<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/2023/4/1680883301969.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

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;

“Nothing changes if nothing changes.”&nbsp;

That quote was cited by K-State sportswriter D. Scott Fritchen in an article about a young ballplayer who used the transfer portal and became an impact player at her new school. The young player posted that quote on her mirror to remind herself that sometimes we have to make a change if we are to better our situation.&nbsp;

Is this true for communities as well? Today we’ll meet another woman who has been a leading force for positive change in her community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Carolyn Dunn is president of the Stafford County Port Authority and past director of economic development in Stafford County. She has seen change firsthand.&nbsp;

Dunn grew up on a farm near the rural community of Ottawa, population 12,625 people. Now, that’s rural. She studied agricultural economics at K-State and worked in Washington, D.C. before meeting and marrying Brian Dunn and moving back to his farm in Stafford County, Kansas.&nbsp;

By 2011, she was the mother of three boys and serving on the local school board. 

“We were talking about declining enrollments,” Dunn said. “I commented that we didn’t even have an economic development program in the county and we need one.”&nbsp;

She was also consulting on a Kansas Farm Bureau project to assist three other rural communities in the state. “I asked myself, `Why am I working on these other towns when we need this here?’”&nbsp;&nbsp;Dunn said.&nbsp;

Stafford County Farm Bureau approached the county commissioners and pledged to commit funds if the county would create a full-time economic development director position. They did so. Dunn took the job.&nbsp;

In 2019, a crisis hit the Stafford County community of St. John: Dillons closed the only grocery store in town. “The immediate thought was, we need somebody else to come in and run that (same) store,” Dunn said. The city established a committee of citizens to consider the matter.&nbsp;

“To their credit, the committee stepped back to look at the big picture,” Dunn said. More alternatives were considered. An outside consultant provided input.&nbsp;

A study concluded that rather than reopening the cramped store downtown, a new, more spacious highway location would be more successful.&nbsp;&nbsp;After all, nothing changes if nothing changes.&nbsp;

Ultimately, Stafford County Economic Development built a new building near the highway and rented the space to White’s Foodliner, which operates the grocery store today. Space is also rented to Stafford County Drug, which operates a pharmacy.&nbsp;

“We needed more space to sell more things, especially those things that the consumer wants today, such as a deli,” Dunn said. Fuel pumps were also added, including ethanol pumps with support from Kansas Corn Commission.&nbsp;

“This was a $3.8 million project,” Dunn said. Talk about a heavy lift.&nbsp;

“Fourteen different sources of financing went into the project, including loans and grants,” she said. “We used a tax increment financing district so the city didn’t have to raise taxes to do this.”&nbsp;

“The president of the economic development board at the time was a 26-year-old young professional,” Dunn said. “As he was signing these two million dollar loan documents, I felt proud that he was stepping into this leadership role at such a young age.”&nbsp;

The store is doing well, but that is not the only accomplishment in Dunn’s eyes.&nbsp;

“The grocery store is important, and it could be a template for other rural communities,” she said. “The schools say you can’t recruit teachers without a store in town, for example, but I think it goes deeper than that. (Accomplishing this project) shifted our mentality. It told us that we could do bigger, harder things.”&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.staffordecodevo.com/">www.staffordecodevo.com</a>.&nbsp;

Nothing changes if nothing changes. We commend Carolyn Dunn of Stafford County Economic Development for making a difference with visionary economic development in her county. I’m glad to see she is an agent of change.&nbsp;

And there’s more. Housing was another huge issue that her office tackled. Now 10 new affordable, energy-efficient houses have been built in Stafford County. We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680700670828.png" alt="Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“Nothing changes if nothing changes.”&nbsp;That quote was cited by K-State sportswriter D. Scott Fritchen in an article about a young ballplayer who used the transfer portal and became an impact player at her new school. The young player posted that quote on her mirror to remind herself that sometimes we have to make a change if we are to better our situation.&nbsp;Is this true for communities as well? Today we’ll meet another woman who has been a leading force for positive change in her community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Carolyn Dunn is president of the Stafford County Port Authority and past director of economic development in Stafford County. She has seen change firsthand.&nbsp;Dunn grew up on a farm near the rural community of Ottawa, population 12,625 people. Now, that’s rural. She studied agricultural economics at K-State and worked in Washington, D.C. before meeting and marrying Brian Dunn and moving back to his farm in Stafford County, Kansas.&nbsp;By 2011, she was the mother of three boys and serving on the local school board. “We were talking about declining enrollments,” Dunn said. “I commented that we didn’t even have an economic development program in the county and we need one.”&nbsp;She was also consulting on a Kansas Farm Bureau project to assist three other rural communities in the state. “I asked myself, `Why am I working on these other towns when we need this here?’”&nbsp;&nbsp;Dunn said.&nbsp;Stafford County Farm Bureau approached the county commissioners and pledged to commit funds if the county would create a full-time economic development director position. They did so. Dunn took the job.&nbsp;In 2019, a crisis hit the Stafford County community of St. John: Dillons closed the only grocery store in town. “The immediate thought was, we need somebody else to come in and run that (same) store,” Dunn said. The city established a committee of citizens to consider the matter.&nbsp;“To their credit, the committee stepped back to look at the big picture,” Dunn said. More alternatives were considered. An outside consultant provided input.&nbsp;A study concluded that rather than reopening the cramped store downtown, a new, more spacious highway location would be more successful.&nbsp;&nbsp;After all, nothing changes if nothing changes.&nbsp;Ultimately, Stafford County Economic Development built a new building near the highway and rented the space to White’s Foodliner, which operates the grocery store today. Space is also rented to Stafford County Drug, which operates a pharmacy.&nbsp;“We needed more space to sell more things, especially those things that the consumer wants today, such as a deli,” Dunn said. Fuel pumps were also added, including ethanol pumps with support from Kansas Corn Commission.&nbsp;“This was a $3.8 million project,” Dunn said. Talk about a heavy lift.&nbsp;“Fourteen different sources of financing went into the project, including loans and grants,” she said. “We used a tax increment financing district so the city didn’t have to raise taxes to do this.”&nbsp;“The president of the economic development board at the time was a 26-year-old young professional,” Dunn said. “As he was signing these two million dollar loan documents, I felt proud that he was stepping into this leadership role at such a young age.”&nbsp;The store is doing well, but that is not the only accomplishment in Dunn’s eyes.&nbsp;“The grocery store is important, and it could be a template for other rural communities,” she said. “The schools say you can’t recruit teachers without a store in town, for example, but I think it goes deeper than that. (Accomplishing this project) shifted our mentality. It told us that we could do bigger, harder things.”&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.staffordecodevo.com/">www.staffordecodevo.com</a>.&nbsp;Nothing changes if nothing changes. We commend Carolyn Dunn of Stafford County Economic Development for making a difference with visionary economic development in her county. I’m glad to see she is an agent of change.&nbsp;And there’s more. Housing was another huge issue that her office tackled. Now 10 new affordable, energy-efficient houses have been built in Stafford County. We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Carolyn Dunn, rural grocer

