PHILLIPS —Monday's storm brought damaging winds, hail and heavy rain to portions of northwest Kansas.

The National Weather Service reported 60 mile per hour wind gusts in Phillips and Smith counties, a land spout near Weskan in Wallace county and hail in Thomas County.

The Phillips County Sheriff asked the public to avoid East 500 Road and US 36 due to power lines down across the highway. The storm also caused damage in the community of Agra, according to the sheriff's office. A roof is in or near the highway and travel is not recommended between Phillipsburg and Smith Center."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689072229080.png" alt="Image during Monday's story NWS Goodland" />
 <figcaption>Image during Monday's story NWS Goodland</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILLIPS —Monday's storm brought damaging winds, hail and heavy rain to portions of northwest Kansas.The National Weather Service reported 60 mile per hour wind gusts in Phillips and Smith counties, a land spout near Weskan in Wallace county and hail in Thomas County.The Phillips County Sheriff asked the public to avoid East 500 Road and US 36 due to power lines down across the highway. The storm also caused damage in the community of Agra, according to the sheriff's office. A roof is in or near the highway and travel is not recommended between Phillipsburg and Smith Center."

Summer storm caused damage in NW Kansas

While meat and poultry are popular choices for grilling, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) reminds us that cooking these foods with intense heat can lead to formation of potential carcinogens. Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) form in meat when its proteins react to the intense heat of the grill. Studies have linked HCAs to development of cancer.

You can modify your grilling technique to reduce the chance of cancer risk. Marinating meat before grilling can decrease formation of HCAs. If you are grilling larger cuts of meat, pre-cook them partially to reduce the time meat is exposed to flame. Trim the fat from meat to reduce flare-ups and charring. Cut meat into smaller portions and mix with vegetables to shorten the cooking time. Another way to minimize cancer risk — grill more veggies!

Grilled vegetables and fruits are delicious, and they are key elements in a healthful diet. The bonus is they don’t form HCAs when cooked, so that cancer risk is eliminated. As you plan cookout meals this summer, include plenty of colorful grilled vegetables and fruits like asparagus, all types of peppers, squash, broccoli, tomatoes, onions, carrots, corn, mushrooms, eggplant, potatoes, mangoes, and pineapple. Even the pickiest eaters will usually enjoy some grilled pineapple! Grilled zucchini is one of my favorites and is a good way to get rid of those extra squash that are so prolific. Or try something new, like grilled lettuce!

Here are basic instructions for grilling veggies and fruit:

· Slice veggies the same thickness so they cook at the same rate.

· Drizzle or brush with olive oil before cooking

· Season simply with a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and any dried herbs you like.

· Grill over medium heat to start. To prevent veggies and fruit from slipping through the grates, lay them crosswise or use a grill basket.

· Close the lid to create the same environment as an oven. Flip halfway through cooking time. More dense vegetables, like peppers and onions, will cook in about 8 to 10 minutes. Squash, eggplant, and asparagus will only require 5 to 7 minutes.

· After removing vegetables and fruit from heat, you can add a splash of balsamic vinegar (flavored varieties add interest) and fresh herbs. Before adding herbs, you may need to add just a bit of olive oil.

One way to add flavor to meals from the grill is with a salsa side. There are so many combinations of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and seasonings to enjoy! So, don’t think of salsa as just a dip with chips. Almost anything savory, salty, meaty, fresh, or slightly sweet is even better with salsa on top: chicken, fish,&nbsp;steak, pork, lamb, or a baked potato. Top a salad with salsa and sliced chicken, boiled eggs, or tuna and you have a winning meal, especially in the heat of summer. Have you tried cucumber salsa? It is great on a salad!

Another benefit of grilling is cooking outside keeps the heat outside and not in your home. Cooking enough for leftovers during the weekend can help with busy weekdays between work and other activities. Grilling can offer a different flavor which can sometimes encourage family to try new foods. Grilling is easy and convenient so go ahead and try a new fruit or vegetable today!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522176561.png" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>While meat and poultry are popular choices for grilling, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) reminds us that cooking these foods with intense heat can lead to formation of potential carcinogens. Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) form in meat when its proteins react to the intense heat of the grill. Studies have linked HCAs to development of cancer.You can modify your grilling technique to reduce the chance of cancer risk. Marinating meat before grilling can decrease formation of HCAs. If you are grilling larger cuts of meat, pre-cook them partially to reduce the time meat is exposed to flame. Trim the fat from meat to reduce flare-ups and charring. Cut meat into smaller portions and mix with vegetables to shorten the cooking time. Another way to minimize cancer risk — grill more veggies!Grilled vegetables and fruits are delicious, and they are key elements in a healthful diet. The bonus is they don’t form HCAs when cooked, so that cancer risk is eliminated. As you plan cookout meals this summer, include plenty of colorful grilled vegetables and fruits like asparagus, all types of peppers, squash, broccoli, tomatoes, onions, carrots, corn, mushrooms, eggplant, potatoes, mangoes, and pineapple. Even the pickiest eaters will usually enjoy some grilled pineapple! Grilled zucchini is one of my favorites and is a good way to get rid of those extra squash that are so prolific. Or try something new, like grilled lettuce!Here are basic instructions for grilling veggies and fruit:· Slice veggies the same thickness so they cook at the same rate.· Drizzle or brush with olive oil before cooking· Season simply with a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and any dried herbs you like.· Grill over medium heat to start. To prevent veggies and fruit from slipping through the grates, lay them crosswise or use a grill basket.· Close the lid to create the same environment as an oven. Flip halfway through cooking time. More dense vegetables, like peppers and onions, will cook in about 8 to 10 minutes. Squash, eggplant, and asparagus will only require 5 to 7 minutes.· After removing vegetables and fruit from heat, you can add a splash of balsamic vinegar (flavored varieties add interest) and fresh herbs. Before adding herbs, you may need to add just a bit of olive oil.One way to add flavor to meals from the grill is with a salsa side. There are so many combinations of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and seasonings to enjoy! So, don’t think of salsa as just a dip with chips. Almost anything savory, salty, meaty, fresh, or slightly sweet is even better with salsa on top: chicken, fish,&nbsp;steak, pork, lamb, or a baked potato. Top a salad with salsa and sliced chicken, boiled eggs, or tuna and you have a winning meal, especially in the heat of summer. Have you tried cucumber salsa? It is great on a salad!Another benefit of grilling is cooking outside keeps the heat outside and not in your home. Cooking enough for leftovers during the weekend can help with busy weekdays between work and other activities. Grilling can offer a different flavor which can sometimes encourage family to try new foods. Grilling is easy and convenient so go ahead and try a new fruit or vegetable today!Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: Grilling fruits, vegetables

The Peterson Farm Bros are scheduled to perform Thursday, July 13th, 2023 during the Trego County Fair.

The concert is hosted by Trego Hospital Endowment Foundation, Inc.

During a break for our performers, Cargill will make a presentation to Trego Hospital Endowment, Inc. for the "TCLMH Renovation &amp; Expansion Project."

“I’m 100 percent using my major and everything I learned in college,” Greg Peterson said. “When I was in college, I did not think that was going to be the case. I’m literally using everything I learned in college in my current professional life.”

Peterson, who graduated from Kansas State University in 2013, earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture communications and journalism, with a minor in music performance. While a junior at K-State, Peterson presented a project idea to his brothers, Nathan and Kendal, who were still in school at Southeast of Saline High School.

“I came up with the Farming and I Grow It parody when I was at a Sonic drive-in with a couple of friends and I’m Sexy and I Know It came on the radio,” Peterson said. “I took that idea home and shared it with Nathan and Kendal when they were still in high school.”

Peterson had made a few other videos prior to the music video parody, featuring activity on the farm and music videos he had recorded.

