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

“LaSada.” That is said to be a Native American term for “place of peace.” It is also the name of a beautiful hunting lodge, shooting range and event venue located in rural Kansas.&nbsp;

Ethan and Morgan Jones are the owners of LaSada Lodge near Russell. Ethan grew up in Arkansas as an outdoorsman, hunting and fishing. He joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Riley. He later transitioned to the National Guard and studied Wildlife Outdoor Enterprise Management at Kansas State.&nbsp;

Morgan is originally from Colby and came to K-State where she earned a degree in journalism with a minor in business. One of her roommates was dating a soldier who introduced her to Ethan, and Morgan and Ethan ultimately married.&nbsp;

The young couple considered their future careers. “She wanted to have an events center, and I wanted to do something relating to hunting,” Ethan said. Then they learned about the LaSada Lodge near Russell.&nbsp;

LaSada Lodge has a rich history. It began as a dairy barn constructed in 1898 on a foundation of native limestone collected on the property. Years later, the barn was remodeled to become lodging for a hunting lodge. Previous owners named it LaSada, a “place of peace.”&nbsp;

In 2018, Morgan and Ethan purchased the LaSada Lodge. They remodeled and expanded the facility.&nbsp;

Today, LaSada Lodge offers guided hunting, a shooting range, an events center and more. Hunts are available for pheasant, quail, chukar, turkey, whitetail deer and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;The hunting services include guides, hunting dogs, game cleaning and dressing, and hearty homecooked meals. For shooting sports, the options include sporting clays, trap shooting and a rifle and pistol range.&nbsp;

LaSada Lodge recently added indoor/outdoor heated and cooled kennels for what is described as the pride of the lodge: Hunting dogs. The LaSada Lodge brochure states: “We maintain quality breeding practices by concentrating on superior genetics, champion bloodlines and top-notch nutrition.” LaSada uses English springers, German shorthaired pointers and Brittany spaniels.&nbsp;

It is possible for guests to board their dogs at the lodge as well. On occasion, LaSada will have puppies or fully trained dogs available for purchase.&nbsp;

The lodging consists of eight bedrooms; four are equipped with queen beds, two are double queen rooms, and two are queen plus twin rooms. Other amenities include a private dining area, kitchenette, wifi, hot tub, satellite television, shuffleboard, and a large outdoor deck.&nbsp;

The indoor event center and outdoor pavilion can accommodate large or small groups.&nbsp;&nbsp;The lodge hosts weddings, parties and all kinds of special events.&nbsp;

LaSada Lodge also offers getaway packages, including meals and hunting or shooting, such as the Shoot and Stay and the Birds and Blasts packages. There is also the romantic getaway package, including a bottle of sparkling wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries.&nbsp;

Guests have come to the LaSada Lodge from as far away as Florida and Maine. One guest wrote: “The hunting, food, dogs, and accommodations were top shelf. Everything exceeded my expectations by a wide margin. For me the biggest differentiator and what really set them apart was their hospitality. Ethan and Morgan along with everyone else made us feel like family.”&nbsp;

Another wrote:&nbsp;&nbsp;“Great way to spend a weekend! Sporting clays and shooting range are well-maintained and challenging, the lodge is updated, clean and comfortable, and the food is amazing!”&nbsp;

And another:&nbsp;&nbsp;“Whether you’re going to a hunting class, hunting event, day at the range, wedding, retreat…it’s worth it!”&nbsp;

LaSada Lodge is located only a half-dozen miles from Interstate 70. The lodge property is in a serene rural setting near the Smoky Hill River, approximately six miles southwest of the community of Russell, population 4,401 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lasadalodge.com/">www.lasadalodge.com</a>.&nbsp;

LaSada. It is a Native American term for place of peace, and it is also the name of this historic hunting lodge and event venue. We commend Ethan and Morgan Jones for making a difference with hospitality in a scenic rural setting. I’m glad LaSada Lodge is a peaceful and positive place.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641999015111.png" alt="Ethan and Morgan Jones / Courtesy&nbsp;Huck Boyd National Institute" />
 <figcaption>Ethan and Morgan Jones / Courtesy&nbsp;Huck Boyd National Institute</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“LaSada.” That is said to be a Native American term for “place of peace.” It is also the name of a beautiful hunting lodge, shooting range and event venue located in rural Kansas.&nbsp;Ethan and Morgan Jones are the owners of LaSada Lodge near Russell. Ethan grew up in Arkansas as an outdoorsman, hunting and fishing. He joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Riley. He later transitioned to the National Guard and studied Wildlife Outdoor Enterprise Management at Kansas State.&nbsp;Morgan is originally from Colby and came to K-State where she earned a degree in journalism with a minor in business. One of her roommates was dating a soldier who introduced her to Ethan, and Morgan and Ethan ultimately married.&nbsp;The young couple considered their future careers. “She wanted to have an events center, and I wanted to do something relating to hunting,” Ethan said. Then they learned about the LaSada Lodge near Russell.&nbsp;LaSada Lodge has a rich history. It began as a dairy barn constructed in 1898 on a foundation of native limestone collected on the property. Years later, the barn was remodeled to become lodging for a hunting lodge. Previous owners named it LaSada, a “place of peace.”&nbsp;In 2018, Morgan and Ethan purchased the LaSada Lodge. They remodeled and expanded the facility.&nbsp;Today, LaSada Lodge offers guided hunting, a shooting range, an events center and more. Hunts are available for pheasant, quail, chukar, turkey, whitetail deer and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;The hunting services include guides, hunting dogs, game cleaning and dressing, and hearty homecooked meals. For shooting sports, the options include sporting clays, trap shooting and a rifle and pistol range.&nbsp;LaSada Lodge recently added indoor/outdoor heated and cooled kennels for what is described as the pride of the lodge: Hunting dogs. The LaSada Lodge brochure states: “We maintain quality breeding practices by concentrating on superior genetics, champion bloodlines and top-notch nutrition.” LaSada uses English springers, German shorthaired pointers and Brittany spaniels.&nbsp;It is possible for guests to board their dogs at the lodge as well. On occasion, LaSada will have puppies or fully trained dogs available for purchase.&nbsp;The lodging consists of eight bedrooms; four are equipped with queen beds, two are double queen rooms, and two are queen plus twin rooms. Other amenities include a private dining area, kitchenette, wifi, hot tub, satellite television, shuffleboard, and a large outdoor deck.&nbsp;The indoor event center and outdoor pavilion can accommodate large or small groups.&nbsp;&nbsp;The lodge hosts weddings, parties and all kinds of special events.&nbsp;LaSada Lodge also offers getaway packages, including meals and hunting or shooting, such as the Shoot and Stay and the Birds and Blasts packages. There is also the romantic getaway package, including a bottle of sparkling wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries.&nbsp;Guests have come to the LaSada Lodge from as far away as Florida and Maine. One guest wrote: “The hunting, food, dogs, and accommodations were top shelf. Everything exceeded my expectations by a wide margin. For me the biggest differentiator and what really set them apart was their hospitality. Ethan and Morgan along with everyone else made us feel like family.”&nbsp;Another wrote:&nbsp;&nbsp;“Great way to spend a weekend! Sporting clays and shooting range are well-maintained and challenging, the lodge is updated, clean and comfortable, and the food is amazing!”&nbsp;And another:&nbsp;&nbsp;“Whether you’re going to a hunting class, hunting event, day at the range, wedding, retreat…it’s worth it!”&nbsp;LaSada Lodge is located only a half-dozen miles from Interstate 70. The lodge property is in a serene rural setting near the Smoky Hill River, approximately six miles southwest of the community of Russell, population 4,401 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lasadalodge.com/">www.lasadalodge.com</a>.&nbsp;LaSada. It is a Native American term for place of peace, and it is also the name of this historic hunting lodge and event venue. We commend Ethan and Morgan Jones for making a difference with hospitality in a scenic rural setting. I’m glad LaSada Lodge is a peaceful and positive place.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Ethan and Morgan Jones, LaSada Lodge 

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher This past week I returned from one of the best weeks of the year, the American Farm Bureau Convention and Annual Meeting. It is truly something I look forward to each year and a highlight on my calendar. My favorite thing about the meeting is people in agriculture from all across the United States come together to decide on how to tackle the toughest issues facing our industry. I always meet new and interesting people like the sweet potato farmer from Mississippi I got to eat lunch with on Sunday. Our crops may have been different, but we spoke one common language — agriculture. I really enjoy just hanging out in the hallways listening to everyone talk about the weather and what was going on at their farms and ranches. It is a time to renew old friendships like my good friend Ben from Georgia or my buddy Rick from Idaho. We see each other once a year, but it does not take long to catch up on our lives. I love listening to the different accents and ways of communicating. The American Farm Bureau is truly a big tent organization; the meeting brings in producers from all across the nation. All types of agriculture from vegetables to honey, row crops, cattle and everything in between. You will find some of the largest farmers and ranchers in the same room as producers with much smaller operations. The best part is that there is a seat at the table for everyone. I really enjoy the general sessions, and this year I attended some highly informative workshops. I also had the privilege of judging the Young Farmer and Ranchers Committee’s Excellence in Agriculture award. I have to say it was humbling to listen to all the great accomplishments of the applicants, the amount of work they have done is absolutely amazing. I am also sure the tours were fantastic but, in my mind, those great events were not the most important part of our week in Atlanta. The annual business meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation is what we all come for. When we take the ideas that started out at the grassroots level and were distilled and refined through the state and national process and make the final tweaks before we adopt them. This policy making process is the blueprint of what will happen for the next year, our playbook of how to guide legislators and regulators for the benefit of agriculture. This process is tough, and it can be contentious at times. When you have an organization as diverse as ours not everyone will agree on how things should be done. In the end, arguments are presented, and points are made. The voting delegates take the information provided to them and make decisions shaping ag policy for at least the next year if not longer. Almost as soon as the gavel sounds, members begin working on policy for next year and looking forward to another good week in January.

"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/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Brunkow" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Brunkow</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher This past week I returned from one of the best weeks of the year, the American Farm Bureau Convention and Annual Meeting. It is truly something I look forward to each year and a highlight on my calendar. My favorite thing about the meeting is people in agriculture from all across the United States come together to decide on how to tackle the toughest issues facing our industry. I always meet new and interesting people like the sweet potato farmer from Mississippi I got to eat lunch with on Sunday. Our crops may have been different, but we spoke one common language — agriculture. I really enjoy just hanging out in the hallways listening to everyone talk about the weather and what was going on at their farms and ranches. It is a time to renew old friendships like my good friend Ben from Georgia or my buddy Rick from Idaho. We see each other once a year, but it does not take long to catch up on our lives. I love listening to the different accents and ways of communicating. The American Farm Bureau is truly a big tent organization; the meeting brings in producers from all across the nation. All types of agriculture from vegetables to honey, row crops, cattle and everything in between. You will find some of the largest farmers and ranchers in the same room as producers with much smaller operations. The best part is that there is a seat at the table for everyone. I really enjoy the general sessions, and this year I attended some highly informative workshops. I also had the privilege of judging the Young Farmer and Ranchers Committee’s Excellence in Agriculture award. I have to say it was humbling to listen to all the great accomplishments of the applicants, the amount of work they have done is absolutely amazing. I am also sure the tours were fantastic but, in my mind, those great events were not the most important part of our week in Atlanta. The annual business meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation is what we all come for. When we take the ideas that started out at the grassroots level and were distilled and refined through the state and national process and make the final tweaks before we adopt them. This policy making process is the blueprint of what will happen for the next year, our playbook of how to guide legislators and regulators for the benefit of agriculture. This process is tough, and it can be contentious at times. When you have an organization as diverse as ours not everyone will agree on how things should be done. In the end, arguments are presented, and points are made. The voting delegates take the information provided to them and make decisions shaping ag policy for at least the next year if not longer. Almost as soon as the gavel sounds, members begin working on policy for next year and looking forward to another good week in January."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: Ag across America

Several years ago when I began trapping beavers, one particular bend in a stream taught me a valuable lesson about wildlife sign. It was along a rutted dirt road somewhere between the middle of nowhere and the end of the line where an old bridge spanned the stream as it meandered through a sand hills pasture thick with cedars. 

