<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727471481542.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

TMP-Marian (2-1, 2-1 MCL) vs Stanton Co. (0-3, 0-2 HPL) Friday, September 27- 7 p.m. Phillipsburg, Kan. – Panther Field Radio:&nbsp;KHAZ (99.5)&nbsp;<a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Monarchs Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1267941">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The TMP-Marian Monarchs return home Friday night for a week four district matchup with Stanton County.

The Monarchs are 2-1 after a win over Phillipsburg last week.&nbsp;

Stanton County is 0-3 to open the season after a loss to Ellinwood.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Live
coverage includes The Monarchs Sports Network and radio.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575411582384.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TMP-Marian (2-1, 2-1 MCL) vs Stanton Co. (0-3, 0-2 HPL) Friday, September 27- 7 p.m. Phillipsburg, Kan. – Panther Field Radio:&nbsp;KHAZ (99.5)&nbsp;<a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Monarchs Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1267941">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The TMP-Marian Monarchs return home Friday night for a week four district matchup with Stanton County.The Monarchs are 2-1 after a win over Phillipsburg last week.&nbsp;Stanton County is 0-3 to open the season after a loss to Ellinwood.Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Live
coverage includes The Monarchs Sports Network and radio.

🏈🎥 TMP opens district play with homecoming against Stanton Co.

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Trick or Treat so Others Can Eat organizer Shaina Prough.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VNU1-KpijY0?si=FcLQosZxo0_1jn6O" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Trick or Treat so Others Can Eat organizer Shaina Prough.

🎤Forward Ever: Trick or Treat so Others Can Eat organizer Shaina Prough

Hays High (1-2, 0-0 WAC) vs Garden City (1-2, 0-0) Friday, September 27- 7 p.m. Garden City, Kan. – Buffalo Stadium Radio:&nbsp;KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Hays High Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1267881">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The Hays High Indians open up WAC play on the road against the rival Buffaloes in a battle of a pair of 2-1 teams.&nbsp;

Hays is coming off a loss to Manhattan last week and Garden City slid past Wichita Heights for a one-point win.&nbsp;

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Central Time. Live coverage includes The Hays High Sports Network and radio.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694699014932.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hays High (1-2, 0-0 WAC) vs Garden City (1-2, 0-0) Friday, September 27- 7 p.m. Garden City, Kan. – Buffalo Stadium Radio:&nbsp;KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Hays High Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1267881">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>The Hays High Indians open up WAC play on the road against the rival Buffaloes in a battle of a pair of 2-1 teams.&nbsp;Hays is coming off a loss to Manhattan last week and Garden City slid past Wichita Heights for a one-point win.&nbsp;Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Central Time. Live coverage includes The Hays High Sports Network and radio.

🏈🎥 Hays opens WAC play at Garden City

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 approved the construction of a new concession stand/bathroom building for the new middle school/JV field at Monday's meeting.

Vogts Construction will be the contractor for the project, which will cost $753,700. HTK Architects will receive $68,700 for design, bidding and construction administration.

"This is a project we've been talking about for a while and a project that is long overdue," Superintendent Ron Wilson said.

The high school is currently using the field as a practice field. However, the middle school will move into the former high school building when the new high school is completed.

That field will also used for soccer practice and games, as well as middle school band practice.

There are no bathrooms available for that field now. When it is used, people usually have to use restrooms inside of the high school, which is "quite a haul," Wilson said.

The district budgeted $800,000 for the structure from its capital outlay fund.

Local school groups can run and keep the funds sold at the concession stand. When the high school leases Lewis Field at Fort Hays State University, it receives none of the proceeds from the concessions.

Wilson said a new concession stand is also part of the new varsity high school field, and school groups will also be able to benefit from sales at that location.

The middle school building will not be a storm shelter.

Board member Derek Yarmer said he had concerns with the project's cost.&nbsp;

He asked why the middle school students couldn't use the high school varsity field.

Wilson said the varsity field will be used for high school practice and games almost every night.

"I don't think it's that expensive," Wilson said. "The second thing is, I take a lot of pride in how our facilities look, and I think our community does as well. I don't think this is extraordinary in any way. It has no architectural features in any way. It's just brick."

Yarmer said he thought the building should have been metal.

He suggested that any money saved on this building could be used to improve the other district schools being renovated as part of the bond projects.

Board member Ken Brooks said he did not think the district would save significant money by building a metal building instead of a brick building.

Yarmer said, "It's a building that gets used a handful of times per year that has no academic value to the students."

"You're spending three-quarters of a million dollars on a place to tinkle," he said. "It seems like a bad use of funds."

The building will be on the northwest side of the field on the home side.&nbsp;

Board member Allen Park said he was also concerned about the project's cost.&nbsp;

Board Vice-President Jayme Goetz said during the Maroon and Gold Scrimmage, two women in their 70s had to be driven across the parking lot to the high school because the field did not have accessible bathrooms.

The motion to approve the project passed 4-3, with Yarmer, Park and Board President Curt Vajnar voting against it.

Wilson said the district hoped to have the building finished for use by the time spring sports begin.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727464059466.png" alt="A conceptual drawing of the new middle school/JV field bathrooms and concession stand. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>A conceptual drawing of the new middle school/JV field bathrooms and concession stand. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 approved the construction of a new concession stand/bathroom building for the new middle school/JV field at Monday's meeting.Vogts Construction will be the contractor for the project, which will cost $753,700. HTK Architects will receive $68,700 for design, bidding and construction administration."This is a project we've been talking about for a while and a project that is long overdue," Superintendent Ron Wilson said.The high school is currently using the field as a practice field. However, the middle school will move into the former high school building when the new high school is completed.That field will also used for soccer practice and games, as well as middle school band practice.There are no bathrooms available for that field now. When it is used, people usually have to use restrooms inside of the high school, which is "quite a haul," Wilson said.The district budgeted $800,000 for the structure from its capital outlay fund.Local school groups can run and keep the funds sold at the concession stand. When the high school leases Lewis Field at Fort Hays State University, it receives none of the proceeds from the concessions.Wilson said a new concession stand is also part of the new varsity high school field, and school groups will also be able to benefit from sales at that location.The middle school building will not be a storm shelter.Board member Derek Yarmer said he had concerns with the project's cost.&nbsp;He asked why the middle school students couldn't use the high school varsity field.Wilson said the varsity field will be used for high school practice and games almost every night."I don't think it's that expensive," Wilson said. "The second thing is, I take a lot of pride in how our facilities look, and I think our community does as well. I don't think this is extraordinary in any way. It has no architectural features in any way. It's just brick."Yarmer said he thought the building should have been metal.He suggested that any money saved on this building could be used to improve the other district schools being renovated as part of the bond projects.Board member Ken Brooks said he did not think the district would save significant money by building a metal building instead of a brick building.Yarmer said, "It's a building that gets used a handful of times per year that has no academic value to the students.""You're spending three-quarters of a million dollars on a place to tinkle," he said. "It seems like a bad use of funds."The building will be on the northwest side of the field on the home side.&nbsp;Board member Allen Park said he was also concerned about the project's cost.&nbsp;Board Vice-President Jayme Goetz said during the Maroon and Gold Scrimmage, two women in their 70s had to be driven across the parking lot to the high school because the field did not have accessible bathrooms.The motion to approve the project passed 4-3, with Yarmer, Park and Board President Curt Vajnar voting against it.Wilson said the district hoped to have the building finished for use by the time spring sports begin.

