The season for snow and ice is here, and with the change in weather, you may be concerned about falling. However, slippery conditions are only one factor contributing to fall risk. Other elements like balance, strength, and coordination can also play a part.

As you know, balance keeps you stable and on your feet. Your eyes, nervous system, and inner ears communicate to keep you upright. Intricate stabilizing muscles and core strength also work together for good balance.

So, what can you do to reduce your risk of falling?

Key practices for good balance include strength and flexibility training. These exercises work your muscles and engage the body’s full balance network, including the nervous system, vision, and inner ears. Keeping these systems in regular communication will help improve balance.

For example, strength training with dumbbells, resistance bands, or body weight can increase muscle mass and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Resistance exercises help build stabilizing muscles and increase movement control.

Unilateral movements also contribute to better balance by increasing the time spent on a single side of the body. These exercises focus on practicing balance and improving coordination while strengthening the body. Including unilateral movements such as walking, climbing stairs, riding a bike, or tai chi can help.

Flexibility training is another key component to improve posture and increase range of motion. When the body is tight, everyday tasks may seem difficult to complete. Bending over to tie&nbsp;shoes or reaching high into a cabinet can be challenging. However, yoga and daily stretching are two ways to work on flexibility that contribute to better balance.

The fear of falling is a legitimate concern for many older adults. In the United States, every 11 seconds a senior is treated in the emergency room due to a fall. These injuries can result in decreased mobility and loss of independence.

Improving balance includes regular strength and flexibility training. Incorporating these habits into your routine at least twice a week can help. Once you start, make it a habit because balance is a skill that requires practice. The good news is that it’s never too late to start!

Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt="Karissa Winkel, Cottonwood Extension District&nbsp;&nbsp;Family and Community Wellness Agent. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karissa Winkel, Cottonwood Extension District&nbsp;&nbsp;Family and Community Wellness Agent. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The season for snow and ice is here, and with the change in weather, you may be concerned about falling. However, slippery conditions are only one factor contributing to fall risk. Other elements like balance, strength, and coordination can also play a part.As you know, balance keeps you stable and on your feet. Your eyes, nervous system, and inner ears communicate to keep you upright. Intricate stabilizing muscles and core strength also work together for good balance.So, what can you do to reduce your risk of falling?Key practices for good balance include strength and flexibility training. These exercises work your muscles and engage the body’s full balance network, including the nervous system, vision, and inner ears. Keeping these systems in regular communication will help improve balance.For example, strength training with dumbbells, resistance bands, or body weight can increase muscle mass and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Resistance exercises help build stabilizing muscles and increase movement control.Unilateral movements also contribute to better balance by increasing the time spent on a single side of the body. These exercises focus on practicing balance and improving coordination while strengthening the body. Including unilateral movements such as walking, climbing stairs, riding a bike, or tai chi can help.Flexibility training is another key component to improve posture and increase range of motion. When the body is tight, everyday tasks may seem difficult to complete. Bending over to tie&nbsp;shoes or reaching high into a cabinet can be challenging. However, yoga and daily stretching are two ways to work on flexibility that contribute to better balance.The fear of falling is a legitimate concern for many older adults. In the United States, every 11 seconds a senior is treated in the emergency room due to a fall. These injuries can result in decreased mobility and loss of independence.Improving balance includes regular strength and flexibility training. Incorporating these habits into your routine at least twice a week can help. Once you start, make it a habit because balance is a skill that requires practice. The good news is that it’s never too late to start!Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.&nbsp;

WINKEL: Practice balancing to reduce risk of falls on winter ice 

I have a confession to make — I hate horses! 

This is a big step for me to admit my dislike of the beasts, because living here in Kansas and hating horses is akin to living in a retirement home and hating the Wheel of Fortune. 

I grew up in central Ohio where coon hunting was a popular and noble sport, and an offshoot sport that grew out of coon hunting and was popular for a time was hunting raccoons from the backs of mules. 

Now, I cannot fathom riding a smelly, cantankerous, sweaty old mule in pursuit of a raccoon through briars, brambles, fallen tree limbs, swamps and hidden barbed wire, and in the middle of the night, no less. 

By night’s end, most coon hunters have fallen into the river or swamp at least once, skinned and dressed a couple big greasy coons, and all this after thoroughly enjoying a huge pot of Texas style chili their buddy fixed before the hunt, all making for some rather unique and horrible smells at the end of a good night’s coon hunt. 

So why on God’s green earth would I want to start the evening as a passenger on the back of a critter that already smells that bad from the get-go?

I can’t imagine a mule would be known for its smooth ride either, so it seems to me Mr. “Bobblehead” coon hunter would be shining his headlamp about everywhere but where it was needed. 

To solve this problem, I’d mount lights on the mule. Ace hardware has clamp-on trailer lights, so hang an old milk crate on the mule to hold the battery, then buy a half-dozen of those lights and get creative. Those big ears have to be good for something, so clamp one on each ear.

 Myself, I’d clamp the other four to the loose skin under each leg and shine them downward for ground-effect lighting, (but that’s just me.) By the time I got through with my mule, it’d look like a transformer clomping through the woods.

Coonhounds are notorious for getting lost before the night's over, so what if my “coonmule” tosses me off in the middle of a briar patch and lights out on its own? 

I’m thinkin’ it would be easier to just shoot the thing than try to lasso it or get it to load into a stock trailer after having run loose all night. 

And I can only imagine what would happen if someone found the thing standing in the middle of the road. Spotting a coonhound in the middle of the road would not seem too strange. But topping a hill on a country road in the middle of nowhere at three a.m. only to spot my coonmule standing in the road in front of you lit up like a four-legged Christmas tree with high beams shooting out from both ears and all four armpits? You’d have to change shorts immediately and I guarantee you’d be in the front pew at church the following Sunday.

So far, I’ve railed pretty badly against the poor mules, but as I search my soul, I have to say their tainted reputation is probably not all their fault.

 I think the name alone gives them a bum rap. I mean really, what does the word “mule” conjure up for you? It’s right up there with other one-syllable four-letter words like carp, crap, lard, lump, toad and turd. 

Just because mules are a cross between a male donkey and a female horse, why curse them from birth with a name like mule. After all, dogs are cross-bred all the time and given fine exotic names that use parts of each&nbsp;breed, like Afador, Cockapoo, and my personal favorite, a cross between a Labrador retriever and a Poodle, the Labradoodle. 

Why not be a little more creative and help lift the mule’s self esteem with a fine and noble name like Donkhorsey or Hordonk…or maybe not!

Anyway, I know Donkhorseys and Hordonks make great working steeds and excellent pulling teams, but as far as riding them into the woods in the middle of the night as a way of chasing coons and following coonhounds, not so much! 

The way I see it, riding a mule to follow a coonhound ranks right up there with using a Labradoodle to chase the coon.

 A nickname my grandmother had for our feet was “shanks horses,” and as far as I’m concerned, shanks horses are the only thing I’ll ride into the woods chasing a coon, thank you very much!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland, Exploring Kansas Outdoors. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland, Exploring Kansas Outdoors. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>I have a confession to make — I hate horses! This is a big step for me to admit my dislike of the beasts, because living here in Kansas and hating horses is akin to living in a retirement home and hating the Wheel of Fortune. I grew up in central Ohio where coon hunting was a popular and noble sport, and an offshoot sport that grew out of coon hunting and was popular for a time was hunting raccoons from the backs of mules. Now, I cannot fathom riding a smelly, cantankerous, sweaty old mule in pursuit of a raccoon through briars, brambles, fallen tree limbs, swamps and hidden barbed wire, and in the middle of the night, no less. By night’s end, most coon hunters have fallen into the river or swamp at least once, skinned and dressed a couple big greasy coons, and all this after thoroughly enjoying a huge pot of Texas style chili their buddy fixed before the hunt, all making for some rather unique and horrible smells at the end of a good night’s coon hunt. So why on God’s green earth would I want to start the evening as a passenger on the back of a critter that already smells that bad from the get-go?I can’t imagine a mule would be known for its smooth ride either, so it seems to me Mr. “Bobblehead” coon hunter would be shining his headlamp about everywhere but where it was needed. To solve this problem, I’d mount lights on the mule. Ace hardware has clamp-on trailer lights, so hang an old milk crate on the mule to hold the battery, then buy a half-dozen of those lights and get creative. Those big ears have to be good for something, so clamp one on each ear. Myself, I’d clamp the other four to the loose skin under each leg and shine them downward for ground-effect lighting, (but that’s just me.) By the time I got through with my mule, it’d look like a transformer clomping through the woods.Coonhounds are notorious for getting lost before the night's over, so what if my “coonmule” tosses me off in the middle of a briar patch and lights out on its own? I’m thinkin’ it would be easier to just shoot the thing than try to lasso it or get it to load into a stock trailer after having run loose all night. And I can only imagine what would happen if someone found the thing standing in the middle of the road. Spotting a coonhound in the middle of the road would not seem too strange. But topping a hill on a country road in the middle of nowhere at three a.m. only to spot my coonmule standing in the road in front of you lit up like a four-legged Christmas tree with high beams shooting out from both ears and all four armpits? You’d have to change shorts immediately and I guarantee you’d be in the front pew at church the following Sunday.So far, I’ve railed pretty badly against the poor mules, but as I search my soul, I have to say their tainted reputation is probably not all their fault. I think the name alone gives them a bum rap. I mean really, what does the word “mule” conjure up for you? It’s right up there with other one-syllable four-letter words like carp, crap, lard, lump, toad and turd. Just because mules are a cross between a male donkey and a female horse, why curse them from birth with a name like mule. After all, dogs are cross-bred all the time and given fine exotic names that use parts of each&nbsp;breed, like Afador, Cockapoo, and my personal favorite, a cross between a Labrador retriever and a Poodle, the Labradoodle. Why not be a little more creative and help lift the mule’s self esteem with a fine and noble name like Donkhorsey or Hordonk…or maybe not!Anyway, I know Donkhorseys and Hordonks make great working steeds and excellent pulling teams, but as far as riding them into the woods in the middle of the night as a way of chasing coons and following coonhounds, not so much! The way I see it, riding a mule to follow a coonhound ranks right up there with using a Labradoodle to chase the coon. A nickname my grandmother had for our feet was “shanks horses,” and as far as I’m concerned, shanks horses are the only thing I’ll ride into the woods chasing a coon, thank you very much!Continue to explore Kansas outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email&nbsp;at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: Coon hunting mules and Labradoodles

