The state of Kansas has always been defined by leadership and courage. Its plains were home to the first generations of American settlers, who left teeming cities to lead America westward and establish new roots. &nbsp;In the years prior to the Civil War, it was Kansans&nbsp;who&nbsp;stood against slavery and stopped its expansion.&nbsp;Kansas was the first state to hold a referendum on women’s suffrage in 1867, and&nbsp;Charles&nbsp;S. Scott, Kansas born-and-raised, was the lead attorney for Oliver Brown in the landmark Supreme Court case&nbsp;Brown v. Board of Education.&nbsp;Kansas has always set the standard in the fight to secure inalienable&nbsp;rights and aid those who are most in need. That’s why at times of great division and difficulty in America, the nation looks&nbsp;to Kansas for the path forward.&nbsp;

Kansas is again going lead the way, and this time the stakes are for life. &nbsp;The Supreme Court’s landmark decision in&nbsp;Dobbs v. Jackson&nbsp;finally overturned&nbsp;Roe v. Wade&nbsp;and returned the power to regulate abortion to states. &nbsp;All across the country, this democratic process is already underway – except in Kansas, my home state. &nbsp;The right of Kansans to decide this important issue has been taken away not by the Supreme Court of the United States, but by the Supreme Court of Kansas. &nbsp;

In the 2019 case&nbsp;Hodes &amp;&nbsp;Nauser&nbsp;v. Schmidt, the Kansas Supreme Court pronounced that the state’s constitution protects a woman’s right to obtain an abortion,&nbsp;causing&nbsp;all&nbsp;existing limits on abortion&nbsp;to&nbsp;become “presumed unconstitutional.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Many Kansans&nbsp;believe strongly&nbsp;that&nbsp;thissweeping decision&nbsp;by&nbsp;the Kansas Supreme Court&nbsp;overrode&nbsp;the democratic process.

The ruling&nbsp;already&nbsp;has had serious consequences in Kansas. Abortions in the state have increased by 13% since the ruling took effect. Dismemberment abortions – in which the unborn, even after the point of viability, is cut into pieces while still in the womb, then extracted limb by limb – have increased by 17%. &nbsp;This method of abortion, in addition to its particularly barbarous cruelty to the unborn, also carries with it severe health risks for the mother, both long-term and short-term. &nbsp;

I am a Kansan. &nbsp;I’ve represented the people of Kansas and fought for them in Washington as a Congressmen, and also on the world stage as America’s 70th&nbsp;Secretary of State. &nbsp;Kansans&nbsp;do not want to see their state fund abortions with taxpayer money, or have unsafe and uninspected abortion mills in the state they call home. &nbsp;What every Kansan&nbsp;wants, fundamentally,&nbsp;is the right to vote on this important issue.&nbsp;

The “Value&nbsp;Them Both”&nbsp;amendment&nbsp;will&nbsp;secure this right.&nbsp;It simply&nbsp;makes clear&nbsp;that the state constitution&nbsp;“does&nbsp;not create or secure a right to abortion,”&nbsp;and it&nbsp;affirms that “the people, through their elected state representatives and state senators, may pass laws regarding abortion.” &nbsp;That’s it. Full stop.

Yet this simple amendment has met with severe opposition&nbsp;from&nbsp;pro-abortion radicals&nbsp;who&nbsp;favor unlimited abortion on demand, even painful late-term abortions when the child can feel excruciating pain. &nbsp;These&nbsp;extreme&nbsp;activists&nbsp;have said publicly that they “don’t support abortion limits of ANY kind.” They have fought against every reasonable limit on the abortion industry in&nbsp;the legislature and the courts. &nbsp;Rather than trust the people, they are hiding behind the 2019&nbsp;decision to&nbsp;execute their agenda. Don’t let them.

There are over 50 pregnancy clinics all across Kansas that offer financial, emotional, and medical help to women, free of charge. Many centers offer this&nbsp;support&nbsp;for up to three years after their&nbsp;child is born. &nbsp;Their work should be championed and expanded; this work is what Kansas should become known for. &nbsp;I know that the people of Kansas are strong and compassionate enough to make that a reality.&nbsp;

I&nbsp;also&nbsp;know that&nbsp;there is great division about this issue, both in Kansas and America.&nbsp;It is imperative&nbsp;that we remain civil and respectful&nbsp;despite&nbsp;this&nbsp;deep and profound disagreement. &nbsp;The assaults&nbsp;against pregnancy centers&nbsp;since the Supreme Court decision are unconscionable&nbsp;–&nbsp;some of these have happened in Kansas. &nbsp;As Secretary, I traveled to many countries where they still&nbsp;settle disputes&nbsp;with violence;&nbsp;America must be better than that. Kansas must be better than that.

Public pressure weighs against those of us who&nbsp;fight for life. Those who have used the pro-life movement for political gain have already begun to bow to this pressure and surrender. I ask Kansans who believe in life not to surrender, to never give&nbsp;an inch&nbsp;– I know I never will. Vote “Yes” to the “Value&nbsp;Them Both”&nbsp;amendment&nbsp;and restore&nbsp;the voice of the people&nbsp;in Kansas.

By MICHAEL R. POMPEOThe state of Kansas has always been defined by leadership and courage. Its plains were home to the first generations of American settlers, who left teeming cities to lead America westward and establish new roots. &nbsp;In the years prior to the Civil War, it was Kansans&nbsp;who&nbsp;stood against slavery and stopped its expansion.&nbsp;Kansas was the first state to hold a referendum on women’s suffrage in 1867, and&nbsp;Charles&nbsp;S. Scott, Kansas born-and-raised, was the lead attorney for Oliver Brown in the landmark Supreme Court case&nbsp;Brown v. Board of Education.&nbsp;Kansas has always set the standard in the fight to secure inalienable&nbsp;rights and aid those who are most in need. That’s why at times of great division and difficulty in America, the nation looks&nbsp;to Kansas for the path forward.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas is again going lead the way, and this time the stakes are for life. &nbsp;The Supreme Court’s landmark decision in&nbsp;Dobbs v. Jackson&nbsp;finally overturned&nbsp;Roe v. Wade&nbsp;and returned the power to regulate abortion to states. &nbsp;All across the country, this democratic process is already underway – except in Kansas, my home state. &nbsp;The right of Kansans to decide this important issue has been taken away not by the Supreme Court of the United States, but by the Supreme Court of Kansas. &nbsp;In the 2019 case&nbsp;Hodes &amp;&nbsp;Nauser&nbsp;v. Schmidt, the Kansas Supreme Court pronounced that the state’s constitution protects a woman’s right to obtain an abortion,&nbsp;causing&nbsp;all&nbsp;existing limits on abortion&nbsp;to&nbsp;become “presumed unconstitutional.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Many Kansans&nbsp;believe strongly&nbsp;that&nbsp;thissweeping decision&nbsp;by&nbsp;the Kansas Supreme Court&nbsp;overrode&nbsp;the democratic process.The ruling&nbsp;already&nbsp;has had serious consequences in Kansas. Abortions in the state have increased by 13% since the ruling took effect. Dismemberment abortions – in which the unborn, even after the point of viability, is cut into pieces while still in the womb, then extracted limb by limb – have increased by 17%. &nbsp;This method of abortion, in addition to its particularly barbarous cruelty to the unborn, also carries with it severe health risks for the mother, both long-term and short-term. &nbsp;I am a Kansan. &nbsp;I’ve represented the people of Kansas and fought for them in Washington as a Congressmen, and also on the world stage as America’s 70th&nbsp;Secretary of State. &nbsp;Kansans&nbsp;do not want to see their state fund abortions with taxpayer money, or have unsafe and uninspected abortion mills in the state they call home. &nbsp;What every Kansan&nbsp;wants, fundamentally,&nbsp;is the right to vote on this important issue.&nbsp;The “Value&nbsp;Them Both”&nbsp;amendment&nbsp;will&nbsp;secure this right.&nbsp;It simply&nbsp;makes clear&nbsp;that the state constitution&nbsp;“does&nbsp;not create or secure a right to abortion,”&nbsp;and it&nbsp;affirms that “the people, through their elected state representatives and state senators, may pass laws regarding abortion.” &nbsp;That’s it. Full stop.Yet this simple amendment has met with severe opposition&nbsp;from&nbsp;pro-abortion radicals&nbsp;who&nbsp;favor unlimited abortion on demand, even painful late-term abortions when the child can feel excruciating pain. &nbsp;These&nbsp;extreme&nbsp;activists&nbsp;have said publicly that they “don’t support abortion limits of ANY kind.” They have fought against every reasonable limit on the abortion industry in&nbsp;the legislature and the courts. &nbsp;Rather than trust the people, they are hiding behind the 2019&nbsp;decision to&nbsp;execute their agenda. Don’t let them.There are over 50 pregnancy clinics all across Kansas that offer financial, emotional, and medical help to women, free of charge. Many centers offer this&nbsp;support&nbsp;for up to three years after their&nbsp;child is born. &nbsp;Their work should be championed and expanded; this work is what Kansas should become known for. &nbsp;I know that the people of Kansas are strong and compassionate enough to make that a reality.&nbsp;I&nbsp;also&nbsp;know that&nbsp;there is great division about this issue, both in Kansas and America.&nbsp;It is imperative&nbsp;that we remain civil and respectful&nbsp;despite&nbsp;this&nbsp;deep and profound disagreement. &nbsp;The assaults&nbsp;against pregnancy centers&nbsp;since the Supreme Court decision are unconscionable&nbsp;–&nbsp;some of these have happened in Kansas. &nbsp;As Secretary, I traveled to many countries where they still&nbsp;settle disputes&nbsp;with violence;&nbsp;America must be better than that. Kansas must be better than that.Public pressure weighs against those of us who&nbsp;fight for life. Those who have used the pro-life movement for political gain have already begun to bow to this pressure and surrender. I ask Kansans who believe in life not to surrender, to never give&nbsp;an inch&nbsp;– I know I never will. Vote “Yes” to the “Value&nbsp;Them Both”&nbsp;amendment&nbsp;and restore&nbsp;the voice of the people&nbsp;in Kansas.

POMPEO: Abortion amendment can 'lead America forward'

By ERIC THOMAS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/22/were-melting-as-we-banter-about-the-weather-in-kansas/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

Yes, the weather. That fallback conversation that you can have with anyone.

“Did you hear that thunderstorm last night?”

“They say it’s going to be windy again tomorrow.”

Or, perpetually, in Kansas: “The humidity is what’s making it feel hotter than it is.”

The details of our weather — 
temperature, forecasts, rainfall and, with my dad, even barometric 
pressure — are the polite metrics that lubricate our conversations.

However, that genial mood surrounding
 our chats about the weather may be in jeopardy because, increasingly, 
we really aren’t really talking about the weather. We are talking about 
the climate.

A constant feature in our news, we 
see the drip-drip-drip devastation of climate change year-round. Recent 
summers, however, have quickened the pace with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news/summer-2021-neck-and-neck-with-dust-bowl-summer-for-hottest-on-record">record high temperatures and dry conditions</a>.

In Kansas, we have been largely insulated from the most cataclysmic climate effects in the United States. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/22/forest-service-failed-to-account-for-climate-change-in-new-mexico-fire.html">wildfires in the West</a> and the more intense <a target="_blank" href="https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3184/a-force-of-nature-hurricanes-in-a-changing-climate/">hurricanes in the South</a> don’t directly affect those of us nestled in the Midwest.

However, we too are suffering a cataclysm in Kansas — it’s just a crisis playing out in smaller increments. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/202113/supplemental/page-3">Searing temperatures</a> make the outdoors more dangerous each summer. Our precious water source, the Ogallala Aquifer, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/how-kansas-could-lose-billions-land-values-its-underground-water-runs-dry">is in jeopardy</a>. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/climate-change-threatens-electric-grid-reliability-in-the-midwest-and-great-plains/">Our creaking electrical grid</a> can’t keep up.

All of this creates political pressure. Or, at least, it should.

The last few weeks presented a parade
 of headlines with the federal government acting alternately 
obstructionist, incrementalist, denialist and feckless. This week, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/27/climate/manchin-coal-climate-conflicts.html?searchResultPosition=2">one senator whose family created a fortune through fossil fuels</a>
 submarined a climate change bill that would have increased funding for 
alternative energy. Also this week, the U.S. Postal Service announced it
 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/12/1097072375/usps-plans-to-replace-about-160-000-delivery-trucks-only-a-fraction-will-be-elec">bumped up the percentage of electric cars</a> in its fleet, but far below the recommendations of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2022/07/postal-service-commits-least-40-percent-electric-truck-fleet-response-public">environmental groups</a>. Most consequentially, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/climate/biden-climate-action-epa.html">blocked the EPA</a> from enforcing administrative standards through a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/06/30/supreme-court-climate-change-case-epa/">flimsy legal decision</a>.

President Joe Biden stepped in as well. On Wednesday he announced overdue steps that will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/20/us/politics/biden-climate-emergency.html?searchResultPosition=1">“build
 structures and programs to withstand the severe heat, storms, fires and
 floods that climate change has already started to bring.”</a>
 That paltry approach is like ordering bandages for a patient who is 
still being stabbed. We continuously damage the planet but then 
sheepishly treat the climate’s effects on us.

Many progressives see this moment as a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/20/climate-emergency-biden-consequences-00046885">national emergency</a>, a declaration that would empower the executive branch to be more robust in its actions. The White House’s response?

“Everything is on the table,” Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/20/us/politics/biden-climate-emergency.html?searchResultPosition=1">said on Tuesday.</a> “(The emergency declaration is) just not going to be this week on that decision.”

In the wake of a Trump White House that was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-executive-orders/2020/10/29/c2329162-17bd-11eb-aeec-b93bcc29a01b_story.html">giddy to use executive power</a> for its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/full-list-trump-s-last-minute-pardons-commuted-sentences-n1254806">craven</a>
 purposes, the Biden administration retreats from those same levers of 
power while the world bakes. If Biden calls climate change <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/20/politics/climate-extreme-heat-wind-power-biden-massachusetts-speech/index.html">“a clear and present danger,”</a> then why is he perseverating at a moment when the climate crisis is throbbing in the news?

