Over the past several years public opinion polls have gotten a lot of heat — some of it deserved, some of it not — for not accurately predicting election results.

Public opinion is only as accurate as the sample&nbsp;of voters polled&nbsp;and what&nbsp;those voters&nbsp;are willing to tell pollsters.&nbsp;As such, election outcomes will always be the best gauge of public opinion.

But this year, the Kansas polls were mostly correct.

What insights&nbsp;do this year’s&nbsp;results&nbsp;and exit polls&nbsp;give us about&nbsp;political&nbsp;trends in Kansas?

First, moderate Democratic candidates can be competitive in, and even win, statewide races. We knew this already, but now we know that this can hold true even with an unpopular Democratic president in office.

This year the polls told us that some statewide races would be close.&nbsp;They were right. Once all the votes are counted, Laura Kelly will narrowly win re-election.&nbsp;

The Attorney General race was also close.&nbsp;

Both Democrats in those races outperformed Joe Biden’s 2020 vote share.&nbsp;Even before the election,&nbsp;Kelly’s approval rating was much higher than Biden’s, which boded well for the governor.

Exit polling conducted&nbsp;in Kansas&nbsp;by Fox News&nbsp;tell&nbsp;an intriguing&nbsp;story&nbsp;about Kansas voters.

Most of the negative campaign ads against Kelly — and other Democratic candidates — tried to use the president as a liability, and the exit polling shows Biden has a 63% disapproval rating in the state.

But&nbsp;a&nbsp;majority of&nbsp;Kelly&nbsp;voters said their opinion of President Biden had nothing to do with their vote.&nbsp;And interestingly enough, 11%&nbsp;of Kelly voters said they used their vote to express opposition to Biden.

Even among&nbsp;voters who expressed moderate disapproval of the president, 57% voted for Laura Kelly.

This suggests that the so called “Kansas Democrat playbook” — where statewide Democratic candidates distance themselves from national Democrats, especially unpopular ones — still works&nbsp;and&nbsp;we’ll likely see it used in years to come.

Second, Kansans seem to like the status quo in Topeka… at least when it comes to how the branches of government interact with each other.

While Republicans will decisively control the state legislature, and Laura Kelly held on to the governorship, Amendment 1 failed.&nbsp;This amendment, also known as the “legislative veto” would have dramatically shifted the balance of power had it passed. It would have changed our system of checks and balances as we know it.

While the vote was close, it looks like the amendment will&nbsp;fail by a narrow margin.

I suspect this outcome was somewhat motivated by confusing ballot language,&nbsp;but also by an&nbsp;age-old&nbsp;reluctance to give any branch of government more power than they currently have.

The state house races certainly seem to maintain the status quo. Democrats flipped one House seat in Johnson County, but still fell two seats short of blocking the Republican supermajority in the chamber.

The retention of all seven Supreme Court justices is another testament to the status quo. Generally, justices are retained but this was a different year&nbsp;where those races could have been much more politicized than usual due to&nbsp;conservative backlash to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Hodes&nbsp;decision which established abortion as a right protected by the state constitution.

Kansans certainly gave us some nail biters this year&nbsp;with several races too close to call as Election Day&nbsp;came to a close.&nbsp;We’ll&nbsp;probably continue to&nbsp;see close races&nbsp;in the years to come&nbsp;as&nbsp;Kansans&nbsp;grapple with a rapidly changing political environment.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.</figcaption>
 </figure>Over the past several years public opinion polls have gotten a lot of heat — some of it deserved, some of it not — for not accurately predicting election results.Public opinion is only as accurate as the sample&nbsp;of voters polled&nbsp;and what&nbsp;those voters&nbsp;are willing to tell pollsters.&nbsp;As such, election outcomes will always be the best gauge of public opinion.But this year, the Kansas polls were mostly correct.What insights&nbsp;do this year’s&nbsp;results&nbsp;and exit polls&nbsp;give us about&nbsp;political&nbsp;trends in Kansas?<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>First, moderate Democratic candidates can be competitive in, and even win, statewide races. We knew this already, but now we know that this can hold true even with an unpopular Democratic president in office.This year the polls told us that some statewide races would be close.&nbsp;They were right. Once all the votes are counted, Laura Kelly will narrowly win re-election.&nbsp;The Attorney General race was also close.&nbsp;Both Democrats in those races outperformed Joe Biden’s 2020 vote share.&nbsp;Even before the election,&nbsp;Kelly’s approval rating was much higher than Biden’s, which boded well for the governor.Exit polling conducted&nbsp;in Kansas&nbsp;by Fox News&nbsp;tell&nbsp;an intriguing&nbsp;story&nbsp;about Kansas voters.Most of the negative campaign ads against Kelly — and other Democratic candidates — tried to use the president as a liability, and the exit polling shows Biden has a 63% disapproval rating in the state.But&nbsp;a&nbsp;majority of&nbsp;Kelly&nbsp;voters said their opinion of President Biden had nothing to do with their vote.&nbsp;And interestingly enough, 11%&nbsp;of Kelly voters said they used their vote to express opposition to Biden.Even among&nbsp;voters who expressed moderate disapproval of the president, 57% voted for Laura Kelly.This suggests that the so called “Kansas Democrat playbook” — where statewide Democratic candidates distance themselves from national Democrats, especially unpopular ones — still works&nbsp;and&nbsp;we’ll likely see it used in years to come.Second, Kansans seem to like the status quo in Topeka… at least when it comes to how the branches of government interact with each other.While Republicans will decisively control the state legislature, and Laura Kelly held on to the governorship, Amendment 1 failed.&nbsp;This amendment, also known as the “legislative veto” would have dramatically shifted the balance of power had it passed. It would have changed our system of checks and balances as we know it.While the vote was close, it looks like the amendment will&nbsp;fail by a narrow margin.I suspect this outcome was somewhat motivated by confusing ballot language,&nbsp;but also by an&nbsp;age-old&nbsp;reluctance to give any branch of government more power than they currently have.The state house races certainly seem to maintain the status quo. Democrats flipped one House seat in Johnson County, but still fell two seats short of blocking the Republican supermajority in the chamber.The retention of all seven Supreme Court justices is another testament to the status quo. Generally, justices are retained but this was a different year&nbsp;where those races could have been much more politicized than usual due to&nbsp;conservative backlash to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Hodes&nbsp;decision which established abortion as a right protected by the state constitution.Kansans certainly gave us some nail biters this year&nbsp;with several races too close to call as Election Day&nbsp;came to a close.&nbsp;We’ll&nbsp;probably continue to&nbsp;see close races&nbsp;in the years to come&nbsp;as&nbsp;Kansans&nbsp;grapple with a rapidly changing political environment.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: What results, exit polls say about Kansas trends

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

That was the title of a business book that was especially popular a few years ago, as a parable of how to deal with change. Today we’ll learn about a remarkable change that is coming to southwest Kansas, and it is literally about cheese. A new state-of-the-art cheese and whey protein processing plant is being constructed in Dodge City.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Joann Knight is executive director of the&nbsp;Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation with headquarters in Dodge City. She’s a native of the region and a graduate of Dodge City Community College and the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.&nbsp;

“Back in 1992, we started talking about recruiting dairies from California where they were being crowded out by population expansion,” Knight said.&nbsp;

Recruiting dairies became a successful strategy for the western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance in following decades. As milk production grew in western Kansas, leaders wanted to add value and create more jobs.&nbsp;

In 2021, Hilmar Cheese Company of Hilmar, Calif. announced that the company would build a state-of-the-art milk processing facility in Dodge City.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’re excited,” Knight said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“This will be a $630 million project and create 260 jobs. The average salary is projected to be $63,000.”&nbsp;

The plant will operate 365 days a year and have the capacity to handle 260 tanker trucks of milk per day, the equivalent of the production of 110,000 cows. “They’ll be bringing in milk from across the region,” Knight said.&nbsp;

Hilmar Cheese Company was founded in 1984 by 12 dairy farm families in central California. In 2007, the company opened a production facility in Dalhart, Texas. The company is now one of the world’s largest producers of high quality, American-style cheese and whey products.&nbsp;

“Hilmar is an incredibly environmentally sensitive company,” Knight said. One of the factors that attracted Hilmar to Dodge City is the city’s innovative wastewater treatment system, which has won numerous awards.&nbsp;

“Milk is mostly water,” Knight said. “Once the cheese solids and whey are removed, that water will be recycled and reused. It can be re-irrigated and used in the biogas production system. They’ll actually be injecting water back into the aquifer.”&nbsp;

David Ahlem is president and CEO of Hilmar Cheese Company. “Dodge City gives us many opportunities, including a local and skilled labor force, a supportive and expanding agricultural region, and an excellent transportation network that allows us to easily reach our expanding markets,” he said at the time of the announcement in 2021.&nbsp;

The company specializes in the production of cheddar and American-style cheeses used by private label and national brand companies worldwide. It currently produces such cheeses as cheddar, monterey jack, pepper jack, colby, colby jack and mozzarella.&nbsp;

Whey is processed into whey protein products that are used as ingredients in many foods including nutritional beverages and bars; and lactose, which is marketed internationally as an ingredient in confections and infant formula. Hilmar exports products to 50 countries.&nbsp;

Increased demand for milk will benefit area dairies such as High Plains Ponderosa Dairy near the rural southwest Kansas community of Plains, population 1,037 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

“Dairy production is so advanced these days,” Knight said. “They’re using robotic milkers and computer operators. They monitor 600 data points on each cow and can test the milk on the spot with their state of the art system.”&nbsp;

“The economic impact will be compounded substantially by the additional dairies, transportation and services that will be required. This could double the dairy industry in southwest Kansas.”&nbsp;

For more information about the company, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hilmarcheese.com/">www.hilmarcheese.com</a>. For more information about business opportunities in the region, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dodgedev.org/">www.dodgedev.org</a>.&nbsp;

“Who Moved My Cheese?”&nbsp;&nbsp;A few years ago, that was a popular business book about change, and now we are excited to see this change in the southwest region of the state.&nbsp;

We commend Joann Knight and the people of Hilmar Dairy for making a difference with this investment in value-added agriculture processing.&nbsp;&nbsp;I’m glad to see that the production of this cheese has moved to rural Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668003356032.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development“Who Moved My Cheese?”&nbsp;That was the title of a business book that was especially popular a few years ago, as a parable of how to deal with change. Today we’ll learn about a remarkable change that is coming to southwest Kansas, and it is literally about cheese. A new state-of-the-art cheese and whey protein processing plant is being constructed in Dodge City.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Joann Knight is executive director of the&nbsp;Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation with headquarters in Dodge City. She’s a native of the region and a graduate of Dodge City Community College and the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.&nbsp;“Back in 1992, we started talking about recruiting dairies from California where they were being crowded out by population expansion,” Knight said.&nbsp;Recruiting dairies became a successful strategy for the western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance in following decades. As milk production grew in western Kansas, leaders wanted to add value and create more jobs.&nbsp;In 2021, Hilmar Cheese Company of Hilmar, Calif. announced that the company would build a state-of-the-art milk processing facility in Dodge City.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’re excited,” Knight said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“This will be a $630 million project and create 260 jobs. The average salary is projected to be $63,000.”&nbsp;The plant will operate 365 days a year and have the capacity to handle 260 tanker trucks of milk per day, the equivalent of the production of 110,000 cows. “They’ll be bringing in milk from across the region,” Knight said.&nbsp;Hilmar Cheese Company was founded in 1984 by 12 dairy farm families in central California. In 2007, the company opened a production facility in Dalhart, Texas. The company is now one of the world’s largest producers of high quality, American-style cheese and whey products.&nbsp;“Hilmar is an incredibly environmentally sensitive company,” Knight said. One of the factors that attracted Hilmar to Dodge City is the city’s innovative wastewater treatment system, which has won numerous awards.&nbsp;“Milk is mostly water,” Knight said. “Once the cheese solids and whey are removed, that water will be recycled and reused. It can be re-irrigated and used in the biogas production system. They’ll actually be injecting water back into the aquifer.”&nbsp;David Ahlem is president and CEO of Hilmar Cheese Company. “Dodge City gives us many opportunities, including a local and skilled labor force, a supportive and expanding agricultural region, and an excellent transportation network that allows us to easily reach our expanding markets,” he said at the time of the announcement in 2021.&nbsp;The company specializes in the production of cheddar and American-style cheeses used by private label and national brand companies worldwide. It currently produces such cheeses as cheddar, monterey jack, pepper jack, colby, colby jack and mozzarella.&nbsp;Whey is processed into whey protein products that are used as ingredients in many foods including nutritional beverages and bars; and lactose, which is marketed internationally as an ingredient in confections and infant formula. Hilmar exports products to 50 countries.&nbsp;Increased demand for milk will benefit area dairies such as High Plains Ponderosa Dairy near the rural southwest Kansas community of Plains, population 1,037 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;“Dairy production is so advanced these days,” Knight said. “They’re using robotic milkers and computer operators. They monitor 600 data points on each cow and can test the milk on the spot with their state of the art system.”&nbsp;“The economic impact will be compounded substantially by the additional dairies, transportation and services that will be required. This could double the dairy industry in southwest Kansas.”&nbsp;For more information about the company, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hilmarcheese.com/">www.hilmarcheese.com</a>. For more information about business opportunities in the region, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dodgedev.org/">www.dodgedev.org</a>.&nbsp;“Who Moved My Cheese?”&nbsp;&nbsp;A few years ago, that was a popular business book about change, and now we are excited to see this change in the southwest region of the state.&nbsp;We commend Joann Knight and the people of Hilmar Dairy for making a difference with this investment in value-added agriculture processing.&nbsp;&nbsp;I’m glad to see that the production of this cheese has moved to rural Kansas.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Joann Knight, Hilmar Cheese 