By&nbsp;RUSSELL ARBEN FOX&nbsp; Insight Kansas

Kansas cities, like all American cities—including all the blue ones that our new president regularly attacks—are not radical places. 

They may have more Democratic voters than the state’s rural counties, and those voters may prefer more egalitarian policies than will ever pass in Topeka, but their economies are just as dependent upon capitalism as the state and country as a whole.

For example, unlike the Kansas and United States governments, Kansas city governments are legally forbidden from making use of direct income taxes as a revenue tool. This is the case for most cities across the country (though not Missouri cities, incidentally), and is one reason why American municipalities compete to attract corporate investment: growing their property and sales tax base is often their only way to fund services.

Some cities do, however, have an additional source of revenue: local philanthropists.

Wealthy people and businesses have, of course, used their resources to benefit society throughout history; Andrew Carnegie famously insisted that spending all one’s money on building public goods was far wiser than leaving it to the government or (worst of all) to one’s children. And this giving can have a national or international reach.

But because such philanthropy comes from specific people and organizations in specific places, it is often the towns and cities they live and do business in which benefit the most.

Some philanthropy is small-scale: Kansas non-profits generate over $14 billion, and Kansans themselves donate nearly $2 billion, each year. Every church, athletic club, arts organization, youth group, and more which benefits from that work adds to their local community.

Most attention, though, obviously goes to those willing and able to share with their towns and cities on a major scale, helping to build parks, performing arts centers, museums, and libraries, and funding scholarships, educational programs, civic infrastructure, and more. So when some of these big players move, city governments pay attention, and rightly so.

Hopes for local philanthropy, however, can get complicated.

Any Kansan who has visited Grand Rapids, Omaha, or Bentonville, and seen the massive impact which the <a href="https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/a-look-back-richard-and-helen-devos-foundations-impact-in-west-michigan">DeVos</a>, <a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/warren-buffett-impact-berkshire-hathaway-wealth-changed-omaha/60658807">Buffett</a>, and <a href="https://www.ocolly.com/news/the-waltons-canvas-changing-bentonville-s-future/article_5b124eb2-a993-11ee-a03a-fb42291ff011.html">Walton</a> families have had on the amenities of those cities, can’t deny the value of such generosity. The same thing is visible in Tulsa—yet the centralizing tendencies of the <a href="https://nationswell.com/what-we-can-learn-from-george-kaiser-family-foundations-place-based-work-in-tulsa/">Kaiser</a> family there has given rise to <a href="https://michaelpaulmason.medium.com/the-kaiser-system-e8c14bca395">criticism</a>, and similar concerns crop up in other cities as well.

In Kansas, one might think that Wichita’s Koch family, one of the richest in the country, might head this list. But despite some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Koch_Arena">high-profile</a> gifts, their money has mostly gone to the support the Kochs’ preferred ideological causes, with the foundations set up by the <a href="https://ingrams.com/article/home-grown-generosity/">Sunderland, Hansen, and other families </a>in the Kansas City area <a href="https://www.tgci.com/funding-sources/ks/top">far outpacing them</a> in civic support.

Charles Koch’s son Chase has recently <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/carrie-rengers/article298481938.html">made waves</a> by buying up properties in downtown Wichita—including former apartments in a city facing a <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article288215105.html">housing shortage</a>—and has talked of his&nbsp;desire to add to the city’s music and arts scene. But what community developments may come of his interests remain to be seen.

Philanthropists have always been part of the Kansas landscape. The best ones, whether their donations are large or small, are those that work with local governments and civic organizations to make certain their support aligns with community needs and a shared municipal vision. 

Yes, the intentions of philanthropic action deserve respect; <a href="https://philanthropydaily.com/the-kansas-government-just-protected-charitable-donations/">that’s the law</a>. But while Kansas cities and towns will always be grateful for charitable support, receiving it as a reflection of merely personal goals doesn’t satisfy Carnegie’s measure of public giving at all.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586443443315.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;RUSSELL ARBEN FOX&nbsp; Insight Kansas Kansas cities, like all American cities—including all the blue ones that our new president regularly attacks—are not radical places. They may have more Democratic voters than the state’s rural counties, and those voters may prefer more egalitarian policies than will ever pass in Topeka, but their economies are just as dependent upon capitalism as the state and country as a whole.There are exceptions, though. For example, unlike the Kansas and United States governments, Kansas city governments are legally forbidden from making use of direct income taxes as a revenue tool. This is the case for most cities across the country (though not Missouri cities, incidentally), and is one reason why American municipalities compete to attract corporate investment: growing their property and sales tax base is often their only way to fund services.Some cities do, however, have an additional source of revenue: local philanthropists.Wealthy people and businesses have, of course, used their resources to benefit society throughout history; Andrew Carnegie famously insisted that spending all one’s money on building public goods was far wiser than leaving it to the government or (worst of all) to one’s children. And this giving can have a national or international reach.But because such philanthropy comes from specific people and organizations in specific places, it is often the towns and cities they live and do business in which benefit the most.Some philanthropy is small-scale: Kansas non-profits generate over $14 billion, and Kansans themselves donate nearly $2 billion, each year. Every church, athletic club, arts organization, youth group, and more which benefits from that work adds to their local community.Most attention, though, obviously goes to those willing and able to share with their towns and cities on a major scale, helping to build parks, performing arts centers, museums, and libraries, and funding scholarships, educational programs, civic infrastructure, and more. So when some of these big players move, city governments pay attention, and rightly so.Hopes for local philanthropy, however, can get complicated. Any Kansan who has visited Grand Rapids, Omaha, or Bentonville, and seen the massive impact which the <a href="https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/a-look-back-richard-and-helen-devos-foundations-impact-in-west-michigan">DeVos</a>, <a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/warren-buffett-impact-berkshire-hathaway-wealth-changed-omaha/60658807">Buffett</a>, and <a href="https://www.ocolly.com/news/the-waltons-canvas-changing-bentonville-s-future/article_5b124eb2-a993-11ee-a03a-fb42291ff011.html">Walton</a> families have had on the amenities of those cities, can’t deny the value of such generosity. The same thing is visible in Tulsa—yet the centralizing tendencies of the <a href="https://nationswell.com/what-we-can-learn-from-george-kaiser-family-foundations-place-based-work-in-tulsa/">Kaiser</a> family there has given rise to <a href="https://michaelpaulmason.medium.com/the-kaiser-system-e8c14bca395">criticism</a>, and similar concerns crop up in other cities as well.In Kansas, one might think that Wichita’s Koch family, one of the richest in the country, might head this list. But despite some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Koch_Arena">high-profile</a> gifts, their money has mostly gone to the support the Kochs’ preferred ideological causes, with the foundations set up by the <a href="https://ingrams.com/article/home-grown-generosity/">Sunderland, Hansen, and other families </a>in the Kansas City area <a href="https://www.tgci.com/funding-sources/ks/top">far outpacing them</a> in civic support. Charles Koch’s son Chase has recently <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/carrie-rengers/article298481938.html">made waves</a> by buying up properties in downtown Wichita—including former apartments in a city facing a <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article288215105.html">housing shortage</a>—and has talked of his&nbsp;desire to add to the city’s music and arts scene. But what community developments may come of his interests remain to be seen.Philanthropists have always been part of the Kansas landscape. The best ones, whether their donations are large or small, are those that work with local governments and civic organizations to make certain their support aligns with community needs and a shared municipal vision. Yes, the intentions of philanthropic action deserve respect; <a href="https://philanthropydaily.com/the-kansas-government-just-protected-charitable-donations/">that’s the law</a>. But while Kansas cities and towns will always be grateful for charitable support, receiving it as a reflection of merely personal goals doesn’t satisfy Carnegie’s measure of public giving at all.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: The good and could-be-better of Kansas philanthropy

<a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON</a> K-State Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

&nbsp;Who was the greatest all-around athlete in Kansas State University history?

