GOODLAND — Northwest Tech&nbsp;continues to demonstrate strong&nbsp;national graduation rate rankings, according to a recent report published by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The Almanac, an annual publication produced by The Chronicle of Higher Education, provides national insights on data and trends throughout higher education.&nbsp;The&nbsp;college has&nbsp;maintained&nbsp;steady success with graduation rates,&nbsp;and&nbsp;this year Northwest Tech was ranked #21&nbsp;among&nbsp;815&nbsp;two-year publicly-funded colleges in the United States. The new ranking places&nbsp;Northwest Tech&nbsp;among the top 3% in success rates in the nation.&nbsp;Perhaps more remarkable is the college has been among the Top 25 for six out of the last seven years.&nbsp; “We are&nbsp;proud&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;ability to&nbsp;produce consistently&nbsp;high graduation rates, and it serves as a reflection of the commitment by our faculty and staff to&nbsp;provide pathways and support for our&nbsp;students&nbsp;to&nbsp;reach graduation,” said Northwest Tech President Ben Schears.&nbsp;“One of the beauties of Northwest Tech is that we are small, responsive, and can provide a more individualized learning experience for our students that larger institutions simply cannot deliver.”&nbsp;Schears indicated the small campus and classes, combined with the high amount of contact time students have with faculty members is the real key for the college. “When students walk down our hallways, we know them and often know&nbsp;aspects&nbsp;of their personal story. If they miss class, we are willing and able to reach out and see why,” said Schears. According to the latest Almanac, Kansas&nbsp;public&nbsp;two-year colleges&nbsp;had a total of&nbsp;four&nbsp;institutions in the rankings – all of whom were Kansas technical colleges:&nbsp;NCK Tech (#9),&nbsp;Flint Hills&nbsp;Tech (#10),&nbsp;Salina Tech (#15), and Northwest Tech (#21).&nbsp;“Kansas technical colleges have&nbsp;incredibly high success rates&nbsp;and frankly, we’re very effective at the work we do,” said Schears. “Our role is to develop skilled labor for&nbsp;a hungry&nbsp;workforce,&nbsp;and it is great to see that reflected in national graduation rankings.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664296465675.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseGOODLAND — Northwest Tech&nbsp;continues to demonstrate strong&nbsp;national graduation rate rankings, according to a recent report published by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The Almanac, an annual publication produced by The Chronicle of Higher Education, provides national insights on data and trends throughout higher education.&nbsp;The&nbsp;college has&nbsp;maintained&nbsp;steady success with graduation rates,&nbsp;and&nbsp;this year Northwest Tech was ranked #21&nbsp;among&nbsp;815&nbsp;two-year publicly-funded colleges in the United States. The new ranking places&nbsp;Northwest Tech&nbsp;among the top 3% in success rates in the nation.&nbsp;Perhaps more remarkable is the college has been among the Top 25 for six out of the last seven years.&nbsp; “We are&nbsp;proud&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;ability to&nbsp;produce consistently&nbsp;high graduation rates, and it serves as a reflection of the commitment by our faculty and staff to&nbsp;provide pathways and support for our&nbsp;students&nbsp;to&nbsp;reach graduation,” said Northwest Tech President Ben Schears.&nbsp;“One of the beauties of Northwest Tech is that we are small, responsive, and can provide a more individualized learning experience for our students that larger institutions simply cannot deliver.”&nbsp;Schears indicated the small campus and classes, combined with the high amount of contact time students have with faculty members is the real key for the college. “When students walk down our hallways, we know them and often know&nbsp;aspects&nbsp;of their personal story. If they miss class, we are willing and able to reach out and see why,” said Schears. According to the latest Almanac, Kansas&nbsp;public&nbsp;two-year colleges&nbsp;had a total of&nbsp;four&nbsp;institutions in the rankings – all of whom were Kansas technical colleges:&nbsp;NCK Tech (#9),&nbsp;Flint Hills&nbsp;Tech (#10),&nbsp;Salina Tech (#15), and Northwest Tech (#21).&nbsp;“Kansas technical colleges have&nbsp;incredibly high success rates&nbsp;and frankly, we’re very effective at the work we do,” said Schears. “Our role is to develop skilled labor for&nbsp;a hungry&nbsp;workforce,&nbsp;and it is great to see that reflected in national graduation rankings.”

Northwest Tech repeats top 3% in national graduation rates

🎥🏈 Watch This Week's Tiger Talk

Nelson Krueger, a 1972 graduate of Fort Hays State University, looks forward to attending FHSU Homecoming in just a few short weeks as he says the weekend events evoke warm memories and nostalgia.&nbsp;

During the annual celebration, Nelson will be inducted into the university’s Half Century Club for having graduated from FHSU 50 years ago. In addition, Nelson is serving as the Half Century Club host for the Class of 1972 and is looking forward to seeing many familiar faces on campus.&nbsp;

“It’s our 50th&nbsp;reunion, and that’s reason enough to celebrate,” he said.

One Homecoming stands out against the rest for Krueger as he met his wife, Judy, during FHSU Homecoming years ago and recalls holding her hand at Lewis Field. They later married in 1967. A few years later in 1972, he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration.&nbsp;

While attending Fort Hays State, Krueger was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda and served as a pledge father for several fraternity members. After graduation, he remained involved with FHSU by serving on the Alumni Association board from 1978-1981 and the Foundation Board of Trustees from 2004-2006.&nbsp;

His lifelong passion for airplanes directed his career as a pilot and instructor. At just 21 years old, Krueger became a flight engineer and was Trans World Airlines’ youngest pilot. In 1979, Krueger flew Pope John Paul II on Shepherd One for a tour of the United States. He then taught generations of pilots how to fly, including the Trans World Airline’s first five female pilots.&nbsp;

“For a boy that grew up in a rural town like Natoma, Kansas, to go through Fort Hays State and be allowed to fly a $200 million airplane carrying 450 passengers is amazing,” Krueger said.&nbsp;

Now, 50 years later, Krueger is reminded of his favorite memories of Fort Hays State University and Homecoming and is looking forward to this year’s festivities. When asked what he’s most looking forward to, Krueger says he can’t wait to be reunited with his classmates.&nbsp;

Of all Homecoming festivities, the most nostalgic to Krueger is the annual bonfire and snake dance. Each year, students join hand in hand and work the snake down to the bonfire location to kick off the weekend celebrations. &nbsp;

“The bonfire was always a big attraction. We could sit by the fire and enjoy the camaraderie and atmosphere,” he recalls.&nbsp;

In addition to seeing his peers and reminiscing over fond memories shared, Krueger can’t wait to see how much the beautiful Fort Hays State University campus has changed through the years.&nbsp;

“I can’t wait to sit by the fountain in front of Picken Hall where I used to look into the reflecting pool and daydream,” Krueger said.&nbsp;

Homecoming will take place Oct. 6-8 and has a lot in store for those returning home to Fort Hays State. For a full schedule of events, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtCICcv7Yeu2svFs97iFDFy16cETtgLJH7eLfsIAjA4BwQ_L0_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2BSHKd97ucQI9CTQTRTNIHIjFAS9j7XjEaTNgo831RMlHImGsRkZnbGNryuGWl1VP8UbKZb9U2kb5Fwd1w6Xb4N4yhHaXpcsIGhMmsjrMhCQTwN2OWlxmrMwzhTa-2BUaQsyNDp-2FRMWwvXO4yJlfH5nEpiU7QVVPt-2BYT8dpLe3QHEnMl-2FH2oSRe0Filz7kHcizVk-2BVpjblz6QjcIOwBQO7SpgjZBgkKWB31BvwanO-2F2L15-2FvfvXok0VZCe0QB8owlXcx">https://fhsuhomecoming.com</a>. Note that select events require advanced registration, which closes on Sept. 29. For questions or additional information, contact the FHSU Alumni Association at 785-628-4430 or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:alumni@fhsu.edu">alumni@fhsu.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664205611907.png" alt="Nelson Krueger" />
 <figcaption>Nelson Krueger</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU Alumni AssociationNelson Krueger, a 1972 graduate of Fort Hays State University, looks forward to attending FHSU Homecoming in just a few short weeks as he says the weekend events evoke warm memories and nostalgia.&nbsp;During the annual celebration, Nelson will be inducted into the university’s Half Century Club for having graduated from FHSU 50 years ago. In addition, Nelson is serving as the Half Century Club host for the Class of 1972 and is looking forward to seeing many familiar faces on campus.&nbsp;“It’s our 50th&nbsp;reunion, and that’s reason enough to celebrate,” he said.One Homecoming stands out against the rest for Krueger as he met his wife, Judy, during FHSU Homecoming years ago and recalls holding her hand at Lewis Field. They later married in 1967. A few years later in 1972, he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration.&nbsp;While attending Fort Hays State, Krueger was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda and served as a pledge father for several fraternity members. After graduation, he remained involved with FHSU by serving on the Alumni Association board from 1978-1981 and the Foundation Board of Trustees from 2004-2006.&nbsp;His lifelong passion for airplanes directed his career as a pilot and instructor. At just 21 years old, Krueger became a flight engineer and was Trans World Airlines’ youngest pilot. In 1979, Krueger flew Pope John Paul II on Shepherd One for a tour of the United States. He then taught generations of pilots how to fly, including the Trans World Airline’s first five female pilots.&nbsp;“For a boy that grew up in a rural town like Natoma, Kansas, to go through Fort Hays State and be allowed to fly a $200 million airplane carrying 450 passengers is amazing,” Krueger said.&nbsp;Now, 50 years later, Krueger is reminded of his favorite memories of Fort Hays State University and Homecoming and is looking forward to this year’s festivities. When asked what he’s most looking forward to, Krueger says he can’t wait to be reunited with his classmates.&nbsp;Of all Homecoming festivities, the most nostalgic to Krueger is the annual bonfire and snake dance. Each year, students join hand in hand and work the snake down to the bonfire location to kick off the weekend celebrations. &nbsp;“The bonfire was always a big attraction. We could sit by the fire and enjoy the camaraderie and atmosphere,” he recalls.&nbsp;In addition to seeing his peers and reminiscing over fond memories shared, Krueger can’t wait to see how much the beautiful Fort Hays State University campus has changed through the years.&nbsp;“I can’t wait to sit by the fountain in front of Picken Hall where I used to look into the reflecting pool and daydream,” Krueger said.&nbsp;Homecoming will take place Oct. 6-8 and has a lot in store for those returning home to Fort Hays State. For a full schedule of events, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtCICcv7Yeu2svFs97iFDFy16cETtgLJH7eLfsIAjA4BwQ_L0_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2BSHKd97ucQI9CTQTRTNIHIjFAS9j7XjEaTNgo831RMlHImGsRkZnbGNryuGWl1VP8UbKZb9U2kb5Fwd1w6Xb4N4yhHaXpcsIGhMmsjrMhCQTwN2OWlxmrMwzhTa-2BUaQsyNDp-2FRMWwvXO4yJlfH5nEpiU7QVVPt-2BYT8dpLe3QHEnMl-2FH2oSRe0Filz7kHcizVk-2BVpjblz6QjcIOwBQO7SpgjZBgkKWB31BvwanO-2F2L15-2FvfvXok0VZCe0QB8owlXcx">https://fhsuhomecoming.com</a>. Note that select events require advanced registration, which closes on Sept. 29. For questions or additional information, contact the FHSU Alumni Association at 785-628-4430 or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:alumni@fhsu.edu">alumni@fhsu.edu</a>.