In late November of 1996, we moved to a rural property on a limestone hilltop west of Ellis. By the time we got into the house,&nbsp;leaves&nbsp;swirled about the yard,&nbsp;hinting at greenery&nbsp;we could&nbsp;expect&nbsp;to see once&nbsp;spring&nbsp;arrived. 

A&nbsp;deep&nbsp;draw filled with standing and fallen trees as well as lots of bushes&nbsp;ran into Big Creek west of the house.&nbsp;I impatiently&nbsp;awaited&nbsp;warm weather and longer days&nbsp;to see what grew in that wildlife-rich habitat. I&nbsp;loved&nbsp;discovering&nbsp;not only ash, hackberry, cottonwood, and cedar trees, but also chokecherry bushes and wild grape vines&nbsp;filled that&nbsp;drainage. &nbsp;Over time,&nbsp;thick&nbsp;vines&nbsp;had&nbsp;climbed&nbsp;so high into the trees that birds&nbsp;had&nbsp;far greater odds of&nbsp;harvesting&nbsp;grapes&nbsp;than we&nbsp;did.&nbsp;Though our soil&nbsp;appeared&nbsp;rocky and barren, in reality,&nbsp;it suited wild grapes perfectly.&nbsp;It made me wonder how a vineyard would do in this region.

​Apparently, others shared&nbsp;my question. A decade later,&nbsp;a&nbsp;Wakeeney/Voda&nbsp;farm family with&nbsp;necessary skills and resources&nbsp;saw&nbsp;potential&nbsp;in raising&nbsp;grapes. They&nbsp;planted scores of vines, and birthed&nbsp;Shiloh Vineyard. &nbsp;Their dream has grown&nbsp;enough&nbsp;so they&nbsp;not only produce regional wines but they also host weddings,&nbsp;business,&nbsp;family,&nbsp;and friend gatherings, and 70th&nbsp;birthday parties. Yep, a friend invited me to her milestone birthday&nbsp;held last week at Shiloh Vineyard. Who knew&nbsp;adding a year&nbsp;could be so much fun.

​Attending&nbsp;that celebration&nbsp;offered&nbsp;15 of us the chance to see how&nbsp;Kirk and Treva Johnston have worked&nbsp;hard&nbsp;to turn their family farm into a&nbsp;successful winery and event destination. Guests&nbsp;can&nbsp;enjoy the western Kansas prairie while learning more about the vineyard and wines. I’d&nbsp;guess&nbsp;listening to a meadowlark serenade or&nbsp;watching a&nbsp;stunning&nbsp;sunset while sipping&nbsp;local wine&nbsp;creates&nbsp;favorite memories. &nbsp;The Johnstons&nbsp;offer a tour of their operation that includes a peek at huge casks where wine&nbsp;chemistry&nbsp;takes place&nbsp;as well&nbsp;showing off&nbsp;their&nbsp;rustic dining&nbsp;venue&nbsp;where&nbsp;guests can celebrate weddings, anniversaries, work, graduations, or just because. The tasting room and outdoor gathering area&nbsp;sit&nbsp;north of the barn.&nbsp;

​My friend chose to celebrate her 7 decades&nbsp;in the tasting room. It’s cozy enough to encourage visiting&nbsp;across the room between&nbsp;samples&nbsp;of&nbsp;wines&nbsp;and nibbles of crackers and cheese.&nbsp;During my decades,&nbsp;I’ve watched a movie or two where&nbsp;knowledgeable&nbsp;folk&nbsp;sniff and swirl glasses of wine, but&nbsp;I never understood that&nbsp;smelling&nbsp;the bouquet business&nbsp;or the differences&nbsp;between dry, semi-sweet, sweet, whites, reds, and dessert wines. Kirk and Treva&nbsp;offer down to earth&nbsp;guidelines&nbsp;to&nbsp;help&nbsp;guests who know nothing&nbsp;make sense of wine tasting.&nbsp;Many party&nbsp;guests&nbsp;knew more than I, but all of us learned something. My favorite lesson involved discovering a coffee flavored dessert wine that&nbsp;made my taste buds tap dance.&nbsp;I would never guess&nbsp;you&nbsp;could ferment coffee and grapes to&nbsp;create&nbsp;after-dinner magic.&nbsp;

​I counted&nbsp;it&nbsp;a blessing&nbsp;to help a dear friend celebrate a milestone birthday,&nbsp;but&nbsp;doing&nbsp;that while enjoying&nbsp;an afternoon on&nbsp;the prairie&nbsp;paired&nbsp;with&nbsp;an&nbsp;opportunity&nbsp;to learn something new about our state’s agriculture&nbsp;made the day extra special.&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;grapes and&nbsp;wine may end up as famous as its&nbsp;wheat.

Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

​By KAREN MADORINIn late November of 1996, we moved to a rural property on a limestone hilltop west of Ellis. By the time we got into the house,&nbsp;leaves&nbsp;swirled about the yard,&nbsp;hinting at greenery&nbsp;we could&nbsp;expect&nbsp;to see once&nbsp;spring&nbsp;arrived. A&nbsp;deep&nbsp;draw filled with standing and fallen trees as well as lots of bushes&nbsp;ran into Big Creek west of the house.&nbsp;I impatiently&nbsp;awaited&nbsp;warm weather and longer days&nbsp;to see what grew in that wildlife-rich habitat. I&nbsp;loved&nbsp;discovering&nbsp;not only ash, hackberry, cottonwood, and cedar trees, but also chokecherry bushes and wild grape vines&nbsp;filled that&nbsp;drainage. &nbsp;Over time,&nbsp;thick&nbsp;vines&nbsp;had&nbsp;climbed&nbsp;so high into the trees that birds&nbsp;had&nbsp;far greater odds of&nbsp;harvesting&nbsp;grapes&nbsp;than we&nbsp;did.&nbsp;Though our soil&nbsp;appeared&nbsp;rocky and barren, in reality,&nbsp;it suited wild grapes perfectly.&nbsp;It made me wonder how a vineyard would do in this region.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>​Apparently, others shared&nbsp;my question. A decade later,&nbsp;a&nbsp;Wakeeney/Voda&nbsp;farm family with&nbsp;necessary skills and resources&nbsp;saw&nbsp;potential&nbsp;in raising&nbsp;grapes. They&nbsp;planted scores of vines, and birthed&nbsp;Shiloh Vineyard. &nbsp;Their dream has grown&nbsp;enough&nbsp;so they&nbsp;not only produce regional wines but they also host weddings,&nbsp;business,&nbsp;family,&nbsp;and friend gatherings, and 70th&nbsp;birthday parties. Yep, a friend invited me to her milestone birthday&nbsp;held last week at Shiloh Vineyard. Who knew&nbsp;adding a year&nbsp;could be so much fun.​Attending&nbsp;that celebration&nbsp;offered&nbsp;15 of us the chance to see how&nbsp;Kirk and Treva Johnston have worked&nbsp;hard&nbsp;to turn their family farm into a&nbsp;successful winery and event destination. Guests&nbsp;can&nbsp;enjoy the western Kansas prairie while learning more about the vineyard and wines. I’d&nbsp;guess&nbsp;listening to a meadowlark serenade or&nbsp;watching a&nbsp;stunning&nbsp;sunset while sipping&nbsp;local wine&nbsp;creates&nbsp;favorite memories. &nbsp;The Johnstons&nbsp;offer a tour of their operation that includes a peek at huge casks where wine&nbsp;chemistry&nbsp;takes place&nbsp;as well&nbsp;showing off&nbsp;their&nbsp;rustic dining&nbsp;venue&nbsp;where&nbsp;guests can celebrate weddings, anniversaries, work, graduations, or just because. The tasting room and outdoor gathering area&nbsp;sit&nbsp;north of the barn.&nbsp;​My friend chose to celebrate her 7 decades&nbsp;in the tasting room. It’s cozy enough to encourage visiting&nbsp;across the room between&nbsp;samples&nbsp;of&nbsp;wines&nbsp;and nibbles of crackers and cheese.&nbsp;During my decades,&nbsp;I’ve watched a movie or two where&nbsp;knowledgeable&nbsp;folk&nbsp;sniff and swirl glasses of wine, but&nbsp;I never understood that&nbsp;smelling&nbsp;the bouquet business&nbsp;or the differences&nbsp;between dry, semi-sweet, sweet, whites, reds, and dessert wines. Kirk and Treva&nbsp;offer down to earth&nbsp;guidelines&nbsp;to&nbsp;help&nbsp;guests who know nothing&nbsp;make sense of wine tasting.&nbsp;Many party&nbsp;guests&nbsp;knew more than I, but all of us learned something. My favorite lesson involved discovering a coffee flavored dessert wine that&nbsp;made my taste buds tap dance.&nbsp;I would never guess&nbsp;you&nbsp;could ferment coffee and grapes to&nbsp;create&nbsp;after-dinner magic.&nbsp;​I counted&nbsp;it&nbsp;a blessing&nbsp;to help a dear friend celebrate a milestone birthday,&nbsp;but&nbsp;doing&nbsp;that while enjoying&nbsp;an afternoon on&nbsp;the prairie&nbsp;paired&nbsp;with&nbsp;an&nbsp;opportunity&nbsp;to learn something new about our state’s agriculture&nbsp;made the day extra special.&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;grapes and&nbsp;wine may end up as famous as its&nbsp;wheat.Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

MADORIN: Seeing western Kansas possibility

AARP Kansas strongly opposes a proposal by Midwest Energy to add a new demand charge to residential customer bills. The company, a customer-owned electric and natural gas cooperative that serves 93,000 customers in 40 counties in central and western Kansas, is considering a three-part rate structure&nbsp;featuring a customer charge, energy charge and a demand charge, beginning Jan. 1, 2023.&nbsp;AARP urges the Midwest Energy Board to soundly reject the proposal at its meeting on November 17, 2022.

Demand rates would add a monthly charge for the customer’s highest peak demand use. Midwest Energy would base the charge in the summer on peak demand time from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the maximum monthly kilowatt peak used in a 15-minute interval in all other months.

“Such a charge is confusing and hard for customers to respond to,” said AARP Kansas State Director Glenda DuBoise. “Customers would not know when they incurred such a charge absent using the utility’s Customer Connect portal to track down the information. Such a difficult new charge to anticipate and track down should not be added to the bill.

“Even though the overall change may be revenue neutral, customers who do not pay attention to their energy use could face dramatically higher energy bills,” said DuBoise. “Such surprise charges are unfair to customers, do little to change energy consumption and are unreasonable in these inflationary times.”