That question can spark a long conversation. The players of today are incredibly athletic and well-trained, but they are also specialized. In modern sports, athletes need to concentrate on one particular sport in order to succeed.

So when we ask about an all-around college athlete (meaning one who succeeded simultaneously in multiple collegiate sports), a person has to go back many years. Imagine a single ballplayer who would be voted all-conference in football, basketball and baseball.

That’s an amazing accomplishment, probably not achievable in the structure of modern sports. But such a player graduated from K-State in 1932. His name was Elden Auker, and he came from rural Kansas.

Auker was born in Norcatur in 1910. In 2001, he published a book about his experiences in professional baseball. The book is titled Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms, and it is the primary source for this profile.

As a child, Elden Auker’s job was to clean out the barn, milk the Holstein cow every morning and night, and deliver bottles of milk to customers in town. Those customers, by the way, were charged five cents a quart.

He grew up hunting and playing ball with his friends. After one successful basketball tournament game, the referee asked him if he had plans to go to college (there were no scholarships then). Auker replied that he was planning to go to Nebraska, where they had a job lined up for him.

The referee said, “You’re a Kansas boy and Kansas boys should go to college in Kansas. We’ve got a job for you down here too.”

That referee also happened to be the head basketball and baseball coach at K-State.

Auker went to Manhattan, took the job, and joined the football, basketball and baseball teams. His job was to open the on-campus drug store in the morning, clean everything, mop all the floors, and then mop and lock up at night. For all that, he got paid one dollar.

Auker was truly an all-around athlete. He was voted All-Big 6 in baseball, football and basketball. During his time, the football team went 8-2, the baseball team went 16-9, and the basketball team – of which he was captain -- was conference runner-up. One publication named Auker an All-American in all three sports.

More importantly, he won the heart of a pretty young co-ed named Mildred. They would be married for 73 years until his death.

After he graduated from K-State, Auker had options to play pro ball. He was offered a contract to play football for the Chicago Bears, which sent the famous Bronko Nagurski to encourage him to sign. Auker almost signed but chose professional baseball instead, because he didn’t want to wait until fall to get paid. He signed to pitch for the Detroit Tigers.

In 1932, Auker began a ten-year career in professional baseball. This was the era when the uniforms were made of flannel and the teams traveled by train, which was the basis for naming the book Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms.

The subtitle of the book is “A lifetime of memories from striking out the Babe to teeing it up with the President.” Auker did, indeed, strike out Babe Ruth and, much later, play golf with President Ford.

He played baseball with such players as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Goose Goslin, Ted Williams and many more. In his first season in the big leagues, he went 15-7 and helped his team win the pennant. During his career, he pitched in two World Series and was the winning pitcher in one. His ten-year statistics included 333 games and an astounding 128 complete games – unthinkable in modern baseball.

In 1942, he retired from baseball to join the war effort and made a difference by going on to a successful business career. Overall, it’s a remarkable record for someone from the rural community of Norcatur, population 159 people. Now, that’s rural.

In 1989, then-K-State President James McCain named Auker the “greatest all-around athlete in K-State history.” For his era, Elden Auker was number 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737038991978.jpeg" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON</a> K-State Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development &nbsp;Who was the greatest all-around athlete in Kansas State University history?That question can spark a long conversation. The players of today are incredibly athletic and well-trained, but they are also specialized. In modern sports, athletes need to concentrate on one particular sport in order to succeed.So when we ask about an all-around college athlete (meaning one who succeeded simultaneously in multiple collegiate sports), a person has to go back many years. Imagine a single ballplayer who would be voted all-conference in football, basketball and baseball.That’s an amazing accomplishment, probably not achievable in the structure of modern sports. But such a player graduated from K-State in 1932. His name was Elden Auker, and he came from rural Kansas.Auker was born in Norcatur in 1910. In 2001, he published a book about his experiences in professional baseball. The book is titled Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms, and it is the primary source for this profile.As a child, Elden Auker’s job was to clean out the barn, milk the Holstein cow every morning and night, and deliver bottles of milk to customers in town. Those customers, by the way, were charged five cents a quart.He grew up hunting and playing ball with his friends. After one successful basketball tournament game, the referee asked him if he had plans to go to college (there were no scholarships then). Auker replied that he was planning to go to Nebraska, where they had a job lined up for him.The referee said, “You’re a Kansas boy and Kansas boys should go to college in Kansas. We’ve got a job for you down here too.”That referee also happened to be the head basketball and baseball coach at K-State.Auker went to Manhattan, took the job, and joined the football, basketball and baseball teams. His job was to open the on-campus drug store in the morning, clean everything, mop all the floors, and then mop and lock up at night. For all that, he got paid one dollar.Auker was truly an all-around athlete. He was voted All-Big 6 in baseball, football and basketball. During his time, the football team went 8-2, the baseball team went 16-9, and the basketball team – of which he was captain -- was conference runner-up. One publication named Auker an All-American in all three sports.More importantly, he won the heart of a pretty young co-ed named Mildred. They would be married for 73 years until his death.After he graduated from K-State, Auker had options to play pro ball. He was offered a contract to play football for the Chicago Bears, which sent the famous Bronko Nagurski to encourage him to sign. Auker almost signed but chose professional baseball instead, because he didn’t want to wait until fall to get paid. He signed to pitch for the Detroit Tigers.In 1932, Auker began a ten-year career in professional baseball. This was the era when the uniforms were made of flannel and the teams traveled by train, which was the basis for naming the book Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms.The subtitle of the book is “A lifetime of memories from striking out the Babe to teeing it up with the President.” Auker did, indeed, strike out Babe Ruth and, much later, play golf with President Ford.He played baseball with such players as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Goose Goslin, Ted Williams and many more. In his first season in the big leagues, he went 15-7 and helped his team win the pennant. During his career, he pitched in two World Series and was the winning pitcher in one. His ten-year statistics included 333 games and an astounding 128 complete games – unthinkable in modern baseball.In 1942, he retired from baseball to join the war effort and made a difference by going on to a successful business career. Overall, it’s a remarkable record for someone from the rural community of Norcatur, population 159 people. Now, that’s rural.In 1989, then-K-State President James McCain named Auker the “greatest all-around athlete in K-State history.” For his era, Elden Auker was number 1.

Now That’s Rural: Elden Auker, professional baseball player from Norcatur  

<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/01/dealing-spam-texts-emails-and-junk-mail?utm_source=govdelivery">By ANDREW RAYO</a> FTC Consumer Education Specialist

WASHNGTON, D.C. — If it’s not scammers spamming your phone with texts or filling up your inbox with emails, it’s your mailbox crammed with ads and other mail you didn’t ask for. The junk messages and mail might seem endless, but there are some ways to help scale it back.

Scammers send&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams">phishing texts and emails</a>&nbsp;that look legit to trick you into giving them personal or financial information. Legit companies might send mail that you just don’t want — things like magazines, catalogs, or&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/prescreened-credit-insurance-offers">prescreened offers of credit and insurance</a>. While these aren’t necessarily scams, they can pile up quickly.

To help you cut down on spam texts and emails:

• Use filters.&nbsp;Check if your mobile phone has options to&nbsp;filter and block&nbsp;texts from unknown senders. Some call blocking apps can also help block unwanted messages. Many popular email providers (like Gmail or Yahoo Mail) have strong&nbsp;spam filters&nbsp;turned on by default. But if any spam gets into your inbox, mark it as&nbsp;spam or junk.

• Unsubscribe&nbsp;from unwanted emails.&nbsp;Getting fewer unwanted emails helps you avoid clicking on links that can lead to&nbsp;phishing attacks.

• Report unwanted messages.&nbsp;Unwanted messages often lead to scams. Report them. Use your phone’s “report junk” option or forward unwanted texts to&nbsp;7726 (SPAM)&nbsp;and unwanted emails to your&nbsp;email provider.

• Register&nbsp;with the Direct Marketing Association&nbsp;to decide what types of mail you do and don’t want from marketers.

• Opt out&nbsp;of getting prescreened credit and insurance offers in the mail.&nbsp;You can choose to opt out for five years or permanently.