In the face of these national 
failings, we must look away from Washington, D.C., for action. After the
 Supreme Court’s EPA decision, Maggie Astor <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/climate/climate-policies-cities-states-local.html">wrote in the New York Times</a> about how some states and municipalities have acted more decisively and quickly than the federal government.

“By removing partisan politics from 
community discussions about climate policy, it’s sometimes possible to 
reach a consensus that’s been difficult to achieve on a national level,”
 Astor wrote.

For Kansas, the most promising but quixotic roadmap comes from its western neighbor, Colorado. <a target="_blank" href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1261">Through recent legislation</a>, the state provided emissions standards with ambitious deadlines, including a 90% reduction below 2005 levels by 2050.&nbsp;

You don’t have to <a target="_blank" href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1261">research the bill</a>
 extensively to see how much of a political long shot it would be in 
Kansas. The four sponsors are Democratic representatives. The bill 
passed without a single Republican vote. Imagine the conservative 
legislature in Kansas creating goals for “statewide greenhouse pollution
 goals” while also appropriating state funding toward the problem.

Even if Kansan leaped into action, we
 would still need coordinated national intervention. Astor wrote for the
 New York Times that the more local “approach is no substitute for a 
coordinated national strategy. Local governments have limited reach, 
authority and funding.”

Our collective failing here is epic. 
Past generations have winced to look back at their moral failings: 
slavery, segregation, protracted wars, discrimination based on sexual 
orientation.

Our failure on climate change is 
similar in that the solution is political. However, its effects are even
 larger. Solving our heating earth is an existential and global crisis.

In this atmosphere of obstructionism 
on climate change, it’s grinding to continue with polite conversations 
about the weather. When I hear the complaints about the heat, I want to 
ask, “What steps do you think our city, state and country should take to
 slow down this oncoming stifling melt?”

Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, a nonprofit that supports student journalism throughout the state. He also teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658508570186.png" alt="Wind farms stretch across fields to the north and south of I-70 in Kansas and Colorado. (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Wind farms stretch across fields to the north and south of I-70 in Kansas and Colorado. (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ERIC THOMAS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/22/were-melting-as-we-banter-about-the-weather-in-kansas/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>Let’s talk about the weather.Yes, the weather. That fallback conversation that you can have with anyone.“Did you hear that thunderstorm last night?”“They say it’s going to be windy again tomorrow.”Or, perpetually, in Kansas: “The humidity is what’s making it feel hotter than it is.”The details of our weather — 
temperature, forecasts, rainfall and, with my dad, even barometric 
pressure — are the polite metrics that lubricate our conversations.However, that genial mood surrounding
 our chats about the weather may be in jeopardy because, increasingly, 
we really aren’t really talking about the weather. We are talking about 
the climate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A constant feature in our news, we 
see the drip-drip-drip devastation of climate change year-round. Recent 
summers, however, have quickened the pace with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news/summer-2021-neck-and-neck-with-dust-bowl-summer-for-hottest-on-record">record high temperatures and dry conditions</a>.In Kansas, we have been largely insulated from the most cataclysmic climate effects in the United States. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/22/forest-service-failed-to-account-for-climate-change-in-new-mexico-fire.html">wildfires in the West</a> and the more intense <a target="_blank" href="https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3184/a-force-of-nature-hurricanes-in-a-changing-climate/">hurricanes in the South</a> don’t directly affect those of us nestled in the Midwest.However, we too are suffering a cataclysm in Kansas — it’s just a crisis playing out in smaller increments. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/202113/supplemental/page-3">Searing temperatures</a> make the outdoors more dangerous each summer. Our precious water source, the Ogallala Aquifer, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/how-kansas-could-lose-billions-land-values-its-underground-water-runs-dry">is in jeopardy</a>. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/climate-change-threatens-electric-grid-reliability-in-the-midwest-and-great-plains/">Our creaking electrical grid</a> can’t keep up.All of this creates political pressure. Or, at least, it should.The last few weeks presented a parade
 of headlines with the federal government acting alternately 
obstructionist, incrementalist, denialist and feckless. This week, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/27/climate/manchin-coal-climate-conflicts.html?searchResultPosition=2">one senator whose family created a fortune through fossil fuels</a>
 submarined a climate change bill that would have increased funding for 
alternative energy. Also this week, the U.S. Postal Service announced it
 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/12/1097072375/usps-plans-to-replace-about-160-000-delivery-trucks-only-a-fraction-will-be-elec">bumped up the percentage of electric cars</a> in its fleet, but far below the recommendations of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2022/07/postal-service-commits-least-40-percent-electric-truck-fleet-response-public">environmental groups</a>. Most consequentially, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/climate/biden-climate-action-epa.html">blocked the EPA</a> from enforcing administrative standards through a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/06/30/supreme-court-climate-change-case-epa/">flimsy legal decision</a>.President Joe Biden stepped in as well. On Wednesday he announced overdue steps that will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/20/us/politics/biden-climate-emergency.html?searchResultPosition=1">“build
 structures and programs to withstand the severe heat, storms, fires and
 floods that climate change has already started to bring.”</a>
 That paltry approach is like ordering bandages for a patient who is 
still being stabbed. We continuously damage the planet but then 
sheepishly treat the climate’s effects on us.Many progressives see this moment as a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/20/climate-emergency-biden-consequences-00046885">national emergency</a>, a declaration that would empower the executive branch to be more robust in its actions. The White House’s response?“Everything is on the table,” Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/20/us/politics/biden-climate-emergency.html?searchResultPosition=1">said on Tuesday.</a> “(The emergency declaration is) just not going to be this week on that decision.”In the wake of a Trump White House that was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-executive-orders/2020/10/29/c2329162-17bd-11eb-aeec-b93bcc29a01b_story.html">giddy to use executive power</a> for its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/full-list-trump-s-last-minute-pardons-commuted-sentences-n1254806">craven</a>
 purposes, the Biden administration retreats from those same levers of 
power while the world bakes. If Biden calls climate change <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/20/politics/climate-extreme-heat-wind-power-biden-massachusetts-speech/index.html">“a clear and present danger,”</a> then why is he perseverating at a moment when the climate crisis is throbbing in the news?In the face of these national 
failings, we must look away from Washington, D.C., for action. After the
 Supreme Court’s EPA decision, Maggie Astor <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/climate/climate-policies-cities-states-local.html">wrote in the New York Times</a> about how some states and municipalities have acted more decisively and quickly than the federal government.“By removing partisan politics from 
community discussions about climate policy, it’s sometimes possible to 
reach a consensus that’s been difficult to achieve on a national level,”
 Astor wrote.For Kansas, the most promising but quixotic roadmap comes from its western neighbor, Colorado. <a target="_blank" href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1261">Through recent legislation</a>, the state provided emissions standards with ambitious deadlines, including a 90% reduction below 2005 levels by 2050.&nbsp;You don’t have to <a target="_blank" href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1261">research the bill</a>
 extensively to see how much of a political long shot it would be in 
Kansas. The four sponsors are Democratic representatives. The bill 
passed without a single Republican vote. Imagine the conservative 
legislature in Kansas creating goals for “statewide greenhouse pollution
 goals” while also appropriating state funding toward the problem.Even if Kansan leaped into action, we
 would still need coordinated national intervention. Astor wrote for the
 New York Times that the more local “approach is no substitute for a 
coordinated national strategy. Local governments have limited reach, 
authority and funding.”Our collective failing here is epic. 
Past generations have winced to look back at their moral failings: 
slavery, segregation, protracted wars, discrimination based on sexual 
orientation.Our failure on climate change is 
similar in that the solution is political. However, its effects are even
 larger. Solving our heating earth is an existential and global crisis.In this atmosphere of obstructionism 
on climate change, it’s grinding to continue with polite conversations 
about the weather. When I hear the complaints about the heat, I want to 
ask, “What steps do you think our city, state and country should take to
 slow down this oncoming stifling melt?”But that wouldn’t be polite, would it?Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, a nonprofit that supports student journalism throughout the state. He also teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.&nbsp;

OPINION: We’re melting as we banter about the Kan. weather

In 1977, I was 2nd&nbsp;Lieutenant in the Army assigned to Medical Company C, which we called “Charlie Med” at Fort Richardson, Alaska. Sergeant&nbsp;Parenza&nbsp;(name changed), knocked on my door one afternoon and asked if she could talk to me about one of her Soldiers,&nbsp;who was pregnant out of wedlock and&nbsp;had three previous abortions. The young lady, visibly distressed, came in with SGT&nbsp;Parenza&nbsp;to explain her situation.&nbsp;She told me about having&nbsp;three&nbsp;previous abortions, saying she&nbsp;didn’t want to have another one but didn’t know what else she could do.

Without much hesitation, I asked why she didn’t want to have another abortion. &nbsp;She described the distress and&nbsp;deep&nbsp;depression she felt after each abortion&nbsp;and said&nbsp;she didn’t know of any other choice at&nbsp;those&nbsp;times or now. &nbsp;She was clearly showing her&nbsp;stage of&nbsp;pregnancy at that time so I figured she had been struggling with this decision for some time. &nbsp;Her income level&nbsp;was very low as a young Private in the Army&nbsp;and&nbsp;she was required&nbsp;to live in the barracks where only single Soldiers could live.&nbsp;&nbsp;She couldn’t afford to live in an apartment and didn’t have anyone to help her. &nbsp;She was clearly in a deep personal and professional crisis.

I wasn’t an advocate for or against abortion at that time but I&nbsp;was taught and believed that all human life is sacred. I&nbsp;also&nbsp;knew that there were organizations that were set up to help women with crisis pregnancies. &nbsp;I told her that SGT&nbsp;Parenza&nbsp;and I would look into some possibilities and would&nbsp;let her know what we found out.

A few days later, we met again&nbsp;and gave her the information about organizations who&nbsp;could help her&nbsp;keep the baby or give it up for adoption,&nbsp;if she so chose. &nbsp;The look on her face was disbelief and she immediately asked me,“Sir, you mean I don’t have to have&nbsp;an abortion again?”&nbsp;&nbsp;I told her, “No, Sophia, you do&nbsp;not have to have an abortion, if you&nbsp;don’t want to." I could sense deep relief, if not hope, as she left my office,&nbsp;elated and&nbsp;with&nbsp;a huge smile on her face.

A number of&nbsp;months passed and I had a knock on my office door at “Charlie Med”&nbsp;one morning. In walked&nbsp;the young Private (Sophia)&nbsp;holding&nbsp;a&nbsp;beautiful little baby girl. &nbsp;She said to me: “Sir, remember when we talked last and you said I didn’t have to have an abortion because there were people who would help me? Look at my baby! They helped me. I can’t believe I am holding her right now!” &nbsp;

It was&nbsp;an&nbsp;absolutely&nbsp;priceless moment&nbsp;and&nbsp;it was&nbsp;one of those “signature&nbsp;experiences”&nbsp;in my life&nbsp;that solidified&nbsp;me in my beliefs.&nbsp;I&nbsp;may have been&nbsp;nothing more than&nbsp;an instrument of hope&nbsp;in a crisis&nbsp;moment for this young Soldier,&nbsp;but the experience&nbsp;has&nbsp;affected me for life,&nbsp;as it did herholding that beautiful precious&nbsp;baby girl.

Seared into my mind,&nbsp;from that experience,&nbsp;was the desire&nbsp;to give hope for life-affirming alternatives to women caught&nbsp;in such crises, &nbsp;especially in today’s&nbsp;society where the&nbsp;right to choose&nbsp;almost&nbsp;anything&nbsp;—&nbsp;“for me”&nbsp;—&nbsp;is&nbsp;the&nbsp;dominant&nbsp;determinant over an issue&nbsp;so important as:choosing life for a&nbsp;defenseless child&nbsp;in the womb.&nbsp;This young Private&nbsp;stepped beyond her immediate needs and&nbsp;decided, over all other&nbsp;frightening&nbsp;issues, to give that baby the chance for a full life.&nbsp;After seeing her&nbsp;beautiful baby girl,&nbsp;I was reminded graphically,&nbsp;that the voiceless, defenseless person in a difficult pregnancy — the unborn child — must be considered&nbsp;and valued – in itself - if we are to remain a just society.

This is&nbsp;controversial&nbsp;in today’s society, but we must ask&nbsp;ourselves&nbsp;a central question: Is&nbsp;the emphasis almost&nbsp;exclusively on the woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy,&nbsp;therefore&nbsp;compelling&nbsp;some to make&nbsp;that selection&nbsp;because they don’t see alternatives?&nbsp;Could&nbsp;we not reduce the&nbsp;urgency&nbsp;to terminate&nbsp;a pregnancy&nbsp;and&nbsp;rather&nbsp;increase&nbsp;and promote life-giving, healthy opportunities for women's access to life-affirming alternatives?&nbsp;Too often, perhaps because the unborn child cannot speak, possibly&nbsp;to&nbsp;dull&nbsp;the&nbsp;potential&nbsp;guilt&nbsp;of terminating the child’s life,&nbsp;or&nbsp;perhaps because we cannot be assured of the future; we reduce choice to what it does for the&nbsp;distressed mother&nbsp;and&nbsp;we therefore fail&nbsp;to weigh-in&nbsp;the&nbsp;“life cost”&nbsp;to a defenseless, silent, invisible son or daughter.&nbsp;That is, in fact, what they are&nbsp;—&nbsp;a&nbsp;son or daughter.

The “Value Them Both” amendment to our Kansas Constitution on the ballot on Aug. 2.&nbsp;isn’t something earthshaking, but it does bring the issues of life, death, quality of care, support for women, and a potential voice for the most defenseless, to the vote of the people through the officials they elect. It then rests upon us to exercise our own vote to elect responsible and accountable legislators.