“I had a few other videos before,” Peterson said. “Just a few simple things. That’s where I learned to edit and make music videos. I’m kind of the one who does all the behind the scene work producing, editing and communicating.”

During ag communication classes at K-State, the content was often focused on brainstorming ways to communicate about the agriculture industry. Peterson’s experience creating simple videos provided the foundation for the idea to use music and make a music video to communicate about agriculture.

“I grew up attending Southeast of Saline, and people always knew we were farm kids, and we were always talking about farming,” Peterson said. “We tried to break some of the stereotypes, maybe that farming was boring or stereotypical things of what farmers would wear or how they would look.”

Creating a parody, and developing new lyrics to an already popular tune, dates back to Southeast of Saline days, also.

“I wrote a parody for English 11 to She’s My Cherry Pie about Henry David Thoreau,” Peterson said. “I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid. It is something that just comes naturally.”

By June of 2012, Peterson had taken his idea from the Sonic Drive-In, and developed the lyrics to the parody I’m Farming and I Grow It, a music video promoting agriculture, that was released on June 25, 2012. The video featured Peterson and his brothers, with their little sister, Laura, behind the camera.

“It got five million views in a week,” Peterson said. “That was the first time we tried to communicate anything about agriculture beyond our friends, and it definitely surpassed our wildest dreams.”

The day the video was released, Peterson went to work in the field, taking his lunch with him. Nathan and Kendal were eating lunch at home, watching the computer tally the views on YouTube, where the music video was released.

“They called and said, ‘Dude, you need to get in here. This video is blowing up,’” Peterson said. “It got up to 20,000 views that next day. We had talked about how many views we would get. We said maybe we will hit 50,000 in the next few years, that was our benchmark. We hit 50,000 in 48 hours.”

According to Peterson, farming came to a standstill that week, as media requests kept coming in. Peterson estimates that he did over 20 interviews in one day, with KSN, KWCH and KAKE in their barn yard all at once, interviewing one brother at a time in different locations on the property.

“Videos go viral all the time now,” Peterson said. “In 2012, there just wasn’t much video content out there, and that was kind of what created the media drive. I have no idea how they got my phone number, because it wasn’t posted anywhere.”

In addition to local, regional and state media, the Peterson Farm Bros were approached by the national media when I’m Farming and I Grow It went viral.

“We got called by Good Morning America first, and they wanted us to dance on their show with the original artists,” Peterson said. “We were uncomfortable with that, so we said no. Looking back, that was a crazy thing to say no.”

Then, Fox and Friends called, and requested a talk show interview.

“They flew us out to New York City and put us up for the night,” Peterson said. “That was an exciting opportunity.”

As the summer of 2012 wound down, Peterson prepared to return back to K-State to complete his senior year, while brother, Nathan, anticipated his first year at K-State as a freshman.

“I made a few random videos in the fall, and we made Farmer Style in December over Christmas break,” Peterson said. “We filmed it in two days, and it wasn’t as finely tuned. We were just trying to get on the Gangnum Style trend. That trend was to create a parody, or dance the Gangnum Style dance. Everybody was talking about Gangnum Style for, like, two months.”

According to Peterson, the Peterson Farm Bros parody video to Gangnum Style, titled Farmer Style, was one of the top five parodies of Gangnum Style.

“Farmer Style has over 18 million views,” Peterson said. “I’m Farming and I Grow It went viral because it was the first of its kind, a parody rap song about farming. I lot of people shared it that are in agriculture. Farmer Style went twice as fast as I’m Farming and I Grow It. It wasn’t circulated as much in the ag community, so it really bridged the gap into urban audiences.”

Since its release, the I’m Farming and I Grow It parody music video, created by the Peterson Farm Bros, has received more than 12 million views. The Farmer Style parody video has more than 18 million views.

“We had so many comments on Farmer Style, where you could tell that people had never seen information about farming in their life,” Peterson said. “It exposed us to the idea that there are a lot of people who really don’t know anything about agriculture. We realized there needs to be some education, beyond just entertainment.”

According to Peterson, the Peterson Farm Bros did not set out to make a bunch of parody videos and educational videos until Farmer Style went viral.

“When both of them went viral, we saw this was a platform,” Peterson said. “I was still in school, so I don’t think we really got started posting content until I graduated and I was home full-time working on the farm. Then, I started making videos a little more consistently.”

According to Peterson, Facebook became the main platform for the Peterson Farm Bros to share videos, with their Facebook page jumping to 100,000 followers pretty quickly.

“For probably five years, we posted videos to YouTube and shared to Facebook,” Peterson said. “Then, they quit getting along. Once Facebook got video, we started uploading to both.”

Videos posted on Facebook would go viral, and Peterson would often post pictures of what he was doing on the farm that day with a caption. Followers would often post comments in the discussion threads, and Peterson would answer questions about agriculture.

“Ever since, that has been just as much what we are doing as the entertainment - the education and answering people’s questions,” Peterson said. “A lot of people had questions just about our farming operation and how it worked, what crops we raised and how we took care of our cattle. There were a lot of misconceptions too … like ‘I’ve heard farmers do this’ or ‘Our food isn’t healthy because of this.’ We spend a lot of time dedicated to answering people’s questions.”

To leverage time, Peterson came up with a blog system, involving answers to some of the more frequently asked questions the Peterson Farm Bros received.

“When the questions would come up, I would refer them to the blog,” Peterson said. “That way we weren’t typing out long comments, multiple times that said the same thing.”

10 years of innovative ag communications

“About every four to six months we do a new parody, because they are such a huge undertaking,” Peterson said. “Sometimes we want to do a parody to a song, but I can’t come up with lyrics to the whole thing. That’s where some medleys come in.”

In April of 2013, the Peterson Farm Bros partnered with the Kansas Department of Agriculture to promote the new From the Land of Kansas trademark program, publishing a YMCA parody titled From the Land of Kansas. This video was followed by a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air parody, titled A Fresh Breath of Farm Air, published in June of 2013. The 10 year collection of videos on the Peterson Farm Bros YouTube channel includes 24 parody music videos, some original songs produced by Peterson and Thomas Cook out of Wichita, Christmas carols family sing alongs and many educational videos focused on work completed on the farm.

“I will write lyrics in a matter of hours or days,” Peterson said. “I wait for the inspiration to hit, and then it comes together. I write a lot of parody lyrics sitting in the tractor seat, or sometimes I will kind of woodshed the lyrics sitting at my desk at home if I really need to get it done.”

Before any filming is done, ideally the Peterson Farm Bros record the audio in Peterson’s recording studio set up in his home.

“When we are filming, we have that audio playing, and we lips sync to our own voices,” Peterson said. “You can’t really record outside in the Kansas wind live. That doesn’t really work.”

Sometimes, when time is limited, the Peterson Farm Bros just memorize the lyrics, and film without audio.

“We’ve gone and filmed scenes multiple times where Nathan and Kendal didn’t even know their audio yet, and I would just tell them the words, and we would film them saying the words,”Peterson said.

The next step Peterson accomplishes in the process of producing a video for the Peterson Farm Bros is story boarding, marking out the scenes he expects to include in each video.

“In our early videos, we wouldn’t really story board,” Peterson said. “We would just mess around until we had filled the video. In our first few videos, our sister was 11 or 12-years-old, and she would sit behind the tripod and she was the one who filmed our videos.”

The video filming is mainly done on an iPhone, with the I’m Farming and I Grow It video filmed on an iPod touch.

“That really dates that first video,” Peterson said. “I think I got an iPhone that start of my senior year of college. Once our sister, Laura, got into high school, we would put the phone on a tripod and let it go.”

Once the audio is recorded and video is filmed, Peterson uses Garage Band to edit audio and iMovie to edit video.

“I’d bought a MacBook Pro my freshman year of college,” Peterson said. “I learned by trial and error, just messing around. By my junior year, I knew pretty much everything I wanted to do on that software.”

