The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.&nbsp; The opportunity opened up when the Packers’ star quarterback Aaron Rodgers could not play after testing positive for COVID-19.&nbsp; Previously, Rodgers had said he was “immunized,” but under scrutiny he admitted he had used homeopathic treatments and drugs not approved for COVID, including one used to treat people and animals for parasites.&nbsp; Ivermectin is neither approved nor effective as a COVID vaccination, and its misuse can lead to hospitalization and even death. Rodgers claims to be allergic to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines but will not say why.&nbsp; Even if true, he is still eligible for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which he has not received.

Social media lit up with jokesters having a ball at Rodgers’ expense.&nbsp; One New Jersey mom volunteered to play quarterback in Rodgers’ place.&nbsp; She acknowledged that she has never played and knows little about football, but “I did my own research, so I’ll be fine,” she wrote.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At least she was kidding.&nbsp; Most people who use that phrase are deadly serious — and dead wrong.

Looking up un- or improperly fact-checked nonsense on the internet and taking it for truth, all under the auspices of “doing my own research,” has become the bane of teachers, health care workers, researchers, and government officials alike.&nbsp; It disrupts classrooms and town hall meetings and makes effective policy making nearly impossible.&nbsp; It even leads to the occasional death threat.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It is just as bad in the political arena.&nbsp; Politicians who should know better continue to spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 elections, certified by Trump appointee Christopher Krebs as the most secure in U.S. history.&nbsp; Many of these politicos know they are lying, but they must placate their party’s base.&nbsp; Meanwhile, people die needlessly because of anti-vaxxer nonsense, and the deranged QAnon conspiracy theory refuses to go away.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Conspiracy theorists justify all this by claiming that traditional news media reporters and editors show bias.&nbsp; Sometimes, this is true.&nbsp; However, reporters also rigorously check their stories using reliable sources and professional journalism training.&nbsp; This is the difference between information and disinformation.&nbsp; Information is not perfect, but it is credible.&nbsp; Disinformation is neither.

We all want to be experts on things about which we know very little.&nbsp; Many of us would probably like to play quarterback for the Packers, too, but we are not qualified.&nbsp; It takes talent, luck, discipline, and practice to become a football player, and years of schooling and practice to be a good epidemiologist, doctor, or nurse.&nbsp; When it comes to election analysis, we read countless books, articles, depositions, and reports, serve as expert witnesses, and spend months deep-diving into elections data using advanced statistical programs and methods training.&nbsp; Some findings surprise me, for example when I discovered that photo ID laws do not suppress Democratic votes as is widely believed.&nbsp; Sometimes, we have to admit that our hypotheses are not confirmed by the data.&nbsp; It takes a long career of education, successes, and even a few failures to get here.&nbsp;&nbsp;

None of this can be summed up in a TikTok video or viral Facebook post.

Aaron Rodgers did not do his own research.&nbsp; He fell for ridiculous conspiracy theories that put himself, his family, his team, and the opposing teams at risk.&nbsp; He also handed a badly-needed win to the Chiefs, who have one of the highest vaccination rates in the NFL.

Thanks, Aaron. Now get off social media and go get vaccinated.&nbsp; Go Chiefs!

Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576785940426.png" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.&nbsp; The opportunity opened up when the Packers’ star quarterback Aaron Rodgers could not play after testing positive for COVID-19.&nbsp; Previously, Rodgers had said he was “immunized,” but under scrutiny he admitted he had used homeopathic treatments and drugs not approved for COVID, including one used to treat people and animals for parasites.&nbsp; Ivermectin is neither approved nor effective as a COVID vaccination, and its misuse can lead to hospitalization and even death. Rodgers claims to be allergic to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines but will not say why.&nbsp; Even if true, he is still eligible for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which he has not received.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Social media lit up with jokesters having a ball at Rodgers’ expense.&nbsp; One New Jersey mom volunteered to play quarterback in Rodgers’ place.&nbsp; She acknowledged that she has never played and knows little about football, but “I did my own research, so I’ll be fine,” she wrote.&nbsp;&nbsp;At least she was kidding.&nbsp; Most people who use that phrase are deadly serious — and dead wrong.Looking up un- or improperly fact-checked nonsense on the internet and taking it for truth, all under the auspices of “doing my own research,” has become the bane of teachers, health care workers, researchers, and government officials alike.&nbsp; It disrupts classrooms and town hall meetings and makes effective policy making nearly impossible.&nbsp; It even leads to the occasional death threat.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is just as bad in the political arena.&nbsp; Politicians who should know better continue to spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 elections, certified by Trump appointee Christopher Krebs as the most secure in U.S. history.&nbsp; Many of these politicos know they are lying, but they must placate their party’s base.&nbsp; Meanwhile, people die needlessly because of anti-vaxxer nonsense, and the deranged QAnon conspiracy theory refuses to go away.&nbsp;&nbsp;Conspiracy theorists justify all this by claiming that traditional news media reporters and editors show bias.&nbsp; Sometimes, this is true.&nbsp; However, reporters also rigorously check their stories using reliable sources and professional journalism training.&nbsp; This is the difference between information and disinformation.&nbsp; Information is not perfect, but it is credible.&nbsp; Disinformation is neither.We all want to be experts on things about which we know very little.&nbsp; Many of us would probably like to play quarterback for the Packers, too, but we are not qualified.&nbsp; It takes talent, luck, discipline, and practice to become a football player, and years of schooling and practice to be a good epidemiologist, doctor, or nurse.&nbsp; When it comes to election analysis, we read countless books, articles, depositions, and reports, serve as expert witnesses, and spend months deep-diving into elections data using advanced statistical programs and methods training.&nbsp; Some findings surprise me, for example when I discovered that photo ID laws do not suppress Democratic votes as is widely believed.&nbsp; Sometimes, we have to admit that our hypotheses are not confirmed by the data.&nbsp; It takes a long career of education, successes, and even a few failures to get here.&nbsp;&nbsp;None of this can be summed up in a TikTok video or viral Facebook post.Aaron Rodgers did not do his own research.&nbsp; He fell for ridiculous conspiracy theories that put himself, his family, his team, and the opposing teams at risk.&nbsp; He also handed a badly-needed win to the Chiefs, who have one of the highest vaccination rates in the NFL.Thanks, Aaron. Now get off social media and go get vaccinated.&nbsp; Go Chiefs!Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Aaron Rodgers and the folly of 'doing your own research'

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

Let’s hit the hardwood. No, I’m not referring to chopping firewood for winter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In this case, hardwood refers to the hardwood floor of old-time basketball gyms across Kansas. Today we’ll meet a Kansas author who has written a book about classic basketball gyms in towns small and large across the state.&nbsp;

Brian Stucky is a retired teacher, author and artist in Goessel. He grew up on a farm near Goessel and attended Liberty Rural Grade School. He credits his parents, Ransom and Mary Stucky, for spurring his interest in basketball.&nbsp;

“Dad taught us fundamentals and mom was our number one fan,” he said. The senior Ransom even made the all-conference team while playing for Bethel College in 1948.&nbsp;

Brian carried on his father’s interest in basketball. At Moundridge High School, Brian played on the school’s first state champion team in 1971. He went on to play at Bethel College himself, including the tournament team of the 1973 KCAC champions.&nbsp;

Brian pursued a long and successful career in teaching and coaching basketball, volleyball and track at high schools and junior highs in Buhler and Goessel before retiring. As a track coach, he coached 13 individual state champions and two AAU national champions. In 1984, he carried the Olympic torch in the torch relay.&nbsp;

Brian had great memories of the classic old basketball gyms of yesteryear. As schools modernized their facilities, Brian observed that some of these antique gyms were lost.&nbsp;&nbsp;He began a six-year journey around Kansas to find gyms that had been built before 1950 and that were in nearly original condition, and to photograph them with a related legendary old coach, player or personality.&nbsp;

In 2003, he published those stories and photos in a book titled “Hallowed Hardwood – Vintage Basketball Gyms of Kansas.” It is a collection of vignettes, each two pages with multiple photos of the gyms and the stories of the players, coaches and notable fans who participated in them. The book has been reprinted and revised twice since then.&nbsp;

“I had no idea I would catch lightning in a bottle like this,” Brian wrote. He received an award from the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association for preserving the history of the game of basketball.&nbsp;

The book includes stories of 25 small town gyms, 15 larger school gyms, five community buildings and six college gyms. Among those were stories of Roy Williams at Allen Fieldhouse and Ernie Barrett — known as Mr. K-State — at Ahearn Fieldhouse.&nbsp;

The small town stories span the alphabet, from Appanoose to Zenith. They are the tales of championship teams, white-hot rivalries, dusty trophy cases and games played in cracker box gyms so small that the free throw circle overlaps half court. There are the antique gyms where a balcony hangs over the court and the wall is out of bounds.&nbsp;

There are also stories of the Tescott team that went undefeated in 1957, and Jackie Stiles setting the state scoring record at Claflin with her tenacious work ethic.&nbsp;

There’s the incredible tale of the coach at Clements in 1951 who disciplined his star player by making him sit out a game. The player’s father, who had recently gotten out of jail for murder, threatened to kill the coach if his son didn’t play. The coach stuck to his guns, so to speak, and benched the player when they played at rival Cedar Point.&nbsp;

Clements fans were so mad that they mobbed the coach as he left the gym. Just then, some other fans from Clements showed up with pitchforks and baseball bats to support the coach and escort him to safety. Brian Stucky wrote: “He was saved by peasants with pitchforks.”&nbsp;

These classic gyms are found in places as small as Plevna, population 98; Wallace, population 57; and Cedar Point, population 28 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information or to order the book, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hallowedhardwood.com/">www.hallowedhardwood.com</a>.&nbsp;