Cottonwoods of various sizes grew near the stream, and from the truck I could see that several of the bigger ones had been severely gnawed by beavers. The owner had told me of fresh beaver chewings along this creek, but I hadn’t expected the amount I was seeing. I donned chest waders and shoulder length gloves, and with traps and stakes in hand headed for the stream. In a sharp bend ahead of me a scraggly brushy tree had toppled from the high bank above and lay intact in a deep pool in the creek below. 

I was pretty sure its thick mass of roots sheltered a beaver den dug deeply into the mud beneath, because cleanly stripped sticks floated around the edges of the pool, and pine boughs lay on the banks nearby. The water around the uprooted tree was too deep to wade into, so I went a ways in both directions from the den, set four traps and headed home with visions of 4 beavers the next day. After all, given the amount of fresh sign, beavers had to be thick in this creek… or were they? Four days later, I had only1 large beaver to show for my enthusiasm. That year, I learned a valuable lesson about beaver trapping that I had long ago learned about hunting and trapping other species; the amount of sign left by our four- legged quarry isn’t always a true picture of the number of critters.

I remember another safari I once took after our only good tracking snow of that winter. I headed for the woods to see what the fresh snow could show me. My first stop was a 30 acre soybean stubble field nestled along the river and surrounded by hedge trees on all sides. There were quite literally thousands of deer tracks criss-crossing that field! It looked like an elementary school playground after recess. Now I know there are lots of deer there, but are there thousands? Look under any bridge that crosses a stream and you’ll find literally hundreds of raccoon tracks in the mud. There are lots of raccoons in this part of Kansas, but again, do hundreds visit that bridge? I’m learning that the same is true of signs left by beavers along any waterway. Severed branches floating everywhere and chewed &amp; toppled trees by the dozens do not mean dozens of beavers.&nbsp;

For starters, we need to consider that all mammals we hunt and trap have 4 legs, and 4 feet can leave a multitude of tracks in one night’s time. Secondly, animal’s lives revolve around survival, and a major part of that survival is foraging for food. Lots of steps are taken each night in pursuit of that, two- legged birds included. All of you who have watched deer browse or raccoons waddle along a stream know that they don’t stand in one place very long. Multiply that times eight hours or more and that’s a lot of tracks! If we were to freshly paint the floors and isles of our workplaces, or our kitchen floors near the refrigerator, then observe the number of shoe prints there at the end of an eight hour work shift, or the end of our day at home, we’d be amazed how many tracks just a few of us would make.&nbsp;

	In the end, this all amounts to a few animals leaving a multitude of life-signs of various kinds. When scouting there is no better find than tracks and other signs left by our four- legged quarry. And while it is true that the more tracks and other signs you see, the more animals there are using that particular area, we just need to consider all the above when estimating wildlife numbers. So to be on the conservative side, count the tracks and divide by four! 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>Several years ago when I began trapping beavers, one particular bend in a stream taught me a valuable lesson about wildlife sign. It was along a rutted dirt road somewhere between the middle of nowhere and the end of the line where an old bridge spanned the stream as it meandered through a sand hills pasture thick with cedars. Cottonwoods of various sizes grew near the stream, and from the truck I could see that several of the bigger ones had been severely gnawed by beavers. The owner had told me of fresh beaver chewings along this creek, but I hadn’t expected the amount I was seeing. I donned chest waders and shoulder length gloves, and with traps and stakes in hand headed for the stream. In a sharp bend ahead of me a scraggly brushy tree had toppled from the high bank above and lay intact in a deep pool in the creek below. I was pretty sure its thick mass of roots sheltered a beaver den dug deeply into the mud beneath, because cleanly stripped sticks floated around the edges of the pool, and pine boughs lay on the banks nearby. The water around the uprooted tree was too deep to wade into, so I went a ways in both directions from the den, set four traps and headed home with visions of 4 beavers the next day. After all, given the amount of fresh sign, beavers had to be thick in this creek… or were they? Four days later, I had only1 large beaver to show for my enthusiasm. That year, I learned a valuable lesson about beaver trapping that I had long ago learned about hunting and trapping other species; the amount of sign left by our four- legged quarry isn’t always a true picture of the number of critters.I remember another safari I once took after our only good tracking snow of that winter. I headed for the woods to see what the fresh snow could show me. My first stop was a 30 acre soybean stubble field nestled along the river and surrounded by hedge trees on all sides. There were quite literally thousands of deer tracks criss-crossing that field! It looked like an elementary school playground after recess. Now I know there are lots of deer there, but are there thousands? Look under any bridge that crosses a stream and you’ll find literally hundreds of raccoon tracks in the mud. There are lots of raccoons in this part of Kansas, but again, do hundreds visit that bridge? I’m learning that the same is true of signs left by beavers along any waterway. Severed branches floating everywhere and chewed &amp; toppled trees by the dozens do not mean dozens of beavers.&nbsp;For starters, we need to consider that all mammals we hunt and trap have 4 legs, and 4 feet can leave a multitude of tracks in one night’s time. Secondly, animal’s lives revolve around survival, and a major part of that survival is foraging for food. Lots of steps are taken each night in pursuit of that, two- legged birds included. All of you who have watched deer browse or raccoons waddle along a stream know that they don’t stand in one place very long. Multiply that times eight hours or more and that’s a lot of tracks! If we were to freshly paint the floors and isles of our workplaces, or our kitchen floors near the refrigerator, then observe the number of shoe prints there at the end of an eight hour work shift, or the end of our day at home, we’d be amazed how many tracks just a few of us would make.&nbsp;	In the end, this all amounts to a few animals leaving a multitude of life-signs of various kinds. When scouting there is no better find than tracks and other signs left by our four- legged quarry. And while it is true that the more tracks and other signs you see, the more animals there are using that particular area, we just need to consider all the above when estimating wildlife numbers. So to be on the conservative side, count the tracks and divide by four! Continue to Explore Kansas outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Count the tracks and divide by four

Our son is 13, and he has been doing some part-time work for a friend of the family. He makes $40 to $60 a week, and he would like to begin investing the majority of what he earns. Do you have a suggestion for a good place he could put his money?

Well, here’s the thing. At this point in his life, the goal of this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/daves-investing-philosophy">investment</a>&nbsp;isn’t wealth. Number one, it’s not a lot of money. Number two, well, it’s not a lot of money. The goal is to create knowledge, reward his interest in the subject and teach him how to handle his finances when he’s an adult.

I’ve got no problem with you helping him open checking or savings accounts at a local bank or credit union. There are lots of good lessons to be learned in reconciling a bank statement, and the value of spending, saving and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/give-a-little-until-you-can-give-a-lot">giving</a>. Then, you could get with a good financial pro, one with the heart of a teacher, and let him open a mutual fund for $50 a month with you as the custodian. He could learn about compound interest, how to calculate the value of his shares and other things, and all that would be a good learning exercise, too.&nbsp;

We did these things with our kids. But keep in mind that over the course of a year—and when you’re 13, that’s an eternity—there’s not going to be a lot of action on the investing side of things. It could be kind of boring for him at times. But he’s better off to learn now that good things don’t always come with flashing lights and whistles.

When it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/how-to-build-wealth">wealth building</a>, things aren’t sexy. Slow and steady wins the race!&nbsp;

*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</a>is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of&nbsp;The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635524005597.png" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,Our son is 13, and he has been doing some part-time work for a friend of the family. He makes $40 to $60 a week, and he would like to begin investing the majority of what he earns. Do you have a suggestion for a good place he could put his money?LindsayDear Lindsay,Well, here’s the thing. At this point in his life, the goal of this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/daves-investing-philosophy">investment</a>&nbsp;isn’t wealth. Number one, it’s not a lot of money. Number two, well, it’s not a lot of money. The goal is to create knowledge, reward his interest in the subject and teach him how to handle his finances when he’s an adult.I’ve got no problem with you helping him open checking or savings accounts at a local bank or credit union. There are lots of good lessons to be learned in reconciling a bank statement, and the value of spending, saving and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/give-a-little-until-you-can-give-a-lot">giving</a>. Then, you could get with a good financial pro, one with the heart of a teacher, and let him open a mutual fund for $50 a month with you as the custodian. He could learn about compound interest, how to calculate the value of his shares and other things, and all that would be a good learning exercise, too.&nbsp;We did these things with our kids. But keep in mind that over the course of a year—and when you’re 13, that’s an eternity—there’s not going to be a lot of action on the investing side of things. It could be kind of boring for him at times. But he’s better off to learn now that good things don’t always come with flashing lights and whistles.When it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/how-to-build-wealth">wealth building</a>, things aren’t sexy. Slow and steady wins the race!&nbsp;— Dave*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</a>is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of&nbsp;The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: Where should he park the money?

By BARB KALBACH <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/01/15/hold-biden-administration-to-its-promises-for-fairer-ag-markets/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

Family farmers like me have been 
calling for years for aggressive federal action to break up monopolies 
and make markets more fair.

We know what happens when a handful of companies control livestock 
and meatpacking markets: farmers earn a shrinking share of the food 
dollar, farm income declines, and meatpackers earn huge profits. 
Meatpacking corporations then use those profits to gain more control 
over livestock production, either through direct ownership or through 
subcontractors, in a never-ending cycle of corporate concentration and 
consolidation.

Recently, I was pleasantly surprised to see President Biden announce a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/01/03/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-action-plan-for-a-fairer-more-competitive-and-more-resilient-meat-and-poultry-supply-chain/">new initiative</a>
 to address this problem, one of the biggest facing rural America today.
 The “Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and 
More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain” includes commitments to 
strengthen antitrust enforcement, provide more resources for legal 
actions when meatpackers break the law, and financial resources for new 
independent meat processing capacity.

If these policies are implemented effectively, the outcome would be 
increased competition in the marketplace for farmers and protections for
 consumers from soaring meat prices.

The statistics that back up this experience nationally are both 
confirming and alarming. According to the White House, four corporations
 control 85% of the beef market, four packers control around 70% of pork
 processing, and four firms control 54% of the poultry market. The 
farmers’ share of the consumer dollar for cattle producers has declined 
from 60 cents of every dollar 50 years ago to about 39 cents today. 
During the same time period, hog farmers’ share has declined from 
between 40 and 60 cents down to about 19 cents.

On my family’s farm in Adair County, we have directly experienced 
that change in livestock industry structure. When my husband and I got 
married nearly 50 years ago, we raised cattle and hogs, as well as hay 
and pasture and oats. Today, we no longer produce livestock since it has
 become unprofitable, and we focus on corn and soybeans. This story is 
the same for hundreds of farm families here in Adair County, and for 
thousands of former livestock farmers throughout Iowa.

Rather than the diversified, more decentralized livestock production 
and processing system of the past, multinational corporate power is on 
full display here in Iowa. JBS, Smithfield, Tyson, Cargill, Marfrig 
(National Beef), and others operate both giant meat processing plants 
and livestock production factories in many parts of our state. It’s no 
surprise that concentrated production controlled by meatpacking 
corporations has also resulted in concentrated pollution to air and 
water from livestock and poultry manure.

In addition to squeezing family farmers to drive down their operating
 costs, corporate meatpackers are also currently ripping off consumers, 
attempting to blame “rising costs and inflation” for rising meat prices.
 The same White House report, however, states that the latest corporate 
profit reports document a 120% increase in gross profits and a 500% 
increase in net income by meatpacking corporations since before the 
COVID-19 pandemic.

I agree with President Biden’s analysis of the situation: “We’ve seen
 too many industries become dominated by a handful of large companies 
that control most of the business and most of the opportunities — 
raising prices and decreasing options for American families, while also 
squeezing out small businesses and entrepreneurs… When dominant 
middlemen control so much of the supply chain, they can increase their 
own profits at the expense of both farmers — who make less — and 
consumers, who pay more.”

I also agree that this initiative addresses some key needs, including
 a commitment to issue new, stronger rules under the Packers and 
Stockyards Act, investing millions in federal funding for new 
independent meat processing operations in small towns, and instituting 
additional transparency in livestock markets.

President Biden’s recent focus on corporate power in the livestock 
and meatpacking industry is one of those moments when a large group of 
organized people can make meaningful change. The truth is, we have a lot
 of work to do. We have to hold the president, Secretary of Agriculture 
Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Merrick Garland accountable for their 
promises.