AARP Kansas is urging Midwest Energy to withdraw the proposal and stick with volumetric rates, including a monthly customer charge. A voluntary time of use rate may be another option.&nbsp;

“In this time of rising energy costs, now is not the time to impose a confusing and unnecessary residential rate design change,” said DuBoise. “If one must be implemented, AARP suggests that Midwest Energy make it a rate option or pilot tested.”

Submitted by AARP KansasAARP Kansas strongly opposes a proposal by Midwest Energy to add a new demand charge to residential customer bills. The company, a customer-owned electric and natural gas cooperative that serves 93,000 customers in 40 counties in central and western Kansas, is considering a three-part rate structure&nbsp;featuring a customer charge, energy charge and a demand charge, beginning Jan. 1, 2023.&nbsp;AARP urges the Midwest Energy Board to soundly reject the proposal at its meeting on November 17, 2022.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Demand rates would add a monthly charge for the customer’s highest peak demand use. Midwest Energy would base the charge in the summer on peak demand time from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the maximum monthly kilowatt peak used in a 15-minute interval in all other months.“Such a charge is confusing and hard for customers to respond to,” said AARP Kansas State Director Glenda DuBoise. “Customers would not know when they incurred such a charge absent using the utility’s Customer Connect portal to track down the information. Such a difficult new charge to anticipate and track down should not be added to the bill.“Even though the overall change may be revenue neutral, customers who do not pay attention to their energy use could face dramatically higher energy bills,” said DuBoise. “Such surprise charges are unfair to customers, do little to change energy consumption and are unreasonable in these inflationary times.”AARP Kansas is urging Midwest Energy to withdraw the proposal and stick with volumetric rates, including a monthly customer charge. A voluntary time of use rate may be another option.&nbsp;“In this time of rising energy costs, now is not the time to impose a confusing and unnecessary residential rate design change,” said DuBoise. “If one must be implemented, AARP suggests that Midwest Energy make it a rate option or pilot tested.”

LETTER: AARP asks Midwest Energy board to reject rate proposal

Throughout&nbsp;the year,&nbsp;we host several events to thank&nbsp;the&nbsp;philanthropists who fuel the dreams of our students. I really love the fact that as we thank our&nbsp;supporters, we also honor the students&nbsp;impacted by their generosity.&nbsp;Bringing the students and&nbsp;their benefactors&nbsp;together&nbsp;creates an&nbsp;amazing&nbsp;opportunity&nbsp;to&nbsp;witness firsthand the ripple effect&nbsp;of philanthropy&nbsp;in action – those who inspire dreams and those whose&nbsp;lives are&nbsp;transformed&nbsp;in predictable and&nbsp;often&nbsp;unanticipated ways.

Often, these events allow participants to share the "why" behind their investment in others and ponder the "how" – how lives are forever changed through their efforts. These conversations evoke a deep sense of significance and pride.&nbsp;

For example,&nbsp;the&nbsp;recent&nbsp;College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences reception, featuring&nbsp;keynote speaker&nbsp;Patrick McGinnis,&nbsp;'91,&nbsp;'20,&nbsp;and&nbsp;'22,&nbsp;definitely provided witness to the power of philanthropy. I was eager to hear Patrick talk –&nbsp;after all, I consider&nbsp;Patrick&nbsp;a hometown heroentrepreneur, pastor, social worker, and overall good guy. The embodiment of a generous spirit.

A tiger by heredity, Patrick's&nbsp;mom and dad graduated with Fine Arts degrees in 1960. His dad also received a master's degree in fine arts&nbsp;and served as a professor of ceramics at FHSU for 30 years.&nbsp;Patrick's&nbsp;Tiger roots go wide&nbsp;and deep.&nbsp;A remarkable 17 of&nbsp;Patrick's siblings and their families have earned 21 different FHSU degrees.

Patrick shared treasured memories of how his dad loved his students – pouring into&nbsp;each studentlessons&nbsp;of&nbsp;art and of life. His mom and dad&nbsp;also&nbsp;taught Patrick and his siblings&nbsp;many life lessons.Lessons like why&nbsp;freedom of&nbsp;creative&nbsp;expression is&nbsp;worth fighting for,&nbsp;that&nbsp;art and the process of expressing yourself&nbsp;have&nbsp;the power to change lives,&nbsp;and&nbsp;that people pulling together in a University that empowers&nbsp;them&nbsp;could make the world a better place. I was so drawn in,&nbsp;listening to this amazing person describe on a&nbsp;very&nbsp;personal level the mission of Fort Hays State University.

Patrick described the transformative education we work hard to create.&nbsp;"In my life and career, I have learned the importance of creating space for important things like real, 'count on you,'&nbsp;kind of relationships.&nbsp;FHSU has created and nurtured that space for me and my siblings,&nbsp;and&nbsp;for our kids."

I often talk about the ethic of care that is&nbsp;at&nbsp;the heart of this university. In Patrick's words,&nbsp;"Fort Hays&nbsp;State&nbsp;is&nbsp;far more than an institution of learning.&nbsp;It's&nbsp;like a longtime friend. You&nbsp;can recount and reminisce&nbsp;with other Tigers&nbsp;about all of the wonderful people&nbsp;who&nbsp;made a difference in your life and&nbsp;the lives of&nbsp;so many others.&nbsp;Through people&nbsp;who&nbsp;actually cared for me and my family on campus and off. We thrived as a family in large part because&nbsp;this university&nbsp;provided&nbsp;all&nbsp;of&nbsp;the right components to create the best and get the best from people."

The philanthropy of the McGinnis family is given with a strong desire to offer students the opportunity to share in the amazing culture of Fort Hays State University that&nbsp;each McGinnis uniquely&nbsp;experienced. They are investing&nbsp;in a culture they believe will create many generations&nbsp;of graduates who will go forward,&nbsp;embracing&nbsp;our&nbsp;ethic&nbsp;of care, along with&nbsp;a willingness to sacrifice for one another&nbsp;and challenge each other.

The generosity of the McGinnis family runs deep – from their investment&nbsp;in our students and programs to the many ways they serve this&nbsp;community with love and selflessness. The McGinnis family freely offers friendship and hope to anyone with whom they interact.

I end this column with the words Patrick chose to end his remarks, quoting John Denver, as Patrick and John&nbsp;ask&nbsp;each of us to challenge one&nbsp;another to reach for the heavens and hope for the future, for all&nbsp;that we can be, not just what we are. Thank you,&nbsp;Patrick and the McGinnisfamily,&nbsp;for your legacy and your love.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>Throughout&nbsp;the year,&nbsp;we host several events to thank&nbsp;the&nbsp;philanthropists who fuel the dreams of our students. I really love the fact that as we thank our&nbsp;supporters, we also honor the students&nbsp;impacted by their generosity.&nbsp;Bringing the students and&nbsp;their benefactors&nbsp;together&nbsp;creates an&nbsp;amazing&nbsp;opportunity&nbsp;to&nbsp;witness firsthand the ripple effect&nbsp;of philanthropy&nbsp;in action – those who inspire dreams and those whose&nbsp;lives are&nbsp;transformed&nbsp;in predictable and&nbsp;often&nbsp;unanticipated ways.Often, these events allow participants to share the "why" behind their investment in others and ponder the "how" – how lives are forever changed through their efforts. These conversations evoke a deep sense of significance and pride.&nbsp;For example,&nbsp;the&nbsp;recent&nbsp;College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences reception, featuring&nbsp;keynote speaker&nbsp;Patrick McGinnis,&nbsp;'91,&nbsp;'20,&nbsp;and&nbsp;'22,&nbsp;definitely provided witness to the power of philanthropy. I was eager to hear Patrick talk –&nbsp;after all, I consider&nbsp;Patrick&nbsp;a hometown heroentrepreneur, pastor, social worker, and overall good guy. The embodiment of a generous spirit.A tiger by heredity, Patrick's&nbsp;mom and dad graduated with Fine Arts degrees in 1960. His dad also received a master's degree in fine arts&nbsp;and served as a professor of ceramics at FHSU for 30 years.&nbsp;Patrick's&nbsp;Tiger roots go wide&nbsp;and deep.&nbsp;A remarkable 17 of&nbsp;Patrick's siblings and their families have earned 21 different FHSU degrees.Patrick shared treasured memories of how his dad loved his students – pouring into&nbsp;each studentlessons&nbsp;of&nbsp;art and of life. His mom and dad&nbsp;also&nbsp;taught Patrick and his siblings&nbsp;many life lessons.Lessons like why&nbsp;freedom of&nbsp;creative&nbsp;expression is&nbsp;worth fighting for,&nbsp;that&nbsp;art and the process of expressing yourself&nbsp;have&nbsp;the power to change lives,&nbsp;and&nbsp;that people pulling together in a University that empowers&nbsp;them&nbsp;could make the world a better place. I was so drawn in,&nbsp;listening to this amazing person describe on a&nbsp;very&nbsp;personal level the mission of Fort Hays State University.Patrick described the transformative education we work hard to create.&nbsp;"In my life and career, I have learned the importance of creating space for important things like real, 'count on you,'&nbsp;kind of relationships.&nbsp;FHSU has created and nurtured that space for me and my siblings,&nbsp;and&nbsp;for our kids."I often talk about the ethic of care that is&nbsp;at&nbsp;the heart of this university. In Patrick's words,&nbsp;"Fort Hays&nbsp;State&nbsp;is&nbsp;far more than an institution of learning.&nbsp;It's&nbsp;like a longtime friend. You&nbsp;can recount and reminisce&nbsp;with other Tigers&nbsp;about all of the wonderful people&nbsp;who&nbsp;made a difference in your life and&nbsp;the lives of&nbsp;so many others.&nbsp;Through people&nbsp;who&nbsp;actually cared for me and my family on campus and off. We thrived as a family in large part because&nbsp;this university&nbsp;provided&nbsp;all&nbsp;of&nbsp;the right components to create the best and get the best from people."The philanthropy of the McGinnis family is given with a strong desire to offer students the opportunity to share in the amazing culture of Fort Hays State University that&nbsp;each McGinnis uniquely&nbsp;experienced. They are investing&nbsp;in a culture they believe will create many generations&nbsp;of graduates who will go forward,&nbsp;embracing&nbsp;our&nbsp;ethic&nbsp;of care, along with&nbsp;a willingness to sacrifice for one another&nbsp;and challenge each other.The generosity of the McGinnis family runs deep – from their investment&nbsp;in our students and programs to the many ways they serve this&nbsp;community with love and selflessness. The McGinnis family freely offers friendship and hope to anyone with whom they interact.I end this column with the words Patrick chose to end his remarks, quoting John Denver, as Patrick and John&nbsp;ask&nbsp;each of us to challenge one&nbsp;another to reach for the heavens and hope for the future, for all&nbsp;that we can be, not just what we are. Thank you,&nbsp;Patrick and the McGinnisfamily,&nbsp;for your legacy and your love.