The finished product is then uploaded to Facebook and YouTube. Peterson has dabbled with TikTok, posting Farm Life videos to TikTok. The posts have received over three million views, and the Peterson Farm Bros have over 100,000 followers on TikTok.

“TikTok is a totally different language for me,” Peterson said. “That is a young person’s social media game. I’m doing my best to learn it, but we’ve maybe been a little slow to move over to TikTok. If you want to be successful at TikTok, you need to be posting everyday and keep that content relevant. We have enough social media responsibility, we can’t justify that.”

Plus, for the Peterson Farm Bros, YouTube and Facebook are paying the bills.

“We have ads on our videos,” Peterson said. “We get a deal from YouTube and Facebook every month, split three ways. It’s not like we can quit farming. It is worth the time to create all those videos. We don’t make money off the parodies, because they are copyrighted, but the vlogs of what we are doing on the farm, that don’t have music. We make money on those.”

Ten years after I’m Farming and I Grow It, all three Peterson Farm Bros have graduated from high school and Kansas State University, as has their little sister, Laura. Nathan majored in ag technology management, and manages anything on the farm that is technology including GPS and monitors in the equipment helping with precision agriculture practices. Kendal majored in animal science, focusing on the livestock portion of the diversified farming operation located outside of Assaria, where the Peterson Farm Bros videos are shot. In addition to farming, Peterson has coordinated speaking engagements and performances.

“I would say for the last nine years, I’ve been a speaker,” Peterson said. “It’s definitely a hybrid of speaking and performing. It’s almost always half speaking and half entertaining, with speaking in between the songs on a certain subject. It’s advocating on agriculture.”

Peterson speaks at between 50-60 events each year, with the most speaking gigs in one year being 80. Nathan and Kendal average between 30-40 speaking gigs in a year, alternating who comes so that one brother continues working on the farm.

In addition to earning degrees and finding their role in the family farming operation with their parents, David and Marla Peterson, all three Peterson Farm Bros have gotten married, and each have at least one daughter; Kendal has two. Little sister Laura got married, and moved to Nebraska.

“All of our kids are young,” Peterson said. “Things have changed more in the last two years than at any other time since we started doing videos. We are trying to find a new balance between farming time, family time, video time and performing time. It’s still trying to work itself out.” Visit their website at: petersonfarmbrothers.com.

