By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University President

If you’ve ever strolled through the Fort Hays State University campus during the warmer months, you’ve likely noticed the vibrant colors that line our walkways and flower beds — geraniums, lantanas, ornamental peppers, and more, arranged with care and precision. What may look like a simple seasonal refresh is, in fact, the result of countless hours of planning and hands-on work by an exceptional team of dedicated professionals: our Grounds Department.

Led by Grounds Manager Brenden Ibarra, this team works year-round to ensure our campus remains beautiful, functional, and welcoming — not only for our students, faculty, and staff, but also for the thousands of guests who visit each year. Supporting Brenden are two key leaders: Trevor Deets, our Grounds Supervisor, and Cody Norton, our Greenhouse and Landscape Supervisor.

Brenden became the manager of the grounds department last summer. His story is a true Tiger journey: he joined the crew as a student employee right out of high school, earned his agronomy degree from FHSU in 2019, and worked as an equipment operator for four years before stepping into his current role.

Brenden hit the ground running, implementing a cross-training model that encourages the team to work as one unified crew. “I wanted everyone to have the same experience going forward,” he shared. “We’re all working at the same job. We’re one big team.” His leadership, like his work ethic, reflects his belief in collaboration and an ethic of shared success. “When people start taking pride in their work and you can see the same pride I have showing up in other employees, it makes everything a lot more fun.”

Cody, who graduated from FHSU in 2015 with a biology degree, now leads the greenhouse and planting efforts, following in the footsteps of Donna Augustine, who retired last fall after 37 years of service. Cody worked closely with Donna and carries forward her passion and commitment. He collaborates with longtime employee Mike Messeck and a rotating crew of hardworking student employees who help maintain the lush landscapes our university is known for.

Cody summed it up beautifully: “It’s nice to be able to see everything we do and say, ‘Wow, we did this. We made it look nice.”

Trevor has been part of the team for nine years and has witnessed many changes over that time, including an entirely new roster of crew members. A graduate of NCK Tech with training in electrical technology and construction, Trevor brought with him a valuable skillset that extends beyond landscaping.

Trevor supervises a tight-knit crew — Travis Dreher, Dalton Pfannenstiel, Jude Lang, Gunnar Hearne, and, until recently, Doug Haberman, who retired after years of dedicated service to FHSU.

The work of the grounds department isn’t just essential — it’s visible, much like the work of our dedicated housekeeping staff. As Cody pointed out, “Our job is probably one of the few jobs on&nbsp;campus that everybody sees. We are definitely in the public eye.”

 That visibility creates moments of connection. Campus visitors often stop to share compliments or thank the team for their work. Those gestures mean a lot. They’re reminders that their effort matters — and is noticed.

“Anything you see outside,” Trevor shared recently, “Grounds pretty much takes care of it.” That simple statement captures the incredible range of responsibilities his team shoulders — from planting and irrigation to snow removal and storm cleanup.

A couple of weeks ago, for example, a massive tree fell on campus due to high winds. Within a short time, the crew mobilized with chainsaws, a skid steer, a bucket truck, and a trailer to remove the debris as safely and efficiently as possible.

Beyond landscaping and emergency response, the grounds team also repairs and maintains their own equipment. “All the equipment breaks at some point,” Trevor said. “So, we have to have someone to fix it, too.”

Their role as a one-stop shop for everything outdoors — from planting to plowing, trimming to troubleshooting — is vital to the look, feel, and function of our campus. Every perfectly trimmed lawn or blooming flower bed at Fort Hays State is the result of deep pride, quiet dedication, and a whole lot of behind-the-scenes teamwork.

Trevor summed up his team’s efforts at FHSU very simply: “I take a lot of pride in my work. At the end of the day, I see what we accomplished. It is a good feeling.”

We are grateful to Brenden, Trevor, Cody, and the entire crew for their commitment to excellence. They truly embody the spirit of the Tiger Nation — steady, resilient, and always working to make our home on the plains a little more beautiful every day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, Fort Hays State University president. Photo by FHSU" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, Fort Hays State University president. Photo by FHSU</figcaption>
 </figure>By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University PresidentIf you’ve ever strolled through the Fort Hays State University campus during the warmer months, you’ve likely noticed the vibrant colors that line our walkways and flower beds — geraniums, lantanas, ornamental peppers, and more, arranged with care and precision. What may look like a simple seasonal refresh is, in fact, the result of countless hours of planning and hands-on work by an exceptional team of dedicated professionals: our Grounds Department.Led by Grounds Manager Brenden Ibarra, this team works year-round to ensure our campus remains beautiful, functional, and welcoming — not only for our students, faculty, and staff, but also for the thousands of guests who visit each year. Supporting Brenden are two key leaders: Trevor Deets, our Grounds Supervisor, and Cody Norton, our Greenhouse and Landscape Supervisor.Brenden became the manager of the grounds department last summer. His story is a true Tiger journey: he joined the crew as a student employee right out of high school, earned his agronomy degree from FHSU in 2019, and worked as an equipment operator for four years before stepping into his current role.Brenden hit the ground running, implementing a cross-training model that encourages the team to work as one unified crew. “I wanted everyone to have the same experience going forward,” he shared. “We’re all working at the same job. We’re one big team.” His leadership, like his work ethic, reflects his belief in collaboration and an ethic of shared success. “When people start taking pride in their work and you can see the same pride I have showing up in other employees, it makes everything a lot more fun.”Cody, who graduated from FHSU in 2015 with a biology degree, now leads the greenhouse and planting efforts, following in the footsteps of Donna Augustine, who retired last fall after 37 years of service. Cody worked closely with Donna and carries forward her passion and commitment. He collaborates with longtime employee Mike Messeck and a rotating crew of hardworking student employees who help maintain the lush landscapes our university is known for.Cody summed it up beautifully: “It’s nice to be able to see everything we do and say, ‘Wow, we did this. We made it look nice.”Trevor has been part of the team for nine years and has witnessed many changes over that time, including an entirely new roster of crew members. A graduate of NCK Tech with training in electrical technology and construction, Trevor brought with him a valuable skillset that extends beyond landscaping.Trevor supervises a tight-knit crew — Travis Dreher, Dalton Pfannenstiel, Jude Lang, Gunnar Hearne, and, until recently, Doug Haberman, who retired after years of dedicated service to FHSU.The work of the grounds department isn’t just essential — it’s visible, much like the work of our dedicated housekeeping staff. As Cody pointed out, “Our job is probably one of the few jobs on&nbsp;campus that everybody sees. We are definitely in the public eye.” That visibility creates moments of connection. Campus visitors often stop to share compliments or thank the team for their work. Those gestures mean a lot. They’re reminders that their effort matters — and is noticed.“Anything you see outside,” Trevor shared recently, “Grounds pretty much takes care of it.” That simple statement captures the incredible range of responsibilities his team shoulders — from planting and irrigation to snow removal and storm cleanup.A couple of weeks ago, for example, a massive tree fell on campus due to high winds. Within a short time, the crew mobilized with chainsaws, a skid steer, a bucket truck, and a trailer to remove the debris as safely and efficiently as possible.Beyond landscaping and emergency response, the grounds team also repairs and maintains their own equipment. “All the equipment breaks at some point,” Trevor said. “So, we have to have someone to fix it, too.”Their role as a one-stop shop for everything outdoors — from planting to plowing, trimming to troubleshooting — is vital to the look, feel, and function of our campus. Every perfectly trimmed lawn or blooming flower bed at Fort Hays State is the result of deep pride, quiet dedication, and a whole lot of behind-the-scenes teamwork.Trevor summed up his team’s efforts at FHSU very simply: “I take a lot of pride in my work. At the end of the day, I see what we accomplished. It is a good feeling.”We are grateful to Brenden, Trevor, Cody, and the entire crew for their commitment to excellence. They truly embody the spirit of the Tiger Nation — steady, resilient, and always working to make our home on the plains a little more beautiful every day.

Heart of a Tiger: Beautifying our home on the Plains 

Who knows where my idea of a Grandma Garden came from? I don’t. 

Neither of my grandmothers had time to garden. Both worked to supplement social security checks. My mom preferred vegetable gardening to growing flowers. My husband’s mother had a gorgeous yard full of intriguing greenery, including rows of tall castor bean plants and grape vines. However, cottage gardens didn’t interest her. Latent genes apparently rose from primordial British isle soup, urging me to create an old-fashioned flower bed.

When we moved to Logan, that yard had beautiful roses and daisies to initiate some old-timey tendencies. A former colleague and friend encouraged this by sharing an envelope full of what her son called “purple Anthony seeds,” larkspur--in reality, to sow a flower bed. Later, I carried seed from her original contribution as well as my Logan daisies to the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming where they brightened my yard and a friend’s every summer.

Somewhere along the way, Mom contributed hollyhock seed, which also thrived in high-altitude summers. When it came time to boomerang to western Kansas in August of '21, I collected seed like crazy, hoping they’d transfer once again to another yard.

It took time to make this dream of a dedicated Gramma Garden come true. A friend donated limestone blocks from a fallen building, which my hubs arranged into a rectangle that resembled an old family cemetery plot so much our that our daughter titled it “The Graveyard.” That fall when he filled it rich soil and newly buried hollyhock buttons, her description seemed even more apt.

Green growth rewarded us the following spring, but we knew it would be at least one more year before we or any pollinators enjoyed blooming spikes.

 I added another friend’s contributed black-eyed Susan seed along with my daisy, larkspur, Indian blanket, and milk weed collected in Wyoming. Everything came up except the milk weed. Last summer, we questioned the sparse growth, but encouragement from this spring’s abundant rains has caused those crowded plants to compete for resources.

Gardening guarantees practitioners never get cocky, which certainly holds true with this Grandma Garden thing. 

I situated the hollyhocks dead center and thought I’d equally distributed other varieties around the taller plants, intending to see various blooms from all sides. Ha! Somehow, daisies, coneflower, and Indian blankets flourished to the east behind the taller plantings. From our deck-side vantage, we enjoy hollyhocks, larkspur, and black-eyed Susans. 

Like all things nature, this requires patience to correct. I’ll harvest and redistribute seed until the variety I want grows on every side. Then I’ll toss in blue flax and Mexican hat. I haven’t given up on adding milkweed either, but after two years of failed planting, I need a better plan.