Hays USD 489 to build concession stand, bathrooms for middle school field

Photos By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post<figure>
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📷  Photo gallery: FHSU Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration 2024

Park ranger Jeff Tully presented the lecture "Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park: A Brief History" as part of the month-long "Sorting Out Race" speaker series on Tuesday at the Hays Public Library.

The case known as Brown v. Board of Education is the Supreme Court decision that ended segregation in U.S. public schools on May 17, 1954.

When it ruled, the Supreme Court considered cases from five lawsuits filed by lower courts in Kansas, Delaware, South Carolina, the District of Columbia, and Virginia.

The court ruled that separate but equal conditions for students violated the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.

The case was named for plaintiff father Oliver Brown, who was one of 13 families who sued the Topeka school board to allow their children to attend white schools in Kansas' capital.

One of the all-Black Topeka schools, Monroe Elementary School, is a National Historic Park with an accompanying museum and visitor center that tells the story of U.S. segregation and the broader Civil Rights Movement.

Monroe school was built in 1927 and was one of four all-Black elementary schools in Topeka. The schools included students in grades first through eighth grades.

However, the battle for and against civil rights dates back much farther in the history of the U.S. and Kansas.

As Kansas was being settled, factions for and against slavery engaged in violent clashes. This period is known as Bleeding Kansas. Kansas entered the Union as a free state shortly before the Civil War erupted across the country.

In 1879, Kansas enacted a statute that would allow first-class cities to operate separate elementary schools for Black children.

Tully said the first-class city designation was likely influenced by an influx of Black families settling in Kansas after the Civil War. Some of these families, known as Exodusters, settled in the Nicodemus community, which also has a National Historic Site.

To understand the Brown ruling, you must go back to the Plessy v. Ferguson case of 1892. The Separate Car Act of Louisana required separate train cars for Black and white passengers.&nbsp;

Homer Plessy, who was one-eighth Black, was arrested in New Orleans for refusing to move from a train car that was reserved for white passengers.

In 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation laws did not violate the U.S. Constitution as long as the facilities for each race were equal in quality. The doctrine became known as separate but equal.

The first all Black Monroe school was constructed in Topeka in 1892.

"While Topeka was not a Jim Crow city or segregated in all aspects of life," Tully said, "most restaurants, hotels and other public places were segregated in practice but not by law."

By 1950, 12 cities in Kansas had segregated schools.

In Topeka, the four Black elementary schools were built to the same standards as the white elementary schools. However, the inequity was having to attend a Black school even if you lived across the street from a white school, Tully said.

Eleven other cases had been filled in Kansas concerning segregated schools before Brown v. Board.

"But with Brown v. Board, for the first time, they looked at the constitutionality of segregation. Was segregation legally allowed in the United States? Was it a violation of the Fifth Amendment—due process— and the Fourteenth Amendment—equal protection clause?" Tully said.

The NAACP legal defense fund became involved in the case.

In 1950, 21 states had segregated schools.

Once the Supreme Court issued the Brown v. Board decision, the Justices realized that they had not established a timeline for school desegregation. So, they came back the next year with a decision that said desegregation should happen "with all deliberate speed."

Topeka began integrating its schools in 1953, and by 1955, the school district was almost fully integrated. However, many schools took much longer, especially in the South.

In Summerton, South Carolina, the elementary schools were not fully integrated until 1966, and the high school until 1970.

The school district was closed entirely for five years in Farmville, Virginia.

"Children were 22 years old when they were graduating from high school," Tully said.

Events that followed the Brown decision included:

• Rosa Parks • Civil Rights Act of 1957 • March on Washington in 1963 • Equal Pay Act of 1963 • 16th Street Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963 • Civil Rights Act of 1964 • Selma to Montgomery March in 1965 • Voting Rights Act of 1965 • Fair Housing Act of 1968

"All of these were attempts to dismantle the rest of separate but equal in the United States," Tully said.

Monroe school closed in 1975. The building had a variety of owners after its closure as a school.&nbsp;

In the 1990s, the Brown Foundation for Educational Excellence and Research, led by Oliver Brown's daughter, Cheryl Brown Henderson, created a nonprofit foundation to save the school. It was the last of the former Black school buildings still standing in Topeka.

"There was a real threat that the school was going to be demolished, and they were going to create U-Stor-Its on the land on which that school was located," Tully said.

The Trust for Public Land purchased the building in 1991. In 1992, it became a National Historic Site, and in 1993, the school's title was conveyed to the National Parks Service.

It took about nine years to transform the building shell into a museum and visitor center, which includes a restored kindergarten classroom. The renovated building had its grand opening in 2004.

The school hosts a quarterly naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens and recently conducted a Monroe school reunion for students, teachers, staff and others with connections to the school in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision.

In 2022, President Biden took all of the sites in the five states that were part of the Brown v. Board Supreme Court case and combined them into a multi-state national park with the Topeka Monroe school still being the main site.

After Brown v. Board legally ended segregation, attempts to keep the races apart still occurred.

Children, especially in the South, were pulled out of public schools and placed in private schools. After Brown, homeschooling popularity increased, Tully said.

<a href="https://www.nps.gov/brvb/index.htm">You can find more about the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park on the park's website, including details about visiting the Topeka site.</a>