I will support the Value Them Both amendment. &nbsp;May we always champion&nbsp;to support&nbsp;life&nbsp;of both the mother and the child&nbsp;and assist them throughout their lives for their good and the good of all! &nbsp;

In 1977, I was 2nd&nbsp;Lieutenant in the Army assigned to Medical Company C, which we called “Charlie Med” at Fort Richardson, Alaska. Sergeant&nbsp;Parenza&nbsp;(name changed), knocked on my door one afternoon and asked if she could talk to me about one of her Soldiers,&nbsp;who was pregnant out of wedlock and&nbsp;had three previous abortions. The young lady, visibly distressed, came in with SGT&nbsp;Parenza&nbsp;to explain her situation.&nbsp;She told me about having&nbsp;three&nbsp;previous abortions, saying she&nbsp;didn’t want to have another one but didn’t know what else she could do.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="opinion" />
 <figcaption>opinion</figcaption>
 </figure>Without much hesitation, I asked why she didn’t want to have another abortion. &nbsp;She described the distress and&nbsp;deep&nbsp;depression she felt after each abortion&nbsp;and said&nbsp;she didn’t know of any other choice at&nbsp;those&nbsp;times or now. &nbsp;She was clearly showing her&nbsp;stage of&nbsp;pregnancy at that time so I figured she had been struggling with this decision for some time. &nbsp;Her income level&nbsp;was very low as a young Private in the Army&nbsp;and&nbsp;she was required&nbsp;to live in the barracks where only single Soldiers could live.&nbsp;&nbsp;She couldn’t afford to live in an apartment and didn’t have anyone to help her. &nbsp;She was clearly in a deep personal and professional crisis.I wasn’t an advocate for or against abortion at that time but I&nbsp;was taught and believed that all human life is sacred. I&nbsp;also&nbsp;knew that there were organizations that were set up to help women with crisis pregnancies. &nbsp;I told her that SGT&nbsp;Parenza&nbsp;and I would look into some possibilities and would&nbsp;let her know what we found out.A few days later, we met again&nbsp;and gave her the information about organizations who&nbsp;could help her&nbsp;keep the baby or give it up for adoption,&nbsp;if she so chose. &nbsp;The look on her face was disbelief and she immediately asked me,“Sir, you mean I don’t have to have&nbsp;an abortion again?”&nbsp;&nbsp;I told her, “No, Sophia, you do&nbsp;not have to have an abortion, if you&nbsp;don’t want to." I could sense deep relief, if not hope, as she left my office,&nbsp;elated and&nbsp;with&nbsp;a huge smile on her face.A number of&nbsp;months passed and I had a knock on my office door at “Charlie Med”&nbsp;one morning. In walked&nbsp;the young Private (Sophia)&nbsp;holding&nbsp;a&nbsp;beautiful little baby girl. &nbsp;She said to me: “Sir, remember when we talked last and you said I didn’t have to have an abortion because there were people who would help me? Look at my baby! They helped me. I can’t believe I am holding her right now!” &nbsp;It was&nbsp;an&nbsp;absolutely&nbsp;priceless moment&nbsp;and&nbsp;it was&nbsp;one of those “signature&nbsp;experiences”&nbsp;in my life&nbsp;that solidified&nbsp;me in my beliefs.&nbsp;I&nbsp;may have been&nbsp;nothing more than&nbsp;an instrument of hope&nbsp;in a crisis&nbsp;moment for this young Soldier,&nbsp;but the experience&nbsp;has&nbsp;affected me for life,&nbsp;as it did herholding that beautiful precious&nbsp;baby girl.Seared into my mind,&nbsp;from that experience,&nbsp;was the desire&nbsp;to give hope for life-affirming alternatives to women caught&nbsp;in such crises, &nbsp;especially in today’s&nbsp;society where the&nbsp;right to choose&nbsp;almost&nbsp;anything&nbsp;—&nbsp;“for me”&nbsp;—&nbsp;is&nbsp;the&nbsp;dominant&nbsp;determinant over an issue&nbsp;so important as:choosing life for a&nbsp;defenseless child&nbsp;in the womb.&nbsp;This young Private&nbsp;stepped beyond her immediate needs and&nbsp;decided, over all other&nbsp;frightening&nbsp;issues, to give that baby the chance for a full life.&nbsp;After seeing her&nbsp;beautiful baby girl,&nbsp;I was reminded graphically,&nbsp;that the voiceless, defenseless person in a difficult pregnancy — the unborn child — must be considered&nbsp;and valued – in itself - if we are to remain a just society.This is&nbsp;controversial&nbsp;in today’s society, but we must ask&nbsp;ourselves&nbsp;a central question: Is&nbsp;the emphasis almost&nbsp;exclusively on the woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy,&nbsp;therefore&nbsp;compelling&nbsp;some to make&nbsp;that selection&nbsp;because they don’t see alternatives?&nbsp;Could&nbsp;we not reduce the&nbsp;urgency&nbsp;to terminate&nbsp;a pregnancy&nbsp;and&nbsp;rather&nbsp;increase&nbsp;and promote life-giving, healthy opportunities for women's access to life-affirming alternatives?&nbsp;Too often, perhaps because the unborn child cannot speak, possibly&nbsp;to&nbsp;dull&nbsp;the&nbsp;potential&nbsp;guilt&nbsp;of terminating the child’s life,&nbsp;or&nbsp;perhaps because we cannot be assured of the future; we reduce choice to what it does for the&nbsp;distressed mother&nbsp;and&nbsp;we therefore fail&nbsp;to weigh-in&nbsp;the&nbsp;“life cost”&nbsp;to a defenseless, silent, invisible son or daughter.&nbsp;That is, in fact, what they are&nbsp;—&nbsp;a&nbsp;son or daughter.The “Value Them Both” amendment to our Kansas Constitution on the ballot on Aug. 2.&nbsp;isn’t something earthshaking, but it does bring the issues of life, death, quality of care, support for women, and a potential voice for the most defenseless, to the vote of the people through the officials they elect. It then rests upon us to exercise our own vote to elect responsible and accountable legislators.I will support the Value Them Both amendment. &nbsp;May we always champion&nbsp;to support&nbsp;life&nbsp;of both the mother and the child&nbsp;and assist them throughout their lives for their good and the good of all! &nbsp;Allen Schmidt, Hays

LETTER: Taught to choose life by a young Army private

If you live in the Hays community or have recently visited, you are probably well aware of several recent construction projects on our beautiful campus, including the Center for Applied Technology, the Schmidt Foundation Center for Art and Design, and the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success.&nbsp;The opening of a new building on our campus gives us an opportunity to re-envision how a physical space can directly enhance teaching, learning, and student success.&nbsp;These new spaces were intentionally designed to meet our students’ evolving educational, social, physical space, and technology needs.

The summer meeting of our Alumni Board included a tour of our newer facilities. While touring Rarick Hall, our group bumped into Dr. Paul Adams, Dean of the College of Education. Impromptu, he was asked to discuss the reimagination of teacher education via the renovation.&nbsp;

The narrative that follows is based on Paul’s description of the reimagined teacher education spaces&nbsp;in&nbsp;Rarick Hall.&nbsp;

One of the things we wanted to do for a long time was to have a room that models the environment and furniture types and arrangements our future teachers would see in the classrooms where they will launch their careers. We wanted to create a state-of-the-practice teaching laboratory.&nbsp;

We gathered faculty members who&nbsp;had&nbsp;recent experience in school classrooms&nbsp;and asked them toenvision a space to meet the experiential learning needs of our students and keep them “ahead of the game.” We brought our students into the discussion by asking them what they thought would make this teaching laboratory an excellent resource for collaborative learning. The thoughtfulness behind this whole process, as described by Dean Adams, was very impressive.

What we heard from our&nbsp;teacher education&nbsp;students is the importance they place on learning environments that promote&nbsp;close collaboration with their peers. The Teaching Laboratory space was designed with this in mind. Everything in the lab was built to provide a high level of flexibility and to enhance teaching and learning. The area includes, for example, a u-shaped table with&nbsp;movable&nbsp;chairs around it. There are rocking stools that can easily be moved around the room. There&nbsp;are modular tables with whiteboard&nbsp;surfaces that can be placed together like puzzle pieces&nbsp;allowing multiple configurations&nbsp;to support students working in small and&nbsp;large groups.Other&nbsp;tables in the room&nbsp;have&nbsp;whiteboard&nbsp;surfaces that&nbsp;students&nbsp;can&nbsp;gather around as they work.

Another innovative space in Rarick Hall is the Tiger Stripes Lounge. It replaced the Instructional Resource Center (IRC). Previously, the IRC covered most of the central portion of the 2nd floor of Rarick Hall and was a repository for textbooks, teaching materials, and anything one might need to borrow for a classroom. With a wealth of online resources preferred and readily available, this space reflects how students now use learning resources and technology. We’ve also installed a 75-inch screen projection Smart TV that students can log into that includes a touch screen to facilitate collaborative work. Users can also meet via Zoom.

Of course, we haven’t forgotten some of the basics. We still have paper cutters, colored paperrolls for bulletin board construction, a laminator, and die cutters. We will install even more&nbsp;technology soon. Students asked us to keep a collection of books in the lounge, specifically&nbsp;trade&nbsp;books for future elementary school teachers to use in their coursework. We built a beautiful bookcase and will soon add a collection of Caldecott and Newbery Award-winning books.

Adjacent to the Tiger Stripes Lounge is a great place for aspiring teachers to get together: a conference room that can also double as a quiet study space. “This is one of the things we didn’t have before, a space like this one that our students designed. We feel this is very important,” said Adams.

Our tour of Rarick Hall then took us to the first floor and another reimagined space. Before the building was renovated, students didn’t really have a place to get together right before or between classes to prepare for a team presentation or read and do homework. So, one of the ideas was to turn the large and soon-to-be-vacated “Foundry” space into something useful. Today, the Foundry is a well-lit and open gathering space for all students, not just College of Education students. The area includes small meeting rooms with smart TVs, rolling whiteboards, free-standing tables, restaurant-style booths, and vending machines.&nbsp;

Outside the Foundry space, we’ve installed picnic tables, outlets for various devices, and of course, Wi-Fi reception. And we’ve installed landscaping that creates a beautiful open-air setting for community gatherings, quiet study&nbsp;or just relaxing between classes.

The intentionality built into the Rarick Hall renovation is also apparent in the smallest details. Additional benches and furniture create nooks for students are new features on some floors. We’ve also installed more glass boards for students to brainstorm, solve problems, or doodle. Faculty can also use this space for small group work during class.&nbsp;

So, when you come to Rarick Hall, take a moment and wander a bit. I think, like me, you will marvel at the remarkable transformation of this facility.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575302025343.png" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>If you live in the Hays community or have recently visited, you are probably well aware of several recent construction projects on our beautiful campus, including the Center for Applied Technology, the Schmidt Foundation Center for Art and Design, and the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success.&nbsp;The opening of a new building on our campus gives us an opportunity to re-envision how a physical space can directly enhance teaching, learning, and student success.&nbsp;These new spaces were intentionally designed to meet our students’ evolving educational, social, physical space, and technology needs.The summer meeting of our Alumni Board included a tour of our newer facilities. While touring Rarick Hall, our group bumped into Dr. Paul Adams, Dean of the College of Education. Impromptu, he was asked to discuss the reimagination of teacher education via the renovation.&nbsp;The narrative that follows is based on Paul’s description of the reimagined teacher education spaces&nbsp;in&nbsp;Rarick Hall.&nbsp;One of the things we wanted to do for a long time was to have a room that models the environment and furniture types and arrangements our future teachers would see in the classrooms where they will launch their careers. We wanted to create a state-of-the-practice teaching laboratory.&nbsp;We gathered faculty members who&nbsp;had&nbsp;recent experience in school classrooms&nbsp;and asked them toenvision a space to meet the experiential learning needs of our students and keep them “ahead of the game.” We brought our students into the discussion by asking them what they thought would make this teaching laboratory an excellent resource for collaborative learning. The thoughtfulness behind this whole process, as described by Dean Adams, was very impressive.What we heard from our&nbsp;teacher education&nbsp;students is the importance they place on learning environments that promote&nbsp;close collaboration with their peers. The Teaching Laboratory space was designed with this in mind. Everything in the lab was built to provide a high level of flexibility and to enhance teaching and learning. The area includes, for example, a u-shaped table with&nbsp;movable&nbsp;chairs around it. There are rocking stools that can easily be moved around the room. There&nbsp;are modular tables with whiteboard&nbsp;surfaces that can be placed together like puzzle pieces&nbsp;allowing multiple configurations&nbsp;to support students working in small and&nbsp;large groups.Other&nbsp;tables in the room&nbsp;have&nbsp;whiteboard&nbsp;surfaces that&nbsp;students&nbsp;can&nbsp;gather around as they work.Another innovative space in Rarick Hall is the Tiger Stripes Lounge. It replaced the Instructional Resource Center (IRC). Previously, the IRC covered most of the central portion of the 2nd floor of Rarick Hall and was a repository for textbooks, teaching materials, and anything one might need to borrow for a classroom. With a wealth of online resources preferred and readily available, this space reflects how students now use learning resources and technology. We’ve also installed a 75-inch screen projection Smart TV that students can log into that includes a touch screen to facilitate collaborative work. Users can also meet via Zoom.Of course, we haven’t forgotten some of the basics. We still have paper cutters, colored paperrolls for bulletin board construction, a laminator, and die cutters. We will install even more&nbsp;technology soon. Students asked us to keep a collection of books in the lounge, specifically&nbsp;trade&nbsp;books for future elementary school teachers to use in their coursework. We built a beautiful bookcase and will soon add a collection of Caldecott and Newbery Award-winning books.Adjacent to the Tiger Stripes Lounge is a great place for aspiring teachers to get together: a conference room that can also double as a quiet study space. “This is one of the things we didn’t have before, a space like this one that our students designed. We feel this is very important,” said Adams.Our tour of Rarick Hall then took us to the first floor and another reimagined space. Before the building was renovated, students didn’t really have a place to get together right before or between classes to prepare for a team presentation or read and do homework. So, one of the ideas was to turn the large and soon-to-be-vacated “Foundry” space into something useful. Today, the Foundry is a well-lit and open gathering space for all students, not just College of Education students. The area includes small meeting rooms with smart TVs, rolling whiteboards, free-standing tables, restaurant-style booths, and vending machines.&nbsp;Outside the Foundry space, we’ve installed picnic tables, outlets for various devices, and of course, Wi-Fi reception. And we’ve installed landscaping that creates a beautiful open-air setting for community gatherings, quiet study&nbsp;or just relaxing between classes.The intentionality built into the Rarick Hall renovation is also apparent in the smallest details. Additional benches and furniture create nooks for students are new features on some floors. We’ve also installed more glass boards for students to brainstorm, solve problems, or doodle. Faculty can also use this space for small group work during class.&nbsp;So, when you come to Rarick Hall, take a moment and wander a bit. I think, like me, you will marvel at the remarkable transformation of this facility.&nbsp;