Learn more about how to get fewer&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages">spam texts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-get-less-spam-your-email">emails</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-stop-junk-mail">junk mail</a>. If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737760576014.jpeg" alt="Imagine you saw this in your inbox. At first glance, this email looks real, but it’s not. Scammers who send emails like this one are hoping you won’t notice it’s a fake. Netflix screenshot" />
 <figcaption>Imagine you saw this in your inbox. At first glance, this email looks real, but it’s not. Scammers who send emails like this one are hoping you won’t notice it’s a fake. Netflix screenshot</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/01/dealing-spam-texts-emails-and-junk-mail?utm_source=govdelivery">By ANDREW RAYO</a> FTC Consumer Education Specialist WASHNGTON, D.C. — If it’s not scammers spamming your phone with texts or filling up your inbox with emails, it’s your mailbox crammed with ads and other mail you didn’t ask for. The junk messages and mail might seem endless, but there are some ways to help scale it back.Scammers send&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams">phishing texts and emails</a>&nbsp;that look legit to trick you into giving them personal or financial information. Legit companies might send mail that you just don’t want — things like magazines, catalogs, or&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/prescreened-credit-insurance-offers">prescreened offers of credit and insurance</a>. While these aren’t necessarily scams, they can pile up quickly.To help you cut down on spam texts and emails:• Use filters.&nbsp;Check if your mobile phone has options to&nbsp;filter and block&nbsp;texts from unknown senders. Some call blocking apps can also help block unwanted messages. Many popular email providers (like Gmail or Yahoo Mail) have strong&nbsp;spam filters&nbsp;turned on by default. But if any spam gets into your inbox, mark it as&nbsp;spam or junk.• Unsubscribe&nbsp;from unwanted emails.&nbsp;Getting fewer unwanted emails helps you avoid clicking on links that can lead to&nbsp;phishing attacks.• Report unwanted messages.&nbsp;Unwanted messages often lead to scams. Report them. Use your phone’s “report junk” option or forward unwanted texts to&nbsp;7726 (SPAM)&nbsp;and unwanted emails to your&nbsp;email provider.To help you cut down on junk mail:• Register&nbsp;with the Direct Marketing Association&nbsp;to decide what types of mail you do and don’t want from marketers.• Opt out&nbsp;of getting prescreened credit and insurance offers in the mail.&nbsp;You can choose to opt out for five years or permanently.Learn more about how to get fewer&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages">spam texts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-get-less-spam-your-email">emails</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-stop-junk-mail">junk mail</a>. If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

FTC tips on dealing with spam texts, emails, junk mail

Like motes floating in late afternoon sunlight, stories of surviving the Dust Bowl permeated my childhood.

 Once we moved to California, when I was 9, knowing real people who survived those events offered serious creds in 8th and 11th grade American history classes. Teachers and fellow students wanted the scoop on what those days were really like for both sides of my families. 

Gramma Lottie’s daily menu—oatmeal for breakfast, beans for supper, and homemade bread smeared with lard for lunch when they had it--impressed no one. The stories of sun-blocking, choking dust were more than most native Californians could conceive.

A recent literary club discussion revived some of those remembered stories I’d tucked into my mind’s dark corners now that grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles who lived through those days have passed. I haven’t buried all those recollections as I still can’t pass a deep road cut in this part of the state without searching upper soil layers to wonder exactly where the Dust Bowl intersects with other collected historical eras.

That book talk led to a later conversation with another native Kansan from this region. She’s a generation behind me, a peer of our daughters, but she too cut her teeth hearing the stories of hanging wet sheets over windows to keep dust out or putting a damp cover over a baby crib to protect tiny lungs. 

I thought my father embellished his tales of single light bulbs hanging from the middle of the room, but her grandparents had drilled into their kids and, as a result, their grandchildren, the necessity for turning THE LIGHT off when you left a room. Clearly, Dust Bowl survivors didn’t leave a light on for folks.

Our discussion led to reports of Ford County residents whose ceilings collapsed in recent years because of decades of accumulated dust. 

My friend shared that that happened at their Rush County farm house when she was an elementary student. Their century-old home survived the Dust Bowl and other dirt storms. During the late 1980s or early '90s, old lathe and plaster caved to the accumulated weight. Even as a grownup with kids of her own, she vividly recalls her parents cleaning the mess and repairing damages.

Her story reminded me of our first home in Ellis. 

It too survived storms that darkened daylight and made breathing more than a challenge. When we put a new roof on, my husband shoveled piles of fine soil out of our attic. When hubs and his dad removed a gable window, dirt filled every crevice of that frame. I’m grateful they cleaned before that mess took out our ceiling.

Not everyone’s home precedes the Dust Bowl, but we all know people whose home did. 

Ask questions. What evidence lingers from those harsh days? What lessons did our elders learn and share that we can use to help us handle adversity?

 These folks raised families without triple-paned windows combined with central heat and air to filter dust. Somehow, they fed themselves even in years without measurable rain.

Oh, and if your house is old enough to have collected bushels of dirt in the attic, you might want to transfer some of that to the yard.

Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158626307.png" alt="Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINLike motes floating in late afternoon sunlight, stories of surviving the Dust Bowl permeated my childhood. Once we moved to California, when I was 9, knowing real people who survived those events offered serious creds in 8th and 11th grade American history classes. Teachers and fellow students wanted the scoop on what those days were really like for both sides of my families. Gramma Lottie’s daily menu—oatmeal for breakfast, beans for supper, and homemade bread smeared with lard for lunch when they had it--impressed no one. The stories of sun-blocking, choking dust were more than most native Californians could conceive.A recent literary club discussion revived some of those remembered stories I’d tucked into my mind’s dark corners now that grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles who lived through those days have passed. I haven’t buried all those recollections as I still can’t pass a deep road cut in this part of the state without searching upper soil layers to wonder exactly where the Dust Bowl intersects with other collected historical eras.That book talk led to a later conversation with another native Kansan from this region. She’s a generation behind me, a peer of our daughters, but she too cut her teeth hearing the stories of hanging wet sheets over windows to keep dust out or putting a damp cover over a baby crib to protect tiny lungs. I thought my father embellished his tales of single light bulbs hanging from the middle of the room, but her grandparents had drilled into their kids and, as a result, their grandchildren, the necessity for turning THE LIGHT off when you left a room. Clearly, Dust Bowl survivors didn’t leave a light on for folks.Our discussion led to reports of Ford County residents whose ceilings collapsed in recent years because of decades of accumulated dust. My friend shared that that happened at their Rush County farm house when she was an elementary student. Their century-old home survived the Dust Bowl and other dirt storms. During the late 1980s or early '90s, old lathe and plaster caved to the accumulated weight. Even as a grownup with kids of her own, she vividly recalls her parents cleaning the mess and repairing damages.Her story reminded me of our first home in Ellis. It too survived storms that darkened daylight and made breathing more than a challenge. When we put a new roof on, my husband shoveled piles of fine soil out of our attic. When hubs and his dad removed a gable window, dirt filled every crevice of that frame. I’m grateful they cleaned before that mess took out our ceiling.Not everyone’s home precedes the Dust Bowl, but we all know people whose home did. Ask questions. What evidence lingers from those harsh days? What lessons did our elders learn and share that we can use to help us handle adversity? These folks raised families without triple-paned windows combined with central heat and air to filter dust. Somehow, they fed themselves even in years without measurable rain.Oh, and if your house is old enough to have collected bushels of dirt in the attic, you might want to transfer some of that to the yard.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Dust Bowl lessons

A few years back we embarked on an adventure to build a simple and inexpensive deer feeder. A friend had an old unused fuel tank stand made from angle iron – the kind that once held a three-hundred-gallon drum on its side.&nbsp; I bought it for a song, and then came the challenge of what to use for a hopper to hold the corn. I’m not sure my wife has ever thought INSIDE the box, and she came up with the idea of using a poly cart like the ones that hold our weekly trash. I called the local solid waste utility company, found an old one with a broken axle and bought it for another song. We wanted to use a “flinger” style mechanism to dispense the corn, and since the bottom of poly carts are flat, that required somehow making the inside of the poly cart funnel shaped to funnel the corn down to the mechanism. That problem was solved by cutting two pieces of scrap plywood to fit inside the hopper, making the inside wedge-shaped.&nbsp;

We purchased the dispensing mechanism which consists of a small wheel mounted above a motor that’s driven by a square six-volt battery. It’s all controlled by a timer which turns the dispenser on and off at programed times, spinning the wheel and flinging corn around onto the ground.&nbsp; A thick plastic funnel comes with the dispenser and bolts around a hole cut into the bottom of the hopper. That funnel is specially designed so that when it’s positioned the right height above the flinger, it allows corn to run out of the hopper onto the flinger wheel, but causes it to “bridge-up” and stop until the wheel spins. In other words, if the funnel was wider or placed too far above the wheel, the corn would not “bridge-up” and stop running when it hit the motionless wheel, but instead would just pour constantly onto the ground until it had all run out.&nbsp;

Fast forward to spring a couple years later, when we were using the feeder to feed corn to turkeys prior to spring turkey season. I remember going there one evening to check the amount of corn in the hopper and was surprised to find it empty with lots of corn on the ground. I backed the pickup up to the feeder and climbed up onto it with a bucket of corn like I had done numerous times before, but when I dumped the bucket into the hopper, the corn all ran straight through onto the ground. Upon inspection, I found that the plastic funnel had been chewed off by some critter making it much shorter and allowing the corn to just pour through the hole. The feeder was now useless until a new funnel of some sort was put onto the bottom of the hopper.&nbsp;