We also need to push them to address factory farm pollution, as well 
as better pay and protections for meatpacking workers. We need to make 
sure that the meat processing funding truly goes to local, independent 
operations instead of becoming yet another corporate agribusiness slush 
fund.

What’s needed now is a strong push from farmers, consumer advocates, 
people concerned about corporate influence over our democracy, and 
citizens who want a more fair economy to pull together and make sure 
that the White House rhetoric is matched with administrative and 
congressional action.

The time is now for us to weigh in together and demand a government 
and an economy that works for people instead of multinational 
corporations. Let’s get to work!

Barb Kalbach is a fourth-generation family farmer registered nurse, and board member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642441681557.png" alt="Workers in a pork processing plant, 2016. (Photo by USGAO/Wikipedia/Via News From the States)" />
 <figcaption>Workers in a pork processing plant, 2016. (Photo by USGAO/Wikipedia/Via News From the States)</figcaption>
 </figure>By BARB KALBACH <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/01/15/hold-biden-administration-to-its-promises-for-fairer-ag-markets/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>Family farmers like me have been 
calling for years for aggressive federal action to break up monopolies 
and make markets more fair.We know what happens when a handful of companies control livestock 
and meatpacking markets: farmers earn a shrinking share of the food 
dollar, farm income declines, and meatpackers earn huge profits. 
Meatpacking corporations then use those profits to gain more control 
over livestock production, either through direct ownership or through 
subcontractors, in a never-ending cycle of corporate concentration and 
consolidation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Recently, I was pleasantly surprised to see President Biden announce a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/01/03/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-action-plan-for-a-fairer-more-competitive-and-more-resilient-meat-and-poultry-supply-chain/">new initiative</a>
 to address this problem, one of the biggest facing rural America today.
 The “Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and 
More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain” includes commitments to 
strengthen antitrust enforcement, provide more resources for legal 
actions when meatpackers break the law, and financial resources for new 
independent meat processing capacity.If these policies are implemented effectively, the outcome would be 
increased competition in the marketplace for farmers and protections for
 consumers from soaring meat prices.The statistics that back up this experience nationally are both 
confirming and alarming. According to the White House, four corporations
 control 85% of the beef market, four packers control around 70% of pork
 processing, and four firms control 54% of the poultry market. The 
farmers’ share of the consumer dollar for cattle producers has declined 
from 60 cents of every dollar 50 years ago to about 39 cents today. 
During the same time period, hog farmers’ share has declined from 
between 40 and 60 cents down to about 19 cents.On my family’s farm in Adair County, we have directly experienced 
that change in livestock industry structure. When my husband and I got 
married nearly 50 years ago, we raised cattle and hogs, as well as hay 
and pasture and oats. Today, we no longer produce livestock since it has
 become unprofitable, and we focus on corn and soybeans. This story is 
the same for hundreds of farm families here in Adair County, and for 
thousands of former livestock farmers throughout Iowa.Rather than the diversified, more decentralized livestock production 
and processing system of the past, multinational corporate power is on 
full display here in Iowa. JBS, Smithfield, Tyson, Cargill, Marfrig 
(National Beef), and others operate both giant meat processing plants 
and livestock production factories in many parts of our state. It’s no 
surprise that concentrated production controlled by meatpacking 
corporations has also resulted in concentrated pollution to air and 
water from livestock and poultry manure.In addition to squeezing family farmers to drive down their operating
 costs, corporate meatpackers are also currently ripping off consumers, 
attempting to blame “rising costs and inflation” for rising meat prices.
 The same White House report, however, states that the latest corporate 
profit reports document a 120% increase in gross profits and a 500% 
increase in net income by meatpacking corporations since before the 
COVID-19 pandemic.I agree with President Biden’s analysis of the situation: “We’ve seen
 too many industries become dominated by a handful of large companies 
that control most of the business and most of the opportunities — 
raising prices and decreasing options for American families, while also 
squeezing out small businesses and entrepreneurs… When dominant 
middlemen control so much of the supply chain, they can increase their 
own profits at the expense of both farmers — who make less — and 
consumers, who pay more.”I also agree that this initiative addresses some key needs, including
 a commitment to issue new, stronger rules under the Packers and 
Stockyards Act, investing millions in federal funding for new 
independent meat processing operations in small towns, and instituting 
additional transparency in livestock markets.President Biden’s recent focus on corporate power in the livestock 
and meatpacking industry is one of those moments when a large group of 
organized people can make meaningful change. The truth is, we have a lot
 of work to do. We have to hold the president, Secretary of Agriculture 
Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Merrick Garland accountable for their 
promises.We also need to push them to address factory farm pollution, as well 
as better pay and protections for meatpacking workers. We need to make 
sure that the meat processing funding truly goes to local, independent 
operations instead of becoming yet another corporate agribusiness slush 
fund.What’s needed now is a strong push from farmers, consumer advocates, 
people concerned about corporate influence over our democracy, and 
citizens who want a more fair economy to pull together and make sure 
that the White House rhetoric is matched with administrative and 
congressional action.The time is now for us to weigh in together and demand a government 
and an economy that works for people instead of multinational 
corporations. Let’s get to work!Barb Kalbach is a fourth-generation family farmer registered nurse, and board member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

OPINION: Hold Biden administration to promises for fairer ag markets 

As the 2022 legislative session kicks off this week all eyes are on Topeka. It’s an election year and the issues tackled this session will have a huge impact on the midterm results.

Last session, the legislature followed several other Republican-led legislatures across the country in passing restrictive voting laws. Most notable of these laws included restricting voter registration drives and limiting the number of ballots an individual can bring to the polls on behalf of someone else.

GOP lawmakers seem poised to once again take up legislation that would make it harder for Kansans to vote. Secretary of State Scott Schwab has also said he’ll once again be pushing bills that create extra hurdles, including shortening the period of time county election officers have to wait before removing inactive voters from the voter rolls.&nbsp;

Such laws have been introduced and passed in the name of “election integrity."

Of course, election integrity is important. It’s essential to democracy. However, extensive research shows that election fraud is extremely rare — 0.0003% according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

Most issues reported as voter fraud are actually voter or administrative error. Voter impersonation is virtually nonexistent and there is no evidence of large numbers of people voting illegally.

Previously, the Kansas legislature had expanded Secretary of State power to investigate fraudulent voting. As a result, Kris Kobach gained national attention for his diatribe against voter fraud in our state. However, even the former Secretary of State, who at the time claimed he had proof of over 100 cases of non-citizens voting illegally, was unable to find widespread voter fraud.

Kobach’s investigation resulted in thirteen prosecuted cases of voter fraud, only one of which was by a non-citizen. In the remaining twelve cases, registered citizens had cast two ballots in two different states during the same election. He expanded his investigation to the entire United States and found only 14 cases of fraudulent voting among the 84 million votes reviewed.

According to the voter fraud database collected by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, there were zero cases of voter fraud in Kansas in 2020 and only one in 2021 — former Republican Congressman Steve Watkins was charged with false voter registration.

False allegations of fraudulent voting have consistently been repeated despite no evidence to support these claims. This has made it harder for eligible Kansans to participate in elections and has undermined free and fair access to the ballot box.

These strict voting rules also make voting disproportionately difficult for communities of color and other marginalized groups —the poor, the less educated, those who have criminal records, and those who are new to the voting process like young people and new immigrants.&nbsp;

One pillar of democracy is the holding of free and fair elections that allow voters to choose their representatives. But voter suppression laws shift that power and allow for representatives to choose their voters by creating more barriers to the ballot box, especially among underrepresented groups.

The legislature would better serve Kansans by not focusing their limited time and resources on repeatedly addressing voter fraud when it is virtually nonexistent and instead focusing on issues that would contribute to bettering Kansans’ quality of life, like COVID-19 response, Medicaid expansion, and the elimination of the grocery tax, just to name a few.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>As the 2022 legislative session kicks off this week all eyes are on Topeka. It’s an election year and the issues tackled this session will have a huge impact on the midterm results.Last session, the legislature followed several other Republican-led legislatures across the country in passing restrictive voting laws. Most notable of these laws included restricting voter registration drives and limiting the number of ballots an individual can bring to the polls on behalf of someone else.GOP lawmakers seem poised to once again take up legislation that would make it harder for Kansans to vote. Secretary of State Scott Schwab has also said he’ll once again be pushing bills that create extra hurdles, including shortening the period of time county election officers have to wait before removing inactive voters from the voter rolls.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Such laws have been introduced and passed in the name of “election integrity."Of course, election integrity is important. It’s essential to democracy. However, extensive research shows that election fraud is extremely rare — 0.0003% according to the Brennan Center for Justice.Most issues reported as voter fraud are actually voter or administrative error. Voter impersonation is virtually nonexistent and there is no evidence of large numbers of people voting illegally.Previously, the Kansas legislature had expanded Secretary of State power to investigate fraudulent voting. As a result, Kris Kobach gained national attention for his diatribe against voter fraud in our state. However, even the former Secretary of State, who at the time claimed he had proof of over 100 cases of non-citizens voting illegally, was unable to find widespread voter fraud.Kobach’s investigation resulted in thirteen prosecuted cases of voter fraud, only one of which was by a non-citizen. In the remaining twelve cases, registered citizens had cast two ballots in two different states during the same election. He expanded his investigation to the entire United States and found only 14 cases of fraudulent voting among the 84 million votes reviewed.According to the voter fraud database collected by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, there were zero cases of voter fraud in Kansas in 2020 and only one in 2021 — former Republican Congressman Steve Watkins was charged with false voter registration.False allegations of fraudulent voting have consistently been repeated despite no evidence to support these claims. This has made it harder for eligible Kansans to participate in elections and has undermined free and fair access to the ballot box.These strict voting rules also make voting disproportionately difficult for communities of color and other marginalized groups —the poor, the less educated, those who have criminal records, and those who are new to the voting process like young people and new immigrants.&nbsp;One pillar of democracy is the holding of free and fair elections that allow voters to choose their representatives. But voter suppression laws shift that power and allow for representatives to choose their voters by creating more barriers to the ballot box, especially among underrepresented groups.The legislature would better serve Kansans by not focusing their limited time and resources on repeatedly addressing voter fraud when it is virtually nonexistent and instead focusing on issues that would contribute to bettering Kansans’ quality of life, like COVID-19 response, Medicaid expansion, and the elimination of the grocery tax, just to name a few.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Additional voter suppression laws unnecessary

Something special happened at Fort Hays State University last month: the return of our Encore Series. On Dec. 2, the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Sheridan Hall was filled with patrons and Christmas joy as our community gathered to watch Christmas in Killarney – the first Encore show since 2020. It was a fabulous evening of Christmas carols and Irish traditions witnessed by an audience of more than 500 people.

According to Edie McCracken, director of the Memorial Union and overseer of the series, the Encore committee decided to schedule six shows for this first season back after the pandemic.

“At the time we started booking shows for 2021-22, we just were not sure what the fall would look like and did not want to risk having to cancel shows,” Edie said. “ There are no Broadway musicals this season, because those shows are just now getting back to full touring capacities. But we are planning on a return of musicals for the 2022-23 season, which we are already in the midst of planning. We are at full capacity for the theater. Masks and sanitizing stations are being provided at each show for our patron’s safety and comfort.”

In the spring, we will begin with The Flying Karamazov Brothers on Monday, Feb. 14. Some of our long-term audience members may remember the Brothers from their previous Encore performance in the 1990s. This time, they are back with their off-Broadway comedy juggling show,&nbsp;4Play.&nbsp;

Next up is the Roy Orbison &amp; Buddy Holly Rock ’N Roll Hologram Dream Tour on March 2,. This show will feature a live band fronted by hologram performances by the two rock and roll legends.&nbsp;

On March 26, the Encore Series will present Cross That River. This musical drama is&nbsp;based on historical recounts of a runaway slave who escapes to the American West to find a new life as a cowboy.&nbsp;

We will wrap up the season with two shows in April. The first is The Queen’s Cartoonists on April 21. This talented music ensemble performs jazz and classical pieces as scores to both classic and contemporary cartoons. Their mission is to instill a love and appreciation of these music genres in audiences of all ages.&nbsp;

The final performance, Canada’s Ballet Jorgen presents Anne of Green Gables the Ballet, is rescheduled from the abbreviated 2019-20 season, This is a newly commissioned work based on beloved book series. We are excited to bring the first-ever production of this ballet to Hays!

