By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas Outdoors

When I was a kid, I owned a big ole’ jumbo prehistoric aluminum canoe that looked like it would have been more at home on four big tires and pushing a snowplow. Its saving grace was that it was also extra stable on the water. One particular evening my brother-in-law and I were anchored in the middle of dad’s farm pond, fishing. A boat anchor on one end and a big steel ball for an anchor on the other kept the thing from twirling around in the wind. We had multiple tackle boxes open on the seats, I guess to give the appearance that we were big-time contenders on the professional farm-pond bluegill circuit. Anyway, as it was getting dark, we pulled anchor to paddle toward shore. My anchor came up with no problems, but the steel ball on his end was stuck in the black, oozy mud bottom of the pond. Wrapping the rope around his hands a couple times, he leaned backwards to dislodge the steel ball. He was built like a dump truck and when the ball came free, he hit the other side of the canoe like a rodeo bull out of the chute, causing ole’ jumbo to do the unthinkable and dump us both into the drink. There we were, bobbing around in the middle of an absolute flotilla of fishing lures; some floating and some sinking slowly toward the bottom, but all sporting at least three razor-sharp hooks. Now, Katie Ledecky could swim the length of dad’s pond as easily as the rest of us could walk across the kitchen, but how about swimming it through a scum of floating fishing lures.

Welcome to the first event in the 2024 Farm Pond Olympics, the freestyle lure swim. The swimmers can choose their stroke, but they have to stay on top of the water. We’ll divide the pond into lanes with bailer twine tied to electric fence posts on each side of the pond. All shapes and sizes of floating fishing lures will be scattered over each lane beforehand, and at the crack of the starter’s pistol, the swimmers simply swim to the other side of the pond as quickly as possible. The event can be scored a variety of ways; most lures on their body, fewest lures on their body or certain lures could be given a point value and the winner would be the swimmer with the most points when the point value of the lures clinging to their body is tallied. The event could be made even more life-like by unceremoniously flinging each swimmer from a sinking canoe to start the race.

The diving board at dad’s pond was an old steel frame with a big old barn plank for a board. We welded the frame from stuff dug out of the usual farmer’s scrap pile and carried it to the pond with the tractor and loader. It was on the dam, so the frame was made to be as tall as the dam. One end of the old barn plank lay across the steel frame and hung out over the water and the other end rested on top of the dam and was held there with a huge rock. It did little good to bounce on the board when diving because the old plank had zero spring to it. I remember going to a nice swimming pool once with the church youth group and running out onto the diving board and pouncing on it like I did at the pond. The thing flung me so high I had a nose bleed when I hit the water! I once watched my buddy Ralph bounce off the end of the board as usual,

then looked-on as the plank followed him end-over-end into the pond cause’ the rock had somehow gotten moved. Anyway, the next event in the Farm Pond Olympics would be farm pond diving. The degree of difficulty will always be high no matter what dive they choose, and the chunkier divers will have a definite advantage in the event. We’ll probably have to employ an extra person at the judges table to keep an eye on the rock.

Dads pond was chock full of pesky little bluegills and each tiny one we caught found its way into the nearby fencerow as a way to weed them out of the pond. We found out that smacking them with a canoe paddle was a pretty novel and effective way to get them to the fencerow, so the third event in the Farm Pond Olympics would be bluegill batting. The event will be divided into two categories; land batting in which each contestant will bat his or her bluegill from the bank, and water batting where the batting will take place from a canoe. The batters can choose to have their bluegills pitched to them or they can choose the freestyle delivery where they throw it up in the air themselves before whacking it. Winners will be chosen for both longest distance and for highest flight, and naturally canoe paddles will be provided so that no one has an unfair advantage.

I’ve made my pitch to the International Olympic Committee, but I’m not yet sure if this Farm Pond Olympic thing will catch on. I figure we have ranch rodeos so why not Farm Pond Olympics. Any way, if the 2024 Farm Pond Olympics become a reality, I’ll be available to coach bluegill batting…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas OutdoorsWhen I was a kid, I owned a big ole’ jumbo prehistoric aluminum canoe that looked like it would have been more at home on four big tires and pushing a snowplow. Its saving grace was that it was also extra stable on the water. One particular evening my brother-in-law and I were anchored in the middle of dad’s farm pond, fishing. A boat anchor on one end and a big steel ball for an anchor on the other kept the thing from twirling around in the wind. We had multiple tackle boxes open on the seats, I guess to give the appearance that we were big-time contenders on the professional farm-pond bluegill circuit. Anyway, as it was getting dark, we pulled anchor to paddle toward shore. My anchor came up with no problems, but the steel ball on his end was stuck in the black, oozy mud bottom of the pond. Wrapping the rope around his hands a couple times, he leaned backwards to dislodge the steel ball. He was built like a dump truck and when the ball came free, he hit the other side of the canoe like a rodeo bull out of the chute, causing ole’ jumbo to do the unthinkable and dump us both into the drink. There we were, bobbing around in the middle of an absolute flotilla of fishing lures; some floating and some sinking slowly toward the bottom, but all sporting at least three razor-sharp hooks. Now, Katie Ledecky could swim the length of dad’s pond as easily as the rest of us could walk across the kitchen, but how about swimming it through a scum of floating fishing lures.Welcome to the first event in the 2024 Farm Pond Olympics, the freestyle lure swim. The swimmers can choose their stroke, but they have to stay on top of the water. We’ll divide the pond into lanes with bailer twine tied to electric fence posts on each side of the pond. All shapes and sizes of floating fishing lures will be scattered over each lane beforehand, and at the crack of the starter’s pistol, the swimmers simply swim to the other side of the pond as quickly as possible. The event can be scored a variety of ways; most lures on their body, fewest lures on their body or certain lures could be given a point value and the winner would be the swimmer with the most points when the point value of the lures clinging to their body is tallied. The event could be made even more life-like by unceremoniously flinging each swimmer from a sinking canoe to start the race.The diving board at dad’s pond was an old steel frame with a big old barn plank for a board. We welded the frame from stuff dug out of the usual farmer’s scrap pile and carried it to the pond with the tractor and loader. It was on the dam, so the frame was made to be as tall as the dam. One end of the old barn plank lay across the steel frame and hung out over the water and the other end rested on top of the dam and was held there with a huge rock. It did little good to bounce on the board when diving because the old plank had zero spring to it. I remember going to a nice swimming pool once with the church youth group and running out onto the diving board and pouncing on it like I did at the pond. The thing flung me so high I had a nose bleed when I hit the water! I once watched my buddy Ralph bounce off the end of the board as usual,then looked-on as the plank followed him end-over-end into the pond cause’ the rock had somehow gotten moved. Anyway, the next event in the Farm Pond Olympics would be farm pond diving. The degree of difficulty will always be high no matter what dive they choose, and the chunkier divers will have a definite advantage in the event. We’ll probably have to employ an extra person at the judges table to keep an eye on the rock.Dads pond was chock full of pesky little bluegills and each tiny one we caught found its way into the nearby fencerow as a way to weed them out of the pond. We found out that smacking them with a canoe paddle was a pretty novel and effective way to get them to the fencerow, so the third event in the Farm Pond Olympics would be bluegill batting. The event will be divided into two categories; land batting in which each contestant will bat his or her bluegill from the bank, and water batting where the batting will take place from a canoe. The batters can choose to have their bluegills pitched to them or they can choose the freestyle delivery where they throw it up in the air themselves before whacking it. Winners will be chosen for both longest distance and for highest flight, and naturally canoe paddles will be provided so that no one has an unfair advantage.I’ve made my pitch to the International Olympic Committee, but I’m not yet sure if this Farm Pond Olympic thing will catch on. I figure we have ranch rodeos so why not Farm Pond Olympics. Any way, if the 2024 Farm Pond Olympics become a reality, I’ll be available to coach bluegill batting…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: Farm Pond Olympics

By RUSSELL FOX Insight Kansas

Before my family and I moved to Kansas, 18 years ago next month, I didn’t consider summer my favorite season. As a perpetual student and then a college professor, summer vacations were obviously a nice break, and of course summer activities were fun. But compared with flowers in the spring, foliage in the fall, and snow in the winter, summer just didn’t impress me.

The Sunflower state changed that. People complain about the heat, humidity, and wind but I found it all quite wonderful. Getting on my bike and hitting the long, straight county roads, looking across golden wheat fields and rolling green pastures towards a broad and blue horizon, with sunflowers along the way—it was beautiful, and made me a firm fan of Kansas summers.

That did involve some adjustments, though. For example: when are the lazy “dog days” of summer? As a scholar of politics as well as a fan of the season, this actually mattered to me.

Growing up in Washington state, August was the tired, tail-end of summer, the time when everyone mentally checked out, and I carried that assumption into my professional life. Living and studying in Washington DC, August was so disregarded by many who worked there that there were humorous&nbsp;<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2010/08/august-let-s-get-rid-of-it.html">calls to abolish it</a>. August was when the parties and agencies mopped up unfinished business, if they worked at all, just waiting for politics to re-ignite in the fall.

But in Kansas, whose approach to the calendar had historically followed agricultural patterns distinct from what I knew as a child and student, things were different. With the wheat harvest complete before the end of July, schools and governments looked to August as the time to get back into a normal routine. And so, as the years have gone by, I’ve had to accustom myself to treating late July, rather than August, as the time to truly tune out and reset one’s internal clock.

I was thinking about this while speaking to a local political group just last week. I was surrounded by older folks, who’d dedicated years—decades really--of their lives to understanding and promoting the causes and candidates they believed in. One might imagine these folks would be, like me on these hot, late July days, taking it easy. But no—they were fired up, anxious and ready and engaged, filled with questions and challenges and concerns.

Their attitude surprised me, though it shouldn’t have. In a single week they, like all of us, had seen the attempted assassination of one presidential candidate and the withdrawal of another. Far from the summer political calendar closing its eyes and taking a nap, suddenly everything was turbo-charged and dramatic, the news terrible and shocking and inspiring and unexpected. As I commented to some other news junkies, upon my second late-night visit to a local television station in a little over a week, it’s not supposed to be like this until after Labor Day!

Well, so much for those expectations. July is rushing into August and beyond at breakneck speed, with primary elections and brokered conventions looming across the nation, some of whose consequences might well affect even the most local legislative races across our state.

