As most of you are aware, over the past few years, most small towns around this part of Kansas have become summer homes to magnificent raptors called Mississippi Kites. They arrive in late April to nest and raise young, then in late October they head to South America for the winter. 

They are marvelous aerialists, and are mesmerizing to watch as they effortlessly glide and navigate the Kansas winds. They feed mostly on insects, and find a real bonanza here when cicadas first appear. Their call is a high-pitched whistle that is very disguisable and common now during mid to late summer.

On Saturday morning two weeks ago, there seemed to be more “kite whistling” going on than usual, and as I walked around the front of our house in preparation for mowing the lawn, I saw why - a very immature Mississippi Kite chick was standing in the lawn along the house. Evidently having tumbled from a hidden nest we were not aware of, the youngster stood there whistling desperately for its parents. I managed to pick it up without getting pecked or clawed and deposited the youngster in the flower bed out-of-the way. A later check found a half-eaten cicada at its feet, telling us its parents were aware of its plight. Later in the day, as the sun became scorching, we moved it again to a corner in front of the house where the sun never directly shines. A small stack of large clay flower pots was laid on their side and turned around and pushed towards the corner, pretty much hiding the little guy from marauding neighborhood cats and a red fox that hunts our end of town, and giving it a place to crawl into at night and out of the weather, which it made good use of. 

Having no idea of its gender, we named it “Kyle the Kite.” 

We spoke to the wildlife rehab people at the Hutchinson Zoo, who told us we were handling the situation correctly by not intervening and by allowing the parents to care for it. They also assured us the chick would indeed be able to fledge from there and fly from the ground, but also warned us that kites are notoriously slow learners and it could take two weeks or more for the chick to figure things out.

A big picture window in the front of our home faces west, overlooking two big oak trees in the front lawn. Kyle’s temporary “digs” were just around the corner out-of-sight, but we could see its parents constantly coming and going all day, every day, continuously bring snacks. We put a trail camera on one tree and got some&nbsp;nice pictures of an adult bringing food, and of Kyle strutting and exercising its wings. Joyce checked on Kyle most evenings at dusk, always finding it snoozing in its flower pot shelter.

Fast forward to last Thursday morning. Joyce left early to swim at the YMCA, and when I checked on Kyle a little later, it was nowhere to be found. When Joyce got home, she told me Kyle was standing at the edge of the flower garden when she left, looking all proud and grownup, with lots of new feathers and all, and she just had the feeling today was the day Kyle would take to the air and we would never see it again. Later that day, we observed a mature kite coming and going from one tree in the front yard, and sure enough, there sat Kyle peering down from the branches above, now being cared for where he belonged.

We recently lost a good church friend to cancer; Kyle was his name also. Kyle spent his entire life in a wheelchair, in a body with numerous problems, but when our Savior Jesus took him home, just like Kyle the Kite, he flew away in a new body that finally worked. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>As most of you are aware, over the past few years, most small towns around this part of Kansas have become summer homes to magnificent raptors called Mississippi Kites. They arrive in late April to nest and raise young, then in late October they head to South America for the winter. They are marvelous aerialists, and are mesmerizing to watch as they effortlessly glide and navigate the Kansas winds. They feed mostly on insects, and find a real bonanza here when cicadas first appear. Their call is a high-pitched whistle that is very disguisable and common now during mid to late summer.On Saturday morning two weeks ago, there seemed to be more “kite whistling” going on than usual, and as I walked around the front of our house in preparation for mowing the lawn, I saw why - a very immature Mississippi Kite chick was standing in the lawn along the house. Evidently having tumbled from a hidden nest we were not aware of, the youngster stood there whistling desperately for its parents. I managed to pick it up without getting pecked or clawed and deposited the youngster in the flower bed out-of-the way. A later check found a half-eaten cicada at its feet, telling us its parents were aware of its plight. Later in the day, as the sun became scorching, we moved it again to a corner in front of the house where the sun never directly shines. A small stack of large clay flower pots was laid on their side and turned around and pushed towards the corner, pretty much hiding the little guy from marauding neighborhood cats and a red fox that hunts our end of town, and giving it a place to crawl into at night and out of the weather, which it made good use of. Having no idea of its gender, we named it “Kyle the Kite.” We spoke to the wildlife rehab people at the Hutchinson Zoo, who told us we were handling the situation correctly by not intervening and by allowing the parents to care for it. They also assured us the chick would indeed be able to fledge from there and fly from the ground, but also warned us that kites are notoriously slow learners and it could take two weeks or more for the chick to figure things out.A big picture window in the front of our home faces west, overlooking two big oak trees in the front lawn. Kyle’s temporary “digs” were just around the corner out-of-sight, but we could see its parents constantly coming and going all day, every day, continuously bring snacks. We put a trail camera on one tree and got some&nbsp;nice pictures of an adult bringing food, and of Kyle strutting and exercising its wings. Joyce checked on Kyle most evenings at dusk, always finding it snoozing in its flower pot shelter.Fast forward to last Thursday morning. Joyce left early to swim at the YMCA, and when I checked on Kyle a little later, it was nowhere to be found. When Joyce got home, she told me Kyle was standing at the edge of the flower garden when she left, looking all proud and grownup, with lots of new feathers and all, and she just had the feeling today was the day Kyle would take to the air and we would never see it again. Later that day, we observed a mature kite coming and going from one tree in the front yard, and sure enough, there sat Kyle peering down from the branches above, now being cared for where he belonged.We recently lost a good church friend to cancer; Kyle was his name also. Kyle spent his entire life in a wheelchair, in a body with numerous problems, but when our Savior Jesus took him home, just like Kyle the Kite, he flew away in a new body that finally worked. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Kyle the Kite

Pre-emergence herbicides with residual activity are an important component of high-yielding cropping systems. They are used less frequently in wheat production compared to other cropping systems in Kansas, but residual herbicides applied prior to wheat emergence can be part of a good weed management system in wheat production.

Most residual herbicides labeled for pre-emergence application in wheat are Group 2 (ALS-inhibiting) herbicides, which are associated with herbicide-resistant populations of kochia, marestail (horseweed), bushy wallflower, flixweed, henbit, and brome species in Kansas. Products in Groups 14 (the PPO-inhibiting herbicides) and 15 (the long-chain fatty acid-inhibiting herbicides) are also labeled; however, they are generally more dependent on rainfall for activation than the Group 2 herbicides.

Herbicides without residual activity may be applied with or without residual herbicides in the weeks prior to planting wheat. Older products include the Group 2 herbicides Amber, Olympus, and Pre-Pare, as well as Group 4 (plant growth regulating) herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, or fluroxypyr. It is especially important to know planting interval restrictions for Group 4 herbicides, which range from 10 to 45 days.

When selecting pre-emergence herbicides for use in wheat production, keep in mind that many of these products are also labeled for use in emerged wheat. Unless using a planned split application, avoid repeated use of products from the same herbicide group to slow the development of herbicide-resistant weed populations in your fields.

To see a handy table that list the selected herbicides for pre-emergence or pre-plant applications in winter wheat. Which shows the herbicide group, application timing and comments/tips on application, go to our web site&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/" target="_blank">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under hot topics.

Field bindweed can be difficult to control

Field bindweed is a particularly troublesome weed to control. 

In a 12-year experiment conducted at the Agricultural Research Center - Hays, field bindweed reduced wheat yield by 2 to 50%. Management of this weed during wheat establishment is important because field bindweed continues to grow until temperatures drop below 20°F.

The herbicides most commonly recommended for field bindweed control include various formulations of 2,4-D, dicamba, and glyphosate. Dicamba tends to provide greater control for fall applications compared to 2,4-D or glyphosate, especially if plants are drought-stressed. 

Another commonly used product is Facet (quinclorac). It is most effective when applied just before the first killing frost. Other herbicides that are labeled for fall application to control or suppress field bindweed in wheat include Affinity, Aim, and Cimarron.

A single herbicide application will not achieve satisfactory control of field bindweed. It will take multiple years of herbicide applications to deplete the energy stored in the root system and control an established infestation.

For additional information, see the “<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/Item.aspx?catId=236&amp;pubId=19360">2023 Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, and Noncropland</a>” guide available online, or check with your local K-State Research and Extension office for a paper copy.

The use of trade names is for clarity to readers and does not imply endorsement of a particular product, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. 

Always consult the herbicide label for the most current use requirements.