Let’s hit the hardwood – not firewood for the winter, but the old hardwood floors where basketball was played a half-century ago. We commend Brian Stucky for making a difference by preserving and chronicling such history. As a play-by-play announcer would say after a made basket:&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s good!”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636557345818.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;Let’s hit the hardwood. No, I’m not referring to chopping firewood for winter.&nbsp;&nbsp;In this case, hardwood refers to the hardwood floor of old-time basketball gyms across Kansas. Today we’ll meet a Kansas author who has written a book about classic basketball gyms in towns small and large across the state.&nbsp;Brian Stucky is a retired teacher, author and artist in Goessel. He grew up on a farm near Goessel and attended Liberty Rural Grade School. He credits his parents, Ransom and Mary Stucky, for spurring his interest in basketball.&nbsp;“Dad taught us fundamentals and mom was our number one fan,” he said. The senior Ransom even made the all-conference team while playing for Bethel College in 1948.&nbsp;Brian carried on his father’s interest in basketball. At Moundridge High School, Brian played on the school’s first state champion team in 1971. He went on to play at Bethel College himself, including the tournament team of the 1973 KCAC champions.&nbsp;Brian pursued a long and successful career in teaching and coaching basketball, volleyball and track at high schools and junior highs in Buhler and Goessel before retiring. As a track coach, he coached 13 individual state champions and two AAU national champions. In 1984, he carried the Olympic torch in the torch relay.&nbsp;Brian had great memories of the classic old basketball gyms of yesteryear. As schools modernized their facilities, Brian observed that some of these antique gyms were lost.&nbsp;&nbsp;He began a six-year journey around Kansas to find gyms that had been built before 1950 and that were in nearly original condition, and to photograph them with a related legendary old coach, player or personality.&nbsp;In 2003, he published those stories and photos in a book titled “Hallowed Hardwood – Vintage Basketball Gyms of Kansas.” It is a collection of vignettes, each two pages with multiple photos of the gyms and the stories of the players, coaches and notable fans who participated in them. The book has been reprinted and revised twice since then.&nbsp;“I had no idea I would catch lightning in a bottle like this,” Brian wrote. He received an award from the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association for preserving the history of the game of basketball.&nbsp;The book includes stories of 25 small town gyms, 15 larger school gyms, five community buildings and six college gyms. Among those were stories of Roy Williams at Allen Fieldhouse and Ernie Barrett — known as Mr. K-State — at Ahearn Fieldhouse.&nbsp;The small town stories span the alphabet, from Appanoose to Zenith. They are the tales of championship teams, white-hot rivalries, dusty trophy cases and games played in cracker box gyms so small that the free throw circle overlaps half court. There are the antique gyms where a balcony hangs over the court and the wall is out of bounds.&nbsp;There are also stories of the Tescott team that went undefeated in 1957, and Jackie Stiles setting the state scoring record at Claflin with her tenacious work ethic.&nbsp;There’s the incredible tale of the coach at Clements in 1951 who disciplined his star player by making him sit out a game. The player’s father, who had recently gotten out of jail for murder, threatened to kill the coach if his son didn’t play. The coach stuck to his guns, so to speak, and benched the player when they played at rival Cedar Point.&nbsp;Clements fans were so mad that they mobbed the coach as he left the gym. Just then, some other fans from Clements showed up with pitchforks and baseball bats to support the coach and escort him to safety. Brian Stucky wrote: “He was saved by peasants with pitchforks.”&nbsp;These classic gyms are found in places as small as Plevna, population 98; Wallace, population 57; and Cedar Point, population 28 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information or to order the book, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hallowedhardwood.com/">www.hallowedhardwood.com</a>.&nbsp;Let’s hit the hardwood – not firewood for the winter, but the old hardwood floors where basketball was played a half-century ago. We commend Brian Stucky for making a difference by preserving and chronicling such history. As a play-by-play announcer would say after a made basket:&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s good!”&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Brian Stucky, 'Hallowed Hardwood'

I come from a family where many have served in the military in one way, shape or form. My dad was an infantryman in the Army during WW II and served in Italy for a time. His older brother served as Flight Engineer on a B-24, flying 13 missions over Germany during WWII. I was a Field Artillery Meteorologist, collecting atmospheric data for the artillery for 20 years in the Army National Guard, and was in Bosnia for 6 months. My wife Joyce spent 8 years in the Air National Guard as a photographer and as a plane cargo loader. Three of her uncles, all from Mennonite families, served in the army and navy during WWII and the Korean Conflict. Two of my cousins were in the Air Force, one of my nephews was a marine and another nephew is currently in the navy. When asked by her siblings, (all who are also Conscientious Objectors,) why she joined the military, my wife Joyce replied “Cause daddy never told me not to.”&nbsp; I say all this not to brag, but to say that we are a family who believes in and supports maintaining a strong military in the United States.

The person who suggested I write this column, told me of an office conversation discussing whether or not to do anything special this year for Veterans Day in their paper. One coworker replied “Yes, absolutely. Patriotism has to be taught.” That got me thinking about ways we can teach our kids and new citizens to be proud of our country and of our military, both current members and veterans.&nbsp;

First of all, by example, teach your kids respect for our flag, for the pledge of allegiance to our flag and for our National Anthem. When reciting the pledge of allegiance, honoring our flag as it is displayed or paraded past you or when singing the Star-Spangled Banner, stand, come to attention and face the flag with your right hand over your heart. Now, some will say the flag is only a piece of cloth, the pledge of allegiance only something we recite and the national anthem only a song. While those statements are true, these things are symbols of our freedom and of our country. Teaching our youth respect for these things will help teach them appreciation for God’s allowing us to live in a free country like the United States, appreciation for the soldiers that currently serve, soldiers that have served in the past and soldiers that have died protecting that freedom.&nbsp;

Most places you go, be it Walmart, the mall, a fast-food restaurant or some large event, you will see men and women wearing a hat or another item of clothing giving the appearance that they are military veterans. Ask those people if they are veterans, and if so, offer your hand and thank them for their service, and urge your kids to do the same. This is also a great gesture toward law enforcement personnel, firefighters and all manner of first responders, for they, like soldiers are the ones who run toward dangerous situations, allowing the rest of us run to safety.&nbsp;

I agree with the assessment that “Patriotism has to be taught,” and we as parents and grandparents must be the teachers. Be creative with other ways to honor our veterans this Veteran’s Day. Offer to pay for their Big Mac and fries, their morning coffee at Scooters or at the local café, let them go ahead of you in line at Dillons, etc. Also, take your kids and grandkids to church and be the example of wholeheartedly thanking God for these freedoms we have. As Lee Greenwood so eloquently sang, “God Bless the USA”

Steve Gilliland, Inamn, 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>I come from a family where many have served in the military in one way, shape or form. My dad was an infantryman in the Army during WW II and served in Italy for a time. His older brother served as Flight Engineer on a B-24, flying 13 missions over Germany during WWII. I was a Field Artillery Meteorologist, collecting atmospheric data for the artillery for 20 years in the Army National Guard, and was in Bosnia for 6 months. My wife Joyce spent 8 years in the Air National Guard as a photographer and as a plane cargo loader. Three of her uncles, all from Mennonite families, served in the army and navy during WWII and the Korean Conflict. Two of my cousins were in the Air Force, one of my nephews was a marine and another nephew is currently in the navy. When asked by her siblings, (all who are also Conscientious Objectors,) why she joined the military, my wife Joyce replied “Cause daddy never told me not to.”&nbsp; I say all this not to brag, but to say that we are a family who believes in and supports maintaining a strong military in the United States.The person who suggested I write this column, told me of an office conversation discussing whether or not to do anything special this year for Veterans Day in their paper. One coworker replied “Yes, absolutely. Patriotism has to be taught.” That got me thinking about ways we can teach our kids and new citizens to be proud of our country and of our military, both current members and veterans.&nbsp;First of all, by example, teach your kids respect for our flag, for the pledge of allegiance to our flag and for our National Anthem. When reciting the pledge of allegiance, honoring our flag as it is displayed or paraded past you or when singing the Star-Spangled Banner, stand, come to attention and face the flag with your right hand over your heart. Now, some will say the flag is only a piece of cloth, the pledge of allegiance only something we recite and the national anthem only a song. While those statements are true, these things are symbols of our freedom and of our country. Teaching our youth respect for these things will help teach them appreciation for God’s allowing us to live in a free country like the United States, appreciation for the soldiers that currently serve, soldiers that have served in the past and soldiers that have died protecting that freedom.&nbsp;Most places you go, be it Walmart, the mall, a fast-food restaurant or some large event, you will see men and women wearing a hat or another item of clothing giving the appearance that they are military veterans. Ask those people if they are veterans, and if so, offer your hand and thank them for their service, and urge your kids to do the same. This is also a great gesture toward law enforcement personnel, firefighters and all manner of first responders, for they, like soldiers are the ones who run toward dangerous situations, allowing the rest of us run to safety.&nbsp;I agree with the assessment that “Patriotism has to be taught,” and we as parents and grandparents must be the teachers. Be creative with other ways to honor our veterans this Veteran’s Day. Offer to pay for their Big Mac and fries, their morning coffee at Scooters or at the local café, let them go ahead of you in line at Dillons, etc. Also, take your kids and grandkids to church and be the example of wholeheartedly thanking God for these freedoms we have. As Lee Greenwood so eloquently sang, “God Bless the USA”Steve Gilliland, Inamn, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Veterans Day

By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher Paid time-off for farmers is one of the intriguing ideas that caught the attention of our group during the recent Kansas Farm Bureau Casten Fellows international travel experience to the Baltics. One of the young farmers we met shared that the Replacement Farmers program provides subsidized, qualified workers to help during illness or time away on vacation. This first-generation farmer said she uses the Replacement Farmers for education and expertise because of the knowledge and experience required of the fill-in workers. That clear recognition of the mastery needed to succeed in farming was a lightbulb moment for our group. We realized that every farmer we met with in the Baltics has made a conscious decision with their career and business ownership. There is no multi-generational pressure because farm ownership is still in the first generation. People choosing farming careers take their work seriously; they seek out education and training opportunities to improve themselves because everyone there remembers how many people failed at farming after the region was liberated from Soviet occupation. Farming is a respected profession. Can a farmer be considered a professional? The status of being a professional probably seems like a silly question, but it’s worth pondering. The Oxford Languages dictionary definition of professional focuses on a person with “prolonged training or a formal qualification.” So many people in our world think farmers are people who lack intelligence and ambition. They definitely have no idea how many are college educated with degrees in everything from engineering and finance to chemistry and genetics. I always enjoy enlightening people who have never met a farmer and have visions of farmers being what they were portrayed as on television shows of the 1950s. I think most modern farmers could pass the litmus test of training and qualification. However, in direct conflict with the idea of farmers being professionals is the Merriam Webster definition specifically states, “an occupation that is not mechanical or agricultural.” That definition aligns with more medieval views that separate the learned professions (law, medicine and divinity) from other trades or farm laborers. However, if we are going to believe historical definitions we need to include ones that add the idea of professionals providing services for the benefit of the client or the public. Farmers definitely do that. As Americans, we enjoy the most abundant, safest and cheapest food supply in the world. That has allowed the public to detach itself from the realities of what it takes to ensure the security of this foundational need. The supply chain disruptions of the past 18 months are the first time in the lives of many generations’ that we have had even the slightest moments of scarcity. If you are one of the people just noticing farmers, I hope you see the way they have worked to improve their practices to ensure food safety; updated equipment and inputs to increase efficiency keeping costs low; and innovated and experimented to increase yields to keep up with global demand. They continue to plant their crops and care for animals whether prices are high or low. They wear dozens of hats and are continually learning to stay on top of their ever-changing industry. Maybe you have never thought of farmers as professionals and think they do not strictly fit into the dictionary definitions. But, I challenge you to consider the complex nature of modern agricultural systems, their benefit to the public and the required skills formed through prolonged training it takes to produce our food. In the big picture, I believe farmers have earned the designation of professional.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher Paid time-off for farmers is one of the intriguing ideas that caught the attention of our group during the recent Kansas Farm Bureau Casten Fellows international travel experience to the Baltics. One of the young farmers we met shared that the Replacement Farmers program provides subsidized, qualified workers to help during illness or time away on vacation. This first-generation farmer said she uses the Replacement Farmers for education and expertise because of the knowledge and experience required of the fill-in workers. That clear recognition of the mastery needed to succeed in farming was a lightbulb moment for our group. We realized that every farmer we met with in the Baltics has made a conscious decision with their career and business ownership. There is no multi-generational pressure because farm ownership is still in the first generation. People choosing farming careers take their work seriously; they seek out education and training opportunities to improve themselves because everyone there remembers how many people failed at farming after the region was liberated from Soviet occupation. Farming is a respected profession. Can a farmer be considered a professional? The status of being a professional probably seems like a silly question, but it’s worth pondering. The Oxford Languages dictionary definition of professional focuses on a person with “prolonged training or a formal qualification.” So many people in our world think farmers are people who lack intelligence and ambition. They definitely have no idea how many are college educated with degrees in everything from engineering and finance to chemistry and genetics. I always enjoy enlightening people who have never met a farmer and have visions of farmers being what they were portrayed as on television shows of the 1950s. I think most modern farmers could pass the litmus test of training and qualification. However, in direct conflict with the idea of farmers being professionals is the Merriam Webster definition specifically states, “an occupation that is not mechanical or agricultural.” That definition aligns with more medieval views that separate the learned professions (law, medicine and divinity) from other trades or farm laborers. However, if we are going to believe historical definitions we need to include ones that add the idea of professionals providing services for the benefit of the client or the public. Farmers definitely do that. As Americans, we enjoy the most abundant, safest and cheapest food supply in the world. That has allowed the public to detach itself from the realities of what it takes to ensure the security of this foundational need. The supply chain disruptions of the past 18 months are the first time in the lives of many generations’ that we have had even the slightest moments of scarcity. If you are one of the people just noticing farmers, I hope you see the way they have worked to improve their practices to ensure food safety; updated equipment and inputs to increase efficiency keeping costs low; and innovated and experimented to increase yields to keep up with global demand. They continue to plant their crops and care for animals whether prices are high or low. They wear dozens of hats and are continually learning to stay on top of their ever-changing industry. Maybe you have never thought of farmers as professionals and think they do not strictly fit into the dictionary definitions. But, I challenge you to consider the complex nature of modern agricultural systems, their benefit to the public and the required skills formed through prolonged training it takes to produce our food. In the big picture, I believe farmers have earned the designation of professional."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: The professional farmer