A couple weeks later we headed out to pick up our then-useless deer feeder for repairs. It dawned on me that the hopper was made to be easily removed and that’s all we needed anyway, so we began removing the bolts that held it to the frame. As we worked, it seemed like I could hear an occasional rustling sound inside the hopper. I felt like Clark Griswald from the movie “Christmas Vacation,” trying to find the squeaking noise coming from the Christmas tree. But each time I stopped to listen, the rustling noise stopped too, so I dismissed it to my imagination. When the hopper was finally loose, we toppled it over into the bed of the pickup, and Joyce began hearing my “imaginary” rustling noise also. Supposing a no-good packrat was inside, I pulled the hopper to the back of the pickup and started to open the lid. My plan was to stand to the side and let the open lid dangle over the back of the tailgate in hopes that our freeloader would jump out the back and be gone without incident. While rolling the hopper around, the rustling inside turned to scratching and clawing and with the hole in the hopper facing away from us, I prepared to open the lid and confront the intruder.&nbsp; I unsnapped the tarp strap that held the lid closed, but before I could fling it open, a squirrel bailed out the hole in front, clearing the side of the pickup in one bound like Rocky the Flying Squirrel. Joyce and I starred at each other in disbelief; I think her only words were” I didn’t see that comin’!” The critter had actually chewed a hole through the half-inch plywood inside and had quite the cozy little nest built within; we pulled grass and leaves out of there for ten minutes.

The most amazing thing about the whole squirrel-nest-inside-the-deer-feeder-hopper thing is that the only way into it was up through the hole in the plastic funnel on the bottom. I know squirrels can squeeze their bodies into some impossible places, but I’d loved to have watched it leap from the frame of the feeder onto the motor, then stuff itself up through the gnawed-out plastic funnel and into the poly cart. This gives a whole new meaning to the term “squirrel corn.” So, as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors, if something seems squirrely, it probably is!

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>A few years back we embarked on an adventure to build a simple and inexpensive deer feeder. A friend had an old unused fuel tank stand made from angle iron – the kind that once held a three-hundred-gallon drum on its side.&nbsp; I bought it for a song, and then came the challenge of what to use for a hopper to hold the corn. I’m not sure my wife has ever thought INSIDE the box, and she came up with the idea of using a poly cart like the ones that hold our weekly trash. I called the local solid waste utility company, found an old one with a broken axle and bought it for another song. We wanted to use a “flinger” style mechanism to dispense the corn, and since the bottom of poly carts are flat, that required somehow making the inside of the poly cart funnel shaped to funnel the corn down to the mechanism. That problem was solved by cutting two pieces of scrap plywood to fit inside the hopper, making the inside wedge-shaped.&nbsp;We purchased the dispensing mechanism which consists of a small wheel mounted above a motor that’s driven by a square six-volt battery. It’s all controlled by a timer which turns the dispenser on and off at programed times, spinning the wheel and flinging corn around onto the ground.&nbsp; A thick plastic funnel comes with the dispenser and bolts around a hole cut into the bottom of the hopper. That funnel is specially designed so that when it’s positioned the right height above the flinger, it allows corn to run out of the hopper onto the flinger wheel, but causes it to “bridge-up” and stop until the wheel spins. In other words, if the funnel was wider or placed too far above the wheel, the corn would not “bridge-up” and stop running when it hit the motionless wheel, but instead would just pour constantly onto the ground until it had all run out.&nbsp;Fast forward to spring a couple years later, when we were using the feeder to feed corn to turkeys prior to spring turkey season. I remember going there one evening to check the amount of corn in the hopper and was surprised to find it empty with lots of corn on the ground. I backed the pickup up to the feeder and climbed up onto it with a bucket of corn like I had done numerous times before, but when I dumped the bucket into the hopper, the corn all ran straight through onto the ground. Upon inspection, I found that the plastic funnel had been chewed off by some critter making it much shorter and allowing the corn to just pour through the hole. The feeder was now useless until a new funnel of some sort was put onto the bottom of the hopper.&nbsp;A couple weeks later we headed out to pick up our then-useless deer feeder for repairs. It dawned on me that the hopper was made to be easily removed and that’s all we needed anyway, so we began removing the bolts that held it to the frame. As we worked, it seemed like I could hear an occasional rustling sound inside the hopper. I felt like Clark Griswald from the movie “Christmas Vacation,” trying to find the squeaking noise coming from the Christmas tree. But each time I stopped to listen, the rustling noise stopped too, so I dismissed it to my imagination. When the hopper was finally loose, we toppled it over into the bed of the pickup, and Joyce began hearing my “imaginary” rustling noise also. Supposing a no-good packrat was inside, I pulled the hopper to the back of the pickup and started to open the lid. My plan was to stand to the side and let the open lid dangle over the back of the tailgate in hopes that our freeloader would jump out the back and be gone without incident. While rolling the hopper around, the rustling inside turned to scratching and clawing and with the hole in the hopper facing away from us, I prepared to open the lid and confront the intruder.&nbsp; I unsnapped the tarp strap that held the lid closed, but before I could fling it open, a squirrel bailed out the hole in front, clearing the side of the pickup in one bound like Rocky the Flying Squirrel. Joyce and I starred at each other in disbelief; I think her only words were” I didn’t see that comin’!” The critter had actually chewed a hole through the half-inch plywood inside and had quite the cozy little nest built within; we pulled grass and leaves out of there for ten minutes.The most amazing thing about the whole squirrel-nest-inside-the-deer-feeder-hopper thing is that the only way into it was up through the hole in the plastic funnel on the bottom. I know squirrels can squeeze their bodies into some impossible places, but I’d loved to have watched it leap from the frame of the feeder onto the motor, then stuff itself up through the gnawed-out plastic funnel and into the poly cart. This gives a whole new meaning to the term “squirrel corn.” So, as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors, if something seems squirrely, it probably is!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Gilliland: What’s in your hopper?

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

Over half of the farmland in Kansas is leased. 

Therefore, there are many different lease arrangements, factors to consider, and places where misunderstandings can happen. Additionally, many leases are still oral leases that are “signed” with a handshake.

One of the best ways to create a better understanding between tenant and landlord in most cases is to have a written lease.&nbsp; Having a written lease can lead to many topics for discussion that otherwise might not be considered. 

They would include but are not limited to:

Hunting/fishing rights Recreation access Payment due dates Termination procedures

In addition to the previously mentioned items, a written pasture lease for example can spell out responsibilities of both parties in regards to:

Care of fences Noxious weed control Water supply maintenance Grazing capacity restrictions and beginning and ending date of grazing season

A bonus of a written lease is that it documents the terms of the business relationship in case the contract is questioned. This can be especially important if the land changes hands.

Obviously, it is not necessary to have a written lease in order to have good communication between tenant and landlord but it can be helpful in spelling things out and avoiding misunderstandings and hard feelings. 

There may be some cases when introducing the possibility of implementing a written lease might damage the business relationship. Whether you have a written lease or not, make sure those lines of communication are kept open, visit with each other at least a few times a year.

Local county and district extension offices have several resources concerning leases, written leasing arrangement forms, cash rental rate averages, Kansas Agricultural Lease Law Publication C-668, etc. Go to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.agmanager.info/">www.agmanager.info</a>&nbsp;and click onto the Farm Management tab.

If you have questions contact your local county or district extension office. I can be contacted in the Cottonwood District, Great Bend office at 620-793-1910 and Stacy Campbell can be contacted in the Hays office at 785-628-9430.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698682262753.jpeg" alt="Alicia Boor ,&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor ,&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictOver half of the farmland in Kansas is leased. Therefore, there are many different lease arrangements, factors to consider, and places where misunderstandings can happen. Additionally, many leases are still oral leases that are “signed” with a handshake.One of the best ways to create a better understanding between tenant and landlord in most cases is to have a written lease.&nbsp; Having a written lease can lead to many topics for discussion that otherwise might not be considered. They would include but are not limited to: Hunting/fishing rights Recreation access Payment due dates Termination proceduresIn addition to the previously mentioned items, a written pasture lease for example can spell out responsibilities of both parties in regards to: Care of fences Noxious weed control Water supply maintenance Grazing capacity restrictions and beginning and ending date of grazing seasonA bonus of a written lease is that it documents the terms of the business relationship in case the contract is questioned. This can be especially important if the land changes hands.Obviously, it is not necessary to have a written lease in order to have good communication between tenant and landlord but it can be helpful in spelling things out and avoiding misunderstandings and hard feelings. There may be some cases when introducing the possibility of implementing a written lease might damage the business relationship. Whether you have a written lease or not, make sure those lines of communication are kept open, visit with each other at least a few times a year.Local county and district extension offices have several resources concerning leases, written leasing arrangement forms, cash rental rate averages, Kansas Agricultural Lease Law Publication C-668, etc. Go to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.agmanager.info/">www.agmanager.info</a>&nbsp;and click onto the Farm Management tab. If you have questions contact your local county or district extension office. I can be contacted in the Cottonwood District, Great Bend office at 620-793-1910 and Stacy Campbell can be contacted in the Hays office at 785-628-9430.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Getting it in writing – Agriculture land leases

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser talks with Jessica Phelan, assistant professor in the Fort Hays State University Department of Health and Human Performance about regulation of dietary supplements.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Do you really need food supplements and are they safe?" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=sm9wf-17b3b6d-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser talks with Jessica Phelan, assistant professor in the Fort Hays State University Department of Health and Human Performance about regulation of dietary supplements.

