The morning was the coldest morning yet this fall and everything was “crunchy” with a light coating of frost. I parked behind a big cedar along the field edge, donned the orange vest, shouldered my rifle and bag containing knives, binoculars and other necessities, pointed the flashlight toward the ground and set out for our raised blind about 200 yards away. Halfway there I walked up and over a grassy waterway where every blade of grass glistened in the flashlight beam like a thousand shimmering diamonds had been strewn about. Once in the blind, I settled into to one of the swivel chairs and awaited sunrise.&nbsp;

Our blind has three windows facing north, south and east, that slide open vertically. The north window faces a grassy draw that lies between open crop land and a woodlot to the right, and CRP &amp; an overgrown pasture to the left. A drainage creek runs just in front of the blind, making the spot a natural travel way between beddings areas in the woodlot and the overgrown pasture. As the sun slowly crept above the horizon, I opened the north window and scanned the dark landscape in front of me for moving deer.&nbsp;

Once the morning light was bright enough to take a shot if deer were spotted, I stood up, slid open the east-facing window and sat back in the chair. To my left on the edge of the draw and the CRP, two does with nearly grown fawns suddenly appeared as if from nowhere, as only deer can do. They must have seen me open the window, so they were nervous, and trotted along the edge of the draw, turning at about 100 yards, to cross and continue across the wheat field to my right and out of sight. Just minutes later, again as if from nowhere, a nice buck appeared at the same spot. With obvious love on his mind, moving quickly, he followed the exact path of the does. I will not shoot at a moving deer, but they can usually be stopped for a couple seconds by making a grunting sound like that of another deer. I like to be positioned to put my scope on them and be prepared to shoot as soon as they stop, but this guy out-maneuvered me and was soon gone too.&nbsp;

The next few minutes were brutal for me, as only deer hunters will understand. I beat myself with every feeling available. Thoughts like “That could have been the last deer you’ll see this season.” Or, “Why didn’t you at least try something?” Around and around they swirled in my mind, ceasing only when deer suddenly appeared from the right, across the wheatfield where they had all fled. “Could it be, are they actually coming back?” I wondered. First were the does and fawns, then one buck, and then a second buck joined them. We have corn scatted at the edge of the draw that usually stops deer for at least a nibble, but these deer were having none of that, and thought they weren’t running, they were moving quickly with a purpose. Again, only deer hunters will understand the next few seconds as my brain practically short-circuited trying to process the scenario. “No time to pick the best of the two bucks, so which one to choose.” Where do I try to stop him?” “What if they won’t stop and I blow another opportunity?” “Too many deer, will I be able to see him if he runs a little way after I shoot?”

Just then one of the bucks stepped into the draw and stopped perfectly broadside to me at just over a hundred yards, offering the perfect shot, which put him on the ground where he stood, putting-to-rest all the above concerns, and saving me from another brutal mental beating. To this day, I have no clue how big the other buck was, but it doesn’t matter. I firmly believe in God’s guidance in everyday situations, including bringing those deer back before me so soon, and stopping that marvelous creature in front of me to harvest. God knew our freezer needed restocked and once again, He provided…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>The morning was the coldest morning yet this fall and everything was “crunchy” with a light coating of frost. I parked behind a big cedar along the field edge, donned the orange vest, shouldered my rifle and bag containing knives, binoculars and other necessities, pointed the flashlight toward the ground and set out for our raised blind about 200 yards away. Halfway there I walked up and over a grassy waterway where every blade of grass glistened in the flashlight beam like a thousand shimmering diamonds had been strewn about. Once in the blind, I settled into to one of the swivel chairs and awaited sunrise.&nbsp;Our blind has three windows facing north, south and east, that slide open vertically. The north window faces a grassy draw that lies between open crop land and a woodlot to the right, and CRP &amp; an overgrown pasture to the left. A drainage creek runs just in front of the blind, making the spot a natural travel way between beddings areas in the woodlot and the overgrown pasture. As the sun slowly crept above the horizon, I opened the north window and scanned the dark landscape in front of me for moving deer.&nbsp;Once the morning light was bright enough to take a shot if deer were spotted, I stood up, slid open the east-facing window and sat back in the chair. To my left on the edge of the draw and the CRP, two does with nearly grown fawns suddenly appeared as if from nowhere, as only deer can do. They must have seen me open the window, so they were nervous, and trotted along the edge of the draw, turning at about 100 yards, to cross and continue across the wheat field to my right and out of sight. Just minutes later, again as if from nowhere, a nice buck appeared at the same spot. With obvious love on his mind, moving quickly, he followed the exact path of the does. I will not shoot at a moving deer, but they can usually be stopped for a couple seconds by making a grunting sound like that of another deer. I like to be positioned to put my scope on them and be prepared to shoot as soon as they stop, but this guy out-maneuvered me and was soon gone too.&nbsp;The next few minutes were brutal for me, as only deer hunters will understand. I beat myself with every feeling available. Thoughts like “That could have been the last deer you’ll see this season.” Or, “Why didn’t you at least try something?” Around and around they swirled in my mind, ceasing only when deer suddenly appeared from the right, across the wheatfield where they had all fled. “Could it be, are they actually coming back?” I wondered. First were the does and fawns, then one buck, and then a second buck joined them. We have corn scatted at the edge of the draw that usually stops deer for at least a nibble, but these deer were having none of that, and thought they weren’t running, they were moving quickly with a purpose. Again, only deer hunters will understand the next few seconds as my brain practically short-circuited trying to process the scenario. “No time to pick the best of the two bucks, so which one to choose.” Where do I try to stop him?” “What if they won’t stop and I blow another opportunity?” “Too many deer, will I be able to see him if he runs a little way after I shoot?”Just then one of the bucks stepped into the draw and stopped perfectly broadside to me at just over a hundred yards, offering the perfect shot, which put him on the ground where he stood, putting-to-rest all the above concerns, and saving me from another brutal mental beating. To this day, I have no clue how big the other buck was, but it doesn’t matter. I firmly believe in God’s guidance in everyday situations, including bringing those deer back before me so soon, and stopping that marvelous creature in front of me to harvest. God knew our freezer needed restocked and once again, He provided…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: God, the perfect hunting guide

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau Despite all the available metrics available for us to make sense of our world, measuring it is still largely defined by the parameters set forth by humans. Everyone knows Mount Everest is the tallest mountain at just over 29,000 feet above mean sea level. Calculating the distance from base to peak gives the edge to Hawaii’s Mauna Kea at 33,484 feet, with just less than 14,000 of those above sea level. If you move the starting point to Earth’s center and look for the highest point closest to the stars, you’ll land on the top of Ecuador’s Mount Chimborazo because of its proximity to the equator where the Earth’s rotation makes the crust thicker. Measuring the physical attributes around us is tricky enough given the ability to produce vastly different outcomes based on where an observer chooses to begin. Still the measurements of physical attributes are objective. When it comes to measuring the lives of others, we have to resort to subjective opinions. On occasion, however, a person’s accomplishments are so impartially good and decent that society’s instincts and emotions combine into tautological proof. They are mountains in their own right. Bob Dole was a mountain of a man, and his contribution to Kansas and America are immense and immeasurable. After more than a week of reflection and mourning the loss of such a man, it’s quite possible if any metric did exist to quantify the admiration and devotion he inspired, Dole would set records. There are so many inflection points from which to choose to begin measuring. His birth in Russell; the Dust Bowl years of his youth; war wounds suffered on an Italian mountain. You can’t pick just one, they’re all part of the fabric that made up who Dole became. If pressed, however, I’d consider the barrage of enemy fire to be the most consequential for Kansas and the nation. Dole was studying to become a doctor when he enlisted and went off to war. The bullets that tore into his body didn’t just take his right arm, it likely robbed central Kansas of one of its finest physicians. Dole’s arduous three-year recovery also likely factored into his willingness to accept incremental progress, knowing that small changes add up over the course of time. This also meant largely avoiding the legislative spotlight, for as one of his many obituaries mentions, Dole’s record has “no signature bill.” Instead, he was content to leave fingerprints on decades of budget, tax and foreign policy discussions. Though I knew some of the broad strokes about most of the events mentioned above prior to his death earlier this month, I never knew just how much support he garnered outside of Kansas. I was a freshman in high school when his political career ended just short of the presidency. I knew him better as a pharmaceutical pitchman than a legislative powerbroker, though it was the latter that eventually made the biggest impression on me. I met Dole exactly once, during his “farewell” tour in 2014. He wasn’t running for anything, and he didn’t have anything to offer other than some conversation and his wit. Yet is presence alone was enough to draw a crowd on a sunny weekday afternoon in May. Some came just to say hello. For some, it was a chance to say goodbye. Still others just wanted to be in the presence of greatness again. Every one of us was better for the experience, even if we couldn’t quantify that at the time.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau Despite all the available metrics available for us to make sense of our world, measuring it is still largely defined by the parameters set forth by humans. Everyone knows Mount Everest is the tallest mountain at just over 29,000 feet above mean sea level. Calculating the distance from base to peak gives the edge to Hawaii’s Mauna Kea at 33,484 feet, with just less than 14,000 of those above sea level. If you move the starting point to Earth’s center and look for the highest point closest to the stars, you’ll land on the top of Ecuador’s Mount Chimborazo because of its proximity to the equator where the Earth’s rotation makes the crust thicker. Measuring the physical attributes around us is tricky enough given the ability to produce vastly different outcomes based on where an observer chooses to begin. Still the measurements of physical attributes are objective. When it comes to measuring the lives of others, we have to resort to subjective opinions. On occasion, however, a person’s accomplishments are so impartially good and decent that society’s instincts and emotions combine into tautological proof. They are mountains in their own right. Bob Dole was a mountain of a man, and his contribution to Kansas and America are immense and immeasurable. After more than a week of reflection and mourning the loss of such a man, it’s quite possible if any metric did exist to quantify the admiration and devotion he inspired, Dole would set records. There are so many inflection points from which to choose to begin measuring. His birth in Russell; the Dust Bowl years of his youth; war wounds suffered on an Italian mountain. You can’t pick just one, they’re all part of the fabric that made up who Dole became. If pressed, however, I’d consider the barrage of enemy fire to be the most consequential for Kansas and the nation. Dole was studying to become a doctor when he enlisted and went off to war. The bullets that tore into his body didn’t just take his right arm, it likely robbed central Kansas of one of its finest physicians. Dole’s arduous three-year recovery also likely factored into his willingness to accept incremental progress, knowing that small changes add up over the course of time. This also meant largely avoiding the legislative spotlight, for as one of his many obituaries mentions, Dole’s record has “no signature bill.” Instead, he was content to leave fingerprints on decades of budget, tax and foreign policy discussions. Though I knew some of the broad strokes about most of the events mentioned above prior to his death earlier this month, I never knew just how much support he garnered outside of Kansas. I was a freshman in high school when his political career ended just short of the presidency. I knew him better as a pharmaceutical pitchman than a legislative powerbroker, though it was the latter that eventually made the biggest impression on me. I met Dole exactly once, during his “farewell” tour in 2014. He wasn’t running for anything, and he didn’t have anything to offer other than some conversation and his wit. Yet is presence alone was enough to draw a crowd on a sunny weekday afternoon in May. Some came just to say hello. For some, it was a chance to say goodbye. Still others just wanted to be in the presence of greatness again. Every one of us was better for the experience, even if we couldn’t quantify that at the time."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: Taking measure

As I sit down to write this column, I am preparing for the annual Holiday Open House at the president’s residence and the tree lighting ceremony this evening. The month of December will fly by between semester-end traditions, including in-person commencement, service awards, and of course, the busy-ness and joy of the approaching holiday. I love all of it!

This season always evokes so many sweet memories for me, deep gratitude for all of the love that surrounds me, and the happiness stemming from the extra opportunities to focus on acts of kindness in the spirit of the season.&nbsp;

Sweet memories for me begin with traditional holiday food – especially the sweets. My mom and sister usually set a baking date. By the end of the day, they will have baked about 250 cookies. They are carefully packaged up for neighbors, co-workers, the mail carrier, and for the local shelter. There are still more cookies left to be eaten. My favorite are butterscotch oatmeal and frosted sugar cookies. My dad loves to frost the cutout cookies, and I appreciate his artwork.

My husband Bill’s family makes the most delicious pound cakes. His grandfather was a Methodist bishop, and I think his grandmother baked a cake for the entire congregation. At her house there would be countless pounds cakes, carefully wrapped, lining the stairs to the second floor. The love she poured into each pound cake was abundant. I miss her.

When I was young, my mom always organized a craft day. My brothers and sister and I would gather around the kitchen table and make a paper chain. That chain would be hung on the walls. Each year, the chain would be packed up in a big box, stored away, taken out the next year, and added to. It eventually covered every downstairs wall.

Each of us was also given a very large, personalized ornament. My mom had painted each one with our name on it – very significant for me as back in the day you could not buy anything with the name “Tisa” on it. It was such an honor to hang our special ornament.

