Demand for rural properties continues to be strong, according to those who help buyers and sellers

By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/market-stoked-rural-property-values-keep-tracking-upward/article_ede43cdc-af36-11eb-ba5e-a31e828d9eb6.html">High Plains Journal</a>

Don Hazlett, longtime real estate broker with Farm and Ranch Realty, Colby, Kansas, said the market for rural land is simple—it is hot. “The long and short of it is we’re seeing many more buyers than sellers. The listings are getting sold at a rate I have not seen in years and years.”

Hazlett has operated his agency since 1977.

Historically
 low mortgage rates and producers having more income have added fuel, he
 said. A year ago when corn was selling for about $3.25 a bushel it 
tempered buyer interest, but a year later with the price per bushel more
 than twice that per bushel it has spurred the market.

Irrigated
 farm acres with historically strong wells continue to top the market, 
Hazlett said, and he added that even some ground with less predictable 
long-term wells have drawn considerable interest from buyers and that 
has driven up their prices, too.

Paul
 Schadegg, an area sales manager with Omaha, Nebraska-based Farmers 
National Company, whose territory includes multiple states in the High 
Plains, is seeing land reach the record heights of 2012 to 2014, which 
followed a peak of record commodity prices. He has more than 20 years of
 experience in the industry plus a lifetime of observation and has seen 
many peaks and valleys in farmland values. The peak seven years ago was 
thought to be unreachable again.

“I
 thought back then I’d likely not see the value again for a long time 
and maybe even in my lifetime,” he said. “Right now the market is 
proving me I was wrong.”

The 
impact is not only pulling up high quality ground it is also pushing up 
the values of lesser quality crop ground. In some cases there has been a
 double-digit increase in values compared to a year ago when the market 
was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He would not be surprised to see 
values be up 12% to 15% for the year.

Another
 driver has been that grain prices have continued to go up as the market
 digests news of tight world supplies. The values are likely to go 
hand-in-hand, he said. The values have also caught the attention of 
non-traditional investors and they are helping to push the market 
higher.

Randy Dickhut, senior 
vice president of real estate operations with Farmers National, said 
farmland values have increased throughout the regions, particularly in 
comparison to a year ago at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“People who wanted to sell property pulled back,” he said. “But we did start to see in the summer an increase in activity.”

Driving
 much of the interest in the market were particularly small tracts of 
land near urban centers where people who were able to keep their jobs 
and maintain their incomes were looking for 20 to 40 acres to build a 
cabin, he said.

The market for 
traditional farm and ranch real estate still had not taken off yet 
because of low commodity prices but by summer heading into fall it 
started to change, Dickhut said. Commodity prices were better and 
federal government payments designed to ease the financial burden were 
improving bottom lines and that really started to kick in by fall.

“This
 winter we definitely saw the buyer demand go up,” Dickhut said. 
“Farmers had a better year. The government payments and commodity 
markets were moving and they are still up. At the same time there was 
not a land of available.”

If 
the commodity prices stay high, he expects the trends to continue toward
 higher land values because new buyers and sellers see the investment 
opportunity particularly with low long-term real interest rates.

“Demand
 is driving the market right now. Combined with less supply in the 
market and low interest rates and if commodity prices stay high I think 
we’ll see farmers and ranchers continue to look to add more acres,” he 
said.

As in all cases, there are caveats, 
based on market prices, drought and other factors that influence 
regional markets. Pastureland also has other variables, including 
livestock prices and drought that changes its value.

Hazlett
 has seen an increase in values for producers wanting to buy grassland 
for ranch operations. Another trend is that people want to get away from
 the city life as a result of the pandemic and technology allows them to
 remotely work. One customer recently decided to sell his ranch at a 
premium in a more urbanized region to purchase ground in a more sparse 
area.

“[In] Colorado and Kansas you can get a lot more acres for less money,” he said.

Schadegg
 said he is also working with producers in urban areas who can get top 
prices for land likely to be developed for commercial and residential 
areas and they are willing to relocate their operation and buy a farm 
where prices are much lower.

David
 Krien, a real estate associate with Re/Max Pro of Hays, Kansas, said he
 works with a group of investors that is taking an active interest in 
the market. Those investors are looking for a safe haven in light of the
 run-up in the stock market.

He
 remembers one man told about how pleased he was to have sold a tract of
 quality dryland acreage for $1,700 an acre but Krien said he knows of 
similar crop acreage that sold for $2,256 an acre.

The
 outside investment, Krien said, can help producers who might be 
leveraged and relieves their debt pressure. It can also help younger 
producers who are starting their farms and can rent ground. Krien grew 
up on a farm and ranch operation and understands the pressure producers 
face.

Krien said last year his 
records showed about $12.5 million in sales and it is already at about 
$15 million and he expects by the end of the year it could double the 
2020 sales mark.

Buyers and 
sellers always need to do their homework, Dickhut said. Sellers need to 
promote their acreage in advance so there is plenty of exposure in the 
marketplace. They also might want to consider a public auction as a way 
to get top value. His advice for buyers is simple: “Be ready to act,” he
 said.

They also should be 
aggressive if the opportunity meets their needs but also to understand 
how it can fit into their operation and finances. Sometimes the right 
approach is to bow out and wait for another time to purchase additional 
property. With equipment and technology the need for adjacent property 
is not as much of a consideration as it once was, he said.

Hazlett said buyers and sellers need to do their due diligence. “Sellers need to get a market analysis.”

Auctions have also been helped sellers to earn top value. “When prices go up auctions are the way to go,” Hazlett said.

Krien’s
 advice to buyers and sellers is when they are wanting to either buy or 
sell farm acreage is to develop a rapport with a representative. He is 
willing to work for a lower commission and work with other firms to help
 clients achieve their goals.

He
 also believes in advertising, both in traditional ways and through 
social channels, to get the word out. Some investors do not want to be 
involved with public auctions and as a result Krien said sellers might 
want to rethink their strategy so that can been taken into account.

Schadegg
 reiterated the importance of buyers and sellers to continue to educate 
themselves about the market and define their objectives.

“The
 successful investor looks at it without any emotion and he has a target
 for his return on his investment,” Schadegg said. “The emotional effect
 is always going to be there. We often hear ‘I have never seen this land
 up for sale’ or ‘I always wanted to farm that ground.’”

Schadegg said the “once in a lifetime” mindset should be tempered with patience and staying within realistic game plan.

