Barton County’s annual spelling bee will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Great Bend High School Auditorium.
Great Bend Kiwanis Club sponsors the event, which is known as the Donald H. Humphreys Barton County Spelling Bee.
“Don Humphreys was a tireless volunteer for youth activities in our community,” Bee organizer Paul Snapp said.

The public is invited to attend, he said. “The bee does start promptly at 10 a.m.; however, we start with two practice rounds to get the spellers comfortable with the format.” Audience members, and any spellers who arrive late, must be seated before the “live” rounds start, around 10:30 a.m.

 The winner and runner-up from the Barton County Bee will advance to the Sunflower Spelling Bee, which will be held in Hays on March 5. The winner of the Sunflower Spelling Bee will travel to the Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C., at the end of May. As the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program, the Bee has proven itself as more than a competition for children; it is a classic element of Americana, sponsors said.

There are 22 Barton County elementary and middle school students qualified for Saturday’s Bee, Snapp said. Eleven schools are involved.
Among the spellers are last year’s champion Dalton Dicks, from Great Bend Middle School, and the runner-up from last year’s Bee, Kyler Doll from St. Joseph School in Ellinwood.
The pronouncer will be Robert Feldt.  The judges are Dr. David Hart, Judy Fox and Jean Cavanaugh.  Great Bend Kiwanis President Rob Bauer will be the emcee for the event.