By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com

The Sunflower State’s top spellers went to Salina last Saturday, to compete in the Sunflower State Spelling Bee. Students representing schools from the Tri-County Tribune coverage area included Layton Adams, an 8th grade student from Stafford County; Rowdy Young, a 6th grade student from Kiowa County; and Chloe Toalston, an 8th grader from Pratt County.

The event hosted by the Kansas Press Association was held March 22 on the campus of Kansas Wesleyan University. Students up to 8th grade were eligible for the state competition. This year, as typical for previous years, there were close to 100 students participating in the 2025 Sunflower State Spelling Bee, each representing their respective counties.

“It was pretty cool to be there and see kids from all over the state,” said Macksville competitor Adams. “It’s something I will always remember.”

This year was Adams first year to qualify for the state competition and the 8th grade student said he didn’t really study for the qualifying spelling bee at his school or for the Stafford County Spelling Bee.

“I’ve always been good at memorizing,” he said. “When I read something, I can remember what the words look like so that is how I am able to spell.”

At the county level, Adams’ winning word that he spelled correctly was “inclement,” as in bad weather. At the state level he made it through the first round of spelling competition, but then got tripped up on the word, “trellis.”

Congratulations to all of the local spelling bee competitors who went to state to represent the coverage area of the Tri-County Tribune. The Sunflower State Spelling Bee was won by Sam Riley, a 7th-grader from Andover Middle School, who correctly spelled “columbarium” (a structure to hold cremated remains) to take the title.

The winner of the Sunflower State Spelling Bee is now eligible for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, broadcast yearly on national television. The Scripps National Spelling Bee will be held May 26-30 in Washington, D.C.

Local 2025 spelling bee runner-ups on the county level included Vence Van Der Vyver from Liberty Middle School, Pratt County and Julian Garcia, Kiowa County.