purchased at the door will be $30. To register, call the North-Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging at 800-432-2703 or visit www.ncfhaaa.com. Readers of Keynotes may also use the registration form on the back page of the July 2026 issue and mail form and payment to the Area Agency on Aging.
Proceeds from the Fair support Friendship Meals at 37 locations, the Agency’s Answers for Older Kansans initiatives, Medicare benefits counseling and in-home care services helping older Kansans, caregivers and people living with disabilities throughout the Kansas heartland.
The Agency is still accepting sponsors and underwriters for fair events and workshops, as well as donations for door prizes and the Silent Auction. Limited exhibit space is still available. Interested businesses and organizations should call 800-432-2703 or visit www.ncfhaaa.com.
Note to those living in the Manhattan area: Transportation from Manhattan is available through Manhattan Parks and Recreation. Call 785-587-2757 or register for shuttle at https://secure.rec1.com/KS/manhattan-ks, type “Sunflower Fair” into the search box. The shuttle cost is $45 and includes admission to the Fair.