Edie also shared that she is closely monitoring any changes to tours or schedules that might occur due to the pandemic.

“We have had one small change to the 2021-22 season already. The Golden Dragon Acrobats, who were scheduled to perform on Feb. 14, 2022, have had to postpone their tour for one year due to travel restrictions in and out of China. We will bring the show to Hays in February 2023 as a result. Fortunately, the agency we worked with was able to help us find a substitute, so we will still have a full season.”

We used the past year to make a few upgrades to the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, including an improved projection system and additional audio and lighting capabilities. What might be most noticeable to our patrons is we have a new and improved accessible seating area on the lower level of the theater. This allows us to accommodate more patrons with accessibility needs in a more comfortable location in the theater.&nbsp;

Patrons purchasing tickets for a single show also now have the option of printing tickets at home or using their phones as a digital ticket.

“One of the great things about living in a ‘college town’ is the opportunity to take part in the activities that go along with a university. FHSU’s Encore series has brought in quality entertainment that I would never have the chance to see otherwise. The Broadway musicals are always top-notch, but the series also brings in unique experiences from the world of music, dance, and theater,” shared Mary Ann Thompson, a community member who serves on the Encore Series selection committee.

Along with Edie, the committee, and the entire university community, and with a full heart, I thank our season ticket holders, show sponsors, and advertisers who make the Encore season possible. The Bob and Pat Schmidt Foundation generously sponsors the series. Show sponsors this year include Larry and Lyn Fenwick, Todd and Andrea Sandoval, Chartwells, and eyeSmile. And everyone who attends a show contributes to the success and sustainability of the Encore Series.

Season tickets are still available until Feb. 14. Those tickets, as well as tickets for individual performances, may be purchased by visiting <a href="http://fhsu.edu/encore">fhsu.edu/encore</a> or calling 785-628-5306.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>Something special happened at Fort Hays State University last month: the return of our Encore Series. On Dec. 2, the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Sheridan Hall was filled with patrons and Christmas joy as our community gathered to watch Christmas in Killarney – the first Encore show since 2020. It was a fabulous evening of Christmas carols and Irish traditions witnessed by an audience of more than 500 people.According to Edie McCracken, director of the Memorial Union and overseer of the series, the Encore committee decided to schedule six shows for this first season back after the pandemic.“At the time we started booking shows for 2021-22, we just were not sure what the fall would look like and did not want to risk having to cancel shows,” Edie said. “ There are no Broadway musicals this season, because those shows are just now getting back to full touring capacities. But we are planning on a return of musicals for the 2022-23 season, which we are already in the midst of planning. We are at full capacity for the theater. Masks and sanitizing stations are being provided at each show for our patron’s safety and comfort.”In the spring, we will begin with The Flying Karamazov Brothers on Monday, Feb. 14. Some of our long-term audience members may remember the Brothers from their previous Encore performance in the 1990s. This time, they are back with their off-Broadway comedy juggling show,&nbsp;4Play.&nbsp;Next up is the Roy Orbison &amp; Buddy Holly Rock ’N Roll Hologram Dream Tour on March 2,. This show will feature a live band fronted by hologram performances by the two rock and roll legends.&nbsp;On March 26, the Encore Series will present Cross That River. This musical drama is&nbsp;based on historical recounts of a runaway slave who escapes to the American West to find a new life as a cowboy.&nbsp;We will wrap up the season with two shows in April. The first is The Queen’s Cartoonists on April 21. This talented music ensemble performs jazz and classical pieces as scores to both classic and contemporary cartoons. Their mission is to instill a love and appreciation of these music genres in audiences of all ages.&nbsp;The final performance, Canada’s Ballet Jorgen presents Anne of Green Gables the Ballet, is rescheduled from the abbreviated 2019-20 season, This is a newly commissioned work based on beloved book series. We are excited to bring the first-ever production of this ballet to Hays!Edie also shared that she is closely monitoring any changes to tours or schedules that might occur due to the pandemic.“We have had one small change to the 2021-22 season already. The Golden Dragon Acrobats, who were scheduled to perform on Feb. 14, 2022, have had to postpone their tour for one year due to travel restrictions in and out of China. We will bring the show to Hays in February 2023 as a result. Fortunately, the agency we worked with was able to help us find a substitute, so we will still have a full season.”We used the past year to make a few upgrades to the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, including an improved projection system and additional audio and lighting capabilities. What might be most noticeable to our patrons is we have a new and improved accessible seating area on the lower level of the theater. This allows us to accommodate more patrons with accessibility needs in a more comfortable location in the theater.&nbsp;Patrons purchasing tickets for a single show also now have the option of printing tickets at home or using their phones as a digital ticket.“One of the great things about living in a ‘college town’ is the opportunity to take part in the activities that go along with a university. FHSU’s Encore series has brought in quality entertainment that I would never have the chance to see otherwise. The Broadway musicals are always top-notch, but the series also brings in unique experiences from the world of music, dance, and theater,” shared Mary Ann Thompson, a community member who serves on the Encore Series selection committee.Along with Edie, the committee, and the entire university community, and with a full heart, I thank our season ticket holders, show sponsors, and advertisers who make the Encore season possible. The Bob and Pat Schmidt Foundation generously sponsors the series. Show sponsors this year include Larry and Lyn Fenwick, Todd and Andrea Sandoval, Chartwells, and eyeSmile. And everyone who attends a show contributes to the success and sustainability of the Encore Series.Season tickets are still available until Feb. 14. Those tickets, as well as tickets for individual performances, may be purchased by visiting <a href="http://fhsu.edu/encore">fhsu.edu/encore</a> or calling 785-628-5306.

MASON: FHSU pleased to bring back Encore Series

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau All that’s left of the original home at the ranch is a foundation underneath an apple tree. Eventually, after years of sitting vacant, it was deemed unsafe and summarily demolished. I never got to see the inside, but I remember badly wanting to walk through the door and explore the rooms my great grandparents had inhabited at one time. I haven’t given the place much thought in the last 30 years, but it’s been on my mind lately as I sorted through the recently released Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment, which is projected to be the first step in identifying how to address the needs and priorities for housing across the state. While at one time that farmhouse at the ranch was a home, if it were still standing the number of people who would consider living there is vanishingly small. I know at some point it was retrofitted with running water and had electric service, but it also had a coal furnace, little insulation and none of the modern-day luxuries we take for granted. If it were still standing, the house would be closer to a shelter than a home. In fact, that’s one of the main reasons it sat vacant for so long. It was outdated by the standards of the 1970s, and it would have been cost prohibitive to modernize it then. This scenario has played out across the state, especially in rural areas for the past century. Individually, it doesn’t appear like a big deal. Collectively, however, the decaying housing stock has become a limiting factor in the state’s future. One line in the report’s opening section stands out, “A lack of quality, affordable housing is widely recognized as one of the state’s biggest barriers to growth and development, particularly in rural and underserved communities.” I agree with this wholeheartedly, even though “affordable” causes some queasiness. Far too often the decision to expand a business or take a job in rural America aren’t solely decided by the dollars and cents of those individual decisions. Rather it comes down to secondary factors like an available workforce or desirable housing options, with the latter often limiting the former. The report also found that Kansas comes up short for housing across the income spectrum. Simply put, there’s a lack of housing at every price point, every size and every shape. The challenge isn’t simply building new dwellings, it’s figuring out how to create homes attractive to working families who can unlock the potential awaiting discovery across Kansas. While Johnson City will never resemble anything close to Johnson County, writing it off as just another casualty of modern life isn’t acceptable. I must confess I don’t have the solution for this problem, mainly because while the problem is singular and widespread, the options for fixing it is as diverse as it is local. The solution for Colby is likely far different than what will work for Colwich. Assessing the problem is the easy part. Finding the correct mix of public and private partnerships isn’t going to be easy. But it’s the best way to build to a better future.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau All that’s left of the original home at the ranch is a foundation underneath an apple tree. Eventually, after years of sitting vacant, it was deemed unsafe and summarily demolished. I never got to see the inside, but I remember badly wanting to walk through the door and explore the rooms my great grandparents had inhabited at one time. I haven’t given the place much thought in the last 30 years, but it’s been on my mind lately as I sorted through the recently released Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment, which is projected to be the first step in identifying how to address the needs and priorities for housing across the state. While at one time that farmhouse at the ranch was a home, if it were still standing the number of people who would consider living there is vanishingly small. I know at some point it was retrofitted with running water and had electric service, but it also had a coal furnace, little insulation and none of the modern-day luxuries we take for granted. If it were still standing, the house would be closer to a shelter than a home. In fact, that’s one of the main reasons it sat vacant for so long. It was outdated by the standards of the 1970s, and it would have been cost prohibitive to modernize it then. This scenario has played out across the state, especially in rural areas for the past century. Individually, it doesn’t appear like a big deal. Collectively, however, the decaying housing stock has become a limiting factor in the state’s future. One line in the report’s opening section stands out, “A lack of quality, affordable housing is widely recognized as one of the state’s biggest barriers to growth and development, particularly in rural and underserved communities.” I agree with this wholeheartedly, even though “affordable” causes some queasiness. Far too often the decision to expand a business or take a job in rural America aren’t solely decided by the dollars and cents of those individual decisions. Rather it comes down to secondary factors like an available workforce or desirable housing options, with the latter often limiting the former. The report also found that Kansas comes up short for housing across the income spectrum. Simply put, there’s a lack of housing at every price point, every size and every shape. The challenge isn’t simply building new dwellings, it’s figuring out how to create homes attractive to working families who can unlock the potential awaiting discovery across Kansas. While Johnson City will never resemble anything close to Johnson County, writing it off as just another casualty of modern life isn’t acceptable. I must confess I don’t have the solution for this problem, mainly because while the problem is singular and widespread, the options for fixing it is as diverse as it is local. The solution for Colby is likely far different than what will work for Colwich. Assessing the problem is the easy part. Finding the correct mix of public and private partnerships isn’t going to be easy. But it’s the best way to build to a better future."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: Building for the future

I finally paid off all my debt except for my house, and I have an emergency fund of six months of expenses saved. It feels great to be in control of my money, but I am afraid I might lose control again and end up back where I started before I began following your plan. How can you make sure your leisure spending doesn’t get out of hand?

I get what you’re saying. You don’t want to go back to those days of being scared and out of control where your finances are concerned. You spent a lot of time, made tons of sacrifices, and put in lots of disciplined hard work&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator">getting out of debt</a>, changing your behavior, and finally reached a point where you’re winning with money. Most people don’t forget the hardship and sacrifices that go into something like that, and I don’t think you will, either.

There’s a season to be strict, hard-nosed, and deny yourself things. There’s also a time to act like an adult, and forego instant gratification, like during those early&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/dave-ramsey-7-baby-steps">Baby Steps</a>. But some self-care and a little fun is important once in a while, too. One way to enjoy life without going financially overboard is to make a budget line for fun money.

Putting fun money in your budget isn’t a green light to forget your money goals, or go on a spending free-for-all. It’s actually part of sticking to your budget. Remember, you want a&nbsp;zero-based budget. That means giving&nbsp;every&nbsp;dollar a job, and having a fun money category helps you focus on&nbsp;all&nbsp;your spending, so you don’t accidently waste money on little things here and there.

When you give yourself a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/guide-to-budgeting">budget</a>&nbsp;line for fun, you can spend that amount on whatever you want. We talk a lot about goals and how they need to be a balance of empowering and realistic.&nbsp;Budgeting&nbsp;fun money helps with the realistic side, because it lets you stick to your goals&nbsp;and&nbsp;have a treat every now and then.

When you think of your budget as&nbsp;permission to spend, you get a new perspective on budgeting. You’re giving your money permission to go where you want it to go. Plus, when you treat yourself once in a while, you’re less likely to fall back in your old, financially-out-of-control ways!