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Are you ready? Are you ready to advance your business in the race to a modern digital environment? Today we’ll learn about a new digital, online initiative to support rural businesses.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Last week we met Christina Long, strategic director for NetWorked – Partnership for Community Investment. She facilitates monthly online convenings during which participants can learn about resources to help businesses and communities. The get-togethers are conducted on Zoom and archived on the NetWorked website.&nbsp;

“We are bringing networks together that may not typically have a way to naturally connect,” Christina said. “We learn about resources and information that we can take back to our communities to activate strong community changes.”&nbsp;

Monthly topics have included&nbsp;the Kansas Community Investment Fund, the Kansas Leadership Center transformation grants and programs, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Healthify and Pathway grant, food access and food insecurity as addressed by the Rural Grocery Initiative, and the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative.&nbsp;

Along with NetWork Kansas and other partners, these programs have assisted and invested in small businesses across the state – even in communities as small as the store in the rural community of Mildred, population 28 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

Now there is another, brand new resource to help small businesses. It was highlighted during a recent online session.&nbsp;

“NetWork Kansas is partnering with Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Verizon to offer this new program,” said Steve Radley, NetWork Kansas CEO. It is called the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program. As of Oct. 1, this program is available for free online. Verizon has stated a goal that, by 2030, the company would provide 1 million small businesses with resources to help those businesses thrive in the digital economy.&nbsp;

Evelyn McKinney of Rural LISC explained the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program at the NetWorked convening. LISC was founded by the Ford Foundation in 1979. Evelyn is part of the Rural LISC team.&nbsp;

“Rural LISC is focused on making our rural communities great places to live, work, play and innovate,” she said. LISC operates through a set of localized partners referred to as business development organizations.&nbsp;

“(NetWork Kansas) is one of our stellar rural-serving (business development organizations),” Evelyn said. “Now, NetWork Kansas and Verizon are bringing something special to all small business owners.”&nbsp;

The program is described as an integrated platform to provide curriculum, coaching and community, curated for small business needs. The guiding principles for this initiative are that it should be personalized, integrated, guided, scalable and authentic.&nbsp;

The program consists of online content and curriculum, one-to-one coaching and mentoring, small business community-building, and incentives, through a unified dashboard.&nbsp;

The service is free. The first step is for business owners to register online, at which point they will be taken to an introductory landing page. The second step is an onboarding page where the business owner provides information so the program can be targeted to the company’s needs. The third step is a customized learning dashboard that reflects a customized learning plan.&nbsp;

“Everything is addressed and delivered through a small business lens,” said LISC staff member Karleen Porcena. “You’re not going to feel like you’re in a classroom. These are bite-sized learning modules. You don’t have to sit through a two-hour lecture.”&nbsp;

The curriculum is focused on three elements: Customers, operations, and money.&nbsp;

Modules include branding, search engine optimization, online growth marketing, resiliency, cybersecurity, financing, and much more.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Content is great, but people need additional resources after getting that content,” Karleen said.&nbsp;

“Entrepreneurship is economic empowerment,” Steve said. “It is so critical that disadvantaged geographies and disadvantaged populations have the opportunity to be entrepreneurs and have the necessary resources available to them.”&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/digital-inclusion/small-business-training">www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/digital-inclusion/small-business-training</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.networkedforchange.com/">www.networkedforchange.com</a>.&nbsp;

Are you ready? Are you equipped for your business to move forward in the digital world?&nbsp;&nbsp;We commend Christina Long, Steve Radley and all those involved with NetWorked and the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform for making a difference by bringing these new resources to Kansas.&nbsp;

To small business owners, we can say:&nbsp;&nbsp;Ready, set, go!&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635947435612.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentAre you ready? Are you ready to advance your business in the race to a modern digital environment? Today we’ll learn about a new digital, online initiative to support rural businesses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Last week we met Christina Long, strategic director for NetWorked – Partnership for Community Investment. She facilitates monthly online convenings during which participants can learn about resources to help businesses and communities. The get-togethers are conducted on Zoom and archived on the NetWorked website.&nbsp;“We are bringing networks together that may not typically have a way to naturally connect,” Christina said. “We learn about resources and information that we can take back to our communities to activate strong community changes.”&nbsp;Monthly topics have included&nbsp;the Kansas Community Investment Fund, the Kansas Leadership Center transformation grants and programs, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Healthify and Pathway grant, food access and food insecurity as addressed by the Rural Grocery Initiative, and the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative.&nbsp;Along with NetWork Kansas and other partners, these programs have assisted and invested in small businesses across the state – even in communities as small as the store in the rural community of Mildred, population 28 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;Now there is another, brand new resource to help small businesses. It was highlighted during a recent online session.&nbsp;“NetWork Kansas is partnering with Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Verizon to offer this new program,” said Steve Radley, NetWork Kansas CEO. It is called the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program. As of Oct. 1, this program is available for free online. Verizon has stated a goal that, by 2030, the company would provide 1 million small businesses with resources to help those businesses thrive in the digital economy.&nbsp;Evelyn McKinney of Rural LISC explained the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program at the NetWorked convening. LISC was founded by the Ford Foundation in 1979. Evelyn is part of the Rural LISC team.&nbsp;“Rural LISC is focused on making our rural communities great places to live, work, play and innovate,” she said. LISC operates through a set of localized partners referred to as business development organizations.&nbsp;“(NetWork Kansas) is one of our stellar rural-serving (business development organizations),” Evelyn said. “Now, NetWork Kansas and Verizon are bringing something special to all small business owners.”&nbsp;The program is described as an integrated platform to provide curriculum, coaching and community, curated for small business needs. The guiding principles for this initiative are that it should be personalized, integrated, guided, scalable and authentic.&nbsp;The program consists of online content and curriculum, one-to-one coaching and mentoring, small business community-building, and incentives, through a unified dashboard.&nbsp;The service is free. The first step is for business owners to register online, at which point they will be taken to an introductory landing page. The second step is an onboarding page where the business owner provides information so the program can be targeted to the company’s needs. The third step is a customized learning dashboard that reflects a customized learning plan.&nbsp;“Everything is addressed and delivered through a small business lens,” said LISC staff member Karleen Porcena. “You’re not going to feel like you’re in a classroom. These are bite-sized learning modules. You don’t have to sit through a two-hour lecture.”&nbsp;The curriculum is focused on three elements: Customers, operations, and money.&nbsp;Modules include branding, search engine optimization, online growth marketing, resiliency, cybersecurity, financing, and much more.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Content is great, but people need additional resources after getting that content,” Karleen said.&nbsp;“Entrepreneurship is economic empowerment,” Steve said. “It is so critical that disadvantaged geographies and disadvantaged populations have the opportunity to be entrepreneurs and have the necessary resources available to them.”&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/digital-inclusion/small-business-training">www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/digital-inclusion/small-business-training</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.networkedforchange.com/">www.networkedforchange.com</a>.&nbsp;Are you ready? Are you equipped for your business to move forward in the digital world?&nbsp;&nbsp;We commend Christina Long, Steve Radley and all those involved with NetWorked and the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform for making a difference by bringing these new resources to Kansas.&nbsp;To small business owners, we can say:&nbsp;&nbsp;Ready, set, go!&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Christina Long, NetWorked

According to a national study published by the American Medical Association last month, 65% of Kansas children have elevated levels of lead in their blood — 15 points higher than the national average.

There is no safe level of lead, per the Center for Disease Control.

Lead exposure, especially early in life, can lead to brain and nervous system damage, slow growth and development, and learning, behavior, hearing, and speech problems.

While we have made significant progress over the past 40 years in reducing lead exposure via government policies that work to eliminate it from gasoline, paint, plumbing, and consumer products, there is still much to be done. Many older homes in low-income areas, especially minority-populated urban areas, still have an abundance of lead in paint and plumbing.

Health concerns associated with lead exposure invoke thoughts of Flint, Michigan where, in the name of financial savings, the local and state governments failed to appropriately treat the water supply and it poisoned thousands of children. The city’s kids will never fully recover.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2ffa58eb-8af6-40de-95c5-e28942a8cc65">RELATED:&nbsp;Report allows Kan. residents to see their drinking water contaminants</a>

But we can work to prevent it from happening elsewhere.

Lead exposure via water isn’t only a concern in states like Michigan. It’s a problem right here in Kansas.

Kansas has some of the highest numbers of lead service lines in the country. Per the National Resources Defense Council, Kansas has the third highest number of lead pipes per capita. These pipes carry water into our homes and buildings that our children then drink.

Appropriate water treatment can prevent pipe corrosion. But once service lines begin to corrode, they carry lead into our drinking water. Water that has high acidity or low mineral content is especially corrosive to fixtures and pipes. This is exactly what happened in Flint.

There has long been a lack of political will to replace lead service lines. But after the Flint crisis, it has recently become a national priority under the Biden administration. The president’s infrastructure plan has proposed devoting $45 billion to replacing lead pipes, including the approximate 158,000 lead pipes in our state.

Research by Dan Slusky, a health economics expert and Associate Professor at the University of Kansas, studies the economic impact of lead exposure. His analysis concludes that the benefits of the infrastructure plan would justify the costs.

Cities across the country have recently faced lead-based public health crises. Are Kansas’ cities next?

If the past two years have shown us anything it’s that health is a community issue. It has also shown us that scientific truths are often dismissed for political reasons.

Government can protect rights, promote equality, and prevent historic injustice — but it often requires citizens to demand government use this power preventatively. A lead crisis would be too late for Kansas’ kids. No amount of exposure is safe.