We had a lot of Christmas rules. For example, you could never tell what you bought someone. One year, my sister and I decided to break that rule and told one another what we bought. Of course, mom discovered our secret and returned the gifts. Also, there was no peeking, and of course, there were consequences for peaking. On Christmas morning, we were not allowed to go downstairs until our parents were up and ready. I often slept on the stairs just be a little closer to Santa’s arrival and the magic of Christmas presents.&nbsp;

The art of Christmas gift wrapping is also a family tradition. The gift should never look like the actual gift. It is not uncommon for a small gift to be wrapped in several larger boxes. One year, my Dad jokingly put on his wish list “a whole lot of money” – so my mom went to the bank and got a lot of one-dollar bills, placed them in a box, and fluffed them up to create the illusion of bulk. Everyone got a good laugh out of that one.

As we grew older, new traditions emerged, like the tradition of the Christmas pickle ornament. On Christmas eve, after everyone has gone to bed, my parents place an ornament shaped like a pickle on one of the Christmas trees. (My mom usually has at least three trees.) The first to find the ornament is blessed with a year of good luck and an extra present.

I’ll be honest . That tradition gets a bit competitive at our house. One year, I was even disqualified from the competition for getting up early and finding the pickle before everyone had a chance to look. I am still a bit bitter about the disqualification. Even though I did not get the pickle present that year, I believe I was still blessed with a year of good luck.

When my mom remarried, a new tradition came with my stepdad – a Christmas Eve open house. This tradition continues today with neighbors and friends gathering to eat, drink, and be merry. One year, Bill and I were driving home from Kansas to Massachusetts, and we invited two international students, Oliver and Alice, to join us. At the open house, Alice ate her first deviled egg and loved it so much that she ate a least a dozen all by herself.&nbsp; Every year since, we think of Alice on Christmas Eve when my mom puts out the deviled eggs.

There are so many beautiful memories, music, smells, tastes, warm hugs, and deep friendships surrounding my childhood and adulthood during the Christmas holiday. It is a great time to lovingly remember those who are no longer with us and cherish those who are – new friends and old.

I asked some of our international students about their holiday traditions – whether they were celebrating Christmas, Eid, Ramadan, or another tradition. Every student talked about gathering with family and friends. Friendship, family, and a sense of connection is so important to our well-being. So is a sense of generosity.

Poet Edwin Arlington Robinson said there are two kinds of gratitude: the sudden kind we feel for what we take and the larger kind we feel for what we give. I couldn’t say it better. May your days ahead be filled with large gratitude.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575302025343.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As I sit down to write this column, I am preparing for the annual Holiday Open House at the president’s residence and the tree lighting ceremony this evening. The month of December will fly by between semester-end traditions, including in-person commencement, service awards, and of course, the busy-ness and joy of the approaching holiday. I love all of it!This season always evokes so many sweet memories for me, deep gratitude for all of the love that surrounds me, and the happiness stemming from the extra opportunities to focus on acts of kindness in the spirit of the season.&nbsp;Sweet memories for me begin with traditional holiday food – especially the sweets. My mom and sister usually set a baking date. By the end of the day, they will have baked about 250 cookies. They are carefully packaged up for neighbors, co-workers, the mail carrier, and for the local shelter. There are still more cookies left to be eaten. My favorite are butterscotch oatmeal and frosted sugar cookies. My dad loves to frost the cutout cookies, and I appreciate his artwork.My husband Bill’s family makes the most delicious pound cakes. His grandfather was a Methodist bishop, and I think his grandmother baked a cake for the entire congregation. At her house there would be countless pounds cakes, carefully wrapped, lining the stairs to the second floor. The love she poured into each pound cake was abundant. I miss her.When I was young, my mom always organized a craft day. My brothers and sister and I would gather around the kitchen table and make a paper chain. That chain would be hung on the walls. Each year, the chain would be packed up in a big box, stored away, taken out the next year, and added to. It eventually covered every downstairs wall.Each of us was also given a very large, personalized ornament. My mom had painted each one with our name on it – very significant for me as back in the day you could not buy anything with the name “Tisa” on it. It was such an honor to hang our special ornament.We had a lot of Christmas rules. For example, you could never tell what you bought someone. One year, my sister and I decided to break that rule and told one another what we bought. Of course, mom discovered our secret and returned the gifts. Also, there was no peeking, and of course, there were consequences for peaking. On Christmas morning, we were not allowed to go downstairs until our parents were up and ready. I often slept on the stairs just be a little closer to Santa’s arrival and the magic of Christmas presents.&nbsp;The art of Christmas gift wrapping is also a family tradition. The gift should never look like the actual gift. It is not uncommon for a small gift to be wrapped in several larger boxes. One year, my Dad jokingly put on his wish list “a whole lot of money” – so my mom went to the bank and got a lot of one-dollar bills, placed them in a box, and fluffed them up to create the illusion of bulk. Everyone got a good laugh out of that one.As we grew older, new traditions emerged, like the tradition of the Christmas pickle ornament. On Christmas eve, after everyone has gone to bed, my parents place an ornament shaped like a pickle on one of the Christmas trees. (My mom usually has at least three trees.) The first to find the ornament is blessed with a year of good luck and an extra present.I’ll be honest . That tradition gets a bit competitive at our house. One year, I was even disqualified from the competition for getting up early and finding the pickle before everyone had a chance to look. I am still a bit bitter about the disqualification. Even though I did not get the pickle present that year, I believe I was still blessed with a year of good luck.When my mom remarried, a new tradition came with my stepdad – a Christmas Eve open house. This tradition continues today with neighbors and friends gathering to eat, drink, and be merry. One year, Bill and I were driving home from Kansas to Massachusetts, and we invited two international students, Oliver and Alice, to join us. At the open house, Alice ate her first deviled egg and loved it so much that she ate a least a dozen all by herself.&nbsp; Every year since, we think of Alice on Christmas Eve when my mom puts out the deviled eggs.There are so many beautiful memories, music, smells, tastes, warm hugs, and deep friendships surrounding my childhood and adulthood during the Christmas holiday. It is a great time to lovingly remember those who are no longer with us and cherish those who are – new friends and old.I asked some of our international students about their holiday traditions – whether they were celebrating Christmas, Eid, Ramadan, or another tradition. Every student talked about gathering with family and friends. Friendship, family, and a sense of connection is so important to our well-being. So is a sense of generosity.Poet Edwin Arlington Robinson said there are two kinds of gratitude: the sudden kind we feel for what we take and the larger kind we feel for what we give. I couldn’t say it better. May your days ahead be filled with large gratitude.

MASON: Gratitude for family, friends, traditions

Anyone who’s ever subscribed to a major outdoors magazine has seen the pictures of deer camps from years gone by. Found mostly in the big woods of the north, these deer-camps-of-old were annual gathering places for die-hard deer hunters in a time when opening day of deer season carried the same status as election day. Deer camps could be large tents or rustic cabins buried somewhere deep within the northern woods in the midst of the best deer hunting of the time. They were hallowed places where tradition ran deep and where comradery was nearly as important as putting a deer on the “meat pole” out front.&nbsp;

My grandfather was one of those die-hard hunters who harvested deer, elk and even a trophy moose that made the Boone and Crocket record book, and he passed his love of the outdoors and his love of big-game hunting down to his grandsons. In the year 2000 my brother Joe began taking his family for a week of deer hunting to Zeleski State Forest in southeastern Ohio. His son was twelve then and went with them on the first trip. For the next four years they went there but yearned to have land of their own in those beautiful rolling southeastern Ohio hills. In 2005 Joe purchased two hundred acres near the town of McArthur and the Gilliland Deer Camp was born. The land is reminiscent of the big north woods that harbored the deer camps of old, with only hills and trees as far as they eye can see, and majestic views marred only by the power line that snakes its way across the countryside.&nbsp;

The first couple years there his camping trailer served as the cabin, and they spent only the first week of deer gun season down there. Joe says that in those early years they spent more time chasing off trespassers who were used to the land being vacant than they spent hunting. A cabin was built a couple years later and after several additions it is now a grand gathering place that has become his retirement home. Off-seasons in the early years were spent carving out new trails or reopening old ones, and adding deer feeders, tree stands and blinds. To date the property holds three or four deer feeders and over a dozen tree stands and blinds.&nbsp;

What began in the early years as a gathering of my brother’s family and in-laws for one week of deer hunting has today evolved to include, sisters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandsons and nieces &amp; nephews from all around our family who now hunt numerous days of every deer season available there in Ohio. When our dad was still living, he yearned to spend that week there at my brother’s cabin with the “crew,” even though he never hunted deer a day in his life. To him it was all about the family time.&nbsp;

During that week, hunters are up and gone before day break, and return mid-morning or when any harvested deer are retrieved and hung on the “meat pole” out front. A wonderful porch spans the entire front of the cabin high above the driveway and creek below. Weather permitting, mid-days are spent there either relaxing in one of the many rocking chairs or by participating in the frequent shooting competitions held there on the porch. Targets include pumpkins, cans of shaving cream and an occasional chipmunk scurrying about by the stream.&nbsp;

Off seasons are still spent adding and improving tree stands and blinds, sprucing up existing trails or adding new ones, keeping deer feeders full and collecting and viewing camera chips from the fleet of trail cameras on the property. There are also wild hogs there and since there are no hunting restrictions on them, they are frequent targets for the freezer year round. Most recently Joe has started identifying wild ginseng patches in the woods and is attempting to get other patches started from seed he buys. &nbsp;

I think grandpa would be proud of the way our family has continued to pass his love of the outdoors and of deer hunting on down through the generations of our family. And I know he would be especially proud of the tradition my brother has started by opening up his hallowed spot to all our family. Grandpa’s other grandson (our cousin) who lived in Cheyenne, WY also followed in grandpa’s footsteps, putting at least one Wyoming elk in his freezer each year, and he has also imparted that love of big-game hunting to his son. To date, the harvest from my brother’s deer camp has filled the freezers of several family members with venison and wild hog meat for many years. Just last week he sent me a picture of his youngest grandson with his first buck...Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors…with your family.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Anyone who’s ever subscribed to a major outdoors magazine has seen the pictures of deer camps from years gone by. Found mostly in the big woods of the north, these deer-camps-of-old were annual gathering places for die-hard deer hunters in a time when opening day of deer season carried the same status as election day. Deer camps could be large tents or rustic cabins buried somewhere deep within the northern woods in the midst of the best deer hunting of the time. They were hallowed places where tradition ran deep and where comradery was nearly as important as putting a deer on the “meat pole” out front.&nbsp;My grandfather was one of those die-hard hunters who harvested deer, elk and even a trophy moose that made the Boone and Crocket record book, and he passed his love of the outdoors and his love of big-game hunting down to his grandsons. In the year 2000 my brother Joe began taking his family for a week of deer hunting to Zeleski State Forest in southeastern Ohio. His son was twelve then and went with them on the first trip. For the next four years they went there but yearned to have land of their own in those beautiful rolling southeastern Ohio hills. In 2005 Joe purchased two hundred acres near the town of McArthur and the Gilliland Deer Camp was born. The land is reminiscent of the big north woods that harbored the deer camps of old, with only hills and trees as far as they eye can see, and majestic views marred only by the power line that snakes its way across the countryside.&nbsp;The first couple years there his camping trailer served as the cabin, and they spent only the first week of deer gun season down there. Joe says that in those early years they spent more time chasing off trespassers who were used to the land being vacant than they spent hunting. A cabin was built a couple years later and after several additions it is now a grand gathering place that has become his retirement home. Off-seasons in the early years were spent carving out new trails or reopening old ones, and adding deer feeders, tree stands and blinds. To date the property holds three or four deer feeders and over a dozen tree stands and blinds.&nbsp;What began in the early years as a gathering of my brother’s family and in-laws for one week of deer hunting has today evolved to include, sisters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandsons and nieces &amp; nephews from all around our family who now hunt numerous days of every deer season available there in Ohio. When our dad was still living, he yearned to spend that week there at my brother’s cabin with the “crew,” even though he never hunted deer a day in his life. To him it was all about the family time.&nbsp;During that week, hunters are up and gone before day break, and return mid-morning or when any harvested deer are retrieved and hung on the “meat pole” out front. A wonderful porch spans the entire front of the cabin high above the driveway and creek below. Weather permitting, mid-days are spent there either relaxing in one of the many rocking chairs or by participating in the frequent shooting competitions held there on the porch. Targets include pumpkins, cans of shaving cream and an occasional chipmunk scurrying about by the stream.&nbsp;Off seasons are still spent adding and improving tree stands and blinds, sprucing up existing trails or adding new ones, keeping deer feeders full and collecting and viewing camera chips from the fleet of trail cameras on the property. There are also wild hogs there and since there are no hunting restrictions on them, they are frequent targets for the freezer year round. Most recently Joe has started identifying wild ginseng patches in the woods and is attempting to get other patches started from seed he buys. &nbsp;I think grandpa would be proud of the way our family has continued to pass his love of the outdoors and of deer hunting on down through the generations of our family. And I know he would be especially proud of the tradition my brother has started by opening up his hallowed spot to all our family. Grandpa’s other grandson (our cousin) who lived in Cheyenne, WY also followed in grandpa’s footsteps, putting at least one Wyoming elk in his freezer each year, and he has also imparted that love of big-game hunting to his son. To date, the harvest from my brother’s deer camp has filled the freezers of several family members with venison and wild hog meat for many years. Just last week he sent me a picture of his youngest grandson with his first buck...Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors…with your family.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: My brother’s deer camp 

Last week brought a rocky two-day meeting of the Legislature’s Special Committee on Education. The purpose was to examine the decline in student achievement as shown on state assessment scores.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nevertheless, almost an entire day was spent on testimony about Critical Race Theory.