*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host ofThe Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635524005597.png" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,I finally paid off all my debt except for my house, and I have an emergency fund of six months of expenses saved. It feels great to be in control of my money, but I am afraid I might lose control again and end up back where I started before I began following your plan. How can you make sure your leisure spending doesn’t get out of hand?LavellDear Lavell,I get what you’re saying. You don’t want to go back to those days of being scared and out of control where your finances are concerned. You spent a lot of time, made tons of sacrifices, and put in lots of disciplined hard work&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator">getting out of debt</a>, changing your behavior, and finally reached a point where you’re winning with money. Most people don’t forget the hardship and sacrifices that go into something like that, and I don’t think you will, either.There’s a season to be strict, hard-nosed, and deny yourself things. There’s also a time to act like an adult, and forego instant gratification, like during those early&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/dave-ramsey-7-baby-steps">Baby Steps</a>. But some self-care and a little fun is important once in a while, too. One way to enjoy life without going financially overboard is to make a budget line for fun money.Putting fun money in your budget isn’t a green light to forget your money goals, or go on a spending free-for-all. It’s actually part of sticking to your budget. Remember, you want a&nbsp;zero-based budget. That means giving&nbsp;every&nbsp;dollar a job, and having a fun money category helps you focus on&nbsp;all&nbsp;your spending, so you don’t accidently waste money on little things here and there.When you give yourself a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/guide-to-budgeting">budget</a>&nbsp;line for fun, you can spend that amount on whatever you want. We talk a lot about goals and how they need to be a balance of empowering and realistic.&nbsp;Budgeting&nbsp;fun money helps with the realistic side, because it lets you stick to your goals&nbsp;and&nbsp;have a treat every now and then.When you think of your budget as&nbsp;permission to spend, you get a new perspective on budgeting. You’re giving your money permission to go where you want it to go. Plus, when you treat yourself once in a while, you’re less likely to fall back in your old, financially-out-of-control ways!— Dave*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host ofThe Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: Make a budget line for fun money

There is a great deal to discuss surrounding the inflation that is ripping through America. However, few people are focused on what inflation means to farmers and those who benefit most from a bountiful harvest: the hungry, those that live in poverty, as well as the food stamp budget and USAID budget.

It’s no secret farmers are faced with a fertilizer crisis. Prices for phosphorus-based and potassium-based (potash) fertilizers have more than doubled in Kansas while Nitrogen-based fertilizers have more than quadrupled. Fertilizer is vital to feeding not only the country, but the world. It contains essential nutrients for plant life, and without it, American agricultural yields will quickly suffer as well as food prices in local grocery stores.

There are three main types of fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Depending on the crop and soil, a farmer may need one or all three types. Nitrogen fertilizers like Anhydrous Ammonia are made by mixing nitrogen in the air with the hydrogen from natural gas at high temperatures. Sixty percent of the natural gas is used as the ingredient while 40% is used as the energy source. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers are made from mostly imported mined rock, which then go through a chemical process to create several different compounds.

The US only makes up for 10% of global fertilizer use, despite producing 35% of its corn and soybeans. Even with our efficiency we are a major importer of fertilizer therefore our market price is largely driven by global supply and demand. This means both international and domestic issues have a significant impact on our fertilizer prices – all suffer to some extent from supply disruption policies like paying more for people to stay at home than work. This is also complicated by weather disruptions that put a dent in U.S. production of nitrogen.

Sixty percent of total U.S. ammonia production capacity is in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas because of their large reserves of natural gas. Natural gas prices are up more than 150% in North America, and are up around 500% in Europe. Since natural gas makes up 70 percent of production costs for anhydrous ammonia, so follows the price of fertilizer. Many European fertilizer producers have shut down, curtailed operations, or dramatically increased their price. At this rate, Europe will starve themselves before they die from pollution.

At the same time, just like they did with medical supplies during the worst days of the COVID pandemic, China has significantly curtailed its fertilizer exports – a common trick they use to artificially create shortages and raise prices. This means fertilizer producers outside of Europe and China are seeing significantly higher demand, pushing prices upward. The U.S. has countervailing duties on phosphate from Russia and Morocco and several other major global producers are also limiting exports which exacerbate the supply shortage globally.

As global prices rise around the world, the costs of U.S. imports continue to climb. The price of goods produced in the U.S. also increases as local demand competes with foreign demand to keep products in the U.S. – a vicious cycle of a dog chasing its tail, a tail that’s on fire as those on the left continue to borrow and print money like a drunken sailors.

Make no mistake, President Biden’s disastrous policies are equally to blame for the cost of fertilizer in the U.S. His energy policy curtails the production and transport of natural gas and has impacted every facet of production. Moving away from energy independence affects domestic transportation costs. Vaccine mandates limit the labor supply. The extra unemployment dollars kept people at home rather than at work. Extra regulation continues to constrain business. At every step, the president has made a bad situation worse. In a time of crisis you don’t create roadblocks, you get out of the way and let business do what they do best.

Inflation means so much more than just increased fertilizer costs for farmers. The cost of food is up almost 10 percent since 2019, and the fertilizer shortage will increase this even further. Biden-flation is hitting the hungry the hardest. For example, our McGovern-Dole Funding reached 1.3 million people in 2020 and cost taxpayers $215 million. In 2021, we reached 220,000 less people and spent $33 million more. If we want to help people in need the best play is to get inflation under control and to encourage economic growth – not stifle it. Instead of continuing down this path of reckless spending, we need to keep up the pressure to halt vaccine mandates, get our financial house in order, cut back on out-of-touch regulations, and avoid raising taxes.

The unfortunate reality is this is only the beginning. It may take more than a year before the effects felt by fertilizer prices at the farm will also be felt at the fork.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637756060789.jpeg" alt="Roger_Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Roger_Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>By U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, M.D.There is a great deal to discuss surrounding the inflation that is ripping through America. However, few people are focused on what inflation means to farmers and those who benefit most from a bountiful harvest: the hungry, those that live in poverty, as well as the food stamp budget and USAID budget.It’s no secret farmers are faced with a fertilizer crisis. Prices for phosphorus-based and potassium-based (potash) fertilizers have more than doubled in Kansas while Nitrogen-based fertilizers have more than quadrupled. Fertilizer is vital to feeding not only the country, but the world. It contains essential nutrients for plant life, and without it, American agricultural yields will quickly suffer as well as food prices in local grocery stores.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>There are three main types of fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Depending on the crop and soil, a farmer may need one or all three types. Nitrogen fertilizers like Anhydrous Ammonia are made by mixing nitrogen in the air with the hydrogen from natural gas at high temperatures. Sixty percent of the natural gas is used as the ingredient while 40% is used as the energy source. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers are made from mostly imported mined rock, which then go through a chemical process to create several different compounds.The US only makes up for 10% of global fertilizer use, despite producing 35% of its corn and soybeans. Even with our efficiency we are a major importer of fertilizer therefore our market price is largely driven by global supply and demand. This means both international and domestic issues have a significant impact on our fertilizer prices – all suffer to some extent from supply disruption policies like paying more for people to stay at home than work. This is also complicated by weather disruptions that put a dent in U.S. production of nitrogen.Sixty percent of total U.S. ammonia production capacity is in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas because of their large reserves of natural gas. Natural gas prices are up more than 150% in North America, and are up around 500% in Europe. Since natural gas makes up 70 percent of production costs for anhydrous ammonia, so follows the price of fertilizer. Many European fertilizer producers have shut down, curtailed operations, or dramatically increased their price. At this rate, Europe will starve themselves before they die from pollution.At the same time, just like they did with medical supplies during the worst days of the COVID pandemic, China has significantly curtailed its fertilizer exports – a common trick they use to artificially create shortages and raise prices. This means fertilizer producers outside of Europe and China are seeing significantly higher demand, pushing prices upward. The U.S. has countervailing duties on phosphate from Russia and Morocco and several other major global producers are also limiting exports which exacerbate the supply shortage globally.As global prices rise around the world, the costs of U.S. imports continue to climb. The price of goods produced in the U.S. also increases as local demand competes with foreign demand to keep products in the U.S. – a vicious cycle of a dog chasing its tail, a tail that’s on fire as those on the left continue to borrow and print money like a drunken sailors.Make no mistake, President Biden’s disastrous policies are equally to blame for the cost of fertilizer in the U.S. His energy policy curtails the production and transport of natural gas and has impacted every facet of production. Moving away from energy independence affects domestic transportation costs. Vaccine mandates limit the labor supply. The extra unemployment dollars kept people at home rather than at work. Extra regulation continues to constrain business. At every step, the president has made a bad situation worse. In a time of crisis you don’t create roadblocks, you get out of the way and let business do what they do best.Inflation means so much more than just increased fertilizer costs for farmers. The cost of food is up almost 10 percent since 2019, and the fertilizer shortage will increase this even further. Biden-flation is hitting the hungry the hardest. For example, our McGovern-Dole Funding reached 1.3 million people in 2020 and cost taxpayers $215 million. In 2021, we reached 220,000 less people and spent $33 million more. If we want to help people in need the best play is to get inflation under control and to encourage economic growth – not stifle it. Instead of continuing down this path of reckless spending, we need to keep up the pressure to halt vaccine mandates, get our financial house in order, cut back on out-of-touch regulations, and avoid raising taxes.The unfortunate reality is this is only the beginning. It may take more than a year before the effects felt by fertilizer prices at the farm will also be felt at the fork.

MARSHALL: Why high fertilizer prices could hit consumers' forks

The executive board of SPARK, a Kansas committee of appointed leaders proposed late last month to divvy-up some $150 million of Kansas federal COVID relief funding.&nbsp; For K-12 schools, $4 million was proposed for electronic access projects and $50 million divided into $1,000 stipends for families of low-income/low performing students to buy approved educational materials and services.&nbsp; The remainder was proposed to go to economic development.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The total American Rescue Plan Act funding for all Kansas institutions named in the legislation will be about five billion.

SPARK stands for Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas.&nbsp; It’s made up of elected officials, business executives and community members.&nbsp; Four advisory panels will inform the executive board which will recommend allocations to the Kansas State Finance Council, a bi-partisan legislative group chaired by the governor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While there seems to be a wide consensus among legislators and the public that schools need help, there is little public discussion of how ARPA ear-marked for K-12 education will fit into a comprehensive plan to build schools back better.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This is not surprising because COVID caused a range of difficulties for students and schools and the responsibility for addressing those difficulties cannot readily be seen as belonging to any one government entity.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For example, how far will the proposed $4 million go toward making fast and reliable learning technology available for students in all parts of the state? Can the multiple agencies that currently provide government grants and programs for increased broadband also benefit K-12 school technology beyond ARPA funding?&nbsp; Can bundling available funding fully provide needed technology for schools?&nbsp;

Another challenge for the committee is prioritizing allocation.&nbsp; Offering money to families of low-income/high-need students to spend in rebuilding learning lost during COVID could certainly be useful.&nbsp; However, schools face many problems—teacher shortages, substitute teacher shortages, students who are having social/emotional difficulty in returning to traditional learning, students who are not performing at grade level and enrollment decline.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A $1,000 appropriation of $50 million for learning aids would reach only about 500 students out of a total of 471,000 Kansas students.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bringing into focus resources for K-12 public education from multiple funding pools and making investments that reach the most students most effectively demand a comprehensive plan that will do the following:

SPARK is an apt name for this enormously powerful committee charged to disperse government largess heretofore unimaginable.&nbsp; The committee’s work will have impact for at least a decade.&nbsp; It’s a pivotal moment for Kansas public education.&nbsp; The committee needs to get this right because its choices will be of major public consequence.

Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593719779701.jpeg" alt="Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education." />
 <figcaption>Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.</figcaption>
 </figure>The executive board of SPARK, a Kansas committee of appointed leaders proposed late last month to divvy-up some $150 million of Kansas federal COVID relief funding.&nbsp; For K-12 schools, $4 million was proposed for electronic access projects and $50 million divided into $1,000 stipends for families of low-income/low performing students to buy approved educational materials and services.&nbsp; The remainder was proposed to go to economic development.&nbsp;&nbsp;The total American Rescue Plan Act funding for all Kansas institutions named in the legislation will be about five billion.SPARK stands for Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas.&nbsp; It’s made up of elected officials, business executives and community members.&nbsp; Four advisory panels will inform the executive board which will recommend allocations to the Kansas State Finance Council, a bi-partisan legislative group chaired by the governor.&nbsp;&nbsp;While there seems to be a wide consensus among legislators and the public that schools need help, there is little public discussion of how ARPA ear-marked for K-12 education will fit into a comprehensive plan to build schools back better.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is not surprising because COVID caused a range of difficulties for students and schools and the responsibility for addressing those difficulties cannot readily be seen as belonging to any one government entity.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, how far will the proposed $4 million go toward making fast and reliable learning technology available for students in all parts of the state? Can the multiple agencies that currently provide government grants and programs for increased broadband also benefit K-12 school technology beyond ARPA funding?&nbsp; Can bundling available funding fully provide needed technology for schools?&nbsp;Another challenge for the committee is prioritizing allocation.&nbsp; Offering money to families of low-income/high-need students to spend in rebuilding learning lost during COVID could certainly be useful.&nbsp; However, schools face many problems—teacher shortages, substitute teacher shortages, students who are having social/emotional difficulty in returning to traditional learning, students who are not performing at grade level and enrollment decline.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A $1,000 appropriation of $50 million for learning aids would reach only about 500 students out of a total of 471,000 Kansas students.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bringing into focus resources for K-12 public education from multiple funding pools and making investments that reach the most students most effectively demand a comprehensive plan that will do the following:<ul>
 <li>Finish the goal of fast, reliable connectivity for students wherever they are in Kansas and equip students with individual learning devices they can use at school, on a school bus or at home.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Enable professional development for teachers to be ready for remote or hybrid teaching that includes a flexible implementation plan, if circumstances require such teaching in the future, plus provide opportunity for teachers to learn online instruction skills as needed by their schools.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Recruit a full, highly qualified, diverse educator work-force that includes teachers, substitutes and other school personnel.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Reach out to public school experts across the country, Kansas parents and teachers to identify and implement best practices for remediating COVID learning loss, enabling student achievement at grade level and attending to students’ social/emotional difficulties.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>SPARK is an apt name for this enormously powerful committee charged to disperse government largess heretofore unimaginable.&nbsp; The committee’s work will have impact for at least a decade.&nbsp; It’s a pivotal moment for Kansas public education.&nbsp; The committee needs to get this right because its choices will be of major public consequence.Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

INSIGHT KANSAS: State needs comprehensive plan for K-12 relief funding

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

Let’s go Down Under to Australia.&nbsp;

A special shipment is arriving from the United States. It is a working chute for cattle – but not just for any cattle: This is a chute designed for Texas longhorns. Now, customers are discovering the chute is excellent for handling other types of animals as well.&nbsp;

Last week we met Joe Sedlacek, owner of Lazy J Longhorns near Greenleaf, Kan. Since 2008, he has been working fulltime at raising world record-setting Texas Longhorns. One of Joe’s home-raised steers was a three-time world champion because of the steer’s long horns.&nbsp;

Joe continues to raise and market longhorn steers and breeding stock. He also uses a registered Charolais bull to cross with certain longhorns. This produces a beefy, naturally hornless calf which is excellent for the market. “It also keeps the quality higher in my registered longhorn herd,” Joe said.&nbsp;

Joe points out that there are several advantages of the longhorn breed, perhaps because they originated in the wilds of Texas more than a century ago.&nbsp;

“Their eating habits are more like a goat than a cow,” Joe said. “They will eat more types of vegetation than a typical beef cow, so I can run more longhorns per acre than straight Angus. Longhorns are really good moms and are really intelligent.”&nbsp;

As with other animals, longhorns need occasional vaccinations and other herd health procedures. Many cattleman have metal working chutes and headgates to hold the cattle still while they get their shots.&nbsp;

“No headgate is going to work with a steer with ten foot long horns,” Joe said.&nbsp;&nbsp;He sought to design a better system for handling his longhorn cattle.&nbsp;

He had a welder come out to adapt his existing working chute. “I said, `Could you change this and add this and this?’&nbsp;

The welder said, `Why don’t you build what’s in your head as a new one instead?’” Joe said. So Joe sketched out the design he had in mind and a new one was built.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I worked for five years trying to perfect it,” Joe said.&nbsp;

“Safety of the animal and the operator was my first priority,” Joe said. He ended up with a system of panels in a clamshell design that can enclose the animal, using vertical bars and a nine-grid pattern to hold in place an animal of virtually any size.&nbsp;

“I had no idea of selling these, but everybody who saw me use one wanted one,” Joe said. It became a business.&nbsp;

In order to differentiate it from chutes made by other builders, they started calling it the Joe Chute. The name stuck. In 2016, the Joe Chute was named the official working chute of the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Unlike some chutes that have clanging handles, the Joe Chute is quiet. The gates can be adjusted to fit animals of almost any size, down to a baby calf.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“When you hold them tightly in place, it can calm them down,” Joe said. “I know a guy who brands wild horses in it.” Temple Grandin, the animal welfare scientist, has even certified the Joe Chute.&nbsp;

Commercial beef producers have become interested in the chute. Uses have branched out to include exotic animals as well. “Anheuser Busch has one of these in St. Louis that they use for cattle and elk,” Joe said. “The zoo in Pueblo, Colo. uses theirs for zebras and camels and I expect other zoos will want them as well.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hundreds of the chutes have been produced and shipped as far away as Alberta, Canada and Australia. It’s an impressive record for a company based in the rural community of Greenleaf, population 331 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lazyjlonghorns.com/Joe-Longhorn-Chute">www.lazyjlonghorns.com/Joe-Longhorn-Chute</a>.&nbsp;

It’s time to leave Australia, where a special working chute has arrived from halfway around the globe in rural Kansas. We commend Joe Sedlacek for making a difference with his innovation and entrepreneurship. With demand for these chutes coming from as far away as Down Under, it can help this business stay on top.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641391435131.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp; Let’s go Down Under to Australia.&nbsp;A special shipment is arriving from the United States. It is a working chute for cattle – but not just for any cattle: This is a chute designed for Texas longhorns. Now, customers are discovering the chute is excellent for handling other types of animals as well.&nbsp;Last week we met Joe Sedlacek, owner of Lazy J Longhorns near Greenleaf, Kan. Since 2008, he has been working fulltime at raising world record-setting Texas Longhorns. One of Joe’s home-raised steers was a three-time world champion because of the steer’s long horns.&nbsp;Joe continues to raise and market longhorn steers and breeding stock. He also uses a registered Charolais bull to cross with certain longhorns. This produces a beefy, naturally hornless calf which is excellent for the market. “It also keeps the quality higher in my registered longhorn herd,” Joe said.&nbsp;Joe points out that there are several advantages of the longhorn breed, perhaps because they originated in the wilds of Texas more than a century ago.&nbsp;“Their eating habits are more like a goat than a cow,” Joe said. “They will eat more types of vegetation than a typical beef cow, so I can run more longhorns per acre than straight Angus. Longhorns are really good moms and are really intelligent.”&nbsp;As with other animals, longhorns need occasional vaccinations and other herd health procedures. Many cattleman have metal working chutes and headgates to hold the cattle still while they get their shots.&nbsp;“No headgate is going to work with a steer with ten foot long horns,” Joe said.&nbsp;&nbsp;He sought to design a better system for handling his longhorn cattle.&nbsp;He had a welder come out to adapt his existing working chute. “I said, `Could you change this and add this and this?’&nbsp;The welder said, `Why don’t you build what’s in your head as a new one instead?’” Joe said. So Joe sketched out the design he had in mind and a new one was built.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I worked for five years trying to perfect it,” Joe said.&nbsp;“Safety of the animal and the operator was my first priority,” Joe said. He ended up with a system of panels in a clamshell design that can enclose the animal, using vertical bars and a nine-grid pattern to hold in place an animal of virtually any size.&nbsp;“I had no idea of selling these, but everybody who saw me use one wanted one,” Joe said. It became a business.&nbsp;In order to differentiate it from chutes made by other builders, they started calling it the Joe Chute. The name stuck. In 2016, the Joe Chute was named the official working chute of the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unlike some chutes that have clanging handles, the Joe Chute is quiet. The gates can be adjusted to fit animals of almost any size, down to a baby calf.&nbsp;&nbsp;“When you hold them tightly in place, it can calm them down,” Joe said. “I know a guy who brands wild horses in it.” Temple Grandin, the animal welfare scientist, has even certified the Joe Chute.&nbsp;Commercial beef producers have become interested in the chute. Uses have branched out to include exotic animals as well. “Anheuser Busch has one of these in St. Louis that they use for cattle and elk,” Joe said. “The zoo in Pueblo, Colo. uses theirs for zebras and camels and I expect other zoos will want them as well.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Hundreds of the chutes have been produced and shipped as far away as Alberta, Canada and Australia. It’s an impressive record for a company based in the rural community of Greenleaf, population 331 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lazyjlonghorns.com/Joe-Longhorn-Chute">www.lazyjlonghorns.com/Joe-Longhorn-Chute</a>.&nbsp;It’s time to leave Australia, where a special working chute has arrived from halfway around the globe in rural Kansas. We commend Joe Sedlacek for making a difference with his innovation and entrepreneurship. With demand for these chutes coming from as far away as Down Under, it can help this business stay on top.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Joe Sedlacek, the Joe Chute 

By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt&nbsp;County farmer and rancher Social media has been full recently of the typical posts about what people are hoping to accomplish in 2022. These posts bring to mind something I read discussing how people who want to start or break habits are more likely to succeed if they start on first days — the first day of the week, month or especially the year. This is the presumed intention of a New Year’s resolutions: to tackle a goal or change that you have wanted or needed in your life. The reason people are more successful on these first days, according to the article, is the fresh start makes them more likely to hold themselves accountable. They still face the same obstacles, struggles and temptations as any other day, but it comes down choosing to change and internal determination to stick to it.&nbsp; The choice to persevere in the face of adversity is what matters when it comes to changing your life or accomplishment you will cherish. Things that come easy usually only offer a moment of enjoyment; hard-fought success brings a satisfaction that grows and sustains. A universal hope for 2022 is the pandemic ending and life returning to normalcy or predictability. Jan. 1, 2022 has come and gone but the post-pandemic life is still a dream on the horizon. Unfortunately, normalcy will not happen with the convenient motivation of a scheduled fresh-start date. So how will we know the right time to start the long lists of things we are going to change or accomplish when the pandemic is over? &nbsp; I am going to draw one last lesson from my trip to the Baltics with Kansas Farm Bureau’s Casten Fellows program last summer. Many of you have read about the inspiration I have gained from the cooperation, professionalism and pride shown by the Baltic people. However, these qualities are unremarkable if not examined in the context of the oppression and tumultuous history of occupation endured over centuries by these people. The Baltic people have a strong spirit and determination to protect their culture, traditions and language. We heard a first-hand account on the trip of the Baltic Way protest against Soviet occupation, which took place in 1989 as 2 million Baltic people joined hands in peaceful protest forming a human chain that spanned more than 400 miles across all three states. When the protests paid off and the countries gained freedom two years later, their economies collapsed without the collective contributions and infrastructure of all the Soviets states. We toured many businesses started with little or no relevant experience but plenty of understanding of fear and deprivation, which made failure seem somewhat insignificant. The most unexpected culture component was a shared national sense of humor. The style varied between countries from highly self-deprecating to too much truth to be anywhere near politically correct in others. One local described humor as the way they dealt with the realities of life saying, “at some point you can’t be sad or worried anymore, you just have to laugh about it.” &nbsp; Instead of waiting for the official end of the pandemic or New Year’s Day 2023, I think we should try to live like the Baltic people today. We can turn our dreams and beliefs into reality with our actions, not letting fear hold us back, and most importantly, having the ability to laugh at ourselves as we go.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt&nbsp;County farmer and rancher Social media has been full recently of the typical posts about what people are hoping to accomplish in 2022. These posts bring to mind something I read discussing how people who want to start or break habits are more likely to succeed if they start on first days — the first day of the week, month or especially the year. This is the presumed intention of a New Year’s resolutions: to tackle a goal or change that you have wanted or needed in your life. The reason people are more successful on these first days, according to the article, is the fresh start makes them more likely to hold themselves accountable. They still face the same obstacles, struggles and temptations as any other day, but it comes down choosing to change and internal determination to stick to it.&nbsp; The choice to persevere in the face of adversity is what matters when it comes to changing your life or accomplishment you will cherish. Things that come easy usually only offer a moment of enjoyment; hard-fought success brings a satisfaction that grows and sustains. A universal hope for 2022 is the pandemic ending and life returning to normalcy or predictability. Jan. 1, 2022 has come and gone but the post-pandemic life is still a dream on the horizon. Unfortunately, normalcy will not happen with the convenient motivation of a scheduled fresh-start date. So how will we know the right time to start the long lists of things we are going to change or accomplish when the pandemic is over? &nbsp; I am going to draw one last lesson from my trip to the Baltics with Kansas Farm Bureau’s Casten Fellows program last summer. Many of you have read about the inspiration I have gained from the cooperation, professionalism and pride shown by the Baltic people. However, these qualities are unremarkable if not examined in the context of the oppression and tumultuous history of occupation endured over centuries by these people. The Baltic people have a strong spirit and determination to protect their culture, traditions and language. We heard a first-hand account on the trip of the Baltic Way protest against Soviet occupation, which took place in 1989 as 2 million Baltic people joined hands in peaceful protest forming a human chain that spanned more than 400 miles across all three states. When the protests paid off and the countries gained freedom two years later, their economies collapsed without the collective contributions and infrastructure of all the Soviets states. We toured many businesses started with little or no relevant experience but plenty of understanding of fear and deprivation, which made failure seem somewhat insignificant. The most unexpected culture component was a shared national sense of humor. The style varied between countries from highly self-deprecating to too much truth to be anywhere near politically correct in others. One local described humor as the way they dealt with the realities of life saying, “at some point you can’t be sad or worried anymore, you just have to laugh about it.” &nbsp; Instead of waiting for the official end of the pandemic or New Year’s Day 2023, I think we should try to live like the Baltic people today. We can turn our dreams and beliefs into reality with our actions, not letting fear hold us back, and most importantly, having the ability to laugh at ourselves as we go."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: A fresh start

I am following your plan, and recently became debt-free, but I have a question. When doing a monthly budget, should I figure in a specific category for car repairs and maintenance, or just use my emergency fund?