Heart of a Tiger: Patrick McGinnis & the power of community

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher

There’s something to be said about waking up to the sound of rain on a roof and thunder rumbling in the distance. Add in a dash of lightning momentarily highlighting an otherwise dark sky, and we have the start of a glorious fall day! &nbsp; It’s no secret I prefer the warm sunlight to awaken me from my slumber. But, after experiencing an incredibly hot and dry year that undoubtedly impacted our crops and attitudes, I jumped out of bed before my alarm clock went off to start my day. After all, it was raining, and it would continue to rain for the duration of the day.&nbsp; &nbsp; It was a cold and dark morning, which required wool socks and warm coffee as we got the kids moving and prepared for school. Generally, I’m not a fan of feeling cold in the morning, but I threw on a sweatshirt and happily packed the kids’ lunches and then gleefully made their breakfasts because it was raining and it would continue to rain for the remainder of the day.&nbsp; &nbsp; After getting the kids on the bus, my husband and I decided to make a trip into town to enjoy a warm breakfast together at our local cafe. It’s a tradition we haven’t practiced in a while but enjoy whenever there is a morning rain. &nbsp; I quickly put my hair up in a ponytail while walking out the door and cheerfully accepted that I’d probably have a bad hair day. But that didn’t matter. It was raining and it would continue to rain for the rest of the day.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh, how this morning rain was perfectly timed! After all, we had just wrapped up our fall harvest the day before feeling tired and deflated knowing it wasn’t the greatest of harvests. We gave thanks at the dinner table for the harvest we did have, asked for the rain forecast to hold, and then went to bed.&nbsp; &nbsp; And in the cold and dark early hours of the morning, the rain indeed arrived. And it remained a steady presence for the rest of the day and into the evening. &nbsp; The sun remained hidden behind the clouds and the temperature required me to keep my wool socks and sweater on all day. We enjoyed warm soup for lunch and office work that had been neglected because we haven’t had an opportunity to break from fall harvest.&nbsp; &nbsp; To others it was probably an otherwise no good, dreary and drab November day. A day that one would prefer to avoid for the sake of comfort, morale, or even style.&nbsp; &nbsp; But for me, it turned out to be a glorious fall day! All because I awoke to the sound of rain.&nbsp;

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher There’s something to be said about waking up to the sound of rain on a roof and thunder rumbling in the distance. Add in a dash of lightning momentarily highlighting an otherwise dark sky, and we have the start of a glorious fall day! &nbsp; It’s no secret I prefer the warm sunlight to awaken me from my slumber. But, after experiencing an incredibly hot and dry year that undoubtedly impacted our crops and attitudes, I jumped out of bed before my alarm clock went off to start my day. After all, it was raining, and it would continue to rain for the duration of the day.&nbsp; &nbsp; It was a cold and dark morning, which required wool socks and warm coffee as we got the kids moving and prepared for school. Generally, I’m not a fan of feeling cold in the morning, but I threw on a sweatshirt and happily packed the kids’ lunches and then gleefully made their breakfasts because it was raining and it would continue to rain for the remainder of the day.&nbsp; &nbsp; After getting the kids on the bus, my husband and I decided to make a trip into town to enjoy a warm breakfast together at our local cafe. It’s a tradition we haven’t practiced in a while but enjoy whenever there is a morning rain. &nbsp; I quickly put my hair up in a ponytail while walking out the door and cheerfully accepted that I’d probably have a bad hair day. But that didn’t matter. It was raining and it would continue to rain for the rest of the day.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh, how this morning rain was perfectly timed! After all, we had just wrapped up our fall harvest the day before feeling tired and deflated knowing it wasn’t the greatest of harvests. We gave thanks at the dinner table for the harvest we did have, asked for the rain forecast to hold, and then went to bed.&nbsp; &nbsp; And in the cold and dark early hours of the morning, the rain indeed arrived. And it remained a steady presence for the rest of the day and into the evening. &nbsp; The sun remained hidden behind the clouds and the temperature required me to keep my wool socks and sweater on all day. We enjoyed warm soup for lunch and office work that had been neglected because we haven’t had an opportunity to break from fall harvest.&nbsp; &nbsp; To others it was probably an otherwise no good, dreary and drab November day. A day that one would prefer to avoid for the sake of comfort, morale, or even style.&nbsp; &nbsp; But for me, it turned out to be a glorious fall day! All because I awoke to the sound of rain.&nbsp;"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: The sound of rain

With&nbsp;Kansas waterfowl season well underway, and&nbsp;upland gamebird season starting&nbsp;Saturday,&nbsp;November 12, I&nbsp;began thinking about all the skilled hunting dogs that are,&nbsp;and will be living&nbsp;their&nbsp;best life&nbsp;for the next couple months,&nbsp;finding and retrieving game for their owners&nbsp;/ hunters. There is nothing more&nbsp;pleasing&nbsp;to watch then a good&nbsp;bird&nbsp;dog as it&nbsp;points a sitting pheasant for the hunters, or a good retriever&nbsp;as every muscle in its body tenses at the shot and&nbsp;it&nbsp;watches for its chance to retrieve the downed duck or goose for its master.&nbsp;It&nbsp;all reminds me of a story about&nbsp;another dog, though not quite as gifted.

Call it a problem, or call it an inconvenience, but a challenge for all of us hunters, fishermen and trappers who don’t live in the country or who don’t own land is finding a place to unload carcasses and those “parts and pieces” remaining after cleaning fish and game.&nbsp;A friend&nbsp;recently told me that this summer someone had cleaned a mess of frogs and deposited the remains on the back corner of their property&nbsp;without permission; not good. And NO it wasn’t me!&nbsp;Anyway, that reminded me of an “incident” some years back, involving the&nbsp;above-mentioned&nbsp;dog.

My sister had an old dog&nbsp;named Jake, a stray as I remember it. Jake was old and a little crippled and was kind of the&nbsp;color of light brown gravy.&nbsp;Jake often seemed dumber than a bag of hammers, but he knew no strangers. He was big and stocky and when his tail got to waggin’ his whole back end wagged. His back half would fling from side-to-side so violently I often expected something from back there to come loose and fly across the yard! He always greeted visitors with something in his mouth, wanting to play fetch; trouble was, that “something” was always&nbsp;a 2x4 or&nbsp;a tree limb&nbsp;about 4 feet long, and once his body got to waggin’ with his chosen tree limb or 2x4 in his mouth, he could easily take you out with a whack across the legs. Ole’ Jake’s obsession took him far and wide over the farm to find just the right&nbsp;object to carry around in his position as head greeter&nbsp;there.

Every livestock farm raising&nbsp;chickens, turkeys, hogs, sheep or cattle, like it or not has occasional casualties from sickness or cold weather. And every livestock farm has a “bone pile,” a spot somewhere in the “back 40” where carcasses can be dumped in a ravine or a briar patch as a way to discreetly dispose of them while Mother Nature and the coyotes compost them. The first year I trapped beavers here in Kansas, I learned to take advantage of the bone pile on my sister’s farm, which was several hundred&nbsp;yards from the buildings,&nbsp;as a convenient way to dispose of beaver carcasses after I had removed their pelts. I had traps nearby, so every time I caught a&nbsp;beaver,&nbsp;I’d just carry the carcass with me the following morning and deposit it on the&nbsp;pile when I was in the neighborhood; very convenient for me.

One particularly cold morning I got a call from my sister; she sounded a little miffed, but I could tell she was on the verge of laughter even as we spoke. It seems she looked out into the yard&nbsp;this cold frozen morning to find Jake playing with his usual large prize, but something looked odd about that day’s trophy, so curiosity sent her into the yard to see just what he had found this time. As she approached, Jake’s back end began to wag feverishly, thinking someone was coming to play fetch with him and his prize,&nbsp;and he spun around&nbsp;joyfully&nbsp;and greeted her with a frozen beaver carcass from the bone pile clenched proudly in his big yap!&nbsp;

Yup, dogs are the epitome of unconditional love and acceptance. One minute they can seem dumber than a box of rocks, the next minute they curl up beside you in your old recliner and become your most loyal friend, despite the names you have just called them for performing certain hygiene functions in the middle of&nbsp;the dining room.&nbsp;Everyone&nbsp;of working age in our society today could also&nbsp;learn from a&nbsp;dog’s exuberance to work and / or to please its master.&nbsp;Mutts, you&nbsp;gotta; love em’!&nbsp;Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>With&nbsp;Kansas waterfowl season well underway, and&nbsp;upland gamebird season starting&nbsp;Saturday,&nbsp;November 12, I&nbsp;began thinking about all the skilled hunting dogs that are,&nbsp;and will be living&nbsp;their&nbsp;best life&nbsp;for the next couple months,&nbsp;finding and retrieving game for their owners&nbsp;/ hunters. There is nothing more&nbsp;pleasing&nbsp;to watch then a good&nbsp;bird&nbsp;dog as it&nbsp;points a sitting pheasant for the hunters, or a good retriever&nbsp;as every muscle in its body tenses at the shot and&nbsp;it&nbsp;watches for its chance to retrieve the downed duck or goose for its master.&nbsp;It&nbsp;all reminds me of a story about&nbsp;another dog, though not quite as gifted.Call it a problem, or call it an inconvenience, but a challenge for all of us hunters, fishermen and trappers who don’t live in the country or who don’t own land is finding a place to unload carcasses and those “parts and pieces” remaining after cleaning fish and game.&nbsp;A friend&nbsp;recently told me that this summer someone had cleaned a mess of frogs and deposited the remains on the back corner of their property&nbsp;without permission; not good. And NO it wasn’t me!&nbsp;Anyway, that reminded me of an “incident” some years back, involving the&nbsp;above-mentioned&nbsp;dog.My sister had an old dog&nbsp;named Jake, a stray as I remember it. Jake was old and a little crippled and was kind of the&nbsp;color of light brown gravy.&nbsp;Jake often seemed dumber than a bag of hammers, but he knew no strangers. He was big and stocky and when his tail got to waggin’ his whole back end wagged. His back half would fling from side-to-side so violently I often expected something from back there to come loose and fly across the yard! He always greeted visitors with something in his mouth, wanting to play fetch; trouble was, that “something” was always&nbsp;a 2x4 or&nbsp;a tree limb&nbsp;about 4 feet long, and once his body got to waggin’ with his chosen tree limb or 2x4 in his mouth, he could easily take you out with a whack across the legs. Ole’ Jake’s obsession took him far and wide over the farm to find just the right&nbsp;object to carry around in his position as head greeter&nbsp;there.Every livestock farm raising&nbsp;chickens, turkeys, hogs, sheep or cattle, like it or not has occasional casualties from sickness or cold weather. And every livestock farm has a “bone pile,” a spot somewhere in the “back 40” where carcasses can be dumped in a ravine or a briar patch as a way to discreetly dispose of them while Mother Nature and the coyotes compost them. The first year I trapped beavers here in Kansas, I learned to take advantage of the bone pile on my sister’s farm, which was several hundred&nbsp;yards from the buildings,&nbsp;as a convenient way to dispose of beaver carcasses after I had removed their pelts. I had traps nearby, so every time I caught a&nbsp;beaver,&nbsp;I’d just carry the carcass with me the following morning and deposit it on the&nbsp;pile when I was in the neighborhood; very convenient for me.One particularly cold morning I got a call from my sister; she sounded a little miffed, but I could tell she was on the verge of laughter even as we spoke. It seems she looked out into the yard&nbsp;this cold frozen morning to find Jake playing with his usual large prize, but something looked odd about that day’s trophy, so curiosity sent her into the yard to see just what he had found this time. As she approached, Jake’s back end began to wag feverishly, thinking someone was coming to play fetch with him and his prize,&nbsp;and he spun around&nbsp;joyfully&nbsp;and greeted her with a frozen beaver carcass from the bone pile clenched proudly in his big yap!&nbsp;Yup, dogs are the epitome of unconditional love and acceptance. One minute they can seem dumber than a box of rocks, the next minute they curl up beside you in your old recliner and become your most loyal friend, despite the names you have just called them for performing certain hygiene functions in the middle of&nbsp;the dining room.&nbsp;Everyone&nbsp;of working age in our society today could also&nbsp;learn from a&nbsp;dog’s exuberance to work and / or to please its master.&nbsp;Mutts, you&nbsp;gotta; love em’!&nbsp;Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Jake and the bone pile

BY RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;&nbsp;

Times Square, New York City. An image appears on the Nasdaq billboard overhead.&nbsp;

Where is the photographer who took that photo? Would you believe, halfway across the continent in Kansas?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Doug Barrett is the internationally recognized founder and owner of 400 North Creative in Manhattan, Kan. He is the photographer and cinematographer who took that photo displayed in Times Square.&nbsp;

Barrett came from Georgia. On many days, he drove along a Georgia highway known as 400 North. He loved taking pictures and making videos as a child, and has made them ever since.&nbsp;

Barrett went to college in North Carolina, worked in law enforcement, and served in the Army. He earned a master’s degree in cybersecurity administration from Southwestern College in Winfield, and worked in the cybersecurity field while doing photography on the side.&nbsp;

In 2018, Barrett launched his photography business full-time. He used the name of the place where he had come from and named his business 400 North Creative<a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

Barrett’s photo projects have involved topics ranging from Kansas cowboys to Manhattan’s Yuma Street to homeless veterans across the nation. One involved the people of the historic Black rural settlement of Nicodemus, which with its surrounding residents has a population of 14 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“My goal is not to exploit people for a photo op, but to spend time and find the narrative of the people. I want to seek out the real story,” Barrett said.&nbsp;

As an African-American, he found special relevance in social justice issues. “I am a photographer because&nbsp;I believe that relationships foster a deliberate life,”&nbsp;Barrett&nbsp;said.&nbsp; “Relationships are the core of collaboration and intimate storytelling. Relationships create change.”&nbsp;