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or <a href="mailto:dbergmeier@hpj.com">dbergmeier@hpj.com</a>. Republished with permission.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620402252074.png" alt="Courtesy High Plains Journal" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy High Plains Journal</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Demand for rural properties continues to be strong, according to those who help buyers and sellers</h2>By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/market-stoked-rural-property-values-keep-tracking-upward/article_ede43cdc-af36-11eb-ba5e-a31e828d9eb6.html">High Plains Journal</a>Don Hazlett, longtime real estate broker with Farm and Ranch Realty, Colby, Kansas, said the market for rural land is simple—it is hot. “The long and short of it is we’re seeing many more buyers than sellers. The listings are getting sold at a rate I have not seen in years and years.”Hazlett has operated his agency since 1977.Historically
 low mortgage rates and producers having more income have added fuel, he
 said. A year ago when corn was selling for about $3.25 a bushel it 
tempered buyer interest, but a year later with the price per bushel more
 than twice that per bushel it has spurred the market.Irrigated
 farm acres with historically strong wells continue to top the market, 
Hazlett said, and he added that even some ground with less predictable 
long-term wells have drawn considerable interest from buyers and that 
has driven up their prices, too.Paul
 Schadegg, an area sales manager with Omaha, Nebraska-based Farmers 
National Company, whose territory includes multiple states in the High 
Plains, is seeing land reach the record heights of 2012 to 2014, which 
followed a peak of record commodity prices. He has more than 20 years of
 experience in the industry plus a lifetime of observation and has seen 
many peaks and valleys in farmland values. The peak seven years ago was 
thought to be unreachable again.“I
 thought back then I’d likely not see the value again for a long time 
and maybe even in my lifetime,” he said. “Right now the market is 
proving me I was wrong.”The 
impact is not only pulling up high quality ground it is also pushing up 
the values of lesser quality crop ground. In some cases there has been a
 double-digit increase in values compared to a year ago when the market 
was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He would not be surprised to see 
values be up 12% to 15% for the year.“It keeps strengthening,” he said.<h2>Higher grain prices</h2>Another
 driver has been that grain prices have continued to go up as the market
 digests news of tight world supplies. The values are likely to go 
hand-in-hand, he said. The values have also caught the attention of 
non-traditional investors and they are helping to push the market 
higher.Randy Dickhut, senior 
vice president of real estate operations with Farmers National, said 
farmland values have increased throughout the regions, particularly in 
comparison to a year ago at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.“People who wanted to sell property pulled back,” he said. “But we did start to see in the summer an increase in activity.”Driving
 much of the interest in the market were particularly small tracts of 
land near urban centers where people who were able to keep their jobs 
and maintain their incomes were looking for 20 to 40 acres to build a 
cabin, he said.The market for 
traditional farm and ranch real estate still had not taken off yet 
because of low commodity prices but by summer heading into fall it 
started to change, Dickhut said. Commodity prices were better and 
federal government payments designed to ease the financial burden were 
improving bottom lines and that really started to kick in by fall.“This
 winter we definitely saw the buyer demand go up,” Dickhut said. 
“Farmers had a better year. The government payments and commodity 
markets were moving and they are still up. At the same time there was 
not a land of available.”If 
the commodity prices stay high, he expects the trends to continue toward
 higher land values because new buyers and sellers see the investment 
opportunity particularly with low long-term real interest rates.“Demand
 is driving the market right now. Combined with less supply in the 
market and low interest rates and if commodity prices stay high I think 
we’ll see farmers and ranchers continue to look to add more acres,” he 
said.<h2>Each market is different</h2>As in all cases, there are caveats, 
based on market prices, drought and other factors that influence 
regional markets. Pastureland also has other variables, including 
livestock prices and drought that changes its value.Hazlett
 has seen an increase in values for producers wanting to buy grassland 
for ranch operations. Another trend is that people want to get away from
 the city life as a result of the pandemic and technology allows them to
 remotely work. One customer recently decided to sell his ranch at a 
premium in a more urbanized region to purchase ground in a more sparse 
area.“[In] Colorado and Kansas you can get a lot more acres for less money,” he said.Schadegg
 said he is also working with producers in urban areas who can get top 
prices for land likely to be developed for commercial and residential 
areas and they are willing to relocate their operation and buy a farm 
where prices are much lower.<h2>Outside investors motivated</h2>David
 Krien, a real estate associate with Re/Max Pro of Hays, Kansas, said he
 works with a group of investors that is taking an active interest in 
the market. Those investors are looking for a safe haven in light of the
 run-up in the stock market.He
 remembers one man told about how pleased he was to have sold a tract of
 quality dryland acreage for $1,700 an acre but Krien said he knows of 
similar crop acreage that sold for $2,256 an acre.The
 outside investment, Krien said, can help producers who might be 
leveraged and relieves their debt pressure. It can also help younger 
producers who are starting their farms and can rent ground. Krien grew 
up on a farm and ranch operation and understands the pressure producers 
face.Krien said last year his 
records showed about $12.5 million in sales and it is already at about 
$15 million and he expects by the end of the year it could double the 
2020 sales mark.Buyers and 
sellers always need to do their homework, Dickhut said. Sellers need to 
promote their acreage in advance so there is plenty of exposure in the 
marketplace. They also might want to consider a public auction as a way 
to get top value. His advice for buyers is simple: “Be ready to act,” he
 said.They also should be 
aggressive if the opportunity meets their needs but also to understand 
how it can fit into their operation and finances. Sometimes the right 
approach is to bow out and wait for another time to purchase additional 
property. With equipment and technology the need for adjacent property 
is not as much of a consideration as it once was, he said.Hazlett said buyers and sellers need to do their due diligence. “Sellers need to get a market analysis.”Auctions have also been helped sellers to earn top value. “When prices go up auctions are the way to go,” Hazlett said.Krien’s
 advice to buyers and sellers is when they are wanting to either buy or 
sell farm acreage is to develop a rapport with a representative. He is 
willing to work for a lower commission and work with other firms to help
 clients achieve their goals.He
 also believes in advertising, both in traditional ways and through 
social channels, to get the word out. Some investors do not want to be 
involved with public auctions and as a result Krien said sellers might 
want to rethink their strategy so that can been taken into account.Schadegg
 reiterated the importance of buyers and sellers to continue to educate 
themselves about the market and define their objectives.“The
 successful investor looks at it without any emotion and he has a target
 for his return on his investment,” Schadegg said. “The emotional effect
 is always going to be there. We often hear ‘I have never seen this land
 up for sale’ or ‘I always wanted to farm that ground.’”Schadegg said the “once in a lifetime” mindset should be tempered with patience and staying within realistic game plan.Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or <a href="mailto:dbergmeier@hpj.com">dbergmeier@hpj.com</a>. Republished with permission.

Market stoked: Rural property values keep tracking upward

BATON ROUGE, La. — The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Kent Deines of Hays at Fort Hays State University

Allen Schmidt of Hays at Fort Hays State University

Mehran Shahidi of Hays at Fort Hays State University

Kelsey Stremel of Hays at Fort Hays State University

Haley Williams of Hays at Fort Hays State University

They are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 325 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588607236536.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BATON ROUGE, La. — The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.Kent Deines of Hays at Fort Hays State UniversityAllen Schmidt of Hays at Fort Hays State UniversityMehran Shahidi of Hays at Fort Hays State UniversityKelsey Stremel of Hays at Fort Hays State UniversityHaley Williams of Hays at Fort Hays State UniversityThey are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 325 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."— News release

Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi inducts members from FHSU

ABILENE - The Ike Book Talk virtual book club will meet May 11 at 7 p.m. central time. The program is free and open to the public. Join us online or by phone.

Join this program as if you were meeting your friends in a cozy café or living room with a glass of wine, even if you have not read the book. 

The May book selection is "Not Without Laughter" by Langston Hughes. This novel is essentially a "coming of age" story of a young African American boy growing up in a small Kansas town during the years preceding World War I.

The informal discussion will be led by Sandra Wiechert in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwBdnJOOmaS1kHlmA0Ii7BjFq0t7Fx5Ewf8JDGdj0pTPY-WCyXMA7KjO4RouoZdiGytUe9mXFqZ-q5qUm-aB8TunKlDBUihe_5VlOZAYxQLWW&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">Humanities Kansas</a>. The entire&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwBdnJOOmaS1kow7baLnUe6VnTe7UzPCbUXh42-yE7eRDRb-t57pUcnhGe2WkFx9hdisPTwzP4ufp8Io3VJ3wVbMjSAXgsU1tNw_ye3PdfTm6LW8GBLwTslYpHcwLVHu4_AuTCQkW2H4u&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">reading list schedule</a>&nbsp;is available on the Eisenhower Presidential Library's website (<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwH86i0sdFAEPRRUfxaiC-q3Wkfdfu4wCsodkAiHGI27rh7mp2zdE4a89IL7jRhFZkln5zervOJV3yL9Hsy86bnXnqrisP0RLgg==&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov</a>).