Sponsors and a BIG Thank You to: Cargill, American Family Insurance, Deines Construction, 24/7, BTI, Nutrien, Farm Bureau Insurance, Coffeyville Resources, and Medline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689005914740.png" alt="Peterson Farm Bros (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Peterson Farm Bros (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Peterson Farm Bros are scheduled to perform Thursday, July 13th, 2023 during the Trego County Fair.The concert is hosted by Trego Hospital Endowment Foundation, Inc.During a break for our performers, Cargill will make a presentation to Trego Hospital Endowment, Inc. for the "TCLMH Renovation &amp; Expansion Project."“I’m 100 percent using my major and everything I learned in college,” Greg Peterson said. “When I was in college, I did not think that was going to be the case. I’m literally using everything I learned in college in my current professional life.”Peterson, who graduated from Kansas State University in 2013, earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture communications and journalism, with a minor in music performance. While a junior at K-State, Peterson presented a project idea to his brothers, Nathan and Kendal, who were still in school at Southeast of Saline High School.“I came up with the Farming and I Grow It parody when I was at a Sonic drive-in with a couple of friends and I’m Sexy and I Know It came on the radio,” Peterson said. “I took that idea home and shared it with Nathan and Kendal when they were still in high school.”Peterson had made a few other videos prior to the music video parody, featuring activity on the farm and music videos he had recorded.“I had a few other videos before,” Peterson said. “Just a few simple things. That’s where I learned to edit and make music videos. I’m kind of the one who does all the behind the scene work producing, editing and communicating.”During ag communication classes at K-State, the content was often focused on brainstorming ways to communicate about the agriculture industry. Peterson’s experience creating simple videos provided the foundation for the idea to use music and make a music video to communicate about agriculture.“I grew up attending Southeast of Saline, and people always knew we were farm kids, and we were always talking about farming,” Peterson said. “We tried to break some of the stereotypes, maybe that farming was boring or stereotypical things of what farmers would wear or how they would look.”Creating a parody, and developing new lyrics to an already popular tune, dates back to Southeast of Saline days, also.“I wrote a parody for English 11 to She’s My Cherry Pie about Henry David Thoreau,” Peterson said. “I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid. It is something that just comes naturally.”By June of 2012, Peterson had taken his idea from the Sonic Drive-In, and developed the lyrics to the parody I’m Farming and I Grow It, a music video promoting agriculture, that was released on June 25, 2012. The video featured Peterson and his brothers, with their little sister, Laura, behind the camera.“It got five million views in a week,” Peterson said. “That was the first time we tried to communicate anything about agriculture beyond our friends, and it definitely surpassed our wildest dreams.”The day the video was released, Peterson went to work in the field, taking his lunch with him. Nathan and Kendal were eating lunch at home, watching the computer tally the views on YouTube, where the music video was released.“They called and said, ‘Dude, you need to get in here. This video is blowing up,’” Peterson said. “It got up to 20,000 views that next day. We had talked about how many views we would get. We said maybe we will hit 50,000 in the next few years, that was our benchmark. We hit 50,000 in 48 hours.”According to Peterson, farming came to a standstill that week, as media requests kept coming in. Peterson estimates that he did over 20 interviews in one day, with KSN, KWCH and KAKE in their barn yard all at once, interviewing one brother at a time in different locations on the property.“Videos go viral all the time now,” Peterson said. “In 2012, there just wasn’t much video content out there, and that was kind of what created the media drive. I have no idea how they got my phone number, because it wasn’t posted anywhere.”In addition to local, regional and state media, the Peterson Farm Bros were approached by the national media when I’m Farming and I Grow It went viral.“We got called by Good Morning America first, and they wanted us to dance on their show with the original artists,” Peterson said. “We were uncomfortable with that, so we said no. Looking back, that was a crazy thing to say no.”Then, Fox and Friends called, and requested a talk show interview.“They flew us out to New York City and put us up for the night,” Peterson said. “That was an exciting opportunity.”As the summer of 2012 wound down, Peterson prepared to return back to K-State to complete his senior year, while brother, Nathan, anticipated his first year at K-State as a freshman.“I made a few random videos in the fall, and we made Farmer Style in December over Christmas break,” Peterson said. “We filmed it in two days, and it wasn’t as finely tuned. We were just trying to get on the Gangnum Style trend. That trend was to create a parody, or dance the Gangnum Style dance. Everybody was talking about Gangnum Style for, like, two months.”According to Peterson, the Peterson Farm Bros parody video to Gangnum Style, titled Farmer Style, was one of the top five parodies of Gangnum Style.“Farmer Style has over 18 million views,” Peterson said. “I’m Farming and I Grow It went viral because it was the first of its kind, a parody rap song about farming. I lot of people shared it that are in agriculture. Farmer Style went twice as fast as I’m Farming and I Grow It. It wasn’t circulated as much in the ag community, so it really bridged the gap into urban audiences.”Since its release, the I’m Farming and I Grow It parody music video, created by the Peterson Farm Bros, has received more than 12 million views. The Farmer Style parody video has more than 18 million views.“We had so many comments on Farmer Style, where you could tell that people had never seen information about farming in their life,” Peterson said. “It exposed us to the idea that there are a lot of people who really don’t know anything about agriculture. We realized there needs to be some education, beyond just entertainment.”According to Peterson, the Peterson Farm Bros did not set out to make a bunch of parody videos and educational videos until Farmer Style went viral.“When both of them went viral, we saw this was a platform,” Peterson said. “I was still in school, so I don’t think we really got started posting content until I graduated and I was home full-time working on the farm. Then, I started making videos a little more consistently.”According to Peterson, Facebook became the main platform for the Peterson Farm Bros to share videos, with their Facebook page jumping to 100,000 followers pretty quickly.“For probably five years, we posted videos to YouTube and shared to Facebook,” Peterson said. “Then, they quit getting along. Once Facebook got video, we started uploading to both.”Videos posted on Facebook would go viral, and Peterson would often post pictures of what he was doing on the farm that day with a caption. Followers would often post comments in the discussion threads, and Peterson would answer questions about agriculture.“Ever since, that has been just as much what we are doing as the entertainment - the education and answering people’s questions,” Peterson said. “A lot of people had questions just about our farming operation and how it worked, what crops we raised and how we took care of our cattle. There were a lot of misconceptions too … like ‘I’ve heard farmers do this’ or ‘Our food isn’t healthy because of this.’ We spend a lot of time dedicated to answering people’s questions.”To leverage time, Peterson came up with a blog system, involving answers to some of the more frequently asked questions the Peterson Farm Bros received.“When the questions would come up, I would refer them to the blog,” Peterson said. “That way we weren’t typing out long comments, multiple times that said the same thing.”10 years of innovative ag communications“About every four to six months we do a new parody, because they are such a huge undertaking,” Peterson said. “Sometimes we want to do a parody to a song, but I can’t come up with lyrics to the whole thing. That’s where some medleys come in.”In April of 2013, the Peterson Farm Bros partnered with the Kansas Department of Agriculture to promote the new From the Land of Kansas trademark program, publishing a YMCA parody titled From the Land of Kansas. This video was followed by a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air parody, titled A Fresh Breath of Farm Air, published in June of 2013. The 10 year collection of videos on the Peterson Farm Bros YouTube channel includes 24 parody music videos, some original songs produced by Peterson and Thomas Cook out of Wichita, Christmas carols family sing alongs and many educational videos focused on work completed on the farm.“I will write lyrics in a matter of hours or days,” Peterson said. “I wait for the inspiration to hit, and then it comes together. I write a lot of parody lyrics sitting in the tractor seat, or sometimes I will kind of woodshed the lyrics sitting at my desk at home if I really need to get it done.”Before any filming is done, ideally the Peterson Farm Bros record the audio in Peterson’s recording studio set up in his home.“When we are filming, we have that audio playing, and we lips sync to our own voices,” Peterson said. “You can’t really record outside in the Kansas wind live. That doesn’t really work.”Sometimes, when time is limited, the Peterson Farm Bros just memorize the lyrics, and film without audio.“We’ve gone and filmed scenes multiple times where Nathan and Kendal didn’t even know their audio yet, and I would just tell them the words, and we would film them saying the words,”Peterson said.The next step Peterson accomplishes in the process of producing a video for the Peterson Farm Bros is story boarding, marking out the scenes he expects to include in each video.“In our early videos, we wouldn’t really story board,” Peterson said. “We would just mess around until we had filled the video. In our first few videos, our sister was 11 or 12-years-old, and she would sit behind the tripod and she was the one who filmed our videos.”The video filming is mainly done on an iPhone, with the I’m Farming and I Grow It video filmed on an iPod touch.“That really dates that first video,” Peterson said. “I think I got an iPhone that start of my senior year of college. Once our sister, Laura, got into high school, we would put the phone on a tripod and let it go.”Once the audio is recorded and video is filmed, Peterson uses Garage Band to edit audio and iMovie to edit video.“I’d bought a MacBook Pro my freshman year of college,” Peterson said. “I learned by trial and error, just messing around. By my junior year, I knew pretty much everything I wanted to do on that software.”The finished product is then uploaded to Facebook and YouTube. Peterson has dabbled with TikTok, posting Farm Life videos to TikTok. The posts have received over three million views, and the Peterson Farm Bros have over 100,000 followers on TikTok.“TikTok is a totally different language for me,” Peterson said. “That is a young person’s social media game. I’m doing my best to learn it, but we’ve maybe been a little slow to move over to TikTok. If you want to be successful at TikTok, you need to be posting everyday and keep that content relevant. We have enough social media responsibility, we can’t justify that.”Plus, for the Peterson Farm Bros, YouTube and Facebook are paying the bills.“We have ads on our videos,” Peterson said. “We get a deal from YouTube and Facebook every month, split three ways. It’s not like we can quit farming. It is worth the time to create all those videos. We don’t make money off the parodies, because they are copyrighted, but the vlogs of what we are doing on the farm, that don’t have music. We make money on those.”Ten years after I’m Farming and I Grow It, all three Peterson Farm Bros have graduated from high school and Kansas State University, as has their little sister, Laura. Nathan majored in ag technology management, and manages anything on the farm that is technology including GPS and monitors in the equipment helping with precision agriculture practices. Kendal majored in animal science, focusing on the livestock portion of the diversified farming operation located outside of Assaria, where the Peterson Farm Bros videos are shot. In addition to farming, Peterson has coordinated speaking engagements and performances.“I would say for the last nine years, I’ve been a speaker,” Peterson said. “It’s definitely a hybrid of speaking and performing. It’s almost always half speaking and half entertaining, with speaking in between the songs on a certain subject. It’s advocating on agriculture.”Peterson speaks at between 50-60 events each year, with the most speaking gigs in one year being 80. Nathan and Kendal average between 30-40 speaking gigs in a year, alternating who comes so that one brother continues working on the farm.In addition to earning degrees and finding their role in the family farming operation with their parents, David and Marla Peterson, all three Peterson Farm Bros have gotten married, and each have at least one daughter; Kendal has two. Little sister Laura got married, and moved to Nebraska.“All of our kids are young,” Peterson said. “Things have changed more in the last two years than at any other time since we started doing videos. We are trying to find a new balance between farming time, family time, video time and performing time. It’s still trying to work itself out.” Visit their website at: petersonfarmbrothers.com.Sponsors and a BIG Thank You to: Cargill, American Family Insurance, Deines Construction, 24/7, BTI, Nutrien, Farm Bureau Insurance, Coffeyville Resources, and Medline.

Peterson Farm Bros to perform concert July 13 at Trego Co. Fair

<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/2023/7/1689005069982.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 CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post&nbsp;

The Hays school board will consider the addition of a school resource officer with the assistance of a Safe and Secure Schools grant.

The grant will be for $47,611 with the local school district required to provide an equal match.

Superintendent Ron Wilson said district officials have been in discussions with the Hays Police Department on adding a school resource officer, but the position had not been in the budget for either the HPD or the school district.

The board also will hear a presentation from Shawn Henderson, Hays High School principal, and Heath Meder, Hays High art teacher, on the design process that has been completed over the last two months for the re-design of a new HHS logo/brand.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b03de214-a1e1-44df-8ea5-f597e5e62646">Earlier this year district officials met with the community to discuss the logo for the new high school. A committee assigned to debate the Native American logo decided to keep the Indian mascot, keep the same school colors, but no longer use a person's image as a logo.</a>

The board will hear a budget update as well as an update on the Roosevelt Elementary School bond project.

The board will consider several capital purchases.

The board will hear a request for the purchase of 30 business lab and 15 tech lab desktop machines for the Hays Middle School business lab and tech lab at a cost of $39,600.

It also will consider the purchase of 80 student computers for HHS at a cost of $53,331.

The board also will consider approval of a renovation of the Hays High dish room at a cost of $53,884.

