LARNED — Thursday’s traditional Legislative Coffee at the Pawnee County Fair took on a less formal feel as attendees engaged in conversation with their prospective elected officials in the J.A. Haas Building at the Fairgrounds in Larned.

With Pawnee County’s 4-H Bake Sale ongoing in the background, attendees conversed with officials and their staffers present seated comfortably at tables, rather in rows of chairs as in past events sponsored by the Larned Farm Bureau office.

Not everyone invited to the annual event made an appearance, as several were engaged at a Colorado conference or on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Those present did deliver a five-minute summary of their bid for elected office. Speakers included Republican primary candidates Tory Marie Blew and John Sturn for the vacated 33rd District seat in the Kansas Senate and local Pawnee County Commission 2nd District candidates Philip Hammeke and Lee Morss.

Following their presentations, several candidates remained to visit with Pawnee County constituents as Thursday’s competitive events resumed at the John M. Lewis & Sons Livestock Center through the afternoon.

Livestock judging events continued into Friday, as well as opening day for the state steak/rib cookoff ending with a Jake Gill concert in the evening.

Saturday’s events feature the rib grilling competition; 4-H bike & trike rodeos and fair-end awards events, ending with the Ranch Rodeo at the Pawnee County Fair Arena.