Stacy Campbell is a crop production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell is a crop production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell is a crop production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Pre-emergence herbicides with residual activity are an important component of high-yielding cropping systems. They are used less frequently in wheat production compared to other cropping systems in Kansas, but residual herbicides applied prior to wheat emergence can be part of a good weed management system in wheat production.Most residual herbicides labeled for pre-emergence application in wheat are Group 2 (ALS-inhibiting) herbicides, which are associated with herbicide-resistant populations of kochia, marestail (horseweed), bushy wallflower, flixweed, henbit, and brome species in Kansas. Products in Groups 14 (the PPO-inhibiting herbicides) and 15 (the long-chain fatty acid-inhibiting herbicides) are also labeled; however, they are generally more dependent on rainfall for activation than the Group 2 herbicides.Herbicides without residual activity may be applied with or without residual herbicides in the weeks prior to planting wheat. Older products include the Group 2 herbicides Amber, Olympus, and Pre-Pare, as well as Group 4 (plant growth regulating) herbicides like 2,4-D, dicamba, or fluroxypyr. It is especially important to know planting interval restrictions for Group 4 herbicides, which range from 10 to 45 days.When selecting pre-emergence herbicides for use in wheat production, keep in mind that many of these products are also labeled for use in emerged wheat. Unless using a planned split application, avoid repeated use of products from the same herbicide group to slow the development of herbicide-resistant weed populations in your fields.To see a handy table that list the selected herbicides for pre-emergence or pre-plant applications in winter wheat. Which shows the herbicide group, application timing and comments/tips on application, go to our web site&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/" target="_blank">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under hot topics.Field bindweed can be difficult to controlField bindweed is a particularly troublesome weed to control. In a 12-year experiment conducted at the Agricultural Research Center - Hays, field bindweed reduced wheat yield by 2 to 50%. Management of this weed during wheat establishment is important because field bindweed continues to grow until temperatures drop below 20°F.The herbicides most commonly recommended for field bindweed control include various formulations of 2,4-D, dicamba, and glyphosate. Dicamba tends to provide greater control for fall applications compared to 2,4-D or glyphosate, especially if plants are drought-stressed. Another commonly used product is Facet (quinclorac). It is most effective when applied just before the first killing frost. Other herbicides that are labeled for fall application to control or suppress field bindweed in wheat include Affinity, Aim, and Cimarron.A single herbicide application will not achieve satisfactory control of field bindweed. It will take multiple years of herbicide applications to deplete the energy stored in the root system and control an established infestation.For additional information, see the “<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/Item.aspx?catId=236&amp;pubId=19360">2023 Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, and Noncropland</a>” guide available online, or check with your local K-State Research and Extension office for a paper copy.The use of trade names is for clarity to readers and does not imply endorsement of a particular product, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. Always consult the herbicide label for the most current use requirements.Stacy Campbell is a crop production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;

CAMPBELL: Pre-emergence herbicides in wheat

The body and mind are connected in ways we don’t even realize. Neural transmitters and hormones are just a couple of examples of how the brain and body communicate with each other. 

What we do with our physical bodies such as exercise impacts our mental state. On the other hand, our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes can affect our biological functioning! It is amazing how the mind and body work together, and the connection between physical and mental health is intertwined closer than we realize.

We all know that a sedentary lifestyle is bad for physical health, but mental health also suffers when we don’t get as much movement as needed. In fact, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem are more prevalent in those who have sedentary lifestyles. 

Movement and muscle-strengthening activities release endorphins that boost energy levels and mood for immediate results. In the long term, exercise habits build strong bones and muscles, but it also builds neural pathways that allow for a strong mind. This improved connection boosts our functionality, positivity, and sense of happiness.

One of the most overlooked forms of exercise, dancing, enhances the brain-body connection and improves emotional awareness. When we dance, rigid emotional patterns are broken, allowing us to find new thought processes. This helps creative juices to get flowing, and it breaks negative thought cycles in our minds. So, this is your cue to take a dance break! You might just be surprised by how refreshing it is.

Whatever your choice of movement is, be encouraged knowing that it has the opportunity to improve your physical well-being, and boost your mental state in return!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687379885179.png" alt="Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The body and mind are connected in ways we don’t even realize. Neural transmitters and hormones are just a couple of examples of how the brain and body communicate with each other. What we do with our physical bodies such as exercise impacts our mental state. On the other hand, our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes can affect our biological functioning! It is amazing how the mind and body work together, and the connection between physical and mental health is intertwined closer than we realize.We all know that a sedentary lifestyle is bad for physical health, but mental health also suffers when we don’t get as much movement as needed. In fact, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem are more prevalent in those who have sedentary lifestyles. Movement and muscle-strengthening activities release endorphins that boost energy levels and mood for immediate results. In the long term, exercise habits build strong bones and muscles, but it also builds neural pathways that allow for a strong mind. This improved connection boosts our functionality, positivity, and sense of happiness.One of the most overlooked forms of exercise, dancing, enhances the brain-body connection and improves emotional awareness. When we dance, rigid emotional patterns are broken, allowing us to find new thought processes. This helps creative juices to get flowing, and it breaks negative thought cycles in our minds. So, this is your cue to take a dance break! You might just be surprised by how refreshing it is.Whatever your choice of movement is, be encouraged knowing that it has the opportunity to improve your physical well-being, and boost your mental state in return!Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.&nbsp;

WINKEL: The mind and movement connection

Leading the student government this year is a remarkable student with deep family roots at Fort Hays State University – Ella Burrows. Ella hails from Satanta, a quaint town in southwest Kansas with a population of 1,000.

Ella is a fourth-generation Tiger, with her great Aunt Mabel Lacey being an esteemed faculty member at FHSU in the 1920s. Her grandfather, Bob Meier, also taught at FHSU for more than four decades, and her parents and grandparents graduated from FHSU. Ella’s family has a long-standing connection with FHSU, with her grandparents and parents meeting at the university. It’s a special place for Ella and her family.

The students on our campus hail from diverse backgrounds, each with unique stories, hopes, and dreams. From the very first day, our faculty and staff invest in each student, taking the time to make individual connections, instill confidence, and nurture them toward success. For Ella, that person is a political science faculty member, Wendy Rohleder-Sook.

“Professor Rohleder-Sook and I share similar backgrounds. She has been an exemplary role model for me at FHSU,” Ella said. “Thanks to FHSU’s small class sizes, I have enjoyed getting to know Professor Rohleder-Sook and several other faculty members with whom I share a close bond.”

When asked why she chose Fort Hays State, Ella speaks of her family tradition and the university’s affordability. She felt at home when she stepped on campus and knew this was where she wanted to be. She was also impressed by the incredible scholarships provided by the university, allowing her to graduate debt-free before taking on law school loans.

Ella dreams of a future where she can do educational policy work as a university general counsel or lobbyist. She is beginning her junior year as a political science major. She has also included certificates in legal studies and community development as elements in her academic experience. Ella’s studies in community development have been helpful as she leads the Student Government Association, empowering FHSU students to use their voices and be active and engaged members of their community.

Ella’s SGA presidential goals for 23-24 center on empowering students under a theme of sustainability and campus projects like recycling and The Green Event. The latter is an event that is organized in an environmentally friendly manner, taking into consideration the impact on the environment and minimizing waste. She also plans to make programming on campus more accessible and student-centered by reaching out to diverse groups, addressing student concerns, and engaging the entire community.

“I ran for SGA president to empower FHSU students to use their voices and be active and engaged community members,” Ella said. “I am incredibly passionate about FHSU and higher education. I saw this role as an opportunity to give back to the university that means so much to me and my family!”

Reflecting on the past year, Ella expresses that a moment of pride was ensuring there would be no increase to student fees for the current academic year.

“As a strong advocate for affordability, it was a moment of immense pride to navigate the fee process and present the proposal to the Fiscal Affairs Committee of the Kansas Board of Regents.”

In addition, she had the privilege to join the Fort Hays State University Government Relations team in Washington, D.C., where our delegation had the opportunity to meet with legislators and share the remarkable impact of our beloved university.

Ella is very engaged on campus. She is a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority, the Honors College, VIP Ambassadors, Young Democrats, and Pi Sigma Alpha. Pi Sigma Alpha is a national political science honor society that recognizes outstanding academic achievement in political science.

This past spring, Ella was selected as a Newman Fellow. This program recognizes and supports community-committed students who are changemakers and public problem-solvers at Campus Compact member institutions. The fellowship provides training and resources that nurture students’ talents and passions to help them develop strategies to achieve social change.

To become a Newman Civic Fellow, a student must be nominated by their college or university president or chancellor. The nomination process typically occurs in the fall, and selected fellows are announced in the spring. The fellowship is open to students from Campus Compact member institutions committed to civic engagement, social justice, and solving community problems. 

Key areas of Ella’s focus as SGA President and a Newman Fellow include developing voter registration drives, student voting initiatives, and civic engagement surveys.

Ella will travel to Boston for a Campus Compact conference in October. She plans to bring back civic engagement opportunities and ideas for Tiger Nation.

I have enjoyed getting to know Ella this past year. She brings a lot of Tiger pride, compassion, and energy to this vital leadership role. I look forward to an outstanding year as Ella and I work alongside our faculty, staff, and students to create memories, prepare students for their futures, and improve their lives.