A red flag warning is in effect for Hays and much of western Kansas until 9 p.m. Friday, the National Weather Service in Dodge City warned.

With an expected high in the upper-60s, persistent dry conditions and strong winds have created an extreme wildfire risk.

The high Saturday is expected to be iun the mid-70s, with sustained winds of 13 to 22 mph. The early morning hours Sunday bring a slight possibility of relief with a 20 percent chance of&nbsp; isolated showers. There is also a 30 percent chance of showers Sunday evening.

By Tuesday, the NWS is forecasting high temperatures around 80 degrees.

Hays PostA red flag warning is in effect for Hays and much of western Kansas until 9 p.m. Friday, the National Weather Service in Dodge City warned.With an expected high in the upper-60s, persistent dry conditions and strong winds have created an extreme wildfire risk.The high Saturday is expected to be iun the mid-70s, with sustained winds of 13 to 22 mph. The early morning hours Sunday bring a slight possibility of relief with a 20 percent chance of&nbsp; isolated showers. There is also a 30 percent chance of showers Sunday evening.By Tuesday, the NWS is forecasting high temperatures around 80 degrees.

Dry, warm windy: NWS warns of wildfire danger Friday

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Amber Schultz.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b3k7JG5uqrk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Amber Schultz.

🎤 Forward Ever: Kansas Sec. of Labor Amber Schultz

Ellis County fire officials extinguished a fire in a
dust collector at Hess Services north of Hays early Thursday evening. 

According to Fire Chief Darin Myers, the fire initially was reported just after 6 p.m. as a structure fire was but was in a dust
collector located about 15 feet from the building.

Myers said when fire crews arrived on scene, they dismantled the dust collector and removed the filters to make sure the fire was extinguished.

The buildings garage doors were opened to ventilate the
structure and to confirm the fire had not entered the building.

Hays PostEllis County fire officials extinguished a fire in a
dust collector at Hess Services north of Hays early Thursday evening. According to Fire Chief Darin Myers, the fire initially was reported just after 6 p.m. as a structure fire was but was in a dust
collector located about 15 feet from the building.Myers said when fire crews arrived on scene, they dismantled the dust collector and removed the filters to make sure the fire was extinguished.The buildings garage doors were opened to ventilate the
structure and to confirm the fire had not entered the building.

Ellis Co. firefighters extinguish fire in dust collector at Hess Services

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

RUSSELL — Russell County gets an "A" for effort. Earlier this year, groups in the county began an effort to recruit super chain Buc-ees for a new store along Interstate 70 in Russell. The chain did reach out to area officials, but Russell County Eco Devo Director Mike Parsons said the county of just more than 6,700 people lacked the manpower to staff the massive convenience store.

"When we first went into it, I kind of just had a number in my head that they'd need maybe around 150 employees being open 24/7 and being that big of a store," he said. "But when we got to talking to the vice president, Mr. (Joe) O'Leary, the number was 300."

Eco Devo issued a recruitment flyer requesting submissions to let Buc-ees know there was interest in the county. Hundreds of comments were submitted by local and regional residents, and even some from out of state. Russell County may not have been able to meet the workforce requirement, but Parsons said it was a step in the right direction.

"I think it was still a good experience," he said. "It was a good way to keep momentum going forward with our development land out by I-70. Of course, we're going to keep that momentum going on to the next project."

A Russell Buc-ees would have been a first for the chain in Kansas, but the stores are getting closer. A new store is planned north of Denver, Colo. in 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675260825745.jpeg" alt="The Richmond, Ky., Buc-ee's location, the only one in that state, features 120 gas pumps." />
 <figcaption>The Richmond, Ky., Buc-ee's location, the only one in that state, features 120 gas pumps.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostRUSSELL — Russell County gets an "A" for effort. Earlier this year, groups in the county began an effort to recruit super chain Buc-ees for a new store along Interstate 70 in Russell. The chain did reach out to area officials, but Russell County Eco Devo Director Mike Parsons said the county of just more than 6,700 people lacked the manpower to staff the massive convenience store."When we first went into it, I kind of just had a number in my head that they'd need maybe around 150 employees being open 24/7 and being that big of a store," he said. "But when we got to talking to the vice president, Mr. (Joe) O'Leary, the number was 300."Eco Devo issued a recruitment flyer requesting submissions to let Buc-ees know there was interest in the county. Hundreds of comments were submitted by local and regional residents, and even some from out of state. Russell County may not have been able to meet the workforce requirement, but Parsons said it was a step in the right direction."I think it was still a good experience," he said. "It was a good way to keep momentum going forward with our development land out by I-70. Of course, we're going to keep that momentum going on to the next project."A Russell Buc-ees would have been a first for the chain in Kansas, but the stores are getting closer. A new store is planned north of Denver, Colo. in 2024.

Russell County comes up shy on Buc-ees bid

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Your kid comes home from school and you ask them what they did today and they say "Nothing."

You ask to talk, and they roll their eyes and say "Whatever."

A group in Hays is trying to demystify youth mental health and help parents better communicate with their kids.

The Green Ribbon Hays project led the second in what will be a series of conversations about youth mental health at the Hays Public Library Wednesday night. They focused Wednesday on helpings kids feel connected and understood.