Republicans, special interest group leaders and parents held forth that CRT is currently being taught across the state.&nbsp; This despite the Kansas State Board of Education’s widely publicized stand that CRT is not part of state curriculum standards—a viewpoint recently praised by the nationally recognized Aspen Institute Director of Education and Society Programs Danielle Gonzales.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While most speakers before the committee agreed that CRT as a theory to explain all of history was not being taught in Kansas, many pointed to instruction that focused on equity, social-emotional learning and diversity as actually promoting CTR.&nbsp; Moreover, some speakers challenged school library offerings based on language and graphics in books dealing with race, gender or sexuality.

The testimony, which can be read at Kansas Legislative Sessions Website, is troubling.&nbsp;&nbsp; Are the passionate reactions from parents on target or simply viewpoints formed by a national effort by Republicans to shore up their conservative base and become the party for parents?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Or did the parents’ comments validate perspectives of Libertarians who simply don’t believe in public education?

Or were they voices of those who wish to lay the groundwork for dismantling public education under the guise of state-funded vouchers/scholarships to private schools?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Perhaps none of the above—a review by Education Week reported that 42 percent of respondents to a Newsweek poll had never heard of CRT.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Whether the parents’ testimony represents squeaky-wheel complaints of a vocal minority or not, the incensed advocates who testified shouldn’t be viewed as representing Kansas public opinion.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Education Week review confirmed only one common finding—parents and the public are uncertain and confused about the teaching of history and racism.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Yet when this much fervent concern is raised, KSDE and the Legislature have an obligation to let the public know that the complaints are heard, understood and will be addressed.&nbsp;

Dismissing the public’s concerns about how race and gender are taught could result in loss of creditability for both KSDE and the legislature’s education committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Overall, committee testimony pointed to major underlying issues:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

At the end of the second day, there was no consensus on any of the above.&nbsp; However, the committee did circle back to its original purpose and agreed to a meeting of KSDE and legislators after the start of the next legislative session in January to begin working together on improving reading achievement in the early grades.&nbsp; It’s a good place to start on a difficult journey.&nbsp;

<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>Last week brought a rocky two-day meeting of the Legislature’s Special Committee on Education. The purpose was to examine the decline in student achievement as shown on state assessment scores.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nevertheless, almost an entire day was spent on testimony about Critical Race Theory.Republicans, special interest group leaders and parents held forth that CRT is currently being taught across the state.&nbsp; This despite the Kansas State Board of Education’s widely publicized stand that CRT is not part of state curriculum standards—a viewpoint recently praised by the nationally recognized Aspen Institute Director of Education and Society Programs Danielle Gonzales.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>While most speakers before the committee agreed that CRT as a theory to explain all of history was not being taught in Kansas, many pointed to instruction that focused on equity, social-emotional learning and diversity as actually promoting CTR.&nbsp; Moreover, some speakers challenged school library offerings based on language and graphics in books dealing with race, gender or sexuality.The testimony, which can be read at Kansas Legislative Sessions Website, is troubling.&nbsp;&nbsp; Are the passionate reactions from parents on target or simply viewpoints formed by a national effort by Republicans to shore up their conservative base and become the party for parents?&nbsp;&nbsp;Or did the parents’ comments validate perspectives of Libertarians who simply don’t believe in public education?Or were they voices of those who wish to lay the groundwork for dismantling public education under the guise of state-funded vouchers/scholarships to private schools?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Perhaps none of the above—a review by Education Week reported that 42 percent of respondents to a Newsweek poll had never heard of CRT.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whether the parents’ testimony represents squeaky-wheel complaints of a vocal minority or not, the incensed advocates who testified shouldn’t be viewed as representing Kansas public opinion.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Education Week review confirmed only one common finding—parents and the public are uncertain and confused about the teaching of history and racism.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet when this much fervent concern is raised, KSDE and the Legislature have an obligation to let the public know that the complaints are heard, understood and will be addressed.&nbsp;Dismissing the public’s concerns about how race and gender are taught could result in loss of creditability for both KSDE and the legislature’s education committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;Overall, committee testimony pointed to major underlying issues:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>The right of parents to be heard, their right to know what’s being taught and their right to protect their child’s privacy,</li><li>The right of local schools to establish equitable, inclusive learning environments through teaching accurate depictions of history including the problem of systemic racism and the accomplishment of American world leadership in advancing human rights,</li><li>The influence of political parties, national organizations and for-profit publishers of learning materials to dictate Kansas curriculum, and&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>The need for decision making to include those involved in K-12 education—students, teachers, parents, administrators and the local community.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>At the end of the second day, there was no consensus on any of the above.&nbsp; However, the committee did circle back to its original purpose and agreed to a meeting of KSDE and legislators after the start of the next legislative session in January to begin working together on improving reading achievement in the early grades.&nbsp; It’s a good place to start on a difficult journey.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Parents speak out at education hearing

By U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran R-Kan. In the summer of 1945, a worried Bina Dole in Russell, Kansas, called my grandma, who with my grandpa lived in rural Russell County, searching for news about her son. My dad, an Army sergeant, was also serving in Italy, and Bina shared over their party line she hoped my dad could learn more about Bob, who was gravely wounded.

Ray, my dad, on leave began the search to find Bob, but discovered he had been evacuated for medical treatment. Those two mothers, anxious for the safety of their children half a world away, offered comfort to each other and worked together to try and find news of 2nd Lieutenant Dole. They demonstrated the care and concern often found in small towns across Kansas, and it was the care and character of the people in Russell that shaped Bob Dole into the American hero and exemplary statesman we all knew.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I am honored to serve in the “Dole seat” in the U.S. Senate and sit on the Senate floor in the “Dole desk” where I see his name carved into the desk drawer.

In small towns like Russell, there are differences of opinions, there are Republicans and Democrats and there are people who go to this church or that church. But when you’re in a small town, you have no choice but to get along, solve problems and work together.&nbsp;

As a young man, those values led Bob to swear an oath to protect and defend our country during World War II. On a battlefield in Italy, his life almost came to an end.&nbsp;

The injuries were horrific, tremendous and permanent. But his indomitable spirit helped him survive and endure the long road to recovery. And it was the people of Russell who collected donations in a cigar box on the same counter he worked behind as a soda jerk in high school to help make sure Bob’s medical expenses would be paid for. His wounds left him with a nearly paralyzed right arm, but Bob used his injuries to deepen his caring, not for himself, but for others.&nbsp;

He held an unmatched patriotism borne out of wartime sacrifice that marked every day of his life. Yet rather than ask for help, he offered it.

Sen. Dole can credit his view of life to his upbringing in a small Kansas town. He reflected, “The first thing you learn on the prairie is the relative size of a man compared to the lay of the land. And under the immense sky where I was born and raised, a man is very small. And if he thinks otherwise, he is wrong.”

Even after Sen. Dole became a household name across the country, he always returned back to his hometown to gain wisdom and begin each new chapter of his life.

"I think Bob can come here and get tranquility and strength," his sister, Gloria Nelson, said of Russell.

Following his injury during WWII, he returned to Russell to find strength and healing for his badly maimed body. After receiving the Vice Presidential nomination and amid the highs and lows of three Presidential campaigns, Russell always provided him a solid and steady place to land. Following the death of his brother, Kenny, in 1993, he returned to Russell to say goodbye. In 1996, members of his hometown gathered with Sen. Dole to celebrate his birthday. Following his loss to President Clinton that year, the town welcomed him again. He was a national and world leader, but he would always be a boy from Russell, a son of the Kansas plains.&nbsp;

Russell Townsley, the former publisher of the Russell Daily News, wrote regarding Sen. Dole’s plan to make his announcement to run for president in 1987 from a stage in Russell, “Skeptics ask what can Bob Dole – or Russell – hope to gain from this public show and professionally staged rally. And this is where the skeptics find themselves travelling blind. There’s no need to look for ulterior motives, for there are none. Dole and his town gain from each other. While one draws on unseen reserves that have nurtured him from childhood, the other grows strong from the aura reflected from the image of leadership and stature borne by the other.”

During his Vice Presidential run, Sen. Dole said, “I want to re-emphasize: If I’ve done anything it’s because of people I’ve known up and down Main Street. And I can recall the time when I needed help, the people of Russell helped.” That same cigar box that was used to collect donations to pay for Bob’s medical expenses after WWII was again given to Sen. Dole when he announced his campaign for president in 1996. Each time, more and more Kansans supported their hero.&nbsp;

To the people of Russell and to the people across Kansas, thank you for the manner in which you have shaped, treated and respected a man worthy of our admiration. Sadly, we say goodbye to one of our own.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638983174129.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran R-Kan. In the summer of 1945, a worried Bina Dole in Russell, Kansas, called my grandma, who with my grandpa lived in rural Russell County, searching for news about her son. My dad, an Army sergeant, was also serving in Italy, and Bina shared over their party line she hoped my dad could learn more about Bob, who was gravely wounded.Ray, my dad, on leave began the search to find Bob, but discovered he had been evacuated for medical treatment. Those two mothers, anxious for the safety of their children half a world away, offered comfort to each other and worked together to try and find news of 2nd Lieutenant Dole. They demonstrated the care and concern often found in small towns across Kansas, and it was the care and character of the people in Russell that shaped Bob Dole into the American hero and exemplary statesman we all knew.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I am honored to serve in the “Dole seat” in the U.S. Senate and sit on the Senate floor in the “Dole desk” where I see his name carved into the desk drawer.In small towns like Russell, there are differences of opinions, there are Republicans and Democrats and there are people who go to this church or that church. But when you’re in a small town, you have no choice but to get along, solve problems and work together.&nbsp;As a young man, those values led Bob to swear an oath to protect and defend our country during World War II. On a battlefield in Italy, his life almost came to an end.&nbsp;The injuries were horrific, tremendous and permanent. But his indomitable spirit helped him survive and endure the long road to recovery. And it was the people of Russell who collected donations in a cigar box on the same counter he worked behind as a soda jerk in high school to help make sure Bob’s medical expenses would be paid for. His wounds left him with a nearly paralyzed right arm, but Bob used his injuries to deepen his caring, not for himself, but for others.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618357296698.jpeg" alt="Moran" />
 <figcaption>Moran</figcaption>
 </figure>He held an unmatched patriotism borne out of wartime sacrifice that marked every day of his life. Yet rather than ask for help, he offered it.Sen. Dole can credit his view of life to his upbringing in a small Kansas town. He reflected, “The first thing you learn on the prairie is the relative size of a man compared to the lay of the land. And under the immense sky where I was born and raised, a man is very small. And if he thinks otherwise, he is wrong.”Even after Sen. Dole became a household name across the country, he always returned back to his hometown to gain wisdom and begin each new chapter of his life."I think Bob can come here and get tranquility and strength," his sister, Gloria Nelson, said of Russell.Following his injury during WWII, he returned to Russell to find strength and healing for his badly maimed body. After receiving the Vice Presidential nomination and amid the highs and lows of three Presidential campaigns, Russell always provided him a solid and steady place to land. Following the death of his brother, Kenny, in 1993, he returned to Russell to say goodbye. In 1996, members of his hometown gathered with Sen. Dole to celebrate his birthday. Following his loss to President Clinton that year, the town welcomed him again. He was a national and world leader, but he would always be a boy from Russell, a son of the Kansas plains.&nbsp;Russell Townsley, the former publisher of the Russell Daily News, wrote regarding Sen. Dole’s plan to make his announcement to run for president in 1987 from a stage in Russell, “Skeptics ask what can Bob Dole – or Russell – hope to gain from this public show and professionally staged rally. And this is where the skeptics find themselves travelling blind. There’s no need to look for ulterior motives, for there are none. Dole and his town gain from each other. While one draws on unseen reserves that have nurtured him from childhood, the other grows strong from the aura reflected from the image of leadership and stature borne by the other.”During his Vice Presidential run, Sen. Dole said, “I want to re-emphasize: If I’ve done anything it’s because of people I’ve known up and down Main Street. And I can recall the time when I needed help, the people of Russell helped.” That same cigar box that was used to collect donations to pay for Bob’s medical expenses after WWII was again given to Sen. Dole when he announced his campaign for president in 1996. Each time, more and more Kansans supported their hero.&nbsp;To the people of Russell and to the people across Kansas, thank you for the manner in which you have shaped, treated and respected a man worthy of our admiration. Sadly, we say goodbye to one of our own.

MORAN: The people of Russell, Kansas, helped shape Bob Dole

By RANDY EVANS <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/our-political-system-has-withered-bob-doles-days">For States Newsroom</a>

The death Sunday of Robert Dole was a potent reminder of what we have lost as a nation.

Another member of the Greatest Generation has left us — another of 
those Depression-era kids who came together to save democracy in the 
dark days of World War II.