Tisa Mason is president of Fort Hays State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Tisa Mason, FHSU president. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Tisa Mason, FHSU president. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Leading the student government this year is a remarkable student with deep family roots at Fort Hays State University – Ella Burrows. Ella hails from Satanta, a quaint town in southwest Kansas with a population of 1,000.Ella is a fourth-generation Tiger, with her great Aunt Mabel Lacey being an esteemed faculty member at FHSU in the 1920s. Her grandfather, Bob Meier, also taught at FHSU for more than four decades, and her parents and grandparents graduated from FHSU. Ella’s family has a long-standing connection with FHSU, with her grandparents and parents meeting at the university. It’s a special place for Ella and her family.The students on our campus hail from diverse backgrounds, each with unique stories, hopes, and dreams. From the very first day, our faculty and staff invest in each student, taking the time to make individual connections, instill confidence, and nurture them toward success. For Ella, that person is a political science faculty member, Wendy Rohleder-Sook.“Professor Rohleder-Sook and I share similar backgrounds. She has been an exemplary role model for me at FHSU,” Ella said. “Thanks to FHSU’s small class sizes, I have enjoyed getting to know Professor Rohleder-Sook and several other faculty members with whom I share a close bond.”When asked why she chose Fort Hays State, Ella speaks of her family tradition and the university’s affordability. She felt at home when she stepped on campus and knew this was where she wanted to be. She was also impressed by the incredible scholarships provided by the university, allowing her to graduate debt-free before taking on law school loans.Ella dreams of a future where she can do educational policy work as a university general counsel or lobbyist. She is beginning her junior year as a political science major. She has also included certificates in legal studies and community development as elements in her academic experience. Ella’s studies in community development have been helpful as she leads the Student Government Association, empowering FHSU students to use their voices and be active and engaged members of their community.Ella’s SGA presidential goals for 23-24 center on empowering students under a theme of sustainability and campus projects like recycling and The Green Event. The latter is an event that is organized in an environmentally friendly manner, taking into consideration the impact on the environment and minimizing waste. She also plans to make programming on campus more accessible and student-centered by reaching out to diverse groups, addressing student concerns, and engaging the entire community.“I ran for SGA president to empower FHSU students to use their voices and be active and engaged community members,” Ella said. “I am incredibly passionate about FHSU and higher education. I saw this role as an opportunity to give back to the university that means so much to me and my family!”Reflecting on the past year, Ella expresses that a moment of pride was ensuring there would be no increase to student fees for the current academic year.“As a strong advocate for affordability, it was a moment of immense pride to navigate the fee process and present the proposal to the Fiscal Affairs Committee of the Kansas Board of Regents.”In addition, she had the privilege to join the Fort Hays State University Government Relations team in Washington, D.C., where our delegation had the opportunity to meet with legislators and share the remarkable impact of our beloved university.Ella is very engaged on campus. She is a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority, the Honors College, VIP Ambassadors, Young Democrats, and Pi Sigma Alpha. Pi Sigma Alpha is a national political science honor society that recognizes outstanding academic achievement in political science.This past spring, Ella was selected as a Newman Fellow. This program recognizes and supports community-committed students who are changemakers and public problem-solvers at Campus Compact member institutions. The fellowship provides training and resources that nurture students’ talents and passions to help them develop strategies to achieve social change.To become a Newman Civic Fellow, a student must be nominated by their college or university president or chancellor. The nomination process typically occurs in the fall, and selected fellows are announced in the spring. The fellowship is open to students from Campus Compact member institutions committed to civic engagement, social justice, and solving community problems. Key areas of Ella’s focus as SGA President and a Newman Fellow include developing voter registration drives, student voting initiatives, and civic engagement surveys.Ella will travel to Boston for a Campus Compact conference in October. She plans to bring back civic engagement opportunities and ideas for Tiger Nation.I have enjoyed getting to know Ella this past year. She brings a lot of Tiger pride, compassion, and energy to this vital leadership role. I look forward to an outstanding year as Ella and I work alongside our faculty, staff, and students to create memories, prepare students for their futures, and improve their lives.Tisa Mason is president of Fort Hays State University.

Heart of a Tiger: Family ties to FHSU run deep in rural Kansas

Various tensions—urban vs. rural, national vs. local—haunt almost every discussion about environmental policy in the United States. Recent efforts by some Kansas educational institutions reflect a path beyond those tensions, efforts that are long overdue.

To start, environmental concerns—extreme weather, soil depletion, oil extraction costs, and more—affect the lives of country people far more immediately than they do those of city-dwellers. Farmers and ranchers worried about the shrinking Ogallala Aquifer, rural Kansans hoping solar power can free them from urban-centered electric grids: these and others confront the need for better environmental policies every day.

Yet resistance to environmental policies is strongest in the mostly conservative, emptier parts of the country, with hardly a week going by without&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article278134417.html" target="_blank">another story of rural folk responding with frustration</a>&nbsp;to even small-scale efforts to create more sustainable food or work or energy alternatives.

This is partly because the political push for sustainability in America often begins in urban centers far away from the de-populating heartland. “Environmentalism” thus becomes associated with national government programs promoted by Democratic voters in big, diverse cities far from the country, when in practice the most effective environmental policies have always been those that can be adapted to regional natural conditions by long-time, on-the-ground residents.

Nationally, the harms caused by invasive species, climate change, oil dependency, and more are so large that many believe better environmental approaches must be forced down the throats of rural residents. And many conservative leaders have scare-mongered this prospect for decades, treating efforts to make the American way of life more sustainable as evil conspiracies, winning votes from rural America even as they suffer the most from these problems.

What is needed is for civic institutions and political bodies in the “middle” to connect the more homogenous residents of America’s least crowded places with environmentally-attuned resources and expertise, enabling them move towards policy adaptations on a scale that reflects both local priorities and the global seriousness of the problem.

For example, local groundwater districts in Kansas have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2023-04-04/with-the-ogallala-aquifer-drying-up-kansas-ponders-limits-to-irrigation" target="_blank">recently been legally empowered</a>&nbsp;to incentivize farmers to develop on their own more aggressive water conservation plans.

This is what “middling” organizations can do—directly engage with local communities, and thereby build bridges between broader perspectives on environment imperatives on the one hand, and local factions which have specific, practical interests in it on the other.

In Salina, Kansas Wesleyan has launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwu.edu/crh/" target="_blank">Community Resilience Hub</a>, joining with the Kansas Rural Center to focus on regenerative agricultural practices and work with local farmers along I-135 to build a more climate-resilient food corridor.

In Wichita, both Friends and Newman Universities have launched programs—in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.friends.edu/undergraduate/science-technology-engineering-mathematics/conservation-science/" target="_blank">Conservation Science</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://newmanu.edu/academics/undergraduate/agribusiness" target="_blank">Agribusiness</a>, respectively—which include the aim of linking environmental ethics and sustainability with the business of tending to and working on the natural world, teaching students more about the local ecosystems they are part of.

And Wichita State University has established a&nbsp;<a href="https://heartlandej.org/" target="_blank">Heartland Environmental Justice Center</a>, dedicated to helping poorer communities (particularly Black and Native ones) throughout the region make use of sustainable development practices, and seek compensation for how past national efforts to address environmental problems often passed them by. Since many of these communities have long seen “environmentalism” as reflecting of the interests of White tourists rather than the needs of local residents, this is necessary, restorative work.

Overcoming resistance to better environmental policies throughout Kansas will not be an easy effort. But building upon these local and regional connecting initiatives will likely go farther in resolving tensions than most.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586443443315.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Various tensions—urban vs. rural, national vs. local—haunt almost every discussion about environmental policy in the United States. Recent efforts by some Kansas educational institutions reflect a path beyond those tensions, efforts that are long overdue.To start, environmental concerns—extreme weather, soil depletion, oil extraction costs, and more—affect the lives of country people far more immediately than they do those of city-dwellers. Farmers and ranchers worried about the shrinking Ogallala Aquifer, rural Kansans hoping solar power can free them from urban-centered electric grids: these and others confront the need for better environmental policies every day.Yet resistance to environmental policies is strongest in the mostly conservative, emptier parts of the country, with hardly a week going by without&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article278134417.html" target="_blank">another story of rural folk responding with frustration</a>&nbsp;to even small-scale efforts to create more sustainable food or work or energy alternatives.This is partly because the political push for sustainability in America often begins in urban centers far away from the de-populating heartland. “Environmentalism” thus becomes associated with national government programs promoted by Democratic voters in big, diverse cities far from the country, when in practice the most effective environmental policies have always been those that can be adapted to regional natural conditions by long-time, on-the-ground residents.Nationally, the harms caused by invasive species, climate change, oil dependency, and more are so large that many believe better environmental approaches must be forced down the throats of rural residents. And many conservative leaders have scare-mongered this prospect for decades, treating efforts to make the American way of life more sustainable as evil conspiracies, winning votes from rural America even as they suffer the most from these problems.What is needed is for civic institutions and political bodies in the “middle” to connect the more homogenous residents of America’s least crowded places with environmentally-attuned resources and expertise, enabling them move towards policy adaptations on a scale that reflects both local priorities and the global seriousness of the problem.For example, local groundwater districts in Kansas have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2023-04-04/with-the-ogallala-aquifer-drying-up-kansas-ponders-limits-to-irrigation" target="_blank">recently been legally empowered</a>&nbsp;to incentivize farmers to develop on their own more aggressive water conservation plans. This is what “middling” organizations can do—directly engage with local communities, and thereby build bridges between broader perspectives on environment imperatives on the one hand, and local factions which have specific, practical interests in it on the other.In Salina, Kansas Wesleyan has launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwu.edu/crh/" target="_blank">Community Resilience Hub</a>, joining with the Kansas Rural Center to focus on regenerative agricultural practices and work with local farmers along I-135 to build a more climate-resilient food corridor. In Wichita, both Friends and Newman Universities have launched programs—in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.friends.edu/undergraduate/science-technology-engineering-mathematics/conservation-science/" target="_blank">Conservation Science</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://newmanu.edu/academics/undergraduate/agribusiness" target="_blank">Agribusiness</a>, respectively—which include the aim of linking environmental ethics and sustainability with the business of tending to and working on the natural world, teaching students more about the local ecosystems they are part of.And Wichita State University has established a&nbsp;<a href="https://heartlandej.org/" target="_blank">Heartland Environmental Justice Center</a>, dedicated to helping poorer communities (particularly Black and Native ones) throughout the region make use of sustainable development practices, and seek compensation for how past national efforts to address environmental problems often passed them by. Since many of these communities have long seen “environmentalism” as reflecting of the interests of White tourists rather than the needs of local residents, this is necessary, restorative work.Overcoming resistance to better environmental policies throughout Kansas will not be an easy effort. But building upon these local and regional connecting initiatives will likely go farther in resolving tensions than most.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: A 'middling' approach to better environmental policies in Kansas

More than 37 million adults in the United States have diabetes, and those who suffer from the disease know that it can be difficult to manage. If you’re one who battles diabetes, you have probably run into multiple roadblocks along the way. Maybe you consistently monitor your glucose, eat correctly, and exercise, yet still struggle with blood sugar control. 