Not only do we have old-fashioned blooms growing in the new bed out back, I distributed seed alongside my husband’s shed, at the back of the house, and around our big shade tree. Butterflies, bees, and hummers can sip nectar or collect pollen there as well.

 Mom’s experimental hollyhock seed planted along the edge of the brick have rewarded us with beautiful pink blossoms this year.

In a perfect world, I won’t need to hang a humming bird feeder because those little migrants will dine al fresco in Grandma’s Garden.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751016977646.jpeg" alt="Grandma Garden. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Grandma Garden. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINWho knows where my idea of a Grandma Garden came from? I don’t. Neither of my grandmothers had time to garden. Both worked to supplement social security checks. My mom preferred vegetable gardening to growing flowers. My husband’s mother had a gorgeous yard full of intriguing greenery, including rows of tall castor bean plants and grape vines. However, cottage gardens didn’t interest her. Latent genes apparently rose from primordial British isle soup, urging me to create an old-fashioned flower bed.When we moved to Logan, that yard had beautiful roses and daisies to initiate some old-timey tendencies. A former colleague and friend encouraged this by sharing an envelope full of what her son called “purple Anthony seeds,” larkspur--in reality, to sow a flower bed. Later, I carried seed from her original contribution as well as my Logan daisies to the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming where they brightened my yard and a friend’s every summer.Somewhere along the way, Mom contributed hollyhock seed, which also thrived in high-altitude summers. When it came time to boomerang to western Kansas in August of '21, I collected seed like crazy, hoping they’d transfer once again to another yard.It took time to make this dream of a dedicated Gramma Garden come true. A friend donated limestone blocks from a fallen building, which my hubs arranged into a rectangle that resembled an old family cemetery plot so much our that our daughter titled it “The Graveyard.” That fall when he filled it rich soil and newly buried hollyhock buttons, her description seemed even more apt.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751017090997.jpeg" alt="Grandma Garden. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Grandma Garden. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751017069982.jpeg" alt="Grandma Garden. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Grandma Garden. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>Green growth rewarded us the following spring, but we knew it would be at least one more year before we or any pollinators enjoyed blooming spikes. I added another friend’s contributed black-eyed Susan seed along with my daisy, larkspur, Indian blanket, and milk weed collected in Wyoming. Everything came up except the milk weed. Last summer, we questioned the sparse growth, but encouragement from this spring’s abundant rains has caused those crowded plants to compete for resources.Gardening guarantees practitioners never get cocky, which certainly holds true with this Grandma Garden thing. I situated the hollyhocks dead center and thought I’d equally distributed other varieties around the taller plants, intending to see various blooms from all sides. Ha! Somehow, daisies, coneflower, and Indian blankets flourished to the east behind the taller plantings. From our deck-side vantage, we enjoy hollyhocks, larkspur, and black-eyed Susans. Like all things nature, this requires patience to correct. I’ll harvest and redistribute seed until the variety I want grows on every side. Then I’ll toss in blue flax and Mexican hat. I haven’t given up on adding milkweed either, but after two years of failed planting, I need a better plan.Not only do we have old-fashioned blooms growing in the new bed out back, I distributed seed alongside my husband’s shed, at the back of the house, and around our big shade tree. Butterflies, bees, and hummers can sip nectar or collect pollen there as well. Mom’s experimental hollyhock seed planted along the edge of the brick have rewarded us with beautiful pink blossoms this year.In a perfect world, I won’t need to hang a humming bird feeder because those little migrants will dine al fresco in Grandma’s Garden.

MADORIN: Creating Gramma’s Garden

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

A sure sign of summer in Kansas is the sight and sound of the mosquito fogger running up-and-down the streets and alleys of our towns, and after recent heavy rains, the skeeters’ were as thick as hairs on a dog’s back.

It seems Eve’s original indiscretion in the Garden of Eden continues to haunt all mankind in more ways than one, as only female mosquitos bite. 

And when the little blighters bite us, it’s not for a drink either, but because they need human blood to develop fertile eggs, according to Jerry Butler, PhD and professor at the University of Florida. 

Both Professor Butler and Joe Conlon, PhD with the American Mosquito Control Assn. say mosquitoes prefer to suck on some humans more than others, as one in ten people are highly attractive to mosquitoes (and my wife is definitely in that group.) 

Research has also determined that when certain elements of our body chemistry are found in excess on the skin's surface, they draw mosquitoes closer, meaning that genetics actually accounts for a whopping 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites.

Mosquitoes are drawn to their victims in three different ways — by heat, by movement and by smell.

 Every living human puts off heat, so I guess in this category it’s a wash as we all appear equally appetizing. Scientists also believe that movement is highly attractive to mosquitoes, so to help stay under their radar, wear clothing that blends with your surroundings and keep your movement to a minimum. (I’ll remember this advice the next time I’m sitting still-as-a-stone in a turkey blind, camouflaged from head to toe, and the mosquitoes outnumber the hairs on my arms).

Now comes the category of “smell” where the “stinkers” are separated from the “not-so stinkers” so to speak. 

Smell is proven to be the most used and most important method by which mosquitoes single out their meals, and it’s believed they can smell their dinner from as far away as fifty meters. People who produce an unusually high amount of certain chemicals like uric acid, or who are overly-efficient at processing cholesterol, leaving excess cholesterol residue on their skin, tend to be mosquito magnets.

 But the two most sought-after scents by any self-respecting female mosquito are carbon dioxide and the lactic acid from our sweat glands. Larger people tend to give-off more carbon dioxide, so reports claim that mosquitoes target adults more than children because of this. (Not sure I agree with that one either) 

Pregnant women also appear to be at greater risk as they produce greater-than-normal amounts of exhaled CO2. And as for the “sweet smell of sweat,” the more we move, the more CO2 we expel, and when it’s hot like is often the case during mosquito season, the more we move, the more we sweat, all resulting in more attention from our buzzing, blood-sucking friends.

As for mosquito repellents, the tried-and-true chemical of choice is Deet, which has thus far proven to be the most effective chemical mosquito repellent on the market. Avon’s Skin So Soft also works, but is effective for a much shorter period of time. Another product marketed as Cutter Advanced is gaining popularity and is said to be more user friendly. 

A much newer product marketed as DeckMate Mosquito Repellent is said to be selling like hotcakes, and is available as paper strips to be worn or hung above you, and as cartridges used with a small battery powered device that uses a fan to disperse the repellent around you. 

Tests of non-chemical, natural products made from the oils of soybeans, citronella, cedar,&nbsp;peppermint, lemongrass and geraniums have all shown to provide short-lived protection at best. 

One other non-chemical product sold under the name “Don’t Bite Me” is a skin patch containing thiamine (vitamin B1.) The science behind the product is sound, as it supposedly produces a skin odor offensive to female mosquitoes, but the company’s on-going tests have not yet produced any conclusions.&nbsp;Other products such as mosquito traps and insect-shield-repellent apparel, used by the military, are also available. 

Purple martins and swallows are great and effective mosquito eating machines, so providing martin houses and making swallows feel welcome around old buildings and structures are great natural ways of mosquito removal. 

Of course, the best repellent by far is removing all possible incubation spots, as stagnant standing water in bird baths, old tires, cavities in plastic toys, buckets etc. all offer mosquito larvae a place to grow.

Mr. Google tells me the high end of a female mosquito’s life span is 100 days or less, during which she will lay from 1 to 3 batches of eggs totaling upwards of 900 eggs per batch. That’s a lot of swatting! 

If there are opportunities to ask God questions when we get to heaven, I want to be in that line to ask “Why were there mosquitos?”

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750780743149.png" alt="Cartoon by Aedes Aegypti/Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Cartoon by Aedes Aegypti/Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas OutdoorsA sure sign of summer in Kansas is the sight and sound of the mosquito fogger running up-and-down the streets and alleys of our towns, and after recent heavy rains, the skeeters’ were as thick as hairs on a dog’s back.It seems Eve’s original indiscretion in the Garden of Eden continues to haunt all mankind in more ways than one, as only female mosquitos bite. And when the little blighters bite us, it’s not for a drink either, but because they need human blood to develop fertile eggs, according to Jerry Butler, PhD and professor at the University of Florida. Both Professor Butler and Joe Conlon, PhD with the American Mosquito Control Assn. say mosquitoes prefer to suck on some humans more than others, as one in ten people are highly attractive to mosquitoes (and my wife is definitely in that group.) Research has also determined that when certain elements of our body chemistry are found in excess on the skin's surface, they draw mosquitoes closer, meaning that genetics actually accounts for a whopping 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites.Mosquitoes are drawn to their victims in three different ways — by heat, by movement and by smell. Every living human puts off heat, so I guess in this category it’s a wash as we all appear equally appetizing. Scientists also believe that movement is highly attractive to mosquitoes, so to help stay under their radar, wear clothing that blends with your surroundings and keep your movement to a minimum. (I’ll remember this advice the next time I’m sitting still-as-a-stone in a turkey blind, camouflaged from head to toe, and the mosquitoes outnumber the hairs on my arms).Now comes the category of “smell” where the “stinkers” are separated from the “not-so stinkers” so to speak. Smell is proven to be the most used and most important method by which mosquitoes single out their meals, and it’s believed they can smell their dinner from as far away as fifty meters. People who produce an unusually high amount of certain chemicals like uric acid, or who are overly-efficient at processing cholesterol, leaving excess cholesterol residue on their skin, tend to be mosquito magnets. But the two most sought-after scents by any self-respecting female mosquito are carbon dioxide and the lactic acid from our sweat glands. Larger people tend to give-off more carbon dioxide, so reports claim that mosquitoes target adults more than children because of this. (Not sure I agree with that one either) Pregnant women also appear to be at greater risk as they produce greater-than-normal amounts of exhaled CO2. And as for the “sweet smell of sweat,” the more we move, the more CO2 we expel, and when it’s hot like is often the case during mosquito season, the more we move, the more we sweat, all resulting in more attention from our buzzing, blood-sucking friends.As for mosquito repellents, the tried-and-true chemical of choice is Deet, which has thus far proven to be the most effective chemical mosquito repellent on the market. Avon’s Skin So Soft also works, but is effective for a much shorter period of time. Another product marketed as Cutter Advanced is gaining popularity and is said to be more user friendly. A much newer product marketed as DeckMate Mosquito Repellent is said to be selling like hotcakes, and is available as paper strips to be worn or hung above you, and as cartridges used with a small battery powered device that uses a fan to disperse the repellent around you. Tests of non-chemical, natural products made from the oils of soybeans, citronella, cedar,&nbsp;peppermint, lemongrass and geraniums have all shown to provide short-lived protection at best. One other non-chemical product sold under the name “Don’t Bite Me” is a skin patch containing thiamine (vitamin B1.) The science behind the product is sound, as it supposedly produces a skin odor offensive to female mosquitoes, but the company’s on-going tests have not yet produced any conclusions.&nbsp;Other products such as mosquito traps and insect-shield-repellent apparel, used by the military, are also available. Purple martins and swallows are great and effective mosquito eating machines, so providing martin houses and making swallows feel welcome around old buildings and structures are great natural ways of mosquito removal. Of course, the best repellent by far is removing all possible incubation spots, as stagnant standing water in bird baths, old tires, cavities in plastic toys, buckets etc. all offer mosquito larvae a place to grow.Mr. Google tells me the high end of a female mosquito’s life span is 100 days or less, during which she will lay from 1 to 3 batches of eggs totaling upwards of 900 eggs per batch. That’s a lot of swatting! If there are opportunities to ask God questions when we get to heaven, I want to be in that line to ask “Why were there mosquitos?” Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Outdoors Kansas: The skeeters among us