A fifth lecture in the "Sorting Out Race" series was added at 3 p.m. on Oct. 22 in Albertson Hall, Room 169, on the Fort Hays State University campus. Cornel Pewewardy, associate professor of political science at the University of Central Oklahoma and former vice-chairman of the Comanche Nation, will present "Seeing Red: The Construction of the Indian in American Popular Culture and Sports."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727384022524.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostPark ranger Jeff Tully presented the lecture "Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park: A Brief History" as part of the month-long "Sorting Out Race" speaker series on Tuesday at the Hays Public Library.The case known as Brown v. Board of Education is the Supreme Court decision that ended segregation in U.S. public schools on May 17, 1954.When it ruled, the Supreme Court considered cases from five lawsuits filed by lower courts in Kansas, Delaware, South Carolina, the District of Columbia, and Virginia.The court ruled that separate but equal conditions for students violated the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727384224960.jpeg" alt="Some of the Topeka plaintiffs and their children in the Brown v. Board of Education case. Father Oliver Brown, back row, was for whom the case was named. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Some of the Topeka plaintiffs and their children in the Brown v. Board of Education case. Father Oliver Brown, back row, was for whom the case was named. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>The case was named for plaintiff father Oliver Brown, who was one of 13 families who sued the Topeka school board to allow their children to attend white schools in Kansas' capital.One of the all-Black Topeka schools, Monroe Elementary School, is a National Historic Park with an accompanying museum and visitor center that tells the story of U.S. segregation and the broader Civil Rights Movement.Monroe school was built in 1927 and was one of four all-Black elementary schools in Topeka. The schools included students in grades first through eighth grades.However, the battle for and against civil rights dates back much farther in the history of the U.S. and Kansas.As Kansas was being settled, factions for and against slavery engaged in violent clashes. This period is known as Bleeding Kansas. Kansas entered the Union as a free state shortly before the Civil War erupted across the country.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727384381581.jpeg" alt="All of the first-class cities in Kansas in which school segregation was legal. Courtesy image." />
 <figcaption>All of the first-class cities in Kansas in which school segregation was legal. Courtesy image.</figcaption>
 </figure>In 1879, Kansas enacted a statute that would allow first-class cities to operate separate elementary schools for Black children.Tully said the first-class city designation was likely influenced by an influx of Black families settling in Kansas after the Civil War. Some of these families, known as Exodusters, settled in the Nicodemus community, which also has a National Historic Site.To understand the Brown ruling, you must go back to the Plessy v. Ferguson case of 1892. The Separate Car Act of Louisana required separate train cars for Black and white passengers.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727384558128.jpeg" alt="The Supreme Court established a separate but equal doctrine in the Plessy v. Ferguson case. This is exhibited by the separate accommodations for Black and white residents, as seen by the benches designated for "colored" residents. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>The Supreme Court established a separate but equal doctrine in the Plessy v. Ferguson case. This is exhibited by the separate accommodations for Black and white residents, as seen by the benches designated for "colored" residents. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>Homer Plessy, who was one-eighth Black, was arrested in New Orleans for refusing to move from a train car that was reserved for white passengers.In 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation laws did not violate the U.S. Constitution as long as the facilities for each race were equal in quality. The doctrine became known as separate but equal.The first all Black Monroe school was constructed in Topeka in 1892.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727384676612.jpeg" alt="Although most places in Topeka were not segregated legally, they were in practice, Jeff Tully of the National Parks Service said. This is a photo of a meeting of the KKK in Topeka. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Although most places in Topeka were not segregated legally, they were in practice, Jeff Tully of the National Parks Service said. This is a photo of a meeting of the KKK in Topeka. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>"While Topeka was not a Jim Crow city or segregated in all aspects of life," Tully said, "most restaurants, hotels and other public places were segregated in practice but not by law."By 1950, 12 cities in Kansas had segregated schools.In Topeka, the four Black elementary schools were built to the same standards as the white elementary schools. However, the inequity was having to attend a Black school even if you lived across the street from a white school, Tully said.Eleven other cases had been filled in Kansas concerning segregated schools before Brown v. Board."But with Brown v. Board, for the first time, they looked at the constitutionality of segregation. Was segregation legally allowed in the United States? Was it a violation of the Fifth Amendment—due process— and the Fourteenth Amendment—equal protection clause?" Tully said.The NAACP legal defense fund became involved in the case.In 1950, 21 states had segregated schools.Once the Supreme Court issued the Brown v. Board decision, the Justices realized that they had not established a timeline for school desegregation. So, they came back the next year with a decision that said desegregation should happen "with all deliberate speed."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727384929379.jpeg" alt="Jeff Tully of the National Parks Service presents a lecture Tuesday night at the Hays Public Library on the history of Brown v. Board of Education and the National Historic Park in Topeka. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Jeff Tully of the National Parks Service presents a lecture Tuesday night at the Hays Public Library on the history of Brown v. Board of Education and the National Historic Park in Topeka. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Topeka began integrating its schools in 1953, and by 1955, the school district was almost fully integrated. However, many schools took much longer, especially in the South.In Summerton, South Carolina, the elementary schools were not fully integrated until 1966, and the high school until 1970.The school district was closed entirely for five years in Farmville, Virginia."Children were 22 years old when they were graduating from high school," Tully said.Events that followed the Brown decision included:• Rosa Parks • Civil Rights Act of 1957 • March on Washington in 1963 • Equal Pay Act of 1963 • 16th Street Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963 • Civil Rights Act of 1964 • Selma to Montgomery March in 1965 • Voting Rights Act of 1965 • Fair Housing Act of 1968"All of these were attempts to dismantle the rest of separate but equal in the United States," Tully said.Monroe school closed in 1975. The building had a variety of owners after its closure as a school.&nbsp;In the 1990s, the Brown Foundation for Educational Excellence and Research, led by Oliver Brown's daughter, Cheryl Brown Henderson, created a nonprofit foundation to save the school. It was the last of the former Black school buildings still standing in Topeka."There was a real threat that the school was going to be demolished, and they were going to create U-Stor-Its on the land on which that school was located," Tully said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727385069465.jpeg" alt="Audience members listen to Jeff Tully of the National Parks Service speak on the Brown v. Board of Education National Park Tuesday at the Hays Public Library. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Audience members listen to Jeff Tully of the National Parks Service speak on the Brown v. Board of Education National Park Tuesday at the Hays Public Library. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The Trust for Public Land purchased the building in 1991. In 1992, it became a National Historic Site, and in 1993, the school's title was conveyed to the National Parks Service.It took about nine years to transform the building shell into a museum and visitor center, which includes a restored kindergarten classroom. The renovated building had its grand opening in 2004.The school hosts a quarterly naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens and recently conducted a Monroe school reunion for students, teachers, staff and others with connections to the school in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727385172564.jpeg" alt="A former Monroe Elementary School student stands next to a photo of her class taken in the 1940s during a school reunion at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>A former Monroe Elementary School student stands next to a photo of her class taken in the 1940s during a school reunion at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>In 2022, President Biden took all of the sites in the five states that were part of the Brown v. Board Supreme Court case and combined them into a multi-state national park with the Topeka Monroe school still being the main site.After Brown v. Board legally ended segregation, attempts to keep the races apart still occurred.Children, especially in the South, were pulled out of public schools and placed in private schools. After Brown, homeschooling popularity increased, Tully said.<a href="https://www.nps.gov/brvb/index.htm">You can find more about the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park on the park's website, including details about visiting the Topeka site.</a>A fifth lecture in the "Sorting Out Race" series was added at 3 p.m. on Oct. 22 in Albertson Hall, Room 169, on the Fort Hays State University campus. Cornel Pewewardy, associate professor of political science at the University of Central Oklahoma and former vice-chairman of the Comanche Nation, will present "Seeing Red: The Construction of the Indian in American Popular Culture and Sports."

Hays speaker addresses Brown v. Board's place in Civil Rights Movement

Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau

Kansas Tourism awarded $102,500 in Tourism Marketing Grants last week, with Hays being a recipient in two tourism collaborations.

