FORD COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Sunday in Ford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Can Am Maverick Turbo driven by Thomas Joel Holguin, 28, Lewis, was northbound on a dirt road on Acans Sand and Gravel property. 

The vehicle traveled&nbsp; off the roadway to the east.&nbsp; The driver lost control, over corrected the ATV and rolled it onto the passenger side.

EMS transported&nbsp;Holguin to Pawnee Valley Campus.&nbsp; The KHP reported no additional details.

FORD COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Sunday in Ford County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Can Am Maverick Turbo driven by Thomas Joel Holguin, 28, Lewis, was northbound on a dirt road on Acans Sand and Gravel property. The vehicle traveled&nbsp; off the roadway to the east.&nbsp; The driver lost control, over corrected the ATV and rolled it onto the passenger side.EMS transported&nbsp;Holguin to Pawnee Valley Campus.&nbsp; The KHP reported no additional details.

Kansas man hospitalized after off-road vehicle rolls

The Downtown Hays Market operated by Downtown Hays Development Corporation, is an essential service and will be opening as scheduled for the season on May 30.

The market is open 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturdays May through October inside the 10th Street Pavilion between Main and Oak Streets.

“DHDC has put significant thought into the safety of the DHM customers and vendors during a time when everyone is prioritizing the health of their loved ones above all,” Allie Glidewell director of events and operations said. “We have been on the phone with other market directors, the police department, and health department to make sure we open safely and successfully.”

In response to public health direction, DHDC has incorporated a few safety recommendations for guests to follow.

Hand washing stations will be available under the pavilion so vendors and customers can wash their hands frequently without walking to the nearby restroom facilities.

Vendors will be required to wear masks during these first weeks of operation. Customers are encouraged to wear a mask and observe social distancing by remaining 6 feet apart from other guests and vendors.

Consider using credit and debit over cash. Finally, customers should allow vendors to handle merchandise, even if you intend to purchase the product.

Out of state vendors will not be allowed to sell at the 2020 market. The market staff is also keeping an eye on high-risk counties and limiting vendors from those areas as well.

“An unfortunate safety precaution is that we will not be serving free coffee from Breathe Coffee House at this time,” Glidewell said. “We encourage you to make Breathe your first stop to grab a cup of joe before coming to see us.”

To help accommodate customers who might not be ready to interact with the public, DHM will be offering a drive-through system for its customers. Three stalls in the parking lot just to the west of the pavilion will be reserved for this service.

Customers can call the market and vendors prior to arriving to place their order. Orders will then be brought to their cars. Customers can also just pull up and let the market manager know their order, provide payment, and remain in their vehicle while the order is filled.

Glidewell said expect many of your favorite vendors at the market again this year. Fresh produce as well as meat, cheese and bread will be available.

While there are necessary implementations, DHM is excited to open and provide an essential service. This year, the market will further benefit the Hays community by accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“We are so excited to offer SNAP as a service of the Downtown Hays Market,” Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director, said. “It’s actually something we’ve been trying to offer for some time and thanks to Allie it’s a reality. She was able to find the correct path and even secure a grant that allowed us to receive the necessary equipment for free.”

The grant was received from MarketLink. MarketLink is the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Program’s (NAFMNP) complete solution for electronic payments at farmers markets nationwide.

The mission is to cultivate opportunities for consumers to buy fresh produce from local growers. MarketLink is a long-term vision of sustainability for farmers and markets through a broader customer base, increased sales, and profitability. The grant provided upwards of $5,000 in equipment and waived fees to the DHM.

SNAP is a government program provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps to end food insecurity in communities across America.

“DHDC understands how tight income has become for many families in Hays. We are proud to introduce such a great program into our downtown community as more families are unsure of how to put fresh and wholesome food on their tables” said Glidewell.

If you are already a part of the SNAP program, it will be simple to use your SNAP EBT Card at the Market. Bring your SNAP EBT Card to the DHM Information Booth before you shop to redeem Market tokens. 

These tokens can be spent at vendor booths who sell products including: meats, cheese, eggs, honey, fruits, veggies and more. If you would like to apply for the SNAP program, visit <a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap">www.fns.usda.gov/snap</a> to determine the eligibility of you or your family.

“With everything that has happened in the last few months there is an excitement about the opening of the market that there hasn’t been before,” Bloom said. “There’s always some excitement, but it’s kind of just off the charts right now. We are expecting new vendors, familiar and loved vendors, amazing products and just a wonderful time gathering — from a safe distance — once again.”

The market is still accepting applications for vendors. Information on how to become a vendor can be found on the <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/downtown-hays-market">DHDC website</a>. You can also follow the market on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DowntownHaysMarket/">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;

Glidewell said she hopes to plan special markets days such as children's crafts. Those events are still in the planning stages and will be announced at a later date.

K-State offers advice on farmer's market shopping

Experts at K-State offered the following advice for shopping at farmer's market this season.

“Shopping at farmers’markets is a great way to get healthy fruits, vegetables and other foods while supporting localfarmers,” said Londa Nwadike, who has a joint extension appointment with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri.

Yet, shopping at the farmers’ market during the COVID-19 pandemic requires some extra precautions, Nwadike said

Be prepared.&nbsp;Call the market or check its website or social media pages to see which vendors and items will be available.

“Give yourself extra time,” Nwadike said. “Shopping might take longer with extra safety measures in place, as many Kansas farmers’ markets have updated their procedures to provide extra safety to customers and vendors. Make a list so you can efficiently find the items you need.”

Before entering the&nbsp;market,&nbsp;remind yourself to avoid touching your face and cellphone. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a mask or other cloth face covering when in places where social distancing can be difficult.

“Make sure to use a designated entry point when going in,” Nwadike said. “The farmers’ market may have established separate entrances and exits to avoid bottlenecks of people coming and going.”

Choose items with your eyes, not your hands.&nbsp;Let vendors handle the products you select. Stay at least 6 feet away from other people as much as possible.

“You want to avoid standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other customers while examining items,” Nwadike said. “Be patient and courteous while people ahead of you complete their purchases.”

Avoid using cash when possible.Many vendors and markets accept debit, credit and EBT/SNAP cards.

Make use of hand washing stations or hand sanitizer.&nbsp;The CDC recommends hand washing with soap and water, but if hand washing is not available, hand sanitizer can also be used.

For now, resist the temptation to socialize while shopping.

“Farmers’markets are normally a place to enjoy the atmosphere and visit with the vendors and other friends, but right now, farmers’ markets are importantly a source of food and a way to support local farmers,” Nwadike said.

Consider sending just one household member to the market at this time.

Wash all produce before eating.“Even though there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 has been transmitted through food or food packaging, it is always important to use good food safety practices, which will help control foodborne illness as well as COVID-19,” Nwadike said. “That means washing the whole produce, even if you don’t eat the peel. Wash items such as cantaloupe and potatoes with a produce brush.”

Nwadike said commercial produce washes have not been shown to be more effective than water from the kitchen faucet.

“All the research shows that clean, running water is the best way for consumers to wash produce,” she said.

If you’re running multiple errands, Nwadike also recommends making the farmers’ market your last stop to minimize the amount of time perishable foods sit in the car.

Safety recommendations change regularly. For the most current information on the spread of COVID-19 and the government’s response, consumers should contact their local or state health department or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>.

K-State Research and Extension also has a large number of resources on the website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/covid19.html" target="_blank">Food Safety and COVID-19</a>.