It’s me again, writing another of the no doubt thousands of letters and e-mails and texts that you’ve received over the past month, ever since the House of Representatives approved—by a one-vote margin—President Trump’s beloved One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That bill is coming to the floor of the Senate, with the voting on it beginning perhaps as soon as Thursday. So this column is almost certainly too late to influence whatever decisions you and your fellow senators will make. But for the sake of the people of Kansas, I’ll reiterate a few points once more, just for the record.

First, some praise. The Senate version of the bill gets rid of the House version’s cuts to PELL grant eligibility, as well as its ill-conceived “risk sharing” plan, which would have made colleges and universities responsible for unpaid student loans, a measure that could devastate Kansas’s 21 independent (and mostly religious) institutions of higher education.

So that’s good! (Though it’s worth noting that the Senate’s idea of restricting PLUS loans for graduate school and perhaps simply prohibiting students seeking degrees in “low earning” programs from obtaining any federal student loans at all reflects a STEM bias that could, over time, disrupt music, arts, and humanities education throughout the state of Kansas.)

Beyond higher education, though, there is much else for Kansans to worry about.

Kansas has over 300 hospitals and clinics serving rural populations, many of which depend heavily upon Medicaid. 

The Senate version of the bill caps the ability of states like Kansas to tax various providers (such as health care businesses and managed care organizations), which might end up costing Kansas close to $4 billion in Medicaid funding, which would likely mean perhaps over 10000 Kansans losing coverage and the rate of rural hospital closure increasing further. Voting for this would not only be bad policy, but considering the support Medicaid enjoys in the state of Kansas (more than 70% of all Kansans support Medicaid expansion), it would be undemocratic.

There are over 175,000 veterans living in Kansas, with over 30,000 of them struggling with homelessness, and hundreds who currently receive housing assistance through the Veterans Administration. But the House version of Trump’s OBBB cuts over $33 billion in housing assistance out of the budget. The VA has already been forced to end its Servicing Purchase program, which provided mortgage relief to tens of thousands of veterans; if the Senate version doesn’t change this policy, and the bill passes, hundreds of Kansas veterans will suffer.

Kansas is a leader in renewable energy; over 40% of the electricity generated here comes from wind, creating an energy market that has attracted over $11 billion in investment over the past decade. The House version of the bill includes deep cuts to the tax supports and rebates that renewable energy industries and consumers receive, which have enabled them to thrive. The Senate version does delay the roll-out of some of those cuts, but ought to get rid of them entirely.

There is more I could mention, some of which isn’t in the One Big Beautiful Bill but is tagging alongside it (the proposed devastating rescission of funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, for example). 

I recognize that as a conservative Republican, you likely have a very different perspective on some of these matters than I. Still, when it comes to Kansas’s small colleges and universities, Kansas’s struggling veterans, Kansas’s rural hospitals, and Kansas’s renewable energy entrepreneurs, I think we can agree on where this state’s interests lie. I hope you’ll vote accordingly.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750955074364.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>Dear Senator Moran,It’s me again, writing another of the no doubt thousands of letters and e-mails and texts that you’ve received over the past month, ever since the House of Representatives approved—by a one-vote margin—President Trump’s beloved One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That bill is coming to the floor of the Senate, with the voting on it beginning perhaps as soon as Thursday. So this column is almost certainly too late to influence whatever decisions you and your fellow senators will make. But for the sake of the people of Kansas, I’ll reiterate a few points once more, just for the record.First, some praise. The Senate version of the bill gets rid of the House version’s cuts to PELL grant eligibility, as well as its ill-conceived “risk sharing” plan, which would have made colleges and universities responsible for unpaid student loans, a measure that could devastate Kansas’s 21 independent (and mostly religious) institutions of higher education.So that’s good! (Though it’s worth noting that the Senate’s idea of restricting PLUS loans for graduate school and perhaps simply prohibiting students seeking degrees in “low earning” programs from obtaining any federal student loans at all reflects a STEM bias that could, over time, disrupt music, arts, and humanities education throughout the state of Kansas.)Beyond higher education, though, there is much else for Kansans to worry about.Kansas has over 300 hospitals and clinics serving rural populations, many of which depend heavily upon Medicaid. The Senate version of the bill caps the ability of states like Kansas to tax various providers (such as health care businesses and managed care organizations), which might end up costing Kansas close to $4 billion in Medicaid funding, which would likely mean perhaps over 10000 Kansans losing coverage and the rate of rural hospital closure increasing further. Voting for this would not only be bad policy, but considering the support Medicaid enjoys in the state of Kansas (more than 70% of all Kansans support Medicaid expansion), it would be undemocratic.There are over 175,000 veterans living in Kansas, with over 30,000 of them struggling with homelessness, and hundreds who currently receive housing assistance through the Veterans Administration. But the House version of Trump’s OBBB cuts over $33 billion in housing assistance out of the budget. The VA has already been forced to end its Servicing Purchase program, which provided mortgage relief to tens of thousands of veterans; if the Senate version doesn’t change this policy, and the bill passes, hundreds of Kansas veterans will suffer.Kansas is a leader in renewable energy; over 40% of the electricity generated here comes from wind, creating an energy market that has attracted over $11 billion in investment over the past decade. The House version of the bill includes deep cuts to the tax supports and rebates that renewable energy industries and consumers receive, which have enabled them to thrive. The Senate version does delay the roll-out of some of those cuts, but ought to get rid of them entirely.There is more I could mention, some of which isn’t in the One Big Beautiful Bill but is tagging alongside it (the proposed devastating rescission of funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, for example). I recognize that as a conservative Republican, you likely have a very different perspective on some of these matters than I. Still, when it comes to Kansas’s small colleges and universities, Kansas’s struggling veterans, Kansas’s rural hospitals, and Kansas’s renewable energy entrepreneurs, I think we can agree on where this state’s interests lie. I hope you’ll vote accordingly.Best, Russell Arben FoxDr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

Insight Kansas: A final plea to Sen. Moran regarding Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks about snacking with Jessica Phelan, asst. professor in the Fort Hays State University Department of Health and Human Performance.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Is it a snack or is it a meal?" 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=p7zb4-18eb629-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, news reporter Becky Kiser talks about snacking with Jessica Phelan, asst. professor in the Fort Hays State University Department of Health and Human Performance.

🎙 Post Podcast: Is it a snack or is it a meal?

Frequently, I watch ornate box turtles crossing country roads or highways. Because I like this pack-its-own-home reptile, I dodge such speed bumps. While their slow lumber across the road triggers a smile, I hadn’t thought much about these Kansas state reptiles until recently when a fond memory knocked on my mental door.

That particular summer, I awakened early every day to enjoy cool mornings as I watered, weeded, and picked veggies. A bonus of rising with the sun included meeting yard neighbors that hide during the heat of the day.

One such friend was a good-sized box turtle that hung out under my rose bushes in the mornings. I’d seen her a couple of times, and that day we met officially. This particular terrapene ornata - according to scientists - was at the larger end of expected sizes for its species. I’d guess its shell was three to four inches across and five or six inches long. I didn’t have a measuring tape on hand at 6:30 a.m. for an official accounting, but she was bigger than most turtles I’d seen navigating Kansas roadways.

This reptile’s shell was dark with distinct yellow markings on the scutes or plates. Before she tucked her head inside her shell, I noted yellowish rather than reddish-orange eyes, which verified she met “she” criteria.

Like all box turtles, she had a hinged plastron that let her tuck her head and limbs safely inside her shell. This ability frustrated hungry coyotes and other predators, but it doesn’t stop a vehicle cruising down the highway, this creature’s worst enemy. The minute she sensed me heading her way, she retracted everything tuckable until she resembled nothing more than a pet rock.

Ignoring her desperate attempt to achieve introverted solitude, I placed my hands carefully along each lower side of her shell and examined her beauty close-up. Like any unhappy female, she promptly got even. With head and legs still safely hidden inside her shell, she peed, which made me jump backward to avoid a splattering.

Once I finished inspecting her masterpiece of black and yellow shell, I rewarded this pretty girl. I set a couple of pieces of melon in front of her so there would be a little something to make her day when she finally popped her head out. Apparently, she can smell and likes cantaloupe because it vanished in the short time I took to climb upstairs where I could spy on her out the kitchen window.

After researching box turtle factoids, I saw why she preferred her flowerbed home. It was damp with lots of available sow bugs or roly-polies and other insects to meet her carnivorous dietary needs. That summer the temperature was more agreeable in that shady corner than most places in the yard. Containing the softest soil on old hilltop, it also offered a perfect site to dig in for winter hibernation, which might explain my new friend’s greater than average size.