The Kansas Gunsmoke Trail was awarded $9,800 for its multi-city road trip inviting visitors to Kansas to “Follow the Gunsmoke Trail.”

Convention and Visitors Bureaus in Wichita, Abilene, Hays, and Dodge City unveiled the collaborative tourism campaign this spring. The itinerary provides fans of Gunsmoke, the Emmy award-winning primetime Western that entertained audiences for 20 years, an opportunity to travel around Kansas and see cities referenced in the show.

Hays CVB Director Melissa Dixon was in attendance for the Gunsmoke Trail check presentation in Dodge City on September 17 along with Dodge City CVB Director Megan Welsh and Abilene CVB Director Julie Roller-Weeks.

“We appreciate the level of support we receive from both Kansas Commerce and Kansas Tourism to take our visitor recruitment to the next level,” said Dixon.

Meet Kansas was awarded $10,000 to host an event with meeting planners featuring networking, presentations, and tours.

Meet Kansas is a collaboration of Destination Marketing Organizations from across the state who have banded together to promote Kansas to event, meeting, and business retreat&nbsp;planners.

Hays CVB Convention Sales Manager Janet Kuhn serves as the president of Meet Kansas and was present with Great Bend CVB Director Christina Hayes to accept the check in Great Bend on September 18.

Funding for Kansas Tourism grants, including the Tourism Marketing Grant, is provided by the Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) that is derived from state lottery proceeds.

Hays Convention and Visitors BureauKansas Tourism awarded $102,500 in Tourism Marketing Grants last week, with Hays being a recipient in two tourism collaborations.The Kansas Gunsmoke Trail was awarded $9,800 for its multi-city road trip inviting visitors to Kansas to “Follow the Gunsmoke Trail.”Convention and Visitors Bureaus in Wichita, Abilene, Hays, and Dodge City unveiled the collaborative tourism campaign this spring. The itinerary provides fans of Gunsmoke, the Emmy award-winning primetime Western that entertained audiences for 20 years, an opportunity to travel around Kansas and see cities referenced in the show.Hays CVB Director Melissa Dixon was in attendance for the Gunsmoke Trail check presentation in Dodge City on September 17 along with Dodge City CVB Director Megan Welsh and Abilene CVB Director Julie Roller-Weeks.“We appreciate the level of support we receive from both Kansas Commerce and Kansas Tourism to take our visitor recruitment to the next level,” said Dixon.Meet Kansas was awarded $10,000 to host an event with meeting planners featuring networking, presentations, and tours.Meet Kansas is a collaboration of Destination Marketing Organizations from across the state who have banded together to promote Kansas to event, meeting, and business retreat&nbsp;planners.Hays CVB Convention Sales Manager Janet Kuhn serves as the president of Meet Kansas and was present with Great Bend CVB Director Christina Hayes to accept the check in Great Bend on September 18.Funding for Kansas Tourism grants, including the Tourism Marketing Grant, is provided by the Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) that is derived from state lottery proceeds.

Hays collaborations awarded $19,800 in Tourism Marketing Grants

Kansas farms have expanded their operations and are now bigger than ever, which has led to an economic boom. But that also means fewer farmers, and that has contributed to depopulation in rural parts of the state that were socially isolated to begin with.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hppr.org/people/calen-moore">CALEN MOORE</a> <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/kansasnewsservice">Kansas News Service</a>

LARNED —&nbsp;Tom Giessel vividly remembers growing up in the 1960s as a Kansas farm kid on the High Plains.

In his memories, this place that some refer to as “<a href="https://www.kcur.org/community/2018-02-23/kansas-has-4-of-10-most-middle-of-nowhere-towns-in-u-s-says-big-east-coast-paper" target="_blank">the middle of nowhere</a>” was teeming with life. It was a place where nature and his family interacted directly.

He viewed farming as integrated. There were different kinds of livestock, siblings and grandparents and neighbors. There were native wildlife and other critters that also played a role on the farm.

“I always said the health of a farm is directly related to how many beating hearts are on that farm,” Giessel said. “That translates into creating community.”

But that’s not what a lot of Kansas farms look like today.

Kansas farms are more specialized, sticking to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/kansas-agriculture" target="_blank">large-scale farming of one or two commodity crops.</a>&nbsp;There are government incentives for these crops, and bigger farms get more&nbsp;<a href="https://kansaspolicy.org/whats-going-on-with-the-federal-farm-bill/" target="_blank">federal dollars</a>.

That economic efficiency might actually be hurting smaller towns, exacerbating some of the health challenges rural Kansans already face. Larger farms push out smaller farms and lead to less people staying in a community. With less people there’s less resources for them like hospitals and schools.

The changes have happened over years, a period that also saw death by suicide rates rise in rural areas

Mental health access is already hard to come by in western Kansas, but suicide rates are even higher if you work in agriculture.

At Giessel’s secluded farmhouse, he and his wife Cheryl are miles from town, and without each other it could get lonely. Giessel walks down his narrow hallway where he has collected historical farming mementos.

After farming most of his life, Giessel is starting to ask himself and others why Kansans farm. He fears that the shifting answers have been detrimental to rural communities.

After taking over pieces of his parents' land, and renting some land, Giessel and his brother formed a partnership and expanded their operation, wanting to see it grow. He remembers the feeling of competition, wanting to keep up with the changing environment around him.

But now, he is more concerned about the health of farmers, and sees them more as an exploited worker. Even down to the language used to refer to them as “producers.”

“That’s why my business card still just says ‘Tom Giessel, Farmer’ because now we just say producers, which is really impersonal,” Giessel said. “It desensitizes you to what you do.”

As Kansas has embraced grain production and beef production, the costly equipment needed to farm at such a large scale tends to make the distance between your neighbors further.

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38250797/" target="_blank">A study</a>&nbsp;by the Journal of Agromedicine found that in Kansas, farm workers are three times more likely to die by suicide than other professions. The financial pressures, stress, and social isolation are driving factors.

Tim Davis, rural mental health expert at Fort Hays State University, said this is one of the aspects that has undermined mental health in rural communities.

“What we have today is not agriculture, what we have is agribusiness,” Davis said. “It's a much different mindset, because it's no longer kind of that ‘we're in this together’ mentality."

Davis also grew up on a farm in northwest Kansas. He thinks that outside of access to mental health services, the culture surrounding farming also stresses other rural mental health challenges.

“People are more focused on the individual. There's good in that. There's perseverance, but our communities have atrophied,” Davis said. “One of the reasons is because we have kind of lost the interdependence that we have on each other.”

Farm consolidation usually refers to the term “corporate farming” which is when ag corporations buy up farm land.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/AgNatlResources/KansasCorporateFarming.pdf" target="_blank">But Kansas actually has had laws</a>&nbsp;that prevent corporations owning land since 1931.

The law prohibited corporate farming for the purpose of growing various grains and the milking of cows. But today more&nbsp;<a href="https://nffc.net/what-we-do/dairy-crisis/" target="_blank">small dairies are going out of business</a>. So what changed?