Cristina Janney&nbsp;of the Hays Post and K-State Research and Extension&nbsp; contributed to this story.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588881103313.jpeg" alt="The Downtown Hays Market will be open 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturdays at the 10th Street Pavilion starting Saturday." />
 <figcaption>The Downtown Hays Market will be open 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturdays at the 10th Street Pavilion starting Saturday.</figcaption>
 </figure>DHDCThe Downtown Hays Market operated by Downtown Hays Development Corporation, is an essential service and will be opening as scheduled for the season on May 30.The market is open 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturdays May through October inside the 10th Street Pavilion between Main and Oak Streets.“DHDC has put significant thought into the safety of the DHM customers and vendors during a time when everyone is prioritizing the health of their loved ones above all,” Allie Glidewell director of events and operations said. “We have been on the phone with other market directors, the police department, and health department to make sure we open safely and successfully.”In response to public health direction, DHDC has incorporated a few safety recommendations for guests to follow.Hand washing stations will be available under the pavilion so vendors and customers can wash their hands frequently without walking to the nearby restroom facilities.Vendors will be required to wear masks during these first weeks of operation. Customers are encouraged to wear a mask and observe social distancing by remaining 6 feet apart from other guests and vendors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588881298182.jpeg" alt="Downtown Hays Market vendor" />
 <figcaption>Downtown Hays Market vendor</figcaption>
 </figure>Consider using credit and debit over cash. Finally, customers should allow vendors to handle merchandise, even if you intend to purchase the product.Out of state vendors will not be allowed to sell at the 2020 market. The market staff is also keeping an eye on high-risk counties and limiting vendors from those areas as well.“An unfortunate safety precaution is that we will not be serving free coffee from Breathe Coffee House at this time,” Glidewell said. “We encourage you to make Breathe your first stop to grab a cup of joe before coming to see us.”To help accommodate customers who might not be ready to interact with the public, DHM will be offering a drive-through system for its customers. Three stalls in the parking lot just to the west of the pavilion will be reserved for this service.Customers can call the market and vendors prior to arriving to place their order. Orders will then be brought to their cars. Customers can also just pull up and let the market manager know their order, provide payment, and remain in their vehicle while the order is filled.Glidewell said expect many of your favorite vendors at the market again this year. Fresh produce as well as meat, cheese and bread will be available.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588825247313.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SNAPWhile there are necessary implementations, DHM is excited to open and provide an essential service. This year, the market will further benefit the Hays community by accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).“We are so excited to offer SNAP as a service of the Downtown Hays Market,” Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director, said. “It’s actually something we’ve been trying to offer for some time and thanks to Allie it’s a reality. She was able to find the correct path and even secure a grant that allowed us to receive the necessary equipment for free.”The grant was received from MarketLink. MarketLink is the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Program’s (NAFMNP) complete solution for electronic payments at farmers markets nationwide.The mission is to cultivate opportunities for consumers to buy fresh produce from local growers. MarketLink is a long-term vision of sustainability for farmers and markets through a broader customer base, increased sales, and profitability. The grant provided upwards of $5,000 in equipment and waived fees to the DHM.SNAP is a government program provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps to end food insecurity in communities across America.“DHDC understands how tight income has become for many families in Hays. We are proud to introduce such a great program into our downtown community as more families are unsure of how to put fresh and wholesome food on their tables” said Glidewell.If you are already a part of the SNAP program, it will be simple to use your SNAP EBT Card at the Market. Bring your SNAP EBT Card to the DHM Information Booth before you shop to redeem Market tokens. These tokens can be spent at vendor booths who sell products including: meats, cheese, eggs, honey, fruits, veggies and more. If you would like to apply for the SNAP program, visit <a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap">www.fns.usda.gov/snap</a> to determine the eligibility of you or your family.“With everything that has happened in the last few months there is an excitement about the opening of the market that there hasn’t been before,” Bloom said. “There’s always some excitement, but it’s kind of just off the charts right now. We are expecting new vendors, familiar and loved vendors, amazing products and just a wonderful time gathering — from a safe distance — once again.”The market is still accepting applications for vendors. Information on how to become a vendor can be found on the <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/downtown-hays-market">DHDC website</a>. You can also follow the market on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DowntownHaysMarket/">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;Glidewell said she hopes to plan special markets days such as children's crafts. Those events are still in the planning stages and will be announced at a later date.<h2>K-State offers advice on farmer's market shopping</h2>Experts at K-State offered the following advice for shopping at farmer's market this season.“Shopping at farmers’markets is a great way to get healthy fruits, vegetables and other foods while supporting localfarmers,” said Londa Nwadike, who has a joint extension appointment with K-State Research and Extension and the University of Missouri.Yet, shopping at the farmers’ market during the COVID-19 pandemic requires some extra precautions, Nwadike saidBe prepared.&nbsp;Call the market or check its website or social media pages to see which vendors and items will be available.“Give yourself extra time,” Nwadike said. “Shopping might take longer with extra safety measures in place, as many Kansas farmers’ markets have updated their procedures to provide extra safety to customers and vendors. Make a list so you can efficiently find the items you need.”Before entering the&nbsp;market,&nbsp;remind yourself to avoid touching your face and cellphone. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a mask or other cloth face covering when in places where social distancing can be difficult.“Make sure to use a designated entry point when going in,” Nwadike said. “The farmers’ market may have established separate entrances and exits to avoid bottlenecks of people coming and going.”Choose items with your eyes, not your hands.&nbsp;Let vendors handle the products you select. Stay at least 6 feet away from other people as much as possible.“You want to avoid standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other customers while examining items,” Nwadike said. “Be patient and courteous while people ahead of you complete their purchases.”Avoid using cash when possible.Many vendors and markets accept debit, credit and EBT/SNAP cards.Make use of hand washing stations or hand sanitizer.&nbsp;The CDC recommends hand washing with soap and water, but if hand washing is not available, hand sanitizer can also be used.For now, resist the temptation to socialize while shopping.“Farmers’markets are normally a place to enjoy the atmosphere and visit with the vendors and other friends, but right now, farmers’ markets are importantly a source of food and a way to support local farmers,” Nwadike said. Consider sending just one household member to the market at this time.Wash all produce before eating.“Even though there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 has been transmitted through food or food packaging, it is always important to use good food safety practices, which will help control foodborne illness as well as COVID-19,” Nwadike said. “That means washing the whole produce, even if you don’t eat the peel. Wash items such as cantaloupe and potatoes with a produce brush.” Nwadike said commercial produce washes have not been shown to be more effective than water from the kitchen faucet.“All the research shows that clean, running water is the best way for consumers to wash produce,” she said.If you’re running multiple errands, Nwadike also recommends making the farmers’ market your last stop to minimize the amount of time perishable foods sit in the car.Safety recommendations change regularly. For the most current information on the spread of COVID-19 and the government’s response, consumers should contact their local or state health department or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>.K-State Research and Extension also has a large number of resources on the website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/covid19.html" target="_blank">Food Safety and COVID-19</a>.Cristina Janney&nbsp;of the Hays Post and K-State Research and Extension&nbsp; contributed to this story.&nbsp;

Downtown Hays Market to open with COVID-19 precautions Saturday

The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance has partnered with Hays Post to bring you Encouraging Words, a series of messages from Ellis County faith leaders.

Check Hays Post on Wednesdays and Sundays for the latest Encouraging Words.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0eKZDPSQMRQ"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance has partnered with Hays Post to bring you Encouraging Words, a series of messages from Ellis County faith leaders.Check Hays Post on Wednesdays and Sundays for the latest Encouraging Words.