MASON: Intentionality — the Rarick Hall Renovation Project

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher

It’s ironic how I checked my weather app multiple times daily as we harvested wheat in June. We wanted to get the crop out of the fields before the summer storms rolled in, which always offers the potential of damaging hail or winds and could put harvest on hold while things would need to dry up.&nbsp; &nbsp; Now that harvest is over, I check my weather app multiple times daily to see if there is a small chance of rain or lower temperatures in the July forecast. &nbsp; No matter the number of times I tap on the weather app on my phone, no matter what 10-day forecast I look at, and no matter who the meteorologist is on the television, the triple digits have not budged, and I’ve accepted that we’re in for an excessively hot, dry spell. &nbsp; The crops currently growing on our farm are on a combination of dryland and irrigated acres. The sorghum, corn and soybeans growing on our dryland acres will soon show how much they can truly tolerate drought. The crops on our irrigated acres will also show their heat tolerance.&nbsp; &nbsp; While I am concerned for the crops that will not see a break in hot, dry temperatures as they attempt to grow, I’m incredibly concerned about the animals and the people. &nbsp; While there will be many people who will seek refuge in air-conditioned environments, farmers and ranchers will continue to be out in the elements ensuring their livestock have plenty of water and the irrigation systems are maintained and continue to run.&nbsp;They will also be out in these elements when things go down and need fixed.&nbsp; &nbsp; Early in my marriage I remember spending a couple very long, hot days helping my husband and father-in-law repair an irrigation well in triple-digit heat. While we made sure to stay hydrated, the heat was oppressive. It had a toll on my body, and it took me a number of days to “get back to normal.” &nbsp; Aside from the continued work farmers and ranchers will be doing on their operations during this heat, youth fairs are right around the corner. As a kid, I always looked forward to taking my cattle to the summer fair.&nbsp; &nbsp; It was fun to live in the barns for a few days with my friends during fair time. We’d sit and play cards on our showboxes while our cattle rested with misters and industrial fans pointed on them. There was always an endless supply of ice-cold drinks in cans and pouches stored in large coolers nearby. The random pop-up water fights in the wash racks in the evenings after the animals had been fed, watered and tied out for the night was also guaranteed. &nbsp; While I hope the kids enjoy their fair experiences this year, I know they will be working extra hard to keep their livestock hydrated and cooled while they also spend their days in this heat. &nbsp; During this heat spell, it is my hope that your loved ones, co-workers and employees are staying hydrated. Keep extra water on hand – including in your vehicles. Pace yourself and know when it's time to take a break and then take it. Monitor those who spend extra time outdoors and offer grace to those who come home at night exhausted from the heat while caring for the crops and livestock.&nbsp; &nbsp; This season shall pass; but while we’re living in it, keep track of others and yourself.&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 rancherIt’s ironic how I checked my weather app multiple times daily as we harvested wheat in June. We wanted to get the crop out of the fields before the summer storms rolled in, which always offers the potential of damaging hail or winds and could put harvest on hold while things would need to dry up.&nbsp; &nbsp; Now that harvest is over, I check my weather app multiple times daily to see if there is a small chance of rain or lower temperatures in the July forecast. &nbsp; No matter the number of times I tap on the weather app on my phone, no matter what 10-day forecast I look at, and no matter who the meteorologist is on the television, the triple digits have not budged, and I’ve accepted that we’re in for an excessively hot, dry spell. &nbsp; The crops currently growing on our farm are on a combination of dryland and irrigated acres. The sorghum, corn and soybeans growing on our dryland acres will soon show how much they can truly tolerate drought. The crops on our irrigated acres will also show their heat tolerance.&nbsp; &nbsp; While I am concerned for the crops that will not see a break in hot, dry temperatures as they attempt to grow, I’m incredibly concerned about the animals and the people. &nbsp; While there will be many people who will seek refuge in air-conditioned environments, farmers and ranchers will continue to be out in the elements ensuring their livestock have plenty of water and the irrigation systems are maintained and continue to run.&nbsp;They will also be out in these elements when things go down and need fixed.&nbsp; &nbsp; Early in my marriage I remember spending a couple very long, hot days helping my husband and father-in-law repair an irrigation well in triple-digit heat. While we made sure to stay hydrated, the heat was oppressive. It had a toll on my body, and it took me a number of days to “get back to normal.” &nbsp; Aside from the continued work farmers and ranchers will be doing on their operations during this heat, youth fairs are right around the corner. As a kid, I always looked forward to taking my cattle to the summer fair.&nbsp; &nbsp; It was fun to live in the barns for a few days with my friends during fair time. We’d sit and play cards on our showboxes while our cattle rested with misters and industrial fans pointed on them. There was always an endless supply of ice-cold drinks in cans and pouches stored in large coolers nearby. The random pop-up water fights in the wash racks in the evenings after the animals had been fed, watered and tied out for the night was also guaranteed. &nbsp; While I hope the kids enjoy their fair experiences this year, I know they will be working extra hard to keep their livestock hydrated and cooled while they also spend their days in this heat. &nbsp; During this heat spell, it is my hope that your loved ones, co-workers and employees are staying hydrated. Keep extra water on hand – including in your vehicles. Pace yourself and know when it's time to take a break and then take it. Monitor those who spend extra time outdoors and offer grace to those who come home at night exhausted from the heat while caring for the crops and livestock.&nbsp; &nbsp; This season shall pass; but while we’re living in it, keep track of others and yourself.&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: Surviving summer

One of my favorite movie quotes is the&nbsp;Field of Dreams&nbsp;“I you build it, they will come.”&nbsp;This mantra works in more places than an Iowa cornfield.&nbsp;

We recently returned to western Kansas after a six-year hiatus in northwest Wyoming. Both landscapes offer&nbsp;open space,&nbsp;inspiring western skies, and&nbsp;lots of&nbsp;bird&nbsp;species. In Wyoming we lived near a river and creek that made it easy to recruit&nbsp;species including grossbeaks and tanagers&nbsp;to our&nbsp;tall spruce and cottonwood trees&nbsp;and our big lilac bushes. Our new home has an old ash and several tall pines, but other than sparrows, robins, and grackles, we&nbsp;saw&nbsp;little variety&nbsp;during our first months calling this home.&nbsp;

That’s where the&nbsp;“If you build it, they will come,” quote comes into play. We&nbsp;put&nbsp;5&nbsp;bird bathsaround the yard, planted bushes&nbsp;to&nbsp;hide&nbsp;them&nbsp;once the seedlings grow, and we put in a big garden. Initially, that was for us, but we’ve discovered that our squash, corn, and tomato plants&nbsp;serve as&nbsp;perches that provide the birds with tasty insects as well as observation posts.&nbsp;Yesterday, a hungry robin&nbsp;offered&nbsp;natural&nbsp;insect control when she&nbsp;spied&nbsp;live protein crawling near a cabbage plant.&nbsp;

Hoping we had orioles in the neighborhood, we&nbsp;served&nbsp;grape jelly in an easy-to-perch on dish and oranges sliced in half on a sturdy log.&nbsp;It wasn’t long til we saw not one species but two of orioles visiting our offerings. Pairs of bullock and orchard orioles visited our&nbsp;diner several times a day, taking turns snacking on sweet stuff and picking at orange flesh. Following their meal, they&nbsp;flitted to&nbsp;a&nbsp;bird bath mostly for a drink but sometimes for an entertaining&nbsp;splash bath.&nbsp;The dining room window offers a perfect view of their antics&nbsp;where we can spy undetected.

In Wyoming, hummingbirds called our yard home from late June to late August. We found out that house finches had a sweet tooth and could siphon sugar water from our feeders every bit as&nbsp;well&nbsp;as hummingbirds&nbsp;could.&nbsp;

Here in Kansas, once we offered water, bird seeds, and&nbsp;protective perches, multiple house finches relocated&nbsp;to our yard. We may not have a humming bird feeder out, but they like grape jelly and oranges every bit as much as orioles do.

Though they aren’t interested in our oriole food or bird seeds, western king birds have discovered fresh meat&nbsp;flitting above the garden. These saucy, flying&nbsp;attitudes&nbsp;perform dazzling aerobatics&nbsp;while&nbsp;squabbling with one another before&nbsp;they snag&nbsp;their dinner. I’m glad they joined the menagerie because the&nbsp;bullying&nbsp;grackles don’t intimidate them one bit.&nbsp;In fact, I’ve watched more than one nasty black and iridescent blue tyrant hightail it to a&nbsp;distant neighbor&nbsp;to avoid these&nbsp;airborne&nbsp;warriors.

Now that It’s mid-July, we watch fledged young learn&nbsp;from their parents as they visit the garden, feeders, and bird baths. One&nbsp;juvenile&nbsp;oriole&nbsp;perched&nbsp;unsteadily&nbsp;on&nbsp;waving&nbsp;corn&nbsp;tassels&nbsp;was&nbsp;bound and determined&nbsp;its parents&nbsp;would hunt and put&nbsp;insects&nbsp;in its mouth.&nbsp;Dad cared for&nbsp;the&nbsp;little squawker that day, but&nbsp;my money says&nbsp;free meals end soon.

We still hope&nbsp;to hear a cardinal’s&nbsp;lilting&nbsp;song&nbsp;and&nbsp;see red flashes&nbsp;through&nbsp;pine branches. Based on&nbsp;the number of new birds that have shown up so far,&nbsp;it will happen. When it does, you’ll read about&nbsp;it.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINOne of my favorite movie quotes is the&nbsp;Field of Dreams&nbsp;“I you build it, they will come.”&nbsp;This mantra works in more places than an Iowa cornfield.&nbsp;We recently returned to western Kansas after a six-year hiatus in northwest Wyoming. Both landscapes offer&nbsp;open space,&nbsp;inspiring western skies, and&nbsp;lots of&nbsp;bird&nbsp;species. In Wyoming we lived near a river and creek that made it easy to recruit&nbsp;species including grossbeaks and tanagers&nbsp;to our&nbsp;tall spruce and cottonwood trees&nbsp;and our big lilac bushes. Our new home has an old ash and several tall pines, but other than sparrows, robins, and grackles, we&nbsp;saw&nbsp;little variety&nbsp;during our first months calling this home.&nbsp;That’s where the&nbsp;“If you build it, they will come,” quote comes into play. We&nbsp;put&nbsp;5&nbsp;bird bathsaround the yard, planted bushes&nbsp;to&nbsp;hide&nbsp;them&nbsp;once the seedlings grow, and we put in a big garden. Initially, that was for us, but we’ve discovered that our squash, corn, and tomato plants&nbsp;serve as&nbsp;perches that provide the birds with tasty insects as well as observation posts.&nbsp;Yesterday, a hungry robin&nbsp;offered&nbsp;natural&nbsp;insect control when she&nbsp;spied&nbsp;live protein crawling near a cabbage plant.&nbsp;Hoping we had orioles in the neighborhood, we&nbsp;served&nbsp;grape jelly in an easy-to-perch on dish and oranges sliced in half on a sturdy log.&nbsp;It wasn’t long til we saw not one species but two of orioles visiting our offerings. Pairs of bullock and orchard orioles visited our&nbsp;diner several times a day, taking turns snacking on sweet stuff and picking at orange flesh. Following their meal, they&nbsp;flitted to&nbsp;a&nbsp;bird bath mostly for a drink but sometimes for an entertaining&nbsp;splash bath.&nbsp;The dining room window offers a perfect view of their antics&nbsp;where we can spy undetected.In Wyoming, hummingbirds called our yard home from late June to late August. We found out that house finches had a sweet tooth and could siphon sugar water from our feeders every bit as&nbsp;well&nbsp;as hummingbirds&nbsp;could.&nbsp;Here in Kansas, once we offered water, bird seeds, and&nbsp;protective perches, multiple house finches relocated&nbsp;to our yard. We may not have a humming bird feeder out, but they like grape jelly and oranges every bit as much as orioles do.Though they aren’t interested in our oriole food or bird seeds, western king birds have discovered fresh meat&nbsp;flitting above the garden. These saucy, flying&nbsp;attitudes&nbsp;perform dazzling aerobatics&nbsp;while&nbsp;squabbling with one another before&nbsp;they snag&nbsp;their dinner. I’m glad they joined the menagerie because the&nbsp;bullying&nbsp;grackles don’t intimidate them one bit.&nbsp;In fact, I’ve watched more than one nasty black and iridescent blue tyrant hightail it to a&nbsp;distant neighbor&nbsp;to avoid these&nbsp;airborne&nbsp;warriors.Now that It’s mid-July, we watch fledged young learn&nbsp;from their parents as they visit the garden, feeders, and bird baths. One&nbsp;juvenile&nbsp;oriole&nbsp;perched&nbsp;unsteadily&nbsp;on&nbsp;waving&nbsp;corn&nbsp;tassels&nbsp;was&nbsp;bound and determined&nbsp;its parents&nbsp;would hunt and put&nbsp;insects&nbsp;in its mouth.&nbsp;Dad cared for&nbsp;the&nbsp;little squawker that day, but&nbsp;my money says&nbsp;free meals end soon.We still hope&nbsp;to hear a cardinal’s&nbsp;lilting&nbsp;song&nbsp;and&nbsp;see red flashes&nbsp;through&nbsp;pine branches. Based on&nbsp;the number of new birds that have shown up so far,&nbsp;it will happen. When it does, you’ll read about&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

MADORIN: If you build it, they will come

With all of the attention being focused on the proposed “Value Them Both” constitutional amendment, Kansas voters may be wondering what else will be on their ballots this Aug. 2.