"The process of understanding your kids deserves time and energy whatever kids you are responsible for," said Patrick McGinnis, facilitator. "You can't say it's someone else's problem. I believe it's our problem to figure it out."

It is the quality of our relationships that best predicts our lifelong happiness, McGinnis said.

"You will not find or create happiness for your kids or the people involved in your life if they don't have quality relationships," he said. "You won't do it with great vacations with all of the money in the world with a great education with achieving everything they want to do.

"All the measures show that if there are not positive communicative, supportive relationships in a person's life, they won't be happy."

McGinnis stressed key elements in connecting with kids. They include: • Acknowledging their feelings • Empathizing with them • Making them feel seen, heard and valued • Giving hugs • Playing together (Do something that they enjoy.) • Giving your full attention (face-to-face time with no phones) • Having a daily debrief (with questions other than How was your day?)

The group discussed how specifically you could do these things with your kids.

You can acknowledge feelings by mirroring their body language and emotional intensity. McGinnis said we often screw up with kids by minimizing what they are feeling. Try to validate their feelings, he said.&nbsp;

"Start out the conversation by saying it's OK to feel what you feel," he said.

Also, realize you can't always fix the problem, he said.

"Dialogue was my revelation in life—when I realized I didn't have to get a conversation to an ending point," he said. "I didn't have to solve a problem in a conversation."

Showing empathy might be saying "If I were in that situation, I would have felt really mad, how do you feel?" Kyle Carlin, director of the local special education co-op and member of the Green Ribbon project, said.

"If they are in a spot where they are mad and truly angry and truly frustrated, they're not thinking. It won't do you any good. You cannot move them to logical thought because it's like your 4-year-old having a tantrum," McGinnis said.

"You've got to let them have time to reset," he said.

McGinnis said you need to give kids a safe place to lose it and then after they are able to calm down and refocus, you can move on to solutions.

The group talked about making time and spaces for kids to be seen, heard and valued. One mother said she used to take her kids for cruises. They would go get a Coke and go for a drive.

"When they don't have to make eye contact with you, they share a lot," she said. "We had rules. Nothing was off-limits on the cruise. You could talk about whatever you wanted to on the cruise. It was hard sometimes, but I have kids who are 23 and 24 and they still like cruises."

It was just a brussels sprouts kind of day

For younger kids, McGinnis suggested giving kids tools to tell you how they feel rather than forcing them to use adult language.

You might have a kid who uses their favorite or worst food to tell you how their day went. It was a pizza day or it was a brussels sprouts day.

Someone also suggested a thumbs up or thumbs down.

You can also say "What I hear you saying is this ...," one group member said.&nbsp; "If they say yeah at the end of it at least I know there's been a connection."

When it came to playing together, McGinnis admitted he didn't know what his kids liked and he certainly didn't want to do it.

"I started to realize that means they are building a language without you in it," he said. "You will never learn how to talk it. It will irritate you when they speak of it because they are creating a whole language outside of your scope. You told them, 'I don't care about that.'"

Even babies know when your neglecting them for your phone

Even infants will stop trying to get your attention if you continue to ignore them, McGinnis said.

"It can be developed early. It can be developed before they are 1 year old. If they are attempting to get your attention and you are on your phone, it doesn't take but a minute and they will stop trying to get your attention." he said.

"If it's true for a 10 month old, it's definitely true for a 13-year-old."

One member of the group said he sees the same thing with his Golden Retriever. If he and his wife are on their phones, she will be tearing stuff up.&nbsp;

"She will growl at you. She will bark at you. You put the phones away, and she's fine. She'll lie on the ground next to you. She doesn't care," he said. "If we're not connected to the animal, we're not connected to each other."

One of the members of the group said she struggles to get students at the middle school to look up even when she is smiling and eager to greet them.

Face-to-face contact lowers blood pressure. It is connected to longevity, and health, McGinnis said

"This effort is running counter-culture," McGinnis said of trying to bring people together to make in-person connections.

"It's like shooting a basketball," he said. "People aren't comfortable with it. It's going to feel weird."

For the debrief, McGinnis said his family talked about highs and lows from the day at dinner with no limit on how many highs you could talk about.&nbsp;

Carlin said he found he had to vary his debrief questions with his son. When he started to get the same response, several days in a row, it was time to switch things up.

The group will have further discussions on youth mental health every two months. In the alternating months, the group will meet for shorter group discussions. The next group discussion will be from 7 to 7:45 p.m. April 26 at the Hays Public Library. McGinnis urged members of the public to suggest topics they would like addressed in the future.

You can follow the group on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/greenribbonhays">Facebook</a> or&nbsp;

McGinnis is also considering creating a general parent support group if there is interest.