1972 graduate excited for Fort Hays State homecoming

Project is part of $65M national project to further sorghum as ‘climate-smart commodity’&nbsp;

By PAT MELGARES K-State Research &amp; Extension&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University researchers say a $2 million grant that they received recently will help to modernize recommendations for applying nitrogen to sorghum in a three-state region, ultimately boosting the value of grain sorghum in the United States.&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension environmental quality specialist Peter Tomlinson said the grant is part of a five-year, $65 million award to the National Sorghum Producers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities">Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities</a>&nbsp;project.&nbsp;

The grant was announced in mid-September.&nbsp;

“This is a watershed day for the sorghum industry,” said Tim Lust, CEO of the National Sorghum Producers, calling sorghum a “resource-conserving crop. We appreciate the USDA for the opportunity to realize sorghum’s potential as a climate-smart commodity.”&nbsp;

According to Lust, the overall project creates a pathway to quantify, track and verify the impact of all practices related to sorghum production with the intent to “monetize these practices in ecosystems services markets of all kinds.” The initial focus, Lust said, is low carbon fuel markets.&nbsp;

Tomlinson noted that K-State’s work will be part of a three-state effort with colleagues at Oklahoma State University and Texas A&amp;M University.&nbsp;

“One of the things we had hoped to do in the last couple years is to modernize our soil fertility recommendations for grain sorghum,” Tomlinson said. “This project will provide funding to do that, particularly around our recommendations for applying nitrogen.”&nbsp;

In Kansas, field trials will be conducted in Manhattan (led by Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, a professor of soil fertility and nutrient management); Hays (led by soil scientist Augustine Obour); and Colby (led by northwest area agronomist Lucas Haag). Tomlinson is the project leader.&nbsp;

Similar trials will be set up in Oklahoma and Texas, Tomlinson said. Most of the work is in dryland settings, though some trials with limited irrigation will be tested in Texas.&nbsp;

“We believe that through all of these combined efforts over the next four years, we will be able to modernize and advance the N recommendations for grain sorghum across the region,” Tomlinson said.&nbsp;

He added that modernizing the recommendations for nitrogen in sorghum production will allow producers to apply nitrogen in proper amounts, while maximizing yields.&nbsp;

That’s important, for example, in markets like the California ethanol market, which has stringent guidelines for verifying how a crop is grown. To capitalize on such markets, Tomlinson said “we need to be able to show that grain sorghum is produced sustainably and efficiently.”&nbsp;

“The other piece of that,” he said, “is when they develop a carbon intensity score (a measure of hydrocarbons emitted versus the amount of energy consumed) for grain sorghum, nitrogen plays an important part in that calculation. Through this work, if we can find that we can reduce nitrogen recommendations even by a couple percentage points, we may be able to ultimately reduce that carbon intensity score for grain sorghum.”&nbsp;

The $65 million project is funded for five years, but Tomlinson said he hopes to complete the nitrogen management project in four, “so that we have time in the final year to communicate the findings and incorporate those into our extension programs across the region.”&nbsp;

“We’ll see how the fertility trials pan out over the next couple of years, but if we can optimize our nitrogen application rates, that comes with the added benefits of reducing nitrogen runoff and leaching,” he said. “It speaks to the overall sustainability efforts of improving our crop production systems. Water quality is essential to my position, and even though we won’t be directly looking at water quality, we know that there are added benefits to the crop production system if we can optimize our nitrogen rates and reduce excess nitrogen.”&nbsp;

More information on USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities">available online</a>. The National Sorghum Producers also has&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.com/climatesmart/">published information on the project online.</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664199213239.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Project is part of $65M national project to further sorghum as ‘climate-smart commodity’&nbsp;</h2>By PAT MELGARES K-State Research &amp; Extension&nbsp;MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University researchers say a $2 million grant that they received recently will help to modernize recommendations for applying nitrogen to sorghum in a three-state region, ultimately boosting the value of grain sorghum in the United States.&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension environmental quality specialist Peter Tomlinson said the grant is part of a five-year, $65 million award to the National Sorghum Producers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities">Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities</a>&nbsp;project.&nbsp;The grant was announced in mid-September.&nbsp;“This is a watershed day for the sorghum industry,” said Tim Lust, CEO of the National Sorghum Producers, calling sorghum a “resource-conserving crop. We appreciate the USDA for the opportunity to realize sorghum’s potential as a climate-smart commodity.”&nbsp;According to Lust, the overall project creates a pathway to quantify, track and verify the impact of all practices related to sorghum production with the intent to “monetize these practices in ecosystems services markets of all kinds.” The initial focus, Lust said, is low carbon fuel markets.&nbsp;Tomlinson noted that K-State’s work will be part of a three-state effort with colleagues at Oklahoma State University and Texas A&amp;M University.&nbsp;“One of the things we had hoped to do in the last couple years is to modernize our soil fertility recommendations for grain sorghum,” Tomlinson said. “This project will provide funding to do that, particularly around our recommendations for applying nitrogen.”&nbsp;In Kansas, field trials will be conducted in Manhattan (led by Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, a professor of soil fertility and nutrient management); Hays (led by soil scientist Augustine Obour); and Colby (led by northwest area agronomist Lucas Haag). Tomlinson is the project leader.&nbsp;Similar trials will be set up in Oklahoma and Texas, Tomlinson said. Most of the work is in dryland settings, though some trials with limited irrigation will be tested in Texas.&nbsp;“We believe that through all of these combined efforts over the next four years, we will be able to modernize and advance the N recommendations for grain sorghum across the region,” Tomlinson said.&nbsp;He added that modernizing the recommendations for nitrogen in sorghum production will allow producers to apply nitrogen in proper amounts, while maximizing yields.&nbsp;That’s important, for example, in markets like the California ethanol market, which has stringent guidelines for verifying how a crop is grown. To capitalize on such markets, Tomlinson said “we need to be able to show that grain sorghum is produced sustainably and efficiently.”&nbsp;“The other piece of that,” he said, “is when they develop a carbon intensity score (a measure of hydrocarbons emitted versus the amount of energy consumed) for grain sorghum, nitrogen plays an important part in that calculation. Through this work, if we can find that we can reduce nitrogen recommendations even by a couple percentage points, we may be able to ultimately reduce that carbon intensity score for grain sorghum.”&nbsp;The $65 million project is funded for five years, but Tomlinson said he hopes to complete the nitrogen management project in four, “so that we have time in the final year to communicate the findings and incorporate those into our extension programs across the region.”&nbsp;“We’ll see how the fertility trials pan out over the next couple of years, but if we can optimize our nitrogen application rates, that comes with the added benefits of reducing nitrogen runoff and leaching,” he said. “It speaks to the overall sustainability efforts of improving our crop production systems. Water quality is essential to my position, and even though we won’t be directly looking at water quality, we know that there are added benefits to the crop production system if we can optimize our nitrogen rates and reduce excess nitrogen.”&nbsp;More information on USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities">available online</a>. The National Sorghum Producers also has&nbsp;<a href="https://sorghumgrowers.com/climatesmart/">published information on the project online.</a>&nbsp;

K-State: Hays, Colby part of $2M sorghum research project

GREAT BEND — Shelby Zuniga has accepted the position of 
Sunflower Diversified Services executive director.

Zuniga, a Great
 Bend native, had served as the interim executive director for the past 
few months while maintaining her chief financial officer duties.

Sunflower serves children and adults with developmental disabilities and delays in central Kansas.