Kansas’ party primaries will be on that ballot. Voters must be registered as members of a particular party in order to vote in that party’s primary. The last date that one may change one’s party registration this year was back on June 1. Voters registered as unaffiliated may change their party affiliation at the polls and then vote in that party’s primary.&nbsp;&nbsp;From then onward, they will be registered as members of that party unless they choose to change it again, in which case they must do so by the next deadline.

Many Kansans will find themselves voting in new districts this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Centered on Johnson County, the KC-area Third Congressional District loses most of Wyandotte County to the Second and gains the rest of Miami along with all of Anderson and Franklin Counties.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Second District loses Lawrence (but not the rest of Douglas County) to the “Big First” district of central and western Kansas, while several counties in east-central Kansas move from the Big First to the Second.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are numerous changes to the statehouse maps as well.

State house and state senate primaries are quieter this year than in the recent past, for several reasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;First, most moderate Republicans have now switched parties or left politics altogether.&nbsp;&nbsp;Second, this year’s redistricting complicated early candidate filing by making it difficult to determine one’s new district until the last minute.&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, the heavy publicity given to the constitutional amendment is crowding out attention to the primary races.&nbsp;&nbsp;One notable exception—Wyandotte County Representative Aaron Coleman faces two Democratic primary opponents, both Latina women.&nbsp;&nbsp;Elected at 21 years old, Coleman is vulnerable after facing numerous charges of domestic abuse and battery.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, his two opponents may split the opposition vote.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt has no serious opposition to become the Republican nominee challenging Governor Kelly, who in turn is unopposed in the Democratic primary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead, the primary race to watch is the GOP contest for Attorney General.&nbsp;&nbsp;Perennial firebrand Kris Kobach faces challenges from State Senator Kellie Warren and former federal prosecutor Tony Mattivi.&nbsp;&nbsp;All stress their conservative credentials, including opposition to numerous Biden Administration initiatives (some of which they mischaracterize), and a promise to “get tough on crime.”&nbsp;&nbsp;A lawyer from Johnson County, Warren promises to avoid Kobach’s missteps.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her experience is mostly in civil law, while Mattivi’s is in criminal law.&nbsp;&nbsp;These two risk splitting the anybody-but-Kobach vote and allowing him to win, a repeat of the 2018 gubernatorial primary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Most observers think that that Kobach will be the most vulnerable to unopposed Democratic challenger Chris Mann, who has experience as both a law enforcement officer and an attorney.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There is also a race for Secretary of State, a job which includes overseeing elections.&nbsp;&nbsp;Republican incumbent Scott Schwab appears to have the edge over “Big Lie” proponent Mike Brown, who falsely claims that widespread election fraud changed the results of the 2020 Presidential election.&nbsp;&nbsp;Schwab carefully threads the needle by stating that no such fraud occurred&nbsp;in Kansas—which is true, but he neglects to mention that it did not occur in other states, either.&nbsp;&nbsp;Big Lie proponents have caused major disruptions in Michigan and other state primaries this year.

As things wind down toward Aug. 2, expect advertising and candidate appearances to heat up, fighting to steal a little attention from the proposed constitutional amendment.

Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639601062071.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>With all of the attention being focused on the proposed “Value Them Both” constitutional amendment, Kansas voters may be wondering what else will be on their ballots this Aug. 2.Kansas’ party primaries will be on that ballot. Voters must be registered as members of a particular party in order to vote in that party’s primary. The last date that one may change one’s party registration this year was back on June 1. Voters registered as unaffiliated may change their party affiliation at the polls and then vote in that party’s primary.&nbsp;&nbsp;From then onward, they will be registered as members of that party unless they choose to change it again, in which case they must do so by the next deadline.Many Kansans will find themselves voting in new districts this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Centered on Johnson County, the KC-area Third Congressional District loses most of Wyandotte County to the Second and gains the rest of Miami along with all of Anderson and Franklin Counties.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Second District loses Lawrence (but not the rest of Douglas County) to the “Big First” district of central and western Kansas, while several counties in east-central Kansas move from the Big First to the Second.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are numerous changes to the statehouse maps as well.State house and state senate primaries are quieter this year than in the recent past, for several reasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;First, most moderate Republicans have now switched parties or left politics altogether.&nbsp;&nbsp;Second, this year’s redistricting complicated early candidate filing by making it difficult to determine one’s new district until the last minute.&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, the heavy publicity given to the constitutional amendment is crowding out attention to the primary races.&nbsp;&nbsp;One notable exception—Wyandotte County Representative Aaron Coleman faces two Democratic primary opponents, both Latina women.&nbsp;&nbsp;Elected at 21 years old, Coleman is vulnerable after facing numerous charges of domestic abuse and battery.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, his two opponents may split the opposition vote.Attorney General Derek Schmidt has no serious opposition to become the Republican nominee challenging Governor Kelly, who in turn is unopposed in the Democratic primary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead, the primary race to watch is the GOP contest for Attorney General.&nbsp;&nbsp;Perennial firebrand Kris Kobach faces challenges from State Senator Kellie Warren and former federal prosecutor Tony Mattivi.&nbsp;&nbsp;All stress their conservative credentials, including opposition to numerous Biden Administration initiatives (some of which they mischaracterize), and a promise to “get tough on crime.”&nbsp;&nbsp;A lawyer from Johnson County, Warren promises to avoid Kobach’s missteps.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her experience is mostly in civil law, while Mattivi’s is in criminal law.&nbsp;&nbsp;These two risk splitting the anybody-but-Kobach vote and allowing him to win, a repeat of the 2018 gubernatorial primary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Most observers think that that Kobach will be the most vulnerable to unopposed Democratic challenger Chris Mann, who has experience as both a law enforcement officer and an attorney.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is also a race for Secretary of State, a job which includes overseeing elections.&nbsp;&nbsp;Republican incumbent Scott Schwab appears to have the edge over “Big Lie” proponent Mike Brown, who falsely claims that widespread election fraud changed the results of the 2020 Presidential election.&nbsp;&nbsp;Schwab carefully threads the needle by stating that no such fraud occurred&nbsp;in Kansas—which is true, but he neglects to mention that it did not occur in other states, either.&nbsp;&nbsp;Big Lie proponents have caused major disruptions in Michigan and other state primaries this year.As things wind down toward Aug. 2, expect advertising and candidate appearances to heat up, fighting to steal a little attention from the proposed constitutional amendment.Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: What else is on your August ballot?

By ERIC THOMAS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/15/what-those-kansas-abortion-amendment-yard-signs-are-really-saying/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

Kansas neighborhoods have been 
flaunting new landscaping in the form of political yard signs during the
 run-up to the Aug. 2 vote on whether the state constitution protects 
abortion rights.

As next-door neighbors advertise 
their conflicting worldviews, it’s easy to use the number of yard signs 
on either side as a proxy for the upcoming vote. Whoever has the most 
signs is most likely to win, we think. Some Kansans might be tempted to 
count yard signs.

Or maybe you are using the signs to 
suss out your neighbors’ politics so you don’t say the wrong thing 
during the next Little League game. (You might alternately learn exactly
 who you want to confront at that same ballfield.)

Me? I’m obsessed with the design of these posters and what those decisions say about the groups that made them.

As a lifelong visual communicator, I 
love to pause and stare at the visual choices made by any brand: Juul or
 LEGO or the GOP. I teach my students to critique designs, photos and 
videos for the visual messages they are sending — conscious or not.

After taking my visual storytelling 
class, a student said: “I can’t enjoy anything anymore. I’m constantly 
critiquing the stuff I see.” If she is still curious, this summer’s yard
 signs urging us to vote “yes” or “no” should be giving her lots to 
analyze.

Here’s my breakdown of the visual choices each group made in designing their yard signs.

This sign has been the most common in
 my travels around Kansas, partially because it is just about the only 
“yes” sign I have seen. This kind of unified messaging is a hallmark of 
contemporary conservativism. One bold voice leads an unwavering chorus.&nbsp;

The sign itself is effective in a few
 ways. First, it speaks visually and verbally. The choice of purple is 
sly: it nods to both femininity and royalty. Purple also functions as a 
midpoint between conservative red and liberal blue, positioning the 
pro-life stance as centrist.

The illustration at the left of the 
poster creates a symbol with three literal meanings.&nbsp; The silhouette of a
 mother and a baby — with hands holding one another — is the most 
obvious. The two figures combine to create the outline of a heart, 
although completing the shape of the heart involves decapitating the 
mother, a grim prospect. The other odd twist to the illustration? The 
negative space between the mother and the baby creates the shape of a 
hammer.

The wording of the poster leverages 
one of the biggest advantages provided to those hoping to pass the 
amendment. Because voters will select “yes” on the ballot, the campaign 
poster is able to be positive in its language. Add the exclamation point
 to the all-caps “YES,” and you get a message of enthusiasm. (Imagine 
the scolding tone of an exclamation point combined with “NO” from the 
opposing side.)

The concision of the poster is also 
admirable. It takes just 12 syllables to read the sign aloud. This 
careful word choice allows individual words to be huge for drive-by 
reading.

If the poster for “Value Them Both” 
is able to use positive language, this poster slides into the dreaded 
land of the double-negative. Readers might need a moment to connect the 
slogan with the perspective it advocates. That rhetorical stance hampers
 persuasion.

Reading the final line of the sign — 
“on the constitutional amendment” — seems next to impossible from the 
seat of a passing car. The sentiment — that a constitutional right is at
 risk — has resonance. But can a sign carry that message?

The colors are interesting as a 
Kansas allusion, specifically the colors of KU without the crimson. Of 
course, the campaign sign for a liberal cause might smartly omit red.

The centerpiece of the design is a 
sharply angled sans serif font that strikes a decisive tone. With its 
precisely circular O’s and pointed edges to the V’s and N’s, the font 
mixes contemporary curves that speak to femininity while also displaying
 definitive angles.

This poster is the most formidable 
rival to the purple “VOTE YES!” yard sign. The gradient illustration — 
shifting from blue to pink to red hues — shows a woman’s profile heading
 right. That specific direction speaks to the value of moving forward 
(left to right) and&nbsp;political consensus (from the left side of the aisle to the right).

The billowing hair also references a 
woman in motion. Of course, this reference to an active woman speaks to 
American values of liberty and progress.

“Value her choice” is more hopeful 
and energizing than “Stop the ban.” Of course, politicians have forever 
successfully cultivated fear (such as worry about a ban) as a motivating
 force. However, pro-choice as a political perspective could use the 
positivity of this poster after years of being labeled as “baby killers”
 and “murderers.”

As for a concise message, this poster
 is brief. Its bold-faced font is instantly legible, while emphasizing 
the voter education of voting “NO.”

My apologies to the designers tasked 
with these signs, but it’s difficult to imagine any of the 
micro-decisions that I applauded or criticized here making the 
difference in the vote tally that will define reproductive rights in 
Kansas.

Nevertheless, the way that we voice 
our political messages — whether visually or verbally — matters. Signs 
like these help to define our political arguments and reflect our 
political values.

Sans serif vs. serif choices won’t 
determine our fate as a state. But seeing how differing sides use those 
tools reveals how creative and disciplined they were during this vital 
campaign.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657908977911.png" alt="One of the many yard signs weighing in on the Aug. 2 constitutional amendment vote in Kansas states its case. (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>One of the many yard signs weighing in on the Aug. 2 constitutional amendment vote in Kansas states its case. (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ERIC THOMAS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/15/what-those-kansas-abortion-amendment-yard-signs-are-really-saying/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>Kansas neighborhoods have been 
flaunting new landscaping in the form of political yard signs during the
 run-up to the Aug. 2 vote on whether the state constitution protects 
abortion rights.As next-door neighbors advertise 
their conflicting worldviews, it’s easy to use the number of yard signs 
on either side as a proxy for the upcoming vote. Whoever has the most 
signs is most likely to win, we think. Some Kansans might be tempted to 
count yard signs.Or maybe you are using the signs to 
suss out your neighbors’ politics so you don’t say the wrong thing 
during the next Little League game. (You might alternately learn exactly
 who you want to confront at that same ballfield.)Me? I’m obsessed with the design of these posters and what those decisions say about the groups that made them.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As a lifelong visual communicator, I 
love to pause and stare at the visual choices made by any brand: Juul or
 LEGO or the GOP. I teach my students to critique designs, photos and 
videos for the visual messages they are sending — conscious or not.After taking my visual storytelling 
class, a student said: “I can’t enjoy anything anymore. I’m constantly 
critiquing the stuff I see.” If she is still curious, this summer’s yard
 signs urging us to vote “yes” or “no” should be giving her lots to 
analyze.Here’s my breakdown of the visual choices each group made in designing their yard signs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657909053606.png" alt="(Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>(Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>“VOTE YES!”This sign has been the most common in
 my travels around Kansas, partially because it is just about the only 
“yes” sign I have seen. This kind of unified messaging is a hallmark of 
contemporary conservativism. One bold voice leads an unwavering chorus.&nbsp;The sign itself is effective in a few
 ways. First, it speaks visually and verbally. The choice of purple is 
sly: it nods to both femininity and royalty. Purple also functions as a 
midpoint between conservative red and liberal blue, positioning the 
pro-life stance as centrist.The illustration at the left of the 
poster creates a symbol with three literal meanings.&nbsp; The silhouette of a
 mother and a baby — with hands holding one another — is the most 
obvious. The two figures combine to create the outline of a heart, 
although completing the shape of the heart involves decapitating the 
mother, a grim prospect. The other odd twist to the illustration? The 
negative space between the mother and the baby creates the shape of a 
hammer.The wording of the poster leverages 
one of the biggest advantages provided to those hoping to pass the 
amendment. Because voters will select “yes” on the ballot, the campaign 
poster is able to be positive in its language. Add the exclamation point
 to the all-caps “YES,” and you get a message of enthusiasm. (Imagine 
the scolding tone of an exclamation point combined with “NO” from the 
opposing side.)The concision of the poster is also 
admirable. It takes just 12 syllables to read the sign aloud. This 
careful word choice allows individual words to be huge for drive-by 
reading.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657909094176.png" alt="(Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>(Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>“STOP THE BAN”If the poster for “Value Them Both” 
is able to use positive language, this poster slides into the dreaded 
land of the double-negative. Readers might need a moment to connect the 
slogan with the perspective it advocates. That rhetorical stance hampers
 persuasion.Reading the final line of the sign — 
“on the constitutional amendment” — seems next to impossible from the 
seat of a passing car. The sentiment — that a constitutional right is at
 risk — has resonance. But can a sign carry that message?The colors are interesting as a 
Kansas allusion, specifically the colors of KU without the crimson. Of 
course, the campaign sign for a liberal cause might smartly omit red.The centerpiece of the design is a 
sharply angled sans serif font that strikes a decisive tone. With its 
precisely circular O’s and pointed edges to the V’s and N’s, the font 
mixes contemporary curves that speak to femininity while also displaying
 definitive angles.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657909147263.png" alt="(Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>(Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>“VALUE HER CHOICE”This poster is the most formidable 
rival to the purple “VOTE YES!” yard sign. The gradient illustration — 
shifting from blue to pink to red hues — shows a woman’s profile heading
 right. That specific direction speaks to the value of moving forward 
(left to right) and&nbsp;political consensus (from the left side of the aisle to the right).The billowing hair also references a 
woman in motion. Of course, this reference to an active woman speaks to 
American values of liberty and progress.“Value her choice” is more hopeful 
and energizing than “Stop the ban.” Of course, politicians have forever 
successfully cultivated fear (such as worry about a ban) as a motivating
 force. However, pro-choice as a political perspective could use the 
positivity of this poster after years of being labeled as “baby killers”
 and “murderers.”As for a concise message, this poster
 is brief. Its bold-faced font is instantly legible, while emphasizing 
the voter education of voting “NO.”My apologies to the designers tasked 
with these signs, but it’s difficult to imagine any of the 
micro-decisions that I applauded or criticized here making the 
difference in the vote tally that will define reproductive rights in 
Kansas.Nevertheless, the way that we voice 
our political messages — whether visually or verbally — matters. Signs 
like these help to define our political arguments and reflect our 
political values.Sans serif vs. serif choices won’t 
determine our fate as a state. But seeing how differing sides use those 
tools reveals how creative and disciplined they were during this vital 
campaign.Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, a nonprofit that supports student journalism throughout the state. He also teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.&nbsp;

