Somewhere around Manhattan, “where hills roll wide and trails wind tight,” a briefcase holding a ticket to win $5,000 waits on a public trail for a lucky hiker to find. The ticket was hidden as a marketing and community outreach campaign by Outdoor Bank, a local bank with eleven locations in Kansas, which posts riddles, rules and more about the hunt on its social media.
Bobby Sloan, SVP and director of marketing for Outdoor Bank, said the campaign aligns Outdoor Bank’s values to both the community and nature.
“[Our ownership] wants what’s best for our customers and our communities; they’re willing to try things that are a little bit different,” Sloan said. “We did it for the first time … last year … you never know how something like that’s gonna go when you put it out to the public sphere, but it kind of blew up.”
The $5,000 hidden prize, once found, will be matched with a $5,000 donation from Outdoor Bank to the Flint Hills Breadbasket, a non-profit food pantry that provides healthy food and basic needs for the local community.
Many people have been out on the trails since the start of the campaign, either on the hunt for money or to enjoy the quiet hum of birds chirping and the wind howling. There is nothing like the thrill of an adventure with $5,000 at stake. Between uncoding riddles and gallivanting around town attempting to find the prize, this campaign can reach more than just the company’s customers — it’s designed to reach the entire community.
“Yes, the treasure is great, the money is great … we want to encourage people to enjoy and explore the beauty of the Flint Hills in the Manhattan area, but it seemed like there was another step we could do, and giving back to our communities is a huge part of what we do,” Sloan said. “The Flint Hills Breadbasket is just very special … so it was kind of a no-brainer to match that donation with them.”
According to the Flint Hills Breadbasket website, “access to healthy food without barriers is a right” for all members of the community, and by pairing up with Outdoor Bank, this mission statement will be spread across the city of Manhattan. The Flint Hills Breadbasket organization strives to ensure there is no one in need among the community, and prioritizes outreach to give back to its community.
Taylynne Charf, sophomore in ASI pre-vet, Laci Kirchhoff, sophomore in agricultural and natural resources communications and Madison Werth, sophomore in ASI pre-vet, enjoy hiking to relax after classes.
“It’s just so nice to get out and reconnect with nature,” Charf said. “None of us do any sports … so it’s refreshing to get outside and out of the house.”
If they found the treasure, they said they would use the $5,000 to pay for some of their college fees, but even without $5,000, they still benefit from hiking.
So, for anyone looking to connect with friends, family and the outdoors, grab a water bottle, some sunscreen and supportive shoes and see what Manhattan has to offer — and maybe find the cash prize out there too.