The career of the 98-year-old Kansas Republican reminds us how 
diminished our nation’s political system has become in the past 25 
years. Far fewer supposed leaders are willing to put their nation ahead 
of their political party.

Of course, Bob Dole was no shrinking violet when it came to politics.
 He did not shy away from a bare-knuckles fight. He could use a 
sharp-tongue and sarcasm to cut down an adversary, whether it was a 
Democrat — or a Republican.

And he was not afraid to direct his razor-like wit toward himself, 
either. In 1988, after losing the New Hampshire presidential primary to 
George H.W. Bush, Dole said, “I went home after New Hampshire and slept 
like a baby. Every two hours, I woke up and cried.”

All of this makes Dole something of an anachronism in today’s 
American politics — someone who enjoyed the give-and-take of politics 
but who knew, ultimately, it was more important to work out compromises 
and find consensus on behalf of the American people.

In accepting the Republican nomination for president in 1996, Dole 
summed it up this way: “In politics, honorable compromise is no sin. It 
is what protects us from absolutism and intolerance.”

Too many of today’s political leaders would rather drink battery acid
 than work toward compromise or to admit they made a mistake. Today’s 
members of Congress have difficulty agreeing on much of anything, 
sometimes even within their own party.

But Dole often partnered with Democrats to write legislation that transformed life in the United States.

He worked with one of the most liberal members of the Senate, George 
McGovern of South Dakota, to expand the food stamp program. (They 
continued working together on food and nutrition issues around the globe
 after leaving Congress, and in 2008, they received the World Food Prize
 in Des Moines in recognition of their efforts.)

Dole worked with another Midwest liberal, Hubert Humphrey of 
Minnesota, to make school lunches a financially secure federal program, 
instead of leaving lunches to the vagaries of local and state support.

And Dole was a key ally of Iowa’s Tom Harkin in securing passage in 
1990 of the landmark civil rights law, called the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with 
disabilities on the job and in public accommodations.

Kenneth Duberstein, Ronald Reagan’s White House chief of staff, told 
the Washington Post, “Dole was a wizard at putting together coalitions.”

In contrast, senators and representatives these days seem more 
fixated on ignoring the other party’s suggestions.&nbsp;That was not the Dole
 way.

Yes, he could throw himself into blocking proposals he thought were 
misguided. But he had a guiding philosophy that stands in sharp contrast
 with today’s Washington political scene — where some knuckleheads call 
members of the other party terrorists or communists or where they 
suggest blithely that those in the other party are out to destroy the 
United States.

Dole’s view was disarmingly simple: He was less concerned where good 
ideas originated. It did not matter whether the idea came from 
Republicans or Democrats.

That attitude is as scarce as hens’ teeth in the halls of Congress today.

Following his loss to President Bill Clinton in 1996, there was no 
grousing by Dole about stolen elections. No talk of voter fraud. No 
references to those who voted for Clinton being idiots or morons.

Three days after his defeat, Dole went on David Letterman’s show and talked about the election:

“I learned how great the American people are — Democrats, 
Republicans, independents. Obviously, you like to win, but you have to 
accept defeat and look ahead. It’s all about the future. I think 
American is in good shape as you look ahead.”

Dole’s view of America and its people undoubtedly was shaped by his 
experience as a 21-year-old soldier in World War II and in the 39 
painful months of surgeries and recovery that followed his grievous 
wartime injuries.

He was wounded in 1945 during fighting in Italy. His shoulder and arm
 were blown apart, and several vertebrae were broken in his neck and 
spine.&nbsp;He was not expected to survive. He did, but his right arm forever
 hung limply at his side.

Dole grew up in the small rural community of Russell, Kan. The Dole 
family lived in the basement of their home and earned extra money by 
renting the upstairs to tenants.

After his war injuries, the townspeople raised money to pay for his 
rehabilitation and treatment. That support frequently moved him to tears
 when he talked about it years later.

You have to admire someone who never forgets where he came from, who 
never misses a chance to poke fun at himself, who sees value in 
compromise and consensus, and who puts loyalty to country ahead of 
political expediency.

Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a 43-year-old nonprofit education and advocacy organization that works for improved government transparency and citizen accountability. He can be reached at IowaFOICouncil@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638983174129.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RANDY EVANS <a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/our-political-system-has-withered-bob-doles-days">For States Newsroom</a>The death Sunday of Robert Dole was a potent reminder of what we have lost as a nation.Another member of the Greatest Generation has left us — another of 
those Depression-era kids who came together to save democracy in the 
dark days of World War II.The career of the 98-year-old Kansas Republican reminds us how 
diminished our nation’s political system has become in the past 25 
years. Far fewer supposed leaders are willing to put their nation ahead 
of their political party.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Of course, Bob Dole was no shrinking violet when it came to politics.
 He did not shy away from a bare-knuckles fight. He could use a 
sharp-tongue and sarcasm to cut down an adversary, whether it was a 
Democrat — or a Republican.And he was not afraid to direct his razor-like wit toward himself, 
either. In 1988, after losing the New Hampshire presidential primary to 
George H.W. Bush, Dole said, “I went home after New Hampshire and slept 
like a baby. Every two hours, I woke up and cried.”All of this makes Dole something of an anachronism in today’s 
American politics — someone who enjoyed the give-and-take of politics 
but who knew, ultimately, it was more important to work out compromises 
and find consensus on behalf of the American people.In accepting the Republican nomination for president in 1996, Dole 
summed it up this way: “In politics, honorable compromise is no sin. It 
is what protects us from absolutism and intolerance.”Too many of today’s political leaders would rather drink battery acid
 than work toward compromise or to admit they made a mistake. Today’s 
members of Congress have difficulty agreeing on much of anything, 
sometimes even within their own party.But Dole often partnered with Democrats to write legislation that transformed life in the United States.He worked with one of the most liberal members of the Senate, George 
McGovern of South Dakota, to expand the food stamp program. (They 
continued working together on food and nutrition issues around the globe
 after leaving Congress, and in 2008, they received the World Food Prize
 in Des Moines in recognition of their efforts.)Dole worked with another Midwest liberal, Hubert Humphrey of 
Minnesota, to make school lunches a financially secure federal program, 
instead of leaving lunches to the vagaries of local and state support.And Dole was a key ally of Iowa’s Tom Harkin in securing passage in 
1990 of the landmark civil rights law, called the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with 
disabilities on the job and in public accommodations.Kenneth Duberstein, Ronald Reagan’s White House chief of staff, told 
the Washington Post, “Dole was a wizard at putting together coalitions.”In contrast, senators and representatives these days seem more 
fixated on ignoring the other party’s suggestions.&nbsp;That was not the Dole
 way.Yes, he could throw himself into blocking proposals he thought were 
misguided. But he had a guiding philosophy that stands in sharp contrast
 with today’s Washington political scene — where some knuckleheads call 
members of the other party terrorists or communists or where they 
suggest blithely that those in the other party are out to destroy the 
United States.Dole’s view was disarmingly simple: He was less concerned where good 
ideas originated. It did not matter whether the idea came from 
Republicans or Democrats.That attitude is as scarce as hens’ teeth in the halls of Congress today.Following his loss to President Bill Clinton in 1996, there was no 
grousing by Dole about stolen elections. No talk of voter fraud. No 
references to those who voted for Clinton being idiots or morons.Three days after his defeat, Dole went on David Letterman’s show and talked about the election:“I learned how great the American people are — Democrats, 
Republicans, independents. Obviously, you like to win, but you have to 
accept defeat and look ahead. It’s all about the future. I think 
American is in good shape as you look ahead.”Dole’s view of America and its people undoubtedly was shaped by his 
experience as a 21-year-old soldier in World War II and in the 39 
painful months of surgeries and recovery that followed his grievous 
wartime injuries.He was wounded in 1945 during fighting in Italy. His shoulder and arm
 were blown apart, and several vertebrae were broken in his neck and 
spine.&nbsp;He was not expected to survive. He did, but his right arm forever
 hung limply at his side.Dole grew up in the small rural community of Russell, Kan. The Dole 
family lived in the basement of their home and earned extra money by 
renting the upstairs to tenants.After his war injuries, the townspeople raised money to pay for his 
rehabilitation and treatment. That support frequently moved him to tears
 when he talked about it years later.You have to admire someone who never forgets where he came from, who 
never misses a chance to poke fun at himself, who sees value in 
compromise and consensus, and who puts loyalty to country ahead of 
political expediency.Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a 43-year-old nonprofit education and advocacy organization that works for improved government transparency and citizen accountability. He can be reached at IowaFOICouncil@gmail.com.

OPINION: Our political system has withered since Bob Dole’s days 

By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher Do looks really matter? This topic is better suited to philosophers, but a series of observations from my trip to the Baltics earlier this year with Kansas Farm Bureau’s Casten Fellows Program has had me questioning my belief that if something works, it does not matter if it looks good. I have pondered the value of aesthetics in the spaces where we spend our time and the possessions with which we fill them. Maybe the most important part of this realization has been that the aesthetics of the environments we create and spend time in are not just a reflection of a person, they also reflect into the person. This realization came slowly, pieced together from some of the most obvious parts of our trip to this northern region of Europe. Everywhere we went we saw flowers. Not small or neutral toned flowers, but big, vibrant flowers. We knew people in this region had a particular connection to nature, but this was also much further north than where I grew up in Wisconsin. I know how hard it is to grow beautiful flowers there because it is a cold region. Why would people in a cold region have so many beautiful, colorful flowers? It was more than flowers and artfully designed landscaping. Everywhere I looked, there was beauty and happiness; greenhouses dotting most back yards; spaces that were well kept, cozy and lived-in. The pride and joy the Baltic people had in their homes, businesses and whole country was obvious everywhere we looked. The most surprising part of the realization came close to the end of the trip: There was a constant feeling of contentment, relaxation and joy. Even after almost two weeks of travel, experience overload and long days, I just felt happy and peaceful because everything was so nice. The Baltics are not a country filled with material possessions or dependent on a need for new fueled by vanity or greed. They appreciate old and historic because it is what they have. The realities of communism during Soviet occupation are a not so distant memory. They fought for the freedom to make things their own, they are grateful to be able to ability to maintain them and want to live in places that are functional, beautiful and bring them joy. I returned home with a burst of energy to show more pride of ownership and appreciation for my own home, but knew I needed to start small because I was on my own for the project during harvest. I decided to fix the very short section of fence that adorns the entrance to our driveway. It had been rep­­­­ainted so many times it was a decaying eyesore. I don’t have space to recount the whole humorous story, but you can imagine how it went by my new title of “Lumberjack Princess.” Tired, dirty and a little banged-up, I knew that my observations had been correct. My idea, my work, my perseverance, made the fence even more beautiful in the moment. Even after a few months, I smile every time I drive in the yard or think about the project because I made that. And I know now that rest of the world can somehow tell that, even if it is just from the way it looks. My momentum from the fence build has grown in this Christmas season. A visitor or passerby at my home will now see a site I never expected to create at a farmhouse so far off the beaten path: an amateur-built, festively decorated welcoming fence. The effort we make with the look of our world shows pride and brings joy far beyond the recognition that might come from the outside world. My efforts, small or large, are not to impress the world, but for my own fulfillment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher Do looks really matter? This topic is better suited to philosophers, but a series of observations from my trip to the Baltics earlier this year with Kansas Farm Bureau’s Casten Fellows Program has had me questioning my belief that if something works, it does not matter if it looks good. I have pondered the value of aesthetics in the spaces where we spend our time and the possessions with which we fill them. Maybe the most important part of this realization has been that the aesthetics of the environments we create and spend time in are not just a reflection of a person, they also reflect into the person. This realization came slowly, pieced together from some of the most obvious parts of our trip to this northern region of Europe. Everywhere we went we saw flowers. Not small or neutral toned flowers, but big, vibrant flowers. We knew people in this region had a particular connection to nature, but this was also much further north than where I grew up in Wisconsin. I know how hard it is to grow beautiful flowers there because it is a cold region. Why would people in a cold region have so many beautiful, colorful flowers? It was more than flowers and artfully designed landscaping. Everywhere I looked, there was beauty and happiness; greenhouses dotting most back yards; spaces that were well kept, cozy and lived-in. The pride and joy the Baltic people had in their homes, businesses and whole country was obvious everywhere we looked. The most surprising part of the realization came close to the end of the trip: There was a constant feeling of contentment, relaxation and joy. Even after almost two weeks of travel, experience overload and long days, I just felt happy and peaceful because everything was so nice. The Baltics are not a country filled with material possessions or dependent on a need for new fueled by vanity or greed. They appreciate old and historic because it is what they have. The realities of communism during Soviet occupation are a not so distant memory. They fought for the freedom to make things their own, they are grateful to be able to ability to maintain them and want to live in places that are functional, beautiful and bring them joy. I returned home with a burst of energy to show more pride of ownership and appreciation for my own home, but knew I needed to start small because I was on my own for the project during harvest. I decided to fix the very short section of fence that adorns the entrance to our driveway. It had been rep­­­­ainted so many times it was a decaying eyesore. I don’t have space to recount the whole humorous story, but you can imagine how it went by my new title of “Lumberjack Princess.” Tired, dirty and a little banged-up, I knew that my observations had been correct. My idea, my work, my perseverance, made the fence even more beautiful in the moment. Even after a few months, I smile every time I drive in the yard or think about the project because I made that. And I know now that rest of the world can somehow tell that, even if it is just from the way it looks. My momentum from the fence build has grown in this Christmas season. A visitor or passerby at my home will now see a site I never expected to create at a farmhouse so far off the beaten path: an amateur-built, festively decorated welcoming fence. The effort we make with the look of our world shows pride and brings joy far beyond the recognition that might come from the outside world. My efforts, small or large, are not to impress the world, but for my own fulfillment."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: Pride in ownership

I thought I was going to get control of my money and make a lot of other positive changes in my life this year, but very few of the things I wanted to accomplish happened. I started strong, and began with serious intentions, but somewhere along the way I lost focus. Can you give me some advice for making and sticking to my resolutions in 2022?