“After
 nearly three years under my belt at Sunflower, and now that our twins 
are almost two years old, I know I can take on the enormous 
responsibilities of this position,” Zuniga said. “Jon Prescott (former 
executive director) and I worked hand-in-hand on pretty much everything,
 which has made the transition pain-free.

“In addition, Sunflower 
has an amazing group of next-generation leaders at the helm. All the 
credit of our success goes to them and the individuals we support. I am 
blessed to be part of this team effort and excited to see what the 
future holds.”

Recent and ongoing successful projects include:

·&nbsp; The extensive remodel of the Community Habilitation Services facility at the manufacturing plant;

·&nbsp; Early Education Center playground improvements, which recently received a $10,000 boost from 100+ People Who Care;

·&nbsp; A Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment grant for a new forklift that was recently delivered; and

·&nbsp; The use of the lot behind Sunflower Recycling Center for the citywide cleanup, in partnership with the city of Great Bend.

“These
 and other projects allow us to serve people and support our community 
every single day,” Zuniga said. “Sunflower staff support allows 
individuals to live the best lives possible because they gain skills, 
enhance their quality of life and reach new levels of independence.”

Zuniga and her husband, Juan, are the parents of twin girls, Isabella and Sophia.

“Shelby 
has grown into the kind of young leader needed to continue with the 
positive growth of Sunflower," said Scott Donovan, a member of Sunflower’s recruitment committee. "She has local roots and has grown to love 
her job of serving people with disabilities.

“Shelby has an incredible business sense too. We are ready to watch her continue to lead and grow.”

In its 57th year, Sunflower serves infants, toddlers and adults in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664199758086.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GREAT BEND — Shelby Zuniga has accepted the position of 
Sunflower Diversified Services executive director.Zuniga, a Great
 Bend native, had served as the interim executive director for the past 
few months while maintaining her chief financial officer duties.Sunflower serves children and adults with developmental disabilities and delays in central Kansas.“After
 nearly three years under my belt at Sunflower, and now that our twins 
are almost two years old, I know I can take on the enormous 
responsibilities of this position,” Zuniga said. “Jon Prescott (former 
executive director) and I worked hand-in-hand on pretty much everything,
 which has made the transition pain-free.“In addition, Sunflower 
has an amazing group of next-generation leaders at the helm. All the 
credit of our success goes to them and the individuals we support. I am 
blessed to be part of this team effort and excited to see what the 
future holds.”Recent and ongoing successful projects include:·&nbsp; The extensive remodel of the Community Habilitation Services facility at the manufacturing plant;·&nbsp; Early Education Center playground improvements, which recently received a $10,000 boost from 100+ People Who Care;·&nbsp; A Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment grant for a new forklift that was recently delivered; and·&nbsp; The use of the lot behind Sunflower Recycling Center for the citywide cleanup, in partnership with the city of Great Bend.“These
 and other projects allow us to serve people and support our community 
every single day,” Zuniga said. “Sunflower staff support allows 
individuals to live the best lives possible because they gain skills, 
enhance their quality of life and reach new levels of independence.”Zuniga and her husband, Juan, are the parents of twin girls, Isabella and Sophia.“Shelby 
has grown into the kind of young leader needed to continue with the 
positive growth of Sunflower," said Scott Donovan, a member of Sunflower’s recruitment committee. "She has local roots and has grown to love 
her job of serving people with disabilities.“Shelby has an incredible business sense too. We are ready to watch her continue to lead and grow.”In its 57th year, Sunflower serves infants, toddlers and adults in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.&nbsp;

Zuniga named executive director at Sunflower Diversified

<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/2022/9/1664218102288.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

Chronic&nbsp;wasting&nbsp;disease is a debilitating, fatal disease that attacks the central nervous system of whitetail deer, mule deer, moose, caribou&nbsp;and&nbsp;elk, actually resulting in small holes developing in their brains.&nbsp;CWD was first diagnosed in captive animals in Colorado and Wyoming in the late&nbsp;1960s and 1970s, and&nbsp;was&nbsp;seen in free ranging animals in the early 1980s.&nbsp;

Kansas’s fish and game officials have been testing hunter-harvested Kansas deer since 1996, and&nbsp;during the 2005 firearms season, the first documented case was discovered in a whitetail doe taken near the Cheyenne Co. town of St. Francis, in the northwestern corner of the state.&nbsp;Later that year&nbsp;KDWP staff harvested 50&nbsp;deer, 29 mule deer and 21 whitetails within a 15-mile radius of where the infected doe was shot. Tissue samples from each deer were collected at a field lab and sent to KSU for analysis, and all 50&nbsp;dear tested negative for CWD&nbsp;at the time.&nbsp;

Many thousands of&nbsp;both&nbsp;wild&nbsp;and captive&nbsp;mule deer and whitetail deer&nbsp;have been tested for CWD since testing first began in KS in 1996, and the disease continues to spread.&nbsp;Last year, during the 2021&nbsp;–&nbsp;2022&nbsp;deer season, 190 new positive tests were confirmed, bring the total&nbsp;to 738 positive tests for Chronic Wasting Disease in our state, with the number of positive tests growing each year. With the exception of a half-dozen counties, the entire western half of the state&nbsp;has produced deer&nbsp;or elk&nbsp;testing positive for CWD. The disease continues to spread&nbsp;eastward,&nbsp;and as of the end of the 2021-2022&nbsp;deer&nbsp;season,&nbsp;CWD&nbsp;has been detected in 59 Kansas&nbsp;counties. There&nbsp;is currently no&nbsp;known&nbsp;cure for CWD, and experts advise there is no way of administering a cure if there was one.

CWD appears to target animals older than I year, and it can be several months before outward symptoms become apparent. Animals in advanced stages of the disease will seem listless, may walk in repetitive patterns with their head lowered, will probably exhibit excessive salivation and a blank expression, and will appear to be in very poor overall health.&nbsp;Many infected animals are&nbsp;killed and consumed by predators before humans even seen them.&nbsp;If you witness deer or elk with any of these symptoms, report it to a conservation officer immediately!

Extensive research shows no risk of&nbsp;humans contracting this&nbsp;disease;&nbsp;however, health officials urge common sense, and recommend that contact with CWD infected animals be avoided. Researchers are still uncertain how the disease is transmitted, but cattle and other domestic livestock appear to&nbsp;be naturally resistant.&nbsp;

Common sense should dictate not to consume any part of a known infected&nbsp;animal. Special precautions are also urged for hunters harvesting deer or elk from an area known to have produced an infected animal.&nbsp;Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks recommends all meat from these carcasses should be boned-out, and none of the brain, spinal cord tissue, eyes, spleen or lymph nodes&nbsp;should be consumed.&nbsp;The carcass of the infected animal should remain there where it was harvested,&nbsp;buried,&nbsp;if possible,&nbsp;to avoid further spreading the disease.&nbsp;Extra care should also be taken to thoroughly wash and disinfect hands and butchering equipment.

Yes, spread of this disease will&nbsp;hurt Kansas’ deer populations and our deer hunting industry. An even bigger fear, for now, is that people&nbsp;will “throw the baby out with the bath water,” so to speak, and immediately stop hunting deer all across the state, causing deer populations to explode out of control, thus compounding existing problems while creating new ones. 

Let’s not overreact; our wildlife officials are hunters, trappers, fishermen and outdoorsmen just like us, so trust them to stay on top of this threat! In the meantime, stay informed by visiting the KDWP website,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/">www.kdwp.state.ks.us</a>. They are very good about keeping this website updated. Oh, and keep Exploring Kansas Outdoors!&nbsp;