If you need to speak to someone right away about a mental health issue, call High Plains Mental Health Center 24/7 crisis line at 1-800-432-0333.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680187975357.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostYour kid comes home from school and you ask them what they did today and they say "Nothing."You ask to talk, and they roll their eyes and say "Whatever."A group in Hays is trying to demystify youth mental health and help parents better communicate with their kids.The Green Ribbon Hays project led the second in what will be a series of conversations about youth mental health at the Hays Public Library Wednesday night. They focused Wednesday on helpings kids feel connected and understood."The process of understanding your kids deserves time and energy whatever kids you are responsible for," said Patrick McGinnis, facilitator. "You can't say it's someone else's problem. I believe it's our problem to figure it out."It is the quality of our relationships that best predicts our lifelong happiness, McGinnis said."You will not find or create happiness for your kids or the people involved in your life if they don't have quality relationships," he said. "You won't do it with great vacations with all of the money in the world with a great education with achieving everything they want to do."All the measures show that if there are not positive communicative, supportive relationships in a person's life, they won't be happy."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680207644316.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>McGinnis stressed key elements in connecting with kids. They include: • Acknowledging their feelings • Empathizing with them • Making them feel seen, heard and valued • Giving hugs • Playing together (Do something that they enjoy.) • Giving your full attention (face-to-face time with no phones) • Having a daily debrief (with questions other than How was your day?)The group discussed how specifically you could do these things with your kids.You can acknowledge feelings by mirroring their body language and emotional intensity. McGinnis said we often screw up with kids by minimizing what they are feeling. Try to validate their feelings, he said.&nbsp;"Start out the conversation by saying it's OK to feel what you feel," he said.Also, realize you can't always fix the problem, he said."Dialogue was my revelation in life—when I realized I didn't have to get a conversation to an ending point," he said. "I didn't have to solve a problem in a conversation."<h2>'Kids need a safe place to lose it'</h2>Showing empathy might be saying "If I were in that situation, I would have felt really mad, how do you feel?" Kyle Carlin, director of the local special education co-op and member of the Green Ribbon project, said."If they are in a spot where they are mad and truly angry and truly frustrated, they're not thinking. It won't do you any good. You cannot move them to logical thought because it's like your 4-year-old having a tantrum," McGinnis said."You've got to let them have time to reset," he said.McGinnis said you need to give kids a safe place to lose it and then after they are able to calm down and refocus, you can move on to solutions.The group talked about making time and spaces for kids to be seen, heard and valued. One mother said she used to take her kids for cruises. They would go get a Coke and go for a drive."When they don't have to make eye contact with you, they share a lot," she said. "We had rules. Nothing was off-limits on the cruise. You could talk about whatever you wanted to on the cruise. It was hard sometimes, but I have kids who are 23 and 24 and they still like cruises."<h2>It was just a brussels sprouts kind of day</h2>For younger kids, McGinnis suggested giving kids tools to tell you how they feel rather than forcing them to use adult language.You might have a kid who uses their favorite or worst food to tell you how their day went. It was a pizza day or it was a brussels sprouts day.Someone also suggested a thumbs up or thumbs down.You can also say "What I hear you saying is this ...," one group member said.&nbsp; "If they say yeah at the end of it at least I know there's been a connection."When it came to playing together, McGinnis admitted he didn't know what his kids liked and he certainly didn't want to do it."I started to realize that means they are building a language without you in it," he said. "You will never learn how to talk it. It will irritate you when they speak of it because they are creating a whole language outside of your scope. You told them, 'I don't care about that.'"<h2>Even babies know when your neglecting them for your phone</h2>Even infants will stop trying to get your attention if you continue to ignore them, McGinnis said."It can be developed early. It can be developed before they are 1 year old. If they are attempting to get your attention and you are on your phone, it doesn't take but a minute and they will stop trying to get your attention." he said."If it's true for a 10 month old, it's definitely true for a 13-year-old."One member of the group said he sees the same thing with his Golden Retriever. If he and his wife are on their phones, she will be tearing stuff up.&nbsp;"She will growl at you. She will bark at you. You put the phones away, and she's fine. She'll lie on the ground next to you. She doesn't care," he said. "If we're not connected to the animal, we're not connected to each other."One of the members of the group said she struggles to get students at the middle school to look up even when she is smiling and eager to greet them.Face-to-face contact lowers blood pressure. It is connected to longevity, and health, McGinnis said"This effort is running counter-culture," McGinnis said of trying to bring people together to make in-person connections.He said we have to practice.&nbsp;"It's like shooting a basketball," he said. "People aren't comfortable with it. It's going to feel weird."For the debrief, McGinnis said his family talked about highs and lows from the day at dinner with no limit on how many highs you could talk about.&nbsp;Carlin said he found he had to vary his debrief questions with his son. When he started to get the same response, several days in a row, it was time to switch things up.The group will have further discussions on youth mental health every two months. In the alternating months, the group will meet for shorter group discussions. The next group discussion will be from 7 to 7:45 p.m. April 26 at the Hays Public Library. McGinnis urged members of the public to suggest topics they would like addressed in the future.You can follow the group on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/greenribbonhays">Facebook</a> or&nbsp;McGinnis is also considering creating a general parent support group if there is interest.If you need to speak to someone right away about a mental health issue, call High Plains Mental Health Center 24/7 crisis line at 1-800-432-0333.

Getting the eye roll? Green Ribbon project gives tips on connecting with your kids

Building new relationships, making new connections, and appreciating time spent together was the aim of last week’s Ramadan feast hosted by FHSU’s Muslim Student Association.

<a></a>Abubaker Sani, the MSA president, shared insights and traditions surrounding Ramadan with more than 80 people gathered in the Memorial Union Ballroom.&nbsp;

“Ramadan is considered the holiest month,” Sani said. “Muslims look forward to it. It’s a period of slowing down, reflecting on one’s character, life, and the meaning of the holy Quran.”

Ramadan is observed during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The date changes yearly based on the lunar calendar. This year, Ramadan began on March 23 and will continue for 30 days. A significant aspect of Ramadan is the final 10 days when Muslims increase their act of worship. Eid al-Fitr, or the festival of breaking the fast, is a time of special prayers, gift giving, traditional foods and clothing, and spending time with family.

Attendees of the Ramadan event were treated to a feast following a presentation. Several tables with various dishes were prepared by MSA students, faculty members, and the International Student Services Office.&nbsp;

Farheen Khan, assistant professor in the Art and Design Department, contributed seven different culinary offerings. Born and raised in Saudi Arabia, Khan said she was thrilled to see FHSU supporting the Muslim Student Association.

“When I received an email about Ramadan, I was over the top [excited],” she said. “I wanted to share food with the students and all the people who are attending because they are our guests.”

“In Islam, we get many blessings for helping someone break their fast,” Khan said. “Anything you do, any good deed, is rewarded 1,000-fold. Ramadan is a way to strengthen our relationship with Allah.”

The Division of Student Affairs at FHSU has&nbsp;<a></a>coordinated a room for prayer on campus and transportation to attend the local mosque several days per week for students to observe Ramadan. In addition, Carol Solko-Olliff, director of the International Student Services Office, sent general information about Ramadan to the campus community, notifying them of what it means for students to observe Ramadan and how to best support them during this time.

“We are always trying to support our students and share their culture with our FHSU campus and the Hays community,” said Diane Hernandez-Ramirez, ISSO graduate assistant.