The&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwBdnJOOmaS1kow7baLnUe6VnTe7UzPCbUXh42-yE7eRDRb-t57pUcnhGe2WkFx9hdisPTwzP4ufp8Io3VJ3wVbMjSAXgsU1tNw_ye3PdfTm6LW8GBLwTslYpHcwLVHu4_AuTCQkW2H4u&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">2021 Ike Book Talk series</a>&nbsp;is made possible courtesy of the Eisenhower Foundation, Jeffcoat Foundation, Humanities Kansas, and the Abilene Public Library. For more details about this event, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwA9diNbjx6UHKNi2dB-Bo6K5_i0kCrqPKMwhNcZ_MBZpqYj87JbYw0IrLOAJQAchb52CwP7SnkQMMgZtQ2BBM3Ts54G9Yv5nOFUEBB45y5r1&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">eisenhowerlibrary.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620665286278.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ABILENE - The Ike Book Talk virtual book club will meet May 11 at 7 p.m. central time. The program is free and open to the public. Join us online or by phone. Join this program as if you were meeting your friends in a cozy café or living room with a glass of wine, even if you have not read the book. The May book selection is "Not Without Laughter" by Langston Hughes. This novel is essentially a "coming of age" story of a young African American boy growing up in a small Kansas town during the years preceding World War I. The informal discussion will be led by Sandra Wiechert in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwBdnJOOmaS1kHlmA0Ii7BjFq0t7Fx5Ewf8JDGdj0pTPY-WCyXMA7KjO4RouoZdiGytUe9mXFqZ-q5qUm-aB8TunKlDBUihe_5VlOZAYxQLWW&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">Humanities Kansas</a>. The entire&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwBdnJOOmaS1kow7baLnUe6VnTe7UzPCbUXh42-yE7eRDRb-t57pUcnhGe2WkFx9hdisPTwzP4ufp8Io3VJ3wVbMjSAXgsU1tNw_ye3PdfTm6LW8GBLwTslYpHcwLVHu4_AuTCQkW2H4u&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">reading list schedule</a>&nbsp;is available on the Eisenhower Presidential Library's website (<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwH86i0sdFAEPRRUfxaiC-q3Wkfdfu4wCsodkAiHGI27rh7mp2zdE4a89IL7jRhFZkln5zervOJV3yL9Hsy86bnXnqrisP0RLgg==&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov</a>). MEETING OPTIONS:<ul>
 <li>Google Meet online:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwHPTwM8xZ54Mt_lmg9Eam4gG0K2FWuzrgUCWTYCEXeCyN728wDcxw4bOuVfdjjmJ_za3BehAFcLgk8tD5YPD1FKWjbHXtn1qoCQaL70NUqYF&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">﻿meet.google.com/evq-cutf-tnd</a></li><li>Telephone:&nbsp;617-675-4444‬ (PIN: ‪459 566 312 0745#)</li><li>Please join 10 minutes early so the program may begin on time.</li>
 </ul>The&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwBdnJOOmaS1kow7baLnUe6VnTe7UzPCbUXh42-yE7eRDRb-t57pUcnhGe2WkFx9hdisPTwzP4ufp8Io3VJ3wVbMjSAXgsU1tNw_ye3PdfTm6LW8GBLwTslYpHcwLVHu4_AuTCQkW2H4u&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">2021 Ike Book Talk series</a>&nbsp;is made possible courtesy of the Eisenhower Foundation, Jeffcoat Foundation, Humanities Kansas, and the Abilene Public Library. For more details about this event, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LFbC3iXZBtq26cydCJnoIkRW58B0cV8I9fFg2pjV5lfB3zpNb6_bwA9diNbjx6UHKNi2dB-Bo6K5_i0kCrqPKMwhNcZ_MBZpqYj87JbYw0IrLOAJQAchb52CwP7SnkQMMgZtQ2BBM3Ts54G9Yv5nOFUEBB45y5r1&amp;c=SKfgV-RvIj2F_kAb1g9tqgmT3RHMPsyq6j8qwIk42GdWrd985WZWTw==&amp;ch=sQ1lj1FZ5RTMN0KDbnO_X9Any_mJmMFN-f6i9FYvMtplC7x9Op3Eag==&amp;jrc=1" target="_blank">eisenhowerlibrary.gov</a>.

Growing up in small Kansas town is focus of next Ike Book Talk

Norton County Community Foundation (NCCF) has announced the date for its fourth annual Norton County Match Day. Match Day 2021 will be held on&nbsp;Wednesday, July 21 from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Heaton Building in Norton, KS.

Match Day is a giving event designed to raise awareness and support for non-profits and charitable projects in Norton County. 

This year’s match pool will be&nbsp;$70,000&nbsp;and is generously provided by Norton County Community Foundation and the Jim and Lida Sharp family.&nbsp;

A complete set of match rules/guidelines can be found on NCCF’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021</a>.

Any organization&nbsp;with an endowed fund&nbsp;at NCCF will automatically qualify to participate and will receive a 2:1 match. 

Organizations and charitable projects&nbsp;without an endowed fund&nbsp;at NCCF are invited to apply to participate and will receive a 1:1 match.

 Applications are due by June 15, 2021 and can be found on NCCF’s website. A final list of participating organizations will be made available to the public after the application deadline of June 15th&nbsp;has passed.

On Match Day,&nbsp;participating organizations are invited to set up a small table in the Heaton Building to help raise money for their organizations. Donors can make in-person donations at the Heaton Building between the hours of 7:00 a.m.– 7:00 p.m. on July 21, 2021.&nbsp;Online donations will be accepted via NCCF’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021</a>&nbsp;between&nbsp;12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on July 21, 2021.

“We’re really looking forward to this year’s Match Day” said Tara Vance, executive director of Norton County Community Foundation. 

“Thanks to the generosity of the Jim and Lida Sharp family, our match pool is $70,000. Organizations with endowed funds at NCCF are going to receive a 2 to 1 match this year, which is our way of rewarding them for thinking about their long-term sustainability. Organizations and projects without an endowment are invited to apply for participation, and we hope to raise money for some neat community projects that way, too.”

For more information, please contact Tara Vance at 785-874-5106 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tara@nortonccf.org" target="_blank">tara@nortonccf.org</a>.

About Norton County Community Foundation

The Norton County Community Foundation was established in 1994 for the purpose of supporting local charitable activities in Norton County through endowments made to the foundation.&nbsp;Dedicated to serving today for tomorrow, to make our community a better place in which to live.&nbsp;Connect with the Norton County Community Foundation at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620663507568.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;SubmittedNorton County Community Foundation (NCCF) has announced the date for its fourth annual Norton County Match Day. Match Day 2021 will be held on&nbsp;Wednesday, July 21 from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Heaton Building in Norton, KS.Match Day is a giving event designed to raise awareness and support for non-profits and charitable projects in Norton County. This year’s match pool will be&nbsp;$70,000&nbsp;and is generously provided by Norton County Community Foundation and the Jim and Lida Sharp family.&nbsp;A complete set of match rules/guidelines can be found on NCCF’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021</a>.Any organization&nbsp;with an endowed fund&nbsp;at NCCF will automatically qualify to participate and will receive a 2:1 match. Organizations and charitable projects&nbsp;without an endowed fund&nbsp;at NCCF are invited to apply to participate and will receive a 1:1 match. Applications are due by June 15, 2021 and can be found on NCCF’s website. A final list of participating organizations will be made available to the public after the application deadline of June 15th&nbsp;has passed.On Match Day,&nbsp;participating organizations are invited to set up a small table in the Heaton Building to help raise money for their organizations. Donors can make in-person donations at the Heaton Building between the hours of 7:00 a.m.– 7:00 p.m. on July 21, 2021.&nbsp;Online donations will be accepted via NCCF’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021</a>&nbsp;between&nbsp;12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on July 21, 2021.“We’re really looking forward to this year’s Match Day” said Tara Vance, executive director of Norton County Community Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of the Jim and Lida Sharp family, our match pool is $70,000. Organizations with endowed funds at NCCF are going to receive a 2 to 1 match this year, which is our way of rewarding them for thinking about their long-term sustainability. Organizations and projects without an endowment are invited to apply for participation, and we hope to raise money for some neat community projects that way, too.”For more information, please contact Tara Vance at 785-874-5106 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tara@nortonccf.org" target="_blank">tara@nortonccf.org</a>.About Norton County Community FoundationThe Norton County Community Foundation was established in 1994 for the purpose of supporting local charitable activities in Norton County through endowments made to the foundation.&nbsp;Dedicated to serving today for tomorrow, to make our community a better place in which to live.&nbsp;Connect with the Norton County Community Foundation at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org</a>.

Norton Co. foundation announces annual Match Day; $70K match pool

GREAT BEND - Barton Community College’s (BCC) 51st commencement is set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 14 in the Barton Gymnasium. 

The ceremony will be following a shorter format this year, with no official guest speaker. Due to COVID-19, students are only allowed two guests, who must have a ticket to enter the gymnasium. 

The ceremony will also be live-streamed via facebook.com/bartoncommunitycollege.

After brief comments from Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman, Vice President of Student Services Angie Maddy will present the 2021 Outstanding Graduate awards to Elvia Alejandra Salazar Beck and Kaitlynn Dyke.

Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons will then present four Distinguished Instructor Awards to Barton instructors Paulia Bailey representing the College Advantage program and BARTonline, Melissa Hardwick of the Fort Riley Campus, Ann Ingala of the Fort Leavenworth Campus, and Maggie Tracy of the Barton County Campus.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mike Johnson and Simmons will confer the degrees. Developmental Education Instructor Abby Howe will present the graduates as Dr. Heilman extends the college’s official congratulations on behalf of the Board of Trustees.