In a political culture supposedly built upon democratic debate, with people taking the time to test different political options carefully, that kind of speed isn’t good. But unless we can all learn to turn off our phones and trust that not everything always needs to be treated as a desperate emergency, we’ll have to make the best of our hurried reality, applying whatever limited breaks we can find occasionally. Summer’s still here, but maybe not the dog days of old, unfortunately.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita, KS

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690389122282.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RUSSELL FOX Insight KansasBefore my family and I moved to Kansas, 18 years ago next month, I didn’t consider summer my favorite season. As a perpetual student and then a college professor, summer vacations were obviously a nice break, and of course summer activities were fun. But compared with flowers in the spring, foliage in the fall, and snow in the winter, summer just didn’t impress me.The Sunflower state changed that. People complain about the heat, humidity, and wind but I found it all quite wonderful. Getting on my bike and hitting the long, straight county roads, looking across golden wheat fields and rolling green pastures towards a broad and blue horizon, with sunflowers along the way—it was beautiful, and made me a firm fan of Kansas summers.That did involve some adjustments, though. For example: when are the lazy “dog days” of summer? As a scholar of politics as well as a fan of the season, this actually mattered to me.Growing up in Washington state, August was the tired, tail-end of summer, the time when everyone mentally checked out, and I carried that assumption into my professional life. Living and studying in Washington DC, August was so disregarded by many who worked there that there were humorous&nbsp;<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2010/08/august-let-s-get-rid-of-it.html">calls to abolish it</a>. August was when the parties and agencies mopped up unfinished business, if they worked at all, just waiting for politics to re-ignite in the fall.But in Kansas, whose approach to the calendar had historically followed agricultural patterns distinct from what I knew as a child and student, things were different. With the wheat harvest complete before the end of July, schools and governments looked to August as the time to get back into a normal routine. And so, as the years have gone by, I’ve had to accustom myself to treating late July, rather than August, as the time to truly tune out and reset one’s internal clock.I was thinking about this while speaking to a local political group just last week. I was surrounded by older folks, who’d dedicated years—decades really--of their lives to understanding and promoting the causes and candidates they believed in. One might imagine these folks would be, like me on these hot, late July days, taking it easy. But no—they were fired up, anxious and ready and engaged, filled with questions and challenges and concerns.Their attitude surprised me, though it shouldn’t have. In a single week they, like all of us, had seen the attempted assassination of one presidential candidate and the withdrawal of another. Far from the summer political calendar closing its eyes and taking a nap, suddenly everything was turbo-charged and dramatic, the news terrible and shocking and inspiring and unexpected. As I commented to some other news junkies, upon my second late-night visit to a local television station in a little over a week, it’s not supposed to be like this until after Labor Day!Well, so much for those expectations. July is rushing into August and beyond at breakneck speed, with primary elections and brokered conventions looming across the nation, some of whose consequences might well affect even the most local legislative races across our state.In a political culture supposedly built upon democratic debate, with people taking the time to test different political options carefully, that kind of speed isn’t good. But unless we can all learn to turn off our phones and trust that not everything always needs to be treated as a desperate emergency, we’ll have to make the best of our hurried reality, applying whatever limited breaks we can find occasionally. Summer’s still here, but maybe not the dog days of old, unfortunately.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita, KS

INSIGHT KANSAS: On being (politically) surprised by summer

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Weather patterns can have a significant impact on grasshopper populations year to year. Hot, dry summers increase the survival of nymphs and adult grasshoppers, leading to increased egg production during the growing season. Cool, wet weather promotes fungal pathogens that can reduce egg and nymph survival, but if the following spring is warm and wet, egg hatching will increase, and more nymphs survive. So, several years of hot, dry summers followed by warm, wet springs can eventually lead to large populations of grasshoppers in some regions.

Weather patterns, along with abundant grassy and broad-leaf weeds, have supported the presence of large grasshopper populations in western and central Kansas this year. Most crops are likely mature enough to withstand some defoliation as summer continues. However, 5 to 8 grasshoppers per square yard in corn or sorghum fields may warrant treatment.

Later this season, fall-planted crops could be at risk, especially as alternate food sources are controlled or go dormant. In areas with larger grasshopper populations, seedling alfalfa and wheat could be at risk.

Before planting alfalfa, treatment should be considered if there are 15 or more grasshoppers per square yard around the planting area. Once planted and growing, consider treatment if 3-5 grasshoppers per square yard are found in the seedling alfalfa stand.

Vegetated borders around areas where wheat will be planted should be scouted 10 days before planting. Consider treating those borders if there are 7 to 12 grasshoppers per square yard. Once growing, 3 or more grasshoppers per square yard within the field can destroy seedling wheat stands. If grasshopper populations are low to moderate, seed treatments can protect emerging wheat plants for several weeks if products are applied at the highest registered rate. Seed treatments will be less effective under severe grasshopper pressure. Avoid planting too early, as this will help reduce the time that wheat will need to be protected.

In either crop, multiple applications might be necessary depending on the products used and the severity of the season’s grasshopper buildup. Please refer to the most recent Insect Management Guides for specific control information or search corn, sorghum, alfalfa, or wheat KSU insect management guide on your internet browser.

Information provided by Anthony Zukoff, Extension Entomology Associate – Garden City.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266615291.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictWeather patterns can have a significant impact on grasshopper populations year to year. Hot, dry summers increase the survival of nymphs and adult grasshoppers, leading to increased egg production during the growing season. Cool, wet weather promotes fungal pathogens that can reduce egg and nymph survival, but if the following spring is warm and wet, egg hatching will increase, and more nymphs survive. So, several years of hot, dry summers followed by warm, wet springs can eventually lead to large populations of grasshoppers in some regions.Weather patterns, along with abundant grassy and broad-leaf weeds, have supported the presence of large grasshopper populations in western and central Kansas this year. Most crops are likely mature enough to withstand some defoliation as summer continues. However, 5 to 8 grasshoppers per square yard in corn or sorghum fields may warrant treatment.Fall-planted crops: Alfalfa and wheatLater this season, fall-planted crops could be at risk, especially as alternate food sources are controlled or go dormant. In areas with larger grasshopper populations, seedling alfalfa and wheat could be at risk.Before planting alfalfa, treatment should be considered if there are 15 or more grasshoppers per square yard around the planting area. Once planted and growing, consider treatment if 3-5 grasshoppers per square yard are found in the seedling alfalfa stand.Vegetated borders around areas where wheat will be planted should be scouted 10 days before planting. Consider treating those borders if there are 7 to 12 grasshoppers per square yard. Once growing, 3 or more grasshoppers per square yard within the field can destroy seedling wheat stands. If grasshopper populations are low to moderate, seed treatments can protect emerging wheat plants for several weeks if products are applied at the highest registered rate. Seed treatments will be less effective under severe grasshopper pressure. Avoid planting too early, as this will help reduce the time that wheat will need to be protected.In either crop, multiple applications might be necessary depending on the products used and the severity of the season’s grasshopper buildup. Please refer to the most recent Insect Management Guides for specific control information or search corn, sorghum, alfalfa, or wheat KSU insect management guide on your internet browser.Information provided by Anthony Zukoff, Extension Entomology Associate – Garden City.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Grasshopper populations in Kansas remain elevated

Open a browser on your mobile device and visit the website at <a href="https://hayspost.com">https://hayspost.com</a>.&nbsp; Add it to the Home screen on your mobile device for the best possible experience.&nbsp; Here’s a screenshot that shows you how:

Open a browser on your mobile device and visit the website at <a href="https://hayspost.com">https://hayspost.com</a>.&nbsp; Add it to the Home screen on your mobile device for the best possible experience.&nbsp; Here’s a screenshot that shows you how:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722009103461.png" alt="Hays Post.png" />
 <figcaption>Hays Post.png</figcaption>
 </figure>

How to get full Hays Post experience on your mobile

After three years at this house, we’ve put in gardens and flower beds as well as bird baths to encourage local creatures to share our digs. This summer we’ve had a host of birds nest in our trees where we can watch them parent the next generation.

In addition to filling feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, milo, and corn, our gardens attract various insects. We’ve enjoyed watching the kingbirds swarm about the sunflowers and corn, snagging one tasty bug after another to carry back to a nest full of open beaks. We also have a farm field behind us, and as the sun rises in the east dozens of king birds from the area dash about barely avoiding in-air wrecks as they snag a slow flyer. As in past years, orioles join the other birds, zipping so fast through our vegetable jungle that it looks like ribbons of orange flapping amongst the greenery.

Enough weeks have passed that their babies fledged recently. So far, I’ve found two on the ground that bravely launched themselves from respective nests. They ejected on opposite sides of the yard, so two sets of parents perch overhead warning intruders to leave their offspring alone. While none attacked me the way they do the young squirrel that stops daily for a meal and a drink, they gave me what for when I snapped their offsprings’ photos.

The fledgling in the north yard hadn’t developed flight feathers when he ejected into the wider world. I found him sitting still as could be under our tiny lilac bush, knowing instinctively to remain perfectly still to deter hungry cats or hawks. I told him to pretend no one saw him as I returned to the house to spy from the dining room window. Despite his flightless state, the little guy could hop. In no time, he’d navigated from beneath that little bush, across several feet of bristly buffalo grass and Bermuda, into our garden—a veritable jungle that would hide him well. Mom stood guard on our clothesline. Every now and then, I’d see her do what all good moms do, deliver a meal to nourish her baby.

A couple days later, I noticed another tiny bird hopping about on the south end of the yard. Once again, it was a just-fledged king bird, but fully feathered. Again, parents hovered overhead, threatening kidnappers with all sorts of bird violence. Alfred Hitchcock would have a hey day with these guys and their threats. Again, I escaped to spy undetected. I did see this little chap finding his own insects on the ground so he didn’t need nearly as much mom intervention as that first fledgling. I also noted this one managed to get airborne a few times, though it never made it far before needing a rest. I’m guessing it currently flits around the yard with all the other king birds, and I don’t recognize it.

I know some folks don’t relish bugs and birds in their yards. I’m good with that. Send them to our house. Watching these little families grow and become independent make working outside a joy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721404088302.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINAfter three years at this house, we’ve put in gardens and flower beds as well as bird baths to encourage local creatures to share our digs. This summer we’ve had a host of birds nest in our trees where we can watch them parent the next generation.In addition to filling feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, milo, and corn, our gardens attract various insects. We’ve enjoyed watching the kingbirds swarm about the sunflowers and corn, snagging one tasty bug after another to carry back to a nest full of open beaks. We also have a farm field behind us, and as the sun rises in the east dozens of king birds from the area dash about barely avoiding in-air wrecks as they snag a slow flyer. As in past years, orioles join the other birds, zipping so fast through our vegetable jungle that it looks like ribbons of orange flapping amongst the greenery.Enough weeks have passed that their babies fledged recently. So far, I’ve found two on the ground that bravely launched themselves from respective nests. They ejected on opposite sides of the yard, so two sets of parents perch overhead warning intruders to leave their offspring alone. While none attacked me the way they do the young squirrel that stops daily for a meal and a drink, they gave me what for when I snapped their offsprings’ photos.The fledgling in the north yard hadn’t developed flight feathers when he ejected into the wider world. I found him sitting still as could be under our tiny lilac bush, knowing instinctively to remain perfectly still to deter hungry cats or hawks. I told him to pretend no one saw him as I returned to the house to spy from the dining room window. Despite his flightless state, the little guy could hop. In no time, he’d navigated from beneath that little bush, across several feet of bristly buffalo grass and Bermuda, into our garden—a veritable jungle that would hide him well. Mom stood guard on our clothesline. Every now and then, I’d see her do what all good moms do, deliver a meal to nourish her baby.A couple days later, I noticed another tiny bird hopping about on the south end of the yard. Once again, it was a just-fledged king bird, but fully feathered. Again, parents hovered overhead, threatening kidnappers with all sorts of bird violence. Alfred Hitchcock would have a hey day with these guys and their threats. Again, I escaped to spy undetected. I did see this little chap finding his own insects on the ground so he didn’t need nearly as much mom intervention as that first fledgling. I also noted this one managed to get airborne a few times, though it never made it far before needing a rest. I’m guessing it currently flits around the yard with all the other king birds, and I don’t recognize it.I know some folks don’t relish bugs and birds in their yards. I’m good with that. Send them to our house. Watching these little families grow and become independent make working outside a joy.