“My personal work documenting justice issues and marginalization in America is where I find these deep relationships and conversations,” he said.&nbsp;

“I&nbsp;believe the camera is an overlooked sacred tool, which simultaneously holds humility yet also the power of a striking hammer when used properly. For me, it is about powerful, long-form, visual storytelling. The documentation of history and the world for posterity and the educative process have been the main drivers for my work…. It is my belief, education leads to empathy, which is the first step in any change for good or justice.”&nbsp;

After the death of George Floyd,&nbsp;Barrett’s photos powerfully captured the moment.&nbsp;&nbsp;TIME magazine featured a full page of his photo of a protester carrying a sign reading “Stop the Hate.”&nbsp;

Barrett&nbsp;is based in Manhattan but his photography and cinematography is recognized internationally. His editorial clients include TIME Magazine, National Geographic, New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine,&nbsp;Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, AARP, The Chronicle, CNN, Foxnews, BBC World News, and more.&nbsp;

Locally, his work is in Wichita’s Ulrich Museum of Art, and the Beach Museum of Art at K-State.&nbsp;

He has also become involved with the community. In 2020, he joined other African-American small business owners to form Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills.&nbsp;Barrett&nbsp;is now vice president of that group and Sheila Ellis-Glasper is president. This organization started with about 25 members and has grown to more than 100.&nbsp;

That involvement led to Doug being invited to join the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “(Chamber Board Chair) Summer Dierks allowed us to have a seat at the table,”&nbsp;Barrett&nbsp;said. “K-State’s Innovation Partners has been a champion for us.”&nbsp;

A primary goal of Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills is to improve access to capital for Black-owned businesses that might otherwise have to close or leave the region. “We want to provide opportunities to keep those businesses here,”&nbsp;Barrett&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

For more information on Barrett’s business, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.400northcreative.com/">www.400northcreative.com</a>. For more information on&nbsp;Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.blackflinthills.com/">www.blackflinthills.com</a>.&nbsp;

It’s time to leave Times Square, where a Kansas photographer’s photo appeared on the Nasdaq electronic billboard. We commend Doug Barrett for his skill and creativity, and Doug, Sheila Ellis-Glasper, and all those involved with Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills for making a difference with their advocacy and organization.&nbsp;

Altogether, this is a remarkable picture.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666184095484.png" alt="Courtesy K-State Extension" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy K-State Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>BY RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;&nbsp;Times Square, New York City. An image appears on the Nasdaq billboard overhead.&nbsp;Where is the photographer who took that photo? Would you believe, halfway across the continent in Kansas?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Doug Barrett is the internationally recognized founder and owner of 400 North Creative in Manhattan, Kan. He is the photographer and cinematographer who took that photo displayed in Times Square.&nbsp;Barrett came from Georgia. On many days, he drove along a Georgia highway known as 400 North. He loved taking pictures and making videos as a child, and has made them ever since.&nbsp;Barrett went to college in North Carolina, worked in law enforcement, and served in the Army. He earned a master’s degree in cybersecurity administration from Southwestern College in Winfield, and worked in the cybersecurity field while doing photography on the side.&nbsp;In 2018, Barrett launched his photography business full-time. He used the name of the place where he had come from and named his business 400 North Creative<a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>Barrett’s photo projects have involved topics ranging from Kansas cowboys to Manhattan’s Yuma Street to homeless veterans across the nation. One involved the people of the historic Black rural settlement of Nicodemus, which with its surrounding residents has a population of 14 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;&nbsp;“My goal is not to exploit people for a photo op, but to spend time and find the narrative of the people. I want to seek out the real story,” Barrett said.&nbsp;As an African-American, he found special relevance in social justice issues. “I am a photographer because&nbsp;I believe that relationships foster a deliberate life,”&nbsp;Barrett&nbsp;said.&nbsp; “Relationships are the core of collaboration and intimate storytelling. Relationships create change.”&nbsp;“My personal work documenting justice issues and marginalization in America is where I find these deep relationships and conversations,” he said.&nbsp;“I&nbsp;believe the camera is an overlooked sacred tool, which simultaneously holds humility yet also the power of a striking hammer when used properly. For me, it is about powerful, long-form, visual storytelling. The documentation of history and the world for posterity and the educative process have been the main drivers for my work…. It is my belief, education leads to empathy, which is the first step in any change for good or justice.”&nbsp;After the death of George Floyd,&nbsp;Barrett’s photos powerfully captured the moment.&nbsp;&nbsp;TIME magazine featured a full page of his photo of a protester carrying a sign reading “Stop the Hate.”&nbsp;Barrett&nbsp;is based in Manhattan but his photography and cinematography is recognized internationally. His editorial clients include TIME Magazine, National Geographic, New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine,&nbsp;Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, AARP, The Chronicle, CNN, Foxnews, BBC World News, and more.&nbsp;Locally, his work is in Wichita’s Ulrich Museum of Art, and the Beach Museum of Art at K-State.&nbsp;He has also become involved with the community. In 2020, he joined other African-American small business owners to form Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills.&nbsp;Barrett&nbsp;is now vice president of that group and Sheila Ellis-Glasper is president. This organization started with about 25 members and has grown to more than 100.&nbsp;That involvement led to Doug being invited to join the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “(Chamber Board Chair) Summer Dierks allowed us to have a seat at the table,”&nbsp;Barrett&nbsp;said. “K-State’s Innovation Partners has been a champion for us.”&nbsp;A primary goal of Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills is to improve access to capital for Black-owned businesses that might otherwise have to close or leave the region. “We want to provide opportunities to keep those businesses here,”&nbsp;Barrett&nbsp;said.&nbsp;For more information on Barrett’s business, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.400northcreative.com/">www.400northcreative.com</a>. For more information on&nbsp;Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.blackflinthills.com/">www.blackflinthills.com</a>.&nbsp;It’s time to leave Times Square, where a Kansas photographer’s photo appeared on the Nasdaq electronic billboard. We commend Doug Barrett for his skill and creativity, and Doug, Sheila Ellis-Glasper, and all those involved with Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills for making a difference with their advocacy and organization.&nbsp;Altogether, this is a remarkable picture.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Doug Barrett, 400 North Creative 

By DARVIN BENTLAGE <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/07/just-four-meatpackers-control-85-of-the-market-missouri-cattlemen-like-me-need-a-voice/">Courtesy Missouri Independent</a>

In the last two decades, hundreds
 of thousands of U.S. cattle producers have gone out of business, and we
 are currently losing 40 operations per day by some estimates. Just in 
the last two years, around 1,700 small feedlots run by independent 
family farmers were put out of business because of corporate 
consolidation.

This has led to an even more centralized production system as the 
dominant meatpackers favor a single-source system — getting cattle from 
large operations, run by them for their benefit only.

In 1980, the major meatpackers controlled 36% of the beef supply. 
Starting in that decade, we saw deregulation and a disappearance of 
antitrust enforcement that were designed to curb consolidation in 
industries, including meat production.

By the time the ‘80s came to an end, the top four meatpackers 
controlled 70% of the beef supply, and their power has only grown. 
Today, the top four meatpackers control around 85% of the beef supply.

What are the results? In 1980, beef producers made 62 cents of every 
dollar consumers spent on beef. Compare that to today, where only 37 
cents of the beef dollar goes to the producer. The price of beef in the 
last decade has risen from $4.67 a pound to $7.36 per pound — a 60% 
increase for consumers. But cattle producers’ profit dropped from $518 
per calf in 2014 to last year’s $125 per calf.

Profit for producers in 2014 was helped by mandatory COOL — 
country-of-origin labeling, which was required by the 2008 farm bill. 
However, corporate agriculture groups such as the North American Meat 
Institute and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association successfully lobbied
 Congress to repeal COOL in 2015, which led to the largest one-year 
price drop in cattle prices. Today, producers receive $300 less per calf
 than we did in 2014.

Meatpackers have also increased their use of so-called alternative 
marketing arrangements or AMAs, which are complicated strategies to 
avoid having to buy cattle on the open market. Meatpackers procure 80% 
of their supply through AMAs for a price to be named later based on the 
future cash market. And meatpackers manipulate the cash market through 
their control of the cattle supplies to drive down the price of cattle, 
resulting in less for the farmer and more profit for corporate 
meatpackers. The result is that consumers get gouged while producers are
 ripped off.

The use of AMAs increased from around 40% in 2005 to 80% in 2019. 
According to a study done by Georgetown and Ohio State University, for 
every 1% increase in AMAs, there is a 5% decrease in cash market prices.
 These kinds of pricing schemes have roughly doubled the meatpackers’ 
profitability, while cattlemen and small independent feedlots have 
suffered from higher input cost and lack of access to the marketplace.

There have been attempts to fix this corporate-controlled system by 
increasing competition for beef by supporting the building of packing 
plants not associated with the Big Four. However, in order to ensure 
independent processing plants succeed, we need to strengthen and enforce
 antitrust laws and fix the marketplace so these new plants can compete 
on a more level playing field.

For example, Congress needs to pass the American Beef Labeling Act to
 restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, and the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture needs to close a loophole in voluntary 
labeling rules so that only beef born, raised and harvested in the 
United States can bear the label “Product of the USA.”

Another bipartisan bill, proposed by Sens. Chuck Grassley and Jon 
Tester, is the 50/14 Bill, which would require that meatpackers purchase
 50% of their supply on the cash market and cannot own the cattle for 
more than 14 days before harvest.

The 50/14 Bill is such a threat to the meatpackers’ profits that they
 went immediately to work lobbying Congress, and convinced legislators 
to introduce a weaker compromise bill, the Cattle Price Discovery and 
Transparency Act, which would leave the meatpackers in charge for years 
while the USDA studies the issue.

That leaves a few questions: First, how many producers and small 
feedlots are going to go out of business before our elected 
representatives do something? Second, why did Congress rescind COOL when
 90% of Americans want truth in labeling? Why did Congress bow to the 
World Trade Organization and the big meatpackers?

We should call our representatives and senators to demand they 
support and pass the American Beef Labeling Act and the 50/14 Bill. 
Furthermore, they should break up the enormous meatpackers for the 
betterment of both the consumer and the producer.