Once we’d met, I offered a daily serving of melon or fruit to enhance her diet. With room service like that, this lady was glad to call that eastern corner of Trego County home and continued to show up every summer. I wonder if my walking work of art still shows up for the family that followed us and how big she grew.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750427047405.jpeg" alt="Box turtle. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Box turtle. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINFrequently, I watch ornate box turtles crossing country roads or highways. Because I like this pack-its-own-home reptile, I dodge such speed bumps. While their slow lumber across the road triggers a smile, I hadn’t thought much about these Kansas state reptiles until recently when a fond memory knocked on my mental door.That particular summer, I awakened early every day to enjoy cool mornings as I watered, weeded, and picked veggies. A bonus of rising with the sun included meeting yard neighbors that hide during the heat of the day.One such friend was a good-sized box turtle that hung out under my rose bushes in the mornings. I’d seen her a couple of times, and that day we met officially. This particular terrapene ornata - according to scientists - was at the larger end of expected sizes for its species. I’d guess its shell was three to four inches across and five or six inches long. I didn’t have a measuring tape on hand at 6:30 a.m. for an official accounting, but she was bigger than most turtles I’d seen navigating Kansas roadways.This reptile’s shell was dark with distinct yellow markings on the scutes or plates. Before she tucked her head inside her shell, I noted yellowish rather than reddish-orange eyes, which verified she met “she” criteria.Like all box turtles, she had a hinged plastron that let her tuck her head and limbs safely inside her shell. This ability frustrated hungry coyotes and other predators, but it doesn’t stop a vehicle cruising down the highway, this creature’s worst enemy. The minute she sensed me heading her way, she retracted everything tuckable until she resembled nothing more than a pet rock.Ignoring her desperate attempt to achieve introverted solitude, I placed my hands carefully along each lower side of her shell and examined her beauty close-up. Like any unhappy female, she promptly got even. With head and legs still safely hidden inside her shell, she peed, which made me jump backward to avoid a splattering.Once I finished inspecting her masterpiece of black and yellow shell, I rewarded this pretty girl. I set a couple of pieces of melon in front of her so there would be a little something to make her day when she finally popped her head out. Apparently, she can smell and likes cantaloupe because it vanished in the short time I took to climb upstairs where I could spy on her out the kitchen window.After researching box turtle factoids, I saw why she preferred her flowerbed home. It was damp with lots of available sow bugs or roly-polies and other insects to meet her carnivorous dietary needs. That summer the temperature was more agreeable in that shady corner than most places in the yard. Containing the softest soil on old hilltop, it also offered a perfect site to dig in for winter hibernation, which might explain my new friend’s greater than average size.Once we’d met, I offered a daily serving of melon or fruit to enhance her diet. With room service like that, this lady was glad to call that eastern corner of Trego County home and continued to show up every summer. I wonder if my walking work of art still shows up for the family that followed us and how big she grew.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Art on the move

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks about the 2025 area wheat crop and harvest with Stacy Campbell, Cottonwood Extension District agriculture agent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Local wheat harvest update" 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=3b6dc-18e6fb2-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, news reporter Becky Kiser talks about the 2025 area wheat crop and harvest with Stacy Campbell, Cottonwood Extension District agriculture agent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Local wheat harvest update

Samuel Allen, a longtime resident and active member of the Hays community, has officially announced his candidacy for the Hays City Commission in the 2025 municipal election. 

Drawing on his diverse background in public service, nonprofit work, and higher education, Allen brings a thoughtful, community-first approach to local leadership.

&nbsp;“Hays is home,”&nbsp;Allen said. “It’s the place I’ve always come back to—because no matter where life has taken me, this community has remained a constant source of strength, support, and purpose. Now, I want to give back by helping Hays remain a place where everyone can build a future.”

Allen has worn many hats over the years—each shaped by a desire to serve others. He has worked in food pantries and clinics in St. Louis, spent time in religious formation with the Order of Friars Minor in Maryland, and most recently, interned with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran in Washington, D.C., where he contributed to health care policy, higher education and constituent services.&nbsp;

“These experiences have taught me to listen first, to lead with compassion, and to stay grounded in common sense,”&nbsp;Allen said.&nbsp;“Whether you're working at a food pantry, helping someone navigate health care or assisting a constituent with federal programs, the heart of public service is the same—showing up, doing the work, and putting people first.”

Currently completing his degree in political science at Fort Hays State University, Allen is committed to building a stronger, more responsive local government. His campaign for city commission is focused on tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing Hays today—while laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Hays has seen the closure of too many small businesses—some only months old, others decades established. Allen believes the city must take a more proactive role in helping local businesses succeed, from reducing unnecessary red tape and simplifying permitting processes to increasing outreach and engagement with entrepreneurs.

“When local businesses close, our economy, identity, and community spirit all take a hit,” Allen said. “We need to work directly with business owners to understand their needs and create a more business-friendly environment.”

Allen is a strong advocate for increasing the availability of affordable housing in Hays. He sees housing affordability as a cornerstone of economic stability and community growth.

“Whether you’re a recent college graduate, a young family, or a retiree on a fixed income, you deserve access to safe and affordable housing,”&nbsp;he said. “We can’t expect people to stay and build a life here if they can’t afford to live here.”

As water scarcity becomes an ever more urgent concern across western Kansas, Allen is calling for strong city leadership on water conservation and infrastructure. He supports long-term efforts such as the Edwards County pipeline and believes conservation should be a citywide priority.

“Water is life—especially in our part of the state,”&nbsp;Allen said.&nbsp;“Investing in sustainable infrastructure today will secure our community’s future for decades to come.”

Leadership with Integrity and Heart

Allen’s commitment to public service is shaped by his Catholic faith, his life experiences, and his belief in treating others with dignity and respect. A proud member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays, he grounds his work in values of compassion, humility, and civic responsibility.&nbsp;

“I’ve seen Hays through many lenses—as a student, a worker, a volunteer, and a neighbor,”&nbsp;Allen said.&nbsp;“Now, I’m ready to serve as a commissioner who listens, leads with integrity, and makes decisions that reflect the needs of everyone in this community.”

Allen’s campaign is centered on accessibility, transparency and action. He is running to ensure that every resident—no matter their age, background or income—has a voice in shaping the future of Hays.

To learn more about Samuel Allen’s campaign for Hays City Commission or to get involved, visit<a target="_blank" href="http://allen4hayscitycommission.mystrikingly.com/"></a>

<a target="_blank" href="http://allen4hayscitycommission.mystrikingly.com/">allen4hayscitycommission.mystrikingly.com</a>&nbsp;or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:allenforhayscitycommission@gmail.com">allenforhayscitycommission@gmail.com</a>.

Samuel Allen: Working for&nbsp;Hays, Working for&nbsp;You.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750345202754.jpeg" alt="Hays City Commission candidate Samuel Allen. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Hays City Commission candidate Samuel Allen. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedSamuel Allen, a longtime resident and active member of the Hays community, has officially announced his candidacy for the Hays City Commission in the 2025 municipal election. Drawing on his diverse background in public service, nonprofit work, and higher education, Allen brings a thoughtful, community-first approach to local leadership.&nbsp;“Hays is home,”&nbsp;Allen said. “It’s the place I’ve always come back to—because no matter where life has taken me, this community has remained a constant source of strength, support, and purpose. Now, I want to give back by helping Hays remain a place where everyone can build a future.”Allen has worn many hats over the years—each shaped by a desire to serve others. He has worked in food pantries and clinics in St. Louis, spent time in religious formation with the Order of Friars Minor in Maryland, and most recently, interned with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran in Washington, D.C., where he contributed to health care policy, higher education and constituent services.&nbsp;“These experiences have taught me to listen first, to lead with compassion, and to stay grounded in common sense,”&nbsp;Allen said.&nbsp;“Whether you're working at a food pantry, helping someone navigate health care or assisting a constituent with federal programs, the heart of public service is the same—showing up, doing the work, and putting people first.”Currently completing his degree in political science at Fort Hays State University, Allen is committed to building a stronger, more responsive local government. His campaign for city commission is focused on tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing Hays today—while laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and sustainable future.Allen’s key priorities:Supporting Local BusinessesHays has seen the closure of too many small businesses—some only months old, others decades established. Allen believes the city must take a more proactive role in helping local businesses succeed, from reducing unnecessary red tape and simplifying permitting processes to increasing outreach and engagement with entrepreneurs.“When local businesses close, our economy, identity, and community spirit all take a hit,” Allen said. “We need to work directly with business owners to understand their needs and create a more business-friendly environment.”Expanding Affordable HousingAllen is a strong advocate for increasing the availability of affordable housing in Hays. He sees housing affordability as a cornerstone of economic stability and community growth.“Whether you’re a recent college graduate, a young family, or a retiree on a fixed income, you deserve access to safe and affordable housing,”&nbsp;he said. “We can’t expect people to stay and build a life here if they can’t afford to live here.”Protecting Our Water FutureAs water scarcity becomes an ever more urgent concern across western Kansas, Allen is calling for strong city leadership on water conservation and infrastructure. He supports long-term efforts such as the Edwards County pipeline and believes conservation should be a citywide priority.“Water is life—especially in our part of the state,”&nbsp;Allen said.&nbsp;“Investing in sustainable infrastructure today will secure our community’s future for decades to come.”Leadership with Integrity and HeartAllen’s commitment to public service is shaped by his Catholic faith, his life experiences, and his belief in treating others with dignity and respect. A proud member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays, he grounds his work in values of compassion, humility, and civic responsibility.&nbsp;“I’ve seen Hays through many lenses—as a student, a worker, a volunteer, and a neighbor,”&nbsp;Allen said.&nbsp;“Now, I’m ready to serve as a commissioner who listens, leads with integrity, and makes decisions that reflect the needs of everyone in this community.”Allen’s campaign is centered on accessibility, transparency and action. He is running to ensure that every resident—no matter their age, background or income—has a voice in shaping the future of Hays.To learn more about Samuel Allen’s campaign for Hays City Commission or to get involved, visit<a target="_blank" href="http://allen4hayscitycommission.mystrikingly.com/"></a><a target="_blank" href="http://allen4hayscitycommission.mystrikingly.com/">allen4hayscitycommission.mystrikingly.com</a>&nbsp;or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:allenforhayscitycommission@gmail.com">allenforhayscitycommission@gmail.com</a>.Samuel Allen: Working for&nbsp;Hays, Working for&nbsp;You.