But we can — and should — pressure Kansas’ congressional delegation to prioritize replacing lead pipes as part of the infrastructure plan. This is our chance to protect the health and wellbeing of Kansas’ kids.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD, is an assistant professor at&nbsp;Wichita State University's Department of Political Science.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood, PhD, is an assistant professor at&nbsp;Wichita State University's Department of Political Science." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood, PhD, is an assistant professor at&nbsp;Wichita State University's Department of Political Science.</figcaption>
 </figure>According to a national study published by the American Medical Association last month, 65% of Kansas children have elevated levels of lead in their blood — 15 points higher than the national average.There is no safe level of lead, per the Center for Disease Control.Lead exposure, especially early in life, can lead to brain and nervous system damage, slow growth and development, and learning, behavior, hearing, and speech problems.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>While we have made significant progress over the past 40 years in reducing lead exposure via government policies that work to eliminate it from gasoline, paint, plumbing, and consumer products, there is still much to be done. Many older homes in low-income areas, especially minority-populated urban areas, still have an abundance of lead in paint and plumbing.Health concerns associated with lead exposure invoke thoughts of Flint, Michigan where, in the name of financial savings, the local and state governments failed to appropriately treat the water supply and it poisoned thousands of children. The city’s kids will never fully recover.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2ffa58eb-8af6-40de-95c5-e28942a8cc65">RELATED:&nbsp;Report allows Kan. residents to see their drinking water contaminants</a>But we can work to prevent it from happening elsewhere.Lead exposure via water isn’t only a concern in states like Michigan. It’s a problem right here in Kansas.Kansas has some of the highest numbers of lead service lines in the country. Per the National Resources Defense Council, Kansas has the third highest number of lead pipes per capita. These pipes carry water into our homes and buildings that our children then drink.Appropriate water treatment can prevent pipe corrosion. But once service lines begin to corrode, they carry lead into our drinking water. Water that has high acidity or low mineral content is especially corrosive to fixtures and pipes. This is exactly what happened in Flint.There has long been a lack of political will to replace lead service lines. But after the Flint crisis, it has recently become a national priority under the Biden administration. The president’s infrastructure plan has proposed devoting $45 billion to replacing lead pipes, including the approximate 158,000 lead pipes in our state.Research by Dan Slusky, a health economics expert and Associate Professor at the University of Kansas, studies the economic impact of lead exposure. His analysis concludes that the benefits of the infrastructure plan would justify the costs.Cities across the country have recently faced lead-based public health crises. Are Kansas’ cities next?If the past two years have shown us anything it’s that health is a community issue. It has also shown us that scientific truths are often dismissed for political reasons.Government can protect rights, promote equality, and prevent historic injustice — but it often requires citizens to demand government use this power preventatively. A lead crisis would be too late for Kansas’ kids. No amount of exposure is safe.But we can — and should — pressure Kansas’ congressional delegation to prioritize replacing lead pipes as part of the infrastructure plan. This is our chance to protect the health and wellbeing of Kansas’ kids.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD, is an assistant professor at&nbsp;Wichita State University's Department of Political Science.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Time has come to get the lead out of Kan. water

At Fort Hays State University, we nurture each other to maximal success. We stand to support one another with a willingness to invest deeply and personally. The students who comprise our campus come from diverse backgrounds, each person with their own story, hopes, and dreams.&nbsp;

These stories – testimony to how we come together to improve lives through a deep investment in one another – are what motivate me every day.&nbsp;

I love how at FHSU we go the extra mile for one another. Take for example our December 2021 graduate Curtis Pitts. A recruit from south Florida, Curtis came to FHSU in 1980 to play football. In 1982, he left Fort Hays State for an internship at The Martin Luther King Junior Center and was then hired to work with the Southern Christian Leadership Center.

Life continued to happen – including the loss of both his parents, who he had promised he would get a college education. Long story short, Curtis was able to complete all of his classes except for one, in which he continued to struggle.

This past summer, when we heard about Curtis’ situation, we knew we needed to put together a Tiger care team to get him through to the finish line. In stepped Dr. Joey Linn, vice president for Student Affairs. Dr. Linn reached out to Curtis to learn more about his struggles and to put together a care team strategy.

Curtis was living in Topeka and needed to take the class online. After visiting with Curtis, Dr. Linn realized a tutor would be an essential part of his care team plan and wondered if we had a KAMS student living in Topeka who might help.&nbsp;

KAMS – the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science – is a program for 11th- and 12th- grade students to attend Fort Hays State and take 68 hours of college classes, then transfer those credits back to their sending high school to receive a high school diploma. While at FHSU, the students experience hands-on research opportunities, leadership development, civic engagement, and a myriad of college activities.

KAMS Director Will Burns immediately thought of Graidon Nichol, who is from Topeka and was living at home for the summer. Will first spoke with Graidon’s mom, Shannon, who thought Graidon would love to help. Unfortunately,&nbsp; Graidon was attending a Boy Scout camp in New Mexico. Then, she thought of Grant, Graidon’s older brother, who also attended Fort Hays State and completed the KAMS program.

When Shannon returned Will’s call,&nbsp; she indicated that Grant would be happy to help but also had a scheduling conflict. But the family was “all in.” After all, both Shannon and her husband, Eric, are FHSU graduates, too.

So, Graidon’s dad tutored Curtis until Graidon was able to take over when his camp was completed. As a result of the ethic of care poured out by the Nichols, and driven by a promise Curtis made to his parents in 1980, he successfully completed the course and will be walking across the commencement stage this December.&nbsp;

By the way, Graidon is 17 years old. Curtis is in his late 50s. The age difference didn’t hinder Curtis’ learning curve at all. In fact, quite the contrary.

“Graidon was one of the most organized and intensely prepared young men I have ever met,” Curtis said. “The Nichols embraced me like family and always made sure I had snacks and a cold drink in a glass engraved with Fort Hays State University's logo on it. I couldn’t have completed this class for graduation without his help.”

I love this story. It’s a great example of how we invest in our students, build confidence and knowledge, and nurture them to success. I am so grateful for the entire Nichol family, Will Burns, and Dr. Joey Linn – all who had a role in Curtis’ ultimate success.

This December commencement ceremony will be extra special. I cannot wait to hand Curtis his Fort Hays State University diploma!&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>At Fort Hays State University, we nurture each other to maximal success. We stand to support one another with a willingness to invest deeply and personally. The students who comprise our campus come from diverse backgrounds, each person with their own story, hopes, and dreams.&nbsp;These stories – testimony to how we come together to improve lives through a deep investment in one another – are what motivate me every day.&nbsp;I love how at FHSU we go the extra mile for one another. Take for example our December 2021 graduate Curtis Pitts. A recruit from south Florida, Curtis came to FHSU in 1980 to play football. In 1982, he left Fort Hays State for an internship at The Martin Luther King Junior Center and was then hired to work with the Southern Christian Leadership Center.Life continued to happen – including the loss of both his parents, who he had promised he would get a college education. Long story short, Curtis was able to complete all of his classes except for one, in which he continued to struggle.This past summer, when we heard about Curtis’ situation, we knew we needed to put together a Tiger care team to get him through to the finish line. In stepped Dr. Joey Linn, vice president for Student Affairs. Dr. Linn reached out to Curtis to learn more about his struggles and to put together a care team strategy.Curtis was living in Topeka and needed to take the class online. After visiting with Curtis, Dr. Linn realized a tutor would be an essential part of his care team plan and wondered if we had a KAMS student living in Topeka who might help.&nbsp;KAMS – the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science – is a program for 11th- and 12th- grade students to attend Fort Hays State and take 68 hours of college classes, then transfer those credits back to their sending high school to receive a high school diploma. While at FHSU, the students experience hands-on research opportunities, leadership development, civic engagement, and a myriad of college activities.KAMS Director Will Burns immediately thought of Graidon Nichol, who is from Topeka and was living at home for the summer. Will first spoke with Graidon’s mom, Shannon, who thought Graidon would love to help. Unfortunately,&nbsp; Graidon was attending a Boy Scout camp in New Mexico. Then, she thought of Grant, Graidon’s older brother, who also attended Fort Hays State and completed the KAMS program.When Shannon returned Will’s call,&nbsp; she indicated that Grant would be happy to help but also had a scheduling conflict. But the family was “all in.” After all, both Shannon and her husband, Eric, are FHSU graduates, too.So, Graidon’s dad tutored Curtis until Graidon was able to take over when his camp was completed. As a result of the ethic of care poured out by the Nichols, and driven by a promise Curtis made to his parents in 1980, he successfully completed the course and will be walking across the commencement stage this December.&nbsp;By the way, Graidon is 17 years old. Curtis is in his late 50s. The age difference didn’t hinder Curtis’ learning curve at all. In fact, quite the contrary.“Graidon was one of the most organized and intensely prepared young men I have ever met,” Curtis said. “The Nichols embraced me like family and always made sure I had snacks and a cold drink in a glass engraved with Fort Hays State University's logo on it. I couldn’t have completed this class for graduation without his help.”I love this story. It’s a great example of how we invest in our students, build confidence and knowledge, and nurture them to success. I am so grateful for the entire Nichol family, Will Burns, and Dr. Joey Linn – all who had a role in Curtis’ ultimate success.This December commencement ceremony will be extra special. I cannot wait to hand Curtis his Fort Hays State University diploma!&nbsp;

MASON: Tiger Nation — an ethic of care like nowhere else

My husband is a union member and works at a paint factory near our home. His union’s current contract will expire in nine months. We have about $27,000 of debt left to pay off, and he makes a little over $80,000 a year. I’m nervous because his slow season is coming up between now and then. During this time, he usually gets about half the hours — and, of course, less money — than he does during the rest of the year. I’m a little scared, even though there hasn’t been a strike in the last six years. Do you think we should go ahead and pay off our remaining debt or hold onto every penny in case they walk out?

I’m going to tell you something that might just blow your mind: You two can<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator">pay off the debt</a>&nbsp;and have some money set aside to live on in that length of time. If you do that, you’ll actually be more ready for a strike than ever before. You’ll both have to be on the same page financially and do things with a sense of urgency, but right now, I don’t think you’ve got too much to worry about.

The likelihood of them going on strike is pretty low. Chances are, they’re just rattling their sabers and talking big to posture for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/questions-to-ask-when-buying-used-car">negotiations</a>. Most factories are behind right now, and the last thing they want is to get even further behind. Everything has been so screwed up by COVID-19 that unless the union demands some completely ridiculous stuff, things will probably work out fine.