MADORIN: Fledgling launches

If your new online friend or romantic interest says they have an emergency and need money, it might not mean they have bad luck. It’s more likely they’re a scammer trying to grab your money. So, how can you tell if an online “friend” is a fraud?

It’s hard to know who people really are when you meet them online. Scammers create fake profiles on social media, as well as game and dating sites. They might send you a friend request, start a conversation and friendship, chatting or texting daily. Surprisingly soon, they might say they’re in love with you. Then, suddenly, they’ll have an expensive emergency — a lost job, failed business, or sister who needs an operation — and appeal to you for&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams">gift cards</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-you-wire-money">money transfers</a>, even&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-cryptocurrency-and-scams">cryptocurrency</a>.

Here are some&nbsp;sure&nbsp;signs you’re dealing with a romance scammer:

If you think someone is a scammer, cut off contact. Tell the social media platform,&nbsp;game site, and dating site, and then tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.&nbsp;Share this post in your socials to alert your followers of this scam.

Federal Trade CommissionIf your new online friend or romantic interest says they have an emergency and need money, it might not mean they have bad luck. It’s more likely they’re a scammer trying to grab your money. So, how can you tell if an online “friend” is a fraud?It’s hard to know who people really are when you meet them online. Scammers create fake profiles on social media, as well as game and dating sites. They might send you a friend request, start a conversation and friendship, chatting or texting daily. Surprisingly soon, they might say they’re in love with you. Then, suddenly, they’ll have an expensive emergency — a lost job, failed business, or sister who needs an operation — and appeal to you for&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams">gift cards</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-you-wire-money">money transfers</a>, even&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-cryptocurrency-and-scams">cryptocurrency</a>.Here are some&nbsp;sure&nbsp;signs you’re dealing with a romance scammer:<ul>
 <li>They can’t meet you in person.&nbsp;It’s an early warning sign if they can’t meet because they’re outside the country on an oil rig, in the military, or with an international organization. Those are lies.</li><li>They ask you for money.&nbsp;That’s always a scam. No matter the so-called emergency, they’re only trying to steal your money.</li><li>They tell you how to send the money.&nbsp;Which is exactly what scammers do, focusing on ways to get your money quickly. Where it’s also hard for you to get it back. (Crypto, gift cards, wire transfer, payment apps…)</li>
 </ul>If you think someone is a scammer, cut off contact. Tell the social media platform,&nbsp;game site, and dating site, and then tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.&nbsp;Share this post in your socials to alert your followers of this scam.

Does a friend you met online need money for an emergency? That’s a scam

Our right to vote is one of the fundamental pillars of American democracy. The ballot box is a powerful tool: it amplifies our voices, holds the powerful accountable, and induces change in our society—and so it saddens me when I see my neighbors’ opportunities to vote restricted or denied. Every person legally able to vote should be able to cast a ballot.

That’s why a change is necessary in Hays.

Some tactics to limit our vote are obvious and intentional, while others are subtle or unintended—but the result of silencing someone’s voice is the same. This frequently impacts college students, and in our local example here in Hays, we have seen this in our polling location access

For four years or more, students are not just visitors to our community, but members of it. They live in the community. They pay taxes and contribute to our local economy, and they should have a voice in their community's decisions that affect everyone.

While I was a faculty member at Fort Hays State University, I was part of a group advocating for a polling place nearer to the FHSU campus. Voters had to walk to downtown Hays to reach the nearest polling site instead of the excellent, walkable locations on or close to campus that would have better served not only those students but other residents in the southwest quadrant of Hays. When I lived in Hays, I voted at the VFW and could not have walked there from my house, but many of our students do not have access to transportation, not to mention anyone who may have physical mobility challenges.

I see that since my departure from FHSU in 2017, things have only gotten worse for the students. There are five polling locations within the city limits today. The closest one to campus is more than a mile away and a 28-minute walk, which takes students to Messiah Lutheran Church. When we see all the polling locations: Smoky Hill Country Club, Hays Recreation Center, the VFW, Sternberg Museum and Messiah, there is a noticeable pattern of polling locations clustered towards the north and east of the city, some nearly an hour’s walk from FHSU campus.

When I read that students participating in the American Democracy Project, Grace McCord and Madison Albers, were advocating to move a polling place closer to campus last year, I was thrilled. Madison and Grace have already been recognized by President Tisa Mason for their outstanding leadership and dedication to encouraging access to the ballot for students. Sadly, Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling has responded similarly to her predecessors and appears to be disinterested in righting this significant wrong. Dreiling correctly notes that when the polling place was slightly closer to campus (601 Main Street) turnout was lower than at other precincts in the community. However, at nearly one mile and a 20-minute walk from campus during the warm months of election season in Kansas, it’s inaccurate to say that the location was convenient or close. And as McCord points out in a March letter to Hays Post with Edward Brown and Anniston Weber, the decision to take a low-turnout precinct and make the polling place less accessible is a decision that boggles the mind.

If Dreiling is truly worried about low voter turnout, then there are other things she and her office can do to be a better partner to FHSU and its students. In my new home in Virginia, our city’s Registrar of Elections (the equivalent to Dreiling’s position in Ellis County) is a member of our campus voter team and has actively advocated for enhanced student turnout. 

We face the same issues with students being in multiple precincts across a small community, but our local office coordinates with us on registering students and is working with us to make voting more convenient for everyone. I strongly urge Dreiling to do the same. Our registrar of elections has a city elections board that must approve every decision (including that of polling place locations) whereas the Ellis County Clerk has the autonomy to make that decision themselves. It’s time to make voting more accessible, not less, in Hays America. We have seen a significant increase in student voting over the last three cycles, and much of that can be attributed to working together towards our common goal, not as adversaries.

And as Dreiling herself notes, this isn’t just about FHSU students. Some of those students are in other precincts in town, and plenty of Hays residents who are not FHSU students live in the southwestern quadrant of town. The location of polling places can disenfranchise them as much as the students.

I can only hope that these great young people will have more success than we were able to have when we tried in the mid-2000’s. If we are to really call ourselves a community, then every legal resident deserves to have access to a nearby polling place so they can use their political voice.

For my friends and former colleagues in Hays, I urge you to support the efforts of the FHSU students lobbying to bring a polling place to the Fort Hays campus. Small communities and their colleges need each other, and a polling place at FHSU would be a real sign of the commitment Hays has to being that special type of city that welcomes and values its students – and believes in an accessible and equitable democracy.

Chapman Rackaway is chairman and professor of political science at Radford University. From 2003 to 2017, Rackaway was a faculty member at Fort Hays State University.

Our right to vote is one of the fundamental pillars of American democracy. The ballot box is a powerful tool: it amplifies our voices, holds the powerful accountable, and induces change in our society—and so it saddens me when I see my neighbors’ opportunities to vote restricted or denied. Every person legally able to vote should be able to cast a ballot.That’s why a change is necessary in Hays.Some tactics to limit our vote are obvious and intentional, while others are subtle or unintended—but the result of silencing someone’s voice is the same. This frequently impacts college students, and in our local example here in Hays, we have seen this in our polling location accessFor four years or more, students are not just visitors to our community, but members of it. They live in the community. They pay taxes and contribute to our local economy, and they should have a voice in their community's decisions that affect everyone.While I was a faculty member at Fort Hays State University, I was part of a group advocating for a polling place nearer to the FHSU campus. Voters had to walk to downtown Hays to reach the nearest polling site instead of the excellent, walkable locations on or close to campus that would have better served not only those students but other residents in the southwest quadrant of Hays. When I lived in Hays, I voted at the VFW and could not have walked there from my house, but many of our students do not have access to transportation, not to mention anyone who may have physical mobility challenges.I see that since my departure from FHSU in 2017, things have only gotten worse for the students. There are five polling locations within the city limits today. The closest one to campus is more than a mile away and a 28-minute walk, which takes students to Messiah Lutheran Church. When we see all the polling locations: Smoky Hill Country Club, Hays Recreation Center, the VFW, Sternberg Museum and Messiah, there is a noticeable pattern of polling locations clustered towards the north and east of the city, some nearly an hour’s walk from FHSU campus.When I read that students participating in the American Democracy Project, Grace McCord and Madison Albers, were advocating to move a polling place closer to campus last year, I was thrilled. Madison and Grace have already been recognized by President Tisa Mason for their outstanding leadership and dedication to encouraging access to the ballot for students. Sadly, Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling has responded similarly to her predecessors and appears to be disinterested in righting this significant wrong. Dreiling correctly notes that when the polling place was slightly closer to campus (601 Main Street) turnout was lower than at other precincts in the community. However, at nearly one mile and a 20-minute walk from campus during the warm months of election season in Kansas, it’s inaccurate to say that the location was convenient or close. And as McCord points out in a March letter to Hays Post with Edward Brown and Anniston Weber, the decision to take a low-turnout precinct and make the polling place less accessible is a decision that boggles the mind.If Dreiling is truly worried about low voter turnout, then there are other things she and her office can do to be a better partner to FHSU and its students. In my new home in Virginia, our city’s Registrar of Elections (the equivalent to Dreiling’s position in Ellis County) is a member of our campus voter team and has actively advocated for enhanced student turnout. We face the same issues with students being in multiple precincts across a small community, but our local office coordinates with us on registering students and is working with us to make voting more convenient for everyone. I strongly urge Dreiling to do the same. Our registrar of elections has a city elections board that must approve every decision (including that of polling place locations) whereas the Ellis County Clerk has the autonomy to make that decision themselves. It’s time to make voting more accessible, not less, in Hays America. We have seen a significant increase in student voting over the last three cycles, and much of that can be attributed to working together towards our common goal, not as adversaries.And as Dreiling herself notes, this isn’t just about FHSU students. Some of those students are in other precincts in town, and plenty of Hays residents who are not FHSU students live in the southwestern quadrant of town. The location of polling places can disenfranchise them as much as the students.I can only hope that these great young people will have more success than we were able to have when we tried in the mid-2000’s. If we are to really call ourselves a community, then every legal resident deserves to have access to a nearby polling place so they can use their political voice.For my friends and former colleagues in Hays, I urge you to support the efforts of the FHSU students lobbying to bring a polling place to the Fort Hays campus. Small communities and their colleges need each other, and a polling place at FHSU would be a real sign of the commitment Hays has to being that special type of city that welcomes and values its students – and believes in an accessible and equitable democracy.Chapman Rackaway is chairman and professor of political science at Radford University. From 2003 to 2017, Rackaway was a faculty member at Fort Hays State University.

Letter: FHSU students should have more accessible voting location

By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District

Several weeks ago, during Kansas 4-H Discovery Days, the keynote speaker was Mitch Holthus. Kansas 4-H Youth Development Program Leader, Dr. Sarah Maass, provided a great reflection on the presentation and I’d like to share that with you today, in its entirety.