The board also will hear a report on the student handbook, Kansas Association of School Board policies and conduct its annual reorganization.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post&nbsp;The Hays school board will consider the addition of a school resource officer with the assistance of a Safe and Secure Schools grant.The grant will be for $47,611 with the local school district required to provide an equal match.Superintendent Ron Wilson said district officials have been in discussions with the Hays Police Department on adding a school resource officer, but the position had not been in the budget for either the HPD or the school district.The board also will hear a presentation from Shawn Henderson, Hays High School principal, and Heath Meder, Hays High art teacher, on the design process that has been completed over the last two months for the re-design of a new HHS logo/brand.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b03de214-a1e1-44df-8ea5-f597e5e62646">Earlier this year district officials met with the community to discuss the logo for the new high school. A committee assigned to debate the Native American logo decided to keep the Indian mascot, keep the same school colors, but no longer use a person's image as a logo.</a>The board will hear a budget update as well as an update on the Roosevelt Elementary School bond project.The board will consider several capital purchases.The board will hear a request for the purchase of 30 business lab and 15 tech lab desktop machines for the Hays Middle School business lab and tech lab at a cost of $39,600.It also will consider the purchase of 80 student computers for HHS at a cost of $53,331.The board also will consider approval of a renovation of the Hays High dish room at a cost of $53,884.The board also will hear a report on the student handbook, Kansas Association of School Board policies and conduct its annual reorganization.

Hays USD BOE to consider school resource officer

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://hayslibrary.org/" target="_blank">Hays Public Library</a>&nbsp;communications coordinator Callie Kolacny&nbsp;shares updates from the Hays Public Library.

<div><iframe title="Busy summer continues at Hays Public Library" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=f37ha-145252c-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://hayslibrary.org/" target="_blank">Hays Public Library</a>&nbsp;communications coordinator Callie Kolacny&nbsp;shares updates from the Hays Public Library.

🎙 Post Podcast: Busy summer continues at Hays Public Library

Scammers often pretend to help, but they’re just following the money. And now that veterans and servicemembers exposed to toxic substances get expanded benefits and health care through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/" target="_blank">PACT Act</a>, dishonest businesses and scammers are trying to get a cut.

You’ve probably seen the commercials on TV or social media about veterans’ health conditions possibly caused by exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The ads offer so-called help to file a claim. The catch? They’ll charge you a fee, or a percentage of the benefits you get.

What they won’t tell you is that you don’t have to pay to apply for any type of veterans’ benefits, or that free assistance is available. So, if you’re a veteran or servicemember who can use PACT Act benefits, here’s how to keep what you’re entitled to:

If you suspect a scam or run into someone who doesn’t tell you the whole truth about applying for VA benefits, tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

Found this useful? Please share using #MilConsumer2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689004944461.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Federal Trade CommissionScammers often pretend to help, but they’re just following the money. And now that veterans and servicemembers exposed to toxic substances get expanded benefits and health care through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/" target="_blank">PACT Act</a>, dishonest businesses and scammers are trying to get a cut.You’ve probably seen the commercials on TV or social media about veterans’ health conditions possibly caused by exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The ads offer so-called help to file a claim. The catch? They’ll charge you a fee, or a percentage of the benefits you get.What they won’t tell you is that you don’t have to pay to apply for any type of veterans’ benefits, or that free assistance is available. So, if you’re a veteran or servicemember who can use PACT Act benefits, here’s how to keep what you’re entitled to:<ul>
 <li>Learn more about the role of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/vso/#:~:text=What%20is%20an%20accredited%20representative,on%20their%20VA%20benefits%20claims.">accredited representatives and recognized Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs)</a>.</li><li>Use the VA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp" target="_blank">Accreditation Search tool</a>&nbsp;to find free help to file your claim, and to verify the credentials of anyone offering to assist you with a VA claim.</li><li>Submit the application on your own,&nbsp;securely&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/Applying.asp">online</a>&nbsp;via the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or in person at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/offices.asp">VA Regional Office</a>. There’s no cost for the forms and no fee to apply.&nbsp;VA will never charge you to apply for&nbsp;its benefits.</li>
 </ul>If you suspect a scam or run into someone who doesn’t tell you the whole truth about applying for VA benefits, tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Found this useful? Please share using #MilConsumer2023.

FTC: Veterans: You don’t have to pay for help filing for your benefits

GOVE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10a.m. Sunday in Gove County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Impala driven by James D. Ashbaugh, 68, Park,&nbsp;was eastbound on Interstate 70 three miles east of Kansas 23.

The car crossed the median and began to travel eastbound in the westbound lanes. It crossed both the driving and passing lanes and struck a 2023 BMW X series driven by  Danker, Jennifer L. Danker, 51, Mission HIlls, who was exiting at the rest area. 

Both vehicles came to rest in the field north of the interstate 70 and east of the the rest area.

Ashbaugh was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Schmidt Funeral Home. EMS transported Danker to the Gove County Medical Center. Three juveniles were present in the vehicle at the time of the accident; juvenile records are protected data. Ashbaugh was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

GOVE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10a.m. Sunday in Gove County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Impala driven by James D. Ashbaugh, 68, Park,&nbsp;was eastbound on Interstate 70 three miles east of Kansas 23. The car crossed the median and began to travel eastbound in the westbound lanes. It crossed both the driving and passing lanes and struck a 2023 BMW X series driven by Danker, Jennifer L. Danker, 51, Mission HIlls, who was exiting at the rest area. Both vehicles came to rest in the field north of the interstate 70 and east of the the rest area.Ashbaugh was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Schmidt Funeral Home. EMS transported Danker to the Gove County Medical Center. Three juveniles were present in the vehicle at the time of the accident; juvenile records are protected data. Ashbaugh was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas man dies in wrong-way I-70 crash

The Hays Police Department responded to 90 incidents June 25-July 1, 2023 according to the HPD activity log.&nbsp;

<figure>
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 </figure>The Hays Police Department responded to 90 incidents June 25-July 1, 2023 according to the HPD activity log.&nbsp;<figure>
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Hays Police Dept. activity log, June 25 to July 1

Dawson Stevens, 23, of Almena was arrested on Thursday by the Norton Police Department on suspicion of attempted murder in the second degree (five counts), criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

His bond was set at&nbsp;$750,000 cash. As of Thursday, he had been able to post bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689001468499.jpeg" alt="Norton Press release.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Norton Press release.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689001540981.jpeg" alt="Dawson Stevens" />
 <figcaption>Dawson Stevens</figcaption>
 </figure>Dawson Stevens, 23, of Almena was arrested on Thursday by the Norton Police Department on suspicion of attempted murder in the second degree (five counts), criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.His bond was set at&nbsp;$750,000 cash. As of Thursday, he had been able to post bond.

Almena man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder 

The city of Hays has hired T&amp;T Builders to remove and replace portions of MacArthur Road between 20th and 22nd Street.  That portion of MacArthur will be closed starting at 8:00 a.m. on July 10 for pavement removal and replacement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysThe city of Hays has hired T&amp;T Builders to remove and replace portions of MacArthur Road between 20th and 22nd Street. That portion of MacArthur will be closed starting at 8:00 a.m. on July 10 for pavement removal and replacement.

Portion of MacArthur Rd. closed for replacement project in Hays

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will consider the creation of a
committee to distribute funds the county has received from the opioid settlement
at Tuesday’s commission meeting.

According to the agenda, the county is receiving
funds from the Opioid Settlement, and Ellis County District Court Administrator
Mike Smith is asking the commission to create a committee that will consider
funding requests and help properly administer the fund.

There are certain limitations that funding recipients must
meet to receive Opioid Settlement funds.

The commission will consider a proposal to replace a bridge
six miles south of Walker on 370th Avenue over Big Creek. The bridge
was selected for replacement as part of the KDOT 2024 Off System Bridge
Program.