John Hembree is set to lead both the invocation and benediction. 

For commencement live-stream video and photos, visit bartonccc.edu/gradpics.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620425071491.jpeg" alt="A faculty member and student share a celebratory embrace following the commencement ceremony in 2019." />
 <figcaption>A faculty member and student share a celebratory embrace following the commencement ceremony in 2019.</figcaption>
 </figure>BCCGREAT BEND - Barton Community College’s (BCC) 51st commencement is set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 14 in the Barton Gymnasium. The ceremony will be following a shorter format this year, with no official guest speaker. Due to COVID-19, students are only allowed two guests, who must have a ticket to enter the gymnasium. The ceremony will also be live-streamed via facebook.com/bartoncommunitycollege.After brief comments from Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman, Vice President of Student Services Angie Maddy will present the 2021 Outstanding Graduate awards to Elvia Alejandra Salazar Beck and Kaitlynn Dyke.Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons will then present four Distinguished Instructor Awards to Barton instructors Paulia Bailey representing the College Advantage program and BARTonline, Melissa Hardwick of the Fort Riley Campus, Ann Ingala of the Fort Leavenworth Campus, and Maggie Tracy of the Barton County Campus.Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mike Johnson and Simmons will confer the degrees. Developmental Education Instructor Abby Howe will present the graduates as Dr. Heilman extends the college’s official congratulations on behalf of the Board of Trustees.John Hembree is set to lead both the invocation and benediction. For commencement live-stream video and photos, visit bartonccc.edu/gradpics.

Barton Community College to honor graduates in 51st commencement

DSNWK is hosting a walk-in hiring event from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Reed Center, 317 W. 13th. Interviews will be available on the spot with job offers for immediate hire. 

Virtual interviews are also available. Call Michelle Bland at 785-625-5678 prior to the event to coordinate virtual interview details.&nbsp; Full- and part-time personal assistant positions are available. Employees will teach and assist in living skills (grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc.) for adults with developmental disabilities.&nbsp; Benefits&nbsp;include $500 sign-on bonus, sick and vacation time, health, dental, and vision insurance, KPERS retirement, Aflac policies, paid training, and more.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602261742827.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DSNWK is hosting a walk-in hiring event from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Reed Center, 317 W. 13th. Interviews will be available on the spot with job offers for immediate hire. Virtual interviews are also available. Call Michelle Bland at 785-625-5678 prior to the event to coordinate virtual interview details.&nbsp; Full- and part-time personal assistant positions are available. Employees will teach and assist in living skills (grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc.) for adults with developmental disabilities.&nbsp; Benefits&nbsp;include $500 sign-on bonus, sick and vacation time, health, dental, and vision insurance, KPERS retirement, Aflac policies, paid training, and more.

DSNWK job fair set for Tuesday

Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=direct&amp;utm_campaign=hayspost_obituary_category">HERE</a> for the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

Hays Post is honored to publish full obituaries at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592402847947.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=direct&amp;utm_campaign=hayspost_obituary_category">HERE</a> for the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.Hays Post is honored to publish full obituaries at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616431264408.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Recent obituaries

&nbsp;The Center for Health Improvement and the HaysMed Foundation are sponsoring the annual FREE KidsQuest this summer.&nbsp; Kids will be encouraged to log 60 miles of fitness by running, walking, biking, swimming or completing the Kid’s Quest exercises.&nbsp; Participants will be figuratively traveling through Kansas.&nbsp; As they reach a destination, they will become eligible to earn prizes (coupons) from local business sponsors.

KidsQuest is recommended for children Pre-K through 8th&nbsp;grade.

KidsQuest will begin on Tuesday, June 1st&nbsp;and conclude on Sunday, August 15th.&nbsp; T-shirt and coupon pick up will be offered Wednesday, August 11th&nbsp;from 11:30a.m.-1:00p.m. and 4:30-6:30p.m. at The Center gazebo (located east of The Center).&nbsp; Prizes picked up after August 11th&nbsp;will be available at The Center for Health Improvement front desk and can be picked up during normal business hours.

You can register your child at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thecenter.haysmed.com/kidsquest">www.thecenter.haysmed.com/kidsquest</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp; If you register by May 31st&nbsp;you will receive a free t-shirt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620147440002.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HaysMed&nbsp;The Center for Health Improvement and the HaysMed Foundation are sponsoring the annual FREE KidsQuest this summer.&nbsp; Kids will be encouraged to log 60 miles of fitness by running, walking, biking, swimming or completing the Kid’s Quest exercises.&nbsp; Participants will be figuratively traveling through Kansas.&nbsp; As they reach a destination, they will become eligible to earn prizes (coupons) from local business sponsors.KidsQuest is recommended for children Pre-K through 8th&nbsp;grade.KidsQuest will begin on Tuesday, June 1st&nbsp;and conclude on Sunday, August 15th.&nbsp; T-shirt and coupon pick up will be offered Wednesday, August 11th&nbsp;from 11:30a.m.-1:00p.m. and 4:30-6:30p.m. at The Center gazebo (located east of The Center).&nbsp; Prizes picked up after August 11th&nbsp;will be available at The Center for Health Improvement front desk and can be picked up during normal business hours.You can register your child at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thecenter.haysmed.com/kidsquest">www.thecenter.haysmed.com/kidsquest</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp; If you register by May 31st&nbsp;you will receive a free t-shirt.

Free KidsQuest summer program scheduled at HaysMed

The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin a resurfacing project on approximately 7.5 miles of K-383 in Decatur County on Monday.

Project work will consist of a 2-inch mill and inlay beginning near the south city limits of Jennings and ending at the Norton County line. Traffic will be directed through the work zone by flaggers and a pilot car during daylight hours, and minor delays should be expected.

KDOT anticipates work to be completed by the end of May, weather permitting.

APAC Shears of Hutchinson is the primary contractor for the $1.5 million project.&nbsp;

KDOTThe Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin a resurfacing project on approximately 7.5 miles of K-383 in Decatur County on Monday.Project work will consist of a 2-inch mill and inlay beginning near the south city limits of Jennings and ending at the Norton County line. Traffic will be directed through the work zone by flaggers and a pilot car during daylight hours, and minor delays should be expected.KDOT anticipates work to be completed by the end of May, weather permitting.APAC Shears of Hutchinson is the primary contractor for the $1.5 million project.&nbsp;

K-383 resurfacing project to start in Decatur County

kansashealthyyards.org recommends the completion of these tasks in MAY:

Blooming flowers and healthy grass are signs of one of the best months for gardening in Kansas. Wildlife, bird, and insect activity also picks up this time of year.

•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Plant tomato, pepper, and eggplant transplants in early May 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Seed sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, beans, and other warm season vegetables 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lightly cultivate soil with a hoe to control weed growth 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mound soil around potato plants to encourage tuber formation 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Harvest fresh asparagus until the spear size decreases 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Remove rhubarb seed stalks to encourage leaf growth 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Plant kitchen herbs for summer use in dishes or food preservation 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Treat fruit trees with needed pesticides to control insects and disease 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Thin heavy fruit set on apples to increase fruit size and next year's crop

•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Plant annual flowers for summer color 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Continue to plant and divide perennials 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mulch perennial and annual gardens for weed control and moisture retention 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Begin pinching chrysanthemums for bushier plants 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Do not remove foliage from spring bulbs until it dies down naturally, this develops stronger blooms for next year 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Plant container gardens and hanging baskets using a good quality potting mix 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Keep a garden journal for permanent reference

• Apply slow release nitrogen fertilizer to tall fescue to promote summer growth if watering during the summer. Lower maintenance lawns skip this application • Mow tall fescue at 3 inches • Spot treat broadleaf weeds • Withhold early summer watering until needed to promote more drought tolerant lawns

•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Plant new trees and shrubs 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Prune spring flowering shrubs after bloom to shape plant and encourage flowers next year 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mulch around young trees and shrubs to conserve moisture and control weed growth 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Water young ornamentals as needed 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Remove tree wraps for summer growth 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Remove tree stakes that have been in place more than one growing season 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Fertilize trees to help increase growth rates 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Caution, use line trimmers around trees and shrubs so as not to damage tender bark