Darvin 
Bentlage is a fourth-generation cattle and grain farmer from Barton 
County, Mo., and a member of Missouri Rural Crisis Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665766499156.png" alt="An Iowa meatpacking plant had plastic dividers installed separating workers on the production line (Photo provided by Tyson Fresh Meats)." />
 <figcaption>An Iowa meatpacking plant had plastic dividers installed separating workers on the production line (Photo provided by Tyson Fresh Meats).</figcaption>
 </figure>By DARVIN BENTLAGE <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/07/just-four-meatpackers-control-85-of-the-market-missouri-cattlemen-like-me-need-a-voice/">Courtesy Missouri Independent</a>In the last two decades, hundreds
 of thousands of U.S. cattle producers have gone out of business, and we
 are currently losing 40 operations per day by some estimates. Just in 
the last two years, around 1,700 small feedlots run by independent 
family farmers were put out of business because of corporate 
consolidation.This has led to an even more centralized production system as the 
dominant meatpackers favor a single-source system — getting cattle from 
large operations, run by them for their benefit only.In 1980, the major meatpackers controlled 36% of the beef supply. 
Starting in that decade, we saw deregulation and a disappearance of 
antitrust enforcement that were designed to curb consolidation in 
industries, including meat production.By the time the ‘80s came to an end, the top four meatpackers 
controlled 70% of the beef supply, and their power has only grown. 
Today, the top four meatpackers control around 85% of the beef supply.What are the results? In 1980, beef producers made 62 cents of every 
dollar consumers spent on beef. Compare that to today, where only 37 
cents of the beef dollar goes to the producer. The price of beef in the 
last decade has risen from $4.67 a pound to $7.36 per pound — a 60% 
increase for consumers. But cattle producers’ profit dropped from $518 
per calf in 2014 to last year’s $125 per calf.Profit for producers in 2014 was helped by mandatory COOL — 
country-of-origin labeling, which was required by the 2008 farm bill. 
However, corporate agriculture groups such as the North American Meat 
Institute and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association successfully lobbied
 Congress to repeal COOL in 2015, which led to the largest one-year 
price drop in cattle prices. Today, producers receive $300 less per calf
 than we did in 2014.Meatpackers have also increased their use of so-called alternative 
marketing arrangements or AMAs, which are complicated strategies to 
avoid having to buy cattle on the open market. Meatpackers procure 80% 
of their supply through AMAs for a price to be named later based on the 
future cash market. And meatpackers manipulate the cash market through 
their control of the cattle supplies to drive down the price of cattle, 
resulting in less for the farmer and more profit for corporate 
meatpackers. The result is that consumers get gouged while producers are
 ripped off.The use of AMAs increased from around 40% in 2005 to 80% in 2019. 
According to a study done by Georgetown and Ohio State University, for 
every 1% increase in AMAs, there is a 5% decrease in cash market prices.
 These kinds of pricing schemes have roughly doubled the meatpackers’ 
profitability, while cattlemen and small independent feedlots have 
suffered from higher input cost and lack of access to the marketplace.There have been attempts to fix this corporate-controlled system by 
increasing competition for beef by supporting the building of packing 
plants not associated with the Big Four. However, in order to ensure 
independent processing plants succeed, we need to strengthen and enforce
 antitrust laws and fix the marketplace so these new plants can compete 
on a more level playing field.For example, Congress needs to pass the American Beef Labeling Act to
 restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, and the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture needs to close a loophole in voluntary 
labeling rules so that only beef born, raised and harvested in the 
United States can bear the label “Product of the USA.”Another bipartisan bill, proposed by Sens. Chuck Grassley and Jon 
Tester, is the 50/14 Bill, which would require that meatpackers purchase
 50% of their supply on the cash market and cannot own the cattle for 
more than 14 days before harvest.The 50/14 Bill is such a threat to the meatpackers’ profits that they
 went immediately to work lobbying Congress, and convinced legislators 
to introduce a weaker compromise bill, the Cattle Price Discovery and 
Transparency Act, which would leave the meatpackers in charge for years 
while the USDA studies the issue.That leaves a few questions: First, how many producers and small 
feedlots are going to go out of business before our elected 
representatives do something? Second, why did Congress rescind COOL when
 90% of Americans want truth in labeling? Why did Congress bow to the 
World Trade Organization and the big meatpackers?We should call our representatives and senators to demand they 
support and pass the American Beef Labeling Act and the 50/14 Bill. 
Furthermore, they should break up the enormous meatpackers for the 
betterment of both the consumer and the producer.Darvin 
Bentlage is a fourth-generation cattle and grain farmer from Barton 
County, Mo., and a member of Missouri Rural Crisis Center.

OPINION: Four meatpackers control 85% of market. Cattlemen need a voice

At a recent conference at Wichita State University, four political observers were asked to make their predictions for next week’s elections. All four said they believed Sharice Davids would win re-election in the Third Congressional District; three out of the four said they believed Governor Laura Kelly would be re-elected; and two out of the four said they believed Chris Mann would defeat Kris Kobach and be elected Kansas’s attorney general. But further down the ballot? The agreement was near unanimous: November 8 will likely be a terrible night for the Democrats.

“Near unanimous,” of course, means at least one voice of dissent. The dissenter was me.

Am I confident in my belief that Kansas, come November 8, may provide national Democrats with some tiny, consoling glimmers of blue during a rough night? Not remotely. So why bother saying so, when the usual political science variables—a midterm election during the first term of an unpopular President at a time of high inflation—point toward a Democratic bloodbath?

In speaking out on behalf of such an unlikely result, the lessons of two elections are on my mind.

First, the August vote on the “Value Them Both” amendment. The size of that abortion-rights victory has been much commented on—but more relevant is also how much of a surprise it was.

There was no precedent anywhere for that election: a straight-up, yes-or-no vote regarding the right to abortion. Thus, no one really had any data to work with. There was some public opinion polling—much of which was unreliable—and some reasonable guesses were made on the basis of demographics and party affiliation. But no serious observer guessed that the amendment would lose by nearly 20 points.

Second, the 2016 election of Donald Trump, which similarly took a huge number of people by surprise. But in that case, the surprise wasn’t because of a lack of data, but because so many people (myself included) didn’t take seriously the information—the unpopularity of Hillary Clinton, the shifts in white voting patterns in upper Midwestern states, etc.—which pointed to the real chance that Trump could win. It seemed such a bizarre possibility that we discounted it.

So we come to the Kansas 2022 elections, where we’re not in the same situation as before the August amendment vote. In fact, thanks to that vote and other in-depth surveys, we know a fair amount, particularly about high levels of voter engagement among Democratic-leaning groups. We also know that Kelly’s approval numbers are pretty good, and that abortion, along with Medicaid expansion and medical marijuana legalization, are motivating many voters.

Enough voters to overcome the huge, historical advantages Republicans enjoy in Kansas? Or all the other already-mentioned disadvantages weighing down Democrats this year? Probably not.

But in this election, even in the wake the Republican redistricting of state and congressional legislative districts, I don’t want to discount the data we do have, however limited it may be. So I am willing to say that there really is a chance that not only will we see some top of the ballot Democrats winning in Kansas, but also enough Democrats holding on to or flipping state houses races—perhaps in Manhattan, Shawnee, Emporia, Hays, Hutchinson, or Wichita—that the Republican super-majority could be lost, bizarre as that may sound.

Again, I’m not remotely confident about any of this. But after 2016 and 2022, I’m not so confident as to discount the possibility of the truly unlikely happening either.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583339056495.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.</figcaption>
 </figure>At a recent conference at Wichita State University, four political observers were asked to make their predictions for next week’s elections. All four said they believed Sharice Davids would win re-election in the Third Congressional District; three out of the four said they believed Governor Laura Kelly would be re-elected; and two out of the four said they believed Chris Mann would defeat Kris Kobach and be elected Kansas’s attorney general. But further down the ballot? The agreement was near unanimous: November 8 will likely be a terrible night for the Democrats.“Near unanimous,” of course, means at least one voice of dissent. The dissenter was me.Am I confident in my belief that Kansas, come November 8, may provide national Democrats with some tiny, consoling glimmers of blue during a rough night? Not remotely. So why bother saying so, when the usual political science variables—a midterm election during the first term of an unpopular President at a time of high inflation—point toward a Democratic bloodbath?<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In speaking out on behalf of such an unlikely result, the lessons of two elections are on my mind.First, the August vote on the “Value Them Both” amendment. The size of that abortion-rights victory has been much commented on—but more relevant is also how much of a surprise it was.There was no precedent anywhere for that election: a straight-up, yes-or-no vote regarding the right to abortion. Thus, no one really had any data to work with. There was some public opinion polling—much of which was unreliable—and some reasonable guesses were made on the basis of demographics and party affiliation. But no serious observer guessed that the amendment would lose by nearly 20 points.Second, the 2016 election of Donald Trump, which similarly took a huge number of people by surprise. But in that case, the surprise wasn’t because of a lack of data, but because so many people (myself included) didn’t take seriously the information—the unpopularity of Hillary Clinton, the shifts in white voting patterns in upper Midwestern states, etc.—which pointed to the real chance that Trump could win. It seemed such a bizarre possibility that we discounted it.So we come to the Kansas 2022 elections, where we’re not in the same situation as before the August amendment vote. In fact, thanks to that vote and other in-depth surveys, we know a fair amount, particularly about high levels of voter engagement among Democratic-leaning groups. We also know that Kelly’s approval numbers are pretty good, and that abortion, along with Medicaid expansion and medical marijuana legalization, are motivating many voters.Enough voters to overcome the huge, historical advantages Republicans enjoy in Kansas? Or all the other already-mentioned disadvantages weighing down Democrats this year? Probably not.But in this election, even in the wake the Republican redistricting of state and congressional legislative districts, I don’t want to discount the data we do have, however limited it may be. So I am willing to say that there really is a chance that not only will we see some top of the ballot Democrats winning in Kansas, but also enough Democrats holding on to or flipping state houses races—perhaps in Manhattan, Shawnee, Emporia, Hays, Hutchinson, or Wichita—that the Republican super-majority could be lost, bizarre as that may sound.Again, I’m not remotely confident about any of this. But after 2016 and 2022, I’m not so confident as to discount the possibility of the truly unlikely happening either.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Learning to be ready for the unlikely

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;

In this case, I’m not referring to the temperature. HOTT is an acronym for Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow, an organization that is working to promote higher education opportunities for Hispanic students in the Emporia area.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes of Emporia are active in&nbsp;Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow. Rebeca is of Spanish and Mexican descent and grew up in Atlanta.&nbsp;

“Moving from&nbsp;a large metropolitan city in the east to the great plains of the Midwest was a culture shock,” she said. “I have now been in Emporia for four years. This wonderful community has welcomed me with open arms.”&nbsp;

She is now&nbsp;membership director at the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;

Saenz-Reyes is a self-described “border baby,” born in El Paso. Her mother is an American citizen and her father is Mexican. Patricia went to school in Juarez, Mexico until the 9th grade when she transferred to El Paso to continue her education.&nbsp;

Her career took her to west Texas where she was an insurance executive before coming to Emporia. Now she is the migrant community resource coordinator and student and family resource specialist with the Emporia school district.&nbsp;

“HOTT started in 1999 with just six members,” Saenz-Reyes said. “People saw there was a need for more support for Hispanic students to continue into higher education.”&nbsp;

Emporia, at the crossroads of Interstates 35 and 335, has long been a major location for significant employers. “Actually, it goes back to the 1930s when the Santa Fe railroad was needing workers,” Saenz-Reyes said. The 1960s saw large beef packing operations and other manufacturers come to Emporia. Job opportunities attracted a diverse workforce.&nbsp;

According to data from the Emporia school district, in 1992 Hispanics made up 11.3% of the student population. By 2022, that number was 47.5%.&nbsp;

HOTT members sought to enhance scholarship opportunities for Hispanic youth. They developed two big festivals to raise funds for scholarships. One is Cinco de Mayo in the spring, and the other is Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, in the fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Both events involve lots of food and fun. “All of the proceeds from our fried taco sales go to the scholarships,” Herrera said. “It’s super nice to see our community embracing our culture.”&nbsp;

Cinco de Mayo is, of course, held on the fifth of May. It commemorates Mexican history and culture.&nbsp;

Day of the Dead occurs in late October, but is not a Halloween event. “It is more of a spiritual day to celebrate those who have passed,” Saenz-Reyes said. “We bring out shrines, light candles, and prepare favorite foods of our departed loved ones.”&nbsp;

In Emporia, Day of the Dead is a day-long festival, featuring Latino artists, games, prizes and a downtown parade.&nbsp;&nbsp;Who emcees the parade? Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes. As many as 3,000 people attend this event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Not only are these events unifying for Emporia, they also bring together diverse groups within the Hispanic community itself. “People may assume that all Hispanics are from Mexico, but we have people here from Central and South America, Cuba and Puerto Rico,” Saenz-Reyes said. “There are also international students at Emporia State (University).”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Together, these events have raised $100,000 for scholarships. What’s more, Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College will match them. That’s remarkable in a rural community like Emporia, population 24,139 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

One of the scholarship recipients was Omar Herrera, who used his scholarship to help earn a masters degree in architecture at K-State. Omar is now Rebeca’s husband. He serves as&nbsp;the facility planner project manager with university facilities at Emporia State University.&nbsp;

“I love the diversity of Latinos in Emporia and how much this small rural town has to offer,” Rebeca Herrera said.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hottfiesta.com/">www.hottfiesta.com</a>.&nbsp;