I think you guys are going to be fine, Cheyanne. Should you be intentional and thoughtful about the situation? Absolutely. It’s always wise to look ahead and plan for the future. Getting that debt paid off and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/insurance/independent-insurance-agent-popular-money-saving-tip">saving</a>&nbsp;up a bunch of cash will give you real peace of mind.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time No. 1 national bestselling author, personal finance expert and host of “The Ramsey Show,” heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “CBS This Morning,” “Today,” “Fox News,” “CNN,” “Fox Business” and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people take 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/2020/8/1596845065840.jpeg" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,My husband is a union member and works at a paint factory near our home. His union’s current contract will expire in nine months. We have about $27,000 of debt left to pay off, and he makes a little over $80,000 a year. I’m nervous because his slow season is coming up between now and then. During this time, he usually gets about half the hours — and, of course, less money — than he does during the rest of the year. I’m a little scared, even though there hasn’t been a strike in the last six years. Do you think we should go ahead and pay off our remaining debt or hold onto every penny in case they walk out?— CheyanneDear Cheyanne,I’m going to tell you something that might just blow your mind: You two can<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator">pay off the debt</a>&nbsp;and have some money set aside to live on in that length of time. If you do that, you’ll actually be more ready for a strike than ever before. You’ll both have to be on the same page financially and do things with a sense of urgency, but right now, I don’t think you’ve got too much to worry about.The likelihood of them going on strike is pretty low. Chances are, they’re just rattling their sabers and talking big to posture for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/questions-to-ask-when-buying-used-car">negotiations</a>. Most factories are behind right now, and the last thing they want is to get even further behind. Everything has been so screwed up by COVID-19 that unless the union demands some completely ridiculous stuff, things will probably work out fine.I think you guys are going to be fine, Cheyanne. Should you be intentional and thoughtful about the situation? Absolutely. It’s always wise to look ahead and plan for the future. Getting that debt paid off and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/insurance/independent-insurance-agent-popular-money-saving-tip">saving</a>&nbsp;up a bunch of cash will give you real peace of mind.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;— Dave<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time No. 1 national bestselling author, personal finance expert and host of “The Ramsey Show,” heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “CBS This Morning,” “Today,” “Fox News,” “CNN,” “Fox Business” and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people take control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

Dave Says: Work together — and be intentional

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau One of the funny things about getting older is how it warps our perception of time. When we’re young and nearly every experience is new, time moves slowly. As we age, however, there are fewer and fewer things we haven’t experienced, our schedules become more predictable and the days seem to meld together. I think it’s fair to say most of us were coasting along as time gradually picked up speed until about March of 2020. Suddenly days felt like weeks and weeks felt like years as uncertainty and routines were up ended. This warped version of reality seems to be receding because somehow it’s now November and I’m wondering what happened to October. Halloween is over and the winter holiday season is approaching fast. We’ll even turn back time, literally, in a few days, but that’s a topic for another time. Perhaps the most encouraging sign we’re all finding in our routines is knowing the first weekend in December means the 103rd&nbsp;Kansas Farm Bureau annual meeting will be held in-person in Manhattan Dec. 4-6. It’s a time to enjoy food and fellowship as we celebrate another year, honor those who’ve made important contributions to agriculture and hear from elected officials. Of course, there will be plenty of time for conversations and networking in the hallway with friends, both new and old. There’s value for every one of the several hundred participants who will be in attendance, whether they raise crops or livestock. Kansas native Dale Moore will deliver the keynote address. Moore grew up on a southwest Kansas livestock, hay and grain farm, and has decades of experience representing agriculture in our nation’s capital where he now serves as executive vice president at the American Farm Bureau Federation. I’m looking forward to hearing what he has to say on the current state of agriculture. Just as it’s important to recognize past achievements, Kansas Farm Bureau’s annual meeting also sets the agenda for the next year. The business session will focus on what comes next — what plans and policies are important to helping members as we move into the future. These issues will be decided by Kansas farmers and ranchers based on a year-long process where members have multiple opportunities to raise concerns and vet proposed resolutions. This transparent, deliberative process can feel like it takes forever to address issues, but that’s by design. The development process forces us to look beyond immediate complaints to five or 10 or even 50 years from now. That may sound like a long time to some, but for others years can disappear faster than they ever imagined. I hope you’re able to get away from the farm so you can join us as we celebrate another year of achievement and lay the groundwork for success in 2022. It will be good to be together again, and we can get back to our old routine.

<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 One of the funny things about getting older is how it warps our perception of time. When we’re young and nearly every experience is new, time moves slowly. As we age, however, there are fewer and fewer things we haven’t experienced, our schedules become more predictable and the days seem to meld together. I think it’s fair to say most of us were coasting along as time gradually picked up speed until about March of 2020. Suddenly days felt like weeks and weeks felt like years as uncertainty and routines were up ended. This warped version of reality seems to be receding because somehow it’s now November and I’m wondering what happened to October. Halloween is over and the winter holiday season is approaching fast. We’ll even turn back time, literally, in a few days, but that’s a topic for another time. Perhaps the most encouraging sign we’re all finding in our routines is knowing the first weekend in December means the 103rd&nbsp;Kansas Farm Bureau annual meeting will be held in-person in Manhattan Dec. 4-6. It’s a time to enjoy food and fellowship as we celebrate another year, honor those who’ve made important contributions to agriculture and hear from elected officials. Of course, there will be plenty of time for conversations and networking in the hallway with friends, both new and old. There’s value for every one of the several hundred participants who will be in attendance, whether they raise crops or livestock. Kansas native Dale Moore will deliver the keynote address. Moore grew up on a southwest Kansas livestock, hay and grain farm, and has decades of experience representing agriculture in our nation’s capital where he now serves as executive vice president at the American Farm Bureau Federation. I’m looking forward to hearing what he has to say on the current state of agriculture. Just as it’s important to recognize past achievements, Kansas Farm Bureau’s annual meeting also sets the agenda for the next year. The business session will focus on what comes next — what plans and policies are important to helping members as we move into the future. These issues will be decided by Kansas farmers and ranchers based on a year-long process where members have multiple opportunities to raise concerns and vet proposed resolutions. This transparent, deliberative process can feel like it takes forever to address issues, but that’s by design. The development process forces us to look beyond immediate complaints to five or 10 or even 50 years from now. That may sound like a long time to some, but for others years can disappear faster than they ever imagined. I hope you’re able to get away from the farm so you can join us as we celebrate another year of achievement and lay the groundwork for success in 2022. It will be good to be together again, and we can get back to our old routine."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: Return to routine

Well, it’s trick-or-treat time again, in fact, by the time you’re reading this, it will be over. In my day, living in the country, harmless pranks were just expected, like putting live pigeons into neighbor’s mailboxes and the annual toilet paper blanketing of someone’s front lawn in the middle of the night (which today might just get you arrested for blatant waste of valuable property or something.) &nbsp;

A few years ago, the Hutchinson Zoo was raising money to build a new otter exhibit, and we heard they were looking for an otter pelt to become part of that exhibit. I contacted the president of the Kansas Fur Harvesters Association who donated them a pelt, but perhaps just as important, I managed to get myself invited to an event there at the zoo where I could display one of the collections of Kansas furbearer pelts owned by the Fur Harvesters. The event was a Halloween trick-or-treat bash/fundraiser for the otter exhibit called “Boo at the Zoo,” which has now become an annual event.

For three hours, hundreds of kids and parents dressed in Halloween garb flowed through a predetermined route there at the zoo, ending up where I and other volunteers were set up for face painting, etc. I had the pelts laid out on a long table, making them available for everyone to look at and touch. In their defense, I perceive that most people attending were from the city of Hutchinson and there were probably not a lot of hunters and trappers among them, but I heard some interesting and telling questions from the kids about the pelts. Many asked “Are these real?” or “Where are their eyes?” Several asked me “You found these already dead, right?” But perhaps the most pointed inquiry came from a ten- or twelve-year-old girl who stared intently into my eyes and asked “So how did you feel after you shot these?”&nbsp;

I suppose I should not have expected much serious conversation about hunting or trapping at an event like that, where the kids are mostly pre-teen and the parents are tired of whiney kids and just wanted to fill their bags with candy, then get the heck out of Dodge and go home. I used to think that one would have to go to downtown Chicago, Detroit, New York City or Washington DC to find people who didn’t have a clue where the hamburger they were eating came from, or where the leather and the fur came from to make the coat with the fur cuffs and collar they wore; I don’t take that for granted anymore.

Kids and parents alike enjoyed looking at the pelts and were intrigued at how soft they were as they ran their hands through the fur. I made sure to point out to all of them how soft and luxurious the skunk fur was, asking them if they had any idea that something so feared could feel so soft. The badger pelt has the front claws still intact, and I made it a point to show each person those claws, explaining to them what good diggers badgers are, and how God equipped them to do that job. &nbsp; Most wanted to know what animal each pelt came from. Some knew several of them, but many hadn’t a clue, calling the coyote pelt a beaver, the beaver pelt a mink and so on. I rattled off the past owner of each pelt so many times I did it that night in my sleep; next time I’ll make labels.

I guess my point to all this is that you really don’t have to go far from home to find people that have no understanding of the merits of hunting and trapping. If we are to see hunting and trapping passed on to our grandchildren and in turn to their kids and so on, we need to make a concerted effort to educate the people around us about the merits of our passions. There is absolutely no better way to do this than to take non-hunters and trappers along with us on our adventures as we 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>Well, it’s trick-or-treat time again, in fact, by the time you’re reading this, it will be over. In my day, living in the country, harmless pranks were just expected, like putting live pigeons into neighbor’s mailboxes and the annual toilet paper blanketing of someone’s front lawn in the middle of the night (which today might just get you arrested for blatant waste of valuable property or something.) &nbsp;A few years ago, the Hutchinson Zoo was raising money to build a new otter exhibit, and we heard they were looking for an otter pelt to become part of that exhibit. I contacted the president of the Kansas Fur Harvesters Association who donated them a pelt, but perhaps just as important, I managed to get myself invited to an event there at the zoo where I could display one of the collections of Kansas furbearer pelts owned by the Fur Harvesters. The event was a Halloween trick-or-treat bash/fundraiser for the otter exhibit called “Boo at the Zoo,” which has now become an annual event.For three hours, hundreds of kids and parents dressed in Halloween garb flowed through a predetermined route there at the zoo, ending up where I and other volunteers were set up for face painting, etc. I had the pelts laid out on a long table, making them available for everyone to look at and touch. In their defense, I perceive that most people attending were from the city of Hutchinson and there were probably not a lot of hunters and trappers among them, but I heard some interesting and telling questions from the kids about the pelts. Many asked “Are these real?” or “Where are their eyes?” Several asked me “You found these already dead, right?” But perhaps the most pointed inquiry came from a ten- or twelve-year-old girl who stared intently into my eyes and asked “So how did you feel after you shot these?”&nbsp;I suppose I should not have expected much serious conversation about hunting or trapping at an event like that, where the kids are mostly pre-teen and the parents are tired of whiney kids and just wanted to fill their bags with candy, then get the heck out of Dodge and go home. I used to think that one would have to go to downtown Chicago, Detroit, New York City or Washington DC to find people who didn’t have a clue where the hamburger they were eating came from, or where the leather and the fur came from to make the coat with the fur cuffs and collar they wore; I don’t take that for granted anymore.Kids and parents alike enjoyed looking at the pelts and were intrigued at how soft they were as they ran their hands through the fur. I made sure to point out to all of them how soft and luxurious the skunk fur was, asking them if they had any idea that something so feared could feel so soft. The badger pelt has the front claws still intact, and I made it a point to show each person those claws, explaining to them what good diggers badgers are, and how God equipped them to do that job. &nbsp; Most wanted to know what animal each pelt came from. Some knew several of them, but many hadn’t a clue, calling the coyote pelt a beaver, the beaver pelt a mink and so on. I rattled off the past owner of each pelt so many times I did it that night in my sleep; next time I’ll make labels.I guess my point to all this is that you really don’t have to go far from home to find people that have no understanding of the merits of hunting and trapping. If we are to see hunting and trapping passed on to our grandchildren and in turn to their kids and so on, we need to make a concerted effort to educate the people around us about the merits of our passions. There is absolutely no better way to do this than to take non-hunters and trappers along with us on our adventures as we continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Boo at the Zoo 

Not long ago, school board elections were low-key races, required by state law to be nonpartisan. Candidates were retired school personnel, parents or others recruited to run because they were actively involved in local schools or the community.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Today, candidates may still be all that but, in a number of districts, candidates also are endorsed by a national political party and benefit from funding or in-kind support from national and state Political Action Committees.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Identifying as Republican or Democrat may be helpful for candidates in the 665,000 student Los Angles school district but in Kansas fewer than 10 districts have more than 10,000 students and one-third of the state’s students attend a district of fewer than 500 students.&nbsp; In most districts candidates are personally known in their communities, not simply by their political affiliation.&nbsp;

Yet, not only are the national parties in some counties endorsing candidates, when there is more than one board position open, “block” voting, a strategy to convince voters to choose all candidates of one party, is the goal.