🎙 Post Podcast: Do you really need food supplements, are they safe?

<a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON </a>K-State Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

“Voice of the Wildcats.” That title belongs to the legendary sportscasters who have broadcast Kansas State University football and basketball games through the years.

Wyatt Thompson is the current and longtime Voice of the Cats, which he especially appreciates because of his roots in rural Kansas. Thompson became Voice of the Wildcats in 2002. He grew up in rural Kansas near Solomon.

Among his interests was livestock judging in high school FFA, which included two elements: One, placing a class of livestock in the desired order; and two, stating oral reasons to a judge to describe the reasons for that placing.

This process required him to make quick judgments and to state his observations articulately and accurately. In a sense, those skills also serve him well as a sportscaster.

Thompson continued livestock judging at Colby Community College but found himself drawn to sports broadcasting. He made the change. In 1976, he began his career, spending time at radio stations in Great Bend and Abilene. He was recognized with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Play-by-Play Award in 1982.

From 1985 until 1989, Thompson worked at KAYS in Hays where he was the play-by-play voice at Fort Hays State. He won the Oscar Stauffer Sportscaster of the Year Award in 1989.

Then Thompson moved to Denver. He was the play-by-play voice for Colorado State's football and men's basketball teams for five years. In addition to his duties at CSU, Thompson was also a sports reporter on radio and host of the Countdown to Kickoff show for the Denver Broncos.

Thompson won the Colorado Broadcasting Association award for best play-by-play announcer in 2000.

In 2002, he moved to K-State to become the Voice of the Wildcat, a position he still holds today. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of legendary broadcasters who have previously served as Voice of the Wildcats:&nbsp;Dev Nelson, Mitch Holthus, Steve Physioc and Greg Sharpe.

Today, Thompson is senior director of broadcasting for the K-State Athletic Department as well as Voice of the Wildcats. He&nbsp;serves as host of the Chris Klieman and Jerome Tang coaches’ shows on television and radio. In addition, he is heavily involved in various Catbacker Club, alumni and athletic department functions, frequently serving as a keynote speaker.

In an era of NIL -- Name, Image, Likeness -- and the transfer portal, it seems remarkable that he is observing local players from Kansas making an impact for their home state team. 

For example, in football, he sees Sam Hecht from Shawnee snap the ball to Avery Johnson, who went to Maize, who then might hand off the ball to Dylan Edwards from Wichita or D.J. Giddens from Junction City – and they just might be led by a block from Hadley Panzer of Lakin.

An estimated 55 Kansans are on the K-State football roster – far more than any other state.

It is especially exciting to see such in-state talent perform well. According to the K-State athletic department, since 1990 K-State’s all-conference selections have come from 37 cities in Kansas.

“I love broadcasting K-State sports for so many reasons,” Thompson said. “At the top of the list would be the amazing coaches and players that I get to work with daily.”

He also relishes the game day experience. “You can just feel the excitement for each game, and the love this fan base has for Kansas State University and the Cats,” Thompson said.

Thompson won the Hod Humiston Award for sports broadcasting from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters in 2011. Over the course of his career, Thompson has been named the Kansas Sportscaster of the Year six times. He ranks second all-time among K-State broadcasters in awards won, and fourth all-time among broadcasters in the state of Kansas.

In 2022 he was inducted into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

It's an impressive record for a farm kid from the rural community of Solomon, population 993 people. Now, that’s rural.

Voice of the Wildcats. We commend Wyatt Thompson for making a difference by sharing the excitement of Power 4 football and basketball with fans across Kansas and beyond. We’re always thankful to hear his voice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737038548828.jpeg" alt="Wyatt Thompson, voice of the Kansas State University Wildcats, is the former voice of the Fort Hays State University Tigers. Photo courtesy K-State" />
 <figcaption>Wyatt Thompson, voice of the Kansas State University Wildcats, is the former voice of the Fort Hays State University Tigers. Photo courtesy K-State</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON </a>K-State Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development “Voice of the Wildcats.” That title belongs to the legendary sportscasters who have broadcast Kansas State University football and basketball games through the years.Wyatt Thompson is the current and longtime Voice of the Cats, which he especially appreciates because of his roots in rural Kansas. Thompson became Voice of the Wildcats in 2002. He grew up in rural Kansas near Solomon.Among his interests was livestock judging in high school FFA, which included two elements: One, placing a class of livestock in the desired order; and two, stating oral reasons to a judge to describe the reasons for that placing.This process required him to make quick judgments and to state his observations articulately and accurately. In a sense, those skills also serve him well as a sportscaster.Thompson continued livestock judging at Colby Community College but found himself drawn to sports broadcasting. He made the change. In 1976, he began his career, spending time at radio stations in Great Bend and Abilene. He was recognized with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Play-by-Play Award in 1982.From 1985 until 1989, Thompson worked at KAYS in Hays where he was the play-by-play voice at Fort Hays State. He won the Oscar Stauffer Sportscaster of the Year Award in 1989.Then Thompson moved to Denver. He was the play-by-play voice for Colorado State's football and men's basketball teams for five years. In addition to his duties at CSU, Thompson was also a sports reporter on radio and host of the Countdown to Kickoff show for the Denver Broncos.Thompson won the Colorado Broadcasting Association award for best play-by-play announcer in 2000.In 2002, he moved to K-State to become the Voice of the Wildcat, a position he still holds today. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of legendary broadcasters who have previously served as Voice of the Wildcats:&nbsp;Dev Nelson, Mitch Holthus, Steve Physioc and Greg Sharpe.Today, Thompson is senior director of broadcasting for the K-State Athletic Department as well as Voice of the Wildcats. He&nbsp;serves as host of the Chris Klieman and Jerome Tang coaches’ shows on television and radio. In addition, he is heavily involved in various Catbacker Club, alumni and athletic department functions, frequently serving as a keynote speaker.In an era of NIL -- Name, Image, Likeness -- and the transfer portal, it seems remarkable that he is observing local players from Kansas making an impact for their home state team. For example, in football, he sees Sam Hecht from Shawnee snap the ball to Avery Johnson, who went to Maize, who then might hand off the ball to Dylan Edwards from Wichita or D.J. Giddens from Junction City – and they just might be led by a block from Hadley Panzer of Lakin.An estimated 55 Kansans are on the K-State football roster – far more than any other state.It is especially exciting to see such in-state talent perform well. According to the K-State athletic department, since 1990 K-State’s all-conference selections have come from 37 cities in Kansas.“I love broadcasting K-State sports for so many reasons,” Thompson said. “At the top of the list would be the amazing coaches and players that I get to work with daily.”He also relishes the game day experience. “You can just feel the excitement for each game, and the love this fan base has for Kansas State University and the Cats,” Thompson said.Thompson won the Hod Humiston Award for sports broadcasting from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters in 2011. Over the course of his career, Thompson has been named the Kansas Sportscaster of the Year six times. He ranks second all-time among K-State broadcasters in awards won, and fourth all-time among broadcasters in the state of Kansas.In 2022 he was inducted into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.It's an impressive record for a farm kid from the rural community of Solomon, population 993 people. Now, that’s rural.Voice of the Wildcats. We commend Wyatt Thompson for making a difference by sharing the excitement of Power 4 football and basketball with fans across Kansas and beyond. We’re always thankful to hear his voice.

Now That’s Rural: Wyatt Thompson, Voice of the Wildcats, former Voice of FHSU Tigers

By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas

If you’ve been to the grocery store since the new year you may have noticed that state sales tax on grocery items dropped to 0%.

In 2022, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill that gradually eliminated the sales tax on groceries, with final elimination on January 1, 2025.

To many, tax cuts represent a meaningful win for Kansas, but it also brings with it tough questions about the future of state revenue and services.

According to the 2022 legislation, State General Funds will take a $437.1 million hit this year and $526.2 million hit in 2026 due to the sales tax elimination.

This dilemma highlights the complexities of reducing taxes.

Most Kansans will celebrate the lessened burden on their bank accounts after visiting the grocery store, but in the same breath expect the same level of government services.

Our state is familiar with this dilemma after Governor Brownback’s deep income tax cuts in 2012 and 2013 — widely known as the “Kansas experiment”.

To be clear, there are important differences between Brownback’s income tax cuts, which primarily benefited the wealthiest Kansans, and eliminating sales tax on food, which spreads the benefits more equitably among Kansans. But the same dilemma remains.

Government services don’t exist in a vacuum. They cost money, and usually are paid for through tax revenue.