Experiencing these frequent problems can interfere with daily living, impact mental health, and even lead to hospitalization or death. Learning how to manage diabetes is a continual process and unexpected barriers will arise on the journey. 

So, what do you do when doing all the right things doesn’t work?

Examine your daily routine. Keeping a journal of your habits may reveal the source of many blood sugar issues. A journal allows you to see patterns among the variables of your daily life such as blood sugar levels, types of foods, meal timing, mood, medications, and exercise.

Understanding the patterns of your glucose levels is a key reason to keep a diabetes journal. Being consistent is necessary, difficult, yet rewarding. For example, if you realize that nighttime episodes of hypoglycemia regularly occur when you are more active throughout the day, you might need to increase your intake to refuel and reduce the risk of your blood sugar plummeting at night.

A healthy diet is an essential part of diabetes management, but it can be difficult to remember what foods you eat. By consistently tracking your meals and snacks, you can identify foods that may spike your glucose levels. Over time, you may be surprised to see that certain foods have a greater (or less) impact on your blood sugar than you thought!

Mental health can be greatly affected by diabetes, and your mood may seem to be on a constant rollercoaster due to rapid blood sugar changes. Since mood can be an indication of glucose spikes and drops, it’s a good idea to take note of how you feel. This awareness can help you build a stronger connection between your mind, body, and diabetes management strategy.

When diagnosed with diabetes, medications are often prescribed. This addition can make a big impact on your daily routine. By keeping a record of medication, doses, and timing, you may be able to control glucose levels better. This also allows you to be aware of side effects or changes in symptoms so you can work with your doctor to make any necessary changes.

Regular exercise can play a major role in fluctuating glucose levels, and it has the ability to help you keep your diabetes in check. Keeping a log of your exercise routine can help you find the types of physical activity that help you feel your best and stay motivated to meet your fitness goals!

The recurring theme of a diabetes journal is awareness. Writing down your lifestyle habits gives you the opportunity to reflect on your daily routine with diabetes. It gives insight into your symptoms, and it allows you to identify habits that improve well-being and others that have a negative impact on health. 

Keeping a diabetes journal may be a big commitment, but it can help you solve many problems related to managing the disease.

Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687379885179.png" alt="Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>More than 37 million adults in the United States have diabetes, and those who suffer from the disease know that it can be difficult to manage. If you’re one who battles diabetes, you have probably run into multiple roadblocks along the way. Maybe you consistently monitor your glucose, eat correctly, and exercise, yet still struggle with blood sugar control. Experiencing these frequent problems can interfere with daily living, impact mental health, and even lead to hospitalization or death. Learning how to manage diabetes is a continual process and unexpected barriers will arise on the journey. So, what do you do when doing all the right things doesn’t work?Examine your daily routine. Keeping a journal of your habits may reveal the source of many blood sugar issues. A journal allows you to see patterns among the variables of your daily life such as blood sugar levels, types of foods, meal timing, mood, medications, and exercise.Blood SugarUnderstanding the patterns of your glucose levels is a key reason to keep a diabetes journal. Being consistent is necessary, difficult, yet rewarding. For example, if you realize that nighttime episodes of hypoglycemia regularly occur when you are more active throughout the day, you might need to increase your intake to refuel and reduce the risk of your blood sugar plummeting at night.Types of FoodsA healthy diet is an essential part of diabetes management, but it can be difficult to remember what foods you eat. By consistently tracking your meals and snacks, you can identify foods that may spike your glucose levels. Over time, you may be surprised to see that certain foods have a greater (or less) impact on your blood sugar than you thought!MoodMental health can be greatly affected by diabetes, and your mood may seem to be on a constant rollercoaster due to rapid blood sugar changes. Since mood can be an indication of glucose spikes and drops, it’s a good idea to take note of how you feel. This awareness can help you build a stronger connection between your mind, body, and diabetes management strategy.MedicationsWhen diagnosed with diabetes, medications are often prescribed. This addition can make a big impact on your daily routine. By keeping a record of medication, doses, and timing, you may be able to control glucose levels better. This also allows you to be aware of side effects or changes in symptoms so you can work with your doctor to make any necessary changes.ExerciseRegular exercise can play a major role in fluctuating glucose levels, and it has the ability to help you keep your diabetes in check. Keeping a log of your exercise routine can help you find the types of physical activity that help you feel your best and stay motivated to meet your fitness goals!The recurring theme of a diabetes journal is awareness. Writing down your lifestyle habits gives you the opportunity to reflect on your daily routine with diabetes. It gives insight into your symptoms, and it allows you to identify habits that improve well-being and others that have a negative impact on health. Keeping a diabetes journal may be a big commitment, but it can help you solve many problems related to managing the disease.Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District.

WINKEL: How to problem solve diabetes management

Canning produce correctly is essential to safe food preservation, and according to Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee, two key ingredients to make many canned or pickled foods safe are bottled lemon juice and vinegar.

“Bottled lemon juice is standardized, or uniformly acidified, per U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations,” Blakeslee said. “Therefore, it is consistent, which provides a known level of safety for food preservation.”

The acidity of the product is important to prevent the growth of microorganisms that can cause spoilage or foodborne illness. 

Fresh lemons have an inconsistent acid, or pH, level. This can vary within the same variety of lemons but also vary due to maturity, growing conditions, soil, fertilizer, rootstock, and storage conditions.

Researched and tested recipes have been created and evaluated to achieve the safest food product in the end.

“Taking shortcuts in food preservation can lead to spoiled food, foodborne illness, and in rare cases, death,” Blakeslee warned.

If using vinegar, the first step is to read the label. Look for vinegar that is 5% acidity, but not all vinegar is the same. They range from 2.5% to more than 6% acidity. If it is not 5%, it could lead to improperly acidified foods and unsafe foods after processing.

“Do not use any vinegar labeled for cleaning purposes as they may contain other ingredients that are not safe to consume,” Blakeslee said.

Blakeslee publishes a monthly newsletter called You Asked It! that provides numerous tips on food safety. More information is also available from the Cottonwood Extension offices in Great Bend and Hays.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687379885179.png" alt="Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Canning produce correctly is essential to safe food preservation, and according to Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee, two key ingredients to make many canned or pickled foods safe are bottled lemon juice and vinegar.“Bottled lemon juice is standardized, or uniformly acidified, per U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations,” Blakeslee said. “Therefore, it is consistent, which provides a known level of safety for food preservation.”The acidity of the product is important to prevent the growth of microorganisms that can cause spoilage or foodborne illness. Fresh lemons have an inconsistent acid, or pH, level. This can vary within the same variety of lemons but also vary due to maturity, growing conditions, soil, fertilizer, rootstock, and storage conditions.Researched and tested recipes have been created and evaluated to achieve the safest food product in the end.“Taking shortcuts in food preservation can lead to spoiled food, foodborne illness, and in rare cases, death,” Blakeslee warned.If using vinegar, the first step is to read the label. Look for vinegar that is 5% acidity, but not all vinegar is the same. They range from 2.5% to more than 6% acidity. If it is not 5%, it could lead to improperly acidified foods and unsafe foods after processing.“Do not use any vinegar labeled for cleaning purposes as they may contain other ingredients that are not safe to consume,” Blakeslee said.Blakeslee publishes a monthly newsletter called You Asked It! that provides numerous tips on food safety. More information is also available from the Cottonwood Extension offices in Great Bend and Hays.Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu. K-State Research &amp; Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

WINKEL: Canning safety tips: Lemon juice and vinegar

Today I drove through the McPherson Valley Wetlands to see if the waterlilies were blooming, or if there was even any water to support them. Evidently there is just enough water for a few of them to grow and bloom, because some of their large yellow flowers dotted what otherwise appeared to be a sea of green weeds.