In addition to the Ramadan Feast, ISSO has assisted with hosting several other celebrations, including International Education Week, the International Food and Fashion program, and the Lunar New Year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680729399733.jpeg" alt="Abubaker Sani, president of FHSU's MSA, discusses Ramadan traditions during his presentation" />
 <figcaption>Abubaker Sani, president of FHSU's MSA, discusses Ramadan traditions during his presentation</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsBuilding new relationships, making new connections, and appreciating time spent together was the aim of last week’s Ramadan feast hosted by FHSU’s Muslim Student Association.<a></a>Abubaker Sani, the MSA president, shared insights and traditions surrounding Ramadan with more than 80 people gathered in the Memorial Union Ballroom.&nbsp;“Ramadan is considered the holiest month,” Sani said. “Muslims look forward to it. It’s a period of slowing down, reflecting on one’s character, life, and the meaning of the holy Quran.”Ramadan is observed during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The date changes yearly based on the lunar calendar. This year, Ramadan began on March 23 and will continue for 30 days. A significant aspect of Ramadan is the final 10 days when Muslims increase their act of worship. Eid al-Fitr, or the festival of breaking the fast, is a time of special prayers, gift giving, traditional foods and clothing, and spending time with family.Attendees of the Ramadan event were treated to a feast following a presentation. Several tables with various dishes were prepared by MSA students, faculty members, and the International Student Services Office.&nbsp;Farheen Khan, assistant professor in the Art and Design Department, contributed seven different culinary offerings. Born and raised in Saudi Arabia, Khan said she was thrilled to see FHSU supporting the Muslim Student Association.“When I received an email about Ramadan, I was over the top [excited],” she said. “I wanted to share food with the students and all the people who are attending because they are our guests.”“In Islam, we get many blessings for helping someone break their fast,” Khan said. “Anything you do, any good deed, is rewarded 1,000-fold. Ramadan is a way to strengthen our relationship with Allah.”The Division of Student Affairs at FHSU has&nbsp;<a></a>coordinated a room for prayer on campus and transportation to attend the local mosque several days per week for students to observe Ramadan. In addition, Carol Solko-Olliff, director of the International Student Services Office, sent general information about Ramadan to the campus community, notifying them of what it means for students to observe Ramadan and how to best support them during this time.“We are always trying to support our students and share their culture with our FHSU campus and the Hays community,” said Diane Hernandez-Ramirez, ISSO graduate assistant.In addition to the Ramadan Feast, ISSO has assisted with hosting several other celebrations, including International Education Week, the International Food and Fashion program, and the Lunar New Year.

Muslim student leaders at FHSU share Ramadan tradition

GREAT BEND — Every business
 needs a good backstory. Great Bend's Allie Cartwright just needed some 
financial assistance to help pay for her dog's dental surgery when she 
hatched the idea of selling cheesecakes. The demand was there, as it 
turns out, but so were a few hurdles along the way. So Cartwright opened
 the Freaking Delicious Cheesecake Company at the Wolf Hotel in 
Ellinwood five weeks ago.

"I put the idea out there, and people 
were really into it," Cartwright said. "Then I found out it was illegal 
to sell cheesecakes out of your house with cottage food laws. I was 
like, 'Okay, well, there goes that idea,' except people didn't stop 
asking me for cheesecake. I had complete strangers messaging me wanting 
cheesecake."

Working out of the Wolf Hotel has been mutually 
beneficial. With the hotel's full-sized professional kitchen, Cartwright
 is now fully licensed, and business is growing. This week alone, she 
has 20 cheesecakes ready to go. As for the business name, Cartwright 
calls herself an exuberant person who used to swear a lot. Then she had a
 kid.

Her menu includes four and nine-inch cheesecakes. The base 
menu is vanilla or chocolate with strawberry, blueberry, chocolate 
ganache, and salted caramel toppings. She also offers a specialty 
nine-inch deluxe turtle cheesecake on the regular menu. She plans to 
offer a flavor of the week beginning each Friday.

"I'm basically 
going through all of those specialty flavors one at a time and making 
them available to people," she said. "This week is chai, and on Friday, 
it will change to lemon meringue."

At this time, all of her 
cheesecakes must be pre-ordered and are available only by pickup due to 
the cost of shipping the desserts. Due to the nature of making a 
cheesecake, there is a two-day turn time between order and pickup. The 
four-inch basic desserts start at $12, and the nine-inch cheesecakes are
 $40, or $45 with toppings. Cartwright has plans to cater events in the 
area. That would include two-inch cheesecakes that are small enough to 
be finger food but still feature a hearty three or so bites.

"I am
 really excited to start doing catering in the area for basically any 
events: weddings, baby showers, anything you can think of," she said. 
I'm really looking forward to working with people to try and elevate 
their event."

Cartwright plans to have her business webpage online soon but does have an Instagram and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FreakingDeliciousCheesecakeCompany">Facebook page</a> for Freaking Delicious Cheesecake Company. Orders can also be placed by calling (620) 303-0350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680706062632.jpeg" alt="Allie Cartwright" />
 <figcaption>Allie Cartwright</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostGREAT BEND — Every business
 needs a good backstory. Great Bend's Allie Cartwright just needed some 
financial assistance to help pay for her dog's dental surgery when she 
hatched the idea of selling cheesecakes. The demand was there, as it 
turns out, but so were a few hurdles along the way. So Cartwright opened
 the Freaking Delicious Cheesecake Company at the Wolf Hotel in 
Ellinwood five weeks ago."I put the idea out there, and people 
were really into it," Cartwright said. "Then I found out it was illegal 
to sell cheesecakes out of your house with cottage food laws. I was 
like, 'Okay, well, there goes that idea,' except people didn't stop 
asking me for cheesecake. I had complete strangers messaging me wanting 
cheesecake."Working out of the Wolf Hotel has been mutually 
beneficial. With the hotel's full-sized professional kitchen, Cartwright
 is now fully licensed, and business is growing. This week alone, she 
has 20 cheesecakes ready to go. As for the business name, Cartwright 
calls herself an exuberant person who used to swear a lot. Then she had a
 kid.Her menu includes four and nine-inch cheesecakes. The base 
menu is vanilla or chocolate with strawberry, blueberry, chocolate 
ganache, and salted caramel toppings. She also offers a specialty 
nine-inch deluxe turtle cheesecake on the regular menu. She plans to 
offer a flavor of the week beginning each Friday."I'm basically 
going through all of those specialty flavors one at a time and making 
them available to people," she said. "This week is chai, and on Friday, 
it will change to lemon meringue."At this time, all of her 
cheesecakes must be pre-ordered and are available only by pickup due to 
the cost of shipping the desserts. Due to the nature of making a 
cheesecake, there is a two-day turn time between order and pickup. The 
four-inch basic desserts start at $12, and the nine-inch cheesecakes are
 $40, or $45 with toppings. Cartwright has plans to cater events in the 
area. That would include two-inch cheesecakes that are small enough to 
be finger food but still feature a hearty three or so bites."I am
 really excited to start doing catering in the area for basically any 
events: weddings, baby showers, anything you can think of," she said. 
I'm really looking forward to working with people to try and elevate 
their event."Cartwright plans to have her business webpage online soon but does have an Instagram and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FreakingDeliciousCheesecakeCompany">Facebook page</a> for Freaking Delicious Cheesecake Company. Orders can also be placed by calling (620) 303-0350.