The law has since seen heavy amendments. In the 1990s, “family farm corporations” and “family farm limited liability agricultural companies” could own and acquire farm land.

Before the dust bowl, there were over 166,000 farms across the state. Today, there are about 55,000.

The average size of a farm has increased by 40% since Giessel first started farming his own land.

This has allowed farms to focus on fewer things, going from raising multiple types of livestock and growing different crops, to growing mostly commodity crops at a large scale.

But large farms are more of a byproduct of the current farming system.

Mark Nelson is the director of commodities for the Kansas Farm Bureau, which represents small and large farms. From a business perspective, he said farmers operate on a margin, and it makes sense to get bigger.

“That farmer who can increase acres,” he said, “the ones who can better do that succeed.”

Farming in Kansas comes with huge costs. Nelson said there is some pressure to expand your farm operation to keep up with the costs of equipment like tractors and weed management.

Larger farms make more money, and if you want your business to succeed, you will need to produce more grain.

<a href="https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/farm-subsidies-encourage-big-get-bigger/" target="_blank">According to a report from the Economic Research Service</a>, federal subsidies to farms are increasingly going to larger farms, thus supporting the cycle of the big getting bigger.

“The big get bigger, the small get smaller or they get pushed out,” executive director for the Kansas Farmers Union, Nick Levendofsky, said.

Levendofsky’s priority is supporting farmers, especially disadvantaged ones like small, new or minority farmers.

The average age for farmers in Kansas is almost 60, and as large farm operations pop up around aging farmers, the pressure to compete or sell your land can weigh heavy.

Levendofsky said giving up land that has been with you for multiple generations can feel like losing a member of your family.

In western Kansas, counties with the largest farms are projected to see population losses in the next 70 years according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cedbr.org/population-projections-2" target="_blank">economists at Wichita State University.</a>

Social isolation has been linked to serious health conditions like depression, dementia, and increased risk of heart failure.

Mary Hendrickson is a rural sociologist at the University of Missouri. She has spent the last 25 years studying the effects of food production consolidation on small towns.

Some of the other negative mental health impacts come from how workers engage in their operations today, sitting alone in a tractor or studying spreadsheets.

“It's different now, when you have much more repetitive work,” Hendrickson said. “It has its roots in what happened with the consolidation of agriculture, with the structure of agriculture.”

Hendrickson said that the consolidation of food production leads to fewer choices for farmers.

According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://farmaction.us/concentrationdata/" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;she was a part of, just four companies control the market share of major aspects of the industry including beef production, seeds and fertilizer.

Hendrickson also thinks a loss of relationships is inevitable with this kind of consolidation.

“The economic relationships start to span larger distances, and so you start to also lose some of those social relationships,” Hendrickson said.

In order to slow the expansion of farms, both Hendrickson and Nelson agreed that communities need to be more present in dictating what their local agriculture looks like. Supporting local farmers, both with business and with providing health services would make a difference.

Especially since a lot of children are no longer inheriting the family farm. Kansas State University estimates that about<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/kansas-agricultural-lease-law_C668.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;half of Kansas farmland is rented</a>. When land is rented, the health of that land usually comes second to its profit.

But Hendrickson and other policy analysts say that local communities can only make a limited amount of progress. Long-term changes would need to come at a federal level like the farm bill.

Those policies can change what is incentivized, and how smaller Kansas farms could thrive. It echoes the words that Farmer Giessel wrote.

Back at the kitchen table in Larned, Giessel’s wife, Cheryl, lovingly read from an essay he’d written years ago.

“We are not called to isolation, rather, we are called to be good neighbors and cultivate connections,” Cheryl said.