Lots of people make big promises with the best intentions on December 31st. It seems everyone comes up with a laundry list of New Year’s resolutions, but research&nbsp;shows&nbsp;very few people actually achieve their goals. If you’re ready — and I mean&nbsp;really&nbsp;ready — to reset your life and succeed with your New Year’s&nbsp;resolutions, here are a few simple, proven steps that’ll help.

First, write down your top goal.&nbsp;Pick the resolution that means the most to you&nbsp;and write it down. You’re more likely to succeed if you can focus on a single&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/personal-growth/types-of-goals">goal</a>, and you have&nbsp;a greater chance of achieving it&nbsp;if you write it down — on paper, on purpose. And make sure the resolution you choose is very important to you. Writing down a goal just because it’s what someone else is doing, or because it sounds like a good idea, isn’t good enough. If your goal isn’t&nbsp;yours, it won’t happen.

Second, set benchmarks. Let’s say you want to pay off your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-to-income-ratio-calculator">credit cards</a>&nbsp;before July. You need to make that goal measurable throughout the year by setting benchmarks. If you owe $5,000 on your credit cards and want to pay them off in six months, you need to pay about $833 towards them every month. Write your benchmark down beneath your goal, and make a plan for how you’re going to get it done.

Three, find an accountability partner.&nbsp;A great accountability partner isn’t afraid to ask how your goals are coming along, and they’ll call you on it when you’re slacking. If you set a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/investment-calculator">financial goal</a>, a good accountability partner isn’t going to be the friend who always asks you to go shopping. Studies have shown that having a strong accountability partner increases the likelihood of achieving a goal dramatically.

And finally, make sure you reward yourself along the way.&nbsp;It’s tough to stay motivated when hitting your goal takes a while. Lots of folks start out at full speed, only to see the momentum disappear over time. You might treat yourself to a night at the movies when you’ve paid off the first $1,000 on your credit cards, or maybe a nice, new shirt when you’ve paid off half the card.

Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way we think it will, Isaac. Our priorities can change, and our goals may change, too. If that’s why you didn’t make your resolutions happen this year, that’s fine. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s too late to change and improve your life!

*&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 thought I was going to get control of my money and make a lot of other positive changes in my life this year, but very few of the things I wanted to accomplish happened. I started strong, and began with serious intentions, but somewhere along the way I lost focus. Can you give me some advice for making and sticking to my resolutions in 2022?IsaacDear Isaac,Lots of people make big promises with the best intentions on December 31st. It seems everyone comes up with a laundry list of New Year’s resolutions, but research&nbsp;shows&nbsp;very few people actually achieve their goals. If you’re ready — and I mean&nbsp;really&nbsp;ready — to reset your life and succeed with your New Year’s&nbsp;resolutions, here are a few simple, proven steps that’ll help.First, write down your top goal.&nbsp;Pick the resolution that means the most to you&nbsp;and write it down. You’re more likely to succeed if you can focus on a single&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/personal-growth/types-of-goals">goal</a>, and you have&nbsp;a greater chance of achieving it&nbsp;if you write it down — on paper, on purpose. And make sure the resolution you choose is very important to you. Writing down a goal just because it’s what someone else is doing, or because it sounds like a good idea, isn’t good enough. If your goal isn’t&nbsp;yours, it won’t happen.Second, set benchmarks. Let’s say you want to pay off your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-to-income-ratio-calculator">credit cards</a>&nbsp;before July. You need to make that goal measurable throughout the year by setting benchmarks. If you owe $5,000 on your credit cards and want to pay them off in six months, you need to pay about $833 towards them every month. Write your benchmark down beneath your goal, and make a plan for how you’re going to get it done.Three, find an accountability partner.&nbsp;A great accountability partner isn’t afraid to ask how your goals are coming along, and they’ll call you on it when you’re slacking. If you set a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/investment-calculator">financial goal</a>, a good accountability partner isn’t going to be the friend who always asks you to go shopping. Studies have shown that having a strong accountability partner increases the likelihood of achieving a goal dramatically.And finally, make sure you reward yourself along the way.&nbsp;It’s tough to stay motivated when hitting your goal takes a while. Lots of folks start out at full speed, only to see the momentum disappear over time. You might treat yourself to a night at the movies when you’ve paid off the first $1,000 on your credit cards, or maybe a nice, new shirt when you’ve paid off half the card.Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way we think it will, Isaac. Our priorities can change, and our goals may change, too. If that’s why you didn’t make your resolutions happen this year, that’s fine. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s too late to change and improve your life!— 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: Help your New Year’s resolutions stick

Dr. Lee Norman, former Kansas Secretary of Health and Environment, is one more in a long line of political casualties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After nearly two years of leading Kansas through the crisis, Dr. Norman was forced to resign — explaining his removal as a fundamental disagreement about how the state should continue to tackle the pandemic.

The tense relationship between Dr. Norman and the Kelly administration first made headlines over the summer when Norman made it clear that he is a healthcare professional, not a politician, and refused to avoid discussing sensitive political topics when they contradicted scientific knowledge.

For better or worse, political convictions are at the forefront of governments’ responses to COVID-19.&nbsp;

The pandemic has undeniably exacerbated political polarization and further exposed our vulnerability to systemic inequalities. While much of this divide has certainly been partisan, it has also unveiled intra-party divides.

Kelly, along with every other elected official in the state, is a “single-minded seeker of re-election” — a phrase coined by the political scientist David Mayhew to describe the primary motivations of members of Congress.

Approval ratings are a key measure of re-election chances.

Kansas Speaks, a statewide public opinion survey conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University, measured Governor Kelly’s approval rating on her administration’s pandemic response in October 2020. The survey found that 47.5% of Kansans approved of the governor’s response, while 30.5% disapproved. The margin of error was 4.8%.

Kelly’s general job approval rating, according to a recent poll conducted by Morning Consult, is 54% — with a margin of error of 4%.

The longer the pandemic continues, especially in light of the Omicron variant and potential resulting social restrictions, the more likely it is that Kelly’s pandemic approval rating will drop before the 2022 election — people are understandably tired of the major disruption to their lives.

Her re-election prospects largely explain why Kelly has gone out of her way to dispute Biden’s vaccination mandates and has rebuffed Democrats in the state legislature by signing a law that makes it easier for workers to get religious and moral exemptions to vaccine requirements.

All elected officials must care about their re-election chances, so while firing Dr. Norman and weakening vaccination requirements is unsurprising, it is exceedingly disappointing.

These incidents are indicative of a much larger problem. From the very beginning, the pandemic was politicized by national, state and local officials. But SARS-CoV-2 — the official name for the deadly virus — doesn’t care about politics.

It doesn’t discriminate based on partisanship. It is wholly unaffected by elections.

So why then do we continue to allow politics to drive public health responses?

Many public health officials, including Dr. Norman, have consistently been told to “stay in your lane” when it comes to pandemic policy — directive that defies logic considering such officials are the experts on public health and policies that can end this pandemic.

Over 6,700 Kansans — an undercount per most experts — have died of COVID-19. That’s over 6,700 Kansans who were missed at their families’ Thanksgiving table last week.

Our elected officials are just adding fuel to the fire by prioritizing politics over public health. As long as Kansans continue to villainize medical experts and resist public health directives like vaccination and mask wearing, there is no end to the pandemic in sight.

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>Dr. Lee Norman, former Kansas Secretary of Health and Environment, is one more in a long line of political casualties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.After nearly two years of leading Kansas through the crisis, Dr. Norman was forced to resign — explaining his removal as a fundamental disagreement about how the state should continue to tackle the pandemic.The tense relationship between Dr. Norman and the Kelly administration first made headlines over the summer when Norman made it clear that he is a healthcare professional, not a politician, and refused to avoid discussing sensitive political topics when they contradicted scientific knowledge.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For better or worse, political convictions are at the forefront of governments’ responses to COVID-19.&nbsp;The pandemic has undeniably exacerbated political polarization and further exposed our vulnerability to systemic inequalities. While much of this divide has certainly been partisan, it has also unveiled intra-party divides.Kelly, along with every other elected official in the state, is a “single-minded seeker of re-election” — a phrase coined by the political scientist David Mayhew to describe the primary motivations of members of Congress.Approval ratings are a key measure of re-election chances.Kansas Speaks, a statewide public opinion survey conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University, measured Governor Kelly’s approval rating on her administration’s pandemic response in October 2020. The survey found that 47.5% of Kansans approved of the governor’s response, while 30.5% disapproved. The margin of error was 4.8%.Kelly’s general job approval rating, according to a recent poll conducted by Morning Consult, is 54% — with a margin of error of 4%.The longer the pandemic continues, especially in light of the Omicron variant and potential resulting social restrictions, the more likely it is that Kelly’s pandemic approval rating will drop before the 2022 election — people are understandably tired of the major disruption to their lives.Her re-election prospects largely explain why Kelly has gone out of her way to dispute Biden’s vaccination mandates and has rebuffed Democrats in the state legislature by signing a law that makes it easier for workers to get religious and moral exemptions to vaccine requirements.All elected officials must care about their re-election chances, so while firing Dr. Norman and weakening vaccination requirements is unsurprising, it is exceedingly disappointing.These incidents are indicative of a much larger problem. From the very beginning, the pandemic was politicized by national, state and local officials. But SARS-CoV-2 — the official name for the deadly virus — doesn’t care about politics.It doesn’t discriminate based on partisanship. It is wholly unaffected by elections.So why then do we continue to allow politics to drive public health responses?Many public health officials, including Dr. Norman, have consistently been told to “stay in your lane” when it comes to pandemic policy — directive that defies logic considering such officials are the experts on public health and policies that can end this pandemic.Over 6,700 Kansans — an undercount per most experts — have died of COVID-19. That’s over 6,700 Kansans who were missed at their families’ Thanksgiving table last week.Our elected officials are just adding fuel to the fire by prioritizing politics over public health. As long as Kansans continue to villainize medical experts and resist public health directives like vaccination and mask wearing, there is no end to the pandemic in sight.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Pandemic politics — no end in sight?

Staring at the two deer mounts on our living room wall, and the fact that Kansas deer rifles season opens this week, brought back memories of the hunts when we harvested those two deer and also memories of the process of getting them mounted. Both deer came from ground farmed by my wife’s family in southwestern KS. The very nice nine-point whitetail was my wife’s first buck, and the dandy ten-point mule deer was my first big buck, so we decided to spend the money to have them both mounted. Immediately after we got home that year, I took both the heads to a taxidermist, thinking that was the end of our responsibility. Not so, and let me see if I can explain the process.

When a taxidermist receives an animal or fish, the first step is removing the skin so it can be tanned or processed. With deer, the meat processing plant or the hunter removes the head from the animal, along with the hide down past the shoulders; this hide is known as the “cape.” The head and the cape are then taken to the taxidermist. The taxidermist carefully skins out the head, removes the top of the skull with both antlers intact, tags and stores the antlers and sends the cape to be tanned. That tanned cape, with the corresponding antlers, is eventually fitted over a form made from a hard foam material. This form ultimately determines the “pose” of the finished mount. Note; if having you animal processed at a commercial processing plant, MAKE CERTAIN to tell them to cape-out the head so you have enough hide for the mount, otherwise they will cut the skin way too short for the taxidermist.

Next step is choosing how you want you deer head “posed.” I felt like I was at a portrait studio trying to choose final pictures for the church directory. Without thinking, I assumed our only choice was to have both deer looking away from the wall! Not so! There are four basic “poses” or positions, and several variations of each. They all center around the state of alertness you want the animal to replicate, and the direction you want it looking. The first of the four basic positions poses the head extremely low with ears laid back as if the buck were sneaking. The subsequent three each raise the head higher until the final basic view shows the deer on “full alert” and ready to bolt. The look we chose shows our bucks with upright heads, but not startled, and one looking each direction, as if at each other.

Another option to an expensive full-shoulder mount is simply having the antlers mounted on a nice plaque. Few taxidermists will do this anymore, but kits are available for you to do it yourself. In my office hangs a nice heavy set of antlers from a buck I found dead on our Ohio farm when I was a kid. A third option that has become very popular of late is called a “European Mount” which consists of the bare skull with the antlers attached. These can be decorated or painted for a unique look. A couple years ago I gave my sister a nice European Mounted rack from a buck I harvested on her property. Her home décor is western and southwest, so I mounted it on a weathered piece of barnwood and hung some old rusty barbed-wire on its antlers.

Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to have a fish or animal mounted. Trophies do not have to be determined by size alone. Unusual shapes and colors of fish and animals can make them memorable. The situation surrounding the catch or hunt may be worthy also, like a son’s first turkey, or in our case, my wife’s first buck, which was also harvested on her uncle’s land. Good quality pictures are very important too. Who knows, maybe a picture will be your trophy. A classy plaque sporting a good picture makes a very attractive memento.

The mount’s “final resting place” in your home should absolutely be defined and agreed upon by harvester and spouse. This issue has been the source of much conflict between mates over the years. Hopefully your significant other has their priorities right and sees it your way!&nbsp;

Cost is also a factor. While I realize a price cannot be put on everything, think reasonably. Shoulder mounts, which are the most popular are costing above $600 now. I found out many taxidermists no longer do simple antler mounts, but the one that do charge around $150, or you can buy the DYI kit for only a few bucks. There are a few guys around who do European mounts which will cost around $100.&nbsp;

Selecting which wildlife artist to trust with your prize is the final step. Recommendations from other sportsmen are probably the best litmus tests of all. Look at work done by those you’re considering, even visit them at their shops. They will gladly spend time with you, because they are fellow outdoorsmen and understand how important this decision is.

We didn’t choose to have our deer mounted merely to brag about them or our skills (although I could hardly wait for my brother to see them.) Each time we look at these awesome examples of God’s creation, we want to be able to close our eyes and watch again the scenes of the hunt unfold around us; to sense the exhilaration as we wait for each buck to give us just that “right” shot; to feel anew the pride and gratitude for the opportunity we had been given…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Staring at the two deer mounts on our living room wall, and the fact that Kansas deer rifles season opens this week, brought back memories of the hunts when we harvested those two deer and also memories of the process of getting them mounted. Both deer came from ground farmed by my wife’s family in southwestern KS. The very nice nine-point whitetail was my wife’s first buck, and the dandy ten-point mule deer was my first big buck, so we decided to spend the money to have them both mounted. Immediately after we got home that year, I took both the heads to a taxidermist, thinking that was the end of our responsibility. Not so, and let me see if I can explain the process.When a taxidermist receives an animal or fish, the first step is removing the skin so it can be tanned or processed. With deer, the meat processing plant or the hunter removes the head from the animal, along with the hide down past the shoulders; this hide is known as the “cape.” The head and the cape are then taken to the taxidermist. The taxidermist carefully skins out the head, removes the top of the skull with both antlers intact, tags and stores the antlers and sends the cape to be tanned. That tanned cape, with the corresponding antlers, is eventually fitted over a form made from a hard foam material. This form ultimately determines the “pose” of the finished mount. Note; if having you animal processed at a commercial processing plant, MAKE CERTAIN to tell them to cape-out the head so you have enough hide for the mount, otherwise they will cut the skin way too short for the taxidermist.Next step is choosing how you want you deer head “posed.” I felt like I was at a portrait studio trying to choose final pictures for the church directory. Without thinking, I assumed our only choice was to have both deer looking away from the wall! Not so! There are four basic “poses” or positions, and several variations of each. They all center around the state of alertness you want the animal to replicate, and the direction you want it looking. The first of the four basic positions poses the head extremely low with ears laid back as if the buck were sneaking. The subsequent three each raise the head higher until the final basic view shows the deer on “full alert” and ready to bolt. The look we chose shows our bucks with upright heads, but not startled, and one looking each direction, as if at each other.Another option to an expensive full-shoulder mount is simply having the antlers mounted on a nice plaque. Few taxidermists will do this anymore, but kits are available for you to do it yourself. In my office hangs a nice heavy set of antlers from a buck I found dead on our Ohio farm when I was a kid. A third option that has become very popular of late is called a “European Mount” which consists of the bare skull with the antlers attached. These can be decorated or painted for a unique look. A couple years ago I gave my sister a nice European Mounted rack from a buck I harvested on her property. Her home décor is western and southwest, so I mounted it on a weathered piece of barnwood and hung some old rusty barbed-wire on its antlers.Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to have a fish or animal mounted. Trophies do not have to be determined by size alone. Unusual shapes and colors of fish and animals can make them memorable. The situation surrounding the catch or hunt may be worthy also, like a son’s first turkey, or in our case, my wife’s first buck, which was also harvested on her uncle’s land. Good quality pictures are very important too. Who knows, maybe a picture will be your trophy. A classy plaque sporting a good picture makes a very attractive memento.The mount’s “final resting place” in your home should absolutely be defined and agreed upon by harvester and spouse. This issue has been the source of much conflict between mates over the years. Hopefully your significant other has their priorities right and sees it your way!&nbsp;Cost is also a factor. While I realize a price cannot be put on everything, think reasonably. Shoulder mounts, which are the most popular are costing above $600 now. I found out many taxidermists no longer do simple antler mounts, but the one that do charge around $150, or you can buy the DYI kit for only a few bucks. There are a few guys around who do European mounts which will cost around $100.&nbsp;Selecting which wildlife artist to trust with your prize is the final step. Recommendations from other sportsmen are probably the best litmus tests of all. Look at work done by those you’re considering, even visit them at their shops. They will gladly spend time with you, because they are fellow outdoorsmen and understand how important this decision is.We didn’t choose to have our deer mounted merely to brag about them or our skills (although I could hardly wait for my brother to see them.) Each time we look at these awesome examples of God’s creation, we want to be able to close our eyes and watch again the scenes of the hunt unfold around us; to sense the exhilaration as we wait for each buck to give us just that “right” shot; to feel anew the pride and gratitude for the opportunity we had been given…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: A trip to the taxidermist

Be Good. Make A Difference. Change the World. These eight words are the guiding principles of Fort Hays State University alumnus Peter J. Werth. Indeed, I have witnessed over and over again his kindness, the tremendous impact he has had on teaching and learning at FHSU, and how Peter has changed not only our world but the lives of so many.&nbsp;

Starting with a $25 gift in 1981, and steadily expanding for more than 40 years, Peter has given generously to our women’s basketball program, departments of applied technology and chemistry, the entrepreneurship program housed in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science, the Honors College, and the Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics.&nbsp;

Who is Peter J. Werth? If you read his biography, you will know that he has been a transformative visionary leader for more than fifty years. He is the founder, CEO, and president of ChemWerth Inc., Woodbridge, Conn., and a 1959 FHSU graduate with a bachelor of science in chemistry. He also earned a master’s in organic chemistry from Stanford University. Peter began his career with Hewlett-Packard in 1961.

In 1964, he worked as a staff scientist at Spindletop Research before becoming the head chemist for Upjohn Pharmaceuticals (now Pfizer). In 1965, he became manager of Upjohn's R&amp;D department. From 1975 to 1983, Peter served as vice president of sales and marketing for Ganes Chemicals. Peter founded ChemWerth in 1982 to develop active pharmaceutical ingredients to produce generic drugs. Today, Peter serves on several boards and is connected to several startup companies as an Angel investor.&nbsp;

Another scan of his biography reveals the many awards he has received, including the FHSU Alumni Achievement Award. He also has received honorary doctorate degrees from Southern Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut. The good works of his family foundation, his many charitable contributions, and the impact of his work have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life for people all over the world. &nbsp;

However, the elements of his story that most resonate with me are his humble beginnings, strong work ethic, kindness, and the direct, personal impact he has had on so many individuals.&nbsp;

Peter grew up in Hays, Kansas. Born into modest beginnings, he was one of eight children. His parents owned The Mecca, a local restaurant at the corner of 27th and Vine, the current location of Walgreens. He learned the value of hard work early in life. Peter and his siblings all helped out at the restaurant, famous for its hamburgers. When not studying or working at the restaurant, Peter could also be found mowing the acres of grass in the cemetery across the street. Hard work was a lesson all the Werth children learned early and often. These lessons not only powered him through college but also helped fuel his success throughout his career.

Having had the honor of spending time with Peter and watching him interact with many people, I have been most inspired by how he selflessly develops and champions opportunities for our students that are extraordinarily impactful. We are deeply indebted to Peter for his generous financial support for our Tiger women’s basketball program. But what differentiates Peter’s impact is his focus on crafting peak experiences for our student-athletes – like flying our team to Connecticut to meet legendary coach Geno Auriemma and practice and play an exhibition game against his UConn Huskies, one of the top women’s basketball teams in NCAA Division I. Our student-athletes will remember that experience for the rest of their lives.

“This definitely was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the players,” said FHSU’s Kacey Kennett, who actually was making her second trip to UConn with Peter and the Tiger team – her first time back in 2017 as a player and this year as a graduate assistant coach.&nbsp;

“A lot of Division I teams don’t even get to play UConn,” Kacey added, “so this opportunity – and all the opportunities I have gotten by attending Fort Hays State – I will cherish forever.”

I am also awed by how compassionately he connects with others and his ongoing commitment to helping break down barriers for our students. As a very recent example, Peter is planning to fund the education expenses of a young Nepal woman, Nyima Gyalmu Lama, and send her to FHSU to study nursing. If Nyima can get her Visa by January, she might be able to begin her dream of becoming a nurse as early as the spring 2022 semester!

Recently, a delegation of FHSU faculty and staff had the opportunity to travel to UConn to visit the Peter Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. There, we met sophomore Allie Davenport, who, like Peter, has dreams of making our world better.&nbsp;

Allie was a high school athlete who developed a medical condition known as paradoxical vocal fold motion, a breathing disorder where the vocal cords function abnormally, restricting airflow during respiration. Allie learned that one of the underlying causes of this condition is anxiety.

“My mind was powerful enough to trigger my vocal cords to malfunction and restrict airflow,” she explained.

Allie underwent months of speech therapy to help her retrain her body how to breathe and her mind how to resist a panic mode and to relax. Her journey fueled her passion for mental wellness and for helping to make a difference for others on their personal wellness journey.

With the support of the Peter Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Allie set out to make a difference in the lives of others through the creation of StarMind – an interactive journal that combines daily self-reflection logs, thought-provoking activities, and a series of QR codes that leads the journalist to digital resources and tools on specific psychology-related concepts.

Allie did not just receive funding for an idea. Focusing on experiences, Peter provided her with an audience of FHSU faculty to hear her story and her pitch. We marveled at her passion and dedication. We expressed our enthusiastic support and encouragement. Several purchased journals on the spot while Peter purchased a book for the entire Tiger team and their parents who were present that day.

Like our basketball players and our Nepali nursing student, I bet Allie will remember that day and the connections she made with FHSU Tigers for a very long time. I will maintain an email relationship with Allie myself – encouraging her heart to continue to inspire the hearts and minds of others.&nbsp;