In these districts elections are no longer about individuals and issues are no longer about school finance, overall planning and student achievement.&nbsp; Now issues involve COVID vaccinations, mask wearing and teaching history using Critical Race Theory—national wedge issues that divide the major parties along ideological lines.

For example, last week, Republican U. S. Representative Ron Estes appeared in Andover to encourage votes for Republican backed candidates.&nbsp;

The national 1776 PAC which opposes teaching CRT has publicly endorsed 13 candidates in Kansas most of them running in the Kansas City suburbs.&nbsp; Active state level PACs include Bluestem Kansas, United Teachers of Wichita and Kansans for Life which has endorsed 40 school board candidates across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

When people vote based on social media and political mailers, they often don’t dive into the issues.&nbsp; The Kansas State Department of Education has repeatedly announced that CRT is not part of the state standards.&nbsp; It’s&nbsp;illegal&nbsp;to treat people differently because of their race, so the concepts of equity, respect for diversity and inclusion are taught according to state and federal law.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If a school receives accusations about CRT or how social studies/history is being taught, the school board has power at the local level to examine the concern and involve teachers, parents and the community in resolving the issue.&nbsp;&nbsp;

National party endorsements, PAC support and block voting “game” the system when they turn state-mandated nonpartisan elections into partisan races.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nonpartisan school board elections encourage grassroots democracy.&nbsp; They keep public school decision-making local.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The influence of PACs and national parties can tilt the playing field by emphasizing stand-off issues at the expense of local needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas stands to receive about one billion dollars of COVID relief for public education.

We can study the candidates individually and vote for those who will work together to address teacher shortages and COVID related learning loss.&nbsp; Board members who will make our school buildings safe and secure and provide each student with learning technology and internet connection.

Or—we can vote based on over-simplified, hot-button disputes and continue fighting about CRT, vaccines and masks.&nbsp;

Gaming the system always has been part of American politics.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This gaming isn’t illegal, but it does make it difficult to teach our students to play by the rules.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593719779701.jpeg" alt="Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education." />
 <figcaption>Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.</figcaption>
 </figure>Not long ago, school board elections were low-key races, required by state law to be nonpartisan. Candidates were retired school personnel, parents or others recruited to run because they were actively involved in local schools or the community.&nbsp;&nbsp;Today, candidates may still be all that but, in a number of districts, candidates also are endorsed by a national political party and benefit from funding or in-kind support from national and state Political Action Committees.&nbsp;&nbsp;Identifying as Republican or Democrat may be helpful for candidates in the 665,000 student Los Angles school district but in Kansas fewer than 10 districts have more than 10,000 students and one-third of the state’s students attend a district of fewer than 500 students.&nbsp; In most districts candidates are personally known in their communities, not simply by their political affiliation.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Yet, not only are the national parties in some counties endorsing candidates, when there is more than one board position open, “block” voting, a strategy to convince voters to choose all candidates of one party, is the goal.In these districts elections are no longer about individuals and issues are no longer about school finance, overall planning and student achievement.&nbsp; Now issues involve COVID vaccinations, mask wearing and teaching history using Critical Race Theory—national wedge issues that divide the major parties along ideological lines.For example, last week, Republican U. S. Representative Ron Estes appeared in Andover to encourage votes for Republican backed candidates.&nbsp;The national 1776 PAC which opposes teaching CRT has publicly endorsed 13 candidates in Kansas most of them running in the Kansas City suburbs.&nbsp; Active state level PACs include Bluestem Kansas, United Teachers of Wichita and Kansans for Life which has endorsed 40 school board candidates across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When people vote based on social media and political mailers, they often don’t dive into the issues.&nbsp; The Kansas State Department of Education has repeatedly announced that CRT is not part of the state standards.&nbsp; It’s&nbsp;illegal&nbsp;to treat people differently because of their race, so the concepts of equity, respect for diversity and inclusion are taught according to state and federal law.&nbsp;&nbsp;If a school receives accusations about CRT or how social studies/history is being taught, the school board has power at the local level to examine the concern and involve teachers, parents and the community in resolving the issue.&nbsp;&nbsp;National party endorsements, PAC support and block voting “game” the system when they turn state-mandated nonpartisan elections into partisan races.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nonpartisan school board elections encourage grassroots democracy.&nbsp; They keep public school decision-making local.&nbsp;&nbsp;The influence of PACs and national parties can tilt the playing field by emphasizing stand-off issues at the expense of local needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas stands to receive about one billion dollars of COVID relief for public education.We can study the candidates individually and vote for those who will work together to address teacher shortages and COVID related learning loss.&nbsp; Board members who will make our school buildings safe and secure and provide each student with learning technology and internet connection.Or—we can vote based on over-simplified, hot-button disputes and continue fighting about CRT, vaccines and masks.&nbsp;Gaming the system always has been part of American politics.&nbsp;&nbsp;This gaming isn’t illegal, but it does make it difficult to teach our students to play by the rules.&nbsp;Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

INSIGHT KANSAS: School board elections becoming a team sport

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

In our modern society of today, it’s important to have various kinds of networks. But what if we could have a network of networks?&nbsp;

Today we’ll meet a team of people who are building connections between multiple networks for the economic benefit of small businesses and communities across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Christina Long is strategic director for this new cross sector network known as NetWorked – Partnership for Community Investment, sometimes known as NetWorked for Change or NetWorked for short. She knows the importance of these issues firsthand.&nbsp;

Christina is a Wichita native and a graduate of Wichita State. She was a cultural affairs reporter for the Wichita Eagle and then worked with the Wichita school system in student support.&nbsp;

In 2013, she launched her own business known as CML Collective. CMLCollective strives to develop and enhance marketing and communication strategies for brands that recognize inclusion as a business imperative.&nbsp; “We want to create positive channels of communication for communities of color,” Christina said.&nbsp;

Among other services, CML Collective offers training titled&nbsp;Go Long – Leadership that Lasts, provided by Christina and her husband, Jonathan Long.&nbsp;

When she founded her small business, Christina reached out to the Small Business Development Center. She learned about various resources including NetWork Kansas, the statewide entrepreneurship organization.&nbsp;

In 2015, Christina conducted a half-day workshop to build awareness of these small business support resources. This would become known as Create Campaign, Inc., which provides business development support for minority business founders in the Wichita area.&nbsp;

“I could see we needed a bridge&nbsp;between entrepreneurs and service providers,” Christina said. She served in a leadership role in the Wichita Urban Entrepreneurship-Community (E-Community) and helped start similar organizations in Kansas City, Kansas and Shawnee County.&nbsp;&nbsp;n 2019, she published her book, titled&nbsp;For the Greater Success.&nbsp;

Christina worked with NetWork Kansas in various ways. In 2020, NetWork Kansas CEO Steve Radley approached her with an idea:&nbsp;&nbsp;What if there was a network of networks for economic development? Essentially, this meant creating a process for enhanced communication and collaboration among the various support systems for entrepreneurs.&nbsp;

This became what is now known as NetWorked.&nbsp;

The mission of NetWorked is to connect unconnected networks and close the gap between people, information and assets in order to develop pathways that boldly solve community challenges. “We want to encourage cross-sector collaboration,” Steve Radley said.&nbsp;

Along with multiple resources within NetWork Kansas itself, NetWorked involved key external resource persons such as Virginia Barnes from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and Jeff Usher from the Kansas Health Foundation. Among the other members of this leadership team is the NetWork Kansas product manager for rural entrepreneurship in western Kansas.&nbsp;

That is Christy Preston who lives at the rural community of Selden, population 219 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

“We want to support communities big and small, urban and rural,” Christina Long said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Ultimately, the success of investment in these communities impacts our wellbeing as a state.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We had our first (online) convening in March 2021,” Christina said. Since then, Christina has facilitated monthly sessions, recorded live and posted online, with various stakeholders for NetWorked. Topics include various grants, programs and technical assistance that provide cross-sector investment in non-profit community development organizations as well as for-profit businesses.&nbsp;

“We want to make bold changes and attack real problems,” Christina said. What drives her to do this work?&nbsp;&nbsp;“I live by the African proverb that says, `I am because we are,’” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’re interconnected. I want to bring about changes in people’s lives and make this a better place.”&nbsp;

For more information on Christina’s work, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cmlcollective.com/">www.cmlcollective.com</a><a>. For information on NetWorked, see&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.networkedforchange.com/">www.networkedforchange.com</a>.&nbsp;

What if we could have economic and entrepreneurial development that is supported, not just by a network, but by a network of networks? That should multiply the benefits. We commend Christina Long, Steve Radley and all those involved with NetWorked – Partnership for Community Investment for making a difference with their collaborative efforts. Their networking is having an impact of impacts.&nbsp;

And there’s more.&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll learn about one new small business initiative next week.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635341567690.png" alt="Christina Long" />
 <figcaption>Christina Long</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;In our modern society of today, it’s important to have various kinds of networks. But what if we could have a network of networks?&nbsp;Today we’ll meet a team of people who are building connections between multiple networks for the economic benefit of small businesses and communities across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Christina Long is strategic director for this new cross sector network known as NetWorked – Partnership for Community Investment, sometimes known as NetWorked for Change or NetWorked for short. She knows the importance of these issues firsthand.&nbsp;Christina is a Wichita native and a graduate of Wichita State. She was a cultural affairs reporter for the Wichita Eagle and then worked with the Wichita school system in student support.&nbsp;In 2013, she launched her own business known as CML Collective. CMLCollective strives to develop and enhance marketing and communication strategies for brands that recognize inclusion as a business imperative.&nbsp; “We want to create positive channels of communication for communities of color,” Christina said.&nbsp;Among other services, CML Collective offers training titled&nbsp;Go Long – Leadership that Lasts, provided by Christina and her husband, Jonathan Long.&nbsp;When she founded her small business, Christina reached out to the Small Business Development Center. She learned about various resources including NetWork Kansas, the statewide entrepreneurship organization.&nbsp;In 2015, Christina conducted a half-day workshop to build awareness of these small business support resources. This would become known as Create Campaign, Inc., which provides business development support for minority business founders in the Wichita area.&nbsp;“I could see we needed a bridge&nbsp;between entrepreneurs and service providers,” Christina said. She served in a leadership role in the Wichita Urban Entrepreneurship-Community (E-Community) and helped start similar organizations in Kansas City, Kansas and Shawnee County.&nbsp;&nbsp;n 2019, she published her book, titled&nbsp;For the Greater Success.&nbsp;Christina worked with NetWork Kansas in various ways. In 2020, NetWork Kansas CEO Steve Radley approached her with an idea:&nbsp;&nbsp;What if there was a network of networks for economic development? Essentially, this meant creating a process for enhanced communication and collaboration among the various support systems for entrepreneurs.&nbsp;This became what is now known as NetWorked.&nbsp;The mission of NetWorked is to connect unconnected networks and close the gap between people, information and assets in order to develop pathways that boldly solve community challenges. “We want to encourage cross-sector collaboration,” Steve Radley said.&nbsp;Along with multiple resources within NetWork Kansas itself, NetWorked involved key external resource persons such as Virginia Barnes from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and Jeff Usher from the Kansas Health Foundation. Among the other members of this leadership team is the NetWork Kansas product manager for rural entrepreneurship in western Kansas.&nbsp;That is Christy Preston who lives at the rural community of Selden, population 219 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;“We want to support communities big and small, urban and rural,” Christina Long said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Ultimately, the success of investment in these communities impacts our wellbeing as a state.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“We had our first (online) convening in March 2021,” Christina said. Since then, Christina has facilitated monthly sessions, recorded live and posted online, with various stakeholders for NetWorked. Topics include various grants, programs and technical assistance that provide cross-sector investment in non-profit community development organizations as well as for-profit businesses.&nbsp;“We want to make bold changes and attack real problems,” Christina said. What drives her to do this work?&nbsp;&nbsp;“I live by the African proverb that says, `I am because we are,’” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’re interconnected. I want to bring about changes in people’s lives and make this a better place.”&nbsp;For more information on Christina’s work, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cmlcollective.com/">www.cmlcollective.com</a><a>. For information on NetWorked, see&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.networkedforchange.com/">www.networkedforchange.com</a>.&nbsp;What if we could have economic and entrepreneurial development that is supported, not just by a network, but by a network of networks? That should multiply the benefits. We commend Christina Long, Steve Radley and all those involved with NetWorked – Partnership for Community Investment for making a difference with their collaborative efforts. Their networking is having an impact of impacts.&nbsp;And there’s more.&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll learn about one new small business initiative next week.&nbsp;

