"In the more than twenty years that the State Treasurer's office has had an Unclaimed Property booth at the Kansas State Fair, this is our best year ever," State Treasurer Jenkins said. "During the 10 days we were in Hutchinson, we re-connected Kansans with $776,059."

The next largest total was from the 1998 state fair when $773,182 in lost or forgotten cash and property was found. Last year's total amount was $702,205.

The total amount included $2,030 found by fifty people who were given checks in the amount of their claim on the spot.

"Up until this year we haven't been able to pay out claims immediately," Treasurer Jenkins said. "Thanks to our new computer system, individuals who found property that met certain criteria were given their money back before they left our booth."

Unclaimed property is anything from inactive savings and checking accounts, uncashed checks, stock shares and bonds, dividend checks, insurance proceeds, mineral royalties, and utility deposits. It is also physical property from safe deposit boxes.

Making a claim is free and easy. There are no fees involved in searching for or claiming cash and property. To search, a last name is required and a first name is recommended if the last is common. Kansans who can't make it to the Fair may call the State Treasurer's office at 1-800-432-0386 or log onto www.KansasCash.com.

"We always look forward to attending the fair," Treasurer Jenkins said. "It gives us an opportunity to meet fellow Kansans and for them to search our records for their lost or forgotten cash and property."

"As always, we were very impressed with the fair organizers and the city of Hutchinson," Jenkins added. "The State Fair is a good old fashioned family tradition and part of what makes our state so great."

During the last fiscal year, a record amount of unclaimed property - more than $11 million - was returned to citizens by the Kansas State Treasurer's office. The average annual amount returned is $9 million. Each year $12 to $15 million worth of Unclaimed Property is turned over to the Kansas State Treasurer's Office from banks, businesses and organizations on behalf of Kansans.

Jenkins, a former State Representative and Senator from Topeka, was elected Treasurer on Nov. 5, 2002. She is a Certified Public Accountant and former small business owner. Since being sworn into office in January 2003, Jenkins has expanded investment options in Learning Quest, initiated multiple financial literacy programs, and eliminated the reliance on state general fund dollars to operate the office. A sixth-generation Kansan, Jenkins was raised on a dairy farm in Holton. She is a graduate of Kansas State University and Weber State College.