The Other 4 H’s According to Mitch Holthus

Those of you who were at Discovery Days had the opportunity to hear Mitch Holthus, the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs, discuss the other 4 H’s. While I will not do as good of a job as Mr. Holthus did, I want to recap the 4 H’s as I feel they are important for us to remember throughout the year, but especially during this wonderful time of year when we can connect with our 4-H members and their families, and our 4-H volunteers.

The first H addressed was Humble, the power of the “mangy mutt”. Mr. Holthus shared the success of the Chiefs with their 8 consecutive AFC West titles, the 4 of the last 5 seasons they were in the Super Bowl as the AFC Champions, AND being winners of the Lamar Hunt Trophy with 3 Super Bowl wins. He went on to share the importance of the “mutt” to stay humble and hungry – to never blink or flinch; fear nothing and attack everything; and eliminate distractions and create energy. The hungry dog hunts the best. What are you hungry for? What is your program hungry for?

This leads us to the second H, Hungry, the power of listening. Mitch said that you can teach a new dog old tricks, but you can also teach an old dog new tricks. I’d encourage you to read that again and think about where you are in your career (new or old-er). Mr. Holthus continued to emphasize listening has a linear intention and it is important to listen to absorb, ascertain, then act. How many of us listen and while doing so are thinking of how we will respond vs. listening to absorb what is being said, make sure you understand what was being said to you, then act and respond?

The third H Mr. Holthus identified for the Discovery Days delegation was Hard, the power of perseverance. He asked us the question, Who will do the task when it is hard? We should not ask others to do work we would not do ourselves. Sometimes we have to get down in the dirt and get dirty with everyone else to get the job done. Sometimes we have successes and sometimes we have challenges. Mitch indicates that after three

strikes, we are not out! Instead, we should continue to work towards the goal and persevere! Once we get to our goal, we need to celebrate those milestones. In Extension, we do not always celebrate our accomplishments, but we need to make a point to do so. Yet, it is important that we not “stay” in the celebration mode.

The fourth and final H is History, the power of a footprint. Mr. Holthus asked several questions around this H which all focused on purpose. What is our purpose? Where do we fit? What will we leave behind? And will we be a free agent or a footprint maker? I really loved this last question and how he identified a legacy or impact as a footprint.

As you go through this busy summer season, I want you to think about these questions:

· What does this mean for you and your work?

· How do you listen to understand, then be understood?

· Do you celebrate the successes in your program?

· What legacy or footprint are you leaving in your program and on the lives of the Kansans you serve?

Summers can be stressful and exciting simultaneously. Let’s continue to ask these questions of ourselves, stay humble in our work, stay hungry and listen to others, be willing to do the hard things, and remember the power of the footprint you are leaving through your work.

Many thanks to Dr. Maass for sharing her reflection on this impactful presentation.

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668177490614.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension DistrictSeveral weeks ago, during Kansas 4-H Discovery Days, the keynote speaker was Mitch Holthus. Kansas 4-H Youth Development Program Leader, Dr. Sarah Maass, provided a great reflection on the presentation and I’d like to share that with you today, in its entirety.<h2>The Other 4 H’s According to Mitch Holthus</h2>Those of you who were at Discovery Days had the opportunity to hear Mitch Holthus, the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs, discuss the other 4 H’s. While I will not do as good of a job as Mr. Holthus did, I want to recap the 4 H’s as I feel they are important for us to remember throughout the year, but especially during this wonderful time of year when we can connect with our 4-H members and their families, and our 4-H volunteers.The first H addressed was Humble, the power of the “mangy mutt”. Mr. Holthus shared the success of the Chiefs with their 8 consecutive AFC West titles, the 4 of the last 5 seasons they were in the Super Bowl as the AFC Champions, AND being winners of the Lamar Hunt Trophy with 3 Super Bowl wins. He went on to share the importance of the “mutt” to stay humble and hungry – to never blink or flinch; fear nothing and attack everything; and eliminate distractions and create energy. The hungry dog hunts the best. What are you hungry for? What is your program hungry for?This leads us to the second H, Hungry, the power of listening. Mitch said that you can teach a new dog old tricks, but you can also teach an old dog new tricks. I’d encourage you to read that again and think about where you are in your career (new or old-er). Mr. Holthus continued to emphasize listening has a linear intention and it is important to listen to absorb, ascertain, then act. How many of us listen and while doing so are thinking of how we will respond vs. listening to absorb what is being said, make sure you understand what was being said to you, then act and respond?The third H Mr. Holthus identified for the Discovery Days delegation was Hard, the power of perseverance. He asked us the question, Who will do the task when it is hard? We should not ask others to do work we would not do ourselves. Sometimes we have to get down in the dirt and get dirty with everyone else to get the job done. Sometimes we have successes and sometimes we have challenges. Mitch indicates that after threestrikes, we are not out! Instead, we should continue to work towards the goal and persevere! Once we get to our goal, we need to celebrate those milestones. In Extension, we do not always celebrate our accomplishments, but we need to make a point to do so. Yet, it is important that we not “stay” in the celebration mode.The fourth and final H is History, the power of a footprint. Mr. Holthus asked several questions around this H which all focused on purpose. What is our purpose? Where do we fit? What will we leave behind? And will we be a free agent or a footprint maker? I really loved this last question and how he identified a legacy or impact as a footprint.As you go through this busy summer season, I want you to think about these questions:· What does this mean for you and your work?· How do you stay humble and hungry?· How do you listen to understand, then be understood?· Do you celebrate the successes in your program?· What legacy or footprint are you leaving in your program and on the lives of the Kansans you serve?Summers can be stressful and exciting simultaneously. Let’s continue to ask these questions of ourselves, stay humble in our work, stay hungry and listen to others, be willing to do the hard things, and remember the power of the footprint you are leaving through your work.Many thanks to Dr. Maass for sharing her reflection on this impactful presentation.Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Sharing the other 4 Hs

For as poor a fisherman as I have become in adulthood, I have a whole library of fishing memories from childhood; from fishing in the overgrown lake at the city park near my grandparent’s house with doughballs from the town bakery, to annual fishing trips to Canada with my high school FFA chapter.

The first week after school was out each spring, our FFA chapter loaded a couple dozen of us farm boys onto an old, tired FFA bus and headed from northcentral Ohio to Canada where we rented a small group of cabins on a lake. The prerequisite for going on the trip was collecting fallen apples and helping sell apple cider in the fall, selling oranges and grapefruit all winter, and not burning the FFA shop to the ground during the school year. As I remember it, the lake sporting the cabins was as tired and worn-out as the FFA bus, and very few fish were ever caught. We found out over the years that a short boat trip across the lake and through a tiny, narrow creek took us into another lake that teemed with bullheads about the length of hotdogs. The road leading to the cabins crossed a wide waterway that connected two lakes. One morning, in an attempt to catch anything resembling a fish, a few of us got up early and walked to that bridge to fish. An hour or so later a boat came up the stream heading for the second lake. As the boat neared the bridge, one of the passengers held up a stringer full of 12 or 14-inch northern pike and asked if we wanted them. When we got back to camp, the cabins literally emptied as the rest of the group headed for our “honey-hole” at the bridge.

Though I was not involved, another favorite fishing story involves the salvage of fish from Inman Lake in the mid 1950’s when it went dry for the first time ever. Although not a fishing hotspot in recent times, Inman Lake once held a decent population of both channel and flathead catfish. The bottom of the lake is black, oozy, sticky mire that remains nearly unnavigable for days and possibly weeks, even after being fully exposed to the sun. As the lake dried-up back then, all fish were forced into a few remaining pools of water in the middle of the lake. Norman Schmidt remembers helping his dad and several other guys harvest many of those remaining fish. They collected enough planks to make a plank sidewalk across the oozy mire by placing planks in front of them and slowly working their way to the remaining pool of water that teemed with fish. Norman says one poor

fellow fell off the planks into the muck and became nearly hysterical before being rescued. Two flat bottom boats were also pulled along with them, and once they reached the middle, just enough water was poured into each boat to keep fish alive. “Gunny sacks” were filled with fish caught from the puddle and dumped into the boats, then the loaded boats were arduously dragged back toward the lakes edge and the plank sidewalk collected on the way. Norman remembers 75 or so people showing up to get some of the rescued fish.

Despite all the political nonsense and hysteria seemingly overtaking our world right now, the Kansas Outdoors and specifically fishing remain as uncomplicated as ever. So, gather the grandkids, the neighbor kids, the guy or gal living on the corner that you’ve never met, and heck, anybody that will fit in your pick up and take them fishing. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas OutdoorsFor as poor a fisherman as I have become in adulthood, I have a whole library of fishing memories from childhood; from fishing in the overgrown lake at the city park near my grandparent’s house with doughballs from the town bakery, to annual fishing trips to Canada with my high school FFA chapter.The first week after school was out each spring, our FFA chapter loaded a couple dozen of us farm boys onto an old, tired FFA bus and headed from northcentral Ohio to Canada where we rented a small group of cabins on a lake. The prerequisite for going on the trip was collecting fallen apples and helping sell apple cider in the fall, selling oranges and grapefruit all winter, and not burning the FFA shop to the ground during the school year. As I remember it, the lake sporting the cabins was as tired and worn-out as the FFA bus, and very few fish were ever caught. We found out over the years that a short boat trip across the lake and through a tiny, narrow creek took us into another lake that teemed with bullheads about the length of hotdogs. The road leading to the cabins crossed a wide waterway that connected two lakes. One morning, in an attempt to catch anything resembling a fish, a few of us got up early and walked to that bridge to fish. An hour or so later a boat came up the stream heading for the second lake. As the boat neared the bridge, one of the passengers held up a stringer full of 12 or 14-inch northern pike and asked if we wanted them. When we got back to camp, the cabins literally emptied as the rest of the group headed for our “honey-hole” at the bridge.Though I was not involved, another favorite fishing story involves the salvage of fish from Inman Lake in the mid 1950’s when it went dry for the first time ever. Although not a fishing hotspot in recent times, Inman Lake once held a decent population of both channel and flathead catfish. The bottom of the lake is black, oozy, sticky mire that remains nearly unnavigable for days and possibly weeks, even after being fully exposed to the sun. As the lake dried-up back then, all fish were forced into a few remaining pools of water in the middle of the lake. Norman Schmidt remembers helping his dad and several other guys harvest many of those remaining fish. They collected enough planks to make a plank sidewalk across the oozy mire by placing planks in front of them and slowly working their way to the remaining pool of water that teemed with fish. Norman says one poorfellow fell off the planks into the muck and became nearly hysterical before being rescued. Two flat bottom boats were also pulled along with them, and once they reached the middle, just enough water was poured into each boat to keep fish alive. “Gunny sacks” were filled with fish caught from the puddle and dumped into the boats, then the loaded boats were arduously dragged back toward the lakes edge and the plank sidewalk collected on the way. Norman remembers 75 or so people showing up to get some of the rescued fish.Despite all the political nonsense and hysteria seemingly overtaking our world right now, the Kansas Outdoors and specifically fishing remain as uncomplicated as ever. So, gather the grandkids, the neighbor kids, the guy or gal living on the corner that you’ve never met, and heck, anybody that will fit in your pick up and take them fishing. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: Fishing Memories

By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas

Last
month during the state legislature’s special budget session, one contentious
issue in the budget bill was doubling the state’s childcare tax credit.