The commission also will consider: • The purchase of a new
server for the county’s Computer Aided Dispatch Center • Six new tasers for the
Ellis County Sheriff’s Department • Adding office space at the EMS building for
an employee of the Kansas Fire &amp; Rescue Training Institute Western
Kansas Training Coordinator • A presentation on the Biden
Administration’s 30x30 land initiative and National Heritages.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission will consider the creation of a
committee to distribute funds the county has received from the opioid settlement
at Tuesday’s commission meeting.According to the agenda, the county is receiving
funds from the Opioid Settlement, and Ellis County District Court Administrator
Mike Smith is asking the commission to create a committee that will consider
funding requests and help properly administer the fund.There are certain limitations that funding recipients must
meet to receive Opioid Settlement funds.The commission will consider a proposal to replace a bridge
six miles south of Walker on 370th Avenue over Big Creek. The bridge
was selected for replacement as part of the KDOT 2024 Off System Bridge
Program.The commission also will consider: • The purchase of a new
server for the county’s Computer Aided Dispatch Center • Six new tasers for the
Ellis County Sheriff’s Department • Adding office space at the EMS building for
an employee of the Kansas Fire &amp; Rescue Training Institute Western
Kansas Training Coordinator • A presentation on the Biden
Administration’s 30x30 land initiative and National Heritages.

Ellis County Commission set to consider creating Opioid Settlement committee

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Center for Life Experience, which supports grief support groups in Hays, has hired a new director, Laura Allen of Hays.

Allen, 50, spent five years at First Call for Help as a client service specialist. She recently graduated with the 2023 Leadership Hays class.

She said making the jump to a non-profit director position would be a better fit for her degree in business, which she earned at Fort Hays State University.

Allen also works part-time with DSNWK and is on the steering committee for the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Hays.

She has two adult sons and a daughter, who is a 2023 Hays High School graduate and will be studying at NCK-Tech in the fall.

"After First Call, I love the idea of non-profits," she said. "I love helping people in different situations. A director position is a really good combination of the two."

Because she is a full-time staff of one, she will still interact regularly with clients.

She hopes to seek new grants to support the organization and will be taking a grant-writing class at FHSU to that end.

She said she would like to get to the point where the center could hire another staff member.

Allen said she has spoken to the board about expanding the center's offerings.

"Grief takes a lot of different forms," she said. "I think there are opportunities there to be a little more inclusive and to find other ways we can support people in the community through different groups or different activities."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/bc5867e5-81b7-47d1-9e44-cf3e0b22e1cd">The center has divided its administration into a director's role, who will be in charge of fundraising and executive functions and will be contracting with individuals to help facilitate its support groups.</a>

The center offers three grief support groups— Healing After Loss, Healing After Loss of Suicide, which is also known as HALOS, and Healing Hearts.

Healing After Loss is for any adult grieving the loss of another adult. It meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month in the center's conference room at Oak Plaza, 103 C. E. 27th St. in Hays.

Healing After Loss of Suicide meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of the month in the center's conference room. As the name implies, this support group is for people who are grieving the loss of someone to suicide.

Healing Hearts is for people who are grieving the loss of a child, no matter what age the child was when he or she died. That group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month in the center's conference room.

All support groups are free and in-person. They are open to anyone in the area, and you do not need to register to attend.

The center also is sponsoring an event for children on July 22.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/696513b0-0369-4a23-8a54-2965ddb56867">The Summer Healing Kids’ Hearts Event will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hays Aquatic Park, Fourth and Main in Hays. The event is open to children ages 6 through 11. Registration is due by Friday.</a>

The youth will participate in craft projects. A taco bar is being donated by Taco Grande for the children and their registered adults. The children will conclude the evening with swim time.

"I think we may have expectations for children and think they maybe are not in tune, or people may not think their grieving is not as significant as an adult's," Allen said. "I don't think that is true. I think it's just a different dynamic."

People come from across northwest Kansas to participate in the center's groups.

Allen said support groups are different than sessions with a therapist. Support group members have similar lived experiences and can offer empathy.

"You don't have to explain yourself, or you can just vent or cry or whatever you have to do, and no one judges you for that," she said. "I think that offers a sense of relief and security that there is a safe place for me to go do that."

If you would like to donate to the center, donation links are on the center's website. You can also donate by mailing a check to the center at Oak Plaza, 103 C. E. 27th St., Hays, KS 67601.

"Hays has a really robust community service community," Allen said. "Working with those folks is something that I'm glad I can continue by coming here."

For more information on the center or its groups, you can call or text 785-259-6859 or email info@cflehope.org. You can also follow the center on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CenterforLifeExperienceinc">Facebook</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688753467308.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Center for Life Experience, which supports grief support groups in Hays, has hired a new director, Laura Allen of Hays.Allen, 50, spent five years at First Call for Help as a client service specialist. She recently graduated with the 2023 Leadership Hays class.She said making the jump to a non-profit director position would be a better fit for her degree in business, which she earned at Fort Hays State University.Allen also works part-time with DSNWK and is on the steering committee for the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Hays.She has two adult sons and a daughter, who is a 2023 Hays High School graduate and will be studying at NCK-Tech in the fall."After First Call, I love the idea of non-profits," she said. "I love helping people in different situations. A director position is a really good combination of the two."Because she is a full-time staff of one, she will still interact regularly with clients.She hopes to seek new grants to support the organization and will be taking a grant-writing class at FHSU to that end.She said she would like to get to the point where the center could hire another staff member.Allen said she has spoken to the board about expanding the center's offerings."Grief takes a lot of different forms," she said. "I think there are opportunities there to be a little more inclusive and to find other ways we can support people in the community through different groups or different activities."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/bc5867e5-81b7-47d1-9e44-cf3e0b22e1cd">The center has divided its administration into a director's role, who will be in charge of fundraising and executive functions and will be contracting with individuals to help facilitate its support groups.</a>The center offers three grief support groups— Healing After Loss, Healing After Loss of Suicide, which is also known as HALOS, and Healing Hearts.Healing After Loss is for any adult grieving the loss of another adult. It meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month in the center's conference room at Oak Plaza, 103 C. E. 27th St. in Hays.Healing After Loss of Suicide meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of the month in the center's conference room. As the name implies, this support group is for people who are grieving the loss of someone to suicide.Healing Hearts is for people who are grieving the loss of a child, no matter what age the child was when he or she died. That group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month in the center's conference room.All support groups are free and in-person. They are open to anyone in the area, and you do not need to register to attend.The center also is sponsoring an event for children on July 22.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/696513b0-0369-4a23-8a54-2965ddb56867">The Summer Healing Kids’ Hearts Event will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hays Aquatic Park, Fourth and Main in Hays. The event is open to children ages 6 through 11. Registration is due by Friday.</a>The youth will participate in craft projects. A taco bar is being donated by Taco Grande for the children and their registered adults. The children will conclude the evening with swim time."I think we may have expectations for children and think they maybe are not in tune, or people may not think their grieving is not as significant as an adult's," Allen said. "I don't think that is true. I think it's just a different dynamic."People come from across northwest Kansas to participate in the center's groups.Allen said support groups are different than sessions with a therapist. Support group members have similar lived experiences and can offer empathy."You don't have to explain yourself, or you can just vent or cry or whatever you have to do, and no one judges you for that," she said. "I think that offers a sense of relief and security that there is a safe place for me to go do that."If you would like to donate to the center, donation links are on the center's website. You can also donate by mailing a check to the center at Oak Plaza, 103 C. E. 27th St., Hays, KS 67601."Hays has a really robust community service community," Allen said. "Working with those folks is something that I'm glad I can continue by coming here."For more information on the center or its groups, you can call or text 785-259-6859 or email info@cflehope.org. You can also follow the center on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CenterforLifeExperienceinc">Facebook</a>.

Center for Life Experience hires new director, continues grief groups

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sam-bailey/">SAM BAILEY</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A new law that went into effect July requires better communication from foster care entities to foster parents and children regarding their rights of safety, security and support.

The Legislature passed the foster care bill of rights in May after dozens of lawmakers and people with experience in the child welfare system&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/18/house-legislation-creates-in-kansas-law-foster-care-bill-of-rights-for-youth-parents/">spoke up for a need for change</a>. While the law requires children and foster parents to be told their rights, major entities involved in the Kansas foster care system say the law may not remedy issues that forced its passing.