Congratulations on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator">becoming debt-free</a>! You know, new cars, old cars and in-between cars all have one thing in common — they’ll need repairs at some point. Fixing your car is just a basic part of car ownership, and something every car owner should be prepared for.

When life happens, to your vehicle or anything else, an emergency fund acts like an airbag. Only instead of keeping your face from hitting the dashboard, it keeps your finances from getting smashed up. When it comes to car repair costs, I advise creating a sinking fund in your budget. A&nbsp;sinking fund&nbsp;is a special place in your budget where you save up money for specific, big ticket items — like car repairs.

I know, stuffing money into a sinking fund each month sounds about as enjoyable as waiting in line at the DMV.&nbsp;But look at it this way, if you had a car loan like most people, you’d be putting hundreds toward that debt each month. Instead, you’re one of the smart ones who doesn’t have any debt and can easily create a repair fund for your car by setting aside less than the average&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/the-truth-about-car-payments">car payment</a>&nbsp;each month. Even “reliable” cars need repairs&nbsp;and&nbsp;maintenance, and a sinking fund within your budget for this sort of thing means you’re ready to handle virtually any auto issues that pop up.

You&nbsp;know&nbsp;you’ll need to pay for repairs and maintenance. It’s a thing with all cars. And when you know something’s coming, that’s&nbsp;not&nbsp;an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund">emergency fund</a>&nbsp;situation. Great question, Ashleigh!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635524005597.png" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,I am following your plan, and recently became debt-free, but I have a question. When doing a monthly budget, should I figure in a specific category for car repairs and maintenance, or just use my emergency fund?AshleighDear Ashleigh,Congratulations on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator">becoming debt-free</a>! You know, new cars, old cars and in-between cars all have one thing in common — they’ll need repairs at some point. Fixing your car is just a basic part of car ownership, and something every car owner should be prepared for.When life happens, to your vehicle or anything else, an emergency fund acts like an airbag. Only instead of keeping your face from hitting the dashboard, it keeps your finances from getting smashed up. When it comes to car repair costs, I advise creating a sinking fund in your budget. A&nbsp;sinking fund&nbsp;is a special place in your budget where you save up money for specific, big ticket items — like car repairs.I know, stuffing money into a sinking fund each month sounds about as enjoyable as waiting in line at the DMV.&nbsp;But look at it this way, if you had a car loan like most people, you’d be putting hundreds toward that debt each month. Instead, you’re one of the smart ones who doesn’t have any debt and can easily create a repair fund for your car by setting aside less than the average&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/the-truth-about-car-payments">car payment</a>&nbsp;each month. Even “reliable” cars need repairs&nbsp;and&nbsp;maintenance, and a sinking fund within your budget for this sort of thing means you’re ready to handle virtually any auto issues that pop up.You&nbsp;know&nbsp;you’ll need to pay for repairs and maintenance. It’s a thing with all cars. And when you know something’s coming, that’s&nbsp;not&nbsp;an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund">emergency fund</a>&nbsp;situation. Great question, Ashleigh!— Dave*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host ofThe Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: Budgeting for car repair costs

Each year, I like to look back and create a “Top 10 list” in David Letterman style. The list, roughly in chronological order, is certainly not all-encompassing – there are great stories and good news every day at Fort Hays State University. However, it does provide a means of looking back and recounting some of the many blessings we enjoyed in 2021. So, in keeping with tradition, here is my top 10 list for 2021.&nbsp;

March brought the exciting news that beginning fall of 2021, thanks to the generosity of the Schmidt Foundation, five students would receive full-ride scholarships to FHSU. The Schmidt Foundation Scholarship includes 30 hours of tuition and fees for fall and spring courses, books, and room and board over a period of four years. Each year, five students will be selected – so in the fall of 2024, we will have 20 Schmidt Foundation scholars on campus.&nbsp;

Speaking of outstanding students, we were enamored with the accomplishments of Brynn Wooten, a sophomore from Westminster, Colo., who was named a 2021 Barry Goldwater Scholar in May. This nationally competitive scholarship will fully fund her final two years of undergraduate study. Brynn’s passion for science, especially paleobiology, began at a very young age as a visitor to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. During her college search process, she learned of Sternberg Museum’s affiliation with Fort Hays State and immediately decided she wanted to become a Tiger. Brynn is the first FHSU student to receive this prestigious award.

The return to in-person commencement ceremonies was definitely a highlight of 2021. The thrill of having students once again walk across the commencement stage was fantastic. Hats off to the planning committee that thoughtfully balanced honoring our students and their families with best practices for health and safety.

In June, the Kansas Board of Regents approved our new 2022 regional tuition for on-campus students. Fort Hays State doubled down on its commitment to providing quality accessible education by making the bold move to redefine the meaning of regional on-campus tuition. We now offer the equivalent of in-state tuition to students from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. I can’t wait to welcome more students home to Hays, America!

Over the summer, we celebrated the accomplishments of two student-athletes: basketball standout Whitney Randall received the MIAA Women’s Winter Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Award, and pole vaulter Ryan Stanley earned the MIAA Men’s Spring Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Award after claiming the NCAA Division II national championship in the pole vault. Extraordinary accomplishments for both student-athletes. Tiger proud!

Fully returning to face-to-face classes and a myriad of student activities, from football to theatre, was a spectacular high point in fall 2021.

In August, we dedicated the Schmidt Foundation Center for Art and Design. I especially loved listening to the personal stories about Bob and Pat Schmidt, who enjoyed nearly 69 years of married life together before Pat passed away in 2015 and Bob in 2017. The couple was known for their love of FHSU and their philanthropic support. With a generous $2.5 million gift, the Schmidt Foundation has carried on Bob’s and Pat's legacy and their love for education, the arts, and Fort Hays State by naming a building after them – a building with which the couple would have been enamored.

Speaking of extraordinary generosity, September concluded our Journey campaign. The Journey campaign kicked off Homecoming of 2016 with a goal of raising $100 million in support of FHSU and its students over a five-year period. Those years flew by, and not only was that ambitious goal reached – it was surpassed. The Journey campaign raised a total of $112,769,457!

In October, the university hosted a ribbon-cutting event for the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success. Similar to the Center for Art and Design, this celebration honored two extraordinary individuals, the late Richard Fischli and Dolores Wills-Fischli. Richard and Dolores began their journey with Fort Hays State as two rural Kansas kids pursuing a college education. Both earned bachelor's and master's degrees from FHSU in the 1950s, then moved to southern California. Upon retiring from their careers in education, the Fischlis moved back home to Logan, Kansas. Today, this impressive new facility has become a reality thanks to a $5 million gift from the Fischlis’ estate. Although the generous couple is no longer with us, their legacy of impacting students will continue to live on at Fort Hays State.

Given our focus on improving the lives, our Criminal Justice Department chair, Dr. Tamara Lynn – in partnership with Chief of University Police, Ed Howell – put together a de-escalation center. With the invaluable assistance of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, FHSU began our Thanksgiving break by celebrating a $1.25 million federal grant for the training center. Fort Hays State’s regional training center will train police on how to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations using a psychological approach. The training provided by FHSU places the university at the forefront of this vital law enforcement training initiative.

And while I have mentioned 10 items, like that extra cookie in a baker’s dozen, I must add how excited I am, that at the writing of this column, both our men and women’s basketball teams were undefeated, and our women were ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II coaches poll. Perhaps this is a foreshadowing of what will appear in my 2022 Top 10 list.

I end 2021 and begin 2022 by expressing my deepest gratitude to our faculty and staff for their resilience and innovation, never losing sight of our enduring commitment to caring for our students. Simply put, our faculty and staff rose to the challenge in 2021 and continued to deliver robust support services and outstanding teaching and learning experiences in thoughtful, impactful, and personal ways. I also thank our students for having faith in Fort Hays State University and working together to create an environment of respect and kindness.

Happy New Year to you and yours – and to FHSU!&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>Each year, I like to look back and create a “Top 10 list” in David Letterman style. The list, roughly in chronological order, is certainly not all-encompassing – there are great stories and good news every day at Fort Hays State University. However, it does provide a means of looking back and recounting some of the many blessings we enjoyed in 2021. So, in keeping with tradition, here is my top 10 list for 2021.&nbsp;March brought the exciting news that beginning fall of 2021, thanks to the generosity of the Schmidt Foundation, five students would receive full-ride scholarships to FHSU. The Schmidt Foundation Scholarship includes 30 hours of tuition and fees for fall and spring courses, books, and room and board over a period of four years. Each year, five students will be selected – so in the fall of 2024, we will have 20 Schmidt Foundation scholars on campus.&nbsp;Speaking of outstanding students, we were enamored with the accomplishments of Brynn Wooten, a sophomore from Westminster, Colo., who was named a 2021 Barry Goldwater Scholar in May. This nationally competitive scholarship will fully fund her final two years of undergraduate study. Brynn’s passion for science, especially paleobiology, began at a very young age as a visitor to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. During her college search process, she learned of Sternberg Museum’s affiliation with Fort Hays State and immediately decided she wanted to become a Tiger. Brynn is the first FHSU student to receive this prestigious award.The return to in-person commencement ceremonies was definitely a highlight of 2021. The thrill of having students once again walk across the commencement stage was fantastic. Hats off to the planning committee that thoughtfully balanced honoring our students and their families with best practices for health and safety.In June, the Kansas Board of Regents approved our new 2022 regional tuition for on-campus students. Fort Hays State doubled down on its commitment to providing quality accessible education by making the bold move to redefine the meaning of regional on-campus tuition. We now offer the equivalent of in-state tuition to students from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. I can’t wait to welcome more students home to Hays, America!Over the summer, we celebrated the accomplishments of two student-athletes: basketball standout Whitney Randall received the MIAA Women’s Winter Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Award, and pole vaulter Ryan Stanley earned the MIAA Men’s Spring Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Award after claiming the NCAA Division II national championship in the pole vault. Extraordinary accomplishments for both student-athletes. Tiger proud!Fully returning to face-to-face classes and a myriad of student activities, from football to theatre, was a spectacular high point in fall 2021.In August, we dedicated the Schmidt Foundation Center for Art and Design. I especially loved listening to the personal stories about Bob and Pat Schmidt, who enjoyed nearly 69 years of married life together before Pat passed away in 2015 and Bob in 2017. The couple was known for their love of FHSU and their philanthropic support. With a generous $2.5 million gift, the Schmidt Foundation has carried on Bob’s and Pat's legacy and their love for education, the arts, and Fort Hays State by naming a building after them – a building with which the couple would have been enamored.Speaking of extraordinary generosity, September concluded our Journey campaign. The Journey campaign kicked off Homecoming of 2016 with a goal of raising $100 million in support of FHSU and its students over a five-year period. Those years flew by, and not only was that ambitious goal reached – it was surpassed. The Journey campaign raised a total of $112,769,457!In October, the university hosted a ribbon-cutting event for the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success. Similar to the Center for Art and Design, this celebration honored two extraordinary individuals, the late Richard Fischli and Dolores Wills-Fischli. Richard and Dolores began their journey with Fort Hays State as two rural Kansas kids pursuing a college education. Both earned bachelor's and master's degrees from FHSU in the 1950s, then moved to southern California. Upon retiring from their careers in education, the Fischlis moved back home to Logan, Kansas. Today, this impressive new facility has become a reality thanks to a $5 million gift from the Fischlis’ estate. Although the generous couple is no longer with us, their legacy of impacting students will continue to live on at Fort Hays State.Given our focus on improving the lives, our Criminal Justice Department chair, Dr. Tamara Lynn – in partnership with Chief of University Police, Ed Howell – put together a de-escalation center. With the invaluable assistance of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, FHSU began our Thanksgiving break by celebrating a $1.25 million federal grant for the training center. Fort Hays State’s regional training center will train police on how to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations using a psychological approach. The training provided by FHSU places the university at the forefront of this vital law enforcement training initiative.And while I have mentioned 10 items, like that extra cookie in a baker’s dozen, I must add how excited I am, that at the writing of this column, both our men and women’s basketball teams were undefeated, and our women were ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II coaches poll. Perhaps this is a foreshadowing of what will appear in my 2022 Top 10 list.I end 2021 and begin 2022 by expressing my deepest gratitude to our faculty and staff for their resilience and innovation, never losing sight of our enduring commitment to caring for our students. Simply put, our faculty and staff rose to the challenge in 2021 and continued to deliver robust support services and outstanding teaching and learning experiences in thoughtful, impactful, and personal ways. I also thank our students for having faith in Fort Hays State University and working together to create an environment of respect and kindness.Happy New Year to you and yours – and to FHSU!&nbsp;