OPINION: What Kan. abortion amendment yard signs are really saying

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher

We have turned the calendar to July, and that means different things to different people. For students and teachers July means summer is at the halfway point, and the first day of school is near. For those of us in agriculture it means haying season and watching fall crops grow. In the Farm Bureau world, July is the start of county Farm Bureau annual meetings.

County Farm Bureau meetings in Kansas are as unique as the counties themselves. They are held anytime from July until October; the only stipulation is that they have to be done in time to get the voting delegates for that county registered for the Kansas Farm Bureau annual meeting in December. The meetings vary in the type of meal served – anything from catered affairs to hotdog and hamburger feeds or even ice cream socials. Some have entertainment, others feature educational speakers while some are bare bones, business-only gatherings. Recently some counties have gone with more family friendly activities with their annual meeting tagged on at the end.

Yes, there is no cookie-cutter county Farm Bureau Annual meeting template. That is the beauty of Kansas Farm Bureau, each county organization is its own unique entity. That is what makes me proud to be a member of Kansas Farm Bureau and the Pottawatomie County Farm Bureau specifically. I have never been involved with an organization that was so grassroots driven and responsive to its members.

Every annual meeting reflects the unique personality of an individual county and the members on the board. I have seen traditions developed over many years in some counties and other counties like to mix it up with something new each year. The COVID-19 years saw a lot of change in our county annual meeting with many being held virtual, thank goodness that isn’t the case anymore. One thing that all county annual meetings share is great fellowship among the members.

That is where I want to make the plea to you. If you are a member and you have not been to one of your annual meetings, please change that this year. You should receive notice of the meeting from your respective county. Some will be a simple postcard while others will be a newsletter touting what your county has done during the year. If you have not received your notice yet or think you might have missed it, just call your local office and they will be happy to give you the details.

I hope you will consider attending, this is a good way to get your toes wet and see what your organization has to offer. I don’t know of a single county that isn’t looking for members who want to be active and this is a good way to find out what it is all about. Who knows you might at least have a great meal or some other experience?

"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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Bunkow" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Bunkow</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancherWe have turned the calendar to July, and that means different things to different people. For students and teachers July means summer is at the halfway point, and the first day of school is near. For those of us in agriculture it means haying season and watching fall crops grow. In the Farm Bureau world, July is the start of county Farm Bureau annual meetings.County Farm Bureau meetings in Kansas are as unique as the counties themselves. They are held anytime from July until October; the only stipulation is that they have to be done in time to get the voting delegates for that county registered for the Kansas Farm Bureau annual meeting in December. The meetings vary in the type of meal served – anything from catered affairs to hotdog and hamburger feeds or even ice cream socials. Some have entertainment, others feature educational speakers while some are bare bones, business-only gatherings. Recently some counties have gone with more family friendly activities with their annual meeting tagged on at the end.Yes, there is no cookie-cutter county Farm Bureau Annual meeting template. That is the beauty of Kansas Farm Bureau, each county organization is its own unique entity. That is what makes me proud to be a member of Kansas Farm Bureau and the Pottawatomie County Farm Bureau specifically. I have never been involved with an organization that was so grassroots driven and responsive to its members.Every annual meeting reflects the unique personality of an individual county and the members on the board. I have seen traditions developed over many years in some counties and other counties like to mix it up with something new each year. The COVID-19 years saw a lot of change in our county annual meeting with many being held virtual, thank goodness that isn’t the case anymore. One thing that all county annual meetings share is great fellowship among the members.That is where I want to make the plea to you. If you are a member and you have not been to one of your annual meetings, please change that this year. You should receive notice of the meeting from your respective county. Some will be a simple postcard while others will be a newsletter touting what your county has done during the year. If you have not received your notice yet or think you might have missed it, just call your local office and they will be happy to give you the details.I hope you will consider attending, this is a good way to get your toes wet and see what your organization has to offer. I don’t know of a single county that isn’t looking for members who want to be active and this is a good way to find out what it is all about. Who knows you might at least have a great meal or some other experience?"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.

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Summits of summer

Welcome to bullfrog season in Kansas.&nbsp;Now I’m not much of a team sports player, but frog huntin’&nbsp;when we were kids&nbsp;back in Ohio&nbsp;came terribly close to being a team sport. Half the&nbsp;fun of our frog hunts was just being there with our buddies, and the anticipation of what would go&nbsp;wrong.&nbsp;Whenever we went on any kind of foray after dark, the vehicle ended up broken&nbsp;down, stuck in the snow or mud&nbsp;or in the ditch, so the more passengers in the car to help extract us from our predicament the better. Our transportation needs were simple; four wheels, two seats and something that already smelled as badly as we would when the night was over, which&nbsp;was easily accomplished because that perfectly&nbsp;described&nbsp;the old beaters we&nbsp;alldrove.&nbsp;

Near our home in central Ohio was a farm with two ponds, one on each side of the main highway that passed our homestead. One memorable frog hunt took place at these ponds late on a hot steamy Ohio night. I’ve always questioned the landowner’s sanity for allowing us there unsupervised; I&nbsp;figure&nbsp;he hoped we’d all drown and never bother him again. Anyway, Ralph (my rabbit hunting partner) and his brother Mike, Terry and myself, all piled into Terry’s old beater of a car, intent upon harvesting a “mess” of tasty frog legs from these ponds. Terry’s ride was chosen because it easily met the above transportation criteria, plus the radio worked. We had found the best “froggin” attire to be old jeans, and worn-out sneakers, which we wore all the time&nbsp;anyway. Hip boots or waders sound good, but inevitably you’d end up horizontal in the&nbsp;pond&nbsp;before the night was done, and once waders fill with water, it’s like wearing a&nbsp;fifty-gallon&nbsp;barrel around each leg. (Yes, I know this from&nbsp;experience) There are several legal ways to harvest frogs. We chose “gigs;” small pitchfork shaped spears used on the ends of long bamboo poles. These work quite well on frogs, but in the&nbsp;dark,&nbsp;you soon learned to keep a good distance between you and the guy behind you, as an errant “gig” to the butt made the evening go by really slowly! A bright flashlight was shone at the frog’s eyes, blinding them long enough to be speared with the gig. Armed with frog gigs, flashlights and gunnysacks to hold our catch, and clad in ragged jeans and&nbsp;worn-out&nbsp;sneakers, we must have looked like characters from the movie “Huck Finn meets the Grim Reaper.”&nbsp;

The night was soon filled with the deep throbbing “harum” sounds&nbsp;of bullfrogs. As I remember, we split up to conquer the&nbsp;two ponds faster. We slogged slowly along the banks as quietly as possible, each step threatening to suck us deeper into the oozy muck that smelled like rotten eggs. (I was always suspicious that it wasn’t really the mud that smelled.) We&nbsp;stalked along, knee deep in the water, until the glistening skin or gleaming beady eyes of a frog appeared in the beam of the flashlight. The trick was to slowly lower the spear as close to the frog as possible before striking, and hold the light in his eyes to keep it “dazzled,” all the while using Jedi mind games to persuade the frog to give itself up. While this anchored the frog so we could retrieve it, it usually didn’t kill it, so we soon had bags full of squirming amphibians trying to swim away from&nbsp;the frying pan.

We got lots of frogs that night, and decided to clean them at my place on the way home. We had a big circular driveway with a security light on a tall pole in the middle. An empty hay wagon pulled under the light made the perfect butchering table, and we were soon at it. As gunnysacks were emptied, squirming frogs went everywhere and we boisterously went to work.&nbsp;We removed the legs, then skinned them much like skinning a catfish, leaving the big flipper feet attached. They fry up white, sweet and tender, and NO, they do not taste just like chicken! &nbsp;

Half the fun of a frog hunt,&nbsp;besides the obvious frog leg lunch&nbsp;is watching the legs as they fry. In the hot grease, the thick meaty pieces quiver and tremble as if they were still alive, much to the chagrin of anyone trying frog legs for the first time. I remember one particular frog leg feast attended by one&nbsp;of my buddy’s girlfriends who had never tasted frog legs&nbsp;before, and was very apprehensive about ever doing so, let alone with us. I was frying, and when she was out of the room, I found one especially big set of legs and propped them up on the edge of the&nbsp;skillet with the legs crossed, just as if they had climbed out of the skillet and were resting there. I don’t know who was madder at me,&nbsp;her&nbsp;at the sight of&nbsp;them&nbsp;or my buddy because I had done it!&nbsp;

These days I hardly ever hunt frogs anymore. Maybe because it’s not as much fun as it used to be slogging around in some farm pond after dark. Maybe it’s because no one else will go with me because they all feel the same as I do about slogging around in some farm pond after dark. Whatever the reason, I still get to enjoy an occasional mess of frog legs,&nbsp;and they still taste as sweet and tender as they did 50 years ago…&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>Welcome to bullfrog season in Kansas.&nbsp;Now I’m not much of a team sports player, but frog huntin’&nbsp;when we were kids&nbsp;back in Ohio&nbsp;came terribly close to being a team sport. Half the&nbsp;fun of our frog hunts was just being there with our buddies, and the anticipation of what would go&nbsp;wrong.&nbsp;Whenever we went on any kind of foray after dark, the vehicle ended up broken&nbsp;down, stuck in the snow or mud&nbsp;or in the ditch, so the more passengers in the car to help extract us from our predicament the better. Our transportation needs were simple; four wheels, two seats and something that already smelled as badly as we would when the night was over, which&nbsp;was easily accomplished because that perfectly&nbsp;described&nbsp;the old beaters we&nbsp;alldrove.&nbsp;Near our home in central Ohio was a farm with two ponds, one on each side of the main highway that passed our homestead. One memorable frog hunt took place at these ponds late on a hot steamy Ohio night. I’ve always questioned the landowner’s sanity for allowing us there unsupervised; I&nbsp;figure&nbsp;he hoped we’d all drown and never bother him again. Anyway, Ralph (my rabbit hunting partner) and his brother Mike, Terry and myself, all piled into Terry’s old beater of a car, intent upon harvesting a “mess” of tasty frog legs from these ponds. Terry’s ride was chosen because it easily met the above transportation criteria, plus the radio worked. We had found the best “froggin” attire to be old jeans, and worn-out sneakers, which we wore all the time&nbsp;anyway. Hip boots or waders sound good, but inevitably you’d end up horizontal in the&nbsp;pond&nbsp;before the night was done, and once waders fill with water, it’s like wearing a&nbsp;fifty-gallon&nbsp;barrel around each leg. (Yes, I know this from&nbsp;experience) There are several legal ways to harvest frogs. We chose “gigs;” small pitchfork shaped spears used on the ends of long bamboo poles. These work quite well on frogs, but in the&nbsp;dark,&nbsp;you soon learned to keep a good distance between you and the guy behind you, as an errant “gig” to the butt made the evening go by really slowly! A bright flashlight was shone at the frog’s eyes, blinding them long enough to be speared with the gig. Armed with frog gigs, flashlights and gunnysacks to hold our catch, and clad in ragged jeans and&nbsp;worn-out&nbsp;sneakers, we must have looked like characters from the movie “Huck Finn meets the Grim Reaper.”&nbsp;The night was soon filled with the deep throbbing “harum” sounds&nbsp;of bullfrogs. As I remember, we split up to conquer the&nbsp;two ponds faster. We slogged slowly along the banks as quietly as possible, each step threatening to suck us deeper into the oozy muck that smelled like rotten eggs. (I was always suspicious that it wasn’t really the mud that smelled.) We&nbsp;stalked along, knee deep in the water, until the glistening skin or gleaming beady eyes of a frog appeared in the beam of the flashlight. The trick was to slowly lower the spear as close to the frog as possible before striking, and hold the light in his eyes to keep it “dazzled,” all the while using Jedi mind games to persuade the frog to give itself up. While this anchored the frog so we could retrieve it, it usually didn’t kill it, so we soon had bags full of squirming amphibians trying to swim away from&nbsp;the frying pan.We got lots of frogs that night, and decided to clean them at my place on the way home. We had a big circular driveway with a security light on a tall pole in the middle. An empty hay wagon pulled under the light made the perfect butchering table, and we were soon at it. As gunnysacks were emptied, squirming frogs went everywhere and we boisterously went to work.&nbsp;We removed the legs, then skinned them much like skinning a catfish, leaving the big flipper feet attached. They fry up white, sweet and tender, and NO, they do not taste just like chicken! &nbsp;Half the fun of a frog hunt,&nbsp;besides the obvious frog leg lunch&nbsp;is watching the legs as they fry. In the hot grease, the thick meaty pieces quiver and tremble as if they were still alive, much to the chagrin of anyone trying frog legs for the first time. I remember one particular frog leg feast attended by one&nbsp;of my buddy’s girlfriends who had never tasted frog legs&nbsp;before, and was very apprehensive about ever doing so, let alone with us. I was frying, and when she was out of the room, I found one especially big set of legs and propped them up on the edge of the&nbsp;skillet with the legs crossed, just as if they had climbed out of the skillet and were resting there. I don’t know who was madder at me,&nbsp;her&nbsp;at the sight of&nbsp;them&nbsp;or my buddy because I had done it!&nbsp;These days I hardly ever hunt frogs anymore. Maybe because it’s not as much fun as it used to be slogging around in some farm pond after dark. Maybe it’s because no one else will go with me because they all feel the same as I do about slogging around in some farm pond after dark. Whatever the reason, I still get to enjoy an occasional mess of frog legs,&nbsp;and they still taste as sweet and tender as they did 50 years ago…&nbsp;Continue to Explore Kansas outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: The midnight perils of hunting frogs

I’m a dog walker and bicycle commuter, so I spend a lot of time on residential streets at less than highway speed. One result of this is that I notice and pay attention to campaign yard signs. As the vote over the proposed anti-abortion amendment approaches, that attention is paying off.