Samuel Allen announces candidacy for Hays City Commission

On June 20, 1872, the Great Seal of the United States was adopted, sporting the bald eagle at its center, and since then, the bald eagle has served as the living symbol of freedom, courage, strength, spirit, independence and excellence, all the things America stands for. 

Friday, June 20, 2025 has been proclaimed nationwide as American Eagle Day as a way to celebrate the bald eagle, America's living symbol of freedom and to bring attention to its dramatic recovery from the brink of extinction. 

In honor of that, here are some bald eagle facts and trivia.

In the early 1960s the bald eagle population in the lower 48 states had dropped to less than 500 nesting pairs. Considering the size and extent of its range, it was nearly extinct. Today, thanks to conservation efforts there are over 15,000 bald eagle pairs in those same 48 states.

 I found estimates putting the number of active bald eagle nests in Kansas alone at anywhere from 55 to over 100, and more than 3,000 bald eagles spend time in Kansas each winter. 

The best time to view bald eagles here in Kansas is from November through February, and the best viewing is near any of our large lakes and reservoirs and anywhere along the rivers.

Bald eagles often build nests 50 feet or more off the ground. Nests are not particularly pretty, resembling a haphazard pile of sticks. The same pair uses the same nest year after year, making them larger each time, and after several years a bald eagle nest can easily be the size of a small room. The largest eagle nest ever recorded was in Florida and measured 9 ½ feet across, was 20 feet high from top to bottom and weighed an estimated 4,500 pounds. A female bald eagle lays from 1 to 3 pure white eggs once per year in the spring. 

When I still lived in Ohio there were numerous active eagle nests along Lake Erie, and a game warden friend of mine was in charge of overseeing those nests. He had hours of amazing video of them checking the nests and the chicks in them each spring. They did it by helicopter using three people-the pilot, a second person who was lowered from the helicopter down into each nest and a third person as a lookout, constantly watching the sky for the adult eagles to prevent them from flying into the helicopter blades, killing the eagle and crashing the helicopter in the process.

The majority of the bald eagle's diet is fish and waterfowl, so when things freeze solid in the winter up north, the eagles migrate south to find open water where they can still fish. Even when our Kansas reservoirs freeze over, the rivers feeding each reservoir still offer open water.

 I know ice fishermen often leave a few carp or other rough fish on the ice for the eagles. The huge influx of waterfowl through Kansas each winter is also a big draw to eagles. From their vantage point 1,000 or more feet above the ground an eagle’s miraculous eyes can spot prey over a three-square mile area.

I just happened upon this proclamation of American Eagle Day as I surfed through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks website. 

I’m very disappointed it was not publicized far and wide; if ever we could use a boost of patriotism, it’s now. Our media gives plenty of press to everything wrong in America; why not spend a little press on something like American Eagle Day that might just give us all something good to think about, if even for a day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640632336360.jpeg" alt="Bald Eagles at Cheyenne Bottoms. File photo" />
 <figcaption>Bald Eagles at Cheyenne Bottoms. File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND On June 20, 1872, the Great Seal of the United States was adopted, sporting the bald eagle at its center, and since then, the bald eagle has served as the living symbol of freedom, courage, strength, spirit, independence and excellence, all the things America stands for. Friday, June 20, 2025 has been proclaimed nationwide as American Eagle Day as a way to celebrate the bald eagle, America's living symbol of freedom and to bring attention to its dramatic recovery from the brink of extinction. In honor of that, here are some bald eagle facts and trivia.In the early 1960s the bald eagle population in the lower 48 states had dropped to less than 500 nesting pairs. Considering the size and extent of its range, it was nearly extinct. Today, thanks to conservation efforts there are over 15,000 bald eagle pairs in those same 48 states. I found estimates putting the number of active bald eagle nests in Kansas alone at anywhere from 55 to over 100, and more than 3,000 bald eagles spend time in Kansas each winter. The best time to view bald eagles here in Kansas is from November through February, and the best viewing is near any of our large lakes and reservoirs and anywhere along the rivers.Bald eagles often build nests 50 feet or more off the ground. Nests are not particularly pretty, resembling a haphazard pile of sticks. The same pair uses the same nest year after year, making them larger each time, and after several years a bald eagle nest can easily be the size of a small room. The largest eagle nest ever recorded was in Florida and measured 9 ½ feet across, was 20 feet high from top to bottom and weighed an estimated 4,500 pounds. A female bald eagle lays from 1 to 3 pure white eggs once per year in the spring. When I still lived in Ohio there were numerous active eagle nests along Lake Erie, and a game warden friend of mine was in charge of overseeing those nests. He had hours of amazing video of them checking the nests and the chicks in them each spring. They did it by helicopter using three people-the pilot, a second person who was lowered from the helicopter down into each nest and a third person as a lookout, constantly watching the sky for the adult eagles to prevent them from flying into the helicopter blades, killing the eagle and crashing the helicopter in the process.The majority of the bald eagle's diet is fish and waterfowl, so when things freeze solid in the winter up north, the eagles migrate south to find open water where they can still fish. Even when our Kansas reservoirs freeze over, the rivers feeding each reservoir still offer open water. I know ice fishermen often leave a few carp or other rough fish on the ice for the eagles. The huge influx of waterfowl through Kansas each winter is also a big draw to eagles. From their vantage point 1,000 or more feet above the ground an eagle’s miraculous eyes can spot prey over a three-square mile area.I just happened upon this proclamation of American Eagle Day as I surfed through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks website. I’m very disappointed it was not publicized far and wide; if ever we could use a boost of patriotism, it’s now. Our media gives plenty of press to everything wrong in America; why not spend a little press on something like American Eagle Day that might just give us all something good to think about, if even for a day.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: American Eagle Day

By BRIANNE HEIDBREDER Insight Kansas

Kansas is a national leader in renewable energy. Over 40% of our electricity is generated by wind. This has created thousands of jobs, over $11 billion in capital investment, and tens of millions of dollars in revenue to Kansas communities. A new federal tax and spending measure in Congress, though, threatens to stifle this success.

The bill, supported by the Trump administration and referred to by some as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” proposes severe cuts to clean energy tax credits that have propelled Kansas to a leadership position in wind energy. Presented as a way to cut expenses and encourage conventional energies, the legislation risks undermining the very industry that has brought economic development and energy independence to our state.

The House bill includes unrealistic timelines. Developers would have just 60 days after enactment to start construction, and projects must be completed by the end of 2028 to qualify for tax credits. For large wind farms that take years to plan and finance, this is simply unworkable. These provisions would effectively exclude nearly all future solar and wind projects from federal assistance.

The bill also imposes strict supply chain rules. Beginning in 2026, projects using major components made in China or Russia would be ineligible for tax credits. While meant to reduce dependence on foreign adversaries, the rules ignore reality. Most critical materials are no longer made in the U.S., and substitute supply chains are note yet available. This could stall or stop Kansas wind projects entirely.

It also threatens Kansas' clean energy supply chain. Tax credits for wind factories would expire in 2028, endangering thousands of local jobs. The bill would also end leasing incentives for small-scale solar, making it harder for families and small businesses to access clean energy.

The Senate version tempers some of the House’s provisions but still poses major risks. It keeps restrictions on foreign materials but adds flexibility for publicly traded firms using Chinese-sourced materials. Notably, it allows projects to qualify for credits based on when construction begins, not when they finish. Still, it phases out wind and solar tax credits through 2028 while ramping up support for nuclear, hydropower, and geothermal.

Resistance to renewable energy is not purely ideological. Concerns about land use, aesthetics, and community effects draw skepticism across the partisan divide. In Kansas, where windmills sweep the prairie, opponents have raised objections about visual impact, noise, and land use.

But Kansas is not a left outlier on clean energy. Most clean energy jobs created since the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act have been in Republican districts. Kansas has benefitted from this boom. These are jobs that can’t be outsourced. They can energize our economy and communities.

This bill threatens to roll back that progress. Instead of locking in a clean, affordable, and jobs-rich energy future, it ties Kansas' renewable energy economy up in red tape and uncertainty.

Brianne Heidbreder, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kansas State University.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678375743023.jpeg" alt="Brianne Heidbreder is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kansas State University. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Brianne Heidbreder is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kansas State University. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRIANNE HEIDBREDER Insight KansasKansas is a national leader in renewable energy. Over 40% of our electricity is generated by wind. This has created thousands of jobs, over $11 billion in capital investment, and tens of millions of dollars in revenue to Kansas communities. A new federal tax and spending measure in Congress, though, threatens to stifle this success.The bill, supported by the Trump administration and referred to by some as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” proposes severe cuts to clean energy tax credits that have propelled Kansas to a leadership position in wind energy. Presented as a way to cut expenses and encourage conventional energies, the legislation risks undermining the very industry that has brought economic development and energy independence to our state.The House bill includes unrealistic timelines. Developers would have just 60 days after enactment to start construction, and projects must be completed by the end of 2028 to qualify for tax credits. For large wind farms that take years to plan and finance, this is simply unworkable. These provisions would effectively exclude nearly all future solar and wind projects from federal assistance.The bill also imposes strict supply chain rules. Beginning in 2026, projects using major components made in China or Russia would be ineligible for tax credits. While meant to reduce dependence on foreign adversaries, the rules ignore reality. Most critical materials are no longer made in the U.S., and substitute supply chains are note yet available. This could stall or stop Kansas wind projects entirely.It also threatens Kansas' clean energy supply chain. Tax credits for wind factories would expire in 2028, endangering thousands of local jobs. The bill would also end leasing incentives for small-scale solar, making it harder for families and small businesses to access clean energy.The Senate version tempers some of the House’s provisions but still poses major risks. It keeps restrictions on foreign materials but adds flexibility for publicly traded firms using Chinese-sourced materials. Notably, it allows projects to qualify for credits based on when construction begins, not when they finish. Still, it phases out wind and solar tax credits through 2028 while ramping up support for nuclear, hydropower, and geothermal.Resistance to renewable energy is not purely ideological. Concerns about land use, aesthetics, and community effects draw skepticism across the partisan divide. In Kansas, where windmills sweep the prairie, opponents have raised objections about visual impact, noise, and land use.But Kansas is not a left outlier on clean energy. Most clean energy jobs created since the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act have been in Republican districts. Kansas has benefitted from this boom. These are jobs that can’t be outsourced. They can energize our economy and communities.This bill threatens to roll back that progress. Instead of locking in a clean, affordable, and jobs-rich energy future, it ties Kansas' renewable energy economy up in red tape and uncertainty.Brianne Heidbreder, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kansas State University.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Insight Kansas: Kansas renewables growth faces uncertainty amid federal policy shift

By TISA MASON FHSU President

In 2014, a young woman from the heart of Topeka, Kansas, named Morgan Jibowu embarked on a remarkable journey that would lead her not only to academic excellence but also to making a profound difference in the world of public health. Her trajectory, beginning at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) and flourishing at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, is a testament to her resilience, passion, and unwavering dedication to improving health outcomes in underserved communities.