Emporia is HOTT – not the temperature, but the organization known as Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow. We saluteRebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes for making a difference with their cross-cultural communication.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think this is HOTT stuff.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667394386523.png" alt="Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes" />
 <figcaption>Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;Emporia is HOTT.&nbsp;In this case, I’m not referring to the temperature. HOTT is an acronym for Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow, an organization that is working to promote higher education opportunities for Hispanic students in the Emporia area.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes of Emporia are active in&nbsp;Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow. Rebeca is of Spanish and Mexican descent and grew up in Atlanta.&nbsp;“Moving from&nbsp;a large metropolitan city in the east to the great plains of the Midwest was a culture shock,” she said. “I have now been in Emporia for four years. This wonderful community has welcomed me with open arms.”&nbsp;She is now&nbsp;membership director at the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;Saenz-Reyes is a self-described “border baby,” born in El Paso. Her mother is an American citizen and her father is Mexican. Patricia went to school in Juarez, Mexico until the 9th grade when she transferred to El Paso to continue her education.&nbsp;Her career took her to west Texas where she was an insurance executive before coming to Emporia. Now she is the migrant community resource coordinator and student and family resource specialist with the Emporia school district.&nbsp;“HOTT started in 1999 with just six members,” Saenz-Reyes said. “People saw there was a need for more support for Hispanic students to continue into higher education.”&nbsp;Emporia, at the crossroads of Interstates 35 and 335, has long been a major location for significant employers. “Actually, it goes back to the 1930s when the Santa Fe railroad was needing workers,” Saenz-Reyes said. The 1960s saw large beef packing operations and other manufacturers come to Emporia. Job opportunities attracted a diverse workforce.&nbsp;According to data from the Emporia school district, in 1992 Hispanics made up 11.3% of the student population. By 2022, that number was 47.5%.&nbsp;HOTT members sought to enhance scholarship opportunities for Hispanic youth. They developed two big festivals to raise funds for scholarships. One is Cinco de Mayo in the spring, and the other is Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, in the fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both events involve lots of food and fun. “All of the proceeds from our fried taco sales go to the scholarships,” Herrera said. “It’s super nice to see our community embracing our culture.”&nbsp;Cinco de Mayo is, of course, held on the fifth of May. It commemorates Mexican history and culture.&nbsp;Day of the Dead occurs in late October, but is not a Halloween event. “It is more of a spiritual day to celebrate those who have passed,” Saenz-Reyes said. “We bring out shrines, light candles, and prepare favorite foods of our departed loved ones.”&nbsp;In Emporia, Day of the Dead is a day-long festival, featuring Latino artists, games, prizes and a downtown parade.&nbsp;&nbsp;Who emcees the parade? Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes. As many as 3,000 people attend this event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not only are these events unifying for Emporia, they also bring together diverse groups within the Hispanic community itself. “People may assume that all Hispanics are from Mexico, but we have people here from Central and South America, Cuba and Puerto Rico,” Saenz-Reyes said. “There are also international students at Emporia State (University).”&nbsp;&nbsp;Together, these events have raised $100,000 for scholarships. What’s more, Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College will match them. That’s remarkable in a rural community like Emporia, population 24,139 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;One of the scholarship recipients was Omar Herrera, who used his scholarship to help earn a masters degree in architecture at K-State. Omar is now Rebeca’s husband. He serves as&nbsp;the facility planner project manager with university facilities at Emporia State University.&nbsp;“I love the diversity of Latinos in Emporia and how much this small rural town has to offer,” Rebeca Herrera said.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hottfiesta.com/">www.hottfiesta.com</a>.&nbsp;Emporia is HOTT – not the temperature, but the organization known as Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow. We saluteRebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes for making a difference with their cross-cultural communication.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think this is HOTT stuff.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Herrera, Seanz-Reyes – Emporia HOTT 

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher We are in the heart of what has been termed the “silly season of politics.” I know that for many of us voter fatigue has set in, and I have good news and bad news on that front. The good news is that in about a week or less it will all be over. The bad news is that the next cycle is a presidential election, so you have about six months before that gets cranked up. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of campaign ads and fliers turns many of us off or makes us numb to the candidates. I get that but you must fight through the urge to ignore all of it and tune it out. This is one of the most critical elections that we as an ag community have faced and this is a call for all hands on deck. It is true that all votes count but when it comes to agriculture that statement has never been truer. Candidates who support agriculture need your vote. Kansas is becoming increasingly urban and because of that voters in those areas are farther and farther away from agriculture. We are a democracy where the majority rules. Soon we could find ourselves having less of a voice over who represents us and, more importantly, what legislation gets passed. We know laws made in Topeka and Washington D.C. can have huge impacts on how we run our farms and ranches. It is important that we elect representatives that will have our best interests in mind and who understand our business. That is why the work Voters Organized To Elect Farm Bureau Friends does is so important. They take the opinions from the grassroots level and develop a list of candidates who are friendly to agriculture and will keep our best interests in mind. That work is not done in a couple of days but rather in a painstaking process, making sure that all voices are heard. However, that great work doesn’t mean anything if we don’t get out and vote for those candidates. While I would like you to vote for the people on that list, and I ask that you take the time to look at it, I just want you to exercise your right to vote. Historically those of us in rural areas have gotten out at higher levels than our urban counterparts, and that amplifies our voice. Lately, that has not been the case and is a trend we need to reverse. If you are really tired of the noise around the election, go vote now. Advanced voting is open, check with your county clerk to find out how. Then it is done and no matter what happens, your voice is heard. If you are like me and a traditionalist, make sure you get out and vote on Nov. 8. Every vote counts and every vote matters. We have seen it time and time again, even right here in Kansas. Please, look at the list of VOTE FBF endorsed candidates before you make your decision. I cannot stress just how important your vote is. It’s our chance to be a voice for Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Brunkow" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Brunkow</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher We are in the heart of what has been termed the “silly season of politics.” I know that for many of us voter fatigue has set in, and I have good news and bad news on that front. The good news is that in about a week or less it will all be over. The bad news is that the next cycle is a presidential election, so you have about six months before that gets cranked up. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of campaign ads and fliers turns many of us off or makes us numb to the candidates. I get that but you must fight through the urge to ignore all of it and tune it out. This is one of the most critical elections that we as an ag community have faced and this is a call for all hands on deck. It is true that all votes count but when it comes to agriculture that statement has never been truer. Candidates who support agriculture need your vote. Kansas is becoming increasingly urban and because of that voters in those areas are farther and farther away from agriculture. We are a democracy where the majority rules. Soon we could find ourselves having less of a voice over who represents us and, more importantly, what legislation gets passed. We know laws made in Topeka and Washington D.C. can have huge impacts on how we run our farms and ranches. It is important that we elect representatives that will have our best interests in mind and who understand our business. That is why the work Voters Organized To Elect Farm Bureau Friends does is so important. They take the opinions from the grassroots level and develop a list of candidates who are friendly to agriculture and will keep our best interests in mind. That work is not done in a couple of days but rather in a painstaking process, making sure that all voices are heard. However, that great work doesn’t mean anything if we don’t get out and vote for those candidates. While I would like you to vote for the people on that list, and I ask that you take the time to look at it, I just want you to exercise your right to vote. Historically those of us in rural areas have gotten out at higher levels than our urban counterparts, and that amplifies our voice. Lately, that has not been the case and is a trend we need to reverse. If you are really tired of the noise around the election, go vote now. Advanced voting is open, check with your county clerk to find out how. Then it is done and no matter what happens, your voice is heard. If you are like me and a traditionalist, make sure you get out and vote on Nov. 8. Every vote counts and every vote matters. We have seen it time and time again, even right here in Kansas. Please, look at the list of VOTE FBF endorsed candidates before you make your decision. I cannot stress just how important your vote is. It’s our chance to be a voice for Kansas."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Be a voice for Kansas

By MICHAEL BUGEJA <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/11/01/the-optics-of-american-hate/">Courtesy Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

The road to hell isn’t paved anymore with good intentions. The asphalt is hatred.

Chances are you have experienced it recently.

A person may have confronted you because of race or ethnicity. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.route-fifty.com/public-safety/2021/04/survey-22-americans-have-experienced-hate-crime/173093/">One study shows</a> that 22% of Americans have encountered that or had their property damaged because of their skin color or culture.

You may hate someone you once loved because of divorce. <a target="_blank" href="https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/family-home-consumer/dealing-with-couples-anger-10-238/">About half of all marriages</a> end in dissolution. Between 40% and 80% of those will have suffered one or more episodes of violence or abuse.

Many couples struggle in love-hate relationships. Sabrina Romanoff, clinical psychologist, says people in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-love-hate-relationship-5207379">rollercoaster partnerships</a> seek excitement. They endure aggression and frustration so that they might experience passion, mistaking that for intimacy.

Hate has sullied journalism, causing many of us to react bitterly to the news. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2021/us-ranks-last-among-46-countries-in-trust-in-media-reuters-institute-report-finds/">The United States ranks last</a> out of 46 countries in media trust. Only 29% of us have confidence in reports.

You may have suffered hatred or expressed some of your own in a social media post. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.adl.org/resources/report/online-hate-and-harassment-american-experience-2021">One recent study</a>
 found that 41% of Americans have experienced online harassment, 27% of 
which was severe, “comprising sexual harassment, stalking, physical 
threats, swatting, doxing and sustained harassment.”

Then there are secrets. The people who keep them may end up hating others or even themselves. Scientific American <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-the-secrets-you-keep-are-hurting-you/">cites research</a> linking secrecy to “increased anxiety, depression, symptoms of poor health, and even the more rapid progression of disease.”

Hatred afflicts politics. Our motto once may have been “E Pluribus 
Unum,” out of many, one; but that has metamorphosed into “E Pluribus 
Duo,” out of many, two: Republicans and Democrats.

And not just any Republican. Many hate RINOs (Republicans in Name 
Only). What, exactly, is meant by that derogatory term? RINOs believe in
 less government, a strong military and the U.S. Constitution. Go 
figure.

And not just any Democrat. There are so many wings — progressive, old
 guard, new guard, moderates and conservatives. Little that they propose
 flies in Congress even though they hold the majority.

<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/11/28/political-sectarianism-fuels-vaccine-resistance/">Politics are so toxic</a> that many of us hate our opponent’s party more than we love our own, spewing partisan epithets in person or online.

Hate speech, however infuriating, is not a crime. The U.S. Department of Justice <a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/learn-about-hate-crimes">cites First Amendment protections</a>,
 noting that people cannot be prosecuted for beliefs, even if racist. 
Nevertheless, free speech does not protect those whose criminal conduct 
is rooted in philosophical beliefs.

Hate crimes are increasingly frequent. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/hate-crime-statistics">The DOJ reports</a> that some 8,052 incidents happened in 2020, involving 11,126 victims.

Hatred erupts in bigoted violence as evidenced in several mass shootings, including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/05/14/nyregion/buffalo-shooting">Tops grocery store massacre</a> in Buffalo, N.Y. Or it can result in <a target="_blank" href="https://thehill.com/regulation/3561521-growing-support-for-political-violence-raises-alarms/">political violence</a> as in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

People hate collectively to feel a sense of belonging. Extremist groups pose a distinct threat. The Rand Corporation <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RBA1071-1.html">conducted a study</a>
 on why people join such groups, noting such factors as financial 
instability, mental health, marginalization, recruitment, propaganda 
and, in particular, social bonding.

Interviewees expressed a renewed sense of power, embracing group members as family and friends.

Americans exist “in a perpetual state of love and hate,” <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/13/a-perpetual-state-of-love-and-hate-readers-on-what-it-means-to-be-american">according to The Guardian</a>, a British newspaper,

Isn’t love the opposite of hate? Not necessarily. Love and hate are two sides of the same emotional coin.

A psychology study titled “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5725944/#:~:text=The%20results%20showed%20that%20people,between%20romantic%20love%20and%20hate.">The Deeper the Love, the Deeper the Hate</a>”
 focused on the relationship between those intense feelings. Love 
flourishes because of shared values but mutates in the aftermath of 
betrayal into hate.

The late Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, believed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/video/elie-wiesel-talks-about-fighting-indifference#:~:text=I%20have%20devoted%20much%20time,Hate%20is%20an%20action.">the opposite of hate is indifference</a>:

“I came to a conclusion that the peril threatening humankind today is
 indifference, even more than hatred. There are more people who are 
indifferent than there are people who hate. Hate is an action. Hate 
takes time. Hate takes energy. And even it demands sacrifices.”

The UC Berkeley-based Greater Good Science Center lists <a target="_blank" href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/eight_ways_to_stand_up_to_hate">“Eight Ways to Stand Up to Hate.</a>
 Recommendations include educating yourself, understanding all 
viewpoints, speaking up when you encounter racism, resisting social 
pressure and heeding your conscience. The Center also suggests finding a
 role model, connecting with people different than you, and pressing the
 mental pause button so as not to act on impulse.