To add to this dilemma, the state legislature passed a tax reduction bill in 2024 that is expected to cut about $1.2 billion over three years from income and property taxes, and many state legislators have said that further property tax cuts are a top priority for the 2025 legislative session.

While on the surface, tax cuts seem to be a boon for Kansas families, the potential reduction in state revenue raises the question: what sacrifices might be required to maintain essential government services? Will this lead to cuts in education funding, infrastructure projects, or public safety budgets?

Lessons from the past, such as the “Kansas experiment”, remind us of the major risks that come from enacting tax cuts without a sustainable plan. Under Brownback’s cuts, the state’s revenues plummeted and led to major cuts to education, infrastructure, and other vital services.

Kansans have a lot to gain from the elimination of the grocery sales tax and other tax cuts, but they also have a lot to lose if the state’s financial future is not managed responsibly.

 The reality is clear: every dollar saved via tax cuts is a dollar no longer available to fund schools, roads, public safety, and healthcare. The question isn’t whether these tax cuts are beneficial in the short term — most Kansans would agree they are — but whether the state has a plan to sustain the services that keep our communities strong.

As we move forward, we must learn from the past. The Brownback tax experiment serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that poorly planned tax policies can do more harm than good. Kansans deserve transparency and accountability from their leaders about how these cuts will impact the state budget and the quality of life for all residents.

The elimination of the grocery sales tax offers relief, but it also requires vigilance. Kansans should demand a balanced approach — one that ensures tax relief without sacrificing the future of our state.

The choices we make today will shape the Kansas of tomorrow. Will we build a future that prioritizes short-term gains at the expense of long-term stability? Or will we find a path that balances relief with responsibility? The answer is up to all of us.

The success of these policies depends on the willingness of citizens, policymakers, and leaders to come together, ask tough questions, and make informed decisions to ensure Kansas continues to thrive.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694699489540.png" alt="Alexandra Middlewood is&nbsp;an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.&nbsp; Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood is&nbsp;an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.&nbsp; Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas If you’ve been to the grocery store since the new year you may have noticed that state sales tax on grocery items dropped to 0%.In 2022, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill that gradually eliminated the sales tax on groceries, with final elimination on January 1, 2025.To many, tax cuts represent a meaningful win for Kansas, but it also brings with it tough questions about the future of state revenue and services.According to the 2022 legislation, State General Funds will take a $437.1 million hit this year and $526.2 million hit in 2026 due to the sales tax elimination.This dilemma highlights the complexities of reducing taxes.Most Kansans will celebrate the lessened burden on their bank accounts after visiting the grocery store, but in the same breath expect the same level of government services.Our state is familiar with this dilemma after Governor Brownback’s deep income tax cuts in 2012 and 2013 — widely known as the “Kansas experiment”.To be clear, there are important differences between Brownback’s income tax cuts, which primarily benefited the wealthiest Kansans, and eliminating sales tax on food, which spreads the benefits more equitably among Kansans. But the same dilemma remains.Government services don’t exist in a vacuum. They cost money, and usually are paid for through tax revenue.To add to this dilemma, the state legislature passed a tax reduction bill in 2024 that is expected to cut about $1.2 billion over three years from income and property taxes, and many state legislators have said that further property tax cuts are a top priority for the 2025 legislative session.While on the surface, tax cuts seem to be a boon for Kansas families, the potential reduction in state revenue raises the question: what sacrifices might be required to maintain essential government services? Will this lead to cuts in education funding, infrastructure projects, or public safety budgets?Lessons from the past, such as the “Kansas experiment”, remind us of the major risks that come from enacting tax cuts without a sustainable plan. Under Brownback’s cuts, the state’s revenues plummeted and led to major cuts to education, infrastructure, and other vital services.Kansans have a lot to gain from the elimination of the grocery sales tax and other tax cuts, but they also have a lot to lose if the state’s financial future is not managed responsibly. The reality is clear: every dollar saved via tax cuts is a dollar no longer available to fund schools, roads, public safety, and healthcare. The question isn’t whether these tax cuts are beneficial in the short term — most Kansans would agree they are — but whether the state has a plan to sustain the services that keep our communities strong.As we move forward, we must learn from the past. The Brownback tax experiment serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that poorly planned tax policies can do more harm than good. Kansans deserve transparency and accountability from their leaders about how these cuts will impact the state budget and the quality of life for all residents.The elimination of the grocery sales tax offers relief, but it also requires vigilance. Kansans should demand a balanced approach — one that ensures tax relief without sacrificing the future of our state.The choices we make today will shape the Kansas of tomorrow. Will we build a future that prioritizes short-term gains at the expense of long-term stability? Or will we find a path that balances relief with responsibility? The answer is up to all of us.The success of these policies depends on the willingness of citizens, policymakers, and leaders to come together, ask tough questions, and make informed decisions to ensure Kansas continues to thrive.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

Insight Kansas: Balancing tax relief and responsibility

By TISA MASON FHSU University President

The VIP Ambassador Program at Fort Hays State University, established by President Gerald Tomanek in 1982, empowers students to publicly represent their university while fostering a spirit of connection among these talented future leaders. Each year, a select group of 15-20 VIP Ambassadors participate in significant projects and events, gaining invaluable experiences along the way. Hazel Frans, Katie Ecord, and Noah Erichsen are members of our current VIP Ambassadors team, and each has had a compelling personal journey that I would like to share with the readers of this column.

Hazel Frans, an Overland Park, Kansas junior, has always focused on the future. Her affinity for science began early, influenced by her participation in a gifted program in 5th grade. “My teacher introduced me to the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS). I was hooked.” KAMS is Kansas' premier early college program designed to provide a STEM-focused academic experience for gifted &amp; talented 11th &amp; 12th-grade students. By 7th grade, Hazel was already dreaming of a future at FHSU.

Since her arrival, Hazel has engaged in a variety of activities, including serving as the President of Custer Hall Community Council and presenting research at the annual SACAD event. Her experience in the KAMS program motivated her to apply for the VIP Ambassador Program as a freshman: "I was encouraged by friends who were VIPs. Their enthusiasm was infectious."

The moment she received the news of her acceptance was a highlight of her FHSU experience. “I learned so much from the interview process. It taught me how to articulate my visions and ambitions.” Each VIP Ambassador receives professional attire and participates in training sessions, including an etiquette dinner.

Hazel particularly cherishes the Promotion and Tenure Recognition event, where she celebrated the achievements of faculty who have profoundly impacted her academic path. "Participating in that celebration was incredible. It underscored how interconnected we all are in this community."

For Hazel, being a VIP Ambassador represents more than just a title; it's a heartfelt commitment to give back. "Every interaction has deepened my love for the university and highlighted the importance of being involved."

Katie Ecord, a junior from Pomona, Kansas, has a goal of becoming a Speech Language Pathologist. "The program here is renowned—it truly stands out nationally. After shadowing a professional, I realized I had found my passion."

Katie’s decision to become a VIP Ambassador sprang from her desire to connect with the broader FHSU community. "I wanted to strengthen connections between current students and alumni, recognizing their crucial support of our education."

Katie’s work regularly puts her in touch with FHSU donors. “Meeting them in person has been one of the most rewarding parts of being a VIP Ambassador. Hearing their stories and commitment to the university inspires me.” She often shares insights into donor impact through her work at the FHSU Foundation, expressing heartfelt appreciation for their generosity.

This experience has dramatically broadened Katie’s perspective: "I’ve come to understand how closely knit our university community is. I’m immensely grateful to everyone involved in our education."

Noah Erichsen, a senior from Ellsworth, Kansas, first stepped onto FHSU’s campus for a music camp, where he instantly felt a sense of belonging. “The staff is incredibly supportive. I’ve felt like I could pursue anything here.” Currently, he serves as the principal trombonist and Low Brass Section Leader in the FHSU Marching Band, merging his love for music with leadership.

A dual major in environmental geoscience and history, Noah is also actively involved in student government and tutoring, modeling the VIP Ambassador Program’s emphasis on community service. "I wanted to express my gratitude for the scholarships that have made my education possible, and the VIP Program was the perfect avenue."

“For me, VIP events are all about advocacy. Each donor has a unique story that resonates with my own journey; it’s incredible how connected we truly are.”

Noah recalls fondly the rewarding interactions he has had with alumni and donors, underscoring the program's success in nurturing relationships and understanding. “Every conversation is a meaningful exchange of experiences.”

Looking to the future, Hazel plans to pursue a Ph.D. in plant molecular biology, Katie aims to enter the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology at FHSU, and Noah is preparing for a career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after graduation. They are well-equipped to carry the lessons learned from their ambassador experiences into their future careers, championing the values of kindness, professionalism, and community.

Each holds their time as VIP Ambassadors in high regard, recognizing its significance in their FHSU journey. "Being involved has fostered a strong sense of belonging and built a support network," Noah reflects.

The VIP Ambassador Program is a powerful testament to the value of engagement and service, particularly in an era when personal connections often feel tenuous. As these students continue their journeys, the relationships they have formed and the principles they have embraced will undoubtedly resonate, enriching their futures and those of Fort Hays State University.