🎥 Encouraging Words: Kevin Daniels, Hays Christian Church

Money Management is a skill that is learned at an early age. Parents play an important role in teaching children how to manage money. The best teacher is a parent who sets a good example. Take time during this summer break to do activities that will help children understand that family spending depends on your own family’s income, obligations, and values, not on what friends or neighbors spend.&nbsp;

Even pre-school aged children can begin to learn basic concepts about money. Here are some tips to help reinforce their learning.

As children get older, (6 to 12 year olds, you can add these learning opportunities.

And then there are the teenage years when you need to remind kids that money does not grow on a tree in the back yard.

I do have some great resources at the Extension Office that can help reinforce these money management practices. Give me a call or e-mail me and I will be happy to share!

Donna Krug is the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent and District Director in the Cottonwood Extension District. You may contact her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp; K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574802720194.jpeg" alt="Donna Krug is the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent and District Director in the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent and District Director in the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Money Management is a skill that is learned at an early age. Parents play an important role in teaching children how to manage money. The best teacher is a parent who sets a good example. Take time during this summer break to do activities that will help children understand that family spending depends on your own family’s income, obligations, and values, not on what friends or neighbors spend.&nbsp;Even pre-school aged children can begin to learn basic concepts about money. Here are some tips to help reinforce their learning.<ol>
 <li>Play store with your children. Let them buy and sell toys, food, or “pretend” items. You can use play money for this activity.</li><li>Help children understand that family members work to pay for family needs like housing, food, clothes, etc. A visit to the workplace helps children know what you do and why you have to be away from home.&nbsp;</li><li>Explain why they can’t buy everything. Talk about the difference between what people want and what they need.&nbsp;</li><li>Encourage children to buy some things to share with others – food, games, puzzles, balls, crayons, etc.</li><li>Introduce children to coins when they are old enough to count to 10. Talk about what different coins can buy.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>As children get older, (6 to 12 year olds, you can add these learning opportunities.<ol>
 <li>Give children a chance to make shopping decisions. Show them how to comparison shop.</li><li>Get children involved with family money management by making out monthly checks and addressing envelopes. Let them gather information before a major family purchase.</li><li>Provide opportunities for children to earn money.</li>
 </ol>And then there are the teenage years when you need to remind kids that money does not grow on a tree in the back yard.<ol>
 <li>Let teenagers manage their own money. Have them be responsible for paying many of their personal expenses, especially if they are “wants.”</li><li>Encourage teens to earn money by working at a part-time job. Make sure the number of hours worked still allows enough time for studying and social time with friends.&nbsp;</li><li>This is a great time to help young people understand when to use cash and when to use credit.</li><li>Encourage long-range planning related to education, career and the future.</li>
 </ol>I do have some great resources at the Extension Office that can help reinforce these money management practices. Give me a call or e-mail me and I will be happy to share!Donna Krug is the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent and District Director in the Cottonwood Extension District. You may contact her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp; K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider.&nbsp;

KRUG: Kids and cash

By CARMEN FANNING FHSU University Relations

Heroes all over are making an impact in light of the present COVID-19 pandemic. Linda Penner, Kansas Wetlands Education Center administrative assistant, has used her talents for the safety of essential workers and the needs of the less fortunate.&nbsp;

Penner has used her time productively to create facial masks and asks only that customers donate whatever they can to the Ellinwood Food Bank.&nbsp;

Penner’s inspiration began in her Ellinwood.&nbsp;

“I have a good friend in Ellinwood that owns our local, small-town grocery store,” she said.&nbsp;

“When announcements about safety guidelines were issued, I told her I was very concerned about her employees being on the front line, and I’d make them all facial masks because you could not find them anywhere. I also made a few for the employees at Sunflower Bank in Ellinwood, where my daughter works. All are considered essential employees, and they were all dealing with a huge increase in customer traffic coming through their doors.”&nbsp;

Thus began a huge demand for Penner’s custom-made facial masks. Her creations have reached far and wide and brought a noticeable profit to the Ellinwood Food Bank.&nbsp;

“After spending a few hours daily on my KWEC duties, I sew,” said Penner. “As of today, I have donated a little over 500 masks, and thanks to the generous supporters have raised over $2,000 for the local food bank. I’ve sewn many special orders in addition to the ones found at the grocery store. The masks have been sent to all our surrounding states, and some to the Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona, which has been hit extremely hard with this virus.”&nbsp;

Penner’s humility and act of kindness has positively impacted numerous people from all walks of life.&nbsp;

“My parents taught me many years ago, ‘We don’t always have the financial means to support others in need. So you do the responsible thing to support your community and use your time and talent to help when needed,’ ” she said.&nbsp;

“I’ve tried to live by that, and it’s a time to work together and not in conflict to provide whatever and wherever you can for our fellow humankind.”&nbsp;

Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU’s Werth College of Science Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend at the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590167503050.jpeg" alt="Linda Penner" />
 <figcaption>Linda Penner</figcaption>
 </figure>By CARMEN FANNING FHSU University Relations Heroes all over are making an impact in light of the present COVID-19 pandemic. Linda Penner, Kansas Wetlands Education Center administrative assistant, has used her talents for the safety of essential workers and the needs of the less fortunate.&nbsp;Penner has used her time productively to create facial masks and asks only that customers donate whatever they can to the Ellinwood Food Bank.&nbsp;Penner’s inspiration began in her Ellinwood.&nbsp;“I have a good friend in Ellinwood that owns our local, small-town grocery store,” she said.&nbsp;“When announcements about safety guidelines were issued, I told her I was very concerned about her employees being on the front line, and I’d make them all facial masks because you could not find them anywhere. I also made a few for the employees at Sunflower Bank in Ellinwood, where my daughter works. All are considered essential employees, and they were all dealing with a huge increase in customer traffic coming through their doors.”&nbsp;Thus began a huge demand for Penner’s custom-made facial masks. Her creations have reached far and wide and brought a noticeable profit to the Ellinwood Food Bank.&nbsp;“After spending a few hours daily on my KWEC duties, I sew,” said Penner. “As of today, I have donated a little over 500 masks, and thanks to the generous supporters have raised over $2,000 for the local food bank. I’ve sewn many special orders in addition to the ones found at the grocery store. The masks have been sent to all our surrounding states, and some to the Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona, which has been hit extremely hard with this virus.”&nbsp;Penner’s humility and act of kindness has positively impacted numerous people from all walks of life.&nbsp;“My parents taught me many years ago, ‘We don’t always have the financial means to support others in need. So you do the responsible thing to support your community and use your time and talent to help when needed,’ ” she said.&nbsp;“I’ve tried to live by that, and it’s a time to work together and not in conflict to provide whatever and wherever you can for our fellow humankind.”&nbsp;Kansas Wetlands Education Center, affiliated with FHSU’s Werth College of Science Technology and Mathematics, is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend at the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area.&nbsp;

Local hero’s custom masks meet needs in a wide area

Three-day weather outlook

Five Republicans running for the 
U.S. Senate debated — all 
described themselves as loyalists to Trump.

By JIM MCLEAN &amp; SCOTT CANON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-23/the-kansas-republican-senate-candidates-debated-over-whos-best-to-work-with-trump">Kansas News Service</a>

MANHATTAN — The Republican candidates for the U.S. 
Senate agreed in a live-streamed Saturday morning debate that they want 
to do all they can for the president and his policies.

They 
differed mostly on who among them could offer President Donald Trump the
 strongest ally on Capitol Hill and on who had the best chance to beat a
 Democrat to get there.