Morgan discovered Fort Hays State University through the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS), an enriching early college program that provided her with opportunities not readily available elsewhere. The warmth and support of the FHSU community, combined with generous scholarships, solidified her decision to remain at the institution after she completed high school and the KAMS program.

 “The incredible professors who made learning personal and inspiring were a significant part of my journey,” Morgan recalls. “FHSU allowed me to grow intellectually, personally, and professionally, and it felt like home.”

Her experiences at KAMS would lay a strong foundation, leading her to pursue research that not only developed her technical skills but also sparked a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. “The early science fairs and research projects ignited my curiosity, pushing me to ask hard questions and seek meaningful answers. I found immense joy in building new knowledge,” she expresses. Her passion for research during her time at FHSU built the groundwork for her current endeavors in epidemiology.

Now a postdoctoral associate, Morgan focuses on vector-borne (primarily insect-transmitted) and neglected tropical diseases, striving to enhance health outcomes for marginalized communities. “I am particularly driven by the importance of translating scientific research into tangible, real-world solutions,” she shares. Her determination to bridge gaps in healthcare reflects a deep commitment to policy reform, aiming to enhance access to quality care for those who need it most.

In May, Morgan returned to her roots at KAMS, where she delivered the commencement address for the Class of 2025. Her speech resonated with wisdom drawn from her experiences. “I emphasized the importance of expanding our definition of success,” she reflected. “Success isn’t just about accolades; it’s also about resilience, nurturing your well-being, and showing up for others.” Morgan’s perspective reminds us that while we strive for ambition, the journey is equally important, filled with moments of connection and personal growth.

She also imparted crucial lessons on embracing rejection as a pathway to growth: “If you’re never hearing ‘no,’ you’re probably not aiming high enough. Each rejection proves that you’re challenging yourself, and that's where real transformation occurs.” This mindset has propelled Morgan forward, inspiring her to tackle the immense challenges present in public health today.

As an epidemiologist, Morgan recognizes the vital connection between research and implementation. “One of the biggest challenges we face is ensuring that research findings translate into effective policy changes and intervention strategies,” she states. Her work encompasses sophisticated investigations, including studying mosquito populations in Harris County, Texas, and understanding the disruptions of environmental factors, such as climate change and urbanization, on disease outbreaks. Her findings are crucial in developing strategies that can prevent vector-borne diseases and promote public health.

Morgan's journey from her formative years in Topeka to her impactful career in public health serves as a beacon of hope for future generations. She encourages aspiring epidemiologists to remain focused on the core mission of enhancing health outcomes. “Ask yourself: How does my work improve public health, especially for underserved populations?” she advises.

There is so much to admire about Morgan. Her accomplishments are truly remarkable. Equally important are the values she embodies; values we hold dear as a university community — resilience, empathy, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. Her commitment to service and desire to create meaningful change exemplify what it means to lead a life of purpose. Morgan Jibowu does not just aim to build a career; she strives to construct a legacy that impacts the lives of others, nurturing the spirit of compassion within the field of public health.

With gratitude for the mentors, friends, and experiences that have shaped her path, Morgan looks forward to the next generation of Tigers at FHSU and KAMS. She is a living testament to the profound impact that a supportive community can have on an individual's journey, and her story is an inspiration to all who dare to dream.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Tisa Mason, Fort Hays State University president. Photo by FHSU" />
 <figcaption>Tisa Mason, Fort Hays State University president. Photo by FHSU</figcaption>
 </figure>By TISA MASON FHSU PresidentIn 2014, a young woman from the heart of Topeka, Kansas, named Morgan Jibowu embarked on a remarkable journey that would lead her not only to academic excellence but also to making a profound difference in the world of public health. Her trajectory, beginning at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) and flourishing at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, is a testament to her resilience, passion, and unwavering dedication to improving health outcomes in underserved communities.Morgan discovered Fort Hays State University through the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS), an enriching early college program that provided her with opportunities not readily available elsewhere. The warmth and support of the FHSU community, combined with generous scholarships, solidified her decision to remain at the institution after she completed high school and the KAMS program. “The incredible professors who made learning personal and inspiring were a significant part of my journey,” Morgan recalls. “FHSU allowed me to grow intellectually, personally, and professionally, and it felt like home.”Her experiences at KAMS would lay a strong foundation, leading her to pursue research that not only developed her technical skills but also sparked a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. “The early science fairs and research projects ignited my curiosity, pushing me to ask hard questions and seek meaningful answers. I found immense joy in building new knowledge,” she expresses. Her passion for research during her time at FHSU built the groundwork for her current endeavors in epidemiology.Now a postdoctoral associate, Morgan focuses on vector-borne (primarily insect-transmitted) and neglected tropical diseases, striving to enhance health outcomes for marginalized communities. “I am particularly driven by the importance of translating scientific research into tangible, real-world solutions,” she shares. Her determination to bridge gaps in healthcare reflects a deep commitment to policy reform, aiming to enhance access to quality care for those who need it most.In May, Morgan returned to her roots at KAMS, where she delivered the commencement address for the Class of 2025. Her speech resonated with wisdom drawn from her experiences. “I emphasized the importance of expanding our definition of success,” she reflected. “Success isn’t just about accolades; it’s also about resilience, nurturing your well-being, and showing up for others.” Morgan’s perspective reminds us that while we strive for ambition, the journey is equally important, filled with moments of connection and personal growth.She also imparted crucial lessons on embracing rejection as a pathway to growth: “If you’re never hearing ‘no,’ you’re probably not aiming high enough. Each rejection proves that you’re challenging yourself, and that's where real transformation occurs.” This mindset has propelled Morgan forward, inspiring her to tackle the immense challenges present in public health today.As an epidemiologist, Morgan recognizes the vital connection between research and implementation. “One of the biggest challenges we face is ensuring that research findings translate into effective policy changes and intervention strategies,” she states. Her work encompasses sophisticated investigations, including studying mosquito populations in Harris County, Texas, and understanding the disruptions of environmental factors, such as climate change and urbanization, on disease outbreaks. Her findings are crucial in developing strategies that can prevent vector-borne diseases and promote public health.Morgan's journey from her formative years in Topeka to her impactful career in public health serves as a beacon of hope for future generations. She encourages aspiring epidemiologists to remain focused on the core mission of enhancing health outcomes. “Ask yourself: How does my work improve public health, especially for underserved populations?” she advises.There is so much to admire about Morgan. Her accomplishments are truly remarkable. Equally important are the values she embodies; values we hold dear as a university community — resilience, empathy, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. Her commitment to service and desire to create meaningful change exemplify what it means to lead a life of purpose. Morgan Jibowu does not just aim to build a career; she strives to construct a legacy that impacts the lives of others, nurturing the spirit of compassion within the field of public health.With gratitude for the mentors, friends, and experiences that have shaped her path, Morgan looks forward to the next generation of Tigers at FHSU and KAMS. She is a living testament to the profound impact that a supportive community can have on an individual's journey, and her story is an inspiration to all who dare to dream.

Heart of a Tiger: A beacon of hope in public health

This next trip offers the chance to see central Kansas from a different perspective. While most is flat land perfect for farming, this remnant of an ancient sea rises above the prairie, offering a rare perspective to natives, Santa Fe Trail travelers, settlers, and modern visitors.

On a recent exploration of said Santa Fe Trail, I visited Pawnee Rock and wondered why I put that journey off for so long. 

This wet, early June—not too hot nor too cold--was perfect for travel through this country. Ash Creek, the Pawnee and Arkansas Rivers, as well as waving grain fields surround the rise, contributing treelined breaks that interrupt a flat horizon line that combines with the stark beauty of this vertical limestone mound rising in the midst of surrounding plains.

As our group traveled down Highway 156 toward this approximate mid-point of the Santa Fe Trail, I mulled its long history and importance to indigenous people and more recent trekkers on this ancient route. According to one resource, Santa Fe trail travelers could view not only area game and water resources, but also Forts Zarah and Larned in the distance. Standing atop the monument, I could see that would have been possible.

Native tribes climbed the heights to survey the landscape and observe game and other tribes traveling through the region. Anyone atop this highpoint had a vantage point that extended for miles, making it difficult for anyone to sneak up. What a bonus when planning a bison or other wild game hunt or an attack on invaders.

According to sources, this site offered an obvious meeting point. It also added danger to Santa Fe merchant trains that camped nearby. Several area tribes attacked those campsites. One treasure hunting source shared that trail travelers frequently cached valuables when they arrived in the area, suggesting that those who didn’t survive such attacks left buried treasure behind. It makes an interesting, unsubstantiated story.

Who knows the truth about treasure, but this was a place where some travelers ended their journeys. One of them, Nehemiah Carson—a private who fought in the Mexican War with the Missouri Infantry—died at the site and was buried in 1846. A stark white military marker identifies his last resting place for site visitors. His last resting place adds poignancy to a visit.

By the time railroads replaced the Santa Fe Trail, construction crews collected rock from the heights to create bed for tracks they laid. Incoming settlers continued harvesting hard to come by stone to build foundations for homes, barns, and businesses, considerably lowering the peak of Pawnee Rock over time. 