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted&nbsp;by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Chronic&nbsp;wasting&nbsp;disease is a debilitating, fatal disease that attacks the central nervous system of whitetail deer, mule deer, moose, caribou&nbsp;and&nbsp;elk, actually resulting in small holes developing in their brains.&nbsp;CWD was first diagnosed in captive animals in Colorado and Wyoming in the late&nbsp;1960s and 1970s, and&nbsp;was&nbsp;seen in free ranging animals in the early 1980s.&nbsp;Kansas’s fish and game officials have been testing hunter-harvested Kansas deer since 1996, and&nbsp;during the 2005 firearms season, the first documented case was discovered in a whitetail doe taken near the Cheyenne Co. town of St. Francis, in the northwestern corner of the state.&nbsp;Later that year&nbsp;KDWP staff harvested 50&nbsp;deer, 29 mule deer and 21 whitetails within a 15-mile radius of where the infected doe was shot. Tissue samples from each deer were collected at a field lab and sent to KSU for analysis, and all 50&nbsp;dear tested negative for CWD&nbsp;at the time.&nbsp;Many thousands of&nbsp;both&nbsp;wild&nbsp;and captive&nbsp;mule deer and whitetail deer&nbsp;have been tested for CWD since testing first began in KS in 1996, and the disease continues to spread.&nbsp;Last year, during the 2021&nbsp;–&nbsp;2022&nbsp;deer season, 190 new positive tests were confirmed, bring the total&nbsp;to 738 positive tests for Chronic Wasting Disease in our state, with the number of positive tests growing each year. With the exception of a half-dozen counties, the entire western half of the state&nbsp;has produced deer&nbsp;or elk&nbsp;testing positive for CWD. The disease continues to spread&nbsp;eastward,&nbsp;and as of the end of the 2021-2022&nbsp;deer&nbsp;season,&nbsp;CWD&nbsp;has been detected in 59 Kansas&nbsp;counties. There&nbsp;is currently no&nbsp;known&nbsp;cure for CWD, and experts advise there is no way of administering a cure if there was one.CWD appears to target animals older than I year, and it can be several months before outward symptoms become apparent. Animals in advanced stages of the disease will seem listless, may walk in repetitive patterns with their head lowered, will probably exhibit excessive salivation and a blank expression, and will appear to be in very poor overall health.&nbsp;Many infected animals are&nbsp;killed and consumed by predators before humans even seen them.&nbsp;If you witness deer or elk with any of these symptoms, report it to a conservation officer immediately!Extensive research shows no risk of&nbsp;humans contracting this&nbsp;disease;&nbsp;however, health officials urge common sense, and recommend that contact with CWD infected animals be avoided. Researchers are still uncertain how the disease is transmitted, but cattle and other domestic livestock appear to&nbsp;be naturally resistant.&nbsp;Common sense should dictate not to consume any part of a known infected&nbsp;animal. Special precautions are also urged for hunters harvesting deer or elk from an area known to have produced an infected animal.&nbsp;Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks recommends all meat from these carcasses should be boned-out, and none of the brain, spinal cord tissue, eyes, spleen or lymph nodes&nbsp;should be consumed.&nbsp;The carcass of the infected animal should remain there where it was harvested,&nbsp;buried,&nbsp;if possible,&nbsp;to avoid further spreading the disease.&nbsp;Extra care should also be taken to thoroughly wash and disinfect hands and butchering equipment.Yes, spread of this disease will&nbsp;hurt Kansas’ deer populations and our deer hunting industry. An even bigger fear, for now, is that people&nbsp;will “throw the baby out with the bath water,” so to speak, and immediately stop hunting deer all across the state, causing deer populations to explode out of control, thus compounding existing problems while creating new ones. Let’s not overreact; our wildlife officials are hunters, trappers, fishermen and outdoorsmen just like us, so trust them to stay on top of this threat! In the meantime, stay informed by visiting the KDWP website,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/">www.kdwp.state.ks.us</a>. They are very good about keeping this website updated. Oh, and keep Exploring Kansas Outdoors!&nbsp;Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted&nbsp;by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Chronic wasting disease in deer

RUSSELL COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Monday in Russell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Mack Truck driven by Shiloh J. Tomlinson, 49, LaCrosse, was northbound on U.S. 281 three miles north of Russell.

The truck tires dropped off into the east ditch. The driver overcorrected. The truck traveled across U.S. 281 entered the west ditch, rolled an unknown number of times and came to rest on the passenger side 30 feet off the roadway.

EMS transported&nbsp;Tomlinson to Salina Regional Health Center. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

RUSSELL COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Monday in Russell County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Mack Truck driven by Shiloh J. Tomlinson, 49, LaCrosse, was northbound on U.S. 281 three miles north of Russell.The truck tires dropped off into the east ditch. The driver overcorrected. The truck traveled across U.S. 281 entered the west ditch, rolled an unknown number of times and came to rest on the passenger side 30 feet off the roadway.EMS transported&nbsp;Tomlinson to Salina Regional Health Center. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after truck rollover accident

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays school board will meet with representatives of Nabholtz Construction to discuss the bond bidding process and other items related to the bond projects at its meeting at 6:30 tonight at the Rockwell Administration Center.

Nabholtz is the construction manager at-risk on the bond projects.

The main project under the bond will be the construction of a new 
high school, which will include an auditorium. The bond will also <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2a94d25d-ba77-49d6-9665-2651a7667965">renovate
 the current high school into a middle school and renovate the current 
middle school into an elementary school. Roosevelt and O'Loughlin 
elementary schools also will be renovated.</a>

Lincoln Elementary School and Rockwell Administration Center will be closed. The Westside school program will be relocated.

A .5 percent city-wide sales tax to help pay for the bond projects will go into effect on Saturday.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays school board will meet with representatives of Nabholtz Construction to discuss the bond bidding process and other items related to the bond projects at its meeting at 6:30 tonight at the Rockwell Administration Center. Nabholtz is the construction manager at-risk on the bond projects.The main project under the bond will be the construction of a new 
high school, which will include an auditorium. The bond will also <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2a94d25d-ba77-49d6-9665-2651a7667965">renovate
 the current high school into a middle school and renovate the current 
middle school into an elementary school. Roosevelt and O'Loughlin 
elementary schools also will be renovated.</a>Lincoln Elementary School and Rockwell Administration Center will be closed. The Westside school program will be relocated.A .5 percent city-wide sales tax to help pay for the bond projects will go into effect on Saturday.

Hays USD 489 school board to hear update on bond bidding process

By DALE YOUNKER Jetmore NRCS Office

You don’t have to travel very far down a country road to see that a lot of famers are struggling to control herbicide resistant weeds. A good number wheat stubble and fallow fields have been overrun by Palmer Amaranth. This pigweed species also known as “Careless Weed” because it can care less what you do to try to kill it, it will still come back, and most of the time with vengeance. Many herbicides are no longer effective in controlling it and that list seems to grow longer every year.

In wet years tillage seems to be just about as ineffective. If there is any part a of a plant’s root still attached to any soil with any moisture it comes right back. And even if you get them killed, there are millions and millions of seeds just waiting to germinate and grow with just the slightest amount of moisture.

It is obvious that weed management strategies in dryland cropping systems are becoming less effective as time goes by and something different needs to happen to get a handle on these difficult to control weeds. Using cover crops, during the fallow periods, could be at least part of the answer.

Cover crops provide weed management benefits in several different ways. Many small-seeded weed species, like kochia, palmer amaranth and other pigweed species need sunlight for seedlings to emerge. Living cover crops, or the residue that is left after it is terminated, reduces the sunlight reaching the soil surface thus reducing the number of weeds that come up. Cover crops also compete with weeds for moisture, nutrients and sunlight keeping the weeds in a weak, easier to kill condition, or preventing them from coming up at all. Some cover crop species, like rye and some brassicas, control weeds through a process called allelopathy. This is where decaying residue release chemicals that inhibit the germination of weed seeds.

Here are a few things to think about when considering cover crops for weed suppression.

· Know what your problem weeds are and get the cover crops well established before those weeds come up. Most of the time in western Kansas, those weeds are going to be kochia and palmer amaranth. Kochia comes up early in the spring, so to get ahead of this weed a cover crop needs to be planted in late summer or early fall on fallow fields. If planting behind a fall crop and there is time and moisture is available to get the cover crop established, a fall seeding could be used. But if it gets too late, or moisture is limited, delay the planting to early spring in mid to late February.

· Select species that grow aggressively, shade the ground quickly and provide a mat of residue on the soil surface once the cover crop is terminated. For a late fall or early spring planting cereal grains like rye, triticale, barley, oats, and wheat work well. For a summer mix that is planted after wheat harvest, forage sorghums, sorghum sudans, and millets are good species to use. Brassicas like turnips and radishes can also provide a fair amount of biomass if planted early enough in late summer.

· Take advantage of the allelopathy effect some species, like rye provide. This process works like using a preemergent herbicide. Once the cover crop is terminated, chemicals are released from the decomposing plant residue that inhibit weeds seeds from germinating. This works well in controlling palmer amaranth when terminating a cereal grain cover crop right around the time it is heading in early to mid-May. A word of caution using rye. Termination in the spring needs to be very timely to timely prior to viable seed development to prevent it from being a weed in following wheat crops. If that is a concern, I would use other fall cereal grains like, triticale, wheat, or barley.

· Terminate the cover crop early if there is a persistent dry period and the long-term weather forecast is not favorable for adequate moisture to replenish the soil profile. The key to making cover crops work in these dryland fallow systems is for the cover crop to utilize the moisture we would lose through evaporation, runoff, and transpiration through weeds, but still leave adequate soil moisture for the next cash crop.

· Always look at the economic side of things and compare your current weed control cost and what it will cost to incorporate cover crops into your system. Herbicide applications can get pricey, and many times don’t work well. Multiple tillage operations can also add up to a substantial amount of money.

Cover crops are not a “silver bullet” when it comes to weed control and may not fit into everybody’s cropping system. They are just another tool in the toolbox, that can help in controlling weeds more effectively.

For more information about this or other soil health practices you can contact me at dale.younker@ks.usda.gov or any local NRCS office.