The two best-known candidates — former 
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall — 
clashed most directly with each other. They challenged each other’s 
conservative bona fides and their respective electability in November.

State
 Senate President Susan Wagle championed herself as a foil to Democratic
 Gov. Laura Kelly and a powerful force in reopening a Kansas economy 
flattened by the coronavirus shutdown.

And the two other 
candidates — long-retired football player Dave Lindstrom and founder of a
 large Kansas City-area plumbing business Bob Hamilton — stuck largely 
to broad anti-politician, anti-government rhetoric.

The five 
would-be senators met in a largely empty hotel ballroom. (They all shook
 hands at the end, despite the threat of the coronavirus.) The audience 
was almost entirely online through the Kansas Republican Party’s 
Facebook Live feed, restarted in the middle of the opening arguments 
because the audio made them sound as if they were speaking through 
kazoos.

When the technical problems got solved, the farm-focused 
debate saw the candidates focused on attacking China over trade issues, 
backing Trump in his ongoing trade war and talking about who’d best 
argue the case for Kansas ranchers and farmers in Washington.

The winner of the primary will most likely face state Sen. Barbara Bollier, who left the Republican Party last year.

Here’s who the candidates are (in alphabetical order) and some of what they said Saturday:

People who live in the Kansas City area know well the <a href="https://www.bobhamiltonplumbing.com/" target="_blank">Bob Hamilton Heating Plumbing</a>
 radio commercials and the business’ ubiquitous pink vans. His campaign 
has been financed largely by a $2 million loan from the candidate.

He said he was the “one candidate up here on stage who has created jobs.”

His understanding of farm issues, he said, comes from talking with people who work plots of ground he owns in Kansas.

“They want trade, not aid. I’ve yet to talk with a farmer who wants to be subsidized.

Every
 farmer I’ve talked to is 100% Trump with the trade deals,” he said. 
“China rigs the system and they steal our technology. …. We have a China
 problem in this country.”

He emphasized his perspective as a 
political outsider. (“Do you want to send a professional politician, or 
do you want to send a plumber to help drain the swamp.”)

Hamilton 
said he’d try to land a spot on the Senate Agriculture Committee, but 
that “someone would have to show me how to do that.”

Mostly, he repeated that he was a conservative opposed to abortion, to government regulations and to gun regulations.

“I
 am a true conservative that can win in the fall,” he said. “The stakes 
are high. We cannot pick the wrong candidate and allow the Green New 
Deal or socialized medicine.”

Kobach 
stands out in the race as the best known of the candidates. He served as
 Kansas secretary of state and beat then-Gov. Jeff Colyer in the 2018 
Republican primary for governor before losing the general election to 
Kelly.

He’s built a national reputation as an immigration 
hardliner and worked with Trump briefly on a since-abandoned effort to 
document and root out voter fraud.

Some leaders in the Kansas 
Republican Party fear Kobach might win the primary but that, as a 
political lightning rod, he’d be doomed in November. In April, The 
Kansas City Star reported that the state party chairman <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article242232001.html" target="_blank">wrote letters asking Wagle and Lindstrom to drop out</a> of the race so that Marshall would have a better chance to beat Kobach.

On Saturday, Kobach made his case as a confidant of, and valuable ally to, Trump.

“I will carry the ball for the president on immigration … and I will know the issue more than other senators claim.”

Kobach
 said he’d talked with the president a week before about Kansas farm 
issues and that his relationship with a Trump White House would make him
 more able to fight against entrenched special interests in Washington.

Along
 with immigration issues — he’s involved in a privately funded effort to
 build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border — Kobach said Trump will look to
 him on trade issues. He said it’s time for the U.S. to pull out of the 
World Trade Organization, an arbiter on international trade disputes.

After
 playing defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs, he worked in real 
estate development and owned and operated four Kansas City-area Burger 
King franchises. Lindstrom also served on the Johnson County Commission,
 is an elected trustee for Johnson County Community College and is 
chairman of the Kansas Turnpike Authority.

He ran for lieutenant governor in 2002 as the running mate to then-state Treasurer Tim Shallenburger. They lost.

Lindstrom said Republicans can rely on him as a conservative voice eager to fight against liberal Democrats.

“The
 country is under attack (from) Democrats touting socialism as a way 
forward … open borders (and) disregard for the sanctity of life.”

He said trade issues need to spare Kansas agriculture from Chinese tariffs.

“Farmers are willing to suffer short-term pain for long term gain, but they do not want to be martyrs who die on this hill.”

Without
 naming Kobach, he suggested that nominating him for the Senate would 
amount to “Kansas insanity” — sending the same candidate into a general 
election and expecting a different result.

He’s
 a two-term congressman from a sprawling district that covers western 
Kansas. He’s been endorsed by the Kansas Farm Bureau and former U.S. 
Sen. Bob Dole.

Marshall accused Kobach of “fake news” in 
criticizing his role in shaping the latest farm bill that decides 
agriculture subsidies and a range of food programs.

Even 
more pointedly, Marshall argued that giving the Republican nomination to
 Kobach risked sending a Kansas Democrat to the Senate for the first 
time since the Great Depression.

“Just like you handed the 
governor’s race to Laura Kelly,” he told Kobach, “you’re about to hand 
the Senate race to Barbara Bollier.”

Yet, mostly, he championed 
himself as a proven Trump loyalist, saying over and again that he’d 
voted in line with the president 98% of the time.

“President Trump knows I have his back. … I stood with President Trump through thick and thin.”

Marshall
 also spoke of “socialist Democrats” whose New Green Deal plans to fight
 climate change mark “the end of Kansas agriculture as we know it, the 
end of oil and gas as we know it.”

She 
came to the debate barely 24 hours after the Kansas Legislature wrangled
 through the night before passing a bill that would strip the governor 
of some of the emergency powers she’s used to shutdown much of the state
 economy during the coronavirus outbreak.

Wagle’s a Wichita 
conservative largely responsible for blocking the expansion of Medicaid 
in Kansas despite support from a majority of the senators who elected 
her their president.

“I reined in Gov. Kelly” on the Democrat’s 
actions to check the spread of the virus. “Even now, she has kept the 
doors to our VFW and American Legions closed. … We’re going to open up 
Kansas and open it up safely.”

“I have a proven, reliable, respectable record … as a conservative,” she said.

The debate came barely a week before the June 1 <a href="https://www.sos.ks.gov/forms/elections/Become-Candidate.pdf" target="_blank">deadline for candidates to officially file</a>
 for a place on the Aug. 4 primary ballot. So speculation remains, 
revived recently in national Republican circles, about whether U.S. 
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo might yet run for the Senate.

Pompeo
 was a congressman from Wichita before he was tapped to head the CIA for
 the Trump administration and was later elevated to the head of the 
State Department.

A series of trips to Kansas fueled speculation 
early this year that Pompeo would run for the Senate. He demurred and 
has even said he’d be more likely to <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/mike-pompeo-confirms-hes-interested-in-presidential-run" target="_blank">run for president</a> some day.

Meanwhile,
 he’s come under increasing criticism for telling the president to fire 
the State Department’s inspector general — while that agency watchdog 
looked at an arms sale to Saudi Arabia and whether Pompeo assigned 
government workers to pick up dry cleaning and walk the secretary’s dog.

More
 recently, “Madison Dinners” hosted by Pompeo and his wife at public 
expense have come under scrutiny, criticized as a way for the secretary 
of state to court the wealthy and powerful for help in some future run 
for office. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that at least one
 of those dinners <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/all-we-did-was-talk-about-kansas-pompeo-dinners-draw-scrutiny-11590152400" target="_blank">brought in people from Kansas</a>.

Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a> or email jim@kcur.org.&nbsp;&nbsp;Scott Canon is managing editor of the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/scottcanon" target="_blank">@ScottCanon</a> or email scott@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590273109900.png" alt="Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate. From right to left: U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, businessman Bob Hamilton, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, state Senate President Susan Wagle and former football player Dave Lindstrom. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate. From right to left: U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, businessman Bob Hamilton, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, state Senate President Susan Wagle and former football player Dave Lindstrom. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Five Republicans running for the 
U.S. Senate debated — all 
described themselves as loyalists to Trump.</h2>By JIM MCLEAN &amp; SCOTT CANON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-23/the-kansas-republican-senate-candidates-debated-over-whos-best-to-work-with-trump">Kansas News Service</a>MANHATTAN — The Republican candidates for the U.S. 
Senate agreed in a live-streamed Saturday morning debate that they want 
to do all they can for the president and his policies.They 
differed mostly on who among them could offer President Donald Trump the
 strongest ally on Capitol Hill and on who had the best chance to beat a
 Democrat to get there.The two best-known candidates — former 
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall — 
clashed most directly with each other. They challenged each other’s 
conservative bona fides and their respective electability in November.State
 Senate President Susan Wagle championed herself as a foil to Democratic
 Gov. Laura Kelly and a powerful force in reopening a Kansas economy 
flattened by the coronavirus shutdown.And the two other 
candidates — long-retired football player Dave Lindstrom and founder of a
 large Kansas City-area plumbing business Bob Hamilton — stuck largely 
to broad anti-politician, anti-government rhetoric.The five 
would-be senators met in a largely empty hotel ballroom. (They all shook
 hands at the end, despite the threat of the coronavirus.) The audience 
was almost entirely online through the Kansas Republican Party’s 
Facebook Live feed, restarted in the middle of the opening arguments 
because the audio made them sound as if they were speaking through 
kazoos.When the technical problems got solved, the farm-focused 
debate saw the candidates focused on attacking China over trade issues, 
backing Trump in his ongoing trade war and talking about who’d best 
argue the case for Kansas ranchers and farmers in Washington.The winner of the primary will most likely face state Sen. Barbara Bollier, who left the Republican Party last year.Here’s who the candidates are (in alphabetical order) and some of what they said Saturday:<h2>Bob Hamilton</h2>People who live in the Kansas City area know well the <a href="https://www.bobhamiltonplumbing.com/" target="_blank">Bob Hamilton Heating Plumbing</a>
 radio commercials and the business’ ubiquitous pink vans. His campaign 
has been financed largely by a $2 million loan from the candidate.He said he was the “one candidate up here on stage who has created jobs.”His understanding of farm issues, he said, comes from talking with people who work plots of ground he owns in Kansas.“They want trade, not aid. I’ve yet to talk with a farmer who wants to be subsidized.Every
 farmer I’ve talked to is 100% Trump with the trade deals,” he said. 
“China rigs the system and they steal our technology. …. We have a China
 problem in this country.”He emphasized his perspective as a 
political outsider. (“Do you want to send a professional politician, or 
do you want to send a plumber to help drain the swamp.”)Hamilton 
said he’d try to land a spot on the Senate Agriculture Committee, but 
that “someone would have to show me how to do that.”Mostly, he repeated that he was a conservative opposed to abortion, to government regulations and to gun regulations.“I
 am a true conservative that can win in the fall,” he said. “The stakes 
are high. We cannot pick the wrong candidate and allow the Green New 
Deal or socialized medicine.”<h2>Kris Kobach</h2>Kobach 
stands out in the race as the best known of the candidates. He served as
 Kansas secretary of state and beat then-Gov. Jeff Colyer in the 2018 
Republican primary for governor before losing the general election to 
Kelly.He’s built a national reputation as an immigration 
hardliner and worked with Trump briefly on a since-abandoned effort to 
document and root out voter fraud.Some leaders in the Kansas 
Republican Party fear Kobach might win the primary but that, as a 
political lightning rod, he’d be doomed in November. In April, The 
Kansas City Star reported that the state party chairman <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article242232001.html" target="_blank">wrote letters asking Wagle and Lindstrom to drop out</a> of the race so that Marshall would have a better chance to beat Kobach.On Saturday, Kobach made his case as a confidant of, and valuable ally to, Trump.“I will carry the ball for the president on immigration … and I will know the issue more than other senators claim.”Kobach
 said he’d talked with the president a week before about Kansas farm 
issues and that his relationship with a Trump White House would make him
 more able to fight against entrenched special interests in Washington.Along
 with immigration issues — he’s involved in a privately funded effort to
 build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border — Kobach said Trump will look to
 him on trade issues. He said it’s time for the U.S. to pull out of the 
World Trade Organization, an arbiter on international trade disputes.<h2>Dave Lindstrom</h2>After
 playing defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs, he worked in real 
estate development and owned and operated four Kansas City-area Burger 
King franchises. Lindstrom also served on the Johnson County Commission,
 is an elected trustee for Johnson County Community College and is 
chairman of the Kansas Turnpike Authority.He ran for lieutenant governor in 2002 as the running mate to then-state Treasurer Tim Shallenburger. They lost.Lindstrom said Republicans can rely on him as a conservative voice eager to fight against liberal Democrats.“The
 country is under attack (from) Democrats touting socialism as a way 
forward … open borders (and) disregard for the sanctity of life.”He said trade issues need to spare Kansas agriculture from Chinese tariffs.“Farmers are willing to suffer short-term pain for long term gain, but they do not want to be martyrs who die on this hill.”Without
 naming Kobach, he suggested that nominating him for the Senate would 
amount to “Kansas insanity” — sending the same candidate into a general 
election and expecting a different result.<h2>Roger Marshall</h2>He’s
 a two-term congressman from a sprawling district that covers western 
Kansas. He’s been endorsed by the Kansas Farm Bureau and former U.S. 
Sen. Bob Dole.Marshall accused Kobach of “fake news” in 
criticizing his role in shaping the latest farm bill that decides 
agriculture subsidies and a range of food programs.Even 
more pointedly, Marshall argued that giving the Republican nomination to
 Kobach risked sending a Kansas Democrat to the Senate for the first 
time since the Great Depression.“Just like you handed the 
governor’s race to Laura Kelly,” he told Kobach, “you’re about to hand 
the Senate race to Barbara Bollier.”Yet, mostly, he championed 
himself as a proven Trump loyalist, saying over and again that he’d 
voted in line with the president 98% of the time.“President Trump knows I have his back. … I stood with President Trump through thick and thin.”Marshall
 also spoke of “socialist Democrats” whose New Green Deal plans to fight
 climate change mark “the end of Kansas agriculture as we know it, the 
end of oil and gas as we know it.”<h2>Susan Wagle</h2>She 
came to the debate barely 24 hours after the Kansas Legislature wrangled
 through the night before passing a bill that would strip the governor 
of some of the emergency powers she’s used to shutdown much of the state
 economy during the coronavirus outbreak.Wagle’s a Wichita 
conservative largely responsible for blocking the expansion of Medicaid 
in Kansas despite support from a majority of the senators who elected 
her their president.“I reined in Gov. Kelly” on the Democrat’s 
actions to check the spread of the virus. “Even now, she has kept the 
doors to our VFW and American Legions closed. … We’re going to open up 
Kansas and open it up safely.”“I have a proven, reliable, respectable record … as a conservative,” she said.<h2>Not there</h2>The debate came barely a week before the June 1 <a href="https://www.sos.ks.gov/forms/elections/Become-Candidate.pdf" target="_blank">deadline for candidates to officially file</a>
 for a place on the Aug. 4 primary ballot. So speculation remains, 
revived recently in national Republican circles, about whether U.S. 
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo might yet run for the Senate.Pompeo
 was a congressman from Wichita before he was tapped to head the CIA for
 the Trump administration and was later elevated to the head of the 
State Department.A series of trips to Kansas fueled speculation 
early this year that Pompeo would run for the Senate. He demurred and 
has even said he’d be more likely to <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/mike-pompeo-confirms-hes-interested-in-presidential-run" target="_blank">run for president</a> some day.Meanwhile,
 he’s come under increasing criticism for telling the president to fire 
the State Department’s inspector general — while that agency watchdog 
looked at an arms sale to Saudi Arabia and whether Pompeo assigned 
government workers to pick up dry cleaning and walk the secretary’s dog.More
 recently, “Madison Dinners” hosted by Pompeo and his wife at public 
expense have come under scrutiny, criticized as a way for the secretary 
of state to court the wealthy and powerful for help in some future run 
for office. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that at least one
 of those dinners <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/all-we-did-was-talk-about-kansas-pompeo-dinners-draw-scrutiny-11590152400" target="_blank">brought in people from Kansas</a>.Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a> or email jim@kcur.org.&nbsp;&nbsp;Scott Canon is managing editor of the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/scottcanon" target="_blank">@ScottCanon</a> or email scott@kcur.org.