Rep.
Mark Steffen (R-Hutchinson) made comments saying the tax credit served as an
“incentive” for mothers to enter the workforce and weaken “traditional
families”.

Justifiably,
he was blasted by colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Taking
such an opposition to the childcare tax credit is not only “offensive”(as
stated by Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover)), it ignores the hard
reality that&nbsp; Kansas families face.

According
to the <a href="https://www.epi.org/child-care-costs-in-the-united-states/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwkdO0BhDxARIsANkNcrd6TdwaTG7RtofHvPSZ26rRaH2PYt-1AMc3NMuuLbpF0MP1RmGspV0aAp5nEALw_wcB#/KS">Economic Policy
Institute</a>, the cost of daycare is unaffordable for 92% of families in the state.

A
shortage of childcare has continued to drive up costs. 104 of the state’s 105
counties have a higher demand than availability. The supply and demand issue
raises childcare costs and prices families — especially mothers as women often
make lower wages than men — out of the workforce.

Infant care costs are 28.4% higher than full-time college tuition at an
in-state public university, and childcare costs for kids under the age of four
are about equal to full-time public university tuition costs. 

Infant care is approximately 12.3% higher than Kansas’ average rent
costs. 

Kansas’ childcare costs as a percentage of workers’ salary is one of
the highest in the country.

According to MIT’s <a href="https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/20">Living Wage Calculator</a>, an average single adult Kansan with one child would
need to make $34.03 per hour to earn a living wage.

A living wage is defined as the amount a worker needs to make to meet
their basic needs — food, childcare, healthcare, housing, transportation,
taxes, and other essential items like clothing, personal care items, and
broadband.

A household with two working adults and one child would need both
adults to make at least $19.29/hour to meet their basic needs.

Steffen’s ideal two adult, one child household where only one adult
earns an income would need to earn $33.72/hour, even while spending $0 on
childcare. 

According to the Kansas Department of Labor’s <a href="https://www.klic.dol.ks.gov/vosnet/analyzer/resultsNew.aspx?enc=dTkmvkgGEL2blQpjB3ZCAerz8ejCpEVgtZZJ82GDP5c=">Occupational Employment and Wage
Statistics</a> (OEWS)
report from 2023, the median wage of Kansas workers (both hourly and salaried)
across all industries was $21.76 per hour.

75% of all workers made less than $31.09/hour, per OEWS. 

In other words, more than three-quarters of Kansas workers don’t make
enough income to afford their basic needs in a two-adult single-income
household with one child.

The data is clear: a vast majority of Kansas families do not make
enough money to meet their basic needs, with or without having to pay for
childcare.

Childcare is not a luxury for Kansas families. It’s a necessity.

Steffen’s remarks highlight a troubling disconnect from the economic
realities facing Kansans. 

By dismissing childcare tax credits as an incentive that could
supposedly undermine “traditional families”, he not only ignored the
overwhelming financial strain that childcare costs impose on households across
the state but also neglected the critical role that affordable childcare plays
in enabling parents — especially mothers — to participate fully in the
workforce and public life.

Thankfully for Kansas families, the proposal to double the childcare
tax credit ultimately passed with bipartisan support as part of the larger tax
bill.

The state childcare credit is now 50% of the comparable federal credit,
adding some relief for many families across the state.

______________________________________________________________________

Alexandra
Middlewood, PhD is the Department Chair of Political Science at Wichita State
University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694699489540.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight KansasLast
month during the state legislature’s special budget session, one contentious
issue in the budget bill was doubling the state’s childcare tax credit.Rep.
Mark Steffen (R-Hutchinson) made comments saying the tax credit served as an
“incentive” for mothers to enter the workforce and weaken “traditional
families”.Justifiably,
he was blasted by colleagues on both sides of the aisle.Taking
such an opposition to the childcare tax credit is not only “offensive”(as
stated by Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover)), it ignores the hard
reality that&nbsp; Kansas families face.According
to the <a href="https://www.epi.org/child-care-costs-in-the-united-states/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwkdO0BhDxARIsANkNcrd6TdwaTG7RtofHvPSZ26rRaH2PYt-1AMc3NMuuLbpF0MP1RmGspV0aAp5nEALw_wcB#/KS">Economic Policy
Institute</a>, the cost of daycare is unaffordable for 92% of families in the state. A
shortage of childcare has continued to drive up costs. 104 of the state’s 105
counties have a higher demand than availability. The supply and demand issue
raises childcare costs and prices families — especially mothers as women often
make lower wages than men — out of the workforce.Infant care costs are 28.4% higher than full-time college tuition at an
in-state public university, and childcare costs for kids under the age of four
are about equal to full-time public university tuition costs. Infant care is approximately 12.3% higher than Kansas’ average rent
costs. Kansas’ childcare costs as a percentage of workers’ salary is one of
the highest in the country.According to MIT’s <a href="https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/20">Living Wage Calculator</a>, an average single adult Kansan with one child would
need to make $34.03 per hour to earn a living wage. A living wage is defined as the amount a worker needs to make to meet
their basic needs — food, childcare, healthcare, housing, transportation,
taxes, and other essential items like clothing, personal care items, and
broadband.A household with two working adults and one child would need both
adults to make at least $19.29/hour to meet their basic needs.Steffen’s ideal two adult, one child household where only one adult
earns an income would need to earn $33.72/hour, even while spending $0 on
childcare. According to the Kansas Department of Labor’s <a href="https://www.klic.dol.ks.gov/vosnet/analyzer/resultsNew.aspx?enc=dTkmvkgGEL2blQpjB3ZCAerz8ejCpEVgtZZJ82GDP5c=">Occupational Employment and Wage
Statistics</a> (OEWS)
report from 2023, the median wage of Kansas workers (both hourly and salaried)
across all industries was $21.76 per hour. 75% of all workers made less than $31.09/hour, per OEWS. In other words, more than three-quarters of Kansas workers don’t make
enough income to afford their basic needs in a two-adult single-income
household with one child.The data is clear: a vast majority of Kansas families do not make
enough money to meet their basic needs, with or without having to pay for
childcare.Childcare is not a luxury for Kansas families. It’s a necessity.Steffen’s remarks highlight a troubling disconnect from the economic
realities facing Kansans. By dismissing childcare tax credits as an incentive that could
supposedly undermine “traditional families”, he not only ignored the
overwhelming financial strain that childcare costs impose on households across
the state but also neglected the critical role that affordable childcare plays
in enabling parents — especially mothers — to participate fully in the
workforce and public life.Thankfully for Kansas families, the proposal to double the childcare
tax credit ultimately passed with bipartisan support as part of the larger tax
bill.The state childcare credit is now 50% of the comparable federal credit,
adding some relief for many families across the state.______________________________________________________________________Alexandra
Middlewood, PhD is the Department Chair of Political Science at Wichita State
University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Kansas childcare is unaffordable for most families

In drier years I get this question. When the soil is dry, will it be able to hold anhydrous ammonia or will some or most of the ammonia be lost shortly after application?

There are three factors that come into play when applying anhydrous ammonia to dry soils.

Chemical - Ammonia (NH3) needs to react with water shortly after application in order to convert into ammonium (NH4+), which is the molecule that can adhere to clay and organic matter in the soil. Ammonia is very soluble in water. After it is placed in the soil, NH3 reacts with water in the soil to form NH4+, which is retained on the soil cation exchange capacity sites. This process takes a little time – it does not occur immediately upon contact with the soil. The main controlling factors in the conversion of NH3 to NH4+ are soil temperature, soil moisture, and soil pH. The higher the soil temperature and the wetter the soil, the more rapid the conversion occurs. If the ammonia does not react with water, it will remain as a gas that could escape from the soil. Also, equilibrium between NH3 and NH4+ is affected by soil pH. More NH3 will remain unconverted in the soil longer at higher application rates and at higher soil pH levels.

Physical - Dry soils may be cloddy, with large air spaces where the soil has cracked. This can allow the gas to physically escape into the air before it has a chance to be converted into ammonium. Getting the soil sealed properly above the injection slot can also be a problem in dry soils. Loss of the ammonium gas can begin immediately after application continuing for several days to weeks if there is no moisture. N losses can be greater than 50%.

Application depth - The deeper the ammonia is applied, the more likely the ammonia will have moisture to react with, and the easier the sealing.

So, can anhydrous ammonia be applied to dry soils?

The answer is yes - as long as the ammonia is applied deep enough to get it in some moisture and the soil is well sealed above the injection slot. If the soil is dry and cloddy, there may be considerable losses of ammonia within just a few days of application if the soil is not well sealed above the injection slot and/or the injection point is too shallow.

Producers should be able to tell if anhydrous is escaping from the soil during application or if the ammonia isn’t being applied deeply enough. If ammonia can be smelled, the producer should either change the equipment setup to get better sealing or deeper injection, or wait until the soil has better moisture conditions.

In short, producers can minimize this potential loss problem by applying the anhydrous ammonia at the proper depth (at least 6 to 8 inches in 30 to 40 inch spacings), and using covering disks behind the knives or sealing wings ("beaver tails") on the knives.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictIn drier years I get this question. When the soil is dry, will it be able to hold anhydrous ammonia or will some or most of the ammonia be lost shortly after application?There are three factors that come into play when applying anhydrous ammonia to dry soils.Chemical - Ammonia (NH3) needs to react with water shortly after application in order to convert into ammonium (NH4+), which is the molecule that can adhere to clay and organic matter in the soil. Ammonia is very soluble in water. After it is placed in the soil, NH3 reacts with water in the soil to form NH4+, which is retained on the soil cation exchange capacity sites. This process takes a little time – it does not occur immediately upon contact with the soil. The main controlling factors in the conversion of NH3 to NH4+ are soil temperature, soil moisture, and soil pH. The higher the soil temperature and the wetter the soil, the more rapid the conversion occurs. If the ammonia does not react with water, it will remain as a gas that could escape from the soil. Also, equilibrium between NH3 and NH4+ is affected by soil pH. More NH3 will remain unconverted in the soil longer at higher application rates and at higher soil pH levels.Physical - Dry soils may be cloddy, with large air spaces where the soil has cracked. This can allow the gas to physically escape into the air before it has a chance to be converted into ammonium. Getting the soil sealed properly above the injection slot can also be a problem in dry soils. Loss of the ammonium gas can begin immediately after application continuing for several days to weeks if there is no moisture. N losses can be greater than 50%.Application depth - The deeper the ammonia is applied, the more likely the ammonia will have moisture to react with, and the easier the sealing.So, can anhydrous ammonia be applied to dry soils?The answer is yes - as long as the ammonia is applied deep enough to get it in some moisture and the soil is well sealed above the injection slot. If the soil is dry and cloddy, there may be considerable losses of ammonia within just a few days of application if the soil is not well sealed above the injection slot and/or the injection point is too shallow.Producers should be able to tell if anhydrous is escaping from the soil during application or if the ammonia isn’t being applied deeply enough. If ammonia can be smelled, the producer should either change the equipment setup to get better sealing or deeper injection, or wait until the soil has better moisture conditions.In short, producers can minimize this potential loss problem by applying the anhydrous ammonia at the proper depth (at least 6 to 8 inches in 30 to 40 inch spacings), and using covering disks behind the knives or sealing wings ("beaver tails") on the knives.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Can dry soils affect anhydrous ammonia applications in Kansas?