Great Bend woman breaks into 'freaking' cheesecake market

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680795539295.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>

SHERMAN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 6p.m. Thursday in Sherman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Nissan Rogue driven by Patsy R.&nbsp;Gresty, 82, Goodland, was southbound on Kansas 27 at Commerce Road.

The Nissan left the stop sign before safe to do so and struck a 2015 Indian motorcycle driven by Dennis R. Staehnke, 71, Goodland.

Both Vehicles came to rest in the southbound lanes of Kansas 27.

EMS transported&nbsp;Staehnke to Goodland Regional Medical Center. Gresty was not injured. Staehnke was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

SHERMAN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 6p.m. Thursday in Sherman County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Nissan Rogue driven by Patsy R.&nbsp;Gresty, 82, Goodland, was southbound on Kansas 27 at Commerce Road.The Nissan left the stop sign before safe to do so and struck a 2015 Indian motorcycle driven by Dennis R. Staehnke, 71, Goodland.Both Vehicles came to rest in the southbound lanes of Kansas 27.EMS transported&nbsp;Staehnke to Goodland Regional Medical Center. Gresty was not injured. Staehnke was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

NW Kansas man hospitalized after SUV strikes a motorcycle

For Thomas More Prep-Marian, the search for a new activities 
director cast a wide net. Ultimately, the person for the job was in Hays
 the whole time.

James Harris, who is a 10-year veteran teacher and coach at TMP-M, 
has accepted the position vacated by Troy Schulte. Schulte is 
returning to Archie, Mo., to become the principal at Archie High School, 
where he was a teacher, activities director and coach for 19 years.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3db8234c-4820-4f64-bd2f-c86bd7d5562d">RELATED: Schulte heads back to Missouri after 7 years at alma mater</a>

Harris is intimately familiar with the inner workings of TMP-Marian 
by virtue of his time at the school as a PE and technology teacher, 
coach of various sports such as football, basketball, and track, Student
 Council sponsor, and assistant activities supervisor. Harris was 
selected after reviewing over 30 applications from across the country 
and state.

“James knows so many of the ins and outs about all our activities,” 
said TMP-M principal Chad Meitner. “He will be a strong advocate for 
student involvement in academic, spiritual, and leadership activities as
 well as athletics.”

Harris will begin his activities director duties on July 1.

“I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve as 
TMP-Marian‘s activities director,” Harris said. “TMP-Marian is an 
incredibly special place, and I’m excited to continue building on the 
tradition of excellence. I’m eager to utilize my passion for sports and 
activities in this position to positively impact the students and 
families.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680809698554.jpeg" alt="Harris " />
 <figcaption>Harris </figcaption>
 </figure>
 TMP-Marian
 For Thomas More Prep-Marian, the search for a new activities 
director cast a wide net. Ultimately, the person for the job was in Hays
 the whole time.James Harris, who is a 10-year veteran teacher and coach at TMP-M, 
has accepted the position vacated by Troy Schulte. Schulte is 
returning to Archie, Mo., to become the principal at Archie High School, 
where he was a teacher, activities director and coach for 19 years.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3db8234c-4820-4f64-bd2f-c86bd7d5562d">RELATED: Schulte heads back to Missouri after 7 years at alma mater</a>Harris is intimately familiar with the inner workings of TMP-Marian 
by virtue of his time at the school as a PE and technology teacher, 
coach of various sports such as football, basketball, and track, Student
 Council sponsor, and assistant activities supervisor. Harris was 
selected after reviewing over 30 applications from across the country 
and state.“James knows so many of the ins and outs about all our activities,” 
said TMP-M principal Chad Meitner. “He will be a strong advocate for 
student involvement in academic, spiritual, and leadership activities as
 well as athletics.”Harris will begin his activities director duties on July 1.“I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve as 
TMP-Marian‘s activities director,” Harris said. “TMP-Marian is an 
incredibly special place, and I’m excited to continue building on the 
tradition of excellence. I’m eager to utilize my passion for sports and 
activities in this position to positively impact the students and 
families.”

Harris named TMP-Marian activities director

On this episode of the Post Podcast Fort Hays State Shooting Sports team members Kyler Niblock and Katie Dettmann discuss recent team activities and accomplishments as they reflect on the history and legacy of the team and it's impact on FHSU.

<div><iframe title="FHSU Shotgun Team success continues building legacy" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=3hepb-13d8535-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=600" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Fort Hays State Shooting Sports team members Kyler Niblock and Katie Dettmann discuss recent team activities and accomplishments as they reflect on the history and legacy of the team and it's impact on FHSU.

🎙 Post Podcast: FHSU Shotgun Team success continues building legacy

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2023-04-04/with-the-ogallala-aquifer-drying-up-kansas-ponders-limits-to-irrigation">Kansas News Service</a>

WALLACE COUNTY — The Ogallala Aquifer has a visibility problem.

It’s
 easy to see when drought, farm irrigation and city taps drain the great
 reservoirs of the Southwest. Bathtub rings paint the red rock walls 
surrounding Lake Powell as it shrinks, sounding alarm bells loud and 
clear.