MASON: Top 10 list brimming with good news

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

A crew from the Guinness Book of World Records is recording a video of a new world record holder. And where do you suppose this world record holder is found? Would you believe, in rural Kansas?&nbsp;

Today we’ll meet a family which is producing longhorn cattle that are setting global records.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Joe Sedlacek is the owner of Lazy J Longhorns near Greenleaf, Kan. He was born in the nearby rural community of Frankfort, population 726 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

Joe grew up around cattle as his father ran an Angus cowherd. But Joe became interested in another kind of cattle: Texas longhorns.&nbsp;

“I was always fascinated with longhorns,” Joe said. “I’d watch every old western just to catch a glimpse of a longhorn. If we were traveling and happened to see a longhorn, we’d have to stop and take a picture.”&nbsp;

In August, 1996 when Joe was 15, he bought three longhorns as a hobby. “By Christmas of that year, I had 50 head,” Joe said. That is definitely a hobby that grew. After graduation, Joe did accounting work to keep books for several companies while growing his longhorn herd.&nbsp;

“Those book-keeping skills would come in handy (for the longhorn business) because you have to track a lot of data and measurements,” Joe said. In 2005, he married Stephanie who had grown up in nearby Hanover. They bought ground and built a home near Greenleaf.&nbsp;

“I figured this could be a viable business if I could devote myself to it full-time,” Joe said.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2008, he left another job to concentrate on his registered Texas Longhorn cattle breeding business. He called it Lazy J Longhorns.&nbsp;

Today, Lazy J Longhorns has approximately 150 head of longhorns. Lazy J sells longhorn bulls, cows, steers and heifers as well as a specially designed working chute.&nbsp;

The longhorn breed has rich history. After the Civil War, these hardy animals were running free in Texas, yet there was high demand for beef in the eastern markets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Entrepreneurial Texans gathered those longhorn cattle and drove them north to railroads in Kansas where they could be shipped to markets in the east. Of necessity, those animals learned to survive and raise calves in harsh wilderness conditions. Those traits of hardiness and mothering ability remain with the breed today.&nbsp;

The greatest fascination is with the huge horns that grow naturally on the heads of both males and females. Breeders are continually seeking to raise cattle with longer horns.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America even conducts an annual Horn Showcase and sale with prizes for the animals with the longest horns.&nbsp;

“Buyers want the big horns. If an animal has distinctive color and good disposition, that adds to the value even more,” Joe said.&nbsp;

One year, Joe’s herd raised a blue roan colored steer that he named Lazy J’s Bluegrass.&nbsp;&nbsp;The steer grew to have horns that were 10 feet 2 inches long, a world record at the time.&nbsp;&nbsp;In fact, Lazy J’s Bluegrass won the world record three years in a row.&nbsp;

Not only did the longhorn set the world record in the Guinness Book of World Records, he was chosen to be one of only 10 world record holders for which Guinness sent a video crew to record his story.&nbsp;

Lazy J’s Bluegrass became quite the celebrity. Joe brought him to Fort Worth for the annual longhorn sale and posted a video of Bluegrass walking into his pen on Wednesday evening. By the time of the sale on the following Friday night, the video had reached 4 million hits. On that night, Lazy J’s Bluegrass sold for a record $48,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The horn race is definitely on,” Joe said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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

A video crew came to Kansas and recorded footage of Lazy J’s Bluegrass, the world record-setting longhorn steer. We commend Joe and Stephanie Sedlacek for making a difference with their commitment to this unique breed. The legacy of these cattle is truly long.&nbsp;

And there’s more. Remember the specially designed working chute? We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640799305636.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;A crew from the Guinness Book of World Records is recording a video of a new world record holder. And where do you suppose this world record holder is found? Would you believe, in rural Kansas?&nbsp;Today we’ll meet a family which is producing longhorn cattle that are setting global records.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Joe Sedlacek is the owner of Lazy J Longhorns near Greenleaf, Kan. He was born in the nearby rural community of Frankfort, population 726 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;Joe grew up around cattle as his father ran an Angus cowherd. But Joe became interested in another kind of cattle: Texas longhorns.&nbsp;“I was always fascinated with longhorns,” Joe said. “I’d watch every old western just to catch a glimpse of a longhorn. If we were traveling and happened to see a longhorn, we’d have to stop and take a picture.”&nbsp;In August, 1996 when Joe was 15, he bought three longhorns as a hobby. “By Christmas of that year, I had 50 head,” Joe said. That is definitely a hobby that grew. After graduation, Joe did accounting work to keep books for several companies while growing his longhorn herd.&nbsp;“Those book-keeping skills would come in handy (for the longhorn business) because you have to track a lot of data and measurements,” Joe said. In 2005, he married Stephanie who had grown up in nearby Hanover. They bought ground and built a home near Greenleaf.&nbsp;“I figured this could be a viable business if I could devote myself to it full-time,” Joe said.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2008, he left another job to concentrate on his registered Texas Longhorn cattle breeding business. He called it Lazy J Longhorns.&nbsp;Today, Lazy J Longhorns has approximately 150 head of longhorns. Lazy J sells longhorn bulls, cows, steers and heifers as well as a specially designed working chute.&nbsp;The longhorn breed has rich history. After the Civil War, these hardy animals were running free in Texas, yet there was high demand for beef in the eastern markets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Entrepreneurial Texans gathered those longhorn cattle and drove them north to railroads in Kansas where they could be shipped to markets in the east. Of necessity, those animals learned to survive and raise calves in harsh wilderness conditions. Those traits of hardiness and mothering ability remain with the breed today.&nbsp;The greatest fascination is with the huge horns that grow naturally on the heads of both males and females. Breeders are continually seeking to raise cattle with longer horns.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America even conducts an annual Horn Showcase and sale with prizes for the animals with the longest horns.&nbsp;“Buyers want the big horns. If an animal has distinctive color and good disposition, that adds to the value even more,” Joe said.&nbsp;One year, Joe’s herd raised a blue roan colored steer that he named Lazy J’s Bluegrass.&nbsp;&nbsp;The steer grew to have horns that were 10 feet 2 inches long, a world record at the time.&nbsp;&nbsp;In fact, Lazy J’s Bluegrass won the world record three years in a row.&nbsp;Not only did the longhorn set the world record in the Guinness Book of World Records, he was chosen to be one of only 10 world record holders for which Guinness sent a video crew to record his story.&nbsp;Lazy J’s Bluegrass became quite the celebrity. Joe brought him to Fort Worth for the annual longhorn sale and posted a video of Bluegrass walking into his pen on Wednesday evening. By the time of the sale on the following Friday night, the video had reached 4 million hits. On that night, Lazy J’s Bluegrass sold for a record $48,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The horn race is definitely on,” Joe said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lazyjlonghorns.com/">www.lazyjlonghorns.com</a>.&nbsp;A video crew came to Kansas and recorded footage of Lazy J’s Bluegrass, the world record-setting longhorn steer. We commend Joe and Stephanie Sedlacek for making a difference with their commitment to this unique breed. The legacy of these cattle is truly long.&nbsp;And there’s more. Remember the specially designed working chute? We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Joe Sedlacek, Lazy J Longhorns 

December brought Kansas its first comprehensive look at its housing needs in nearly three decades. This report is a bonanza for policy geeks and anyone who cares about housing issues.&nbsp;

The Office of Rural Prosperity, created by Governor Laura Kelly, partnered with the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, Kansas’s housing finance agency, to sponsor the report. It provides localized data on housing needs, population trends, and market dynamics.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575644168170.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>December brought Kansas its first comprehensive look at its housing needs in nearly three decades. This report is a bonanza for policy geeks and anyone who cares about housing issues.&nbsp;The Office of Rural Prosperity, created by Governor Laura Kelly, partnered with the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, Kansas’s housing finance agency, to sponsor the report. It provides localized data on housing needs, population trends, and market dynamics.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you want to address housing challenges facing average Kansans, the data in this report are the start.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For renters, finding quality and affordable housing is hard in many communities. That leaves many Kansans paying inflated prices for under-maintained properties or paying significantly more than mortgages might otherwise cost.&nbsp;For buyers, a limited supply of affordable, modest-sized homes is pushing many into renting or more expensive homes than desired. And many buyers can’t compete when sellers in some Kansas markets expect perks like thousands in cash over asking or waived inspections.&nbsp;But in some Kansas communities, especially shrinking rural communities, reality is often different—too few buyers and difficulty obtaining funds to bring properties up to buyer expectations.&nbsp;From the report, two problems define most Kansas markets.&nbsp;First, there is a gap in middle class housing, typically more affordable, smaller sized, and smaller lot homes. This is the critical shortage that turns buyers into renters or encourages larger mortgages just to have a house. In the Kansas City metro, it can also be the deciding factor between living in Kansas versus Missouri.&nbsp;Second, there is a shortage of rental and smaller home stock suitable for our aging population. In Kansas, only the Kansas City metro saw its share of 0-19-year-olds grow in the last decade.&nbsp;You can sense from local politics that these trends clash with how some communities see themselves. In 2021 local elections in Kansas, some communities saw real controversy over new rental housing and whether policies should favor larger or smaller single family homes.&nbsp;&nbsp;If city halls in Kansas make growth decisions based on image over needs and trends, they might make easy political decisions that actually make the housing situation in their communities more challenging.&nbsp;For the frustrated, asking how to improve this situation is natural. The answers may not be easy.&nbsp;Housing is an inherently local issue. The easiest solutions may be found in local government—growth policies and zoning. But participation in local elections in Kansas is pretty low. How many of us know who serves on our city councils, let alone what growth decisions they make that ultimately frustrate us?&nbsp;Politicians in Topeka can still promote solutions. It might require innovate policy and local partnerships. This is truly an issue where there is no one simple solution, and where brainstorming effective policy innovation is needed.&nbsp;Finding these solutions, though, requires our political machinery to actually care. Some in the politics industry care more about talking about housing problems for political point-scoring than actually finding hard solutions. Or they would rather carnival bark about sideshows like critical race theory or outrage-of-the-day headlines than engage you on hard issues.&nbsp;You can read the “Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment 2021” at&nbsp;<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/">https://kshousingcorp.org/</a>. Kansas doesn’t need to wallow helplessly in its housing challenges, but we do need citizens and policymakers who know the real problems and seek the hard solutions.&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

Opinion