Laura Howard, Kansas Department for Children and Families secretary, said she doesn’t know that the law changes much — but a law does hold more weight than an agency policy.

“I think it made clear a number of things that we already had in policy,” Howard said. “We, for example, already had a bill of rights in our policy, but I think by putting it in the law, the level of expectation that that gets communicated to people, that they know what their rights are, I think it’s just far more likely that that becomes kind of a real living part of how the system operates.”

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2024_enrolled.pdf">foster care bill of rights</a>, named in memorial for former Rep. Gail Finney, lists foster children’s rights to safe placement, respect, a place to store personal belongings and have access to healthy food, attend school daily, life-skill training and access to attorneys.

The law also lists rights for foster parents, including being treated by the Department for Children and Families and other agencies with respect and trust, access to training, timely financial reimbursement, advanced notification of court hearings, and continued communication with children if they leave.

Mike Fonkert, deputy director of Kansas Appleseed, said it remains to be seen how the law will affect foster kids, as sometimes policies aren’t followed the way they should be. Kansas Appleseed was part of a group that went to federal court against the state on behalf of foster children in Kansas in 2018. A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/20/judge-orders-kansas-to-pay-nearly-2-3-million-in-legal-fees-and-expenses-in-child-welfare-lawsuit/">$2.3 million settlement</a>&nbsp;was reached in 2021, and the federal court maintains oversight to ensure progress is made in the state foster care system.

“Without serious action from the people involved in the system, this is very much a symbolic change to our foster system,” Fonkert said. “And if we want to continue to honor Rep. Finney, we will dig in and continue to do the hard work of changing our foster care system and better-serving kids and families.”

Finney, a Democrat from Wichita who fought for improvements in the foster care system, helped write a version of the bill before she died in 2022.

Howard said DCF is implementing the law by making sure foster parents and children know what their rights are, and that state contractors respect those rights. One way DCF is doing this is by listing the rights on its website, Howard said.

DCF originally published a version of the foster parent bill of rights that eliminated language from the bill about DCF having a responsibility to treat foster parents with respect. When questioned by Kansas Reflector about the changes, a spokesman said it was a copy-and-paste error. The mistake has since been fixed.

Amy Engel-Hudson, vice president of foster care houses for Saint Francis Ministries, said the law is mainly a “formalized outline” of information that is already given to parents and carried out as best practice.

She said as things that go right in the system are replicated, the system will continue to improve.

“I think there’s always going to be struggles in the system just because you’re dealing with a lot of hurt,” Engel-Hudson said. “And what I don’t think we focus enough time on is all the things that are working well, all the times that you see foster families, the biological families, connect and build a partnership and are able to support that birth family for the kids to move home.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688751979394.jpeg" alt="Laura Howard, secretary for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, appears at a June 27, 2023, event at the agency’s Topeka service center. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Laura Howard, secretary for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, appears at a June 27, 2023, event at the agency’s Topeka service center. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sam-bailey/">SAM BAILEY</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A new law that went into effect July requires better communication from foster care entities to foster parents and children regarding their rights of safety, security and support.The Legislature passed the foster care bill of rights in May after dozens of lawmakers and people with experience in the child welfare system&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/18/house-legislation-creates-in-kansas-law-foster-care-bill-of-rights-for-youth-parents/">spoke up for a need for change</a>. While the law requires children and foster parents to be told their rights, major entities involved in the Kansas foster care system say the law may not remedy issues that forced its passing.Laura Howard, Kansas Department for Children and Families secretary, said she doesn’t know that the law changes much — but a law does hold more weight than an agency policy.“I think it made clear a number of things that we already had in policy,” Howard said. “We, for example, already had a bill of rights in our policy, but I think by putting it in the law, the level of expectation that that gets communicated to people, that they know what their rights are, I think it’s just far more likely that that becomes kind of a real living part of how the system operates.”The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2024_enrolled.pdf">foster care bill of rights</a>, named in memorial for former Rep. Gail Finney, lists foster children’s rights to safe placement, respect, a place to store personal belongings and have access to healthy food, attend school daily, life-skill training and access to attorneys.The law also lists rights for foster parents, including being treated by the Department for Children and Families and other agencies with respect and trust, access to training, timely financial reimbursement, advanced notification of court hearings, and continued communication with children if they leave.Mike Fonkert, deputy director of Kansas Appleseed, said it remains to be seen how the law will affect foster kids, as sometimes policies aren’t followed the way they should be. Kansas Appleseed was part of a group that went to federal court against the state on behalf of foster children in Kansas in 2018. A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/20/judge-orders-kansas-to-pay-nearly-2-3-million-in-legal-fees-and-expenses-in-child-welfare-lawsuit/">$2.3 million settlement</a>&nbsp;was reached in 2021, and the federal court maintains oversight to ensure progress is made in the state foster care system.“Without serious action from the people involved in the system, this is very much a symbolic change to our foster system,” Fonkert said. “And if we want to continue to honor Rep. Finney, we will dig in and continue to do the hard work of changing our foster care system and better-serving kids and families.”Finney, a Democrat from Wichita who fought for improvements in the foster care system, helped write a version of the bill before she died in 2022.Howard said DCF is implementing the law by making sure foster parents and children know what their rights are, and that state contractors respect those rights. One way DCF is doing this is by listing the rights on its website, Howard said.DCF originally published a version of the foster parent bill of rights that eliminated language from the bill about DCF having a responsibility to treat foster parents with respect. When questioned by Kansas Reflector about the changes, a spokesman said it was a copy-and-paste error. The mistake has since been fixed.Amy Engel-Hudson, vice president of foster care houses for Saint Francis Ministries, said the law is mainly a “formalized outline” of information that is already given to parents and carried out as best practice.She said as things that go right in the system are replicated, the system will continue to improve.“I think there’s always going to be struggles in the system just because you’re dealing with a lot of hurt,” Engel-Hudson said. “And what I don’t think we focus enough time on is all the things that are working well, all the times that you see foster families, the biological families, connect and build a partnership and are able to support that birth family for the kids to move home.”

New Kansas foster care law codifies rights to safety, security, support

When thinking about weed control in wheat stubble, there are two priorities – controlling already emerged weeds and preventing later flushes. Making applications before weeds exceed 4 to 6 inches is necessary for good control of already emerged weeds, in an ideal situation, which is hard to come by. Residual herbicides are needed to reduce the number of herbicide applications needed to control multiple flushes of weeds.

Gramoxone (paraquat) is a non-selective, contact herbicide that can be used in fallow fields. It should be applied at 0.5 to 1.0 pounds of paraquat/A, which is equal to 2 to 4 pints of GramoxoneSL 2.0 or 1.3 to 2.7 pints of GramoxoneSL 3.0. Thorough spray coverage is important for good control, which means medium to coarse droplet sizes and greater spray volumes (20 GPA or more). Gramoxone should be applied with NIS, COC, or MSO. Because paraquat is a contact herbicide regrowth is common, especially of large weeds. Adding a Group 5 herbicide, such as atrazine or metribuzin can enhance control of larger weeds and add some residual activity. Atrazine will also help control volunteer wheat. It’s also important to remember that paraquat is a restricted-use pesticide that requires additional training for handling.

Sharpen (saflufenacil) is a Group 14 herbicide that is primarily a contact herbicide but also provides some residual activity. Use 2 to 3 oz/A for larger weeds and residual activity. Sharpen works best with the addition of methylated seed oil. Sharpen requires complete coverage so using 15 to 20 gallons/acre spray solution is important.

Valor (flumioxazin) can provide contact and residual activity of key species like pigweeds. Valor EZ can be applied at 2 to 4 fl oz/A. Crop rotation should be considered when selecting the application rate. The 4 fl oz rate has a 4-month rotation interval for corn, cotton, sorghum, soybean, sunflower, and wheat; but lower rates have fewer restrictions. If targeting emerged weeds, NIS or COC should be included in the application.