Kan. GOP candidates debate over who’s best to work with Trump 

Shoppers eager to return to local thrift shop after more
then a month of being closed during COVID-19 precautions.

Oftentimes in life, it’s the little things, a cool breeze on
a warm summer day, a lucky shot during one-on-one or the smile
of a child.

For some, it’s finding a great deal at a local thrift shop.

After being closed for over a month during the COVID-19
pandemic, the ARC of the Central Plains Thrift Shop opened its doors on May 7 to crowds eager to get back to a small part of their normal lives.

“They are happy to be out and in one of their favorite
spots.” said Kathy
McAdoo, executive director.


After reopening. the shop was buzzing with activity.

“It was busy,” McAdoo said, “very busy.”

The phone was also ringing constantly asking if the shop was
open — with most asking if they are taking donations.

“Everybody was spring cleaning,” said Sarah Meitner, ARC board president.

Staff at the shop used the downtime to deep clean and reorganize
the store as well.

“They didn’t rest that month,” Meitner said.

“It wasn’t great to be closed and not have the business,”
McAdoo said. “But it gave us an opportunity to get things done that would have
taken us three or four times as long if we were open.”

After they reopened, donations also poured in along with
shoppers, bringing truckloads cleared from homes as people
attempted to make the best of being homebound.

But for many, the shop is more than just an outlet for goods. It can be a source of fun, whether searching for unique vintage items or just a
good deal.

“They are having a ball. and it’s not costing them a lot. Where
else can you go and you are not broke when you walk out?" McAdoo said.

And the people who are once again being welcomed into the
store come from all walks of life.

“There is a story with every cart,” McAdoo said.

She recalls speaking with a customer from New York
who made multiple trips into the store on a hunt for vintage goods.

Another filled cart with clothes toys and games for their
children.

“We have a big variety of people that shop here,” McAdoo
said.

Resellers, crafters and just people on the hunt for a bargain
make their way into the store and they come from all around the area.

“They are not shy to travel,” McAdoo said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On Monday, Kayla Swaney visited the store looking for summer activities
for her grandchildren who she would be babysitting over the summer.

“I look here first to see if I can get it cheaper,” Swaney
said.

She has some concerns about shopping during the
COVID-19 pandemic — but takes precautions.

“I have my alcohol (wipes, and I wear my mask as much as I
can,” Swaney said. “I really don’t try to get out any more than I have too.”

While Swaney was on the hunt for low-cost activities, for
others the thrift shop can be a lifeline to necessities.

The store works with a variety of nonprofits in the area
including Options, DSNWK, Salvation Army and First Call in various ways,
providing goods to people in need.

“There are people that need it and rely on it,” Meitner
said.

And profits from the location also go towards a good cause.

“We’re unique in that the proceeds from our thrift store
fund Special Olympics programming entirely here locally, but also other events,”
Meitner said. “That money stays here.”

The direction to help the local community is another reason
people come into the location.

“The fact that the money stays local is why you see what you
see over there now,” Meitner said.

<h2>Shoppers eager to return to local thrift shop after more
then a month of being closed during COVID-19 precautions.</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590175937609.jpeg" alt="Kayla Swaney visited the ARC of the Central Plain Thrift Shop on Monday looking for items for her grandchildren." />
 <figcaption>Kayla Swaney visited the ARC of the Central Plain Thrift Shop on Monday looking for items for her grandchildren.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostOftentimes in life, it’s the little things, a cool breeze on
a warm summer day, a lucky shot during one-on-one or the smile
of a child.For some, it’s finding a great deal at a local thrift shop.After being closed for over a month during the COVID-19
pandemic, the ARC of the Central Plains Thrift Shop opened its doors on May 7 to crowds eager to get back to a small part of their normal lives.“They are happy to be out and in one of their favorite
spots.” said Kathy
McAdoo, executive director.
After reopening. the shop was buzzing with activity.“It was busy,” McAdoo said, “very busy.”The phone was also ringing constantly asking if the shop was
open — with most asking if they are taking donations.“Everybody was spring cleaning,” said Sarah Meitner, ARC board president.Staff at the shop used the downtime to deep clean and reorganize
the store as well.“They didn’t rest that month,” Meitner said.“It wasn’t great to be closed and not have the business,”
McAdoo said. “But it gave us an opportunity to get things done that would have
taken us three or four times as long if we were open.”After they reopened, donations also poured in along with
shoppers, bringing truckloads cleared from homes as people
attempted to make the best of being homebound.But for many, the shop is more than just an outlet for goods. It can be a source of fun, whether searching for unique vintage items or just a
good deal.“They are having a ball. and it’s not costing them a lot. Where
else can you go and you are not broke when you walk out?" McAdoo said.And the people who are once again being welcomed into the
store come from all walks of life.“There is a story with every cart,” McAdoo said.She recalls speaking with a customer from New York
who made multiple trips into the store on a hunt for vintage goods.Another filled cart with clothes toys and games for their
children.“We have a big variety of people that shop here,” McAdoo
said.Resellers, crafters and just people on the hunt for a bargain
make their way into the store and they come from all around the area.“They are not shy to travel,” McAdoo said. &nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590175801577.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Monday, Kayla Swaney visited the store looking for summer activities
for her grandchildren who she would be babysitting over the summer.“I look here first to see if I can get it cheaper,” Swaney
said.She has some concerns about shopping during the
COVID-19 pandemic — but takes precautions.“I have my alcohol (wipes, and I wear my mask as much as I
can,” Swaney said. “I really don’t try to get out any more than I have too.”While Swaney was on the hunt for low-cost activities, for
others the thrift shop can be a lifeline to necessities.The store works with a variety of nonprofits in the area
including Options, DSNWK, Salvation Army and First Call in various ways,
providing goods to people in need.“There are people that need it and rely on it,” Meitner
said.And profits from the location also go towards a good cause.“We’re unique in that the proceeds from our thrift store
fund Special Olympics programming entirely here locally, but also other events,”
Meitner said. “That money stays here.”The direction to help the local community is another reason
people come into the location.“The fact that the money stays local is why you see what you
see over there now,” Meitner said.