What about a body of water that’s locked away in a 
subterranean labyrinth of gravel and rock reaching more than 300 feet 
underground?

The Ogallala may hold as much water as Lake Huron, 
but we can’t see it. And, problematically, that means we can’t see it 
disappear.

That hasn’t stopped people like Brownie Wilson from 
trying to bring the aquifer’s decline into focus. He’s one of the Kansas
 Geological Survey crew members who fan out across western and central 
Kansas every year to check hundreds of water wells that tap into the 
Ogallala.

In Wallace County along the Colorado border, Wilson 
hikes into a crop field toting a giant spool of measuring tape like it’s
 a piece of carry-on luggage. He feeds the steel tape down a pipe where 
it snakes hundreds of feet until it strikes water.

This county has already lost more than 80% of the water in its corner
 of the aquifer — the highest percentage loss in the state. In some 
parts of Wallace County, aquifer levels fell seven feet in just the past
 year. That’s seven feet closer to running dry.

Statewide water levels fell by an average of <a href="https://news.ku.edu/2023/03/13/groundwater-levels-fall-across-western-and-south-central-kansas" target="_blank">nearly two feet</a> this year — the third-largest decline since the 1990s — as extreme drought pushed farmers to irrigate crops more than usual.

If the water keeps running out, some of the region’s farms and towns could vanish within a generation or two.

“We’ve still got time in a lot of places,” Wilson said. “In other places, that future is now.”

Many western Kansas farmers have <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-05-05/farmers-trying-to-save-the-ogallala-aquifer-face-tension-from-peers-but-their-profits-are-improving" target="_blank">cut back</a> on how much they irrigate their crops — voluntarily. Others have been forced to adapt as their <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2023-01-10/this-is-do-or-die-western-kansas-farmers-push-to-save-the-ogallala-aquifer-before-its-too-late" target="_blank">wells run dry</a>.
 But after decades of mostly inaction from Kansas leaders, a new push to
 support water conservation at the Statehouse signals that the state may
 finally be shifting toward a more committed, perhaps even mandatory, 
approach to saving the Ogallala.

But preserving the aquifer is a 
tricky balance in these parts. Irrigated farming pays the bills. Rural 
economies and communities depend on it.

Irrigation also 
consumes the largest share of the aquifer’s water — by far. Nearly all 
(94%) of the water used in Wallace County’s regional groundwater 
management district, GMD 1, goes to irrigate crops. Statewide, the 
amount of water pumped from underground and sprayed onto crops averages 
out to more than <a href="https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/water_use?format=html_table&amp;rdb_compression=file&amp;wu_area=State+Total&amp;wu_year=2015&amp;wu_category=IT&amp;wu_category_nms=Irrigation%252C%2BTotal" target="_blank">2 billion gallons per day</a>.

“When
 you're talking about groundwater declines, there’s only two ways to fix
 it,” Wilson said. “You gotta put more water in or you quit taking more 
out.”

But only a tiny fraction of this region’s meager rainfall ends up 
refilling the aquifer. In fact, the Kansas Geological Survey estimates 
that this district’s portion of the aquifer gets used up at nine times the rate that it’s replenished by precipitation.

And
 the rainfall that does trickle down to the depths can take years to do 
so because it has to work its way through hundreds of feet of rock. 
Water that’s finally dripping into the Ogallala’s depths today, for 
instance, may have fallen as a raindrop a decade ago.

On top of that, several towns near here recently wrapped up their <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2023-01-23/how-bad-was-the-2022-drought-for-these-seven-kansas-communities-it-was-the-driest-on-record" target="_blank">driest year</a>
 since humans started keeping records. Some areas got only eight or nine
 inches of water for the whole year. That’s akin to the rain totals 
you’d see in a desert.

But even though this extraordinarily dry 
year highlights the aquifer’s dire straits, Wilson said, people who’ve 
been paying attention to the long saga of depletion in western Kansas 
won’t be surprised.

“We designed our water policy to make this 
happen. We permitted all these wells, knowingly,” Wilson said. “That 
decision was made 40-50 years ago by people who are no longer with us or
 moved on. But now we’re dealing with those ramifications today.”

Decades
 ago, the state freely handed out water rights. That helped irrigated 
farming flourish on the semi-arid plains, but has ended up straining the
 Ogallala more than it can bear. The approach became known as the 
state’s <a href="https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic9/pic9_3.html" target="_blank">policy of planned depletion</a> — gradually emptying the aquifer to support farming.

It
 was good for business. So Kansas leaders have long been wary of 
limiting irrigation. But recent action shows small steps in a new 
direction.

The Kansas Water Authority <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2022-12-15/this-is-the-first-time-the-kansas-water-authority-has-voted-to-save-whats-left-of-the-ogallala" target="_blank">voted for the first time</a> last December that the state should stop draining the aquifer for agriculture. And now Kansas lawmakers have <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2279/" target="_blank">approved a bill</a> that pushes groundwater districts to reduce water use in the areas with the most severe depletion.

The bill would still keep water conservation decisions in the hands 
of local groundwater districts, which recognize how the aquifer’s depth 
and capacity — and the potential solutions to preserve it — vary widely 
from one area to another. But it would force those districts to crack 
down harder.

The districts would need to identify which parts of 
their region are in the worst shape — such as spots where the aquifer 
has fewer than 50 years of usable lifetime remaining — by 2024. Then, 
the districts would need to submit plans to the state for cutting water 
use in those areas by 2026. If they don’t do that, the state could step 
in and decide water conservation plans for them.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2022/b2021_22/measures/hb2686/" target="_blank">Another bill</a>
 that tried to address some of these same water issues last year died 
before making it to a full vote. Advocates blamed the agriculture 
industry for hindering restrictions.

But when this new bill came up for a vote in the House, it passed overwhelmingly — 116 to 6.

It
 found wide-ranging support among groups that don’t always agree, from 
the Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Livestock Association to the Nature 
Conservancy.

So what changed? Why did this bill succeed when 
others have failed? Maybe it’s the ongoing extreme drought. Or the 
threat of even more state involvement as water becomes increasingly 
scarce in the future.