 I remember several years ago clambering up over the dike of one pond to be greeted by what looked like something from an exotic Chinese water garden. I’ve always called them water lilies, but the Public Lands Manager for the Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks who manages the entire McPherson Valley Wetlands system tells me their proper name is American Lotus, and says they are, in fact, native to Kansas. 

That reminded me of Pepé Le Pew the skunk from cartoons of my generation. Pepé fancied himself a ladies’ man, and his famous pickup line was “Ah, my little lotus flower.”

The year I first discovered them was a wet year, and they filled the shallow waters in the corners of the pond like a mat of immense green leaves dotted with bold, pale, yellowish-white flowers the size of cereal bowls. Most of the time these plants are shown with their enormous leaves floating on the water, but here where the water was shallow they actually rise above the water’s surface. Most of the leaves on these plants were about a foot wide, give or take, and the flowers that were fully opened measured six inches across. Leaves on older American Lotus plants can reach 24 inches in diameter. 

An interesting phenomenon is that American Lotus leaves never get wet; water forms a droplet on them and just runs off.

Each flower has a bright, yellow, round center resembling a little double-layer cake. When the flower dies, that center swells into a seed pod three or four inches wide resembling a wasp nest with several individual seed compartments that each contain a single marble-sized seed. As it further dries the seed pod droops toward the water and the seeds eventually spill out and lay on the bottom of the pond. The seeds can lay dormant in the mud for several years before germinating, which occurs when the hard outer shell softens. The plants grow from tuberous roots called rhizomes which can become up to 50-feet long and can have dozens of plants growing from them. 

American Lotus plants will grow in the still water of any pond, lake or stream that is shallower than three feet.

Waterfowl and other wildlife will eat the seeds and tubers if they can get to them. Native Americans peeled and cooked the tubers to eat as vegetables, or dried and stored them for winter food. They ate the seeds in soups and other dishes or roasted them like chestnuts. 

Many Great Plains tribes attributed mystic powers to the American Lotus plants. A poultice made from the pulp of the root was thought to relieve the pain of inflammatory ailments such as arthritis, and a mash made from the blossoms and leaves was said to have anti-fungal properties. Although little sound research exists concerning the medicinal properties of the American Lotus, a close cousin, the Indian or Sacred Lotus which is native to Asia and Australia has been used medicinally for generations. It is known to relieve asthma, inflammation, headache and fatigue, and is said to promote good digestion.

When I first visited Kansas over 30 years ago, I either bought or was given a decorative seed pod of some sort that was brown and hard with numerous round compartments in it, each containing a round hard seed of some sort. I was told they were called “lake nuts.” That decorative object has long since disappeared, but at the time I remember no one seemed to know what the heck it really was.

 Guess what - after writing this column I now know it was an American Lotus seed pod! 

I never cease to be amazed at the wildlife and plants which flourish here in Kansas that common sense tells me shouldn’t be here in our prairie state at all. For instance, beavers and bobcats here in Kansas, really; and now waterlilies!!! 

Of the American Lotus, someone has said, “Whenever you doubt your self-worth, remember the lotus flower. Even though it plunges to life beneath the mud, it does not allow the dirt that surrounds it to affect its growth or beauty. 

Boy, howdy, can we use a heapin’ portion of that today! 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Today I drove through the McPherson Valley Wetlands to see if the waterlilies were blooming, or if there was even any water to support them. Evidently there is just enough water for a few of them to grow and bloom, because some of their large yellow flowers dotted what otherwise appeared to be a sea of green weeds. I remember several years ago clambering up over the dike of one pond to be greeted by what looked like something from an exotic Chinese water garden. I’ve always called them water lilies, but the Public Lands Manager for the Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks who manages the entire McPherson Valley Wetlands system tells me their proper name is American Lotus, and says they are, in fact, native to Kansas. That reminded me of Pepé Le Pew the skunk from cartoons of my generation. Pepé fancied himself a ladies’ man, and his famous pickup line was “Ah, my little lotus flower.”The year I first discovered them was a wet year, and they filled the shallow waters in the corners of the pond like a mat of immense green leaves dotted with bold, pale, yellowish-white flowers the size of cereal bowls. Most of the time these plants are shown with their enormous leaves floating on the water, but here where the water was shallow they actually rise above the water’s surface. Most of the leaves on these plants were about a foot wide, give or take, and the flowers that were fully opened measured six inches across. Leaves on older American Lotus plants can reach 24 inches in diameter. An interesting phenomenon is that American Lotus leaves never get wet; water forms a droplet on them and just runs off.Each flower has a bright, yellow, round center resembling a little double-layer cake. When the flower dies, that center swells into a seed pod three or four inches wide resembling a wasp nest with several individual seed compartments that each contain a single marble-sized seed. As it further dries the seed pod droops toward the water and the seeds eventually spill out and lay on the bottom of the pond. The seeds can lay dormant in the mud for several years before germinating, which occurs when the hard outer shell softens. The plants grow from tuberous roots called rhizomes which can become up to 50-feet long and can have dozens of plants growing from them. American Lotus plants will grow in the still water of any pond, lake or stream that is shallower than three feet.Waterfowl and other wildlife will eat the seeds and tubers if they can get to them. Native Americans peeled and cooked the tubers to eat as vegetables, or dried and stored them for winter food. They ate the seeds in soups and other dishes or roasted them like chestnuts. Many Great Plains tribes attributed mystic powers to the American Lotus plants. A poultice made from the pulp of the root was thought to relieve the pain of inflammatory ailments such as arthritis, and a mash made from the blossoms and leaves was said to have anti-fungal properties. Although little sound research exists concerning the medicinal properties of the American Lotus, a close cousin, the Indian or Sacred Lotus which is native to Asia and Australia has been used medicinally for generations. It is known to relieve asthma, inflammation, headache and fatigue, and is said to promote good digestion.When I first visited Kansas over 30 years ago, I either bought or was given a decorative seed pod of some sort that was brown and hard with numerous round compartments in it, each containing a round hard seed of some sort. I was told they were called “lake nuts.” That decorative object has long since disappeared, but at the time I remember no one seemed to know what the heck it really was. Guess what - after writing this column I now know it was an American Lotus seed pod! I never cease to be amazed at the wildlife and plants which flourish here in Kansas that common sense tells me shouldn’t be here in our prairie state at all. For instance, beavers and bobcats here in Kansas, really; and now waterlilies!!! Of the American Lotus, someone has said, “Whenever you doubt your self-worth, remember the lotus flower. Even though it plunges to life beneath the mud, it does not allow the dirt that surrounds it to affect its growth or beauty. Boy, howdy, can we use a heapin’ portion of that today! Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: 'Ah, my little lotus flower!'

After decades of decline, fatal traffic crashes increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp; 

Today’s traffic deaths are falling harder and harder on bicyclists and pedestrians.&nbsp; In Kansas, pedestrian deaths&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ghsa.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/GHSA%20-%20Pedestrian%20Traffic%20Fatalities%20by%20State%2C%202022%20Preliminary%20Data%20%28January-December%29.pdf" target="_blank">increased 261%, from 18 in 2019 to 47 in 2021</a>, according to the National Governors’ Association.&nbsp; Nationally, those numbers increased 77% during the same time period, from 6272 to 7274.&nbsp;

The 2020 infrastructure bill passed by the Kansas Legislature includes safety along with economic growth as priorities, and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davis recently announced a $1.28 million grant coming to the state’s Third District to improve roadway safety.

This differs remarkably from previous crackdowns on auto safety.&nbsp; U.S. traffic fatalities hit a high in 1972 and began dropping.&nbsp; Just before that, a host of federal laws had mandated safety features including seatbelts, high backed seats, and collapsible steering columns.&nbsp; Also, consumer safety advocate Ralph Nader and his team of lawyers targeted auto companies marketing cars with known safety flaws, including the Chevrolet Corvair and Ford Pinto.

&nbsp;In the 1980s, the focus shifted to drivers.&nbsp; Candace Lightner founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in 1980, after her daughter was killed by a repeat drunk driver. MADD and its allies successfully advocated a host of federal and state laws targeting this behavior, and they are still at it today.&nbsp; 

The 80s also saw seatbelt laws and changing social norms regarding buckling up– earlier, seatbelts were required, but few drivers or passengers used them.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cars have also continued getting safer for the occupants, with energy-absorbing materials and crumple zones becoming universal.&nbsp; Yet these features do nothing to protect those&nbsp;outside&nbsp;the car– pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.&nbsp; They may even make drivers become overconfident, more likely to speed and drive inattentively, and more dangerous to those outside the car.

A host of new safety ideas have been circulated, including renewed crackdowns on DUIs and reckless driving, both of which increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside these proposals, today’s safety advocates propose a host of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/6-road-design-changes-can-save-lives" target="_blank">changes to make roads themselves safer</a>.&nbsp; All of us who truly enjoy driving should warmly welcome these ideas.

Today’s pedestrian-unfriendly roadways consist largely of suburban streets that have been turned into straight, flat speedways where drivers race along at speeds approaching those on the freeway, often distracted by their phones.&nbsp;This mix of high speeds, heavier vehicles, and distracted driving terrorizes pedestrians and bicyclists.   