Dale Younker is a soil health specialist with the National Resources&nbsp;Conservation Service&nbsp; in Jetmore.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628525048992.jpeg" alt="Dale Younker&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Dale Younker&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By DALE YOUNKER Jetmore NRCS OfficeYou don’t have to travel very far down a country road to see that a lot of famers are struggling to control herbicide resistant weeds. A good number wheat stubble and fallow fields have been overrun by Palmer Amaranth. This pigweed species also known as “Careless Weed” because it can care less what you do to try to kill it, it will still come back, and most of the time with vengeance. Many herbicides are no longer effective in controlling it and that list seems to grow longer every year.In wet years tillage seems to be just about as ineffective. If there is any part a of a plant’s root still attached to any soil with any moisture it comes right back. And even if you get them killed, there are millions and millions of seeds just waiting to germinate and grow with just the slightest amount of moisture.It is obvious that weed management strategies in dryland cropping systems are becoming less effective as time goes by and something different needs to happen to get a handle on these difficult to control weeds. Using cover crops, during the fallow periods, could be at least part of the answer.Cover crops provide weed management benefits in several different ways. Many small-seeded weed species, like kochia, palmer amaranth and other pigweed species need sunlight for seedlings to emerge. Living cover crops, or the residue that is left after it is terminated, reduces the sunlight reaching the soil surface thus reducing the number of weeds that come up. Cover crops also compete with weeds for moisture, nutrients and sunlight keeping the weeds in a weak, easier to kill condition, or preventing them from coming up at all. Some cover crop species, like rye and some brassicas, control weeds through a process called allelopathy. This is where decaying residue release chemicals that inhibit the germination of weed seeds.Here are a few things to think about when considering cover crops for weed suppression.· Know what your problem weeds are and get the cover crops well established before those weeds come up. Most of the time in western Kansas, those weeds are going to be kochia and palmer amaranth. Kochia comes up early in the spring, so to get ahead of this weed a cover crop needs to be planted in late summer or early fall on fallow fields. If planting behind a fall crop and there is time and moisture is available to get the cover crop established, a fall seeding could be used. But if it gets too late, or moisture is limited, delay the planting to early spring in mid to late February.· Select species that grow aggressively, shade the ground quickly and provide a mat of residue on the soil surface once the cover crop is terminated. For a late fall or early spring planting cereal grains like rye, triticale, barley, oats, and wheat work well. For a summer mix that is planted after wheat harvest, forage sorghums, sorghum sudans, and millets are good species to use. Brassicas like turnips and radishes can also provide a fair amount of biomass if planted early enough in late summer.· Take advantage of the allelopathy effect some species, like rye provide. This process works like using a preemergent herbicide. Once the cover crop is terminated, chemicals are released from the decomposing plant residue that inhibit weeds seeds from germinating. This works well in controlling palmer amaranth when terminating a cereal grain cover crop right around the time it is heading in early to mid-May. A word of caution using rye. Termination in the spring needs to be very timely to timely prior to viable seed development to prevent it from being a weed in following wheat crops. If that is a concern, I would use other fall cereal grains like, triticale, wheat, or barley.· Terminate the cover crop early if there is a persistent dry period and the long-term weather forecast is not favorable for adequate moisture to replenish the soil profile. The key to making cover crops work in these dryland fallow systems is for the cover crop to utilize the moisture we would lose through evaporation, runoff, and transpiration through weeds, but still leave adequate soil moisture for the next cash crop.· Always look at the economic side of things and compare your current weed control cost and what it will cost to incorporate cover crops into your system. Herbicide applications can get pricey, and many times don’t work well. Multiple tillage operations can also add up to a substantial amount of money.Cover crops are not a “silver bullet” when it comes to weed control and may not fit into everybody’s cropping system. They are just another tool in the toolbox, that can help in controlling weeds more effectively.For more information about this or other soil health practices you can contact me at dale.younker@ks.usda.gov or any local NRCS office.Dale Younker is a soil health specialist with the National Resources&nbsp;Conservation Service&nbsp; in Jetmore.&nbsp;

YOUNKER: Using cover crops to manage weeds

On September 25, 2022, at approximately 7:03 p.m. the Hays Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a mobile home on fire located at 1010 Reservation Road in Hays. 

Upon arrival fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the kitchen exhaust fan. Crews entered the structure with forced entry through the front door and located the fire in the kitchen. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire and ventilated the home. Firefighters checked for extension and remained on scene to complete ventilation. Fire damage was limited to the kitchen and living room. Smoke caused damage through the entire home. 

The fire was caused by the stove burner being turned on accidently and igniting nearby combustible materials. 

The Hays Fire Department would like to remind everyone that when in the kitchen ensure that all burners are off and combustible materials are away from the stove. We would also like to remind everyone to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. 

The Hays Fire Department, Ellis County Fire Department Company 5, Ellis County EMS, Ellis County Sherriff’s Department and Hays Police Department all responded.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661272858055.jpg" alt="(Pixabay)" />
 <figcaption>(Pixabay)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Fire DepartmentOn September 25, 2022, at approximately 7:03 p.m. the Hays Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a mobile home on fire located at 1010 Reservation Road in Hays. Upon arrival fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the kitchen exhaust fan. Crews entered the structure with forced entry through the front door and located the fire in the kitchen. Firefighters extinguished the fire and ventilated the home. Firefighters checked for extension and remained on scene to complete ventilation. Fire damage was limited to the kitchen and living room. Smoke caused damage through the entire home. The fire was caused by the stove burner being turned on accidently and igniting nearby combustible materials. The Hays Fire Department would like to remind everyone that when in the kitchen ensure that all burners are off and combustible materials are away from the stove. We would also like to remind everyone to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The Hays Fire Department, Ellis County Fire Department Company 5, Ellis County EMS, Ellis County Sherriff’s Department and Hays Police Department all responded.

Accidental stove burner ignition causes fire damage to Hays mobile home

On September 25, 2022, at approximately 7:03 p.m. the Hays Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a mobile home on fire located at 1010 Reservation Road in Hays.

Upon arrival fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the kitchen exhaust fan. Crews entered the structure forced entry through the front door and located the fire in the kitchen. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire and ventilated the home. Firefighters checked for extension and remained on scene to complete ventilation. Fire damage was limited to the kitchen and living room. Smoke caused damage through the entire home.

The fire was caused by the stove burner being turned on accidentally and igniting nearby combustible materials. The Hays Fire Department would like to remind everyone that when in the kitchen ensure that all burners are off and combustible materials are away from the stove. We would also like to remind everyone to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Hays Fire DepartmentOn September 25, 2022, at approximately 7:03 p.m. the Hays Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a mobile home on fire located at 1010 Reservation Road in Hays.Upon arrival fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the kitchen exhaust fan. Crews entered the structure forced entry through the front door and located the fire in the kitchen. Firefighters extinguished the fire and ventilated the home. Firefighters checked for extension and remained on scene to complete ventilation. Fire damage was limited to the kitchen and living room. Smoke caused damage through the entire home.The fire was caused by the stove burner being turned on accidentally and igniting nearby combustible materials. The Hays Fire Department would like to remind everyone that when in the kitchen ensure that all burners are off and combustible materials are away from the stove. We would also like to remind everyone to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.The Hays Fire Department, Ellis County Fire Department Company 5, Ellis County EMS, Ellis County Sherriff’s Department and Hays Police Department all responded.

House fire damages home in Hays Sunday

Music and art filled Municipal Park in Hays Saturday for the eighth annual Rockalooa.

Throughout the event, 10 bands performed as attendees of all ages enjoyed interactive art installations, family-friendly events, food and a beer garden.

Take a look at some of the festivities below.

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 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostMusic and art filled Municipal Park in Hays Saturday for the eighth annual Rockalooa.Throughout the event, 10 bands performed as attendees of all ages enjoyed interactive art installations, family-friendly events, food and a beer garden.Take a look at some of the festivities below.<figure>
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📸 Rockalooa brings day of music, art to Municipal Park

By PATRICIA E. WEEMS GASTON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/25/at-nicodemus-reunion-familial-and-kansas-history-converge/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

Nicodemus has been calling my name for as long as I can remember.

Maybe it was the piece that my 
University of Kansas classmate wrote more than 40 years ago about the 
first Black settlement west of the Mississippi. Maybe a ride on the 
highways and byways of western Kansas would help me better appreciate 
the diversity of my home state. Maybe it was my hunger for history, 
whetted during myriad chats with my father while cooped up during the 
COVID-19 pandemic.

Or maybe I couldn’t imagine not 
talking about the past, despite recent efforts to stymie the study of 
history in schools. Isn’t our future built on the foundations of the 
past?

The road trip was a go when another 
classmate wanted to attend the town’s annual homecoming to see if there 
was any appetite for resuming a mobile health clinic that her late 
internist sister ran for years.

We joined in Nicodemus’ celebration — its 144th
 homecoming — in late July on an uncharacteristically cool morning. It 
was a family reunion in every sense, and I felt one with the crowd 
lining Main Street for the late morning parade.

This town, which was settled in 1877 
by 300 pioneers from Kentucky in search of freedom, now has fewer than 
25 residents. But you wouldn’t have known it as hundreds of descendants 
from across the country returned to their ancestral home.

The Buffalo Soldiers in full regalia 
marched to the cheers of a grateful and proud crowd. We talked with 
families, some of them decked out in blue and green or purple and gold. 
The sense of family was palpable, whether they were clumped together 
watching the parade, trying to snag a piece of candy thrown from 
participants for one of their little ones or bounding into the visitor’s
 center in Township Hall in search of a souvenir to mark the day’s 
events.

While my people are not descendants, 
the Weemses have a tie that binds us to Nicodemus. My late grandfather 
Robert R. Weems and his friends used to hunt pheasant here during the 
late 1940s and early 1950s.

My grandfather enjoyed hunting and 
fishing, using his skills to help feed his family of five, with my 
father, Charles, being the youngest.

Seemingly every fall, Papa, and some 
of his friends — Van Taylor, George Johnson and Fred Whitaker — would 
jump into Mr. Whitaker’s panel truck on a Sunday morning and strike out 
on highways 24 and 40 for Nicodemus, which is in northwest Kansas near 
the Nebraska border. They would be hosted by a local family (they didn’t
 go to Hill City because it was a sundown town), hunt all day Monday 
through Thursday (Dad says they hunted on the Switzer family’s land) and
 then head home with their birds.

“If it was a poor hunting season, there was no pheasant for holiday meals,” Charles Weems recalled.

The men would drive straight through 
back to Kansas City because Black people were not allowed to stay in 
hotels along the way, and the men apparently had no access to the Green 
Book, which identified businesses that would have accepted Black 
customers during segregation.