Yard signs get little respect. People say they’re meaningless, yet quickly complain if they suspect efforts to steal them. They’re too basic to share any information besides a single name or message, and so are presumed to have no persuasive impact—but if one candidate distributes signs and their opponents do not, many fear that voters will assume the cause is hopeless, which is the last thing any campaign wants.

In truth, yard signs are a classic 20th-century election tool--and like direct mailing (not yet entirely replaced by e-mailing and texting), door-knocking, or phone-banking, they still play a role. Studies have shown that an effective yard sign effort can impact the behavior of close to 2% of voters—a small amount, but one that might make a difference in a close election. And since the majority of that 2% will likely be clustered around specific residences (the signs you see in your neighborhood have a greater impact on you than those you see on the street), the placement of signs, however seemingly unimportant, may be a signal worth thinking about.

What signal that can be discerned from the yard signs around Kansas for the amendment vote? Going solely off my own limited observations here in Wichita, I can guess at a few.

Pro-amendment signs outnumber anti-amendment signs, but not overwhelmingly—less than the two-to-one Republican-Democratic ratio of campaign signs I’m used to. Also, the correlation between homes where I usually see Republican or Democratic signs and where I’m now seeing pro- or anti-amendment signs is strong, but not total (particularly on the anti-amendment side).

The pro-amendment signs are almost entirely identical—the purple and white image of a mother and child—reflecting the centralized planning, funding, and distribution networks behind the pro-amendment message. The anti-amendment yard signs are more diverse (within a mile of my home I count five different types, and I’ve seen more elsewhere), reflecting the various groups with slightly different messages which many of them prefer to emphasize.

Most striking is the clustering. I’ll see a lone home with a pro- or anti-amendment sign, and a week later they’ve been joined by those on either side, making three amendment signs all in a row. Or a pro-amendment sign goes up, and an anti-amendment sign pops up directly across the street from it, and then another pro-amendment sign appears just two doors down. And so forth.

These observations can’t compare with solid polling, of course. Still, it makes me suspect there is a good deal of discussion, argument, and recruitment taking place behind the doors of the homes where these signs are appearing—certainly more than is typical for an August election anyway.

Yard signs today, whatever their overall impact, are more reflective of personal communication than in years past. The era of operatives marching out to deliver signs in mass to the homes of party or church or club members is a thing of the past. If your neighbor has a sign supporting or opposing the amendment in their yard, the odds are that they bought it themselves, really believe in it, and might even talk about it. That can give neighbors pause, even cause them to rethink. And it is in those realizations and exchanges where close elections can be won or lost.&nbsp;

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>I’m a dog walker and bicycle commuter, so I spend a lot of time on residential streets at less than highway speed. One result of this is that I notice and pay attention to campaign yard signs. As the vote over the proposed anti-abortion amendment approaches, that attention is paying off.Yard signs get little respect. People say they’re meaningless, yet quickly complain if they suspect efforts to steal them. They’re too basic to share any information besides a single name or message, and so are presumed to have no persuasive impact—but if one candidate distributes signs and their opponents do not, many fear that voters will assume the cause is hopeless, which is the last thing any campaign wants.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In truth, yard signs are a classic 20th-century election tool--and like direct mailing (not yet entirely replaced by e-mailing and texting), door-knocking, or phone-banking, they still play a role. Studies have shown that an effective yard sign effort can impact the behavior of close to 2% of voters—a small amount, but one that might make a difference in a close election. And since the majority of that 2% will likely be clustered around specific residences (the signs you see in your neighborhood have a greater impact on you than those you see on the street), the placement of signs, however seemingly unimportant, may be a signal worth thinking about.What signal that can be discerned from the yard signs around Kansas for the amendment vote? Going solely off my own limited observations here in Wichita, I can guess at a few.Pro-amendment signs outnumber anti-amendment signs, but not overwhelmingly—less than the two-to-one Republican-Democratic ratio of campaign signs I’m used to. Also, the correlation between homes where I usually see Republican or Democratic signs and where I’m now seeing pro- or anti-amendment signs is strong, but not total (particularly on the anti-amendment side).The pro-amendment signs are almost entirely identical—the purple and white image of a mother and child—reflecting the centralized planning, funding, and distribution networks behind the pro-amendment message. The anti-amendment yard signs are more diverse (within a mile of my home I count five different types, and I’ve seen more elsewhere), reflecting the various groups with slightly different messages which many of them prefer to emphasize.Most striking is the clustering. I’ll see a lone home with a pro- or anti-amendment sign, and a week later they’ve been joined by those on either side, making three amendment signs all in a row. Or a pro-amendment sign goes up, and an anti-amendment sign pops up directly across the street from it, and then another pro-amendment sign appears just two doors down. And so forth.These observations can’t compare with solid polling, of course. Still, it makes me suspect there is a good deal of discussion, argument, and recruitment taking place behind the doors of the homes where these signs are appearing—certainly more than is typical for an August election anyway.Yard signs today, whatever their overall impact, are more reflective of personal communication than in years past. The era of operatives marching out to deliver signs in mass to the homes of party or church or club members is a thing of the past. If your neighbor has a sign supporting or opposing the amendment in their yard, the odds are that they bought it themselves, really believe in it, and might even talk about it. That can give neighbors pause, even cause them to rethink. And it is in those realizations and exchanges where close elections can be won or lost.&nbsp;Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Abortion amendment battle, one yard at a time

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

“My doctor said I need glasses (so I got wineglasses…).”&nbsp;

That’s a paraphrase of a light-hearted saying posted on a sign in a winetasting room in rural Kansas, where an innovative family is producing wine and using it to create new opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Allen Schmidt and family are owners and founders of Resurrection Vineyard near Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;The vineyard is located on the fifth generation family dairy farm where Schmidt grew up.&nbsp;&nbsp;He went to the University of Kansas then earned a masters degree in school psychology at Fort Hays State before joining the Army and earning a masters from the U.S. Army War College.&nbsp;

Schmidt served in the Army Medical Service Corps for 32 years, including 12 years in the Army Reserve, and retired as a colonel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Schmidt left the service in 1981, returned to run the dairy, and then was recalled to the Army. He completed his active duty career as the deputy commander for readiness of the Army Reserve Medical Command, with responsibility for 27,000 soldiers in 165 locations.&nbsp;

After his second stint in the Army, Schmidt and his wife Ellen returned to Ellis County permanently. They have nine children and 21 grandchildren with more on the way. Schmidt served in the Kansas Senate and on the Kansas Board of Regents, among other organizations.&nbsp;

He now serves part-time as planned giving officer for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, a non-profit charity that serves persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For more information on that, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dsnwk.org/">www.dsnwk.org</a>.&nbsp;

The family dairy closed in 1995 but family members continued to live on the place while renting out the farm ground. Schmidt’s son Brett lives there with his wife Ashley and their children. Brett founded an intergenerational day care in Hays.&nbsp;

One day Brett came to Allen and told him that he would like to raise grapes and make wine on the farm. Allen wasn’t sure at first, but then he thought about how this could restore activity on the farm while preserving its rustic culture.&nbsp;

“It’s bringing the farm back to life,” Allen Schmidt said. With that in mind, and as a faith-based family, they chose the name Resurrection Vineyard. The winery opened as a commercial operation in 2017.&nbsp;

The old dairy barn has been converted to the winery. Even the previous dairy equipment is being used, in some cases. A former milk weigh jar, for example, is now used in bottling wine. The milking parlor has been converted to the bottling facility with modern bottling and labeling equipment. “Brett is the winemaker,” Allen said.&nbsp;

The bulk tank room has been converted and used for wine-tastings, which Allen and Ellen host by appointment. Resurrection Vineyard offers five dry wines – a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling – and seven sweet wines:&nbsp;&nbsp;Moscato, Risen Red, Blueberry Pinot Noir, Sweet Legacy, Misty White, Strawberry Sunrise and Apple Blast.&nbsp;

Allen Schmidt and his family are remaking the farmstead as well. Two grain bins have been ingeniously converted to housing. A new structure will incorporate another grain bin and will provide lodging, beginning with the grandkids. “That’s been my dream, having a place where the family can gather,” Schmidt said. He already conducts a grandkids camp in the summer, where the kids can get outside to play and learn on the farm.&nbsp;

Resurrection Vineyard wine is available online and through local stores. It is offered in traditional bottles and resealable plastic containers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The vineyard is located in a rural area just north of Hays in Buckeye Township, which has a population of 391 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

“We came back to develop a gathering place for family, friends, and community,” Schmidt said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We have a lot of fun.”&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.resurrectionvineyard.com/">www.resurrectionvineyard.com</a>.&nbsp;

We commend Allen and Ellen Schmidt, Brett and Ashley Schmidt, and all those involved with Resurrection Vineyard for making a difference by revitalizing the farm and creating this new winery. As another saying goes: “Wine a little, laugh a lot.”&nbsp;

And there’s more.&nbsp;&nbsp;Remember the son’s intergenerational day care?&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657121458606.png" alt="Schmidt" />
 <figcaption>Schmidt</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“My doctor said I need glasses (so I got wineglasses…).”&nbsp;That’s a paraphrase of a light-hearted saying posted on a sign in a winetasting room in rural Kansas, where an innovative family is producing wine and using it to create new opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Allen Schmidt and family are owners and founders of Resurrection Vineyard near Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;The vineyard is located on the fifth generation family dairy farm where Schmidt grew up.&nbsp;&nbsp;He went to the University of Kansas then earned a masters degree in school psychology at Fort Hays State before joining the Army and earning a masters from the U.S. Army War College.&nbsp;Schmidt served in the Army Medical Service Corps for 32 years, including 12 years in the Army Reserve, and retired as a colonel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Schmidt left the service in 1981, returned to run the dairy, and then was recalled to the Army. He completed his active duty career as the deputy commander for readiness of the Army Reserve Medical Command, with responsibility for 27,000 soldiers in 165 locations.&nbsp;After his second stint in the Army, Schmidt and his wife Ellen returned to Ellis County permanently. They have nine children and 21 grandchildren with more on the way. Schmidt served in the Kansas Senate and on the Kansas Board of Regents, among other organizations.&nbsp;He now serves part-time as planned giving officer for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, a non-profit charity that serves persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For more information on that, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dsnwk.org/">www.dsnwk.org</a>.&nbsp;The family dairy closed in 1995 but family members continued to live on the place while renting out the farm ground. Schmidt’s son Brett lives there with his wife Ashley and their children. Brett founded an intergenerational day care in Hays.&nbsp;One day Brett came to Allen and told him that he would like to raise grapes and make wine on the farm. Allen wasn’t sure at first, but then he thought about how this could restore activity on the farm while preserving its rustic culture.&nbsp;“It’s bringing the farm back to life,” Allen Schmidt said. With that in mind, and as a faith-based family, they chose the name Resurrection Vineyard. The winery opened as a commercial operation in 2017.&nbsp;The old dairy barn has been converted to the winery. Even the previous dairy equipment is being used, in some cases. A former milk weigh jar, for example, is now used in bottling wine. The milking parlor has been converted to the bottling facility with modern bottling and labeling equipment. “Brett is the winemaker,” Allen said.&nbsp;The bulk tank room has been converted and used for wine-tastings, which Allen and Ellen host by appointment. Resurrection Vineyard offers five dry wines – a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling – and seven sweet wines:&nbsp;&nbsp;Moscato, Risen Red, Blueberry Pinot Noir, Sweet Legacy, Misty White, Strawberry Sunrise and Apple Blast.&nbsp;Allen Schmidt and his family are remaking the farmstead as well. Two grain bins have been ingeniously converted to housing. A new structure will incorporate another grain bin and will provide lodging, beginning with the grandkids. “That’s been my dream, having a place where the family can gather,” Schmidt said. He already conducts a grandkids camp in the summer, where the kids can get outside to play and learn on the farm.&nbsp;Resurrection Vineyard wine is available online and through local stores. It is offered in traditional bottles and resealable plastic containers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The vineyard is located in a rural area just north of Hays in Buckeye Township, which has a population of 391 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;“We came back to develop a gathering place for family, friends, and community,” Schmidt said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We have a lot of fun.”&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.resurrectionvineyard.com/">www.resurrectionvineyard.com</a>.&nbsp;We commend Allen and Ellen Schmidt, Brett and Ashley Schmidt, and all those involved with Resurrection Vineyard for making a difference by revitalizing the farm and creating this new winery. As another saying goes: “Wine a little, laugh a lot.”&nbsp;And there’s more.&nbsp;&nbsp;Remember the son’s intergenerational day care?&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Allen Schmidt, Resurrection Vineyard 

By ERIC THOMAS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/08/midwest-college-grudge-matches-vanish-during-conference-realignment/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

My wife’s stepdad, Mike, was 
notoriously slow to soften. This was especially true if you were me, the
 bouncy, naive kid dating his stepdaughter.