<a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/6-road-design-changes-can-save-lives" target="_blank">Proposed ideas</a>&nbsp;include shorter blocks, pedestrian refuge areas, increased use of traffic circles, narrower roads, dedicated bicycle lanes, and&nbsp;chicanes– those s-shaped curves also used on racetracks.&nbsp; Money from the bipartisan 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Act is available to help fund these improvements.

I have appreciated cars and driving since childhood.&nbsp; My grandfather ran one of those old-fashioned gas stations in downtown Lawrence–the ones where you could get your car fixed.&nbsp; I grew up hearing car stories, reading car magazines, and attending car races with my dad. &nbsp; Every chance I get, I still exit the interstate and seek out the back roads– a “blue highway” driver.&nbsp;

Mindlessly, distractedly operating a vehicle on a flat, straight, suburban superspeedway is the antithesis of real driving.&nbsp; Real drivers open our windows, sunroofs, and convertible tops on nice days and shift our own gears.&nbsp; We speed up, slow down, and negotiate curves, all the while staying connected to our surroundings.

For the true driving enthusiast, better roadways cannot come fast enough. No more mindless driving– we need roads that keep us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/12365/zen-driving-by-kt-berger/" target="_blank">wide awake and firmly connected to our car, road, and surroundings</a>.&nbsp; No matter what you drive, better roads can help us do that.&nbsp; Let’s get to work.

Michael Smith is a professor of Political Science and chair of Social Sciences&nbsp;at Emporia State University.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639601062071.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>After decades of decline, fatal traffic crashes increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp; Today’s traffic deaths are falling harder and harder on bicyclists and pedestrians.&nbsp; In Kansas, pedestrian deaths&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ghsa.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/GHSA%20-%20Pedestrian%20Traffic%20Fatalities%20by%20State%2C%202022%20Preliminary%20Data%20%28January-December%29.pdf" target="_blank">increased 261%, from 18 in 2019 to 47 in 2021</a>, according to the National Governors’ Association.&nbsp; Nationally, those numbers increased 77% during the same time period, from 6272 to 7274.&nbsp; The 2020 infrastructure bill passed by the Kansas Legislature includes safety along with economic growth as priorities, and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davis recently announced a $1.28 million grant coming to the state’s Third District to improve roadway safety.This differs remarkably from previous crackdowns on auto safety.&nbsp; U.S. traffic fatalities hit a high in 1972 and began dropping.&nbsp; Just before that, a host of federal laws had mandated safety features including seatbelts, high backed seats, and collapsible steering columns.&nbsp; Also, consumer safety advocate Ralph Nader and his team of lawyers targeted auto companies marketing cars with known safety flaws, including the Chevrolet Corvair and Ford Pinto.&nbsp;In the 1980s, the focus shifted to drivers.&nbsp; Candace Lightner founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in 1980, after her daughter was killed by a repeat drunk driver. MADD and its allies successfully advocated a host of federal and state laws targeting this behavior, and they are still at it today.&nbsp; The 80s also saw seatbelt laws and changing social norms regarding buckling up– earlier, seatbelts were required, but few drivers or passengers used them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cars have also continued getting safer for the occupants, with energy-absorbing materials and crumple zones becoming universal.&nbsp; Yet these features do nothing to protect those&nbsp;outside&nbsp;the car– pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.&nbsp; They may even make drivers become overconfident, more likely to speed and drive inattentively, and more dangerous to those outside the car.A host of new safety ideas have been circulated, including renewed crackdowns on DUIs and reckless driving, both of which increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside these proposals, today’s safety advocates propose a host of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/6-road-design-changes-can-save-lives" target="_blank">changes to make roads themselves safer</a>.&nbsp; All of us who truly enjoy driving should warmly welcome these ideas.Today’s pedestrian-unfriendly roadways consist largely of suburban streets that have been turned into straight, flat speedways where drivers race along at speeds approaching those on the freeway, often distracted by their phones.&nbsp;This mix of high speeds, heavier vehicles, and distracted driving terrorizes pedestrians and bicyclists. <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/6-road-design-changes-can-save-lives" target="_blank">Proposed ideas</a>&nbsp;include shorter blocks, pedestrian refuge areas, increased use of traffic circles, narrower roads, dedicated bicycle lanes, and&nbsp;chicanes– those s-shaped curves also used on racetracks.&nbsp; Money from the bipartisan 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Act is available to help fund these improvements.I have appreciated cars and driving since childhood.&nbsp; My grandfather ran one of those old-fashioned gas stations in downtown Lawrence–the ones where you could get your car fixed.&nbsp; I grew up hearing car stories, reading car magazines, and attending car races with my dad. &nbsp; Every chance I get, I still exit the interstate and seek out the back roads– a “blue highway” driver.&nbsp;Mindlessly, distractedly operating a vehicle on a flat, straight, suburban superspeedway is the antithesis of real driving.&nbsp; Real drivers open our windows, sunroofs, and convertible tops on nice days and shift our own gears.&nbsp; We speed up, slow down, and negotiate curves, all the while staying connected to our surroundings.For the true driving enthusiast, better roadways cannot come fast enough. No more mindless driving– we need roads that keep us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/12365/zen-driving-by-kt-berger/" target="_blank">wide awake and firmly connected to our car, road, and surroundings</a>.&nbsp; No matter what you drive, better roads can help us do that.&nbsp; Let’s get to work.Michael Smith is a professor of Political Science and chair of Social Sciences&nbsp;at Emporia State University.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Kansans need safer, more fun roads

One of the best ways to keep your mind and body functioning at its best is to exercise. 

When I worked with small children we always used to say, “the best exercise for the brain is exercise!” The same holds true as we age. 

Exercise produces a wide range of benefits for not only our physical health, but also mental health. Regular participation in strengthening exercises can help you build muscle and increase bone density. It can also help relieve stress and reduce depression symptoms. 

The Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program focuses on improving the health and well being of older adults. The goal of the program is to provide safe, structured and effective strength training for older adults. 

Strength training promotes quality of life and independence, especially for adults over age 60.

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy is an evidence-based program that has been shown to increase strength, balance, and flexibility.

You might be asking yourself, “I wonder what we’ll do?” It is an eight-week program that meets twice a week for one-hour. We will do warm up exercises, easy strengthening exercises, with or without weights, based on your preference, and finish with cool-down stretches and breathing exercises. The best part is there is no membership fees like at a gym and no special clothes or equipment are needed. 

We will have weights available if you want to use them. 

You will work at your own pace and progress as you are able. There are modifications to the exercises based on your own fitness level.

If you would like more information before signing up, I will hold an orientation class which will introduce the program and exercises. The orientation class will be Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at our office in Hays, located at 601 Main Street, in the back meeting room.

Regular classes will begin August 29, 2023 and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. for eight weeks. All classes will be held at our office in Hays. 

There will be a one-time fee of $20 to participate in the eight-week program. Please call the office if you have any questions or email Monique at moniquek@ksu.edu

Cottonwood Extension District would like to extend a huge thank you to Heartland Community Foundation. 

This project was funded in part by a grant from the Ellis County Legacy Fund and the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund-Heartland of the Heartland Community Foundation. Their funding allowed us to purchase our own weight set for our district so we will be able to offer classes more often.

Come join me for some fun and get healthier and stronger!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension, Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>One of the best ways to keep your mind and body functioning at its best is to exercise. When I worked with small children we always used to say, “the best exercise for the brain is exercise!” The same holds true as we age. Exercise produces a wide range of benefits for not only our physical health, but also mental health. Regular participation in strengthening exercises can help you build muscle and increase bone density. It can also help relieve stress and reduce depression symptoms. The Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program focuses on improving the health and well being of older adults. The goal of the program is to provide safe, structured and effective strength training for older adults. No one is too inactive to participate. Strength training promotes quality of life and independence, especially for adults over age 60.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691425639307.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Stay Strong, Stay Healthy is an evidence-based program that has been shown to increase strength, balance, and flexibility.You might be asking yourself, “I wonder what we’ll do?” It is an eight-week program that meets twice a week for one-hour. We will do warm up exercises, easy strengthening exercises, with or without weights, based on your preference, and finish with cool-down stretches and breathing exercises. The best part is there is no membership fees like at a gym and no special clothes or equipment are needed. We will have weights available if you want to use them. You will work at your own pace and progress as you are able. There are modifications to the exercises based on your own fitness level.If you would like more information before signing up, I will hold an orientation class which will introduce the program and exercises. The orientation class will be Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at our office in Hays, located at 601 Main Street, in the back meeting room.Regular classes will begin August 29, 2023 and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. for eight weeks. All classes will be held at our office in Hays. There will be a one-time fee of $20 to participate in the eight-week program. Please call the office if you have any questions or email Monique at moniquek@ksu.eduCottonwood Extension District would like to extend a huge thank you to Heartland Community Foundation. This project was funded in part by a grant from the Ellis County Legacy Fund and the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund-Heartland of the Heartland Community Foundation. Their funding allowed us to purchase our own weight set for our district so we will be able to offer classes more often.Come join me for some fun and get healthier and stronger!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: Stay strong, stay healthy

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Communications Experts blame hot weather, along with high oil prices for the recent spike in gasoline and diesel prices. Refineries must scale back operations when the temperature tops 95 degrees, so operations are dramatically lower nationwide.