Once Papa returned home, Dad recalls,
 my grandmother Flora Belle’s work began. She skinned the pheasant and 
took particular care with the breast because it was the prime cut and 
most sought after for holiday dinners. She often would take the 
red-green-black-white feathers and stick them in her favorite hats, Dad 
says.

Descendants of Nicodemus keep the 
story of this sometimes-forgotten prairie town alive through word, deed,
 song. After the parade, there were activities for everyone — live 
entertainment, a fashion and talent show, a baseball game, watermelon 
feed, a church service on Sunday morning.

Families shared, shared and shared stories of how their relatives came here in search of freedom after slavery.

That is the only way for us to 
continue sharing our history. Yes, we learned in school about the big 
events — revolutions, slavery, wars, migrations of people, moon 
landings, medical breakthroughs. While these big events influenced our 
lives, it is the everyday that makes us who we are.

I got my love for history in the 
plethora of volumes that lined our bookshelves, in the dinner table 
conversations about Dr. King and other events of the day, in the Black 
History Month classes that my Aunt Christine took us to, in the stories 
that my grandparents shared with us about growing up in the South and in
 the Midwest. Who learned how to spell Mississippi: M-i-crooked letter-crooked letter-i-crooked letter-crooked letter-i-humpback-humpback-i?

And who on vacation insisted that 
their two children do “history and culture” before they went to the 
amusement park or ballgame, or saw the Empire State Building or Statue 
of Liberty?

I did, and that is because history 
has always been valued in my family, in school, in church, in my 
community. One must know from where they have come. How else would we 
know where to take your place in life?

That is why traveling to Nicodemus and hearing about my grandfather’s hunting trips warmed my heart.

It is hard to fathom the times we are
 in because of a need to revise history, grossly downplaying the role of
 slavery in the development of this country, or banning of books that 
may talk about people who look different or think different. History is 
very much alive and present today.

As Kansas historian Angela Bates, who is a descendant of Nicodemus, remarks <a target="_blank" href="https://www.humanitieskansas.org/get-involved/kansas-stories/people/meet-angela-bates">on the Humanities Kansas website</a>: “Kansas history is not over, we are all still evolving.”

Patricia E. Weems Gaston is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the Lacy C. Haynes Professor at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Gaston graduated from KU in 1981; she has a master's degree in sports management from The George Washington University. Before joining The Washington Post in 1997, she worked at the Dallas Morning News, where she was an assistant foreign editor and was co-editor of the 1994 Pulitzer Prize-winning series on violence against women.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664123606812.png" alt="What would a Nicodemus parade be without the pageantry of the Buffalo Soldiers, an ode to a day gone by? They marched in the town’s 144th homecoming in late July. (Patricia E. Weems Gaston)" />
 <figcaption>What would a Nicodemus parade be without the pageantry of the Buffalo Soldiers, an ode to a day gone by? They marched in the town’s 144th homecoming in late July. (Patricia E. Weems Gaston)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PATRICIA E. WEEMS GASTON <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/25/at-nicodemus-reunion-familial-and-kansas-history-converge/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>Nicodemus has been calling my name for as long as I can remember.Maybe it was the piece that my 
University of Kansas classmate wrote more than 40 years ago about the 
first Black settlement west of the Mississippi. Maybe a ride on the 
highways and byways of western Kansas would help me better appreciate 
the diversity of my home state. Maybe it was my hunger for history, 
whetted during myriad chats with my father while cooped up during the 
COVID-19 pandemic.Or maybe I couldn’t imagine not 
talking about the past, despite recent efforts to stymie the study of 
history in schools. Isn’t our future built on the foundations of the 
past?<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664123677647.jpeg" alt="NAACP branches from across the state of Kansas marched in the Nicodemus parade this summer. (Patricia E. Weems Gaston)" />
 <figcaption>NAACP branches from across the state of Kansas marched in the Nicodemus parade this summer. (Patricia E. Weems Gaston)</figcaption>
 </figure>The road trip was a go when another 
classmate wanted to attend the town’s annual homecoming to see if there 
was any appetite for resuming a mobile health clinic that her late 
internist sister ran for years.We joined in Nicodemus’ celebration — its 144th
 homecoming — in late July on an uncharacteristically cool morning. It 
was a family reunion in every sense, and I felt one with the crowd 
lining Main Street for the late morning parade.This town, which was settled in 1877 
by 300 pioneers from Kentucky in search of freedom, now has fewer than 
25 residents. But you wouldn’t have known it as hundreds of descendants 
from across the country returned to their ancestral home.The Buffalo Soldiers in full regalia 
marched to the cheers of a grateful and proud crowd. We talked with 
families, some of them decked out in blue and green or purple and gold. 
The sense of family was palpable, whether they were clumped together 
watching the parade, trying to snag a piece of candy thrown from 
participants for one of their little ones or bounding into the visitor’s
 center in Township Hall in search of a souvenir to mark the day’s 
events.While my people are not descendants, 
the Weemses have a tie that binds us to Nicodemus. My late grandfather 
Robert R. Weems and his friends used to hunt pheasant here during the 
late 1940s and early 1950s.<h2>One with the land</h2>My grandfather enjoyed hunting and 
fishing, using his skills to help feed his family of five, with my 
father, Charles, being the youngest.Seemingly every fall, Papa, and some 
of his friends — Van Taylor, George Johnson and Fred Whitaker — would 
jump into Mr. Whitaker’s panel truck on a Sunday morning and strike out 
on highways 24 and 40 for Nicodemus, which is in northwest Kansas near 
the Nebraska border. They would be hosted by a local family (they didn’t
 go to Hill City because it was a sundown town), hunt all day Monday 
through Thursday (Dad says they hunted on the Switzer family’s land) and
 then head home with their birds.“If it was a poor hunting season, there was no pheasant for holiday meals,” Charles Weems recalled.The men would drive straight through 
back to Kansas City because Black people were not allowed to stay in 
hotels along the way, and the men apparently had no access to the Green 
Book, which identified businesses that would have accepted Black 
customers during segregation.Once Papa returned home, Dad recalls,
 my grandmother Flora Belle’s work began. She skinned the pheasant and 
took particular care with the breast because it was the prime cut and 
most sought after for holiday dinners. She often would take the 
red-green-black-white feathers and stick them in her favorite hats, Dad 
says.<h2>Remembering our roots</h2>Descendants of Nicodemus keep the 
story of this sometimes-forgotten prairie town alive through word, deed,
 song. After the parade, there were activities for everyone — live 
entertainment, a fashion and talent show, a baseball game, watermelon 
feed, a church service on Sunday morning.Families shared, shared and shared stories of how their relatives came here in search of freedom after slavery.That is the only way for us to 
continue sharing our history. Yes, we learned in school about the big 
events — revolutions, slavery, wars, migrations of people, moon 
landings, medical breakthroughs. While these big events influenced our 
lives, it is the everyday that makes us who we are.I got my love for history in the 
plethora of volumes that lined our bookshelves, in the dinner table 
conversations about Dr. King and other events of the day, in the Black 
History Month classes that my Aunt Christine took us to, in the stories 
that my grandparents shared with us about growing up in the South and in
 the Midwest. Who learned how to spell Mississippi: M-i-crooked letter-crooked letter-i-crooked letter-crooked letter-i-humpback-humpback-i?And who on vacation insisted that 
their two children do “history and culture” before they went to the 
amusement park or ballgame, or saw the Empire State Building or Statue 
of Liberty?I did, and that is because history 
has always been valued in my family, in school, in church, in my 
community. One must know from where they have come. How else would we 
know where to take your place in life?That is why traveling to Nicodemus and hearing about my grandfather’s hunting trips warmed my heart.It is hard to fathom the times we are
 in because of a need to revise history, grossly downplaying the role of
 slavery in the development of this country, or banning of books that 
may talk about people who look different or think different. History is 
very much alive and present today.As Kansas historian Angela Bates, who is a descendant of Nicodemus, remarks <a target="_blank" href="https://www.humanitieskansas.org/get-involved/kansas-stories/people/meet-angela-bates">on the Humanities Kansas website</a>: “Kansas history is not over, we are all still evolving.”Patricia E. Weems Gaston is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the Lacy C. Haynes Professor at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Gaston graduated from KU in 1981; she has a master's degree in sports management from The George Washington University. Before joining The Washington Post in 1997, she worked at the Dallas Morning News, where she was an assistant foreign editor and was co-editor of the 1994 Pulitzer Prize-winning series on violence against women.

At Nicodemus reunion, familial and Kansas history converge

John Bird and his wife, Jo Ann Jennings, have land along Big Creek on the edge of Hays that had been overgrown with weeds.

The couple wanted to avoid using chemicals to kill the weeds, and the location of the strip of land near buildings made burning impractical.

Instead, the couple brought in Mary Powell and her 75 goats. Powell and her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BarnyardWeedWarriors.1">Barnyard Weed Warriors</a> travel across the state of Kansas clearing weeds in a sustainable way.

"They are completely natural," Bird said. "When they leave, they leave only goat berries, which are fertilizer for the plants we have remaining that we want to encourage to keep growing."

The goats eat the "garbage" of the plains, Powell said. They eat many of the noxious weeds and trees while leaving beneficial native grasses such as bluestem, Indian and buffalo.

In eastern Kansas, Powell and her weed warriors have worked on large projects to mitigate sericea lespedeza, which is a rapidly spreading flowering plant native to Asia.

The goats will even eat cedars, which act as a natural dewormer for the goats.

The goats will eat knee-high brush to the ground and can clear up to half an acre per day, Powell said. The adult goats will even get up on their hind legs and eat invasive vines out of trees up to six feet off the ground. They will eat 3 to 5 percent of their body weight per day. 

