Gardeners often garden in the same spot every year. Despite familiarity, new challenges often present themselves. 

Somewhere over years tilling soil and nurturing vegetables, I discovered swallowtail butterflies have a symbiotic relationship with fennel which offers front row seating to watch yellow, green, cream, and black swallowtail caterpillars munch tender fronds. Once those caterpillars morph into winged creatures, an aerial ballet of pirouetting swallow- tails floating on summer breezes adds further entertainment to hours spent in the garden. To encourage this, I plant fennel annually to guarantee the show continues.

That is until this year. Where’s the fennel? Normally, I add pots of fennel along with rosemary, basil, and thyme when I visit local greenhouses to buy tomato and pepper plants. This year, I found everything but fennel. Off to find the person in charge. She looked high and low for this fern-like herb, saying, “We had it last year.”

I know. I bought some.&nbsp;That initiated a multi-greenhouse search for this swallowtail delectable.

&nbsp;After visiting local greenhouses, we traveled further from home to a lovely greenhouse filled with dazzling flowers, vegetables, shrubs, trees, rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, lavender, and more several counties away. No fennel.

That led to a search of garden departments at Walmart, Tractor Supply, Bomgaar’s and Home Depot. Certain I’d find this desire of swallowtail caterpillar gastronomic systems at Big Box stores, I sadly struck out 4, 5, 6, and 7 more times. Even though it’s late to start herbs from seed, I headed to aisles filled with magical packets of summer delight. Guess what? No fennel.

Heading home to google reasons for a lack of fennel, I found sources claiming it’s a supply and demand issue. However, I discovered no definitive answer for who’s monopolizing this herb rural cooks rarely use. 

Scores of recipes using licorice-flavored fennel bulbs, stems, leaves, and seeds in seafood, meat, and Italian dishes filled internet feeds. Chefs somewhere but not here concoct fennel soups; pork, fish, and lamb seasoned with fennel; sauteed, grilled, roasted, baked, fried, and pickled fennel; and fennel salads.

 Herbalists claim its good for heart and digestive health, but I know no one self-treating with fennel products. On-line, I can buy processed seeds for cooking. Unfortunately, those won’t work in my garden.

In a world experiencing a variety of shortages, who imagined fennel would join the ever-growing list. In conversations with nursery staff and online searches, I never discovered the reason why places I normally find fennel plants don’t have them nor did the internet offer any extraordinary rationale like a fennel flu pandemic. One clerk grinned and attributed the lack to conspiracy theories.

On the positive side, I have a dill bed. While, in my experience, swallowtails prefer frothy fennel leaves, dill will substitute to fuel caterpillar life cycles. Their preference for faint licorice scents of fennel to quirky notes of dill can’t be helped this gardening season.

Hopefully, the huge swallowtails flitting around our yard will find that dill bed and lay eggs. Soon they’ll smell it on warm days even if they don’t see it. Once their eggs hatch, they can sip nectar from flowers planted around the yard while their offspring reduce the dill one chomp at a time. In the meantime, I’ll continue seeking a fennel source for next spring.

Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747403448596.jpeg" alt="Swallowtail caterpillars. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Swallowtail caterpillars. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORIN Gardeners often garden in the same spot every year. Despite familiarity, new challenges often present themselves. Somewhere over years tilling soil and nurturing vegetables, I discovered swallowtail butterflies have a symbiotic relationship with fennel which offers front row seating to watch yellow, green, cream, and black swallowtail caterpillars munch tender fronds. Once those caterpillars morph into winged creatures, an aerial ballet of pirouetting swallow- tails floating on summer breezes adds further entertainment to hours spent in the garden. To encourage this, I plant fennel annually to guarantee the show continues.That is until this year. Where’s the fennel? Normally, I add pots of fennel along with rosemary, basil, and thyme when I visit local greenhouses to buy tomato and pepper plants. This year, I found everything but fennel. Off to find the person in charge. She looked high and low for this fern-like herb, saying, “We had it last year.”I know. I bought some.&nbsp;That initiated a multi-greenhouse search for this swallowtail delectable.&nbsp;After visiting local greenhouses, we traveled further from home to a lovely greenhouse filled with dazzling flowers, vegetables, shrubs, trees, rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, lavender, and more several counties away. No fennel.That led to a search of garden departments at Walmart, Tractor Supply, Bomgaar’s and Home Depot. Certain I’d find this desire of swallowtail caterpillar gastronomic systems at Big Box stores, I sadly struck out 4, 5, 6, and 7 more times. Even though it’s late to start herbs from seed, I headed to aisles filled with magical packets of summer delight. Guess what? No fennel.Heading home to google reasons for a lack of fennel, I found sources claiming it’s a supply and demand issue. However, I discovered no definitive answer for who’s monopolizing this herb rural cooks rarely use. Scores of recipes using licorice-flavored fennel bulbs, stems, leaves, and seeds in seafood, meat, and Italian dishes filled internet feeds. Chefs somewhere but not here concoct fennel soups; pork, fish, and lamb seasoned with fennel; sauteed, grilled, roasted, baked, fried, and pickled fennel; and fennel salads. Herbalists claim its good for heart and digestive health, but I know no one self-treating with fennel products. On-line, I can buy processed seeds for cooking. Unfortunately, those won’t work in my garden.In a world experiencing a variety of shortages, who imagined fennel would join the ever-growing list. In conversations with nursery staff and online searches, I never discovered the reason why places I normally find fennel plants don’t have them nor did the internet offer any extraordinary rationale like a fennel flu pandemic. One clerk grinned and attributed the lack to conspiracy theories.On the positive side, I have a dill bed. While, in my experience, swallowtails prefer frothy fennel leaves, dill will substitute to fuel caterpillar life cycles. Their preference for faint licorice scents of fennel to quirky notes of dill can’t be helped this gardening season.Hopefully, the huge swallowtails flitting around our yard will find that dill bed and lay eggs. Soon they’ll smell it on warm days even if they don’t see it. Once their eggs hatch, they can sip nectar from flowers planted around the yard while their offspring reduce the dill one chomp at a time. In the meantime, I’ll continue seeking a fennel source for next spring.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Fennel conspiracy?

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension

Ticks and the pathogens they transmit are a significant concern for both humans and animals alike. Controlling tick populations can be difficult because a large part of their lives are spent off the animal host or are on hosts we have little control over like deer, rabbits and other animals. 

Between feeding periods, ticks are found in brush or tall grasses, especially around water areas and streams. High humidity, the presence of protective leaf litter and animals moving through the area provide a perfect habitat for ticks.

Burning pastures in the Flint Hills can significantly reduce tick populations, with burning early in the spring while ticks are still overwintering being the most effective (Salazar et al., 2024). The impact of burning is immediate, with reduced tick numbers lasting the growing season after the burn. Female ticks lay thousands of eggs and tick populations can rebound very quickly if burning isn’t maintained. 

When burning, pay special attention to thickets and areas of dense plant growth. 

Eastern redcedars are a tick hot spot (Noden et al., 2021) and an area often visited by animals. Alarmingly, not only are more ticks found in these areas, but they are also carrying more pathogens than those collected from surrounding pasture (Noden et al., 2021). 

Keep grass around buildings short and bushes trimmed and off the ground.

For on animal tick control, fly tags can help control ear-associated ticks like Gulf Coast and spinose ear ticks. These are not effective for tick species that are on the body of the animal, like the American dog tick, which transmits Anaplasmosis. 

Sprays can be effective if they reach areas where ticks are attached, and tick populations are not resistant. As seen with flies, rates of pesticide resistance in ticks are also increasing. 

Common tick attachment sites include areas under the tail, in folds of skin, under the belly/udder areas and dewlap. 

Pour-on’s can also be effective but be aware that those containing macrocyclic lactone group chemicals will impact your dung beetle populations.

Protect yourself and your family while outdoors, too!

 Make sure you wear long pants tucked into socks and shirts with long sleeves, tucked into pants. Check yourself for ticks at the end of the day and remove any attached ticks as soon as possible. 

Dogs and cats should receive veterinarian prescribed tick control products. Be careful of ‘natural’ remedies found on the internet as these have not been tested for safety or efficacy.

 There has been a rise in garlic-based products for tick and flea control in dogs for sale on online retailers like Amazon. Garlic is not safe for dogs to consume and should not be used for flea and tick control.

More information on the most common ticks found in Kansas can be found here (<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/ticks-in-kansas_MF2653.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/ticks-in-kansas_MF2653.pdf</a>).