To allow visitors to see the region from its original height, park managers constructed a metal tower complete with spiral staircase to permit visitors to access the platform for a 360-degree view of the surrounding region that equaled the original view seen by natives and early pioneers. The winding climb that offers a view for miles around is worth the effort. Those who reach this point see surrounding waterways, farm fields, regional grain elevators, and highways that have replaced dirt trails. The only things missing were bison herds and natives riding ponies.

Put this one on your agenda. It will transport you back in time while letting you see the present from a new perspective.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750177532466.jpeg" alt="Pawnee Rock view looking toward Ft. Zarah. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Pawnee Rock view looking toward Ft. Zarah. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORIN This next trip offers the chance to see central Kansas from a different perspective. While most is flat land perfect for farming, this remnant of an ancient sea rises above the prairie, offering a rare perspective to natives, Santa Fe Trail travelers, settlers, and modern visitors.On a recent exploration of said Santa Fe Trail, I visited Pawnee Rock and wondered why I put that journey off for so long. This wet, early June—not too hot nor too cold--was perfect for travel through this country. Ash Creek, the Pawnee and Arkansas Rivers, as well as waving grain fields surround the rise, contributing treelined breaks that interrupt a flat horizon line that combines with the stark beauty of this vertical limestone mound rising in the midst of surrounding plains.As our group traveled down Highway 156 toward this approximate mid-point of the Santa Fe Trail, I mulled its long history and importance to indigenous people and more recent trekkers on this ancient route. According to one resource, Santa Fe trail travelers could view not only area game and water resources, but also Forts Zarah and Larned in the distance. Standing atop the monument, I could see that would have been possible.Native tribes climbed the heights to survey the landscape and observe game and other tribes traveling through the region. Anyone atop this highpoint had a vantage point that extended for miles, making it difficult for anyone to sneak up. What a bonus when planning a bison or other wild game hunt or an attack on invaders.According to sources, this site offered an obvious meeting point. It also added danger to Santa Fe merchant trains that camped nearby. Several area tribes attacked those campsites. One treasure hunting source shared that trail travelers frequently cached valuables when they arrived in the area, suggesting that those who didn’t survive such attacks left buried treasure behind. It makes an interesting, unsubstantiated story.Who knows the truth about treasure, but this was a place where some travelers ended their journeys. One of them, Nehemiah Carson—a private who fought in the Mexican War with the Missouri Infantry—died at the site and was buried in 1846. A stark white military marker identifies his last resting place for site visitors. His last resting place adds poignancy to a visit.By the time railroads replaced the Santa Fe Trail, construction crews collected rock from the heights to create bed for tracks they laid. Incoming settlers continued harvesting hard to come by stone to build foundations for homes, barns, and businesses, considerably lowering the peak of Pawnee Rock over time. To allow visitors to see the region from its original height, park managers constructed a metal tower complete with spiral staircase to permit visitors to access the platform for a 360-degree view of the surrounding region that equaled the original view seen by natives and early pioneers. The winding climb that offers a view for miles around is worth the effort. Those who reach this point see surrounding waterways, farm fields, regional grain elevators, and highways that have replaced dirt trails. The only things missing were bison herds and natives riding ponies.Put this one on your agenda. It will transport you back in time while letting you see the present from a new perspective.

MADORIN: Day Trippin' 3: Looking over prairie, rivers, creek, rails

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Karissa Frasier about her new position as Community Health Worker with the K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District in Ellis County.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Meet the new Community Health Worker for the Cottonwood Extension District" 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=c24cx-18d3283-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, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Karissa Frasier about her new position as Community Health Worker with the K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District in Ellis County.

🎙 Post Podcast: Meet new Community Health Worker for Cottonwood Extension District

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

There is nothing like the taste of fresh vegetables that come straight to the table from the garden, and often when there is a produce surplus folks turn to processing options such as freezing or canning to make it last throughout the year.

In anticipation of that summer season, I would like to offer tips on how to have a successful canning experience. Preparing now can help prevent problems in the middle of canning later on this summer.

First, make sure everything is working properly. 

Canning jars and rings should be free from cracks and no rust on the rings. Hand washing the lids and rings is recommended to keep them from rusting prematurely. Lids, however, cannot be used more than once. Now is a good time to go buy them. 

Next, make sure your canner is in good working order. Dial gauge canners need their valves and gauge checked. Your local extension office can test the gauge for Presto, National, Maid of Honor and Magic Seal canners. Check the seal between the pot and lid, looking for cracks or dried rubber. If the seal isn’t good then the canner will not get to the proper pressure. The rubber plug can also wear out and sometimes need replaced.

As far as preparing the food, it is recommended to remove the peels to prevent unintended bacteria growth.

After the jars have been processed, they should be placed on a towel on the counter in an isolated place, with no drafts and allowed to cool down naturally.

Finally, write the date the food was canned on the lid before putting them in storage. It is recommended that jars be used within one year and rotate them out for next year’s supply.

And just a reminder about canning recipes. 

Information about food comes at us from many directions. We might scroll through Facebook, Pinterest or another social media platform and be attracted by a new recipe. Most of the time, recipes for main courses or desserts will not pose food safety risks. Maybe a friend told you about a new canning method. Food preservation recipes that have not been tested for safety could be harmful, or even deadly if the canned food contains the toxin that causes botulism. 

These are some questions to ask yourself:

• Who is the author of the research or publication?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and universities have conducted reputable food preservation research.

• Is the food preservation information based on current scientific research or opinion?

Outdated canning recipes should be retired. An exception: if ingredient amounts and processing times are exactly the same as current food preservation recipes, they could be used.

• Where did you find the information?

Examine the URL on the website. Does it end with “.edu” (indicating a university or other educational organization) or “.gov” (indicating a government site)? Universities and government sources are credible sources of food preservation information.

Please make sure your canning recipes are from credible sources before trying them. While home canning can be a safe and convenient way to store food, it must be done safely.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749557725355.png" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictThere is nothing like the taste of fresh vegetables that come straight to the table from the garden, and often when there is a produce surplus folks turn to processing options such as freezing or canning to make it last throughout the year.In anticipation of that summer season, I would like to offer tips on how to have a successful canning experience. Preparing now can help prevent problems in the middle of canning later on this summer.First, make sure everything is working properly. Canning jars and rings should be free from cracks and no rust on the rings. Hand washing the lids and rings is recommended to keep them from rusting prematurely. Lids, however, cannot be used more than once. Now is a good time to go buy them. Next, make sure your canner is in good working order. Dial gauge canners need their valves and gauge checked. Your local extension office can test the gauge for Presto, National, Maid of Honor and Magic Seal canners. Check the seal between the pot and lid, looking for cracks or dried rubber. If the seal isn’t good then the canner will not get to the proper pressure. The rubber plug can also wear out and sometimes need replaced.As far as preparing the food, it is recommended to remove the peels to prevent unintended bacteria growth.After the jars have been processed, they should be placed on a towel on the counter in an isolated place, with no drafts and allowed to cool down naturally.Finally, write the date the food was canned on the lid before putting them in storage. It is recommended that jars be used within one year and rotate them out for next year’s supply.And just a reminder about canning recipes. Information about food comes at us from many directions. We might scroll through Facebook, Pinterest or another social media platform and be attracted by a new recipe. Most of the time, recipes for main courses or desserts will not pose food safety risks. Maybe a friend told you about a new canning method. Food preservation recipes that have not been tested for safety could be harmful, or even deadly if the canned food contains the toxin that causes botulism. These are some questions to ask yourself:• Who is the author of the research or publication? The U.S. Department of Agriculture and universities have conducted reputable food preservation research.• Is the food preservation information based on current scientific research or opinion? Outdated canning recipes should be retired. An exception: if ingredient amounts and processing times are exactly the same as current food preservation recipes, they could be used.• Where did you find the information? Examine the URL on the website. Does it end with “.edu” (indicating a university or other educational organization) or “.gov” (indicating a government site)? Universities and government sources are credible sources of food preservation information.Please make sure your canning recipes are from credible sources before trying them. While home canning can be a safe and convenient way to store food, it must be done safely.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: Tips for safe food canning

One of the buzzwords of the 2000’s is “hack.” Now hack can mean something very bad, like your computer getting “hacked,” meaning someone has digitally broken into your information and now everyone in the township somehow knows the secret recipe for Aunt Agnes’s famous potato salad and Uncle Oscar’s deer jerky marinade, (even though they were both written on the inside of the kitchen cabinet door.) “Hack” can also mean a DIY shortcut of some sort, like how to use a roman candle to light the neighbor’s wheat stubble on fire without even leaving your yard. But I digress, so now on to some hunter hacks I found, and some hunter hacks of my own.

More has probably been written about different ways to start a campfire than about any other outdoor subject. First off, no one in the crowd I hang with is gonna’ have need of a campfire except for rare camping trips with the family, then we’ll start our fires with those neat gizmos called matches and lighters. We all have Little Buddy propane heaters in our deer blinds, and none of us have the ambition to climb Mount Everest or do anything where emergency campfires might be needed. Never-the-less, I found hacks about using corn chips and crayons as fire starters. Sure, they work fine, but what self respecting hunter is going to waste good corn chips to start a fire. Eat the chips and light the empty bag, it works just as well. And as far as lighting crayons to start a campfire, once again it works great and they burn for a long time, but no hunter worth their jerky would dream of wasting a perfectly good crayon just to start a fire. They should be kept for things of greater importance like scribbling messages and phone numbers on the wall of your deer blind or for labeling packages of meat in the freezer so you can tell this year’s venison back strap from the muskrat meat kept for next year’s coyote bait.

 Another interesting campfire starting hack I found involves dryer lint; it seems dryer lint burns very well and starts very easily. It can be stuffed into empty toilet paper tubes or merely carried in a Ziploc bag and used right from there. Now we’re talkin’, something we all can relate to. I mean who doesn’t save all their dryer lint and empty toilet paper tubes? Instead of emptying them into the recycle container and trash every couple years, make fire starters from them! But in all my trolling of the almighty internet I did not find one reference to the most trustworthy tried-and-true method of starting a campfire ever, even used by our Native American forefathers. From anywhere in Kansas, you would have to travel forever to deer hunt where there are no cattle nearby, SO LIGHT A DRY COW TURD.