The auto club AAA pegs national gasoline prices at their highest since November, an average of $3.82 per gallon, up seven cents from a week ago, and nearly thirty cents higher than a month ago. The average across Kansas is up 40 cents in the last month to $3.65 per gallon. Friday's Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes dropped by four oil rigs for a total of 659 active rigs nationwide. Horizontal drilling was down by seven rigs. Drilling in the Permian Basin was down five rigs. The state breakouts show Texas down eight rigs while New Mexico was up two. The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is unchanged statewide, but up two in the western half of the state.&nbsp; With 39 rigs drilling or about to, the tally is down nearly five percent from a week ago, and down 32% from a year go. Kansas regulators okayed 18 new drilling locations last week, with eight new permits in western Kansas. That's 762 new locations statewide so far this year, compared to 967 a year ago at this time. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports operators in Kansas completed 37 new wells last week with 12 in western Kansas including one well in Russell County. Colorado is once again changing the rules in the patch. Experts say these changes could spread.

The state will for the first time require the direct measurement of methane pollution at oil and gas wells. Supporters say the new rule improves an existing system built largely on guesswork and paperwork. Under recent legislation, emissions from the oil and gas industry must be cut 20% in seven years.&nbsp; A state commission will set up the new measurement methods and require transparency by operators. 

The state's two major industry trade groups support the rule, which they said will bring on a sound regulatory framework to verify greenhouse gas emissions. Saudi Arabia extended its unilateral oil production cut by another month and said it could be prolonged again or even increased. The cutback of one million barrels per day was launched last month, and will now last into September, according to a statement Thursday on state Saudi Press Agency. Bloomberg reports that will hold output from the world's largest crude exporter to about nine million barrels per day, the lowest level in several years. &nbsp; Operators spudded 14 oil and gas wells last week in Kansas, 711 new wells so far this year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says that's down from 942 wells a year ago at this time. Total footage drilled is down 28% from last year. The government reports the biggest weekly drop in U.S. crude inventories in recent memory. The Energy Information Administration reports total stockpiles of 439.8 million barrels as of July 28th. That's down 17 million barrels from a week earlier. Inventories are about one percent below the five-year average for this time of year according to the Energy Information Administration. U.S. operators pumped nearly 12.2 million barrels of crude oil per day last week. That's down 14,000 barrels per day from the week before and just 57,000 barrels per day ahead of the same week last year. U.S. crude imports last week increased by more than 300-thousand barrels to 6.7 million barrels per day. Four-week average imports are two percent lower than during the same four weeks last year. The government this week reported gasoline inventories rose last week by 1.5 million barrels, but are about six percent below the five-year seasonal average. Diesel stockpiles dropped by 800-thousand barrels and are 15% below the five-year average. Diesel prices are up 31 cents from a month ago across Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684775008059.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Communications Experts blame hot weather, along with high oil prices for the recent spike in gasoline and diesel prices. Refineries must scale back operations when the temperature tops 95 degrees, so operations are dramatically lower nationwide. The auto club AAA pegs national gasoline prices at their highest since November, an average of $3.82 per gallon, up seven cents from a week ago, and nearly thirty cents higher than a month ago. The average across Kansas is up 40 cents in the last month to $3.65 per gallon. Friday's Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes dropped by four oil rigs for a total of 659 active rigs nationwide. Horizontal drilling was down by seven rigs. Drilling in the Permian Basin was down five rigs. The state breakouts show Texas down eight rigs while New Mexico was up two. The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is unchanged statewide, but up two in the western half of the state.&nbsp; With 39 rigs drilling or about to, the tally is down nearly five percent from a week ago, and down 32% from a year go. Kansas regulators okayed 18 new drilling locations last week, with eight new permits in western Kansas. That's 762 new locations statewide so far this year, compared to 967 a year ago at this time. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports operators in Kansas completed 37 new wells last week with 12 in western Kansas including one well in Russell County. Colorado is once again changing the rules in the patch. Experts say these changes could spread. The state will for the first time require the direct measurement of methane pollution at oil and gas wells. Supporters say the new rule improves an existing system built largely on guesswork and paperwork. Under recent legislation, emissions from the oil and gas industry must be cut 20% in seven years.&nbsp; A state commission will set up the new measurement methods and require transparency by operators. The state's two major industry trade groups support the rule, which they said will bring on a sound regulatory framework to verify greenhouse gas emissions. Saudi Arabia extended its unilateral oil production cut by another month and said it could be prolonged again or even increased. The cutback of one million barrels per day was launched last month, and will now last into September, according to a statement Thursday on state Saudi Press Agency. Bloomberg reports that will hold output from the world's largest crude exporter to about nine million barrels per day, the lowest level in several years. &nbsp; Operators spudded 14 oil and gas wells last week in Kansas, 711 new wells so far this year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says that's down from 942 wells a year ago at this time. Total footage drilled is down 28% from last year. The government reports the biggest weekly drop in U.S. crude inventories in recent memory. The Energy Information Administration reports total stockpiles of 439.8 million barrels as of July 28th. That's down 17 million barrels from a week earlier. Inventories are about one percent below the five-year average for this time of year according to the Energy Information Administration. U.S. operators pumped nearly 12.2 million barrels of crude oil per day last week. That's down 14,000 barrels per day from the week before and just 57,000 barrels per day ahead of the same week last year. U.S. crude imports last week increased by more than 300-thousand barrels to 6.7 million barrels per day. Four-week average imports are two percent lower than during the same four weeks last year. The government this week reported gasoline inventories rose last week by 1.5 million barrels, but are about six percent below the five-year seasonal average. Diesel stockpiles dropped by 800-thousand barrels and are 15% below the five-year average. Diesel prices are up 31 cents from a month ago across Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News From the Oil Patch: Hot weather slows refineries, spikes pump prices

In Kansas, the 4-H year runs from October 1 to September 30. 

Project learning begins early in the 4-H year as youth begin learning about foods and nutrition, begin the next level of their entomology collection, or begin thinking about their livestock for the coming year.

Several opportunities to showcase that project learning occur throughout the year. 

4-H Club Days are a chance to practice communication skills and are one of the first events for youth to share about an area of interest as this occurs in February and March. County fair is about three-fourths of the way through the year and advanced learning is showcased with feedback from judges as an important part of the process.

Two of the big pieces of the 4-H year occur in September.

Many 4-H members can qualify for participation at the Kansas State Fair by receiving a top placing at the county fair. 

We don’t have consultative judging at this level but it is an incredible opportunity for those youth to see their project exhibit displayed and evaluated with 4-H members from across the state.

 We have 57 4-H members who have qualified to take one or more entries to the Kansas State fair and that doesn’t include any animals! When I was a 4-H member, we lived too far from the state fair to see my exhibits on display so I encourage all of our 4-H members and their friends and family to make a trip and be sure it includes some time in Centennial Hall!

The other very important part of project learning that is in the works right now is the completion of project record books. While few of us love record-keeping, it is an important life skill and the Kansas 4-H Project Record provides steps for youth to learn and improve in this process. 

The youngest 4-H members complete sentences with plenty of direction to learn the basics of record-keeping. As they get a little older, the intermediate version includes fewer specifics but still guidance on how to complete financial records, note project learning opportunities, and examples of project-related community service. For our senior 4-H members, this also includes a cover letter, a resume related to their project learning, and if it qualifies for competition at the state level, a video presentation. 

All of these are important skills for our youth to learn and wrap up a year of project learning.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.

For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District, Barton office, at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>In Kansas, the 4-H year runs from October 1 to September 30. Project learning begins early in the 4-H year as youth begin learning about foods and nutrition, begin the next level of their entomology collection, or begin thinking about their livestock for the coming year.Several opportunities to showcase that project learning occur throughout the year. 4-H Club Days are a chance to practice communication skills and are one of the first events for youth to share about an area of interest as this occurs in February and March. County fair is about three-fourths of the way through the year and advanced learning is showcased with feedback from judges as an important part of the process.Two of the big pieces of the 4-H year occur in September.Many 4-H members can qualify for participation at the Kansas State Fair by receiving a top placing at the county fair. We don’t have consultative judging at this level but it is an incredible opportunity for those youth to see their project exhibit displayed and evaluated with 4-H members from across the state. We have 57 4-H members who have qualified to take one or more entries to the Kansas State fair and that doesn’t include any animals! When I was a 4-H member, we lived too far from the state fair to see my exhibits on display so I encourage all of our 4-H members and their friends and family to make a trip and be sure it includes some time in Centennial Hall!The other very important part of project learning that is in the works right now is the completion of project record books. While few of us love record-keeping, it is an important life skill and the Kansas 4-H Project Record provides steps for youth to learn and improve in this process. The youngest 4-H members complete sentences with plenty of direction to learn the basics of record-keeping. As they get a little older, the intermediate version includes fewer specifics but still guidance on how to complete financial records, note project learning opportunities, and examples of project-related community service. For our senior 4-H members, this also includes a cover letter, a resume related to their project learning, and if it qualifies for competition at the state level, a video presentation. All of these are important skills for our youth to learn and wrap up a year of project learning.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District, Barton office, at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Kansas State Fair bound!

Variety selection is one of the most important decisions that a grower can make to ensure success on their farm. 