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747237916762.png" alt="Photo by K-State Research and Extension" />
 <figcaption>Photo by K-State Research and Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood ExtensionTicks and the pathogens they transmit are a significant concern for both humans and animals alike. Controlling tick populations can be difficult because a large part of their lives are spent off the animal host or are on hosts we have little control over like deer, rabbits and other animals. Between feeding periods, ticks are found in brush or tall grasses, especially around water areas and streams. High humidity, the presence of protective leaf litter and animals moving through the area provide a perfect habitat for ticks.Burning pastures in the Flint Hills can significantly reduce tick populations, with burning early in the spring while ticks are still overwintering being the most effective (Salazar et al., 2024). The impact of burning is immediate, with reduced tick numbers lasting the growing season after the burn. Female ticks lay thousands of eggs and tick populations can rebound very quickly if burning isn’t maintained. When burning, pay special attention to thickets and areas of dense plant growth. Eastern redcedars are a tick hot spot (Noden et al., 2021) and an area often visited by animals. Alarmingly, not only are more ticks found in these areas, but they are also carrying more pathogens than those collected from surrounding pasture (Noden et al., 2021). Keep grass around buildings short and bushes trimmed and off the ground.For on animal tick control, fly tags can help control ear-associated ticks like Gulf Coast and spinose ear ticks. These are not effective for tick species that are on the body of the animal, like the American dog tick, which transmits Anaplasmosis. Sprays can be effective if they reach areas where ticks are attached, and tick populations are not resistant. As seen with flies, rates of pesticide resistance in ticks are also increasing. Common tick attachment sites include areas under the tail, in folds of skin, under the belly/udder areas and dewlap. Pour-on’s can also be effective but be aware that those containing macrocyclic lactone group chemicals will impact your dung beetle populations.Protect yourself and your family while outdoors, too! Make sure you wear long pants tucked into socks and shirts with long sleeves, tucked into pants. Check yourself for ticks at the end of the day and remove any attached ticks as soon as possible. Dogs and cats should receive veterinarian prescribed tick control products. Be careful of ‘natural’ remedies found on the internet as these have not been tested for safety or efficacy. There has been a rise in garlic-based products for tick and flea control in dogs for sale on online retailers like Amazon. Garlic is not safe for dogs to consume and should not be used for flea and tick control.More information on the most common ticks found in Kansas can be found here (<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/ticks-in-kansas_MF2653.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/ticks-in-kansas_MF2653.pdf</a>).Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Controlling tick populations can be difficult

By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;

Change is a constant in every day life. Sometimes change is fun, sometimes hard, and nearly always challenging.

After almost nine years of working in the 4-H Youth Development program, I am beginning a move to Family and Community Wellness. This move continues my commitment to my goal of helping rural communities – and most importantly, MY rural communities – to thrive, not just survive!

While my heart will always beat a little 4-H green, I am excited about the potential in continuing established programs such as Stay Strong, Stay Healthy and SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas) and working with the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. 

Financial literacy for every age has been an important part of my professional world for many years and I look forward to additional training and experiences that will help me to expand that knowledge and resources across the Cottonwood Extension District.

For the next couple of months, I will still be focused on a positive learning experience for 4-H youth at the Barton County Fair! 

Come support the 120 4-H members during the fair June 25th through 30th. They have been working all year on livestock projects, foods and nutrition, photography, woodworking, and many more of the 50 available project areas! 

We use a process of consultative judging in many areas of 4-H and I love listening in as a 4-H member shares their challenges and learning experiences with a judge. I enjoy consultative judging so much that I judge at several area fairs after ours is complete.

Change is a part of the teaching youth to be resilient, flexible, and problem-solvers. 

While I know that my change impacts their 4-H experience, I hope that they always know that I am here to cheer them on, support a new 4-H agent when hired, and celebrate their successes and commiserate when things don’t go quite as planned. Every 4-H youth I have had the opportunity to work with becomes just a little bit one of “my kids.”

 I will continue to encourage them to live the 4-H Pledge every day:

I pledge my Head to clearer thinking (make good decisions)

My Heart to greater loyalty (be a good friend)

My Hands to larger service (be engaged in making our communities better)

And My Health to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

Keep learning! Keep showing grace and kindness!