Some may know Peter Werth as a “rags to riches” story, others as an astute and accomplished businessman. I will always see him as someone who has lived his mantra: Be Good. Make A Difference. Change the World.&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>Be Good. Make A Difference. Change the World. These eight words are the guiding principles of Fort Hays State University alumnus Peter J. Werth. Indeed, I have witnessed over and over again his kindness, the tremendous impact he has had on teaching and learning at FHSU, and how Peter has changed not only our world but the lives of so many.&nbsp;Starting with a $25 gift in 1981, and steadily expanding for more than 40 years, Peter has given generously to our women’s basketball program, departments of applied technology and chemistry, the entrepreneurship program housed in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science, the Honors College, and the Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics.&nbsp;Who is Peter J. Werth? If you read his biography, you will know that he has been a transformative visionary leader for more than fifty years. He is the founder, CEO, and president of ChemWerth Inc., Woodbridge, Conn., and a 1959 FHSU graduate with a bachelor of science in chemistry. He also earned a master’s in organic chemistry from Stanford University. Peter began his career with Hewlett-Packard in 1961.In 1964, he worked as a staff scientist at Spindletop Research before becoming the head chemist for Upjohn Pharmaceuticals (now Pfizer). In 1965, he became manager of Upjohn's R&amp;D department. From 1975 to 1983, Peter served as vice president of sales and marketing for Ganes Chemicals. Peter founded ChemWerth in 1982 to develop active pharmaceutical ingredients to produce generic drugs. Today, Peter serves on several boards and is connected to several startup companies as an Angel investor.&nbsp;Another scan of his biography reveals the many awards he has received, including the FHSU Alumni Achievement Award. He also has received honorary doctorate degrees from Southern Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut. The good works of his family foundation, his many charitable contributions, and the impact of his work have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life for people all over the world. &nbsp;However, the elements of his story that most resonate with me are his humble beginnings, strong work ethic, kindness, and the direct, personal impact he has had on so many individuals.&nbsp;Peter grew up in Hays, Kansas. Born into modest beginnings, he was one of eight children. His parents owned The Mecca, a local restaurant at the corner of 27th and Vine, the current location of Walgreens. He learned the value of hard work early in life. Peter and his siblings all helped out at the restaurant, famous for its hamburgers. When not studying or working at the restaurant, Peter could also be found mowing the acres of grass in the cemetery across the street. Hard work was a lesson all the Werth children learned early and often. These lessons not only powered him through college but also helped fuel his success throughout his career.Having had the honor of spending time with Peter and watching him interact with many people, I have been most inspired by how he selflessly develops and champions opportunities for our students that are extraordinarily impactful. We are deeply indebted to Peter for his generous financial support for our Tiger women’s basketball program. But what differentiates Peter’s impact is his focus on crafting peak experiences for our student-athletes – like flying our team to Connecticut to meet legendary coach Geno Auriemma and practice and play an exhibition game against his UConn Huskies, one of the top women’s basketball teams in NCAA Division I. Our student-athletes will remember that experience for the rest of their lives.“This definitely was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the players,” said FHSU’s Kacey Kennett, who actually was making her second trip to UConn with Peter and the Tiger team – her first time back in 2017 as a player and this year as a graduate assistant coach.&nbsp;“A lot of Division I teams don’t even get to play UConn,” Kacey added, “so this opportunity – and all the opportunities I have gotten by attending Fort Hays State – I will cherish forever.”I am also awed by how compassionately he connects with others and his ongoing commitment to helping break down barriers for our students. As a very recent example, Peter is planning to fund the education expenses of a young Nepal woman, Nyima Gyalmu Lama, and send her to FHSU to study nursing. If Nyima can get her Visa by January, she might be able to begin her dream of becoming a nurse as early as the spring 2022 semester!Recently, a delegation of FHSU faculty and staff had the opportunity to travel to UConn to visit the Peter Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. There, we met sophomore Allie Davenport, who, like Peter, has dreams of making our world better.&nbsp;Allie was a high school athlete who developed a medical condition known as paradoxical vocal fold motion, a breathing disorder where the vocal cords function abnormally, restricting airflow during respiration. Allie learned that one of the underlying causes of this condition is anxiety.“My mind was powerful enough to trigger my vocal cords to malfunction and restrict airflow,” she explained.Allie underwent months of speech therapy to help her retrain her body how to breathe and her mind how to resist a panic mode and to relax. Her journey fueled her passion for mental wellness and for helping to make a difference for others on their personal wellness journey.With the support of the Peter Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Allie set out to make a difference in the lives of others through the creation of StarMind – an interactive journal that combines daily self-reflection logs, thought-provoking activities, and a series of QR codes that leads the journalist to digital resources and tools on specific psychology-related concepts.Allie did not just receive funding for an idea. Focusing on experiences, Peter provided her with an audience of FHSU faculty to hear her story and her pitch. We marveled at her passion and dedication. We expressed our enthusiastic support and encouragement. Several purchased journals on the spot while Peter purchased a book for the entire Tiger team and their parents who were present that day.Like our basketball players and our Nepali nursing student, I bet Allie will remember that day and the connections she made with FHSU Tigers for a very long time. I will maintain an email relationship with Allie myself – encouraging her heart to continue to inspire the hearts and minds of others.&nbsp;Some may know Peter Werth as a “rags to riches” story, others as an astute and accomplished businessman. I will always see him as someone who has lived his mantra: Be Good. Make A Difference. Change the World.&nbsp;

MASON: FHSU alum changing the world one experience at a time

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

“Is there anything to do in Kansas?”&nbsp;

“Oh, yes.&nbsp;There are a HUNDRED things to do in Kansas!”&nbsp;

If you don’t believe me, take the word of author Roxie Yonkey. She recently wrote a book titled “100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die.”&nbsp;

Roxie was born and raised in Nebraska and always enjoyed writing. At college in Virginia, she became a staff writer.&nbsp;

Roxie came to Kansas for a job opportunity at the Goodland newspaper. Her plan was to stay for a year. More than 30 years later, she’s still here.&nbsp;

When Roxie took the job in Goodland, she met a good-looking guy at the next desk.&nbsp;&nbsp;Four years later, they would be married. Roxie and Eric bought a newspaper in Syracuse and sold it in 2000.&nbsp;

They came back to northwest Kansas. Roxie found that she enjoyed writing about Kansas attractions. She designed the regional travel guide called the Ultimate Guide to Northwest Kansas, worked for the Sherman County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and became administrator for the Kansas I-70 Association.&nbsp;

When those positions ended, she was not sure what to do next. “I was sitting and staring at my computer, asking myself, `What do I do now?’ Then it was as if a voice said to me, `What do you have in your hand?’ I answered, `A computer mouse…’&nbsp;&nbsp;I realized I could become a travel writer and blogger,” Roxie said.&nbsp;

In 2019, Roxie launched a website called&nbsp;<a href="http://www.roxieontheroad.com/">www.roxieontheroad.com</a>&nbsp;of which she is the Chief Exploration Officer. Her first post was about the Butterfield Trail Museum in the rural community of Russell Springs, population 24 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

Roxie traveled the state extensively to research a book. “I would wake in the night and visualize how the book would go,” Roxie said. “It was writing itself.”&nbsp;

In 2021, Roxie published her book, titled “100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The cover features Kansas sunflowers plus a picture of a tin bucket, to remind you of a bucket list.&nbsp;

“I wanted things from every portion of the state,” Roxie said. The book describes Kansas from corner to corner, from Atchison to Point of Rocks and from Route 66 to the Arikaree Breaks.&nbsp;

“You just have to include certain things, such as Eisenhower and Amelia Earhart,” Roxie said. The book includes big city attractions such as Legends in Kansas City, Old Town in Wichita, and the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, plus many, many rural events such as the Outhouse tour in Elk Falls (I am not making this up).&nbsp;

Descriptions include natural wonders such as the new Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and Cheyenne Bottoms, plus historic landmarks like the Brown v. Board of Education site and John Brown mural at the state capitol. Then there are distinctly Kansas activities such as visiting the Little House on the Prairie or singing the state song at the Home on the Range cabin.&nbsp;

The book is conveniently organized into sections on Food and Drink, Music and Entertainment, Sports and Recreation, Culture and History, and Shopping and Fashion.&nbsp;&nbsp;She even created an index of suggested itineraries and a list of seasonal activities to be best pursued in the winter, spring, summer or fall.&nbsp;

Ultimately, the book includes much more than 100 things to do. There are photos and descriptions of each of the 100 things, which Roxie augmented with many additional related tips and venue lists. She hopes her book will make a positive difference for the state.&nbsp;

“I would like people to flock to these attractions,” Roxie said. She has already had book orders from California to Connecticut. For more information or to order, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.roxieontheroad.com/">www.roxieontheroad.com</a>.&nbsp;

Is there anything to do in Kansas? Roxie wrote in her preface: “Kansas is subtle. The Sunflower State doesn’t overwhelm visitors with its mountains or its oceans. We have neither. Instead, Kansas sneaks up on its guests, and before they realize it, they’ve fallen in love with the state, its friendly people, fascinating history, beauty, and fun activities.&nbsp;

“I know this,” Roxie wrote, “because it happened to me.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637768594573.png" alt="Yonkey" />
 <figcaption>Yonkey</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development“Is there anything to do in Kansas?”&nbsp;“Oh, yes.&nbsp;There are a HUNDRED things to do in Kansas!”&nbsp;If you don’t believe me, take the word of author Roxie Yonkey. She recently wrote a book titled “100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die.”&nbsp;Roxie was born and raised in Nebraska and always enjoyed writing. At college in Virginia, she became a staff writer.&nbsp;Roxie came to Kansas for a job opportunity at the Goodland newspaper. Her plan was to stay for a year. More than 30 years later, she’s still here.&nbsp;When Roxie took the job in Goodland, she met a good-looking guy at the next desk.&nbsp;&nbsp;Four years later, they would be married. Roxie and Eric bought a newspaper in Syracuse and sold it in 2000.&nbsp;They came back to northwest Kansas. Roxie found that she enjoyed writing about Kansas attractions. She designed the regional travel guide called the Ultimate Guide to Northwest Kansas, worked for the Sherman County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and became administrator for the Kansas I-70 Association.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631206837973.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>When those positions ended, she was not sure what to do next. “I was sitting and staring at my computer, asking myself, `What do I do now?’ Then it was as if a voice said to me, `What do you have in your hand?’ I answered, `A computer mouse…’&nbsp;&nbsp;I realized I could become a travel writer and blogger,” Roxie said.&nbsp;In 2019, Roxie launched a website called&nbsp;<a href="http://www.roxieontheroad.com/">www.roxieontheroad.com</a>&nbsp;of which she is the Chief Exploration Officer. Her first post was about the Butterfield Trail Museum in the rural community of Russell Springs, population 24 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;Roxie traveled the state extensively to research a book. “I would wake in the night and visualize how the book would go,” Roxie said. “It was writing itself.”&nbsp;In 2021, Roxie published her book, titled “100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The cover features Kansas sunflowers plus a picture of a tin bucket, to remind you of a bucket list.&nbsp;“I wanted things from every portion of the state,” Roxie said. The book describes Kansas from corner to corner, from Atchison to Point of Rocks and from Route 66 to the Arikaree Breaks.&nbsp;“You just have to include certain things, such as Eisenhower and Amelia Earhart,” Roxie said. The book includes big city attractions such as Legends in Kansas City, Old Town in Wichita, and the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, plus many, many rural events such as the Outhouse tour in Elk Falls (I am not making this up).&nbsp;Descriptions include natural wonders such as the new Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and Cheyenne Bottoms, plus historic landmarks like the Brown v. Board of Education site and John Brown mural at the state capitol. Then there are distinctly Kansas activities such as visiting the Little House on the Prairie or singing the state song at the Home on the Range cabin.&nbsp;The book is conveniently organized into sections on Food and Drink, Music and Entertainment, Sports and Recreation, Culture and History, and Shopping and Fashion.&nbsp;&nbsp;She even created an index of suggested itineraries and a list of seasonal activities to be best pursued in the winter, spring, summer or fall.&nbsp;Ultimately, the book includes much more than 100 things to do. There are photos and descriptions of each of the 100 things, which Roxie augmented with many additional related tips and venue lists. She hopes her book will make a positive difference for the state.&nbsp;“I would like people to flock to these attractions,” Roxie said. She has already had book orders from California to Connecticut. For more information or to order, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.roxieontheroad.com/">www.roxieontheroad.com</a>.&nbsp;Is there anything to do in Kansas? Roxie wrote in her preface: “Kansas is subtle. The Sunflower State doesn’t overwhelm visitors with its mountains or its oceans. We have neither. Instead, Kansas sneaks up on its guests, and before they realize it, they’ve fallen in love with the state, its friendly people, fascinating history, beauty, and fun activities.&nbsp;“I know this,” Roxie wrote, “because it happened to me.”&nbsp;

Now That's Rural: Roxie Yonkey, '100 Things to Do in Kansas'

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau The deer heard my footsteps crunching oak leaves as I crested a hill coming up out of the creek bottom. They didn’t make a sound as they darted through the clearing ahead of me. The white of their tails only briefly signaled their retreat before they slipped further into the tree line. I was taking advantage of decent temperatures to get one last hike in through the forest. They were fattening up before the real weather arrived. I had intruded on their afternoon of browsing on acorns scattered across the ground. The deer weren’t the only sign of colder days ahead. Everywhere I looked there were scant few signs of the previous growing season. A few persimmon fruit were still attached to one tree, but the majority of the burnt orange orbs were scattered among the acorns and hickory nuts on the forest floor. Except for a few maples, whose foliage had turned a deep red warning of what’s to come, the rest of the trees had shed their leaves. The bare branches overlapped like thin fingers against the steel gray sky. I pushed on, crossing the clearing, sliding down the other side of the hill back to the creek valley. The wind was blowing hard enough to make 65 feel a bit chilly when out in the open. In the protection of the trees and terrain, however, my sweatshirt proved to be almost too warm. I worked south as I scouted for an easy crossing, finding a gravel bar after a short hike along the bank. The ripples in the crystal-clear water spanned about four feet and appeared to be only a few inches deep. I carefully placed my foot on a mossy rock, and the water rose to just below my ankle. My treated boots kept my feet dry, but those and my wool socks couldn’t keep the cold from creeping in like an unwelcome guest. After making it across, I continued my push further upstream. I stopped at a pool on the far side of a 10-foot bank. The water was perfectly still, which provided a mirror image of the barren and khaki-colored world around it when viewed from an angle. Stepping to the water’s edge, I could see minnows still flitting about above the bedrock polished by running water. The opposing bank was a geological time capsule from the tan topsoil with roots protruding to the first sheet of shale, which stair-stepped into the water below. The sedimentary veneer once layered at the bottom of a shallow sea are now being carved away by a seasonal stream. This is where I decided to end my journey on foot. The valley narrowed up ahead and the tree cover lessened, allowing for more undergrowth. While a recent frost had taken care of the ticks and copperheads, there were still plenty of locust trees and other thorny obstacles ahead. I retreated to the comfort of a four-wheeler and revved it down an old dirt road, crossing a low-water bridge. The road climbed up a hill before disappearing into pasture. I followed the crest of the hill looking over the creek below, watching as the large hardwoods to the north transitioned to a smattering of redbuds and finally brush along the banks. Just as the brush was giving way to grassland, I spooked another deer, a single doe, out into the open. I got a better look at her than the others. She appeared to be in good health and looked primed for the season to come. She cleared a fence without any hesitation and, moments later, was gone over the horizon. I thought it best to end my intrusion here and went to my truck. On the drive home, I couldn’t help but think about how fortunate I was to have the time and cooperative weather to wander through a world waiting for winter to arrive. I’m not quite ready, but it will be here soon.