•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Move plants outdoors for summer by gradually increasing the exposure to sunlight 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Fertilize plants to promote summer development 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Rotate plants to develop a well-rounded plant 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Wash dusty leaves in the shower under room temperature water 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Four to six inch cuttings are a great way to start new plants, root in potting mix under low light 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Repot plants into a one-inch larger pot 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Check for insects

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614966296214.jpeg" alt="master gardeners" />
 <figcaption>master gardeners</figcaption>
 </figure>kansashealthyyards.org recommends the completion of these tasks in MAY:Blooming flowers and healthy grass are signs of one of the best months for gardening in Kansas. Wildlife, bird, and insect activity also picks up this time of year.<h2>Vegetables and Fruits</h2>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Plant tomato, pepper, and eggplant transplants in early May 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Seed sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, beans, and other warm season vegetables 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lightly cultivate soil with a hoe to control weed growth 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mound soil around potato plants to encourage tuber formation 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Harvest fresh asparagus until the spear size decreases 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Remove rhubarb seed stalks to encourage leaf growth 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Plant kitchen herbs for summer use in dishes or food preservation 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Treat fruit trees with needed pesticides to control insects and disease 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Thin heavy fruit set on apples to increase fruit size and next year's crop<h2>Flowers</h2>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Plant annual flowers for summer color 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Continue to plant and divide perennials 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mulch perennial and annual gardens for weed control and moisture retention 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Begin pinching chrysanthemums for bushier plants 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Do not remove foliage from spring bulbs until it dies down naturally, this develops stronger blooms for next year 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Plant container gardens and hanging baskets using a good quality potting mix 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Keep a garden journal for permanent reference<h2>Lawns </h2>• Apply slow release nitrogen fertilizer to tall fescue to promote summer growth if watering during the summer. Lower maintenance lawns skip this application • Mow tall fescue at 3 inches • Spot treat broadleaf weeds • Withhold early summer watering until needed to promote more drought tolerant lawns<h2>Trees and Shrubs</h2>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Plant new trees and shrubs 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Prune spring flowering shrubs after bloom to shape plant and encourage flowers next year 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mulch around young trees and shrubs to conserve moisture and control weed growth 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Water young ornamentals as needed 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Remove tree wraps for summer growth 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Remove tree stakes that have been in place more than one growing season 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Fertilize trees to help increase growth rates 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Caution, use line trimmers around trees and shrubs so as not to damage tender bark<h2>Houseplants</h2>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Move plants outdoors for summer by gradually increasing the exposure to sunlight 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Fertilize plants to promote summer development 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Rotate plants to develop a well-rounded plant 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Wash dusty leaves in the shower under room temperature water 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Four to six inch cuttings are a great way to start new plants, root in potting mix under low light 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Repot plants into a one-inch larger pot 
•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Check for insects

From the Ellis Co. Master Gardeners: May garden calendar

OSBORNE — A group of Civil War veterans in Berks and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania began in 1870 to
form a colony in which to begin a new life for themselves and their families in the American
West. That new life took root in Osborne.


Under the leadership of Colonel William L. Bear and Captain Henry D. Markley a scouting
party of 39 men and boys and one woman was sent to Kansas in April 1871 to locate a site for
the colony. On May 1, they established the town of Osborne City and soon secured their
community for the county seat.


The following September they were joined by the remainder of the colony, more than 200
individuals. Over the next 150 years, the town faced countless challenges – grasshopper plagues,
drought, floods, ceaseless wind, wars, pandemics, the Depression, the Dust Bowl, and
fluctuations in ag prices.

The story of the Pennsylvania Colony is a lesson in how to confront adverse conditions and lost
illusions to come together to solve a myriad of problems both great and small.


Osborne is still going strong in 2021 after 150 years! An epic celebration over Memorial Day
Weekend will honor the town’s legacy and look forward to a bright future. The weekend’s
events will include the “Bringing It Home to Oz Draggin’ Main Reunion Bash,” a parade,
“Prairie Market,” live music, dancing, and a wide variety of other entertainment and activities for
folks of all ages, and of course, food and fun. The celebration begins downtown at 5 p.m. on
Friday, May 28th.


A full schedule of events can be viewed at the following Facebook Pages: Remembering in
Osborne, Osborne 150th Anniversary Celebration, and Bringing it Home to Oz.

Be sure during your stay to talk to local historians, including colony descendant Von
Rothenberger, whose extensive research has brought Osborne’s early history to life. Be sure to
visit the Osborne County Genealogical and Historical Society in the historic 1912 Carnegie
Research Library to purchase books on local history, like A Soldiers’ Colony: How Pennsylvania
Veterans Found a Home and Forged a County in 1871 “Sunny Kansas.” It and other
Sesquicentennial memorabilia will be available at the Carnegie throughout the weekend. And
look for the window displays downtown that will tell more of Osborne’s rich history.


<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620054159576.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedOSBORNE — A group of Civil War veterans in Berks and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania began in 1870 to
form a colony in which to begin a new life for themselves and their families in the American
West. That new life took root in Osborne.
Under the leadership of Colonel William L. Bear and Captain Henry D. Markley a scouting
party of 39 men and boys and one woman was sent to Kansas in April 1871 to locate a site for
the colony. On May 1, they established the town of Osborne City and soon secured their
community for the county seat.
The following September they were joined by the remainder of the colony, more than 200
individuals. Over the next 150 years, the town faced countless challenges – grasshopper plagues,
drought, floods, ceaseless wind, wars, pandemics, the Depression, the Dust Bowl, and
fluctuations in ag prices.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620054200427.jpeg" alt="Penn St. well &amp; windmill 1878 photo by Moulton Kleckner" />
 <figcaption>Penn St. well &amp; windmill 1878 photo by Moulton Kleckner</figcaption>
 </figure>The story of the Pennsylvania Colony is a lesson in how to confront adverse conditions and lost
illusions to come together to solve a myriad of problems both great and small.
Osborne is still going strong in 2021 after 150 years! An epic celebration over Memorial Day
Weekend will honor the town’s legacy and look forward to a bright future. The weekend’s
events will include the “Bringing It Home to Oz Draggin’ Main Reunion Bash,” a parade,
“Prairie Market,” live music, dancing, and a wide variety of other entertainment and activities for
folks of all ages, and of course, food and fun. The celebration begins downtown at 5 p.m. on
Friday, May 28th.
A full schedule of events can be viewed at the following Facebook Pages: Remembering in
Osborne, Osborne 150th Anniversary Celebration, and Bringing it Home to Oz.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620054220842.jpeg" alt="Downtown Osborne, south side of East Penn Street, looking west 1878" />
 <figcaption>Downtown Osborne, south side of East Penn Street, looking west 1878</figcaption>
 </figure>Be sure during your stay to talk to local historians, including colony descendant Von
Rothenberger, whose extensive research has brought Osborne’s early history to life. Be sure to
visit the Osborne County Genealogical and Historical Society in the historic 1912 Carnegie
Research Library to purchase books on local history, like A Soldiers’ Colony: How Pennsylvania
Veterans Found a Home and Forged a County in 1871 “Sunny Kansas.” It and other
Sesquicentennial memorabilia will be available at the Carnegie throughout the weekend. And
look for the window displays downtown that will tell more of Osborne’s rich history.

Community of Osborne set to celebrate 150 years

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported six new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County since Friday.

<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported two COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, both in the active phase.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,745 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 71 coronavirus-related deaths — the last of which was reported on March 10.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620666610215.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported six new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County since Friday.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported two COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, both in the active phase.Since reporting began, there have been 3,745 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 71 coronavirus-related deaths — the last of which was reported on March 10.

KDHE: Six new virus cases in Ellis Co. since Friday

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🎙Post Podcast: Hays Public Library remodel complete; summer programming planned

By JAMES BELL Hays Post <a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/11/03/by-the-grace-of-god-a-small-kansas-towns-fight-to-save-beloved-church/">For over 20 years area residents have wondered about the future of St. Anothny's Church in St. Peter after the last regular mass was held in 1999.</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/814c23db-595a-407e-b5b7-d7dcbc6ae34b">The wait for a conclusive answer seemed to be over o</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/814c23db-595a-407e-b5b7-d7dcbc6ae34b">n April 8, when the Bishop of the Salina Diocese, Gerald Vincke, issued a decree</a>&nbsp;that effectively ended any possibility the church would again be used for church purposes and put in motion the process for the building to be razed.