By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University President

At Fort Hays State University, our resolve to outlast and achieve is exemplified by many tales of grit and perseverance. Recently, Fort Hays State University students Chris Crawford, Morgan (Hammersmith) Turner, and Maleigha Schmidt quietly made history. They just completed their first year of medical school at the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KansasCOM), not through the typical route but by participating in a trailblazing partnership that promises to reshape healthcare in rural Kansas.

Before I share their stories, let's appreciate the gravity of this partnership. Known as a 3+4 program, it allows select FHSU students to jumpstart their medical education in what would traditionally be their senior undergraduate year. This acceleration means that students complete undergraduate and medical degrees in seven years, one year less than usual, with the dual advantages of entering the workforce earlier and reducing the overall cost of their education.

This strategic alliance is rooted in shared goals: to address Kansas’s stark physician shortage and to empower the next generation of healthcare professionals. I was able to connect with Maleigha and Morgan, who shared their experiences for this column. They represent the first fruits of this collaborative venture, each with a journey as unique and inspiring as the communities they aspire to serve.

Maleigha’s desire to heal and help others found fertile ground at FHSU. The close-knit community and FHSU family legacy of six siblings and her father, a wrestler, fueled her interest in studying biology. She recounts the influential mentorship of Dr. James Balthazor, a chemistry professor and a pivotal force in her pursuit of a medical career. His support and our caring academic environment prepared Maleigha well for the rigor and lightning-fast pace of medical school.

Maleigha's rapid and serendipitous admission to KansasCOM is a testament to life's unpredictability.

"I took a job at a hospital over the summer, and that was when my life turned upside down,” Maleigha said.

After working a night shift, she received a voicemail from KansasCOM asking if she was still interested in the school, as they had some openings for their upcoming class. Maleigha called them back and ended up doing an interview over the phone.

“I got a call the next day saying I had been accepted and that I needed to be at the school in Wichita the next Monday for orientation. They told me I would be starting school the following Monday!”

That week was very stressful. She was in orientation all day long, and her parents, who are teachers and were still on summer break, thank goodness, searched for apartments. “It was probably one of the craziest things I have done," Maleigha said.

The initial year of medical school proved challenging yet immensely rewarding, filled with intense study schedules and sacrifices. Balancing academics with personal obligations and

long-distance family and friends tested Maleigha's resolve. Still, her unwavering dedication to her future patients and a supportive network of fellow Tigers fueled her determination.

Morgan’s journey is marked by family tradition and personal ambition. Drawn to FHSU by its small class sizes and the warmth of the faculty, she excelled in Chemistry under the guidance of Balthazor and Dr. Bruce Atwater. Morgan also described her first year of medical school as challenging. She had to reinvent her study strategies and treat academics as a full-time job. The small triumphs over the year underscored the infinite possibilities her education could unlock.

Now, as these students look toward the next phase of their training with anticipation and a smidge of trepidation, they know they are part of something much larger than themselves. They embody a concerted effort by KansasCOM to nurture homegrown talent and dedication that can flow back into the communities they know and love.

The journey of our first three KansasCOM tigers demonstrates the potential of this partnership. They speak of the first year in tones of exhaustion mixed with exhilaration, long study sessions, an overwhelming influx of new information, and the relentless pace of medical education. Maleigha and Morgan believe it’s all been a euphoric experience marked by tremendous academic and personal growth.

KansasCOM, nestled in the heart of Wichita, has opened its doors to a new era of medical students and to a future where the physician shortage in Kansas is no longer a foregone conclusion. Their model – student-focused, patient-centered, and community-based – is designed to ensure that these students become physicians deeply integrated with the pulse and needs of their communities.

The impact of this partnership transcends individual success stories. It reflects a future where rural areas are no longer medical deserts, where the next generation of doctors, like Chris, Maleigha, and Morgan, bring healing back to the places that raised them. It promises security and care to the aging farmer, the school-going children, and everyone who calls Kansas home.

As the second year looms with the promise of clinical rotations and the anxiety of board exams, these students stand poised to tackle each obstacle with the same enthusiasm that carried them through their whirlwind first year. Their ultimate dreams may differ, with Maleigha still exploring her specialization options and Morgan envisioning a future in obstetrics and gynecology. Still, their core mission is united – to provide empathetic, skilled care to the underserved communities in Kansas, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of health.

Thus, in Fort Hays State University's corridors and the rigorous halls of KansasCOM, the future of medicine is being shaped - one student, one patient, and one community at a time. It is a story of synergy between a future-focused university and remarkable and determined individuals working together to craft a healthcare landscape as resilient as the Kansan spirit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University PresidentAt Fort Hays State University, our resolve to outlast and achieve is exemplified by many tales of grit and perseverance. Recently, Fort Hays State University students Chris Crawford, Morgan (Hammersmith) Turner, and Maleigha Schmidt quietly made history. They just completed their first year of medical school at the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KansasCOM), not through the typical route but by participating in a trailblazing partnership that promises to reshape healthcare in rural Kansas.Before I share their stories, let's appreciate the gravity of this partnership. Known as a 3+4 program, it allows select FHSU students to jumpstart their medical education in what would traditionally be their senior undergraduate year. This acceleration means that students complete undergraduate and medical degrees in seven years, one year less than usual, with the dual advantages of entering the workforce earlier and reducing the overall cost of their education.This strategic alliance is rooted in shared goals: to address Kansas’s stark physician shortage and to empower the next generation of healthcare professionals. I was able to connect with Maleigha and Morgan, who shared their experiences for this column. They represent the first fruits of this collaborative venture, each with a journey as unique and inspiring as the communities they aspire to serve.Maleigha’s desire to heal and help others found fertile ground at FHSU. The close-knit community and FHSU family legacy of six siblings and her father, a wrestler, fueled her interest in studying biology. She recounts the influential mentorship of Dr. James Balthazor, a chemistry professor and a pivotal force in her pursuit of a medical career. His support and our caring academic environment prepared Maleigha well for the rigor and lightning-fast pace of medical school.Maleigha's rapid and serendipitous admission to KansasCOM is a testament to life's unpredictability."I took a job at a hospital over the summer, and that was when my life turned upside down,” Maleigha said.After working a night shift, she received a voicemail from KansasCOM asking if she was still interested in the school, as they had some openings for their upcoming class. Maleigha called them back and ended up doing an interview over the phone.“I got a call the next day saying I had been accepted and that I needed to be at the school in Wichita the next Monday for orientation. They told me I would be starting school the following Monday!”That week was very stressful. She was in orientation all day long, and her parents, who are teachers and were still on summer break, thank goodness, searched for apartments. “It was probably one of the craziest things I have done," Maleigha said.The initial year of medical school proved challenging yet immensely rewarding, filled with intense study schedules and sacrifices. Balancing academics with personal obligations andlong-distance family and friends tested Maleigha's resolve. Still, her unwavering dedication to her future patients and a supportive network of fellow Tigers fueled her determination.Morgan’s journey is marked by family tradition and personal ambition. Drawn to FHSU by its small class sizes and the warmth of the faculty, she excelled in Chemistry under the guidance of Balthazor and Dr. Bruce Atwater. Morgan also described her first year of medical school as challenging. She had to reinvent her study strategies and treat academics as a full-time job. The small triumphs over the year underscored the infinite possibilities her education could unlock.Now, as these students look toward the next phase of their training with anticipation and a smidge of trepidation, they know they are part of something much larger than themselves. They embody a concerted effort by KansasCOM to nurture homegrown talent and dedication that can flow back into the communities they know and love.The journey of our first three KansasCOM tigers demonstrates the potential of this partnership. They speak of the first year in tones of exhaustion mixed with exhilaration, long study sessions, an overwhelming influx of new information, and the relentless pace of medical education. Maleigha and Morgan believe it’s all been a euphoric experience marked by tremendous academic and personal growth.KansasCOM, nestled in the heart of Wichita, has opened its doors to a new era of medical students and to a future where the physician shortage in Kansas is no longer a foregone conclusion. Their model – student-focused, patient-centered, and community-based – is designed to ensure that these students become physicians deeply integrated with the pulse and needs of their communities.The impact of this partnership transcends individual success stories. It reflects a future where rural areas are no longer medical deserts, where the next generation of doctors, like Chris, Maleigha, and Morgan, bring healing back to the places that raised them. It promises security and care to the aging farmer, the school-going children, and everyone who calls Kansas home.As the second year looms with the promise of clinical rotations and the anxiety of board exams, these students stand poised to tackle each obstacle with the same enthusiasm that carried them through their whirlwind first year. Their ultimate dreams may differ, with Maleigha still exploring her specialization options and Morgan envisioning a future in obstetrics and gynecology. Still, their core mission is united – to provide empathetic, skilled care to the underserved communities in Kansas, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of health.Thus, in Fort Hays State University's corridors and the rigorous halls of KansasCOM, the future of medicine is being shaped - one student, one patient, and one community at a time. It is a story of synergy between a future-focused university and remarkable and determined individuals working together to craft a healthcare landscape as resilient as the Kansan spirit.

Heart of a Tiger: Profiles of 2 determined first-year medical school students

Growing vegetables and flowers in Western Kansas requires hope comparable to a child’s faith in Santa Claus. Those who believe harvest scores of succulent vegetables and fruits. Each spring gardeners across this region devour seed catalogues and visit garden stores to build a gambler’s hope that this year will deliver untold riches.

Nearly two decades ago, eleven years after relocating to a limestone hilltop, my best tomato payday arrived. Yes, Virginia, the garden produced a bonanza. A combination of beneficent rains and aged chicken poop produced 2008’s dream harvest--despite hail that totaled our roof and left tender tomato plants shattered. Ignoring that set back, our vines moved into overdrive by the end of July, a few weeks later than they would have without Mother Nature’s taunts. Produce is an understatement. Our plants burgeoned with softball-size, sunbeam-flavored fruits.

The dilemma--we had a small raised-bed to compensate for thin topsoil. Considering previous harvests, I thought I left ample room between seedlings, permitting them to reach maximum capacity and still leave room for a picker to harvest ripe tomatoes. That year’s substantial rains and cured chicken droppings induced unbelievable growth. I couldn’t move through my garden without contorting into pretzel-like forms.

That year’s plants topped four and half high by four and a half feet wide--a minimal estimate since huge orbs weighed down thick stems. I couldn’t tell when one plant’s branches left off and another’s began because they’d intertwined like ivy.

When my mother visited, her very short form permitted her to discover scores of ready-to-pick tomatoes close to the ground. Other than digging potato hills, I don’t think Mom loved anything more than finding every last ripe tomato on eight crowded, over-grown plants. She manifested as a tomato General Patton standing straight-backed outside the garden fence, directing placement of my feet and hands until I had plucked every ripe trophy.