All herbicides are most effective when applied to weeds that are actively growing. This means it is necessary to wait for at least 2-3 inches of regrowth if weeds were cut off by the combine. It may be tempting to wait for further delay applications to wait for later weed flushes; however, consider including a product with residual activity, rather than waiting, in order to prevent poor control of large weeds. Additional information can be found in the 2021 Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland, K-State publication SRP-1162.

The use of trade names is for clarity to readers and does not imply endorsement of a particular product, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. Always consult the herbicide label for the most current use requirements.

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

When thinking about weed control in wheat stubble, there are two priorities – controlling already emerged weeds and preventing later flushes. Making applications before weeds exceed 4 to 6 inches is necessary for good control of already emerged weeds, in an ideal situation, which is hard to come by. Residual herbicides are needed to reduce the number of herbicide applications needed to control multiple flushes of weeds.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266615291.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell</figcaption>
 </figure>Gramoxone (paraquat) is a non-selective, contact herbicide that can be used in fallow fields. It should be applied at 0.5 to 1.0 pounds of paraquat/A, which is equal to 2 to 4 pints of GramoxoneSL 2.0 or 1.3 to 2.7 pints of GramoxoneSL 3.0. Thorough spray coverage is important for good control, which means medium to coarse droplet sizes and greater spray volumes (20 GPA or more). Gramoxone should be applied with NIS, COC, or MSO. Because paraquat is a contact herbicide regrowth is common, especially of large weeds. Adding a Group 5 herbicide, such as atrazine or metribuzin can enhance control of larger weeds and add some residual activity. Atrazine will also help control volunteer wheat. It’s also important to remember that paraquat is a restricted-use pesticide that requires additional training for handling.Sharpen (saflufenacil) is a Group 14 herbicide that is primarily a contact herbicide but also provides some residual activity. Use 2 to 3 oz/A for larger weeds and residual activity. Sharpen works best with the addition of methylated seed oil. Sharpen requires complete coverage so using 15 to 20 gallons/acre spray solution is important.Valor (flumioxazin) can provide contact and residual activity of key species like pigweeds. Valor EZ can be applied at 2 to 4 fl oz/A. Crop rotation should be considered when selecting the application rate. The 4 fl oz rate has a 4-month rotation interval for corn, cotton, sorghum, soybean, sunflower, and wheat; but lower rates have fewer restrictions. If targeting emerged weeds, NIS or COC should be included in the application.All herbicides are most effective when applied to weeds that are actively growing. This means it is necessary to wait for at least 2-3 inches of regrowth if weeds were cut off by the combine. It may be tempting to wait for further delay applications to wait for later weed flushes; however, consider including a product with residual activity, rather than waiting, in order to prevent poor control of large weeds. Additional information can be found in the 2021 Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland, K-State publication SRP-1162.The use of trade names is for clarity to readers and does not imply endorsement of a particular product, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. Always consult the herbicide label for the most current use requirements.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.

Campbell: Considerations for weed control following wheat harvest

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688751650003.jpeg" alt="" />
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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>

BY TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Fort Hays University Shotgun Team announced on June 21 the retirement of head coach Duane Shepard.

After 18 years of hard work as a coach, Shepard will be stepping down at age 67 to become an adviser as he passes the torch to someone else.&nbsp;

Shepherd's interest in shooting began in his early 40s when he was teaching adapted and physical education at FHSU.&nbsp;

Shepard was approached by a couple of young men with the idea of putting a team together for FHSU in 2005. In the following years, Shepard taught students with little experience how to shoot until the team gained enough traction that many who joined already had skills.&nbsp;

Following his retirement announcement, Shepard said what he was most proud of was his students.

“All of them have turned into very good community members. They've been a stand-up group,” he said. “Shooting targets requires a lot of physical as well as a ton of the mental aspect of it to be successful.”

Shepherd's shotgun team has won 11 national championships and roughly 18 All-American titles.&nbsp;

Shepard said being a coach is a challenge in itself but having to work around student schedules for the best learning opportunities was a daily obstacle.

“Learning to put the kids in the best position possible to be successful because winning the championship is the end result. It's the work and everything that goes into it upfront,” he said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688660798879.jpeg" alt="Duane and Teresa Shepard. Photo Courtesy FHSU Shooting Club and Team " />
 <figcaption>Duane and Teresa Shepard. Photo Courtesy FHSU Shooting Club and Team </figcaption>
 </figure>BY TONY GUERRERO Hays Post The Fort Hays University Shotgun Team announced on June 21 the retirement of head coach Duane Shepard.After 18 years of hard work as a coach, Shepard will be stepping down at age 67 to become an adviser as he passes the torch to someone else.&nbsp;Shepherd's interest in shooting began in his early 40s when he was teaching adapted and physical education at FHSU.&nbsp;Shepard was approached by a couple of young men with the idea of putting a team together for FHSU in 2005. In the following years, Shepard taught students with little experience how to shoot until the team gained enough traction that many who joined already had skills.&nbsp;Following his retirement announcement, Shepard said what he was most proud of was his students.“All of them have turned into very good community members. They've been a stand-up group,” he said. “Shooting targets requires a lot of physical as well as a ton of the mental aspect of it to be successful.”Shepherd's shotgun team has won 11 national championships and roughly 18 All-American titles.&nbsp;Shepard said being a coach is a challenge in itself but having to work around student schedules for the best learning opportunities was a daily obstacle.“Learning to put the kids in the best position possible to be successful because winning the championship is the end result. It's the work and everything that goes into it upfront,” he said.&nbsp;States that Shepard has visited for recruiting new members include Colorado, Alaska and Wisconsin.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688661117041.jpeg" alt="Coach Jerrod Lies. Photo Courtesy FHSU Shooting Club and Team " />
 <figcaption>Coach Jerrod Lies. Photo Courtesy FHSU Shooting Club and Team </figcaption>
 </figure>Jerrod Lies has been the assistant coach for two years and is taking over for Shepard as he retires.&nbsp;Shepard said Lies understands the program and has high hopes that he’ll lead the team in the right direction.&nbsp;“My expectations for him are the same expectations I had of him when he was a shooter, putting 110 percent into it. You'll be as successful as you choose to be,” Shepard said.&nbsp;Lies began shooting when he was 11 years old and is now going into his 18th competitive season at 28.&nbsp;His love of the sport started in a local 4-H program in his hometown of Mineola. Initially thinking he’d stop after two years of the program, Lies moved on to better guns and continued to shoot all throughout high school.&nbsp;Lies made his way to the FHSU shooting team in fall 2014 where he’d train under Shepard for the next five seasons. During that time, he won three national championships, three national runner-ups and became a Collegiate All-American.&nbsp;Lies said the goals for the team going into the new season will remain the same as Shepard always had.&nbsp;“Every shoot we go to, every competition we go to, when we pull up, it's time to go to work. We're there to win. We're there for the team high overall.” Lies said.&nbsp;Going into the 2023-2024 season, Lies said there will be minor changes in practice and shooting but overall, the system will remain the same as it did under Shepard, acknowledging its effectiveness.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lies believes that despite learning a lot in his two years of assistant coach, he still has a lot to learn as he is determined to be the best coach he can be.“The challenge for me that I put upon myself is to always keep striving to be a better coach for these kids because it's my job to put them in a position to be successful. My challenge is always living up to that and putting them in the best situation possible,” Lies said.&nbsp;Lies described Shepard as one in a million, feeling blessed to have shot and coached with him.&nbsp;“He's someone that I greatly admire and look up to, not just for shooting, but being a good man, being a good person,” Lies said. “The impact he's had on the kids, on the program and on the school will never be forgotten.”

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