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran&nbsp;is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran&nbsp;is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;Change is a constant in every day life. Sometimes change is fun, sometimes hard, and nearly always challenging.After almost nine years of working in the 4-H Youth Development program, I am beginning a move to Family and Community Wellness. This move continues my commitment to my goal of helping rural communities – and most importantly, MY rural communities – to thrive, not just survive!While my heart will always beat a little 4-H green, I am excited about the potential in continuing established programs such as Stay Strong, Stay Healthy and SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas) and working with the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Financial literacy for every age has been an important part of my professional world for many years and I look forward to additional training and experiences that will help me to expand that knowledge and resources across the Cottonwood Extension District.For the next couple of months, I will still be focused on a positive learning experience for 4-H youth at the Barton County Fair! Come support the 120 4-H members during the fair June 25th through 30th. They have been working all year on livestock projects, foods and nutrition, photography, woodworking, and many more of the 50 available project areas! We use a process of consultative judging in many areas of 4-H and I love listening in as a 4-H member shares their challenges and learning experiences with a judge. I enjoy consultative judging so much that I judge at several area fairs after ours is complete.Change is a part of the teaching youth to be resilient, flexible, and problem-solvers. While I know that my change impacts their 4-H experience, I hope that they always know that I am here to cheer them on, support a new 4-H agent when hired, and celebrate their successes and commiserate when things don’t go quite as planned. Every 4-H youth I have had the opportunity to work with becomes just a little bit one of “my kids.” I will continue to encourage them to live the 4-H Pledge every day:I pledge my Head to clearer thinking (make good decisions)My Heart to greater loyalty (be a good friend)My Hands to larger service (be engaged in making our communities better)And My Health to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world.Keep learning! Keep showing grace and kindness!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Change is a constant

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

With the “road-kill” season upon us, considering the financial struggles of many folks right now, and the political agendas of even more, I’ve planned in my mind what I’ll do if the day ever arrives when the only way for me to feed my family will be to harvest road-kill. I would become a “Road-Kill Griller” in the purest sense of the phrase, and I’m bettin’ there are bunches more of you out there that are afraid to come forward.

Grilling utensils of a Road-Kill chef would be very different than the usual grilling tools. 

Your spatula would become a flat ended shovel, preferably the short-handled kind with the “D” shaped handle, allowing you to put maximum power behind your spatula when scraping meals from the asphalt. The fork normally used to turn steaks on the grill would become a pitchfork or potato fork, anything capable of holding your find while removing gravel with the shovel/spatula. 

Timing for harvesting road-killed meals would be an important issue. The five-second rule would become the five-day rule. You would want to either get to a kill while it’s fresh, or wait until it became jerky. 

Cooking road-kill would be a whole new learning experience in itself and should definitely be done outside; the hotter the fire the better to quickly burn off hair and sterilize your meal.

Concerning recipes, just plan to toss all your favorites and start anew. 

I’ll list a few examples: The rare find of a chicken that could once have become chicken tetrazzini, would now be chicken flattened by machinery. The closest you’d ever get to potatoes au gratin would be opossum smells rotten. 

The internet fairly teems with road-kill recipes free for the reading. A few of my favorite main dishes were skunk skillet stew, shake-n-bake snake, rack of raccoon, pavement possum and too-slow doe. Side dishes included square of hare, fork of stork and bowl of mole.

If you were to suddenly become unemployed, I’m quite sure a good living could be made by fixing up your old camping trailer and following the state fair or carnival circuit peddling road-kill on a stick.

 It wouldn’t matter what species it was; just cut it into chunks, skewer it with a stick, slather it in some sort of batter and fry it up in old french-fry grease. If you didn’t tell customers what it was, I’m&nbsp;sure they’d think it tasted just like chicken, and the unique name alone would probably flood you with business.

The driving habits of a true road-kill griller would be changed forever.

 While we’d once have avoided hitting critters on the roadway at all costs, especially deer, we now would strive to hit every critter possible, especially deer. No Hunting signs would become No Gleaning signs, and turf wars might break out as we all tried to protect our favorite back roads, swamps and river bridges where road-kill often abounds.