As they transition from college to their respective careers, Hazel, Katie, and Noah exemplify what it means to be an ambassador: to advocate, to connect, and ultimately, to give back to the community that has given them so much. Their stories shine as a beacon of the program's impact, fostering a vibrant culture of leadership and philanthropy at Fort Hays State University for years to come.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Tisa Mason, FHSU president. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Tisa Mason, FHSU president. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By TISA MASON FHSU University PresidentThe VIP Ambassador Program at Fort Hays State University, established by President Gerald Tomanek in 1982, empowers students to publicly represent their university while fostering a spirit of connection among these talented future leaders. Each year, a select group of 15-20 VIP Ambassadors participate in significant projects and events, gaining invaluable experiences along the way. Hazel Frans, Katie Ecord, and Noah Erichsen are members of our current VIP Ambassadors team, and each has had a compelling personal journey that I would like to share with the readers of this column.Hazel Frans, an Overland Park, Kansas junior, has always focused on the future. Her affinity for science began early, influenced by her participation in a gifted program in 5th grade. “My teacher introduced me to the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS). I was hooked.” KAMS is Kansas' premier early college program designed to provide a STEM-focused academic experience for gifted &amp; talented 11th &amp; 12th-grade students. By 7th grade, Hazel was already dreaming of a future at FHSU.Since her arrival, Hazel has engaged in a variety of activities, including serving as the President of Custer Hall Community Council and presenting research at the annual SACAD event. Her experience in the KAMS program motivated her to apply for the VIP Ambassador Program as a freshman: "I was encouraged by friends who were VIPs. Their enthusiasm was infectious."The moment she received the news of her acceptance was a highlight of her FHSU experience. “I learned so much from the interview process. It taught me how to articulate my visions and ambitions.” Each VIP Ambassador receives professional attire and participates in training sessions, including an etiquette dinner.Hazel particularly cherishes the Promotion and Tenure Recognition event, where she celebrated the achievements of faculty who have profoundly impacted her academic path. "Participating in that celebration was incredible. It underscored how interconnected we all are in this community."For Hazel, being a VIP Ambassador represents more than just a title; it's a heartfelt commitment to give back. "Every interaction has deepened my love for the university and highlighted the importance of being involved."Katie Ecord, a junior from Pomona, Kansas, has a goal of becoming a Speech Language Pathologist. "The program here is renowned—it truly stands out nationally. After shadowing a professional, I realized I had found my passion."Katie’s decision to become a VIP Ambassador sprang from her desire to connect with the broader FHSU community. "I wanted to strengthen connections between current students and alumni, recognizing their crucial support of our education."Katie’s work regularly puts her in touch with FHSU donors. “Meeting them in person has been one of the most rewarding parts of being a VIP Ambassador. Hearing their stories and commitment to the university inspires me.” She often shares insights into donor impact through her work at the FHSU Foundation, expressing heartfelt appreciation for their generosity.This experience has dramatically broadened Katie’s perspective: "I’ve come to understand how closely knit our university community is. I’m immensely grateful to everyone involved in our education."Noah Erichsen, a senior from Ellsworth, Kansas, first stepped onto FHSU’s campus for a music camp, where he instantly felt a sense of belonging. “The staff is incredibly supportive. I’ve felt like I could pursue anything here.” Currently, he serves as the principal trombonist and Low Brass Section Leader in the FHSU Marching Band, merging his love for music with leadership.A dual major in environmental geoscience and history, Noah is also actively involved in student government and tutoring, modeling the VIP Ambassador Program’s emphasis on community service. "I wanted to express my gratitude for the scholarships that have made my education possible, and the VIP Program was the perfect avenue."“For me, VIP events are all about advocacy. Each donor has a unique story that resonates with my own journey; it’s incredible how connected we truly are.”Noah recalls fondly the rewarding interactions he has had with alumni and donors, underscoring the program's success in nurturing relationships and understanding. “Every conversation is a meaningful exchange of experiences.”Looking to the future, Hazel plans to pursue a Ph.D. in plant molecular biology, Katie aims to enter the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology at FHSU, and Noah is preparing for a career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after graduation. They are well-equipped to carry the lessons learned from their ambassador experiences into their future careers, championing the values of kindness, professionalism, and community.Each holds their time as VIP Ambassadors in high regard, recognizing its significance in their FHSU journey. "Being involved has fostered a strong sense of belonging and built a support network," Noah reflects.The VIP Ambassador Program is a powerful testament to the value of engagement and service, particularly in an era when personal connections often feel tenuous. As these students continue their journeys, the relationships they have formed and the principles they have embraced will undoubtedly resonate, enriching their futures and those of Fort Hays State University.As they transition from college to their respective careers, Hazel, Katie, and Noah exemplify what it means to be an ambassador: to advocate, to connect, and ultimately, to give back to the community that has given them so much. Their stories shine as a beacon of the program's impact, fostering a vibrant culture of leadership and philanthropy at Fort Hays State University for years to come.

Heart of a Tiger: VIP Ambassadors gain insight, give back to FHSU community

Nothing like a good storm starting with ice and ending with blowing snow and arctic temps to bring in the birds. 

While warmer than normal days and plentiful sunshine highlighted late fall and early winter, a first week in January storm countered those non-wintry days that had encouraged birds to forage naturally rather than rely on backyard feeders. Upon arrival, that more seasonal weather delivered hordes of birds to our feeders and heated water dish. Their appearance invited the local Cooper’s hawk to join the feeding frenzy.

One thing we’ve learned over decades of putting out seeds and suet for neighborhood birds is you also feed raptors who take the term bird feeder literally. This familiar female has lived nearby the four years we’ve been in this house and is the reason we installed protective netting over our chicken coop.

We hadn’t seen the old girl or our usuals while the nicer weather afforded them opportunities to fill their bellies in the wild. Once that storm blew in, it didn’t take long for the regulars to crowd the feeder for dinner and a drink. 

Because we leave plenty of summer garden growth standing, they also nibble seeds, perch high to scan the horizon, or duck and cover when their nemesis flies by. That day they darted unconcerned amongst the feeders, gobbling sunflower seeds and grain.

During the first day of the storm, the little brown birds—sparrows, starlings, and black birds flitted in and out of dried corn stalks, tomato vines, and sunflowers between visits to food and water. Watching them out the window, they didn’t act like a predator roamed the vicinity. It made me wonder if our resident Cooper’s hawk had left town.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736523108332.jpeg" alt="Cooper's hawk devouring its prey. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Cooper's hawk devouring its prey. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINNothing like a good storm starting with ice and ending with blowing snow and arctic temps to bring in the birds. While warmer than normal days and plentiful sunshine highlighted late fall and early winter, a first week in January storm countered those non-wintry days that had encouraged birds to forage naturally rather than rely on backyard feeders. Upon arrival, that more seasonal weather delivered hordes of birds to our feeders and heated water dish. Their appearance invited the local Cooper’s hawk to join the feeding frenzy.One thing we’ve learned over decades of putting out seeds and suet for neighborhood birds is you also feed raptors who take the term bird feeder literally. This familiar female has lived nearby the four years we’ve been in this house and is the reason we installed protective netting over our chicken coop.We hadn’t seen the old girl or our usuals while the nicer weather afforded them opportunities to fill their bellies in the wild. Once that storm blew in, it didn’t take long for the regulars to crowd the feeder for dinner and a drink. Because we leave plenty of summer garden growth standing, they also nibble seeds, perch high to scan the horizon, or duck and cover when their nemesis flies by. That day they darted unconcerned amongst the feeders, gobbling sunflower seeds and grain.During the first day of the storm, the little brown birds—sparrows, starlings, and black birds flitted in and out of dried corn stalks, tomato vines, and sunflowers between visits to food and water. Watching them out the window, they didn’t act like a predator roamed the vicinity. It made me wonder if our resident Cooper’s hawk had left town.By mid-morning Sunday, we knew better. Our freshly-filled dishes stood abandoned. It didn’t take long to spy our resident raptor perched on a stick near the asparagus bed where she actively tugged feathers from something larger than a sparrow but smaller than a Eurasian dove. She’d positioned herself so I could see only her backside and not the feast she intended to devour. While her body blocked the gory details, sharp winds blew feathers in every direction as she used her precision beak and talons to harvest protein necessary for survival. Arctic gusts not only blew her prey’s feathers about, they riffled her head, wing, and back as she swallowed life-sustaining calories.Part of me felt sorry for her target. However, the side that loves raptors cheered her on. Ice, sleet, snow, and wind worked against every one of these birds. Ask any traveler or first responder standing outside in that storm, and they’d tell you it was miserable. During the peak of this storm, we received a text from some state entity telling us not to travel unnecessarily. Duh!We didn’t drive anywhere. Instead, we stood in our dining room, watching creatures fighting wind, moisture, and frigid temps. All of them desperately needed fuel to survive. As I warmed my feet on the furnace vent, sipping morning coffee, gazing out the window at Mother Nature’s spin on the movie Frozen, I admired this hunter’s skill and wished her well.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

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