One particular interaction between us
 lives in family lore. I came to visit Kansas City as a mop-haired 
photojournalism freshman at the University of Missouri. However, a baby 
shower swamped the house with diapers, pink baby toys and cooing aunts. I
 retreated to the safety of Mike’s workshop. The menagerie of power 
tools, wood glue and sawdust lured me.

With some mid-1990s “hey dude” enthusiasm, I asked Mike, “What are you working on?”

Bunkered behind his bench, his hand 
tightening a vise on a piece of wood that he was filing, Mike looked up.
 Over the top of his oversized glasses perched at the tip of his nose, 
he said, “Why don’t you go back inside?”

I got the message. For years, I 
tiptoed around him, until we established a tender and public truce 
during the weekend I married Polly. Still, I worried about bringing him 
big news, even after decades of being family.

Eight years ago, I had some news for him.

My wife’s family adores the 
University of Missouri and its sports teams. Black-and-gold diplomas 
decorate offices of so many family members. We have rearranged birthday 
parties to avoid distracting from Tiger basketball games. Cousins, 
uncles and parents tailgated in bitter cold and absurd heat in Columbia.
 My wife and I had season tickets for Mizzou basketball while we lived 
in Kansas City, zombie-driving west on Interstate 70 at midnight from 
Wednesday night home games against Texas to make it to work the next 
day.

Yet, eight years ago, I accepted <a target="_blank" href="https://journalism.ku.edu/people/eric-thomas">a job at the University of Kansas</a>. I was going to be a Jayhawk. I was, impossibly, trading black and gold for crimson and blue.

When I told Mike about the new job in Lawrence, he lounged on the couch in his favorite Missouri polo. He didn’t blink.&nbsp;

“When are you leaving the family?” he said.&nbsp;

This kind of rivalry — with this hellbent allegiance — is the fuel of college sports. Or, it was.

This week’s announcement that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/30/sport/usc-ucla-big-ten-spt/index.html">USC and UCLA would join the Big 10 conference</a> in 2024 was Step #247 in the 458-step plan to disassemble college sports and its quirky yet searing regional rivalries.

That news was preceded by step #246, <a target="_blank" href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10038310-report-cincinnati-houston-ucf-and-byu-to-join-big-12-in-summer-of-2023">which was the recruitment</a>
 of Brigham Young University, the University of Houston, the University 
of Central Florida and University of Cincinnati to the Big 12 to join 
KU, Kansas State and others. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/31920686/texas-longhorns-oklahoma-sooners-unanimously-accept-invitation-sec">Texas and Oklahoma had signaled their exits</a> from the Big 12 last summer. Only six of the original Big 12 will remain in a conference stretching from Florida to Utah.

Fans who have clustered for decades 
around the Jayhawks, Tigers and Wildcats have experienced the 
disintegration earlier and more completely than any others.

Before I go further, I admit this: I forever begrudge my two-time alma mater, the University of Missouri, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.espn.com.au/college-sports/story/_/id/7199062/missouri-tigers-move-sec-official-big-12-hurdles-remain">its choice to leave the Big 12 in 2012</a>. That early yet deliberate domino nudge invited the chaos and perpetual realignment we are living through.

MU and Texas A&amp;M leaving the Big 
12 (plus Colorado and Nebraska leaving for other conferences) provided a
 roadmap to others. Meet secretly. Leak the possible move to the press. 
Sprinkle in some dubious talk about academic benefits for the 
student-athletes. Ignore that the conference names make no sense (the 
Big 10 has 14 teams and two affiliates?). Collect the oversized check at
 the end.

It seemed simple. The SEC 
conference’s media deals ballooned, and many fans quickly accepted the 
additional schools as the new status quo.

However, I hungered for the “old Big 
12.” The regionally compact version of the conference offered up weekly 
games that mattered because you knew the opponent school, their colors 
and their history.

There was familiarity. At your 
office, three people in neighboring cubicles wore K-State shirts. A few 
years ago, you visited Ames on a road trip. You and your uncle had a 
standing bet anytime you played Nebraska. There was weekly, if not 
daily, significance to games against schools in neighboring states.

The evidence of how much these games 
mattered could be heard on talk radio and seen on the “House Divided” 
license plates. I have a video, taken with my cellphone, from the seats 
at the 2012 Big 12 men’s basketball championship in Kansas City. 
Celebrating my Tigers winning the tournament, you can hear my voice 
breaking — in a way that I reserved for the birth of my children and 
family funerals. That win mattered.

In winning the tournament, the Tigers beat Oklahoma State, Texas and Baylor.

The Tigers’ rivalries now? My 
enthusiasm for a Missouri vs. South Carolina game is zilch. I don’t know
 a single person I can pester or bet or avoid after a game against the 
Gamecocks, Commodores, Bulldogs or … well, I don’t even know all the SEC
 mascots, to be honest.

During football seasons, my 
brother-in-law, a fervent Mizzou fan, still props his cellphone up on 
restaurant dinner tables to watch games. However, the games that 
“matter” are between Texas A&amp;M and Alabama or Michigan and Nebraska.
 These blue-blood football teams would have seldom played one another 
before the scrambling of conferences.

As Josh Levin pointed out during this week’s <a target="_blank" href="https://slate.com/podcasts/hang-up-and-listen/2022/07/kevin-durant-and-kyrie-irving-ucla-and-usc-and-nick-kyrgios-and-stefanos-tsitsipas-on-hang-up-and-listen">“Hang Up and Listen” podcast</a>,
 sports fans are becoming more impatient for anything that isn’t a 
“showcase” game with one historic program playing another. (I would note
 here that traveling youth sports is rapidly reorganizing itself in the 
same way to create marquee matchups … <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/introducing-usys-national-league-elite-64/">between “elite” 12-year-olds</a>.)&nbsp;

Jayhawks, Wildcats and Tigers: How do
 we, fans of some of the earliest disbanded and realigned conferences, 
feel a decade later? I have yet to find a local college sports fan who 
is free of nostalgia for the era of playing nearby rival schools, rather
 than super leagues crisscrossing the country for potential games of the
 century each week.

Living in Kansas and Missouri, we had a preview. We resent realignment, and yet it rolls forward and becomes even larger.

If there is a silver lining, it is 
this: Realignment is surely not done. With conferences stretching from 
coast to coast and powerhouse conferences still containing weak schools (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.secsports.com/standings/football">hi, Vanderbilt</a>), the dominoes are still falling 11 years later.

Let’s hope when the university 
presidents, football coaches and athletic directors complete their 
master plan, regional rivalries return. After all, those grudge matches 
define college sports.

By ERIC THOMAS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/08/midwest-college-grudge-matches-vanish-during-conference-realignment/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>My wife’s stepdad, Mike, was 
notoriously slow to soften. This was especially true if you were me, the
 bouncy, naive kid dating his stepdaughter.One particular interaction between us
 lives in family lore. I came to visit Kansas City as a mop-haired 
photojournalism freshman at the University of Missouri. However, a baby 
shower swamped the house with diapers, pink baby toys and cooing aunts. I
 retreated to the safety of Mike’s workshop. The menagerie of power 
tools, wood glue and sawdust lured me.With some mid-1990s “hey dude” enthusiasm, I asked Mike, “What are you working on?”Bunkered behind his bench, his hand 
tightening a vise on a piece of wood that he was filing, Mike looked up.
 Over the top of his oversized glasses perched at the tip of his nose, 
he said, “Why don’t you go back inside?”I got the message. For years, I 
tiptoed around him, until we established a tender and public truce 
during the weekend I married Polly. Still, I worried about bringing him 
big news, even after decades of being family.Eight years ago, I had some news for him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>My wife’s family adores the 
University of Missouri and its sports teams. Black-and-gold diplomas 
decorate offices of so many family members. We have rearranged birthday 
parties to avoid distracting from Tiger basketball games. Cousins, 
uncles and parents tailgated in bitter cold and absurd heat in Columbia.
 My wife and I had season tickets for Mizzou basketball while we lived 
in Kansas City, zombie-driving west on Interstate 70 at midnight from 
Wednesday night home games against Texas to make it to work the next 
day.Yet, eight years ago, I accepted <a target="_blank" href="https://journalism.ku.edu/people/eric-thomas">a job at the University of Kansas</a>. I was going to be a Jayhawk. I was, impossibly, trading black and gold for crimson and blue.When I told Mike about the new job in Lawrence, he lounged on the couch in his favorite Missouri polo. He didn’t blink.&nbsp;“When are you leaving the family?” he said.&nbsp;I laughed, but he didn’t.This kind of rivalry — with this hellbent allegiance — is the fuel of college sports. Or, it was.This week’s announcement that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/30/sport/usc-ucla-big-ten-spt/index.html">USC and UCLA would join the Big 10 conference</a> in 2024 was Step #247 in the 458-step plan to disassemble college sports and its quirky yet searing regional rivalries.That news was preceded by step #246, <a target="_blank" href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10038310-report-cincinnati-houston-ucf-and-byu-to-join-big-12-in-summer-of-2023">which was the recruitment</a>
 of Brigham Young University, the University of Houston, the University 
of Central Florida and University of Cincinnati to the Big 12 to join 
KU, Kansas State and others. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/31920686/texas-longhorns-oklahoma-sooners-unanimously-accept-invitation-sec">Texas and Oklahoma had signaled their exits</a> from the Big 12 last summer. Only six of the original Big 12 will remain in a conference stretching from Florida to Utah.Fans who have clustered for decades 
around the Jayhawks, Tigers and Wildcats have experienced the 
disintegration earlier and more completely than any others.Before I go further, I admit this: I forever begrudge my two-time alma mater, the University of Missouri, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.espn.com.au/college-sports/story/_/id/7199062/missouri-tigers-move-sec-official-big-12-hurdles-remain">its choice to leave the Big 12 in 2012</a>. That early yet deliberate domino nudge invited the chaos and perpetual realignment we are living through.MU and Texas A&amp;M leaving the Big 
12 (plus Colorado and Nebraska leaving for other conferences) provided a
 roadmap to others. Meet secretly. Leak the possible move to the press. 
Sprinkle in some dubious talk about academic benefits for the 
student-athletes. Ignore that the conference names make no sense (the 
Big 10 has 14 teams and two affiliates?). Collect the oversized check at
 the end.It seemed simple. The SEC 
conference’s media deals ballooned, and many fans quickly accepted the 
additional schools as the new status quo.However, I hungered for the “old Big 
12.” The regionally compact version of the conference offered up weekly 
games that mattered because you knew the opponent school, their colors 
and their history.There was familiarity. At your 
office, three people in neighboring cubicles wore K-State shirts. A few 
years ago, you visited Ames on a road trip. You and your uncle had a 
standing bet anytime you played Nebraska. There was weekly, if not 
daily, significance to games against schools in neighboring states.The evidence of how much these games 
mattered could be heard on talk radio and seen on the “House Divided” 
license plates. I have a video, taken with my cellphone, from the seats 
at the 2012 Big 12 men’s basketball championship in Kansas City. 
Celebrating my Tigers winning the tournament, you can hear my voice 
breaking — in a way that I reserved for the birth of my children and 
family funerals. That win mattered.In winning the tournament, the Tigers beat Oklahoma State, Texas and Baylor.The Tigers’ rivalries now? My 
enthusiasm for a Missouri vs. South Carolina game is zilch. I don’t know
 a single person I can pester or bet or avoid after a game against the 
Gamecocks, Commodores, Bulldogs or … well, I don’t even know all the SEC
 mascots, to be honest.During football seasons, my 
brother-in-law, a fervent Mizzou fan, still props his cellphone up on 
restaurant dinner tables to watch games. However, the games that 
“matter” are between Texas A&amp;M and Alabama or Michigan and Nebraska.
 These blue-blood football teams would have seldom played one another 
before the scrambling of conferences.As Josh Levin pointed out during this week’s <a target="_blank" href="https://slate.com/podcasts/hang-up-and-listen/2022/07/kevin-durant-and-kyrie-irving-ucla-and-usc-and-nick-kyrgios-and-stefanos-tsitsipas-on-hang-up-and-listen">“Hang Up and Listen” podcast</a>,
 sports fans are becoming more impatient for anything that isn’t a 
“showcase” game with one historic program playing another. (I would note
 here that traveling youth sports is rapidly reorganizing itself in the 
same way to create marquee matchups … <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/introducing-usys-national-league-elite-64/">between “elite” 12-year-olds</a>.)&nbsp;Jayhawks, Wildcats and Tigers: How do
 we, fans of some of the earliest disbanded and realigned conferences, 
feel a decade later? I have yet to find a local college sports fan who 
is free of nostalgia for the era of playing nearby rival schools, rather
 than super leagues crisscrossing the country for potential games of the
 century each week.Living in Kansas and Missouri, we had a preview. We resent realignment, and yet it rolls forward and becomes even larger.If there is a silver lining, it is 
this: Realignment is surely not done. With conferences stretching from 
coast to coast and powerhouse conferences still containing weak schools (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.secsports.com/standings/football">hi, Vanderbilt</a>), the dominoes are still falling 11 years later.Let’s hope when the university 
presidents, football coaches and athletic directors complete their 
master plan, regional rivalries return. After all, those grudge matches 
define college sports.Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, a nonprofit that supports student journalism throughout the state. He also teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.&nbsp;

Opinion