Jim Minnix — a Republican from Scott County, right in the middle of 
Ogallala country, and chair of the House water committee — summed up the
 urgent situation during one of the bill’s hearings. If Kansas wants to 
avoid the fate of states farther west, he said, something needs to 
change.

“We’re here today so that we don’t become what the 
Colorado River Valley or Central California looks like,” said Minnix, 
who is also a western Kansas farmer. “We here in Kansas have an 
opportunity to improve our own future right here. And it starts now.”

To help, the House also <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2302/" target="_blank">passed a second bill</a>
 that would include millions of dollars for a variety of water-related 
projects, such as restoring reservoirs and updating small town treatment
 plants. In the Ogallala region, the bill could fund everything from 
cost-sharing programs that help landowners install more playa lakes that
 encourage aquifer recharge to grants that help farmers buy new 
water-saving technology, including irrigation systems that customize the
 spray rate based on how much water a certain patch of soil needs.

Just
 by getting Kansas farmers to universally adopt the current water-saving
 tools available to them, Minnix estimates the state might be able to 
reduce its water use by up to 20%. That could mean the aquifer’s around 
for another 50 or 100 years, he said, depending on how soon more 
irrigators get on board.

“It’s an issue that I wish we’d started 40 years ago,” Minnix said. “We’d be in a far better situation today.”

But when farming is already a risky, expensive operation, many farmers are hesitant to try something new.

Take the super-efficient <a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/subsurface-drip-irrigation-sdi-4-716/" target="_blank">underground systems</a>
 that drip water directly to the plants’ roots. Jonathan Aguilar, a 
water resources engineer with Kansas State University in Garden City, 
calls them the Cadillac of irrigation. But he estimates only around 5% 
of western Kansas farms use them.

Other tools that don’t cost much to implement, such as <a href="https://extension.umn.edu/irrigation/soil-moisture-sensors-irrigation-scheduling" target="_blank">soil moisture sensors</a>, can make an immediate impact by helping farmers know exactly how much water each piece of ground needs.

“It gives them a good, healthy sleep at the end of the day,” Aguilar said. “It’s not a guessing game anymore.”

Some farmers, Aguilar said, likely start irrigating earlier than they
 need to in the spring or keep watering longer than needed in the fall. 
For nearly half of irrigation systems, he said, conserving could start 
with just making sure they have the right amount of water pressure — 
both too much or too little pressure can hurt efficiency.

Anything we can do now to conserve water buys the state critical time to avoid hitting the aquifer’s point of no return.

“We are not yet there,” Aguilar said. “But we are headed there if we don't make any changes.”

But telling Kansas farmers how much of their water they’re allowed to use will never be easy.

Stafford
 County Republican Brett Fairchild is one of six House lawmakers who 
voted against the groundwater district legislation. People in his part 
of the state, he said, worry the bill could grease a slippery slope 
toward state-dictated irrigation restrictions that infringe on their 
water rights. One constituent he spoke with called the bill a power grab
 by the Legislature.

“People in my area are pretty skeptical of 
passing any water bills,” Fairchild said, “because they think that it 
could result in mandatory water cuts.”

And a new <a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/SRL144.pdf" target="_blank">K-State survey</a>
 of more than 1,000 farmers across the Ogallala region shows a massive 
disconnect between how many of them believe depletion is a problem and 
how many believe they are personally responsible for it.

Sociologist Matt Sanderson, who worked on the survey, says that gap 
hasn’t changed much since the last survey of its kind in 1984.

“People
 talk about this as a crisis. This is not a crisis,” Sanderson said. 
“You don’t have a crisis for 40 years. You have a structural problem.”

In
 that survey nearly four decades ago, 84% of farmers polled said aquifer
 depletion was a serious or very serious problem. That’s roughly the 
same percentage of farmers who responded that they were concerned about 
depletion today.

More than 80% of farmers in the new survey agreed
 that groundwater should be conserved so that future generations can 
enjoy the same benefits of life they have had. Further, 90% responded 
that groundwater is important because it provides tap water for 
communities, and nearly 80% said because it helps the profitability of 
farming.

But more than half of farmers — 58% — said they didn’t feel 
personally responsible for depletion. That includes a majority of the 
irrigation farmers surveyed. Only 20% said they think they should 
personally reduce their water use.

But Sanderson is starting to believe that long-held perspectives about water might finally be changing. 

Between
 what he heard from farmers during the survey and what he’s seen 
happening at the Statehouse this session, he said, Kansas might have 
finally endured enough drought and enough depletion that this year could
 be the tipping point.

“The culture is shifting toward a culture of conservation now,” Sanderson said. “The real question is: Is there enough time?”

It’s vital, he said, to make sure farmers know that if they want to 
conserve water, they’re not on the margins. They’re in the majority.

Saving
 the Ogallala Aquifer, Sanderson said, will take more than shaming the 
irrigators who use it. It will require a shift in the broader systems 
that give western Kansas farmers incentives to grow thirsty crops like 
corn in this dry region to serve a nation clamoring for cheap beef and 
ethanol gasoline — the systems that have built Kansas agriculture into a
 multibillion-dollar enterprise.

“We’ve been wildly successful,” Sanderson said, “and it’s come at a very high cost at the same time.”

The current structure, he said, often keeps farmers running on an “agricultural production treadmill.”

Consumer
 demand, subsidies, crop insurance, Farm Bill policies and other systems
 push farmers to produce as much commodity grain as possible, as cheaply
 as possible. And in a region this dry, irrigation is a shortcut to 
bigger, better harvests.

“That’s what we’ve decided as a country we want,” Sanderson said. “Should we be surprised that farmers are doing it?”

Back in Wallace County, Wilson cranks his spool to reel up measuring 
tape from the depths of the Ogallala. As he walks back to his truck, he 
gets a message from a survey crew member who just checked a well in 
southwest Kansas where the aquifer level dropped 10 feet in one year.

The
 goal, he said, should be to stabilize the aquifer’s levels over the 
next 20 years and then see where things stand. But in order to make it 
there, this part of western Kansas would need to cut water use by 
one-third.

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