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer Cup holders — it all began a few days ago when I was unable to put my drive-thru dollar drinks in my cup holders. It was a fiasco witnessed by the drive-thru attendant as she held my much needed drinks out the window patiently waiting for me to take them out of her hands and drive away.&nbsp; &nbsp; I recognized I was probably holding up the line and affecting the drive-thru team’s serve time efficiency average as I fumbled around in my car focusing on those center-console cup holders. After all, this should be a quick and easy handoff! &nbsp; It wasn’t the engineering of the cup holders that was the problem. It wasn’t that I had other already-used-cups filling the holders that was causing the delay. &nbsp; What was making me scramble at the last second was a scenario that plays out in my vehicle more than I’d like to admit. It’s a constant battle between maintaining the availability of convenience or utilizing a place to put things other than cups for safekeeping. &nbsp; During harvest, my cup holders are generally used for the later, a mobile junk drawer of sorts. &nbsp; Since we are currently “knee-deep” in our fall harvest, you can generally find washers, nuts, bolts, tiny tubes, fuses, tools and a lot of thingamajigs residing in those cup holders. Sometimes the items are small and flat enough to put a cup on top of and I can get away with driving around knowing that my cup and beverage will stay in its assigned spot.&nbsp; &nbsp; Other times, I’m fumbling around in a drive-thru trying to relocate ears of corn, scoop out soybeans or find a better “safe spot” for a small, yet essential item that could potentially stop harvest if it was misplaced.&nbsp; &nbsp; Where does one put these items to make space for cups? I could put everything on the floorboard, but risk losing that little oddly-shaped essential “thing” that is staying safe in the confines of the cup holder.&nbsp; &nbsp; I could potentially put these items in the side pocket of my car door. But it’s also full of even larger items that should have been put back in a toolbox. &nbsp; I could temporarily put the ears of corn in my lap then throw them away once I get to the trashcan at the end of the drive-thru. But maybe my husband is saving them for a good reason. Besides that’s only the corn. What about all of the other things? &nbsp; I could just leave everything where it is and give my passenger the responsibility of keeping both cups from spilling. &nbsp; All of these scenarios whirl through my mind as I briefly take in the view from my rearview mirror knowing full well that I’m holding up traffic and keeping hungry people from their fries.&nbsp; &nbsp; That is until I hear an angelic voice ask, “Would you like a drink carrier for these??”&nbsp; &nbsp; Oh, if she only knew!&nbsp; &nbsp; I know as soon as the fall harvest wraps up my vehicle will get a good cleaning and all of the items currently residing in my cup holders and door pockets will have new homes. My insulated mugs and drive-thru drinks will once again easily fit into my cup holders &nbsp; But until then, I’m sure this scene will play out at least one more time this fall. And I will again drive away reminding myself with a chuckle, “That’s just life during harvest time.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer Cup holders — it all began a few days ago when I was unable to put my drive-thru dollar drinks in my cup holders. It was a fiasco witnessed by the drive-thru attendant as she held my much needed drinks out the window patiently waiting for me to take them out of her hands and drive away.&nbsp; &nbsp; I recognized I was probably holding up the line and affecting the drive-thru team’s serve time efficiency average as I fumbled around in my car focusing on those center-console cup holders. After all, this should be a quick and easy handoff! &nbsp; It wasn’t the engineering of the cup holders that was the problem. It wasn’t that I had other already-used-cups filling the holders that was causing the delay. &nbsp; What was making me scramble at the last second was a scenario that plays out in my vehicle more than I’d like to admit. It’s a constant battle between maintaining the availability of convenience or utilizing a place to put things other than cups for safekeeping. &nbsp; During harvest, my cup holders are generally used for the later, a mobile junk drawer of sorts. &nbsp; Since we are currently “knee-deep” in our fall harvest, you can generally find washers, nuts, bolts, tiny tubes, fuses, tools and a lot of thingamajigs residing in those cup holders. Sometimes the items are small and flat enough to put a cup on top of and I can get away with driving around knowing that my cup and beverage will stay in its assigned spot.&nbsp; &nbsp; Other times, I’m fumbling around in a drive-thru trying to relocate ears of corn, scoop out soybeans or find a better “safe spot” for a small, yet essential item that could potentially stop harvest if it was misplaced.&nbsp; &nbsp; Where does one put these items to make space for cups? I could put everything on the floorboard, but risk losing that little oddly-shaped essential “thing” that is staying safe in the confines of the cup holder.&nbsp; &nbsp; I could potentially put these items in the side pocket of my car door. But it’s also full of even larger items that should have been put back in a toolbox. &nbsp; I could temporarily put the ears of corn in my lap then throw them away once I get to the trashcan at the end of the drive-thru. But maybe my husband is saving them for a good reason. Besides that’s only the corn. What about all of the other things? &nbsp; I could just leave everything where it is and give my passenger the responsibility of keeping both cups from spilling. &nbsp; All of these scenarios whirl through my mind as I briefly take in the view from my rearview mirror knowing full well that I’m holding up traffic and keeping hungry people from their fries.&nbsp; &nbsp; That is until I hear an angelic voice ask, “Would you like a drink carrier for these??”&nbsp; &nbsp; Oh, if she only knew!&nbsp; &nbsp; I know as soon as the fall harvest wraps up my vehicle will get a good cleaning and all of the items currently residing in my cup holders and door pockets will have new homes. My insulated mugs and drive-thru drinks will once again easily fit into my cup holders &nbsp; But until then, I’m sure this scene will play out at least one more time this fall. And I will again drive away reminding myself with a chuckle, “That’s just life during harvest 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: Fall harvest and cup holders

&nbsp;One particular landowner who allowed me to trap for several years always asked me where on his land I would be trapping, and my answer was always “Wherever your crops and cattle will allow it; I will always work around you.” A couple years ago, however, he asked his son that was taking over the farming, who told me he wanted no traps on the place, period. I was a bit stunned as he had never faltered in giving me permission before, and I would probably have been justified in trying to pin him down about his decision. But I chatted with the father awhile, thanked him and drove away.&nbsp;

Very few farmers deny trapping on their land unless they do hunt or trap themselves, or unless they’ve had a bad experience with another trapper, but it is their land and they do have the right to control access to it. The point I want this column to drive home is how important it is to us hunters and trappers and to the future of our sports to create and to maintain a good relationship with the farmers and ranchers on whose land we hunt and trap. Hunting and trapping should be seen by us as a privilege, and with privileges come certain responsibilities. Here are a few suggestions that will help create and maintain good relationships with the farmers and ranchers who own the land where you hunt and trap.

&nbsp;Landowners should be contacted each year no matter how long you have been granted access to their land. Stop and see them in person when possible. There are landowners that are just fine with a phone call and you will learn who they are with time, but if in doubt, see them in person. I traded pickups a couple years ago, so I have tried to stop and see all landowners just to show them what truck I would now be driving.

Pay special attention to any specific requests by the landowner. I accidentally left an electric fence hotwire unhooked one time and a few of the owners cows got out. He was none-too-happy, but we are friends and I apologized profusely and all was well. Make certain to close all gates, stay off the property if it’s wet enough to make ruts where you drive, and always leave the property as you found it.&nbsp;

Offering to help a landowner with a project like building fence or clearing trees goes a long way toward assuring permission to hunt or trap his land. You can also give them a pheasant or some fresh venison now and then. Some hunters even send thank you cards to landowners each year. I recently read how one professional trapper out west once stopped to help a farmer get freshly baled hay into the barn just before a rain and because of his kindness was eventually granted sole permission to trap on over 15,000 acres of New Mexico land owned by the farmer’s cousin.

God is not making any more land these days, and good recreational land is often leased or purchased by wealthy groups or individuals for their own use. That leaves most of us outdoorsmen dependant on gaining permission to hunt and trap on privately owned land. So, obey the game laws, obey the landowner’s rules and by-all-means close the gates unless you’d rather chase cattle than hunt. 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>&nbsp;One particular landowner who allowed me to trap for several years always asked me where on his land I would be trapping, and my answer was always “Wherever your crops and cattle will allow it; I will always work around you.” A couple years ago, however, he asked his son that was taking over the farming, who told me he wanted no traps on the place, period. I was a bit stunned as he had never faltered in giving me permission before, and I would probably have been justified in trying to pin him down about his decision. But I chatted with the father awhile, thanked him and drove away.&nbsp;Very few farmers deny trapping on their land unless they do hunt or trap themselves, or unless they’ve had a bad experience with another trapper, but it is their land and they do have the right to control access to it. The point I want this column to drive home is how important it is to us hunters and trappers and to the future of our sports to create and to maintain a good relationship with the farmers and ranchers on whose land we hunt and trap. Hunting and trapping should be seen by us as a privilege, and with privileges come certain responsibilities. Here are a few suggestions that will help create and maintain good relationships with the farmers and ranchers who own the land where you hunt and trap.&nbsp;Landowners should be contacted each year no matter how long you have been granted access to their land. Stop and see them in person when possible. There are landowners that are just fine with a phone call and you will learn who they are with time, but if in doubt, see them in person. I traded pickups a couple years ago, so I have tried to stop and see all landowners just to show them what truck I would now be driving.Pay special attention to any specific requests by the landowner. I accidentally left an electric fence hotwire unhooked one time and a few of the owners cows got out. He was none-too-happy, but we are friends and I apologized profusely and all was well. Make certain to close all gates, stay off the property if it’s wet enough to make ruts where you drive, and always leave the property as you found it.&nbsp;Offering to help a landowner with a project like building fence or clearing trees goes a long way toward assuring permission to hunt or trap his land. You can also give them a pheasant or some fresh venison now and then. Some hunters even send thank you cards to landowners each year. I recently read how one professional trapper out west once stopped to help a farmer get freshly baled hay into the barn just before a rain and because of his kindness was eventually granted sole permission to trap on over 15,000 acres of New Mexico land owned by the farmer’s cousin.God is not making any more land these days, and good recreational land is often leased or purchased by wealthy groups or individuals for their own use. That leaves most of us outdoorsmen dependant on gaining permission to hunt and trap on privately owned land. So, obey the game laws, obey the landowner’s rules and by-all-means close the gates unless you’d rather chase cattle than hunt. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Getting permission should be your mission