Calen Moore covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can email him at&nbsp;cmoore@hppr.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726868740369.png" alt="Retired farmer Tom Giessel, Larned, shows off some of his farming history memorabilia. He pointed out an old Farmer’s Union photo because he likes how there were a surprising amount of women represented. Photo by Calen Moore/Kansas News Service&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Retired farmer Tom Giessel, Larned, shows off some of his farming history memorabilia. He pointed out an old Farmer’s Union photo because he likes how there were a surprising amount of women represented. Photo by Calen Moore/Kansas News Service&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Kansas farms have expanded their operations and are now bigger than ever, which has led to an economic boom. But that also means fewer farmers, and that has contributed to depopulation in rural parts of the state that were socially isolated to begin with.</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hppr.org/people/calen-moore">CALEN MOORE</a> <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/kansasnewsservice">Kansas News Service</a>LARNED —&nbsp;Tom Giessel vividly remembers growing up in the 1960s as a Kansas farm kid on the High Plains.In his memories, this place that some refer to as “<a href="https://www.kcur.org/community/2018-02-23/kansas-has-4-of-10-most-middle-of-nowhere-towns-in-u-s-says-big-east-coast-paper" target="_blank">the middle of nowhere</a>” was teeming with life. It was a place where nature and his family interacted directly.He viewed farming as integrated. There were different kinds of livestock, siblings and grandparents and neighbors. There were native wildlife and other critters that also played a role on the farm.“I always said the health of a farm is directly related to how many beating hearts are on that farm,” Giessel said. “That translates into creating community.”But that’s not what a lot of Kansas farms look like today.Kansas farms are more specialized, sticking to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/kansas-agriculture" target="_blank">large-scale farming of one or two commodity crops.</a>&nbsp;There are government incentives for these crops, and bigger farms get more&nbsp;<a href="https://kansaspolicy.org/whats-going-on-with-the-federal-farm-bill/" target="_blank">federal dollars</a>.That economic efficiency might actually be hurting smaller towns, exacerbating some of the health challenges rural Kansans already face. Larger farms push out smaller farms and lead to less people staying in a community. With less people there’s less resources for them like hospitals and schools.The changes have happened over years, a period that also saw death by suicide rates rise in rural areasMental health access is already hard to come by in western Kansas, but suicide rates are even higher if you work in agriculture.Agriculture to AgribusinessAt Giessel’s secluded farmhouse, he and his wife Cheryl are miles from town, and without each other it could get lonely. Giessel walks down his narrow hallway where he has collected historical farming mementos.After farming most of his life, Giessel is starting to ask himself and others why Kansans farm. He fears that the shifting answers have been detrimental to rural communities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726868900081.png" alt="Giessel and his wife, Cheryl, reflect in their quiet backyard. Their isolated farmhouse is quieter than it used to be, as many of their friends and neighbors sold their farms and followed their children to urban areas. Photo by Calen Moore/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Giessel and his wife, Cheryl, reflect in their quiet backyard. Their isolated farmhouse is quieter than it used to be, as many of their friends and neighbors sold their farms and followed their children to urban areas. Photo by Calen Moore/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>After taking over pieces of his parents' land, and renting some land, Giessel and his brother formed a partnership and expanded their operation, wanting to see it grow. He remembers the feeling of competition, wanting to keep up with the changing environment around him.But now, he is more concerned about the health of farmers, and sees them more as an exploited worker. Even down to the language used to refer to them as “producers.”“That’s why my business card still just says ‘Tom Giessel, Farmer’ because now we just say producers, which is really impersonal,” Giessel said. “It desensitizes you to what you do.”As Kansas has embraced grain production and beef production, the costly equipment needed to farm at such a large scale tends to make the distance between your neighbors further.<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38250797/" target="_blank">A study</a>&nbsp;by the Journal of Agromedicine found that in Kansas, farm workers are three times more likely to die by suicide than other professions. The financial pressures, stress, and social isolation are driving factors.Tim Davis, rural mental health expert at Fort Hays State University, said this is one of the aspects that has undermined mental health in rural communities.“What we have today is not agriculture, what we have is agribusiness,” Davis said. “It's a much different mindset, because it's no longer kind of that ‘we're in this together’ mentality."Davis also grew up on a farm in northwest Kansas. He thinks that outside of access to mental health services, the culture surrounding farming also stresses other rural mental health challenges.“People are more focused on the individual. There's good in that. There's perseverance, but our communities have atrophied,” Davis said. “One of the reasons is because we have kind of lost the interdependence that we have on each other.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726869248934.png" alt="This graph from the Kansas Health Institute shows how suicide rates in rural counties have risen compared with the rest of the state." />
 <figcaption>This graph from the Kansas Health Institute shows how suicide rates in rural counties have risen compared with the rest of the state.</figcaption>
 </figure>Why farms have expandedFarm consolidation usually refers to the term “corporate farming” which is when ag corporations buy up farm land.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/Publications/AgNatlResources/KansasCorporateFarming.pdf" target="_blank">But Kansas actually has had laws</a>&nbsp;that prevent corporations owning land since 1931.The law prohibited corporate farming for the purpose of growing various grains and the milking of cows. But today more&nbsp;<a href="https://nffc.net/what-we-do/dairy-crisis/" target="_blank">small dairies are going out of business</a>. So what changed?The law has since seen heavy amendments. In the 1990s, “family farm corporations” and “family farm limited liability agricultural companies” could own and acquire farm land.Before the dust bowl, there were over 166,000 farms across the state. Today, there are about 55,000.The average size of a farm has increased by 40% since Giessel first started farming his own land.This has allowed farms to focus on fewer things, going from raising multiple types of livestock and growing different crops, to growing mostly commodity crops at a large scale.But large farms are more of a byproduct of the current farming system.Mark Nelson is the director of commodities for the Kansas Farm Bureau, which represents small and large farms. From a business perspective, he said farmers operate on a margin, and it makes sense to get bigger.“That farmer who can increase acres,” he said, “the ones who can better do that succeed.”Farming in Kansas comes with huge costs. Nelson said there is some pressure to expand your farm operation to keep up with the costs of equipment like tractors and weed management.Larger farms make more money, and if you want your business to succeed, you will need to produce more grain.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726869374065.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/farm-subsidies-encourage-big-get-bigger/" target="_blank">According to a report from the Economic Research Service</a>, federal subsidies to farms are increasingly going to larger farms, thus supporting the cycle of the big getting bigger.“The big get bigger, the small get smaller or they get pushed out,” executive director for the Kansas Farmers Union, Nick Levendofsky, said.Levendofsky’s priority is supporting farmers, especially disadvantaged ones like small, new or minority farmers.The average age for farmers in Kansas is almost 60, and as large farm operations pop up around aging farmers, the pressure to compete or sell your land can weigh heavy.Levendofsky said giving up land that has been with you for multiple generations can feel like losing a member of your family.What this means for rural KansansIn western Kansas, counties with the largest farms are projected to see population losses in the next 70 years according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cedbr.org/population-projections-2" target="_blank">economists at Wichita State University.</a>Social isolation has been linked to serious health conditions like depression, dementia, and increased risk of heart failure.Mary Hendrickson is a rural sociologist at the University of Missouri. She has spent the last 25 years studying the effects of food production consolidation on small towns.Some of the other negative mental health impacts come from how workers engage in their operations today, sitting alone in a tractor or studying spreadsheets.“It's different now, when you have much more repetitive work,” Hendrickson said. “It has its roots in what happened with the consolidation of agriculture, with the structure of agriculture.”Hendrickson said that the consolidation of food production leads to fewer choices for farmers.According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://farmaction.us/concentrationdata/" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;she was a part of, just four companies control the market share of major aspects of the industry including beef production, seeds and fertilizer.Hendrickson also thinks a loss of relationships is inevitable with this kind of consolidation.“The economic relationships start to span larger distances, and so you start to also lose some of those social relationships,” Hendrickson said.In order to slow the expansion of farms, both Hendrickson and Nelson agreed that communities need to be more present in dictating what their local agriculture looks like. Supporting local farmers, both with business and with providing health services would make a difference.Especially since a lot of children are no longer inheriting the family farm. Kansas State University estimates that about<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/kansas-agricultural-lease-law_C668.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;half of Kansas farmland is rented</a>. When land is rented, the health of that land usually comes second to its profit.But Hendrickson and other policy analysts say that local communities can only make a limited amount of progress. Long-term changes would need to come at a federal level like the farm bill.Those policies can change what is incentivized, and how smaller Kansas farms could thrive. It echoes the words that Farmer Giessel wrote.Back at the kitchen table in Larned, Giessel’s wife, Cheryl, lovingly read from an essay he’d written years ago.“We are not called to isolation, rather, we are called to be good neighbors and cultivate connections,” Cheryl said.Calen Moore covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can email him at&nbsp;cmoore@hppr.org.

As Kansas farms grow bigger, more people leave and rural life gets lonelier

By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University President

As I conclude this five-part series on the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan at Fort Hays State University (FHSU), I want to proudly highlight our fifth and final strategic goal. This goal focuses on Community and Global Engagement and encapsulates our commitment to cultivating impactful partnerships that resonate within our institution and extend to our local, national, and global communities.

Our desired outcomes for this goal were to annually develop or enhance innovative partnerships that bolster community, regional, or state economic prosperity. Additionally, we aimed to meet all requirements for classification as a Carnegie Community Engaged university—an important reflection of FHSU’s mission to develop global citizen leaders.

As we reflect on our strides in delivering this outcome, I am invigorated by the transformative partnerships we continue to forge and the achievements that define our collective efforts. Our journey has been marked by resilience and innovation, from launching the Cybersecurity Institute and Technology Incubator (CITI) to establishing a Professional and Continuing Education Unit.

The Cybersecurity Institute and Technology Incubator, a direct response to the Kansas Board of Regents' (KBOR) call for higher education institutions to actively contribute to Kansas's economic prosperity, is a prime example of our responsiveness. Leveraging FHSU’s National Security Agency Center for Academic Excellence accreditation, CITI provides students with hands-on experiences through micro-internships and supports local businesses in improving their cybersecurity strategies.