They aren't heavy, so they don't compact the soil. The goats' hooves also aerate the soil, which is beneficial for plants that remain.

The goats arrived on the Bird farm Monday and are scheduled to leave tonight. By the time the goats are finished, they will have cleared about 5 acres on the Bird and his wife's land.

Powell stays on site with the goats while they work, making camp with the goats and her border collies.

"They broke my cot," she said of the goats. "I throw a tarp down and a sleeping bag, and I wake up with dogs on one side of me and goats on the other."

She uses an electric fence to keep the goats in the area they are working, but she said the goats rarely test the fence. She really relies on her herd dogs to control the movements of the goats.

Powell, 56, has an animal science degree. She worked as a cowboy and in other aspects of the ag industry before starting the goat business at age 50. She has farms in Elk and Lincoln counties when she is not on the road with the goats. 

She said she loves her goats and her work. The goat business allows her a very flexible schedule and gives her a steady stream of income. 

"They are my family," she said. "They are my children."

She breeds her own goats for the herd. She not only earns income through the weed mitigation business but sells the kids.

Not using chemicals was especially important to Bird because of the property's proximity to Big Creek. The City of Hays has wells for drinking water in the Big Creek aquifer.

"We are sitting on top of one of the main aquifers in Ellis County," Bird said. "This is the Big Creek aquifer, and this may be one of the biggest parts of it — this farm.

"My grandmother drilled it into us that we should stay away from chemicals."

The farmable land on the site is used to grow alfalfa without herbicides or pesticides.

Because the area the goats are working includes the steep banks of the creek, a contractor would have had a difficult time getting machines into the area to cut the weeds.

Powell said the terrain was no problem for the goats. 

Hiring the goats cost about $350 per day, but Bird said that was less expensive than what the couple would have paid to have someone come in with machinery and herbicides to clear the brush.

"It's a win-win situation," she said. "The good Lord made these animals the perfect garbage disposal for the junk."

Bird invited friends and neighbors to the farm to interact with the goats Tuesday night. One neighbor already expressed interest in hiring Powell and the goats to clear weeds on his land.

Ed Hammond, candidate for the 111th Kansas House seat, was on hand and said Bird's goat project is a good example of sustainable agriculture.

"There is a negative to using chemicals constantly," he said. "To have a demonstration of another option I think is important to the community."

The goats are accustomed to people. Powell regularly has visitors to her herd while the goats are working and uses the goats for educational programs.

Not all of the goats have names, but many of the regulars on her crew do, including Matthew, Chompsky, Party Gloves, Aaron and Walter.

Small children giggled as they petted the goats&nbsp; — some of which were as tall as they were. Adults kneeled in the dirt to rub baby goats between their tiny horns.

Bird said he has really enjoyed watching the goats on the property.

"I could sit here and watch them for hours," Bird said. "They're so cute, and they're just gentle as can be and you can walk in among them."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663779977141.jpeg" alt="A baby goat eats a plant on the Bird farm on the edge of Hays Tuesday night. Bird and his wife brought in about 75 goats to mitigate weeds on about 5 acres of their property. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>A baby goat eats a plant on the Bird farm on the edge of Hays Tuesday night. Bird and his wife brought in about 75 goats to mitigate weeds on about 5 acres of their property. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostJohn Bird and his wife, Jo Ann Jennings, have land along Big Creek on the edge of Hays that had been overgrown with weeds.The couple wanted to avoid using chemicals to kill the weeds, and the location of the strip of land near buildings made burning impractical.Instead, the couple brought in Mary Powell and her 75 goats. Powell and her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BarnyardWeedWarriors.1">Barnyard Weed Warriors</a> travel across the state of Kansas clearing weeds in a sustainable way."They are completely natural," Bird said. "When they leave, they leave only goat berries, which are fertilizer for the plants we have remaining that we want to encourage to keep growing." The goats eat the "garbage" of the plains, Powell said. They eat many of the noxious weeds and trees while leaving beneficial native grasses such as bluestem, Indian and buffalo.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663781911119.jpeg" alt="The goats of Mary Powell's Barnyard Weed Warriors can clear up to a half acre of land per day. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The goats of Mary Powell's Barnyard Weed Warriors can clear up to a half acre of land per day. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>In eastern Kansas, Powell and her weed warriors have worked on large projects to mitigate sericea lespedeza, which is a rapidly spreading flowering plant native to Asia. The goats will even eat cedars, which act as a natural dewormer for the goats. The goats will eat knee-high brush to the ground and can clear up to half an acre per day, Powell said. The adult goats will even get up on their hind legs and eat invasive vines out of trees up to six feet off the ground. They will eat 3 to 5 percent of their body weight per day. They aren't heavy, so they don't compact the soil. The goats' hooves also aerate the soil, which is beneficial for plants that remain. The goats arrived on the Bird farm Monday and are scheduled to leave tonight. By the time the goats are finished, they will have cleared about 5 acres on the Bird and his wife's land.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663781976210.jpeg" alt="Mary Powell of Elk County owns Barnyard Weed Warriors and travels across Kansas helping property owners clear weeds and invasive plant species from their properties. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Mary Powell of Elk County owns Barnyard Weed Warriors and travels across Kansas helping property owners clear weeds and invasive plant species from their properties. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Powell stays on site with the goats while they work, making camp with the goats and her border collies."They broke my cot," she said of the goats. "I throw a tarp down and a sleeping bag, and I wake up with dogs on one side of me and goats on the other." She uses an electric fence to keep the goats in the area they are working, but she said the goats rarely test the fence. She really relies on her herd dogs to control the movements of the goats. Powell, 56, has an animal science degree. She worked as a cowboy and in other aspects of the ag industry before starting the goat business at age 50. She has farms in Elk and Lincoln counties when she is not on the road with the goats. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663782040393.jpeg" alt="Two girls pet a baby goat at the Bird farm Tuesday night. " />
 <figcaption>Two girls pet a baby goat at the Bird farm Tuesday night. </figcaption>
 </figure>She said she loves her goats and her work. The goat business allows her a very flexible schedule and gives her a steady stream of income. "They are my family," she said. "They are my children."She breeds her own goats for the herd. She not only earns income through the weed mitigation business but sells the kids.Not using chemicals was especially important to Bird because of the property's proximity to Big Creek. The City of Hays has wells for drinking water in the Big Creek aquifer."We are sitting on top of one of the main aquifers in Ellis County," Bird said. "This is the Big Creek aquifer, and this may be one of the biggest parts of it — this farm."My grandmother drilled it into us that we should stay away from chemicals."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663782099983.jpeg" alt="Mary Powell's goats will eat 3 to 5 percent of their body weight every day. They eat unwanted species while leaving native grasses, such as bluestem, Indian and bufflao. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Mary Powell's goats will eat 3 to 5 percent of their body weight every day. They eat unwanted species while leaving native grasses, such as bluestem, Indian and bufflao. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The farmable land on the site is used to grow alfalfa without herbicides or pesticides.Because the area the goats are working includes the steep banks of the creek, a contractor would have had a difficult time getting machines into the area to cut the weeds.Powell said the terrain was no problem for the goats. Hiring the goats cost about $350 per day, but Bird said that was less expensive than what the couple would have paid to have someone come in with machinery and herbicides to clear the brush.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663782144840.jpeg" alt="A child holds an adult's hand as he watches the goats drink. Mary Powell, owner, left, allows visitors to watch the goats do their work and often uses the animals in educational programs for schools. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A child holds an adult's hand as he watches the goats drink. Mary Powell, owner, left, allows visitors to watch the goats do their work and often uses the animals in educational programs for schools. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>"It's a win-win situation," she said. "The good Lord made these animals the perfect garbage disposal for the junk."Bird invited friends and neighbors to the farm to interact with the goats Tuesday night. One neighbor already expressed interest in hiring Powell and the goats to clear weeds on his land.Ed Hammond, candidate for the 111th Kansas House seat, was on hand and said Bird's goat project is a good example of sustainable agriculture."There is a negative to using chemicals constantly," he said. "To have a demonstration of another option I think is important to the community."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663782188795.jpeg" alt="Children pet one of the goats Tuesday night. John Bird, property owner, invited friends and neighbors to watch the goats on Tuesday. Bird said he chose the goats to deal with his weeds because it was better for the environment and less expensive than using chemicals. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Children pet one of the goats Tuesday night. John Bird, property owner, invited friends and neighbors to watch the goats on Tuesday. Bird said he chose the goats to deal with his weeds because it was better for the environment and less expensive than using chemicals. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The goats are accustomed to people. Powell regularly has visitors to her herd while the goats are working and uses the goats for educational programs.Not all of the goats have names, but many of the regulars on her crew do, including Matthew, Chompsky, Party Gloves, Aaron and Walter. Small children giggled as they petted the goats&nbsp; — some of which were as tall as they were. Adults kneeled in the dirt to rub baby goats between their tiny horns. Bird said he has really enjoyed watching the goats on the property."I could sit here and watch them for hours," Bird said. "They're so cute, and they're just gentle as can be and you can walk in among them."

Hays farm uses goats to clear weeds as alternative to chemicals

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays Post

GORHAM — Freda Henrickson would be one proud grandmother if she was alive today.

One of the Ellis woman’s two granddaughters is carrying on her baking legacy – in a big way.

Amadee Staab has turned an old tin shed at her rural family home just outside Gorham into a local bakery that serves customers from near and far.