But some have promised to appeal that decision.

While that group of people across the country have worked to raise support online for saving the building — and perhaps a restoration to an active parish — many that live in the area see the harsh reality of the situation and are ready to say goodbye to the beloved church.

A group of local residents, all practicing Catholics with family histories dating back to the earliest settlers of the town, gathered Thursday to discuss the decree. They also wished to rebut what they see as a divisive effort online to save the church that only tells a part of the story.

Along with what they see as an unrealistic effort to save the church, the group is opposed to the bad blood that is being created between those that live elsewhere that have promised an appeal of the decision and those who remain living in the area.

The nervousness around the effort and the mischaracterization of the bishop and the community led to members of the group asking to not be named directly in this story, in fear of retaliation in a town so small the population is likely in the single digits, and a township that is only peppered with residents.

"The sad part about it is this isn't the only church in this position," a group member said. "There are many across the country and why this one got chosen to be such a controversial thing I don't know."

While the fight continues online, the group said area residents understand the practicality of the diocese's decision and argue many who support saving the church may not fully understand the realities of living in such a remote location.

"We are all from the area. A lot of these people were baptized, first communion, some of these people were born here, had their wedding in this church," one group member said. "We are local people. We have been here. We haven't moved in."

"Bred, born and raised right here," another group member said. "All of us."

All of the group said they are practicing Catholics in the three area parishes and could attest that most people who remain in the area are in agreement with the diocese.

"I agree with the Bishop," a group member said. "It's sad that the church would have to go, but why do you want to keep it when we are going to have less and less people here?"

"It's the people that make up the church," a group member said. "It's not the building, and when the people are gone, the church is gone. It's done its duty."

The Bishop in his decision noted a fund of around $1.3 million would be required to secure the building now and into the future, a move they said is financially irresponsible.&nbsp;

"How do you spend a million dollars to fix up a building when there are very few people left out here," one group member said.

"With the money that is going to take to fix that up," another member said. "that would feed a lot of poor people. That would do more good than spending it all on that building. It served its purpose as far as I am concerned."

Along with their disagreement with the efforts to dispute the decision from the diocese, they also said it was unfair to attack the Bishop about unrelated matters in a statement made by the St. Anthony Church of St. Peter Preservation Society that blamed Vincke for allowing&nbsp;defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick to reside within the diocese.

"Bringing McCarrick into this deal is about a low as they could get," a group member said. "That just should not have been."

Along with the statements made against the Bishop, the group also took offense to the statement that the reason the church was in disrepair was due to the local population being extremely elderly and disorganized.

The sad truth, they said, is there is virtually no population left in the area. With that unlikely to change and without a reason to maintain the church, they all agreed the time has come to demolish the building before it is in complete disrepair.

On the outside of the building, a stained glass window is taped together haphazardly to keep water from coming in, while the roof is disintegrating.

Inside, water damage is visible everywhere, mold is taking hold in various areas, ceiling tiles have caved in and over the years birds have found their way into the building, littering areas with feathers and droppings.

As the population is expected to continue to decline in the area, the diocese also noted the problems that arise when church buildings are sold.

"I understand their thinking," one group member said. "'What for?' There is nothing left to celebrate here anymore. It's a shame. Nobody likes to see this happen."

The group also was concerned about what would happen to the building even if it is fully restored now, a concern also shared by Vincke.

"I think what everyone is afraid of, and us few here aren't the only ones," a group member said, "you get this (building) into the wrong hands, say the preservation society doesn't work out, which is a toss-up...who knows what they could do with it. Who knows what it will bring in. You just don't know. Nobody knows the future. The school is a prime example."

The group noted the numerous school buildings in the area that have been long abandoned and are now often a decaying blemish in many small towns, including the Catholic school that remains in disrepair next to the church building in St. Peter.

"That used to be a school," a group member said, pointing to the boarded-up building. "Penokee had a school. Morland had a school, but when there are no people, you close it up and go on."

For the building to be saved by the preservation society, the group also noted the location of the town itself makes the possibility of regular visitors to the building unlikely, a different situation from other historic church buildings that have been saved in more accessible areas of the state.

"Here you have to drive 12-14 miles on dirt roads to get here, and if it's muddy, you don't want to come," a group member said.

The group believes those realities may be lost on the supporters of the preservation effort online, many of which are decades removed from the area, if they have any personal connection at all.

<a href="https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/church-in-trouble-in-kansas">They are also troubled by the attention brought by stories that make it appear that the preservation effort is being driven by the local population when it is painfully obvious to them the reality of the difficulties of saving the building are not well understood to those living out of the area, or in other parts of the country.</a>

In fact area residents almost unanimously agree the best outcome going forward is the demolition of the church.

"If you want to come out and try to preserve a church, wouldn't you want to talk to the people in the community first," a group member said.

"Everybody says we do this for our ancestors," another group member said. "Ancestors really don't care anymore."

They said even the board members of the&nbsp;Preservation Society are not local.

"Most of those supporters you see on the Facebook page are not from around here," a group member said.

"There is only one that I actually know, and she used to live here," another group member said.&nbsp;

The society in their statement said their desire is to&nbsp;save the church and fully restore it with the intent to hold a minimum of two masses annually, as well as to make it a modern-day place of prayer and quiet reflection for visitors who come to St. Peter searching for their Volga-German ancestry.&nbsp;

It would also serve as a place to understand the deep faith of their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who built St. Peter, the society said.

But the group said the finding those who would be needed to keep the building in good repair and open for visitors would also require people that are unlikely to materialize as time passes.

"I don't think the outsiders that are all in favor of this are going to come here to support a mass," a group member said.&nbsp;

With the difficulties presented in the preservation effort and the likely continued decline of the area population, the group said the effort to postpone the inevitable demolition is only making the situation harder.

"The only outcome I see coming out of this is it's going to drag it on forever," a group member said.&nbsp;

"I say get it over with as cheaply as we can," another group member said.&nbsp;

But they also said a memorial of some sort should be installed, like the church bell, or another type of marker to be a reminder of the church and their appreciation for those who built the town.

"It's not that we don't love St. Peter church, we do," a group member said.

But despite that love, the group of locals understands the reality of the situation and seem ready to move on, even as hundreds from around the country are anxious to share support online, even if they haven't been in the town in decades.

"Everybody has memories," a group member said. "We all have memories, but you can never recreate that same memory. I don't care how much money you spend on something. It's never the same."

"It comes to the point that none of us want to see this happen, but reality has to set in," a group member said. 