Despite the expected challenges of establishing infrastructure and marketing, we remain unwavering in our commitment to the CITI initiative. Interim Dean of the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship Melissa Hunsicker-Walburn aptly stated, “The CITI initiative exemplifies our continued commitment to our mission and service area as an institution. We create impactful opportunities for students to learn while engaging with our communities and businesses to address the growing challenge of cyber threats and cybercrime.”

We also achieved a groundbreaking partnership between the Robbins Banking Institute and the Kansas Bankers Association, reinforcing our commitment to community engagement and educational excellence. Our strategic affiliations with two technical colleges—Fort Hays Tech Northwest and Fort Hays Tech North Central—further enhance our commitment to workforce development and addressing local economic needs.

Another notable achievement was establishing the first state-wide community college articulation agreement, guaranteeing all community college-trained registered nurses' admission to the nursing program. This agreement streamlines pathways for aspiring nurses and strengthens Kansas's healthcare workforce, illustrating our partnerships' profound impact on regional health outcomes.

In collaboration with the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, we launched an accelerated 3+4 pathway that enables our students to start their first year of medical school during their senior year at FHSU. This innovative pathway expedites the educational journey for future

healthcare professionals and exemplifies our commitment to producing well-prepared, engaged leaders in the medical field.

Our efforts extend to supporting criminal justice initiatives, with FHSU becoming the host site for the National De-escalation Training Center – Central Region. This designation allows us to provide critical training that equips law enforcement professionals and community leaders with essential skills, ultimately fostering safer communities.

As we explored Goal Five, the journey was not without obstacles. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges just months after initiating our Five-Year Strategic Plan. In response, we formed the Civic Learning and Engagement Advisory Board to navigate these unprecedented times. This board organically evolved into the Campus Community Collaborative (3C), now an active body focused on strengthening relationships and increasing programmatic bandwidth across our campus.

Unexpected successes during this time included our expanded institutional memberships in organizations like Imagining America (IA) and the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE). These memberships have opened new avenues for student scholarships, faculty professional development, and an enhanced culture of engagement on campus.

We are particularly grateful for Provost Arensdorf's unwavering dedication to making community engagement an institutional priority. This commitment resonates throughout our campus culture, encouraging faculty and staff to pursue initiatives that create a lasting impact on both students and the communities we serve.

A significant milestone was reached when FHSU submitted its application for the Leadership for Public Purpose elective classification for the Carnegie Foundation on December 15, 2023. On May 17, 2024, we were thrilled to learn that FHSU had been awarded this prestigious classification through 2030. This recognition places us among only 25 institutions nationwide and marks FHSU as the only university in Kansas to receive this distinction.

Receiving the Carnegie Foundation's Leadership for Public Purpose classification is a remarkable achievement and a testament to our consistent alignment with our mission. The foundation acknowledges universities that demonstrate their commitment to enhancing teaching, research, and service missions to develop leaders who engage with and serve the greater good. This classification validates the hard work and dedication the FHSU community has invested in cultivating partnerships and engaging with our diverse communities.

As we reflect on these accomplishments, I am filled with pride in our recognition and the authenticity of our mission. We are living out our commitment to developing global citizen leaders, evident in our work that transcends traditional boundaries. Our impact can be seen in Hays, across Kansas, and beyond.

As we progress through the final stage of our strategic plan, we remain committed to fostering innovative partnerships that drive regional educational and economic advancement. Our continuous growth in community engagement will only empower us to hone our strategies further and expand the programs that benefit our students and the communities we serve.

Our work within our communities will evolve, but our core focus will remain—supporting students, enhancing educational pathways, and comprehensively addressing community needs. As we look toward the future, we will persist in seizing opportunities to expand our reach and

deepen our engagement, ensuring that FHSU remains a leader in community and global partnerships.

This five-part series has illuminated the significant work that FHSU undertakes across all strategic goals, and Goal Five epitomizes our dedication to meaningful engagement. The profound partnerships and initiatives established reflect our values and commitment to education as a force for good. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this vital work. Together, we will continue to make a meaningful impact, inspiring and empowering future generations of global leaders.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University PresidentAs I conclude this five-part series on the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan at Fort Hays State University (FHSU), I want to proudly highlight our fifth and final strategic goal. This goal focuses on Community and Global Engagement and encapsulates our commitment to cultivating impactful partnerships that resonate within our institution and extend to our local, national, and global communities.Our desired outcomes for this goal were to annually develop or enhance innovative partnerships that bolster community, regional, or state economic prosperity. Additionally, we aimed to meet all requirements for classification as a Carnegie Community Engaged university—an important reflection of FHSU’s mission to develop global citizen leaders.As we reflect on our strides in delivering this outcome, I am invigorated by the transformative partnerships we continue to forge and the achievements that define our collective efforts. Our journey has been marked by resilience and innovation, from launching the Cybersecurity Institute and Technology Incubator (CITI) to establishing a Professional and Continuing Education Unit.The Cybersecurity Institute and Technology Incubator, a direct response to the Kansas Board of Regents' (KBOR) call for higher education institutions to actively contribute to Kansas's economic prosperity, is a prime example of our responsiveness. Leveraging FHSU’s National Security Agency Center for Academic Excellence accreditation, CITI provides students with hands-on experiences through micro-internships and supports local businesses in improving their cybersecurity strategies.Despite the expected challenges of establishing infrastructure and marketing, we remain unwavering in our commitment to the CITI initiative. Interim Dean of the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship Melissa Hunsicker-Walburn aptly stated, “The CITI initiative exemplifies our continued commitment to our mission and service area as an institution. We create impactful opportunities for students to learn while engaging with our communities and businesses to address the growing challenge of cyber threats and cybercrime.”We also achieved a groundbreaking partnership between the Robbins Banking Institute and the Kansas Bankers Association, reinforcing our commitment to community engagement and educational excellence. Our strategic affiliations with two technical colleges—Fort Hays Tech Northwest and Fort Hays Tech North Central—further enhance our commitment to workforce development and addressing local economic needs.Another notable achievement was establishing the first state-wide community college articulation agreement, guaranteeing all community college-trained registered nurses' admission to the nursing program. This agreement streamlines pathways for aspiring nurses and strengthens Kansas's healthcare workforce, illustrating our partnerships' profound impact on regional health outcomes.In collaboration with the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, we launched an accelerated 3+4 pathway that enables our students to start their first year of medical school during their senior year at FHSU. This innovative pathway expedites the educational journey for futurehealthcare professionals and exemplifies our commitment to producing well-prepared, engaged leaders in the medical field.Our efforts extend to supporting criminal justice initiatives, with FHSU becoming the host site for the National De-escalation Training Center – Central Region. This designation allows us to provide critical training that equips law enforcement professionals and community leaders with essential skills, ultimately fostering safer communities.As we explored Goal Five, the journey was not without obstacles. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges just months after initiating our Five-Year Strategic Plan. In response, we formed the Civic Learning and Engagement Advisory Board to navigate these unprecedented times. This board organically evolved into the Campus Community Collaborative (3C), now an active body focused on strengthening relationships and increasing programmatic bandwidth across our campus.Unexpected successes during this time included our expanded institutional memberships in organizations like Imagining America (IA) and the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE). These memberships have opened new avenues for student scholarships, faculty professional development, and an enhanced culture of engagement on campus.We are particularly grateful for Provost Arensdorf's unwavering dedication to making community engagement an institutional priority. This commitment resonates throughout our campus culture, encouraging faculty and staff to pursue initiatives that create a lasting impact on both students and the communities we serve.A significant milestone was reached when FHSU submitted its application for the Leadership for Public Purpose elective classification for the Carnegie Foundation on December 15, 2023. On May 17, 2024, we were thrilled to learn that FHSU had been awarded this prestigious classification through 2030. This recognition places us among only 25 institutions nationwide and marks FHSU as the only university in Kansas to receive this distinction.Receiving the Carnegie Foundation's Leadership for Public Purpose classification is a remarkable achievement and a testament to our consistent alignment with our mission. The foundation acknowledges universities that demonstrate their commitment to enhancing teaching, research, and service missions to develop leaders who engage with and serve the greater good. This classification validates the hard work and dedication the FHSU community has invested in cultivating partnerships and engaging with our diverse communities.As we reflect on these accomplishments, I am filled with pride in our recognition and the authenticity of our mission. We are living out our commitment to developing global citizen leaders, evident in our work that transcends traditional boundaries. Our impact can be seen in Hays, across Kansas, and beyond.As we progress through the final stage of our strategic plan, we remain committed to fostering innovative partnerships that drive regional educational and economic advancement. Our continuous growth in community engagement will only empower us to hone our strategies further and expand the programs that benefit our students and the communities we serve.Our work within our communities will evolve, but our core focus will remain—supporting students, enhancing educational pathways, and comprehensively addressing community needs. As we look toward the future, we will persist in seizing opportunities to expand our reach anddeepen our engagement, ensuring that FHSU remains a leader in community and global partnerships.This five-part series has illuminated the significant work that FHSU undertakes across all strategic goals, and Goal Five epitomizes our dedication to meaningful engagement. The profound partnerships and initiatives established reflect our values and commitment to education as a force for good. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this vital work. Together, we will continue to make a meaningful impact, inspiring and empowering future generations of global leaders.