The debt ceiling debate in Washington seems distant from average Kansans, but it affects your finances more than you think.&nbsp;

The debt ceiling is the limit on the amount of money the federal government can borrow. Congress invented it in 1917 to simplify creating debt and issuing bonds. It has been raised through various means 78 times since 1960, per Treasury Departments records, typically with bipartisan support and more frequently under Republican presidents. &nbsp;

The debt ceiling itself doesn’t authorize new spending. Rather, it allows government to finance commitments it already made. Today, that still includes many expenditures on debt that Donald Trump authorized while president.&nbsp;

Politics being theater, the debt ceiling is suddenly controversial and partisan again. Many Republican politicians who consented to raising the debt ceiling under Trump are clutching their proverbial pearls at doing it now, raising the specter of financial default.&nbsp;

First, federal dollars directly impact Kansas pocketbooks.&nbsp;

Default could leave the government unable to pay its bills. That could mean stoppages or delays in Social Security checks, Child Tax Credit payments, farm subsidies, military pay, veterans’ benefits, and postal worker paychecks. Medicare and Medicaid would be threatened. &nbsp;

Second, uncertainty over the debt ceiling affects your retirement and other investments.&nbsp;

Kansans with retirement or investment accounts probably own government debt via Treasury bonds. Default would undermine the value of those typically safe investments, jeopardizing your financial security and net worth.&nbsp;

Even risking default hurts your investments short term. When debt ceiling political theatrics create financial uncertainty and make markets fall, that directly decreases your net worth. Kansans who checked a 401k or Roth IRA around October 1 might remember this pain.&nbsp;

Bluntly, the politics industry often lies and misleads about debt. Many politicians, paid spokespeople, and infotainment “news” personalities profit from selling you half-baked, victimhood-wallowing political narratives, hoping to rile you up for votes, donations, and ratings.&nbsp;

Debt sounds bad. It’s easy anger fodder for sexy and distracting lies like: China owns most American debt and can bankrupt us anytime, welfare and foreign aid drive the debt, or only one party creates debt.&nbsp;

In reality, Americans own over 70% of the national debt, per the Treasury. Foreign investors cannot simply demand payment. Social Security is the biggest government expenditure; that plus Medicare and defense are about half the federal budget in many years. &nbsp;

The last president to sign a balanced budget was Bill Clinton. And both parties happily deficit spend while pretending that they don’t.&nbsp;

Under Trump, the debt ceiling increased three times without controversy. Most recently, he suspended the debt ceiling in 2019. Both of our current Kansas U.S. Senators supported Trump on his debt extensions at least once. Trump’s presidency added $7.8 trillion to the national debt, bringing it to $28 trillion, per Federal Reserve data.&nbsp;

Basic economics: for the country, there are pros and cons to the debt ceiling and debt itself. But, for the financial bottom line for individual Kansans trying to survive economically and save for retirement, even the risk of debt default is a financial harm. Maybe many politicians don’t realize that. Or maybe they do but they hope you don’t. &nbsp;

Ideally, mature politicians could get America’s long term financial act together without jeopardizing our individual financial security today. Sadly, that seems too responsible a hope.&nbsp;

Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&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>The debt ceiling debate in Washington seems distant from average Kansans, but it affects your finances more than you think.&nbsp;The debt ceiling is the limit on the amount of money the federal government can borrow. Congress invented it in 1917 to simplify creating debt and issuing bonds. It has been raised through various means 78 times since 1960, per Treasury Departments records, typically with bipartisan support and more frequently under Republican presidents. &nbsp;The debt ceiling itself doesn’t authorize new spending. Rather, it allows government to finance commitments it already made. Today, that still includes many expenditures on debt that Donald Trump authorized while president.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Politics being theater, the debt ceiling is suddenly controversial and partisan again. Many Republican politicians who consented to raising the debt ceiling under Trump are clutching their proverbial pearls at doing it now, raising the specter of financial default.&nbsp;How does this affect Kansans?&nbsp;First, federal dollars directly impact Kansas pocketbooks.&nbsp;Default could leave the government unable to pay its bills. That could mean stoppages or delays in Social Security checks, Child Tax Credit payments, farm subsidies, military pay, veterans’ benefits, and postal worker paychecks. Medicare and Medicaid would be threatened. &nbsp;Second, uncertainty over the debt ceiling affects your retirement and other investments.&nbsp;Kansans with retirement or investment accounts probably own government debt via Treasury bonds. Default would undermine the value of those typically safe investments, jeopardizing your financial security and net worth.&nbsp;Even risking default hurts your investments short term. When debt ceiling political theatrics create financial uncertainty and make markets fall, that directly decreases your net worth. Kansans who checked a 401k or Roth IRA around October 1 might remember this pain.&nbsp;Bluntly, the politics industry often lies and misleads about debt. Many politicians, paid spokespeople, and infotainment “news” personalities profit from selling you half-baked, victimhood-wallowing political narratives, hoping to rile you up for votes, donations, and ratings.&nbsp;Debt sounds bad. It’s easy anger fodder for sexy and distracting lies like: China owns most American debt and can bankrupt us anytime, welfare and foreign aid drive the debt, or only one party creates debt.&nbsp;In reality, Americans own over 70% of the national debt, per the Treasury. Foreign investors cannot simply demand payment. Social Security is the biggest government expenditure; that plus Medicare and defense are about half the federal budget in many years. &nbsp;The last president to sign a balanced budget was Bill Clinton. And both parties happily deficit spend while pretending that they don’t.&nbsp;Under Trump, the debt ceiling increased three times without controversy. Most recently, he suspended the debt ceiling in 2019. Both of our current Kansas U.S. Senators supported Trump on his debt extensions at least once. Trump’s presidency added $7.8 trillion to the national debt, bringing it to $28 trillion, per Federal Reserve data.&nbsp;Basic economics: for the country, there are pros and cons to the debt ceiling and debt itself. But, for the financial bottom line for individual Kansans trying to survive economically and save for retirement, even the risk of debt default is a financial harm. Maybe many politicians don’t realize that. Or maybe they do but they hope you don’t. &nbsp;Ideally, mature politicians could get America’s long term financial act together without jeopardizing our individual financial security today. Sadly, that seems too responsible a hope.&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: The debt ceiling and your financial bottom line

How long is your commute to work? Ten minutes? Twenty? Half an hour? I remember living in a city back east where it took more than an hour in stop-and-go traffic to get to work.&nbsp;

Today we’ll meet a young man whose commute lasts however long it takes for him to get to his computer in his house. He is part of the current wave of remote workers, and he is choosing to live in rural Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Matthew James is this young remote worker. He is a native of Concordia who went on to study computer science at K-State. “I was always interested in technology,” Matthew said.&nbsp;

In the summer after his freshman year, someone at Matthew’s church told him about an opportunity to work remotely. The county economic development director at the time was the wife of Matt’s high school baseball coach, so Matt was comfortable talking to her.&nbsp;

“She told me about a program in northwest Kansas called Rural &amp; Remote,” Matthew said. She put Matthew in contact with Kade Wilcox and he got Matthew into the program.&nbsp;

Rural &amp; Remote is one of the projects initiated by the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center Inc., supported by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in the northwest part of the state. The program is customized to fit each individual based on their experience and unique needs. It involves application, training, work experience and job placement support.&nbsp;

Matthew participated in the Rural &amp; Remote Coding Academy, which trains people for work as web developers or software engineers. Coding is essentially the process of creating the electronic operating instructions for modern digital devices.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634737842017.png" alt="Matthew James" />
 <figcaption>Matthew James</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentHow long is your commute to work? Ten minutes? Twenty? Half an hour? I remember living in a city back east where it took more than an hour in stop-and-go traffic to get to work.&nbsp;Today we’ll meet a young man whose commute lasts however long it takes for him to get to his computer in his house. He is part of the current wave of remote workers, and he is choosing to live in rural Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Matthew James is this young remote worker. He is a native of Concordia who went on to study computer science at K-State. “I was always interested in technology,” Matthew said.&nbsp;In the summer after his freshman year, someone at Matthew’s church told him about an opportunity to work remotely. The county economic development director at the time was the wife of Matt’s high school baseball coach, so Matt was comfortable talking to her.&nbsp;“She told me about a program in northwest Kansas called Rural &amp; Remote,” Matthew said. She put Matthew in contact with Kade Wilcox and he got Matthew into the program.&nbsp;Rural &amp; Remote is one of the projects initiated by the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center Inc., supported by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in the northwest part of the state. The program is customized to fit each individual based on their experience and unique needs. It involves application, training, work experience and job placement support.&nbsp;Matthew participated in the Rural &amp; Remote Coding Academy, which trains people for work as web developers or software engineers. Coding is essentially the process of creating the electronic operating instructions for modern digital devices.&nbsp;“With the way technology and society are changing, coders are becoming a bigger need,” Matthew said. “And since Covid, remote work has picked up.”&nbsp;Matthew put in a 500-hour apprenticeship that turned into a full-time coding job by the time he finished college. After graduating, he moved back to Concordia. In fall 2021, he married his high school sweetheart, who had graduated from K-State as well.&nbsp;Today, Matthew is a web developer who is working remotely for a digital solutions company headquartered in Lubbock, Texas. “We create solutions for businesses looking to grow,” he said. The company offers custom software, search engine optimization, websites, help with digital marketing and more. As projects are identified, Matt can accomplish them remotely.&nbsp;“I have a sprint – that’s what we call a week’s worth of work,” he said. “It’s all custom, everything from helping an agribusiness company market seed, to creating a database of residential apartments for a management company.”&nbsp;What does Matthew value about remote work? “I can set my own hours,” he said. “I usually work 8 to 5, but if I need to take time off to go to a doctor or dentist appointment, I can do that and make up the hours later.”&nbsp;“There’s a bunch of guys I play noon basketball with at Cloud County Community College, so I like to go do that,” he said. His new bride is student-teaching nearby.&nbsp;Matthew is thankful for the remote work opportunity. “It got me back to my hometown,” he said. “My family and friends are here and my wife’s family is nearby. I’m glad to be able to work in my field and do it from home. And this can be done in other fields too.”&nbsp;“This is a win-win situation for businesses and employees.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both are seeing benefits,” Matthew said. “People like having the flexibility and companies save a lot on expenses by not having to pay for buildings.”&nbsp;It’s great to see that remote work has made it possible for this young man to return to his hometown, the rural community of Concordia, population 5,111 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;How long is your commute?&nbsp;&nbsp;For Matthew James, his commute to work consists of a keystroke on his computer. We commend him for making a difference with his online entrepreneurship and his commitment to his community. I hope his computer never runs into a traffic jam.&nbsp;

Opinion