“More to the left, down a few more inches--don’t step too hard with your right foot—stretch--can you see it-- look--there’s a great big one on the other side of that plant--watch out, you’re bending that branch--can you get all four of those and pass them to me?” I was performing garden “Twister.” I maneuvered until I barely kept my balance. At least in real Twister, you don’t have to worry about destroying a healthy tomato plant. The worst you can do is bruise a fellow player.

Afraid to move for fear I would shear a fruit-loaded branch or dislodge tomatoes too green to ripen on their own; nervous perspiration dripped from my forehead onto my glasses. Enough moisture fell, it obscured my vision, adding to my tortured misery.

By the time I followed Mom’s directions to find every ready-to-pick fruit, we filled a five-gallon bucket two days in a row. Lugging our plunder into the house, we rinsed, blanched, peeled, and quartered until I’d stuffed six one-gallon baggies full of ready-to-turn-into-salsa treasure.

It took time to recover from that spine-twisting garden game, but I love remembering the heft of repeatedly lifting the jar-filled canner from a hot stove. Though a burden, I’d do it in a heartbeat if Mother Nature saw fit to deliver another premier tomato harvest, and Mom could come back to life to direct the action.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720913596149.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINGrowing vegetables and flowers in Western Kansas requires hope comparable to a child’s faith in Santa Claus. Those who believe harvest scores of succulent vegetables and fruits. Each spring gardeners across this region devour seed catalogues and visit garden stores to build a gambler’s hope that this year will deliver untold riches.Nearly two decades ago, eleven years after relocating to a limestone hilltop, my best tomato payday arrived. Yes, Virginia, the garden produced a bonanza. A combination of beneficent rains and aged chicken poop produced 2008’s dream harvest--despite hail that totaled our roof and left tender tomato plants shattered. Ignoring that set back, our vines moved into overdrive by the end of July, a few weeks later than they would have without Mother Nature’s taunts. Produce is an understatement. Our plants burgeoned with softball-size, sunbeam-flavored fruits.The dilemma--we had a small raised-bed to compensate for thin topsoil. Considering previous harvests, I thought I left ample room between seedlings, permitting them to reach maximum capacity and still leave room for a picker to harvest ripe tomatoes. That year’s substantial rains and cured chicken droppings induced unbelievable growth. I couldn’t move through my garden without contorting into pretzel-like forms.That year’s plants topped four and half high by four and a half feet wide--a minimal estimate since huge orbs weighed down thick stems. I couldn’t tell when one plant’s branches left off and another’s began because they’d intertwined like ivy.When my mother visited, her very short form permitted her to discover scores of ready-to-pick tomatoes close to the ground. Other than digging potato hills, I don’t think Mom loved anything more than finding every last ripe tomato on eight crowded, over-grown plants. She manifested as a tomato General Patton standing straight-backed outside the garden fence, directing placement of my feet and hands until I had plucked every ripe trophy.“More to the left, down a few more inches--don’t step too hard with your right foot—stretch--can you see it-- look--there’s a great big one on the other side of that plant--watch out, you’re bending that branch--can you get all four of those and pass them to me?” I was performing garden “Twister.” I maneuvered until I barely kept my balance. At least in real Twister, you don’t have to worry about destroying a healthy tomato plant. The worst you can do is bruise a fellow player.Afraid to move for fear I would shear a fruit-loaded branch or dislodge tomatoes too green to ripen on their own; nervous perspiration dripped from my forehead onto my glasses. Enough moisture fell, it obscured my vision, adding to my tortured misery.By the time I followed Mom’s directions to find every ready-to-pick fruit, we filled a five-gallon bucket two days in a row. Lugging our plunder into the house, we rinsed, blanched, peeled, and quartered until I’d stuffed six one-gallon baggies full of ready-to-turn-into-salsa treasure.It took time to recover from that spine-twisting garden game, but I love remembering the heft of repeatedly lifting the jar-filled canner from a hot stove. Though a burden, I’d do it in a heartbeat if Mother Nature saw fit to deliver another premier tomato harvest, and Mom could come back to life to direct the action.

MADORIN: Recollecting the summer of tomato twister

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

Cottonwood Extension District brought the diabetes education program Dining with Diabetes to Ellis County for the first time in June. Monique Koerner and Karissa Winkel, Family and Community Wellness Agents were trained in 2023 and introduced the program to Hays last month.

Dining with Diabetes is a national extension program provided to Kansans by K-State Research and Extension Family and Consumer Sciences professionals and community health partners. The program is a series of four, 2-hour classes that are held once a week. Classes consist of a presentation on diabetes self-care or healthful food choices; presentations on tasty, healthy familiar foods, sampling foods, and demonstrations of cooking techniques using artificial sweeteners, reduced-fat foods, herbs, and spices.

The class in Hays had 8 attendees which was a really nice size for our first group of participants. Some of the participants knew each other and others met for the first time. However, they all had something in common. They were dealing with diabetes management for themselves or with a loved one.

In addition to the education aspect of the program, the group cooked together which really helped them get to know each other. Hopefully by actually cooking meals that are designed specifically for diabetics they got the hands-on practice that gave them the confidence to try more healthy meals at home. Participants received a book of recipes that have been created for diabetics. One participant noted how much better she felt after eating the healthy recipes. Another participant was surprised to find out she could still eat foods she thought were taboo or felt she had to eliminate from her diet.

Another aspect of diabetes that isn’t often discussed are the feelings around being diagnosed and managing diabetes. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. However, one of the participants felt that being able to share feelings with other diabetics was helpful. She felt supported which in turn helped her to make changes in her nutritional life and motivated to start taking better care of herself.

Extension also partners with local agencies such as health departments, hospitals, and dieticians to answer questions that may require a health care provider knowledge. In June, we had Kalee Lundmark, Registered Dietician, serve as our expert guest speaker. Kalee provided more specific information around nutrition, resources, and medications.

Part of the Dining with Diabetes program includes a 3 month follow up class for participants to share about their progress and challenges since taking the class. That class is planned for the first part of October.

Cottonwood Extension District will be offering Dining with Diabetes later this year in Barton County. Watch for details this fall.

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictCottonwood Extension District brought the diabetes education program Dining with Diabetes to Ellis County for the first time in June. Monique Koerner and Karissa Winkel, Family and Community Wellness Agents were trained in 2023 and introduced the program to Hays last month.Dining with Diabetes is a national extension program provided to Kansans by K-State Research and Extension Family and Consumer Sciences professionals and community health partners. The program is a series of four, 2-hour classes that are held once a week. Classes consist of a presentation on diabetes self-care or healthful food choices; presentations on tasty, healthy familiar foods, sampling foods, and demonstrations of cooking techniques using artificial sweeteners, reduced-fat foods, herbs, and spices.The class in Hays had 8 attendees which was a really nice size for our first group of participants. Some of the participants knew each other and others met for the first time. However, they all had something in common. They were dealing with diabetes management for themselves or with a loved one.In addition to the education aspect of the program, the group cooked together which really helped them get to know each other. Hopefully by actually cooking meals that are designed specifically for diabetics they got the hands-on practice that gave them the confidence to try more healthy meals at home. Participants received a book of recipes that have been created for diabetics. One participant noted how much better she felt after eating the healthy recipes. Another participant was surprised to find out she could still eat foods she thought were taboo or felt she had to eliminate from her diet.Another aspect of diabetes that isn’t often discussed are the feelings around being diagnosed and managing diabetes. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. However, one of the participants felt that being able to share feelings with other diabetics was helpful. She felt supported which in turn helped her to make changes in her nutritional life and motivated to start taking better care of herself.Extension also partners with local agencies such as health departments, hospitals, and dieticians to answer questions that may require a health care provider knowledge. In June, we had Kalee Lundmark, Registered Dietician, serve as our expert guest speaker. Kalee provided more specific information around nutrition, resources, and medications.Part of the Dining with Diabetes program includes a 3 month follow up class for participants to share about their progress and challenges since taking the class. That class is planned for the first part of October.Cottonwood Extension District will be offering Dining with Diabetes later this year in Barton County. Watch for details this fall.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu

KOERNER: Dining with Diabetes wrap up

By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension District

Bicycling is a great activity for children. It increases coordination and improves physical health. It can also give children a sense of independence and provide the opportunity to socialize with others outdoors.

With that being said, bicycling isn’t a risk-free activity. In fact, according to Stanford Medicine, about 254 thousand children suffer bicycle-related injuries each year. For this reason, it’s important to educate children about bike safety practices. You can do your part as a parent or guardian by keeping a watchful eye and offering instructions when needed. Here are a few bike safety guidelines:

First and foremost, always wear a helmet! It’s a simple practice that can reduce the risk of injury including concussions. Make sure the helmet is damage-free and that it fits properly.

Wearing reflective gear or bright-colored clothing is smart for anyone riding a bicycle, including children. Bright colors help to increase visibility, especially in areas with high traffic.

Make sure the bike is correctly sized. Riding on a bike that is too big or small can make pedaling and balance difficult. This can result in falls and injuries. As the child grows, be sure to raise the seat and make other adjustments as needed.

It’s also important to maintain bikes by keeping tires inflated, oiling the chain regularly, tightening handlebars and seats as needed, and checking the brakes.

These are just a few tips that can prevent injury and save lives! If you would like your child to learn more about bicycle safety, register them for the Barton County BeWell Bike Rodeo on Saturday, July 20th. Kids ages 5-12 years can bring their bikes to the Central Baptist Church in Great Bend to practice skills and learn how to become better bicyclists. The event is from 8-9 am. Please call 620-793-1910 to register!

Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension DistrictBicycling is a great activity for children. It increases coordination and improves physical health. It can also give children a sense of independence and provide the opportunity to socialize with others outdoors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721067961133.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>With that being said, bicycling isn’t a risk-free activity. In fact, according to Stanford Medicine, about 254 thousand children suffer bicycle-related injuries each year. For this reason, it’s important to educate children about bike safety practices. You can do your part as a parent or guardian by keeping a watchful eye and offering instructions when needed. Here are a few bike safety guidelines:First and foremost, always wear a helmet! It’s a simple practice that can reduce the risk of injury including concussions. Make sure the helmet is damage-free and that it fits properly.Wearing reflective gear or bright-colored clothing is smart for anyone riding a bicycle, including children. Bright colors help to increase visibility, especially in areas with high traffic.Make sure the bike is correctly sized. Riding on a bike that is too big or small can make pedaling and balance difficult. This can result in falls and injuries. As the child grows, be sure to raise the seat and make other adjustments as needed.It’s also important to maintain bikes by keeping tires inflated, oiling the chain regularly, tightening handlebars and seats as needed, and checking the brakes.These are just a few tips that can prevent injury and save lives! If you would like your child to learn more about bicycle safety, register them for the Barton County BeWell Bike Rodeo on Saturday, July 20th. Kids ages 5-12 years can bring their bikes to the Central Baptist Church in Great Bend to practice skills and learn how to become better bicyclists. The event is from 8-9 am. Please call 620-793-1910 to register!Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

WINKEL: Bicycle Safety 101

I am writing to share my thoughts and concerns regarding the newly launched "Love, Kansas" initiative. While this campaign, led by Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland, is a commendable effort to attract former Kansans and new families to our state, it fails to address significant challenges faced by current residents, particularly those striving to purchase homes and establish deeper roots within our communities.