Heart of a Tiger: Celebrating success, part 5

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 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

MANCHESTER, NH -- Colby Custer of Hays has been named to&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001.pzLsSHaO_trJDJO85aH7RcHaAWv4TsFugSyn3NQkYzk/4a3/TOyAIJNpTrOM-s5om9XJIw/h0/h001.ftkqPAHOCcLB_z5BXNHanF0BJTjpoTkUYS00sAatH7I">Southern New Hampshire University</a>'s Summer 2024 President's List. The summer terms run from May to August.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. 

Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001.pzLsSHaO_trJDJO85aH7RUv0pWrlYZLscVLnytixyFw/4a3/TOyAIJNpTrOM-s5om9XJIw/h1/h001.I2CTBg7Z3FlbWLvgfAqXxJ-S2HCu_yHcVXjRWCNLw3A">Southern New Hampshire University&nbsp;</a>(SNHU) is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with a 92-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults.

Now serving more than 200,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH. 

Recognized as one of the "Most Innovative" regional universities by U.S. News &amp; World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high quality, affordable pathways that meet the needs of each learner.

SubmittedMANCHESTER, NH -- Colby Custer of Hays has been named to&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001.pzLsSHaO_trJDJO85aH7RcHaAWv4TsFugSyn3NQkYzk/4a3/TOyAIJNpTrOM-s5om9XJIw/h0/h001.ftkqPAHOCcLB_z5BXNHanF0BJTjpoTkUYS00sAatH7I">Southern New Hampshire University</a>'s Summer 2024 President's List. The summer terms run from May to August.Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001.pzLsSHaO_trJDJO85aH7RUv0pWrlYZLscVLnytixyFw/4a3/TOyAIJNpTrOM-s5om9XJIw/h1/h001.I2CTBg7Z3FlbWLvgfAqXxJ-S2HCu_yHcVXjRWCNLw3A">Southern New Hampshire University&nbsp;</a>(SNHU) is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with a 92-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 200,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH. Recognized as one of the "Most Innovative" regional universities by U.S. News &amp; World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high quality, affordable pathways that meet the needs of each learner.

Colby Custer Named to SNHU President's List

Colby Community College is accepting applications for part-time Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and Certified Medication Aide (CMA) instructors to provide high-quality education for students pursuing healthcare careers in the following communities:

Overview The CNA and CMA instructors will teach classes to prepare students to become certified professionals in long-term care and medication administration.

· Hold a current Kansas RN or LPN license in good standing, with no pending or current disciplinary actions.

· Have at least two years of full-time licensed experience.

· Possess one year of experience in a long-term care setting or have completed seven hours of professional continuing education on person-centered care in a licensed adult care home or long-term care unit of a hospital within the past year.

· Experience supervising nurse aides or teaching adults, with completion of a course in adult education or professional continuing education focused on supervision or adult education.

· CNA class (5 credit hours) is $3,250 with up to 10 students;

· CMA class (4-hours) is $2,600 with up to 6 students.

Application Process Positions will be open until filled. To be considered, submit a letter of application, resume, references, and postsecondary transcripts to:

Colby Community College ATTN: Human Resources 1255 S Range Ave Colby, KS 67701 Apply online or email materials to hr@colbycc.edu. For more information, please visit www.colbycc.edu/employment or contact Human Resources at (785) 460-5490.

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 </figure>Colby Community College is accepting applications for part-time Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and Certified Medication Aide (CMA) instructors to provide high-quality education for students pursuing healthcare careers in the following communities:· Colby· Hoxie· Norton· Oakley· Oberlin· PhillipsburgOverview The CNA and CMA instructors will teach classes to prepare students to become certified professionals in long-term care and medication administration.Qualifications· Hold a current Kansas RN or LPN license in good standing, with no pending or current disciplinary actions.· Have at least two years of full-time licensed experience.· Possess one year of experience in a long-term care setting or have completed seven hours of professional continuing education on person-centered care in a licensed adult care home or long-term care unit of a hospital within the past year.· Experience supervising nurse aides or teaching adults, with completion of a course in adult education or professional continuing education focused on supervision or adult education.Compensation $650 per credit hour:· CNA class (5 credit hours) is $3,250 with up to 10 students;· CMA class (4-hours) is $2,600 with up to 6 students.Application Process Positions will be open until filled. To be considered, submit a letter of application, resume, references, and postsecondary transcripts to:Colby Community College ATTN: Human Resources 1255 S Range Ave Colby, KS 67701 Apply online or email materials to hr@colbycc.edu. For more information, please visit www.colbycc.edu/employment or contact Human Resources at (785) 460-5490.