<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 The deer heard my footsteps crunching oak leaves as I crested a hill coming up out of the creek bottom. They didn’t make a sound as they darted through the clearing ahead of me. The white of their tails only briefly signaled their retreat before they slipped further into the tree line. I was taking advantage of decent temperatures to get one last hike in through the forest. They were fattening up before the real weather arrived. I had intruded on their afternoon of browsing on acorns scattered across the ground. The deer weren’t the only sign of colder days ahead. Everywhere I looked there were scant few signs of the previous growing season. A few persimmon fruit were still attached to one tree, but the majority of the burnt orange orbs were scattered among the acorns and hickory nuts on the forest floor. Except for a few maples, whose foliage had turned a deep red warning of what’s to come, the rest of the trees had shed their leaves. The bare branches overlapped like thin fingers against the steel gray sky. I pushed on, crossing the clearing, sliding down the other side of the hill back to the creek valley. The wind was blowing hard enough to make 65 feel a bit chilly when out in the open. In the protection of the trees and terrain, however, my sweatshirt proved to be almost too warm. I worked south as I scouted for an easy crossing, finding a gravel bar after a short hike along the bank. The ripples in the crystal-clear water spanned about four feet and appeared to be only a few inches deep. I carefully placed my foot on a mossy rock, and the water rose to just below my ankle. My treated boots kept my feet dry, but those and my wool socks couldn’t keep the cold from creeping in like an unwelcome guest. After making it across, I continued my push further upstream. I stopped at a pool on the far side of a 10-foot bank. The water was perfectly still, which provided a mirror image of the barren and khaki-colored world around it when viewed from an angle. Stepping to the water’s edge, I could see minnows still flitting about above the bedrock polished by running water. The opposing bank was a geological time capsule from the tan topsoil with roots protruding to the first sheet of shale, which stair-stepped into the water below. The sedimentary veneer once layered at the bottom of a shallow sea are now being carved away by a seasonal stream. This is where I decided to end my journey on foot. The valley narrowed up ahead and the tree cover lessened, allowing for more undergrowth. While a recent frost had taken care of the ticks and copperheads, there were still plenty of locust trees and other thorny obstacles ahead. I retreated to the comfort of a four-wheeler and revved it down an old dirt road, crossing a low-water bridge. The road climbed up a hill before disappearing into pasture. I followed the crest of the hill looking over the creek below, watching as the large hardwoods to the north transitioned to a smattering of redbuds and finally brush along the banks. Just as the brush was giving way to grassland, I spooked another deer, a single doe, out into the open. I got a better look at her than the others. She appeared to be in good health and looked primed for the season to come. She cleared a fence without any hesitation and, moments later, was gone over the horizon. I thought it best to end my intrusion here and went to my truck. On the drive home, I couldn’t help but think about how fortunate I was to have the time and cooperative weather to wander through a world waiting for winter to arrive. I’m not quite ready, but it will be here soon."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: Waiting for winter

&nbsp;I used to be “that guy,” that when Joyce and I hunted or fished together, would snicker at the book and other entertainment she took to the deer blind or onto the boat. My logic was simple; we were there to harvest a deer or catch fish, so no other entertainment was necessary! I have since mellowed in my thinking, and a trip down memory lane reminded me of one particular morning deer hunt several years ago that God used to help reshape my attitude.&nbsp;

Naturally, after the driest summer on record, it started to rain when deer hunting and trapping seasons arrived. It had rained most of Friday night and was still drizzling at the crack of dawn Saturday morning. Ever the macho deer hunter, I still crawled from beneath my electric blanket at zero dark thirty to brave the elements. The problem was that either a lengthy drive or a long walk was required to get to all our stand spots but one, and after the amount of rain we had gotten, walking was the only option. Again, being the macho deer hunter, I’m not against a bit-of-an early morning walk, but I know each boot would have accumulated five pounds of mud and I’d have been soaked once I arrived. So, I drove to that one stand where I could park in an old farm yard and walk just behind the buildings to a nice raised stand we built atop an old fuel tank support. That took care of the mud part, but it was still raining, so instead of setting on top, I crawled beneath it and got comfortable in a camp chair.&nbsp;

The floor of the stand was about two feet above me and not completely water tight, but an occasional drip sure trumped sitting in the rain. We always hear a pair of great horned owls at this old farmstead, and this morning I got to watch and listen to them as they wound down from a night’s hunting, and geared up to snooze the day away. The first owl sat on a power pole a couple hundred yards in front of me and called to its mate that I could hear but not yet see.&nbsp; Soon the mate silently flew to the top of a tall cedar so that they were just a stone’s throw away from each other. I had no idea which owl was the male and which was the female, but the calls were very different. Both calls used the same number of syllables, but one call was higher pitched like a woman’s alto tone, and the other was more of a baritone pitch. After awhile, one owl flew off, then the other and the woods was quiet again except for the slow staccato of the drizzling rain and the “plop” made by the occasional drop dripping through the “roof” onto my vinyl vest.&nbsp;

Then came the blackbirds; probably numbering into the tens of thousands, the flying horde actually made a low, muffled roar like the wind blowing through the trees. They landed in the wheat some ways away, but like waves in a living sea of black lapping against the shore, the huge swarm was constantly on the move. Birds from one end would fly up and move to a different spot so that the assemblage appeared to crawl slowly across the field like a giant ameba. Once in the air again, the monstrous flock swirled and twirled like a Kansas twister marching across the plains.&nbsp;

In the distance I began again to hear a muffled roar like the wind slowly picking up. “Was it more blackbirds” I wondered? No, this time it was a rain shower heading toward me. It was quite a sight as a literal curtain of rain slowly crept across the field. The drone became louder and louder until it encompassed the deer stand and the occasional drip became a constant stream. I waited it out and when it had subsided some, I put my hood up and headed for the dry safety of the pickup.

Maybe these sorts of things seem to you like odd topics to write about, but not to me. I know I get so caught up and focused on shooting the deer or catching the fish that I totally miss everything around me. So, the next time you’re sitting in a deer stand or rocking with the waves on a boat in the lake, concentrate on seeing things you usually miss, then close your eyes for awhile and just listen to nature around you and learn to experience God’s marvelous creation in its entirety. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!&nbsp;

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>&nbsp;I used to be “that guy,” that when Joyce and I hunted or fished together, would snicker at the book and other entertainment she took to the deer blind or onto the boat. My logic was simple; we were there to harvest a deer or catch fish, so no other entertainment was necessary! I have since mellowed in my thinking, and a trip down memory lane reminded me of one particular morning deer hunt several years ago that God used to help reshape my attitude.&nbsp;Naturally, after the driest summer on record, it started to rain when deer hunting and trapping seasons arrived. It had rained most of Friday night and was still drizzling at the crack of dawn Saturday morning. Ever the macho deer hunter, I still crawled from beneath my electric blanket at zero dark thirty to brave the elements. The problem was that either a lengthy drive or a long walk was required to get to all our stand spots but one, and after the amount of rain we had gotten, walking was the only option. Again, being the macho deer hunter, I’m not against a bit-of-an early morning walk, but I know each boot would have accumulated five pounds of mud and I’d have been soaked once I arrived. So, I drove to that one stand where I could park in an old farm yard and walk just behind the buildings to a nice raised stand we built atop an old fuel tank support. That took care of the mud part, but it was still raining, so instead of setting on top, I crawled beneath it and got comfortable in a camp chair.&nbsp;The floor of the stand was about two feet above me and not completely water tight, but an occasional drip sure trumped sitting in the rain. We always hear a pair of great horned owls at this old farmstead, and this morning I got to watch and listen to them as they wound down from a night’s hunting, and geared up to snooze the day away. The first owl sat on a power pole a couple hundred yards in front of me and called to its mate that I could hear but not yet see.&nbsp; Soon the mate silently flew to the top of a tall cedar so that they were just a stone’s throw away from each other. I had no idea which owl was the male and which was the female, but the calls were very different. Both calls used the same number of syllables, but one call was higher pitched like a woman’s alto tone, and the other was more of a baritone pitch. After awhile, one owl flew off, then the other and the woods was quiet again except for the slow staccato of the drizzling rain and the “plop” made by the occasional drop dripping through the “roof” onto my vinyl vest.&nbsp;Then came the blackbirds; probably numbering into the tens of thousands, the flying horde actually made a low, muffled roar like the wind blowing through the trees. They landed in the wheat some ways away, but like waves in a living sea of black lapping against the shore, the huge swarm was constantly on the move. Birds from one end would fly up and move to a different spot so that the assemblage appeared to crawl slowly across the field like a giant ameba. Once in the air again, the monstrous flock swirled and twirled like a Kansas twister marching across the plains.&nbsp;In the distance I began again to hear a muffled roar like the wind slowly picking up. “Was it more blackbirds” I wondered? No, this time it was a rain shower heading toward me. It was quite a sight as a literal curtain of rain slowly crept across the field. The drone became louder and louder until it encompassed the deer stand and the occasional drip became a constant stream. I waited it out and when it had subsided some, I put my hood up and headed for the dry safety of the pickup.Maybe these sorts of things seem to you like odd topics to write about, but not to me. I know I get so caught up and focused on shooting the deer or catching the fish that I totally miss everything around me. So, the next time you’re sitting in a deer stand or rocking with the waves on a boat in the lake, concentrate on seeing things you usually miss, then close your eyes for awhile and just listen to nature around you and learn to experience God’s marvelous creation in its entirety. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!&nbsp;Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Sights, sounds from beneath a deer stand

Despite opposition from most of our Kansas congressional delegation, new federal dollars are coming to Kansas to expand broadband access.&nbsp;

President Joe Biden recently signed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, fulfilling a 2020 campaign promise. The bill had moderate bipartisan support, though every Republican in Congress from Kansas opposed it. The only Kansan to support it was Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids.&nbsp;

Kansas will receive about $4 billion from the bill, including about $100 million to expand broadband infrastructure and money to help 669,000 working-class Kansans get discounted internet through the Affordable Connectivity Benefit.&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>Despite opposition from most of our Kansas congressional delegation, new federal dollars are coming to Kansas to expand broadband access.&nbsp;President Joe Biden recently signed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, fulfilling a 2020 campaign promise. The bill had moderate bipartisan support, though every Republican in Congress from Kansas opposed it. The only Kansan to support it was Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids.&nbsp;Kansas will receive about $4 billion from the bill, including about $100 million to expand broadband infrastructure and money to help 669,000 working-class Kansans get discounted internet through the Affordable Connectivity Benefit.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>“Broadband” means high speed internet access, specifically a minimum of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download speed. However, many tech experts argue that this definition is outdated, and suggest a 100 Mbps standard.&nbsp;Broadband is an economic necessity. Businesses without it struggle to grow. Doctors without it struggle to serve patients. Kansans without it struggle through basic online tasks using unreliable and slow connections.&nbsp;According to BroadbandNow, which tracks internet provider data, 173,000 Kansans lack home broadband service and 307,000 don’t have access to connections capable of broadband speed.&nbsp;Rural communities generally struggle more to get broadband access. Basic capitalism explains why: it’s expensive and not necessarily profitable for businesses to build broadband infrastructure in smaller rural communities with lower population densities and often shrinking populations.&nbsp;BroadbandNow data shows this divide in Kansas. For example, in urban Shawnee County, 95 percent of residents have access to 25 Mbps speed and 93 percent have 100 Mbps. Next door in rural Wabaunsee County, those figures are 65 percent and 55 percent respectively. In rural Doniphan County, that’s 89 percent and 12 percent.&nbsp;The infrastructure bill has odd politics considering that several provisions — like broadband — disproportionately help Republican-leaning rural communities. Why would our elected Republicans oppose it?&nbsp;Broadband got engulfed in the theater of Beltway partisan politics. In 2016, former President Donald Trump promised a $1 trillion infrastructure bill. Trump didn’t keep that promise. He then attacked the Biden bill and acted offended at Republicans who supported it.&nbsp;&nbsp;Even if our Republican lawmakers secretly supported the infrastructure bill and broadband money for Kansas, politics prevented them from being open about it. Maybe they feared ending their political careers in a primary. But rural Kansans getting internet via dial up or a slow mobile hotspot with limited data probably don’t care which president’s signature helps bring them broadband.&nbsp;&nbsp;Some of our Kansas Republican lawmakers criticized the cost of the infrastructure bill and its impact on debt. Maybe they forgot that Trump’s infrastructure plan cost about the same as Biden’s, or that Trump’s presidency added $7.8 trillion in national debt, per Federal Reserve data. Politics — not money — seems the real issue.&nbsp;Some politicians claim they support broadband but oppose the infrastructure bill. Okay. Words won’t fix this problem. What legislation have they sponsored to fund broadband separately? And do they support the House Republican CONNECT Act in this Congress that would ban local governments from creating broadband networks to serve their local citizens?&nbsp;&nbsp;Of all the parts of the infrastructure bill, broadband seems worth the cost, especially if it helps our struggling rural communities integrate into the modern economy and stop population loss. It’s unfortunate that Beltway politics kept average Kansans from getting the greater bipartisan support that they deserved here.&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

Opinion