The next most talked about topic in the outdoors, especially relating to survival, is how to build a shelter. Let me offer a hillbilly hack for building a shelter. All hillbilly outdoorsmen worth their pork rinds will have a serious collection of tarps, and what a better use for a tarp than an emergency shelter. Harbor Freight has them in all sizes and you can occasionally get a small one “free with any purchase,” so there’s absolutely no excuse for not having one to carry with you on all outdoor excursions. A word of caution here; it’s not in your best interest to remove the tarp covering the hole in your trailer house roof. Anyway, there are a variety of ways to deploy your tarp/shelter. If you’re fishing, I’m sure you’ll have dynamite with you, so merely drop a stick into a small hole you dig in the ground, light her up and you’ll soon have a nice cave that you can crawl into and cover with your tarp.

No friend of mine would be caught dead on a hunting or fishing trip without a menagerie of plastic five-gallon buckets, and the uses for them as hillbilly hunter hacks are endless. You can buy kits to turn one into a “luggable loo,” and even cut a notch lengthways in a pool noodle and snap it around the top for a soft seat while you heed nature’s call. Spray paint a few more green, drill a small hole at the bottom and put them at the base of each “illegal pharmaceutical” plant you “just happened to find growing” along the river as a way to water those beauties. Five-gallon buckets make great hillbilly mouse traps too, for the deer blind or even the living room. On each side of the bucket near the top, drill a hole big enough for a broom handle to slide through and fit loosely enough to spin. Fill the bucket with water or used motor oil (which I’m sure you will have by the barrel-full,) put a glob of peanut butter in the middle of the broom handle and viola; when a mouse walks the broom handle to get the peanut butter, it will spin and dump the little blighter into the slurry below. If you keep the TV volume low enough you can hear the splash each time and reward the cat with a live mouse.

I’m certain the list of hillbilly hacks, whether for hunting or not is endless, and I’ve probably just scratched the surface here. Maybe another book is in order, “Hillbilly Hunter Hacks for the Deer Blind, Boat and Living Room.” For all my loyal readers who want one, let me know and I’ll reserve you a signed copy. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="&nbsp; Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>One of the buzzwords of the 2000’s is “hack.” Now hack can mean something very bad, like your computer getting “hacked,” meaning someone has digitally broken into your information and now everyone in the township somehow knows the secret recipe for Aunt Agnes’s famous potato salad and Uncle Oscar’s deer jerky marinade, (even though they were both written on the inside of the kitchen cabinet door.) “Hack” can also mean a DIY shortcut of some sort, like how to use a roman candle to light the neighbor’s wheat stubble on fire without even leaving your yard. But I digress, so now on to some hunter hacks I found, and some hunter hacks of my own.More has probably been written about different ways to start a campfire than about any other outdoor subject. First off, no one in the crowd I hang with is gonna’ have need of a campfire except for rare camping trips with the family, then we’ll start our fires with those neat gizmos called matches and lighters. We all have Little Buddy propane heaters in our deer blinds, and none of us have the ambition to climb Mount Everest or do anything where emergency campfires might be needed. Never-the-less, I found hacks about using corn chips and crayons as fire starters. Sure, they work fine, but what self respecting hunter is going to waste good corn chips to start a fire. Eat the chips and light the empty bag, it works just as well. And as far as lighting crayons to start a campfire, once again it works great and they burn for a long time, but no hunter worth their jerky would dream of wasting a perfectly good crayon just to start a fire. They should be kept for things of greater importance like scribbling messages and phone numbers on the wall of your deer blind or for labeling packages of meat in the freezer so you can tell this year’s venison back strap from the muskrat meat kept for next year’s coyote bait. Another interesting campfire starting hack I found involves dryer lint; it seems dryer lint burns very well and starts very easily. It can be stuffed into empty toilet paper tubes or merely carried in a Ziploc bag and used right from there. Now we’re talkin’, something we all can relate to. I mean who doesn’t save all their dryer lint and empty toilet paper tubes? Instead of emptying them into the recycle container and trash every couple years, make fire starters from them! But in all my trolling of the almighty internet I did not find one reference to the most trustworthy tried-and-true method of starting a campfire ever, even used by our Native American forefathers. From anywhere in Kansas, you would have to travel forever to deer hunt where there are no cattle nearby, SO LIGHT A DRY COW TURD.The next most talked about topic in the outdoors, especially relating to survival, is how to build a shelter. Let me offer a hillbilly hack for building a shelter. All hillbilly outdoorsmen worth their pork rinds will have a serious collection of tarps, and what a better use for a tarp than an emergency shelter. Harbor Freight has them in all sizes and you can occasionally get a small one “free with any purchase,” so there’s absolutely no excuse for not having one to carry with you on all outdoor excursions. A word of caution here; it’s not in your best interest to remove the tarp covering the hole in your trailer house roof. Anyway, there are a variety of ways to deploy your tarp/shelter. If you’re fishing, I’m sure you’ll have dynamite with you, so merely drop a stick into a small hole you dig in the ground, light her up and you’ll soon have a nice cave that you can crawl into and cover with your tarp.No friend of mine would be caught dead on a hunting or fishing trip without a menagerie of plastic five-gallon buckets, and the uses for them as hillbilly hunter hacks are endless. You can buy kits to turn one into a “luggable loo,” and even cut a notch lengthways in a pool noodle and snap it around the top for a soft seat while you heed nature’s call. Spray paint a few more green, drill a small hole at the bottom and put them at the base of each “illegal pharmaceutical” plant you “just happened to find growing” along the river as a way to water those beauties. Five-gallon buckets make great hillbilly mouse traps too, for the deer blind or even the living room. On each side of the bucket near the top, drill a hole big enough for a broom handle to slide through and fit loosely enough to spin. Fill the bucket with water or used motor oil (which I’m sure you will have by the barrel-full,) put a glob of peanut butter in the middle of the broom handle and viola; when a mouse walks the broom handle to get the peanut butter, it will spin and dump the little blighter into the slurry below. If you keep the TV volume low enough you can hear the splash each time and reward the cat with a live mouse.I’m certain the list of hillbilly hacks, whether for hunting or not is endless, and I’ve probably just scratched the surface here. Maybe another book is in order, “Hillbilly Hunter Hacks for the Deer Blind, Boat and Living Room.” For all my loyal readers who want one, let me know and I’ll reserve you a signed copy. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoor Kansas: Hillbilly hunter hacks

By MARK R. JOSLYN Insight Kansas

On April 4th, Governor Kelly vetoed a bill that asked the federal government to ban the use of SNAP, commonly called food stamps, for purchases of candy and pop. The bill instructed the Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to eliminate the items.

 Curiously, Kelly’s veto message echoed the concerns of the beverage and candy industries. “This bill is wrong,” Kelly wrote. “Not only would it make it more difficult for Kansans to access the food they need to feed their families, it would also harm Kansas businesses.” Stranger, Kelly had already requested the waiver asking the federal government to exclude candy and pop – two days prior to her veto.

The request highlighted Kansas’s 12th – place ranking in obesity prevalence with roughly a third of Kansas adults considered obese, and cited studies that suggest “prohibiting the purchase of sugar-sweetened soda beverages and candy with SNAP benefits would reduce the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes.” It seems the request was submitted by mistake, though the reasons remain unclear.

The Senate then overturned Kelly’s veto, but the House did not act. So, Kelly’s veto prevailed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695215697316.png" alt="Mark R. Joslyn is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Mark R. Joslyn is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK R. JOSLYN Insight KansasOn April 4th, Governor Kelly vetoed a bill that asked the federal government to ban the use of SNAP, commonly called food stamps, for purchases of candy and pop. The bill instructed the Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to eliminate the items. Curiously, Kelly’s veto message echoed the concerns of the beverage and candy industries. “This bill is wrong,” Kelly wrote. “Not only would it make it more difficult for Kansans to access the food they need to feed their families, it would also harm Kansas businesses.” Stranger, Kelly had already requested the waiver asking the federal government to exclude candy and pop – two days prior to her veto.The request highlighted Kansas’s 12th – place ranking in obesity prevalence with roughly a third of Kansas adults considered obese, and cited studies that suggest “prohibiting the purchase of sugar-sweetened soda beverages and candy with SNAP benefits would reduce the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes.” It seems the request was submitted by mistake, though the reasons remain unclear.If you think this is confusing, read on.The Senate then overturned Kelly’s veto, but the House did not act. So, Kelly’s veto prevailed.However, Republicans, not willing to concede, devised a workaround, attaching the SNAP language to a budget proviso that required DCF to request the waiver. If DCF failed to act, funding for SUN Bucks, the program that provides school meals for low-income children, would be withheld. DCF promptly submitted the request and SUN Bucks funds were released.In a rational world, Kelly backs the bill. Kansas’s troubling health outcomes should not be ignored. The science linking sugary drinks to adverse health effects is well-documented.Democrats are in fact leaders on nutrition policy. It was New York city’s left-leaning board of health that enacted the nation’s strictest ban on trans-fat in 2006. Democrat Mayor Bloomberg then proposed a soda ban and Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign targeted childhood obesity. And now, California Democrats are nearing passage of a bill that would be the first in the nation to ban ultra-processed food in school lunches.Democrats have also been willing to cut SNAP. In 1996, Bill Clinton signed the 1996 Welfare Reform Act that limited eligibility for food stamps, imposed significant time restrictions, and slashed overall benefits.Improving SNAP recipient’s nutrition offered Kelly a chance for bipartisan agreement, allowing both sides to champion public health without sacrificing core values.It was a layup.Instead, Kelly inexplicably submits the waiver request only to veto it, siding with Kansas’s sizeable junk food industry. She then appeared unprepared for the Republican maneuver that rendered her veto useless.This head-scratching sequence illustrates reactive partisanship – the tendency to oppose anything the other side supports.Republicans are on the front foot, reshaping government programs and driving policy changes. Donald Trump is pushing through his “big, beautiful bill” while Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy calls for decisive action to “Make American Healthy Again.”Democrats, playing defense, resist reforms they would otherwise support.Tribal politics does that.Ultimately, Republicans got what they wanted, and Democrats got nothing. Kelly – fair or not – comes across as champion for Coca-Cola and Mars bars.Dr. Mark R. Joslyn is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

Opinion