Amadee and her family hosted a standing-room only open house for the new venture earlier this month. But Indulge Sweet Treats &amp; Catering, which features a lot of her late grandmother’s recipes, actually has been in business for several years.

She started a part-time baking enterprise as a hobby several years ago along with a fellow teaching buddy at Holy Family Elementary School in Hays.

After 18 years in the classroom, Amadee decided to switch gears. She and her husband, Jayme Staab, had planned to purchase a building in Gorham for her bakery, but when that fell through, Jayme suggested remodeling the shed.

Amadee’s dad, Dale Befort, is a long-time construction professional. So he and Jayme – with help from the Staabs’ oldest son, Brantlee – gutted the building, re-sided it, and fashioned the inside into a baker’s dream.

Instead of a catch-all shed, there are shelves of baking supplies, two refrigerators, a freezer, steel tables and an oven. The Staabs were able to purchase a lot of their equipment, including appliances and cookie racks, from a bakery in Hays when it went out of business.

“Everything just worked out so well,” Amadee said. “What a blessing.”

Amadee fell in love with baking as a young girl while working alongside her grandmother in her kitchen. She continued her baking interests as a 4-H’er while growing up in Victoria, then started perfecting the art of decorating as an adult while making goodies for family and friends and fellow teachers.&nbsp;

“It’s a good stress relief to be in the kitchen,” Amadee said. “It got to where I had so many people asking for cookies and cakes all the time, and I enjoy it so much that I decided to expand a little.”

Word-of-mouth advertising kept Amadee busy baking in the evenings and on weekends, and she named her hobby “Amadee’s Convections and Cakes.”

As her children grew older and began to get more involved in school activities, Amadee started toying with the idea of baking as a full-time gig.

After talking it over with Kayla North, Amadee’s childhood 4-H friend and teaching partner at Holy Family, they both decided to pursue their dream. Amadee calls Kayla a homemade pie magician, and they plan to eventually turn Indulge Sweet Treats &amp; Catering into a full-time business for both of them.

Amadee now bakes all week long. She will designate a delivery location in Hays, or customers can pick them up in person at her bakery at 17745 Homer Terrace, Gorham. Orders can be made on Indulge’s Facebook page or by calling her at 785-259-3432.

Two of Amadee’s favorites are her grandmother’s sugar cookies and a delicacy called a hemetschwenger.

For the hemetschwenger&nbsp;&nbsp;– a Mennonite apple turnover – she rolls out a flaky dough, places apples and cinnamon inside, then fold it like an envelope. After baking, she rolls the turnovers in cinnamon and sugar. Presto, she has a hemetschwenger.

But that’s just one of her customer’s favorites.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In addition to the usual array of cakes and cookies, she also bakes a batch of tasty cinnamon rolls and makes bierocks, too – using her grandmother’s recipes, of course.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660754177628.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664074594646.jpeg" alt="Several goodies were displayed for tasting and for purchase at Indulge's open house." />
 <figcaption>Several goodies were displayed for tasting and for purchase at Indulge's open house.</figcaption>
 </figure>By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays PostGORHAM — Freda Henrickson would be one proud grandmother if she was alive today.One of the Ellis woman’s two granddaughters is carrying on her baking legacy – in a big way.Amadee Staab has turned an old tin shed at her rural family home just outside Gorham into a local bakery that serves customers from near and far.Amadee and her family hosted a standing-room only open house for the new venture earlier this month. But Indulge Sweet Treats &amp; Catering, which features a lot of her late grandmother’s recipes, actually has been in business for several years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664076236862.jpeg" alt="Amadee's love for baking and cooking began as a youngster alongside her grandmother, Freda Henrickson." />
 <figcaption>Amadee's love for baking and cooking began as a youngster alongside her grandmother, Freda Henrickson.</figcaption>
 </figure>She started a part-time baking enterprise as a hobby several years ago along with a fellow teaching buddy at Holy Family Elementary School in Hays.After 18 years in the classroom, Amadee decided to switch gears. She and her husband, Jayme Staab, had planned to purchase a building in Gorham for her bakery, but when that fell through, Jayme suggested remodeling the shed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664074638223.jpeg" alt="Stainless steel appliances and tables brighten the former catch-all shed on the Staab family property." />
 <figcaption>Stainless steel appliances and tables brighten the former catch-all shed on the Staab family property.</figcaption>
 </figure>Amadee’s dad, Dale Befort, is a long-time construction professional. So he and Jayme – with help from the Staabs’ oldest son, Brantlee – gutted the building, re-sided it, and fashioned the inside into a baker’s dream.Instead of a catch-all shed, there are shelves of baking supplies, two refrigerators, a freezer, steel tables and an oven. The Staabs were able to purchase a lot of their equipment, including appliances and cookie racks, from a bakery in Hays when it went out of business.“Everything just worked out so well,” Amadee said. “What a blessing.”Amadee fell in love with baking as a young girl while working alongside her grandmother in her kitchen. She continued her baking interests as a 4-H’er while growing up in Victoria, then started perfecting the art of decorating as an adult while making goodies for family and friends and fellow teachers.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664074671363.jpeg" alt="Two of Amadee's creative cakes." />
 <figcaption>Two of Amadee's creative cakes.</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s a good stress relief to be in the kitchen,” Amadee said. “It got to where I had so many people asking for cookies and cakes all the time, and I enjoy it so much that I decided to expand a little.”Word-of-mouth advertising kept Amadee busy baking in the evenings and on weekends, and she named her hobby “Amadee’s Convections and Cakes.”As her children grew older and began to get more involved in school activities, Amadee started toying with the idea of baking as a full-time gig.After talking it over with Kayla North, Amadee’s childhood 4-H friend and teaching partner at Holy Family, they both decided to pursue their dream. Amadee calls Kayla a homemade pie magician, and they plan to eventually turn Indulge Sweet Treats &amp; Catering into a full-time business for both of them.Amadee now bakes all week long. She will designate a delivery location in Hays, or customers can pick them up in person at her bakery at 17745 Homer Terrace, Gorham. Orders can be made on Indulge’s Facebook page or by calling her at 785-259-3432.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664074712801.jpeg" alt="Amadee's daughter, Kaymbree, sets up a lemonade stand outside the bakery on its open house weekend." />
 <figcaption>Amadee's daughter, Kaymbree, sets up a lemonade stand outside the bakery on its open house weekend.</figcaption>
 </figure>Two of Amadee’s favorites are her grandmother’s sugar cookies and a delicacy called a hemetschwenger.For the hemetschwenger&nbsp;&nbsp;– a Mennonite apple turnover – she rolls out a flaky dough, places apples and cinnamon inside, then fold it like an envelope. After baking, she rolls the turnovers in cinnamon and sugar. Presto, she has a hemetschwenger.But that’s just one of her customer’s favorites.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition to the usual array of cakes and cookies, she also bakes a batch of tasty cinnamon rolls and makes bierocks, too – using her grandmother’s recipes, of course.A self-taught cake and cookie decorator, Amadee said will try just about anything a customer asks for.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664074753334.jpeg" alt="One of Amadee's specialties is decorated sugar cookies for holidays." />
 <figcaption>One of Amadee's specialties is decorated sugar cookies for holidays.</figcaption>
 </figure>She has decorated sports-themed cookies and designed all kinds of shapes, including a baby bottle. She even made one cake look like a tree stump. Another looked like a huge cheeseburger, complete with all the fixings and a sandwich.“I watched a lot of cooking shows over the years,” Amadee said, explaining her successful art of decorating.She is looking forward to all the big events such as First Communion, bridal and baby showers, graduations, etc., as well as every holiday.“I’m so looking forward to having more time to bake at Christmas,” she said. “Christmas is my favorite holiday.”Not surprisingly, she added, “Christmas was my grandmother’s favorite holiday.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664074788173.jpeg" alt="Shelves are lined with supplies." />
 <figcaption>Shelves are lined with supplies.</figcaption>
 </figure>She also is looking forward to trying even more recipes old and new, including that of her grandmother’s apple dumplings.“I love chocolate and peanut butter together,” she said. “I can hardly wait to really get going.”Amadee said she changed the name of her business when she went full time because “I wanted something different that maybe people would remember. To me, the yummy things I didn’t have time to make before are very indulgent.”Indulge already has nearly 100 new Facebook followers since Amadee registered with the state earlier this month for the name change for the business.&nbsp;&nbsp;About 130 people showed up to taste-test and check out the bakery on the open-house weekend.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664074820166.jpeg" alt="Indulge Sweet Treats &amp; Catering is a family affair for Jayme and Amadee Staab and their three children." />
 <figcaption>Indulge Sweet Treats &amp; Catering is a family affair for Jayme and Amadee Staab and their three children.</figcaption>
 </figure>And now, she has the flexibility to follow 16-year-old Brantlee, 12-year-old Kaymbree and 9-year-old Bexlee in their activities.Amadee gives her husband a lot of credit for making it all possible.“He’s been amazing with my ideas,” she said. “And he isn’t afraid to fix supper for the kids on Thursdays when I bake.”The transition from kindergarten teachers to baking buddies looks to be a successful one for Amadee and Kayla.“Baking is so much less stressful,” Amadee said. “It’s my happy place.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664074867273.png" alt="Amadee Staab, right, gets a lot of help from her friend Kayla North, left, and Amadee's daughter, Kaymbree." />
 <figcaption>Amadee Staab, right, gets a lot of help from her friend Kayla North, left, and Amadee's daughter, Kaymbree.</figcaption>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660754177628.jpeg" alt="" />
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