"A million dollars is not common sense," yet another member of the group quickly chimed in.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620501972547.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays Post <a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/11/03/by-the-grace-of-god-a-small-kansas-towns-fight-to-save-beloved-church/">For over 20 years area residents have wondered about the future of St. Anothny's Church in St. Peter after the last regular mass was held in 1999.</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/814c23db-595a-407e-b5b7-d7dcbc6ae34b">The wait for a conclusive answer seemed to be over o</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/814c23db-595a-407e-b5b7-d7dcbc6ae34b">n April 8, when the Bishop of the Salina Diocese, Gerald Vincke, issued a decree</a>&nbsp;that effectively ended any possibility the church would again be used for church purposes and put in motion the process for the building to be razed.But some have promised to appeal that decision.While that group of people across the country have worked to raise support online for saving the building — and perhaps a restoration to an active parish — many that live in the area see the harsh reality of the situation and are ready to say goodbye to the beloved church.A group of local residents, all practicing Catholics with family histories dating back to the earliest settlers of the town, gathered Thursday to discuss the decree. They also wished to rebut what they see as a divisive effort online to save the church that only tells a part of the story.Along with what they see as an unrealistic effort to save the church, the group is opposed to the bad blood that is being created between those that live elsewhere that have promised an appeal of the decision and those who remain living in the area.The nervousness around the effort and the mischaracterization of the bishop and the community led to members of the group asking to not be named directly in this story, in fear of retaliation in a town so small the population is likely in the single digits, and a township that is only peppered with residents."The sad part about it is this isn't the only church in this position," a group member said. "There are many across the country and why this one got chosen to be such a controversial thing I don't know."While the fight continues online, the group said area residents understand the practicality of the diocese's decision and argue many who support saving the church may not fully understand the realities of living in such a remote location."We are all from the area. A lot of these people were baptized, first communion, some of these people were born here, had their wedding in this church," one group member said. "We are local people. We have been here. We haven't moved in.""Bred, born and raised right here," another group member said. "All of us."All of the group said they are practicing Catholics in the three area parishes and could attest that most people who remain in the area are in agreement with the diocese."I agree with the Bishop," a group member said. "It's sad that the church would have to go, but why do you want to keep it when we are going to have less and less people here?""It's the people that make up the church," a group member said. "It's not the building, and when the people are gone, the church is gone. It's done its duty."The Bishop in his decision noted a fund of around $1.3 million would be required to secure the building now and into the future, a move they said is financially irresponsible.&nbsp;"How do you spend a million dollars to fix up a building when there are very few people left out here," one group member said."With the money that is going to take to fix that up," another member said. "that would feed a lot of poor people. That would do more good than spending it all on that building. It served its purpose as far as I am concerned."Along with their disagreement with the efforts to dispute the decision from the diocese, they also said it was unfair to attack the Bishop about unrelated matters in a statement made by the St. Anthony Church of St. Peter Preservation Society that blamed Vincke for allowing&nbsp;defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick to reside within the diocese."Bringing McCarrick into this deal is about a low as they could get," a group member said. "That just should not have been."Along with the statements made against the Bishop, the group also took offense to the statement that the reason the church was in disrepair was due to the local population being extremely elderly and disorganized.The sad truth, they said, is there is virtually no population left in the area. With that unlikely to change and without a reason to maintain the church, they all agreed the time has come to demolish the building before it is in complete disrepair.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620502215975.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On the outside of the building, a stained glass window is taped together haphazardly to keep water from coming in, while the roof is disintegrating.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620502265526.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Inside, water damage is visible everywhere, mold is taking hold in various areas, ceiling tiles have caved in and over the years birds have found their way into the building, littering areas with feathers and droppings.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620502101120.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As the population is expected to continue to decline in the area, the diocese also noted the problems that arise when church buildings are sold.And the group agrees."I understand their thinking," one group member said. "'What for?' There is nothing left to celebrate here anymore. It's a shame. Nobody likes to see this happen."The group also was concerned about what would happen to the building even if it is fully restored now, a concern also shared by Vincke."I think what everyone is afraid of, and us few here aren't the only ones," a group member said, "you get this (building) into the wrong hands, say the preservation society doesn't work out, which is a toss-up...who knows what they could do with it. Who knows what it will bring in. You just don't know. Nobody knows the future. The school is a prime example."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620502042298.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The group noted the numerous school buildings in the area that have been long abandoned and are now often a decaying blemish in many small towns, including the Catholic school that remains in disrepair next to the church building in St. Peter."That used to be a school," a group member said, pointing to the boarded-up building. "Penokee had a school. Morland had a school, but when there are no people, you close it up and go on."For the building to be saved by the preservation society, the group also noted the location of the town itself makes the possibility of regular visitors to the building unlikely, a different situation from other historic church buildings that have been saved in more accessible areas of the state."Here you have to drive 12-14 miles on dirt roads to get here, and if it's muddy, you don't want to come," a group member said.The group believes those realities may be lost on the supporters of the preservation effort online, many of which are decades removed from the area, if they have any personal connection at all.<a href="https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/church-in-trouble-in-kansas">They are also troubled by the attention brought by stories that make it appear that the preservation effort is being driven by the local population when it is painfully obvious to them the reality of the difficulties of saving the building are not well understood to those living out of the area, or in other parts of the country.</a>In fact area residents almost unanimously agree the best outcome going forward is the demolition of the church."If you want to come out and try to preserve a church, wouldn't you want to talk to the people in the community first," a group member said."Everybody says we do this for our ancestors," another group member said. "Ancestors really don't care anymore."They said even the board members of the&nbsp;Preservation Society are not local."Most of those supporters you see on the Facebook page are not from around here," a group member said."There is only one that I actually know, and she used to live here," another group member said.&nbsp;The society in their statement said their desire is to&nbsp;save the church and fully restore it with the intent to hold a minimum of two masses annually, as well as to make it a modern-day place of prayer and quiet reflection for visitors who come to St. Peter searching for their Volga-German ancestry.&nbsp;It would also serve as a place to understand the deep faith of their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who built St. Peter, the society said.But the group said the finding those who would be needed to keep the building in good repair and open for visitors would also require people that are unlikely to materialize as time passes."I don't think the outsiders that are all in favor of this are going to come here to support a mass," a group member said.&nbsp;With the difficulties presented in the preservation effort and the likely continued decline of the area population, the group said the effort to postpone the inevitable demolition is only making the situation harder."The only outcome I see coming out of this is it's going to drag it on forever," a group member said.&nbsp;"I say get it over with as cheaply as we can," another group member said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620502134691.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>But they also said a memorial of some sort should be installed, like the church bell, or another type of marker to be a reminder of the church and their appreciation for those who built the town."It's not that we don't love St. Peter church, we do," a group member said.But despite that love, the group of locals understands the reality of the situation and seem ready to move on, even as hundreds from around the country are anxious to share support online, even if they haven't been in the town in decades."Everybody has memories," a group member said. "We all have memories, but you can never recreate that same memory. I don't care how much money you spend on something. It's never the same.""It comes to the point that none of us want to see this happen, but reality has to set in," a group member said. "And common sense," said another."A million dollars is not common sense," yet another member of the group quickly chimed in.

Locals argue effort to save St. Peter church foolhardy; decry attacks on Diocese

BY KARISSA NEIHOFF National
Federation of State High School Associations and BILL FAFLICK Kansas State High School Activities Association

After
months of working with state government, education and health leaders, schools
in all 50 states have been given the go-ahead to resume high school sports at
some level of competition. Schools in the District of Columbia were the last to
receive the green light on April 1. This is great news and signals that a
return to normalcy may be on the horizon by the time schools begin sports and
activities this fall.

Unfortunately, there is an ever-increasing issue that could put a kink
in the return-to-play plans in Kansas and across the country – a shortage of
officials, as in referees and umpires, that borders on catastrophic in some
sports and in some parts of the nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;


The
shortage of officials in high school – and middle school – sports has been a
growing concern for several years; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has moved the
issue to heightened levels. 

In
some cases, schools that have waited months and months to “play ball” have had
to cancel games or reschedule games. There are so many contests occurring, with
some states currently playing football and other sports they were unable to
offer last fall, coupled with regular spring sports now underway, there simply
are not enough people to officiate all scheduled games.

According to the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO),
registration of officials across the country is down about 30 percent this
year. In Kansas from 2019-20 to 2020-2021 we saw a 14% reduction of officials
registering.&nbsp; Five hundred-twenty fewer officials
registered in 2020-2021. In the past 10 years – since 2010-2011 we are down 26%
- 1092 few officials registered in 2020-2021. Sports with the largest percent
decrease were basketball and wrestling at approximately 17% reduction. 

Tennessee and Georgia have reported declines in baseball umpires. In one
county in Georgia, one middle school had to cancel its baseball season due to a
lack of umpires.

In
some cases, the number of available officials has declined due to
health-related reasons – people opting out this year because of the pandemic.

As vaccinations increase and the optics improve, many of
these individuals hopefully will return. 

For
other officials, however, the pandemic was a secondary concern compared to the
verbal abuse they receive from fans – mostly parents. It is particularly hard
for rookie officials to overcome the verbal shots they hear from parents. In an
article in the Salt Lake City Deseret News, Jeff Cluff, assistant director in
charge of officials for the UHSAA, had the following to say about unruly fans
in his state: 

“Parents are out of control ... Because of the club and super-league
culture, they think these games mean everything; we don’t look at it that way
in high school. Kids are learning, the officials are learning, the coaches are
learning. We have lots of people who are interested in officiating. If we could
keep these officials, we’d be fine.”

Schools in Kansas need two things: 1) more individuals to consider
officiating high school sports and 2) an improvement in fan behavior so that
officials don’t have to deal with verbal abuse and can feel good about
continuing to officiate. Despite the fun and rewards that come with officiating
high school sports, no one wants to continue if they are continually berated by
fans.

The NFHS has been actively
recruiting officials for four years through its #BecomeAnOfficial campaign.
More than 50,000 individuals have expressed interest in officiating during this
time. However, more individuals are desperately needed to keep the games going
for the millions of students in middle school and high school sports. Anyone
can sign up today at www.highschoolofficials.com.