Now is the time when wheat producers across Kansas are reviewing yield data and making decisions about the varieties they will plant in the fall. 

Although yield is always a top priority, disease, and insect resistance, along with appropriate agronomic traits, can buffer against crop losses. In addition, genetic resistance to diseases and insect pests can be the most effective, economical, and environmentally sound method for control.

The Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2023 (formerly called Wheat Variety Disease and Insect Ratings), from K-State Research and Extension, has now been released for this year. Agronomic characteristics, disease, and pest resistance information are included, as well as profiles that highlight some more common or new varieties for the state of Kansas.

Updates this year include the addition of variety profiles for varieties AP Bigfoot, KS Territory, KS Providence, and Strad CL + as well as disease, insect, and agronomic ratings for several other new varieties.

Ratings in this publication represent results from field and greenhouse evaluations by public and private wheat researchers at multiple locations over multiple years.

A few other resources available to assist farmers with wheat variety selection are the Kansas wheat variety performance tests that are conducted around the state at K-State Experiment Stations and in other locations. These variety performance tests are replicated, each variety is randomly planted in four different locations in the field to increase accuracy of the yield data. 

That information along with all the other resources referenced in this article can be accessed from our Cottonwood Extension District web site at <a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/crops-livestock/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>.

The Colorado Wheat Variety Database decision tool provides complete access to variety information and data from university variety trials in Colorado and several other Great Plains states, including Kansas. The database also includes private company trial data (Limagrain Cereal Seeds, Syngenta-Agripro). 

The database may be used to find up-to-date wheat variety information, display data from individual trial locations, generate summaries across multiple trial locations and years, and generate head-to-head comparisons for varieties of interest. It is an easy tool to use and very helpful!

Lastly our local variety demonstration plot in Ellis County is also available on our web site at <a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/crops-livestock/ag_articles/2023%20Ellis%20County%20Wheat%20Variety%20Demonstration%20Plot.pdf">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a> click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under Hot Topics for any of these resources.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell is a crop production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell is a crop production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Variety selection is one of the most important decisions that a grower can make to ensure success on their farm. Now is the time when wheat producers across Kansas are reviewing yield data and making decisions about the varieties they will plant in the fall. Although yield is always a top priority, disease, and insect resistance, along with appropriate agronomic traits, can buffer against crop losses. In addition, genetic resistance to diseases and insect pests can be the most effective, economical, and environmentally sound method for control.The Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2023 (formerly called Wheat Variety Disease and Insect Ratings), from K-State Research and Extension, has now been released for this year. Agronomic characteristics, disease, and pest resistance information are included, as well as profiles that highlight some more common or new varieties for the state of Kansas.Updates this year include the addition of variety profiles for varieties AP Bigfoot, KS Territory, KS Providence, and Strad CL + as well as disease, insect, and agronomic ratings for several other new varieties.Ratings in this publication represent results from field and greenhouse evaluations by public and private wheat researchers at multiple locations over multiple years.A few other resources available to assist farmers with wheat variety selection are the Kansas wheat variety performance tests that are conducted around the state at K-State Experiment Stations and in other locations. These variety performance tests are replicated, each variety is randomly planted in four different locations in the field to increase accuracy of the yield data. That information along with all the other resources referenced in this article can be accessed from our Cottonwood Extension District web site at <a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/crops-livestock/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>.The Colorado Wheat Variety Database decision tool provides complete access to variety information and data from university variety trials in Colorado and several other Great Plains states, including Kansas. The database also includes private company trial data (Limagrain Cereal Seeds, Syngenta-Agripro). The database may be used to find up-to-date wheat variety information, display data from individual trial locations, generate summaries across multiple trial locations and years, and generate head-to-head comparisons for varieties of interest. It is an easy tool to use and very helpful!Lastly our local variety demonstration plot in Ellis County is also available on our web site at <a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/crops-livestock/ag_articles/2023%20Ellis%20County%20Wheat%20Variety%20Demonstration%20Plot.pdf">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a> click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under Hot Topics for any of these resources.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2023 now available

On August 14, Dolly Parton is coming to Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program.

Dolly's Imagination Library is an example of how music, art, and culture can intersect with social change. Through her deep commitment to education and literacy, Dolly has shown that celebrities can be powerful catalysts for positive transformation.

Founded in 1995 by Dolly Parton herself, the Imagination Library is a unique book-gifting program that provides free books to children from birth to five years old with the mission of fostering a lifelong passion for reading.

The program runs in all 50 U.S. states, including our very own Kansas, and has gifted over 200 million free books across the globe.

The Imagination Library has had a significant positive impact on childhood development and literacy skills for Kansas’ children.

Research has consistently shown that early exposure to books and reading positively influences a child's cognitive development, language skills, and emotional well-being.

Children who have participated in the program have demonstrated better preparedness for school, stronger reading and math skills, improved vocabulary, and increased levels of reading comprehension.

Some studies have indicated that children who participated in the Imagination Library program are more likely to perform better academically throughout their school years. Improved early literacy skills have been associated with higher achievement levels in later grades.

The Imagination Library has also become a significant force in leveling the playing field for young readers.

By delivering carefully selected books tailored to each child's age and interests, Dolly's Library has equalized access to education for children irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds.

The Imagination Library ensures that every child, regardless of their family’s socio-economic status, has access to books from an early age.

By providing free books directly to children's homes, the library ensures that even those in underserved and disadvantaged communities have access to quality literature. This reduces educational disparities and helps bridge the gap between different social and economic groups, promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities for all children.

While Dolly’s Imagination Library provides an incredibly important service for children, and certainly earns the praise it receives, it is also indicative of a concerning societal shift towards the outsourcing of public services.

Rather than coming together in collective action and making demands on government — like increasing funding to local libraries — citizens are relying on private entities to provide public goods — like sending free books through the mail.

When public services are outsourced to private entities, citizens may feel less connected to the provision of those services. They might also perceive their role in contributing to the common good as diminished.

Research on civic engagement suggests that this leads to a reduced sense of civic duty, which results in a less engaged, informed, and active citizenry.

Civic duty refers to the responsibility and obligation citizens feel to actively engage in the democratic process and contribute to the well-being of their communities.

When citizens experience a weakening of this sense of duty, it can lead to reduced levels of participation in several ways: a decline in political engagement, decreased interest in public affairs, and lower levels of volunteering and community involvement, just to name a few.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood is an assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood is an assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>On August 14, Dolly Parton is coming to Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program.Dolly's Imagination Library is an example of how music, art, and culture can intersect with social change. Through her deep commitment to education and literacy, Dolly has shown that celebrities can be powerful catalysts for positive transformation.Founded in 1995 by Dolly Parton herself, the Imagination Library is a unique book-gifting program that provides free books to children from birth to five years old with the mission of fostering a lifelong passion for reading.The program runs in all 50 U.S. states, including our very own Kansas, and has gifted over 200 million free books across the globe.The Imagination Library has had a significant positive impact on childhood development and literacy skills for Kansas’ children.Research has consistently shown that early exposure to books and reading positively influences a child's cognitive development, language skills, and emotional well-being.Children who have participated in the program have demonstrated better preparedness for school, stronger reading and math skills, improved vocabulary, and increased levels of reading comprehension.Some studies have indicated that children who participated in the Imagination Library program are more likely to perform better academically throughout their school years. Improved early literacy skills have been associated with higher achievement levels in later grades.The Imagination Library has also become a significant force in leveling the playing field for young readers.By delivering carefully selected books tailored to each child's age and interests, Dolly's Library has equalized access to education for children irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds.The Imagination Library ensures that every child, regardless of their family’s socio-economic status, has access to books from an early age.By providing free books directly to children's homes, the library ensures that even those in underserved and disadvantaged communities have access to quality literature. This reduces educational disparities and helps bridge the gap between different social and economic groups, promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities for all children.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>While Dolly’s Imagination Library provides an incredibly important service for children, and certainly earns the praise it receives, it is also indicative of a concerning societal shift towards the outsourcing of public services.Rather than coming together in collective action and making demands on government — like increasing funding to local libraries — citizens are relying on private entities to provide public goods — like sending free books through the mail.When public services are outsourced to private entities, citizens may feel less connected to the provision of those services. They might also perceive their role in contributing to the common good as diminished.Research on civic engagement suggests that this leads to a reduced sense of civic duty, which results in a less engaged, informed, and active citizenry.Civic duty refers to the responsibility and obligation citizens feel to actively engage in the democratic process and contribute to the well-being of their communities.When citizens experience a weakening of this sense of duty, it can lead to reduced levels of participation in several ways: a decline in political engagement, decreased interest in public affairs, and lower levels of volunteering and community involvement, just to name a few.Citizen involvement is essential for a robust and thriving society. Historically, such involvement has pressured government to create comprehensive and equitable social safety nets that address the broad spectrum of societal needs. Charitable organizations like the Imagination Library can complement and enhance government efforts, but a collaborative approach between the public and private sectors is most effective in achieving lasting social change.So, while charitable organizations like Dolly Parton's Imagination Library provide an important service to young children, they should not be viewed as a replacement for government-provided public goods.Alexandra Middlewood, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University.

Opinion