Thrifters return in a big way after ARC in Hays reopens

KFMA data showed 9% net farm income increase from previous year

MANHATTAN – Kansas net farm income rose again in 2019, largely owing to government support payments meant to buffer the effect of trade disputes amid lackluster commodity prices, according to the annual summary by the Kansas Farm Management Association.

Net farm income among KFMA members averaged $110,380 in 2019, up from $101,274 a year earlier and well above the five-year average of $66,336. Net farm income has risen every year since 2015 when income plummeted to a historically low $6,744.&nbsp;

The data were compiled for the&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/kfma/whole-farm-analysis/kfma-executive-summary/2019-executive-summary">2019 KFMA Executive Summary</a>. Although not all farms are KFMA members, the numbers serve as a barometer of Kansas agriculture in any given year.

“We are continuing in a period of tight margins and cash flow constraints as we move forward into 2020,” said Kevin Herbel, KFMA executive director.

“It’s difficult to think back just a few months to before the changes brought into our lives by COVID-19,” Herbel said. “As 2019 ended, none of us had any thought of PPP or EIDL loans, or that additional unknowns and complications would impact trade agreements and influence domestic markets,” referring to financial programs designed to help small businesses, including farmers caught up in the effects of the pandemic.

“Strong yields in many parts of the state were a significant factor in 2019,” he said, citing good dryland fall crop yields in northwest and north central Kansas and impressive wheat yields in southwest areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Similar to a year earlier, however, the increase in 2019 net farm income was primarily linked to crop insurance and government payments made to farmers to offset the disruptive effects of trade disputes with other countries that began pre-COVID-19. The total of all government payments received by KFMA farms last year was more than 70% of net farm income. Without those payments, the 2019 average net farm income would have been $30,361 per farm.

“It just indicates the importance of a strong safety net program that allows farmers to keep producing in order to help feed the world,” said Mark Dikeman, KFMA associate director.

Farms in four areas of the state showed stronger net farm income compared with 2018. However, net farm income in south central and southeast Kansas fell compared to the prior year, at least partially because of more precipitation than usual during the critical planting and growing seasons.

Net farm income in northwest Kansas averaged $127,244 versus $116,077 a year earlier; southwest averaged $188,051 versus $153,660; north central averaged $109,961 versus $76,238; south central $70,566 versus $99,709; northeast $109,768 versus $60,944; and southeast $111,310 versus $136,916.

The KFMA summary breaks down data by type of farm, for example average dryland crop, cow herd, crops and beef. It provides comparisons against the previous four years in categories such as value of livestock produced, value of farm production, depreciation, number of workers, crop production costs/crop acre, and family living expenses.

“To get a true picture of 2019, you have to look at the fall of 2018,” said Brian Manny, KFMA economist in south central Kansas, adding that the area experienced one of the wettest Octobers in history during the normal wheat planting time that year.

Will Feldkamp, KFMA economist in north central Kansas said that area had “phenomenal wheat yields” and good soybean yields last year.

“We’re used to getting a lot of rain but had more than usual in 2019. Crops were planted late because of it,” said Dillon Rapp, KFMA economist in southeast Kansas, one of the areas where net farm income slipped from a year earlier.

In addition to this year’s weather challenges and ongoing trade issues, COVID-19 lends even more uncertainty to the financial picture for Kansas farms, Herbel said. He encourages farmers, whether KFMA members or not, to use the KFMA data as a benchmark against their own farms to identify strengths and weaknesses.

“There is much producers can’t control, but there are things they can control,” Herbel said. “A good set of records will help identify production costs, can provide a starting point for market planning, and can help a farm manager understand their farm business better than anyone else. The investment of time into this process is important to manage today’s economic environment successfully.”

More information about the KFMA is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agmanager.info/kfma">available online</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575655356437.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>KFMA data showed 9% net farm income increase from previous year</h2>K-State Research &amp; ExtensionMANHATTAN – Kansas net farm income rose again in 2019, largely owing to government support payments meant to buffer the effect of trade disputes amid lackluster commodity prices, according to the annual summary by the Kansas Farm Management Association.Net farm income among KFMA members averaged $110,380 in 2019, up from $101,274 a year earlier and well above the five-year average of $66,336. Net farm income has risen every year since 2015 when income plummeted to a historically low $6,744.&nbsp;The data were compiled for the&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/kfma/whole-farm-analysis/kfma-executive-summary/2019-executive-summary">2019 KFMA Executive Summary</a>. Although not all farms are KFMA members, the numbers serve as a barometer of Kansas agriculture in any given year.“We are continuing in a period of tight margins and cash flow constraints as we move forward into 2020,” said Kevin Herbel, KFMA executive director.“It’s difficult to think back just a few months to before the changes brought into our lives by COVID-19,” Herbel said. “As 2019 ended, none of us had any thought of PPP or EIDL loans, or that additional unknowns and complications would impact trade agreements and influence domestic markets,” referring to financial programs designed to help small businesses, including farmers caught up in the effects of the pandemic.“Strong yields in many parts of the state were a significant factor in 2019,” he said, citing good dryland fall crop yields in northwest and north central Kansas and impressive wheat yields in southwest areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;Similar to a year earlier, however, the increase in 2019 net farm income was primarily linked to crop insurance and government payments made to farmers to offset the disruptive effects of trade disputes with other countries that began pre-COVID-19. The total of all government payments received by KFMA farms last year was more than 70% of net farm income. Without those payments, the 2019 average net farm income would have been $30,361 per farm.“It just indicates the importance of a strong safety net program that allows farmers to keep producing in order to help feed the world,” said Mark Dikeman, KFMA associate director.Farms in four areas of the state showed stronger net farm income compared with 2018. However, net farm income in south central and southeast Kansas fell compared to the prior year, at least partially because of more precipitation than usual during the critical planting and growing seasons.Net farm income in northwest Kansas averaged $127,244 versus $116,077 a year earlier; southwest averaged $188,051 versus $153,660; north central averaged $109,961 versus $76,238; south central $70,566 versus $99,709; northeast $109,768 versus $60,944; and southeast $111,310 versus $136,916.The KFMA summary breaks down data by type of farm, for example average dryland crop, cow herd, crops and beef. It provides comparisons against the previous four years in categories such as value of livestock produced, value of farm production, depreciation, number of workers, crop production costs/crop acre, and family living expenses.“To get a true picture of 2019, you have to look at the fall of 2018,” said Brian Manny, KFMA economist in south central Kansas, adding that the area experienced one of the wettest Octobers in history during the normal wheat planting time that year.Will Feldkamp, KFMA economist in north central Kansas said that area had “phenomenal wheat yields” and good soybean yields last year.“We’re used to getting a lot of rain but had more than usual in 2019. Crops were planted late because of it,” said Dillon Rapp, KFMA economist in southeast Kansas, one of the areas where net farm income slipped from a year earlier.In addition to this year’s weather challenges and ongoing trade issues, COVID-19 lends even more uncertainty to the financial picture for Kansas farms, Herbel said. He encourages farmers, whether KFMA members or not, to use the KFMA data as a benchmark against their own farms to identify strengths and weaknesses.“There is much producers can’t control, but there are things they can control,” Herbel said. “A good set of records will help identify production costs, can provide a starting point for market planning, and can help a farm manager understand their farm business better than anyone else. The investment of time into this process is important to manage today’s economic environment successfully.”More information about the KFMA is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agmanager.info/kfma">available online</a>.