The "Love, Kansas" campaign aims to highlight Kansas as an exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family by focusing on our state’s abundant job opportunities, high quality of life, excellent education system, and affordable communities. The initiative's emphasis on "boomerangs"—individuals with previous ties to the state—underscores a strategic effort to bring back those who once called Kansas home. While this approach is admirable, it inadvertently overlooks the pressing issues faced by many Kansans who are already here.

Many young adults in Kansas struggle to transition from renters to homeowners. Despite having higher education and stable employment, the high cost of housing creates a substantial barrier to homeownership. This demographic is critical to the future of our state, yet they face significant obstacles in establishing financial stability and building lasting ties to their communities.

To address these concerns, I propose that the "Love, Kansas" initiative be expanded to include resources and opportunities for current residents. Providing financial incentives and support for existing Kansans to purchase homes would encourage them to stay and continue contributing to our State's success. Programs similar to the Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) initiative, but inclusive of those already residing in these zones, could provide the much-needed stability and economic support for our current population. By offering such support, we can retain the talent and dedication of those who have already chosen Kansas as their home.

A small town’s approach to businesses can be a deciding factor for young people on whether to live there or not. New and small businesses are essential to the economy of rural communities. For young entrepreneurs, the right ingredients can make a big difference to start or grow a business—and for all who live there, the success of businesses is critical to keeping the community thriving. Perhaps the greatest of these ingredients is the openness to new ideas. Removing barriers and reducing friction for business owners is the goal.

Like all other challenges, the approach will need to be systemic and involve many aspects of a community—not just state and local governments, but housing, child care, local attitudes, and more. Rural Kansas should find ways to build on the ecosystem infrastructure that NetWork Kansas has established. A benefit of the NetWork Kansas model is that it pairs local control of funding decisions with statewide matching funds. Expanding outreach efforts would be a solid action that could make a difference.

Rural communities and counties could consider redirecting tax dollars from larger established businesses to supporting entrepreneurs. They could create locally directed and funded angel investment capital programs, pair existing business owners with new entrepreneurs for mentorship and coaching, view restoration of buildings as "site development" for entrepreneurs rather than site development for traditional recruitment, waive property taxes for any entrepreneur starting a new business in a currently vacant building, and connect existing K-12 efforts with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in a community/entrepreneurship internship model. Counties could provide additional incentives and capital to entrepreneurs planning to start a business in needed sectors such as child care, building trades, health care, tech, restaurants, and culture.

Starting in high school, create and nurture this mindset. Help new entrepreneurs know where to find support locally or in the network, and know about shared services and platforms for commerce. A continued emphasis on career and technical education, particularly building trades and tech jobs, could be emphasized as not only a career but a service to rural communities.

Local communities can take a number of approaches both big and small to support businesses. They could establish local revolving loans funds to assist with gap financing; offer professional consulting services (accounting, legal, business plan development, art, etc.) for entrepreneurs; celebrate, feature, and drive traffic to local businesses; host formal welcoming events/ribbon-cutting ceremonies; work with existing businesses on transition plans and needs; assist in accessing regional, state, and federal resources; share ideas and concepts working in other places; and serve as a connector within and outside of the community.

State agencies and nonprofit organizations could connect businesses in rural communities through their networks or to other resources for business planning or marketing. They might be particularly helpful for niche businesses and start-ups that fall outside a traditional model. One idea for either the public or private sector to consider is to create pools of specialists—like accountants or marketers—for a small rural business to access as a shared resource. State agencies are also skilled at creating “one-stop shops” for current issues affecting Kansas business owners once common stumbling blocks are identified. These portals can reduce the friction of obtaining operating licenses and cut down on surprises as a business gets ready to open. Industry organizations can also help with these education efforts.

Retention of our current residents is just as crucial as attracting new ones. By supporting those who are already here, we can ensure they feel valued and are given the opportunities they need to thrive. This approach not only strengthens our communities but also builds a compelling case for others to join a state that takes care of its own. Kansas has a unique opportunity to set an example by prioritizing the well-being of its current residents while simultaneously attracting new talent.

Thank you for considering this perspective. By addressing the needs of both current and prospective Kansans, we can create a more inclusive and prosperous future for our state. I hope that the leaders of the "Love, Kansas" campaign will take these concerns into account and work towards a more balanced approach that supports all residents of our great state.

I am writing to share my thoughts and concerns regarding the newly launched "Love, Kansas" initiative. While this campaign, led by Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland, is a commendable effort to attract former Kansans and new families to our state, it fails to address significant challenges faced by current residents, particularly those striving to purchase homes and establish deeper roots within our communities.The "Love, Kansas" campaign aims to highlight Kansas as an exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family by focusing on our state’s abundant job opportunities, high quality of life, excellent education system, and affordable communities. The initiative's emphasis on "boomerangs"—individuals with previous ties to the state—underscores a strategic effort to bring back those who once called Kansas home. While this approach is admirable, it inadvertently overlooks the pressing issues faced by many Kansans who are already here.Many young adults in Kansas struggle to transition from renters to homeowners. Despite having higher education and stable employment, the high cost of housing creates a substantial barrier to homeownership. This demographic is critical to the future of our state, yet they face significant obstacles in establishing financial stability and building lasting ties to their communities.To address these concerns, I propose that the "Love, Kansas" initiative be expanded to include resources and opportunities for current residents. Providing financial incentives and support for existing Kansans to purchase homes would encourage them to stay and continue contributing to our State's success. Programs similar to the Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) initiative, but inclusive of those already residing in these zones, could provide the much-needed stability and economic support for our current population. By offering such support, we can retain the talent and dedication of those who have already chosen Kansas as their home.A small town’s approach to businesses can be a deciding factor for young people on whether to live there or not. New and small businesses are essential to the economy of rural communities. For young entrepreneurs, the right ingredients can make a big difference to start or grow a business—and for all who live there, the success of businesses is critical to keeping the community thriving. Perhaps the greatest of these ingredients is the openness to new ideas. Removing barriers and reducing friction for business owners is the goal.Like all other challenges, the approach will need to be systemic and involve many aspects of a community—not just state and local governments, but housing, child care, local attitudes, and more. Rural Kansas should find ways to build on the ecosystem infrastructure that NetWork Kansas has established. A benefit of the NetWork Kansas model is that it pairs local control of funding decisions with statewide matching funds. Expanding outreach efforts would be a solid action that could make a difference.Rural communities and counties could consider redirecting tax dollars from larger established businesses to supporting entrepreneurs. They could create locally directed and funded angel investment capital programs, pair existing business owners with new entrepreneurs for mentorship and coaching, view restoration of buildings as "site development" for entrepreneurs rather than site development for traditional recruitment, waive property taxes for any entrepreneur starting a new business in a currently vacant building, and connect existing K-12 efforts with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in a community/entrepreneurship internship model. Counties could provide additional incentives and capital to entrepreneurs planning to start a business in needed sectors such as child care, building trades, health care, tech, restaurants, and culture.Starting in high school, create and nurture this mindset. Help new entrepreneurs know where to find support locally or in the network, and know about shared services and platforms for commerce. A continued emphasis on career and technical education, particularly building trades and tech jobs, could be emphasized as not only a career but a service to rural communities.Local communities can take a number of approaches both big and small to support businesses. They could establish local revolving loans funds to assist with gap financing; offer professional consulting services (accounting, legal, business plan development, art, etc.) for entrepreneurs; celebrate, feature, and drive traffic to local businesses; host formal welcoming events/ribbon-cutting ceremonies; work with existing businesses on transition plans and needs; assist in accessing regional, state, and federal resources; share ideas and concepts working in other places; and serve as a connector within and outside of the community.State agencies and nonprofit organizations could connect businesses in rural communities through their networks or to other resources for business planning or marketing. They might be particularly helpful for niche businesses and start-ups that fall outside a traditional model. One idea for either the public or private sector to consider is to create pools of specialists—like accountants or marketers—for a small rural business to access as a shared resource. State agencies are also skilled at creating “one-stop shops” for current issues affecting Kansas business owners once common stumbling blocks are identified. These portals can reduce the friction of obtaining operating licenses and cut down on surprises as a business gets ready to open. Industry organizations can also help with these education efforts.Retention of our current residents is just as crucial as attracting new ones. By supporting those who are already here, we can ensure they feel valued and are given the opportunities they need to thrive. This approach not only strengthens our communities but also builds a compelling case for others to join a state that takes care of its own. Kansas has a unique opportunity to set an example by prioritizing the well-being of its current residents while simultaneously attracting new talent.Thank you for considering this perspective. By addressing the needs of both current and prospective Kansans, we can create a more inclusive and prosperous future for our state. I hope that the leaders of the "Love, Kansas" campaign will take these concerns into account and work towards a more balanced approach that supports all residents of our great state.Peacefully,&nbsp;John Brown

Letter to the Editor: Thoughts on 'Love, Kansas'

Have you ever been curious about canning meat? Is it safe? How do I do it safely? Why would I want to can meat?

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 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictHave you ever been curious about canning meat? Is it safe? How do I do it safely? Why would I want to can meat?Canning is a great method to preserve and extend shelf life for many types of foods, including meat products. Using safe preparation and storage practices allows for anyone to store nutritious, high-quality protein.Before joining K-State Research and Extension I had done a little canning but mostly just trying to preserve garden produce. After taking a professional development canning class specifically for Extension Agents, I learned even more about canning and also how to can meat. I found canning meat a great skill to have in the kitchen. Why? You may ask…..Well, canning meat can be an easy way to get supper on the table. As a busy, working wife and mother I’m often struggling at the end of the day to come up with yet another meal my family will eat. I’m tired and hungry. I need something fast and easy! When you have canned meat on the shelf, all you have to do is open the can, warm it up and add some vegetables or grains to make a fast meal.Canning meat can also be healthy. Sometimes, when you purchase canned meat there maybe be unwanted ingredients. When you preserve the meat yourself you know exactly what is in there and can control the amount of ingredients you want in your food, for example, the amount of salt.When preserving meat you can use inexpensive cuts of meat and they turn out tender and tasty! Canning can be a way to save money on your animal-based protein. Yes, there is some expense if needing to purchase equipment but hopefully those will be one-time expense that you can use for many years.Next, canning may be another way to store food. Are you running out of freezer space? This can be a great way to free up that space by canning your meat.Do you hunt or fish? You can also can game meat and fish! Canning wild game and fish is another way to preserve your protein well past the hunting and fishing season.Finally, making it a social affair and doing with other people such as family and friends can make the work turn into a fun day. This can also help to minimize costs if you are able to preserve food with others. I always say, “Canning is like exercise, it is much more fun doing with others!”If you are curious and would like to learn more, Karen Blakeslee, K-State Research and Extension Rapid Response Coordinator and food scientist will be in Hays to hold a meat canning workshop on August 7, 2024 from 1-5pm at the First United Methodist Church, 305 W. 7th St. We will preserve beef and chicken at the workshop, using both raw and hot pack methods. All supplies will be provided. Karen will includeinformation on the science and history behind food preservation, safe pressure canning of all types of meat, and tips on freezing and dehydrating. Cost: $35If you have any questions or would like to sign up please call 785-628-9430 or email Monique at moniquek@ksu.eduMonique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

Opinion