More
importantly, let’s do all we can to keep the men and women who are currently
giving of their time to officiate middle school and high school sports. The
next time you think about yelling at the referee during a high school contest,
DON’T!

There
is hope on the horizon that the pandemic will not keep kids off the playing
fields and courts much longer. Let’s make sure boorish behavior doesn’t keep
officials off the same fields and courts.&nbsp;


Karissa Niehoff is executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations. Bill Faflick is executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620652841937.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>BY KARISSA NEIHOFF National
Federation of State High School Associations and BILL FAFLICK Kansas State High School Activities AssociationAfter
months of working with state government, education and health leaders, schools
in all 50 states have been given the go-ahead to resume high school sports at
some level of competition. Schools in the District of Columbia were the last to
receive the green light on April 1. This is great news and signals that a
return to normalcy may be on the horizon by the time schools begin sports and
activities this fall.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Unfortunately, there is an ever-increasing issue that could put a kink
in the return-to-play plans in Kansas and across the country – a shortage of
officials, as in referees and umpires, that borders on catastrophic in some
sports and in some parts of the nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
shortage of officials in high school – and middle school – sports has been a
growing concern for several years; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has moved the
issue to heightened levels. In
some cases, schools that have waited months and months to “play ball” have had
to cancel games or reschedule games. There are so many contests occurring, with
some states currently playing football and other sports they were unable to
offer last fall, coupled with regular spring sports now underway, there simply
are not enough people to officiate all scheduled games.According to the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO),
registration of officials across the country is down about 30 percent this
year. In Kansas from 2019-20 to 2020-2021 we saw a 14% reduction of officials
registering.&nbsp; Five hundred-twenty fewer officials
registered in 2020-2021. In the past 10 years – since 2010-2011 we are down 26%
- 1092 few officials registered in 2020-2021. Sports with the largest percent
decrease were basketball and wrestling at approximately 17% reduction. Tennessee and Georgia have reported declines in baseball umpires. In one
county in Georgia, one middle school had to cancel its baseball season due to a
lack of umpires.In
some cases, the number of available officials has declined due to
health-related reasons – people opting out this year because of the pandemic.As vaccinations increase and the optics improve, many of
these individuals hopefully will return. For
other officials, however, the pandemic was a secondary concern compared to the
verbal abuse they receive from fans – mostly parents. It is particularly hard
for rookie officials to overcome the verbal shots they hear from parents. In an
article in the Salt Lake City Deseret News, Jeff Cluff, assistant director in
charge of officials for the UHSAA, had the following to say about unruly fans
in his state: “Parents are out of control ... Because of the club and super-league
culture, they think these games mean everything; we don’t look at it that way
in high school. Kids are learning, the officials are learning, the coaches are
learning. We have lots of people who are interested in officiating. If we could
keep these officials, we’d be fine.”Schools in Kansas need two things: 1) more individuals to consider
officiating high school sports and 2) an improvement in fan behavior so that
officials don’t have to deal with verbal abuse and can feel good about
continuing to officiate. Despite the fun and rewards that come with officiating
high school sports, no one wants to continue if they are continually berated by
fans.The NFHS has been actively
recruiting officials for four years through its #BecomeAnOfficial campaign.
More than 50,000 individuals have expressed interest in officiating during this
time. However, more individuals are desperately needed to keep the games going
for the millions of students in middle school and high school sports. Anyone
can sign up today at www.highschoolofficials.com.More
importantly, let’s do all we can to keep the men and women who are currently
giving of their time to officiate middle school and high school sports. The
next time you think about yelling at the referee during a high school contest,
DON’T!There
is hope on the horizon that the pandemic will not keep kids off the playing
fields and courts much longer. Let’s make sure boorish behavior doesn’t keep
officials off the same fields and courts.&nbsp;
Karissa Niehoff is executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations. Bill Faflick is executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association.&nbsp;

More officials, better fan behavior needed in high school sports

James Little well remembers the compassion shown by neighbors and relatives – and even strangers – following the aftermath of an EF5 tornado that ripped through his hometown of Greensburg back in 2007.

Witnessing the rebuilding of homes and people’s lives while growing up ultimately led Little to pursue a career in construction management. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in technology studies later this month, Little will return to the Greensburg area to work for a local construction company.

While commercial companies in larger cities annually recruit several FHSU graduates, Little decided on the residential construction route after working an internship last summer with a commercial building company.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620398493034.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State University senior James Little, right, assists judge Richard Rome at the 2021 Western Kansas Technology Education Fair." />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State University senior James Little, right, assists judge Richard Rome at the 2021 Western Kansas Technology Education Fair.</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsJames Little well remembers the compassion shown by neighbors and relatives – and even strangers – following the aftermath of an EF5 tornado that ripped through his hometown of Greensburg back in 2007.Witnessing the rebuilding of homes and people’s lives while growing up ultimately led Little to pursue a career in construction management. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in technology studies later this month, Little will return to the Greensburg area to work for a local construction company.While commercial companies in larger cities annually recruit several FHSU graduates, Little decided on the residential construction route after working an internship last summer with a commercial building company.“I wanted to give commercial a try,” he said, “but I really take pride in my work in residential, and it seems more personal. I just really like helping people. I’ve always wanted to go back and make a difference in my community, and this gives me a chance to do that.”Little, who was 8 years old when the tornado nearly destroyed the town of about 850 residents, lived with his family in a FEMA trailer while his home was being rebuilt, so he got to watch firsthand the reconstruction of his town.He got his start in residential construction while working with his high school industrial technology instructor, Peter Kern, who rebuilt his family home in Greensburg. When the home was nearing completion, it was struck by lightning. One of the rooms caught on fire, and several rooms received smoke and water damage.“We had to gut the place, and start over,” Little said. “It sure wasn’t an ideal situation, but it definitely was a learning experience for me.”A Fort Hays State graduate himself, Kern is pleased that Little chose the construction industry – and Fort Hays State.“James is a rock star,” Kern said. “He is conscientious and takes pride in his work. I couldn’t think of a better representative for our high school here at Fort Hays State. Now, we’ll have another FHSU graduate out in the workforce.”Little and Kern were reunited last month when Kern brought his students from Kiowa County High School to the 62nd annual Western Kansas Technology Education Fair at FHSU.Little served as a judge’s assistant at the fair, and he was proud of the projects his high school displayed. Kiowa County senior Logan Rugg won two of the most prestigious awards at the fair. He was awarded the Ed Davis Award given for the most outstanding production entry for his walnut china cabinet. He also won the Fred Ruda Legacy Award, a people’s choice award for the fair’s favorite project. Coincidentally, Little also won two of the top awards at the tech fair as a high school senior back in 2017.“The technology fair was one of the favorite parts of the school year in high school,” Little said. “It was always nice to show off the quality work we can produce out of our school.”Like Kiowa County’s Kern, instructors for programs that won the other three main overall awards this year are FHSU graduates. Students of Brent Kerr from Ness City Junior/Senior High School won the Dennis McKee Award (multi-pupil) for their tiny house project. Hays High School senior Tyree Turnbull (instructor Chris Dinkel) won the Richard Cain Award as the winner of the communication contest. USD 399-Natoma High School and Paradise Junior High (instructor Chris Broeckelman) won the Ross Beach Sr. Award for outstanding program of the year.“Hard-working, dedicated applied technology students make hard-working, dedicated industrial technology teachers,” said Kim Stewart, chair of FHSU’s Department of Applied Technology. “Many of our past graduates support the FHSU technology fair, and we appreciate the opportunity to bring programs together and share ideas.” &nbsp;Last year’s fair was canceled because of the pandemic. Even though they knew numbers would probably be down this year, faculty in the Department of Applied Technology decided to go ahead with the 2021 fair.“We adhered to protocols with wearing masks, social distancing, and hand sanitizing,” said Kim Stewart, department chair. “We decided we were going to make it work. It was great to see kids on campus.”Students from 15 middle and high schools brought their projects to Gross Memorial Coliseum for display, and students also participated in a quiz bowl competition, metric 500, problem-solving competition, communication contest, and STEM Display.“This is such an excellent way for middle and high school students to showcase the work they have done throughout the year,” said Eric Deneault, associate professor of applied technology. “This is all about the students and their dedicated instructors. I’m really glad we were able to have the fair this year.”

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