Kan. net farm income rose in 2019; government support again a big factor

Spend the summer imagining your story! This year the Hays Public Library Summer Challenge, with the theme Imagine Your Story, is being altered to continue safety precautions but still provide educational and fun experiences. The challenge will run from May 26 to July 26.&nbsp;

The library will use the online program Beanstack to track summer reading. Through Beanstack, families register participants of all ages and use the program to log their reading progress. Staff will assist with sign-up and logging for those without computer access. The Youth Services Department has created challenges for each age group; early literacy, elementary, and young adult. An adult summer challenge has been created for those 18 and older.&nbsp;

For children and teens, the Summer Challenge is an exciting way to improve literacy during the summer months.&nbsp;Numerous studies show that kids who don't read during&nbsp;summer&nbsp;vacation, actually slip in reading ability by the time school begins in the fall.&nbsp;

The kids will receive a packet of activities that can be picked up or emailed when they register. Logging of reading time will not be counted until May 26. A prize will be given to each child who completes their challenge by the end of the event on July 26. Those who complete the challenge also will put their name in a drawing for the grand prize of their choice.&nbsp;

Adults sign up for their summer challenge through Beanstack, or they can place an order to pick up a bookmark at the library or have it included in a delivery order. Registration begins May 26, and each person receives a journal as a gift for participating. As in the past, there will be ten challenges. Adults will have until July 26 to complete all the challenges and submit an entry into the end of the summer prize drawing.&nbsp; One of the prizes will be a gift card bouquet worth $300.&nbsp;

At this time no in-person programs for kids or adults are planned at the library. A variety of online activities will be provided through social media.&nbsp;

For more information about the Summer Challenge and to sign up on Beanstack go to&nbsp;<a href="http://hayslibrary.org/srp20">hayslibrary.org/srp20</a>&nbsp;or call 785-625-9014.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578606002336.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HPLSpend the summer imagining your story! This year the Hays Public Library Summer Challenge, with the theme Imagine Your Story, is being altered to continue safety precautions but still provide educational and fun experiences. The challenge will run from May 26 to July 26.&nbsp;The library will use the online program Beanstack to track summer reading. Through Beanstack, families register participants of all ages and use the program to log their reading progress. Staff will assist with sign-up and logging for those without computer access. The Youth Services Department has created challenges for each age group; early literacy, elementary, and young adult. An adult summer challenge has been created for those 18 and older.&nbsp;For children and teens, the Summer Challenge is an exciting way to improve literacy during the summer months.&nbsp;Numerous studies show that kids who don't read during&nbsp;summer&nbsp;vacation, actually slip in reading ability by the time school begins in the fall.&nbsp;The kids will receive a packet of activities that can be picked up or emailed when they register. Logging of reading time will not be counted until May 26. A prize will be given to each child who completes their challenge by the end of the event on July 26. Those who complete the challenge also will put their name in a drawing for the grand prize of their choice.&nbsp;Adults sign up for their summer challenge through Beanstack, or they can place an order to pick up a bookmark at the library or have it included in a delivery order. Registration begins May 26, and each person receives a journal as a gift for participating. As in the past, there will be ten challenges. Adults will have until July 26 to complete all the challenges and submit an entry into the end of the summer prize drawing.&nbsp; One of the prizes will be a gift card bouquet worth $300.&nbsp;At this time no in-person programs for kids or adults are planned at the library. A variety of online activities will be provided through social media.&nbsp;For more information about the Summer Challenge and to sign up on Beanstack go to&nbsp;<a href="http://hayslibrary.org/srp20">hayslibrary.org/srp20</a>&nbsp;or call 785-625-9014.

Hays Public Library Summer Challenge moves online

PRATT – In a time when “every little bit helps,” the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) Public Lands Division has found a big way to help those in need. KDWPT’s Public Lands staff donated 2,137 pounds of elk and bison meat to seven food banks across the state. The meat – delivered in five-pound boxes containing 20 one-quarter pound patties each – came from elk and bison herds managed at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in Canton and the Sandsage Bison Range near Garden City.

“We typically harvest one to two bison and a few elk annually at Maxwell and Sandsage,” Stuart Schrag, Director of KDWPT’s Public Lands Division, said. “This helps maintain an optimum herd size for available habitat, which keeps the herds healthy, and allows us to do disease testing. We then have the meat professionally processed and utilize it for education and outreach efforts throughout the year, but this year we decided to donate everything we had. It was our way of helping out our neighbors in need.”

As many Kansas food banks experience an increase in demand, donations such as this can go a long way. KDWPT’s donated elk and bison will feed approximately 8,500 people.

“We try to have a protein or meat item for every household, but access to meat is difficult,” Joe Seitz, Director of Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, a Wichita-based ministry of Catholic Charities, said. “One of these boxes is perfect for a family, so we’re very much appreciative of this.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://ksoutdoors.com/var/news/storage/images/kdwpt-info/news/weekly-news/5-19-20-kdwpt-donates-2-000-pounds-of-elk-and-bison-meat-to-food-banks/kdwpt-donates-2-000-pounds-of-elk-and-bison-meat-to-local-food-banks/529802-1-eng-US/KDWPT-Donates-2-000-Pounds-of-Elk-and-Bison-Meat-to-Local-Food-Banks_imagelarge.jpg" alt="KDWPT 's&nbsp;Public Lands Division donated elk and bison meet to seven Kansas food banks." />
 <figcaption>KDWPT 's&nbsp;Public Lands Division donated elk and bison meet to seven Kansas food banks.</figcaption>
 </figure>KDWPTPRATT – In a time when “every little bit helps,” the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) Public Lands Division has found a big way to help those in need. KDWPT’s Public Lands staff donated 2,137 pounds of elk and bison meat to seven food banks across the state. The meat – delivered in five-pound boxes containing 20 one-quarter pound patties each – came from elk and bison herds managed at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in Canton and the Sandsage Bison Range near Garden City.“We typically harvest one to two bison and a few elk annually at Maxwell and Sandsage,” Stuart Schrag, Director of KDWPT’s Public Lands Division, said. “This helps maintain an optimum herd size for available habitat, which keeps the herds healthy, and allows us to do disease testing. We then have the meat professionally processed and utilize it for education and outreach efforts throughout the year, but this year we decided to donate everything we had. It was our way of helping out our neighbors in need.”As many Kansas food banks experience an increase in demand, donations such as this can go a long way. KDWPT’s donated elk and bison will feed approximately 8,500 people.“We try to have a protein or meat item for every household, but access to meat is difficult,” Joe Seitz, Director of Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, a Wichita-based ministry of Catholic Charities, said. “One of these boxes is perfect for a family, so we’re very much appreciative of this.”Seitz added that although times can be challenging, he finds joy in knowing the families they serve will be able to go home and eat.“I love my job,” Seitz said. “We’re here to feed people, and any time we can form partnerships like the one we have with KDWPT, it’s a good thing.”&nbsp;KDWPT staff who helped deliver the more than 400 boxes of meat statewide included Tom Norman, Manuel Torres, Cliff Peterson, Dustin Mengarelli, Jason Deal, Mike Nyhoff and Schrag.“I’m continually impressed by the resourcefulness of our staff and our Public Lands Division is no exception,” KDWPT Secretary Brad Loveless said. “This effort is a fine example of the many ways our staff continue to find unique solutions to challenging situations, and I’m very proud that this particular solution will benefit Kansas families in need.”