If you do any of the above, you won’t be indifferent to the plights 
of others and may boost your self-esteem, enhance your values and deepen
 your relationships.

Michael Bugeja, distinguished professor of liberal arts and 
sciences at Iowa State University, teaches media ethics and technology 
and social change.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667328291846.png" alt="Images courtesy Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Images courtesy Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHAEL BUGEJA <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/11/01/the-optics-of-american-hate/">Courtesy Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>The road to hell isn’t paved anymore with good intentions. The asphalt is hatred.Chances are you have experienced it recently.A person may have confronted you because of race or ethnicity. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.route-fifty.com/public-safety/2021/04/survey-22-americans-have-experienced-hate-crime/173093/">One study shows</a> that 22% of Americans have encountered that or had their property damaged because of their skin color or culture.You may hate someone you once loved because of divorce. <a target="_blank" href="https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/family-home-consumer/dealing-with-couples-anger-10-238/">About half of all marriages</a> end in dissolution. Between 40% and 80% of those will have suffered one or more episodes of violence or abuse.Many couples struggle in love-hate relationships. Sabrina Romanoff, clinical psychologist, says people in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-love-hate-relationship-5207379">rollercoaster partnerships</a> seek excitement. They endure aggression and frustration so that they might experience passion, mistaking that for intimacy.Hate has sullied journalism, causing many of us to react bitterly to the news. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2021/us-ranks-last-among-46-countries-in-trust-in-media-reuters-institute-report-finds/">The United States ranks last</a> out of 46 countries in media trust. Only 29% of us have confidence in reports.You may have suffered hatred or expressed some of your own in a social media post. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.adl.org/resources/report/online-hate-and-harassment-american-experience-2021">One recent study</a>
 found that 41% of Americans have experienced online harassment, 27% of 
which was severe, “comprising sexual harassment, stalking, physical 
threats, swatting, doxing and sustained harassment.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667328401939.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Then there are secrets. The people who keep them may end up hating others or even themselves. Scientific American <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-the-secrets-you-keep-are-hurting-you/">cites research</a> linking secrecy to “increased anxiety, depression, symptoms of poor health, and even the more rapid progression of disease.”Hatred afflicts politics. Our motto once may have been “E Pluribus 
Unum,” out of many, one; but that has metamorphosed into “E Pluribus 
Duo,” out of many, two: Republicans and Democrats.And not just any Republican. Many hate RINOs (Republicans in Name 
Only). What, exactly, is meant by that derogatory term? RINOs believe in
 less government, a strong military and the U.S. Constitution. Go 
figure.And not just any Democrat. There are so many wings — progressive, old
 guard, new guard, moderates and conservatives. Little that they propose
 flies in Congress even though they hold the majority.<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/11/28/political-sectarianism-fuels-vaccine-resistance/">Politics are so toxic</a> that many of us hate our opponent’s party more than we love our own, spewing partisan epithets in person or online.Hate speech, however infuriating, is not a crime. The U.S. Department of Justice <a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/learn-about-hate-crimes">cites First Amendment protections</a>,
 noting that people cannot be prosecuted for beliefs, even if racist. 
Nevertheless, free speech does not protect those whose criminal conduct 
is rooted in philosophical beliefs.Hate crimes are increasingly frequent. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/hate-crime-statistics">The DOJ reports</a> that some 8,052 incidents happened in 2020, involving 11,126 victims.Hatred erupts in bigoted violence as evidenced in several mass shootings, including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/05/14/nyregion/buffalo-shooting">Tops grocery store massacre</a> in Buffalo, N.Y. Or it can result in <a target="_blank" href="https://thehill.com/regulation/3561521-growing-support-for-political-violence-raises-alarms/">political violence</a> as in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.People hate collectively to feel a sense of belonging. Extremist groups pose a distinct threat. The Rand Corporation <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RBA1071-1.html">conducted a study</a>
 on why people join such groups, noting such factors as financial 
instability, mental health, marginalization, recruitment, propaganda 
and, in particular, social bonding.Interviewees expressed a renewed sense of power, embracing group members as family and friends.Americans exist “in a perpetual state of love and hate,” <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/13/a-perpetual-state-of-love-and-hate-readers-on-what-it-means-to-be-american">according to The Guardian</a>, a British newspaper,Isn’t love the opposite of hate? Not necessarily. Love and hate are two sides of the same emotional coin.A psychology study titled “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5725944/#:~:text=The%20results%20showed%20that%20people,between%20romantic%20love%20and%20hate.">The Deeper the Love, the Deeper the Hate</a>”
 focused on the relationship between those intense feelings. Love 
flourishes because of shared values but mutates in the aftermath of 
betrayal into hate.The late Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, believed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/video/elie-wiesel-talks-about-fighting-indifference#:~:text=I%20have%20devoted%20much%20time,Hate%20is%20an%20action.">the opposite of hate is indifference</a>:“I came to a conclusion that the peril threatening humankind today is
 indifference, even more than hatred. There are more people who are 
indifferent than there are people who hate. Hate is an action. Hate 
takes time. Hate takes energy. And even it demands sacrifices.”Indifference validates hatred.The UC Berkeley-based Greater Good Science Center lists <a target="_blank" href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/eight_ways_to_stand_up_to_hate">“Eight Ways to Stand Up to Hate.</a>
 Recommendations include educating yourself, understanding all 
viewpoints, speaking up when you encounter racism, resisting social 
pressure and heeding your conscience. The Center also suggests finding a
 role model, connecting with people different than you, and pressing the
 mental pause button so as not to act on impulse.If you do any of the above, you won’t be indifferent to the plights 
of others and may boost your self-esteem, enhance your values and deepen
 your relationships.Michael Bugeja, distinguished professor of liberal arts and 
sciences at Iowa State University, teaches media ethics and technology 
and social change.

COMMENTARY: The optics of American hate

During a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v%253Dp7fyXoJppI4%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548150314%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw3E7zBuAVwDnjpRGo-lJ-SP&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548155720&amp;usg=AOvVaw1lhMgDt6haIcl1oLWKiX5T">debate</a>&nbsp;with Rep. Barb Wasinger, Democrat Hammond said we needed a statesman and not a warrior. Take a minute and think about those two words. A statesman is an experienced and skilled political leader, while a warrior is brave, engaged, and fights the good fight. Hammond’s record suggests that he is neither.

Hammond&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://postpodcast.podbean.com/e/forward-ever-former-fhsu-president-ed-hammond/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548151030%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw0jZ72BvRI6Ent5dBXBf_37&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548155957&amp;usg=AOvVaw1U9NvWzl24dbcwp_sylCtX">told</a>&nbsp;podcaster Gary Shorman this summer that he only became a Democrat in May after having previously been a Republican.In other words, he chose to sign on up with the Democratic Party just as it has given us rising crime, high gas prices, and the worst inflation we have seen in decades. It’s also trying to warp our children:The Topeka Capital-Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/10/24/republicans-say-kansas-funded-drag-shows-fact-check-ks-election/69587801007/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548151447%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw0KnpL7ZMffNjQNpYyr6a6j&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548156115&amp;usg=AOvVaw0WDfo6WcFSR8AAh7VgmboZ">reported</a>&nbsp;that Department of Commerce records show Kelly’s administration provided a $10,000 state grant to an organization called OpenStudios. Meanwhile, the group’s Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.facebook.com/OpenStudiosICT/photos/1183219332540752%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548151713%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw0T29dNrtzsZ2ox3bIyz6_p&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548156240&amp;usg=AOvVaw03kxAmfgAxC6LRZFnCWkXZ">page</a>&nbsp;shows it organized a drag show featuring performers with names like “Pseudocide.” &nbsp;

However, Hammond said that he chose to run as a Democrat because it would be too difficult to challenge Wasinger in a primary race. Are these the actions of a statesman or an opportunist? &nbsp;

At another point in the debate, Hammond told a story about a friend who supposedly had to travel out of state for an abortion at 8 months in order to save her life. First off, a third trimester abortion takes several days to complete, so if she was truly facing an emergency then her doctor would have ordered an emergency C-section. Second, the Supreme Court ruled in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/roe_v_wade_(1973)%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548152174%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw2vCJaMhv9zQXMWdoK1GWww&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548156454&amp;usg=AOvVaw0VKGLPkMR1dj4982QKQTrE">Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;(1973) and reaffirmed in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/505/833%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548152435%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw3-7pg9XdKGDkXnJL6oxxZo&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548156573&amp;usg=AOvVaw2_hdVp1byZb1Kearc7jS6J">Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey</a>&nbsp;(1992) that states had to permit late-term abortion if a woman’s health would be negatively impacted. So either this story happened over 50 years ago or it didn’t happen at all. Is that worthy of a statesman?

Finally, Hammond complained about “dark money” in this year’s election. Well, I recently received a four page flier supporting Gov. Kelly. It was paid for by the Kansas Values Institute, whose donors are teacher unions, abortion related organizations and the Democratic Governors Association. Does a statesman embrace double standards?

During a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v%253Dp7fyXoJppI4%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548150314%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw3E7zBuAVwDnjpRGo-lJ-SP&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548155720&amp;usg=AOvVaw1lhMgDt6haIcl1oLWKiX5T">debate</a>&nbsp;with Rep. Barb Wasinger, Democrat Hammond said we needed a statesman and not a warrior. Take a minute and think about those two words. A statesman is an experienced and skilled political leader, while a warrior is brave, engaged, and fights the good fight. Hammond’s record suggests that he is neither.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hammond&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://postpodcast.podbean.com/e/forward-ever-former-fhsu-president-ed-hammond/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548151030%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw0jZ72BvRI6Ent5dBXBf_37&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548155957&amp;usg=AOvVaw1U9NvWzl24dbcwp_sylCtX">told</a>&nbsp;podcaster Gary Shorman this summer that he only became a Democrat in May after having previously been a Republican.In other words, he chose to sign on up with the Democratic Party just as it has given us rising crime, high gas prices, and the worst inflation we have seen in decades. It’s also trying to warp our children:The Topeka Capital-Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/10/24/republicans-say-kansas-funded-drag-shows-fact-check-ks-election/69587801007/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548151447%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw0KnpL7ZMffNjQNpYyr6a6j&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548156115&amp;usg=AOvVaw0WDfo6WcFSR8AAh7VgmboZ">reported</a>&nbsp;that Department of Commerce records show Kelly’s administration provided a $10,000 state grant to an organization called OpenStudios. Meanwhile, the group’s Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.facebook.com/OpenStudiosICT/photos/1183219332540752%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548151713%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw0T29dNrtzsZ2ox3bIyz6_p&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548156240&amp;usg=AOvVaw03kxAmfgAxC6LRZFnCWkXZ">page</a>&nbsp;shows it organized a drag show featuring performers with names like “Pseudocide.” &nbsp;However, Hammond said that he chose to run as a Democrat because it would be too difficult to challenge Wasinger in a primary race. Are these the actions of a statesman or an opportunist? &nbsp;At another point in the debate, Hammond told a story about a friend who supposedly had to travel out of state for an abortion at 8 months in order to save her life. First off, a third trimester abortion takes several days to complete, so if she was truly facing an emergency then her doctor would have ordered an emergency C-section. Second, the Supreme Court ruled in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/roe_v_wade_(1973)%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548152174%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw2vCJaMhv9zQXMWdoK1GWww&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548156454&amp;usg=AOvVaw0VKGLPkMR1dj4982QKQTrE">Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;(1973) and reaffirmed in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/505/833%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1666923548152435%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw3-7pg9XdKGDkXnJL6oxxZo&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1666923548156573&amp;usg=AOvVaw2_hdVp1byZb1Kearc7jS6J">Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey</a>&nbsp;(1992) that states had to permit late-term abortion if a woman’s health would be negatively impacted. So either this story happened over 50 years ago or it didn’t happen at all. Is that worthy of a statesman?Finally, Hammond complained about “dark money” in this year’s election. Well, I recently received a four page flier supporting Gov. Kelly. It was paid for by the Kansas Values Institute, whose donors are teacher unions, abortion related organizations and the Democratic Governors Association. Does a statesman embrace double standards?The fact is, we need someone who is a statesman AND a warrior, and Barb Wassinger is both. She can work with others in Topeka to get things done but will fight for her principles. Barb has my vote and I hope she has yours!Ruth Legleiter, Hays

Opinion