JUNCTION CITY, KS - The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) teamed up with Armour-Eckrich to give back to the elementary students in Junction City during the 2010 KCAC Baseball Championship Tournament with Kids' Day at the Ballpark. Fourth and Fifth grade students from the Junction City and Fort Riley elementary school systems had a special fieldtrip on Thursday and Friday last week. Not only did the students get to watch KCAC tournament baseball, but they also had a lunch of delicious Armour-Eckrich hotdogs while at Rathert Stadium.
Over the two day period, more than 800 elementary students packed the stands at Rathert Stadium, cheering on KCAC baseball teams as they attempted to win the 2010 KCAC Baseball Championship Tournament. If one would have driven past Rathert Stadium from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on Thursday or Friday, one would have heard musical renditions of the Super Mario Brothers theme song and the Sponge Bob Square Pants theme song over the Rathert Stadium PA system. One could also have heard little voices chanting, "Bluejays! Bluejays!" or, "Who let the Braves Out?"

Before the game each day, the students watched a very entertaining sight as Ima Sausage, Armour-Eckrich's mascot, threw out the first pitch both days. Once the game got underway, students piled out of the stands and onto the party deck to collect hotdogs and drinks donated by Armour-Eckrich as well as chips donated by Frito-Lay, Walmart, and Dillons.

Take a Second, Make a Difference (TASMAD) is a club at Junction City High School. TASMAD volunteered both days to help put on the Kids' Day at the Ballpark. The students from TASMAD provided help in a variety of different ways. They served Armour-Eckrich hotdogs, chaperoned classes of elementary school students, and even worked the gate booth. Without the help of the TASMAD students, the event would not have been as successful as it was.
At the end of the game, students piled back out of the stands, returning to class. The students left having had fun watching America's pastime and filling up on the number one food choice of America's pastime, Armour-Eckrich hotdogs.

The KCAC is making steps to make Kids' Day at the Ballpark an annual event to coincide with the KCAC Baseball Championship Tournament as a way to give back to the Junction City, Kansas community, the host community of the KCAC Baseball Championship Tournament.