Yes, if the world someday crumples around our feet, I have no doubt good ol’ American ingenuity will abound and those of us here in the Midwest will still be able to feed our families and make a living as road-kill harvesters and grillers.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas OutdoorsWith the “road-kill” season upon us, considering the financial struggles of many folks right now, and the political agendas of even more, I’ve planned in my mind what I’ll do if the day ever arrives when the only way for me to feed my family will be to harvest road-kill. I would become a “Road-Kill Griller” in the purest sense of the phrase, and I’m bettin’ there are bunches more of you out there that are afraid to come forward.Grilling utensils of a Road-Kill chef would be very different than the usual grilling tools. Your spatula would become a flat ended shovel, preferably the short-handled kind with the “D” shaped handle, allowing you to put maximum power behind your spatula when scraping meals from the asphalt. The fork normally used to turn steaks on the grill would become a pitchfork or potato fork, anything capable of holding your find while removing gravel with the shovel/spatula. Timing for harvesting road-killed meals would be an important issue. The five-second rule would become the five-day rule. You would want to either get to a kill while it’s fresh, or wait until it became jerky. Cooking road-kill would be a whole new learning experience in itself and should definitely be done outside; the hotter the fire the better to quickly burn off hair and sterilize your meal.Concerning recipes, just plan to toss all your favorites and start anew. I’ll list a few examples: The rare find of a chicken that could once have become chicken tetrazzini, would now be chicken flattened by machinery. The closest you’d ever get to potatoes au gratin would be opossum smells rotten. The internet fairly teems with road-kill recipes free for the reading. A few of my favorite main dishes were skunk skillet stew, shake-n-bake snake, rack of raccoon, pavement possum and too-slow doe. Side dishes included square of hare, fork of stork and bowl of mole.If you were to suddenly become unemployed, I’m quite sure a good living could be made by fixing up your old camping trailer and following the state fair or carnival circuit peddling road-kill on a stick. It wouldn’t matter what species it was; just cut it into chunks, skewer it with a stick, slather it in some sort of batter and fry it up in old french-fry grease. If you didn’t tell customers what it was, I’m&nbsp;sure they’d think it tasted just like chicken, and the unique name alone would probably flood you with business.The driving habits of a true road-kill griller would be changed forever. While we’d once have avoided hitting critters on the roadway at all costs, especially deer, we now would strive to hit every critter possible, especially deer. No Hunting signs would become No Gleaning signs, and turf wars might break out as we all tried to protect our favorite back roads, swamps and river bridges where road-kill often abounds.Yes, if the world someday crumples around our feet, I have no doubt good ol’ American ingenuity will abound and those of us here in the Midwest will still be able to feed our families and make a living as road-kill harvesters and grillers. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: You, too, can become a 'Road-Kill Griller'

By RUSSELL ARBEN FOX Insight Kansas

Back in December I wrote&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mittelpolitan.substack.com/p/insight-kansas-column-for-december">a column on symbolism and substance in politics</a>. At the time, I was especially struck by the problem of what it means to take political rhetoric—the constant, often bizarre social media statements flooding from the White House being a great example—“seriously but not literally.”

As we continue, both in Kansas and across the country, to be caught up in a political environment filled with protests and proclamations that may or may not be meant to be taken seriously, a return to the topic is in order.

Here in Wichita, the largest stand-alone city in Kansas, the biggest controversy of the past two months has been a declaration which our city council issued in support of Transgender Day of Visibility, a national occasion promoted by LGBTQ organizations. Mayor Lily Wu&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302324064.html">did not endorse that proclamation</a>, though neither did she prevent the majority of council members who did support it from publicly presenting it.

Since&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302386849.html">the relevant city ordinance seems to stipulate that the mayor must formally read any proclamation issued by the council</a>, her action (or lack thereof) has generated&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article302362364.html">heated debate</a>, including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302440494.html">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302929154.html">accusations</a>&nbsp;both by and against the mayor.

I brought up this controversy while speaking to a civic group recently, and one participant asked a question that seemed to capture what the majority of that group seemed to be feeling: why are we fighting about entirely symbolic proclamations anyway? It’s a fair question.

Like I wrote in my previous column, it’s very easy to get frustrated over what might be broadly called “performative politics.” Often that term is used critically: you, or the church or business or interests you represent, don’t have the votes or resources to affect real change, so instead you just “perform” your demands, grabbing attention, disrupting others with your silly, symbolic claims.

But making statements, carrying signs, or organizing on behalf of recognition isn’t silly at all. Rather, these kinds of performative actions occupy a range of places within our political life.

At one end, there are those who possess actual administrative or executive authority: a CEO, a mayor, a governor, or the President of the United States. The statements such people make, even if they’re legally groundless or substantively empty, still matter, because the authority they possess will invariably influence others to take action, even if there is no basis for doing so.

On the other end, though, are just ordinary citizens, possessing no more authority than anyone else. 

But citizens can nonetheless take up a signs to express frustration (as sizable crowds have done almost every week over the past few months in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article305500671.html">Wichita</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article303558496.html">Kansas City</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hayspost.com/posts/069b4d3f-9ecc-45cb-95df-c5b75b653d08">Hays</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/01/may-day-rally-draws-hundreds-to-kansas-capitol-to-protest-trump-administration/">Topeka</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/general-news/2025/apr/30/may-day-protest-in-lawrence-and-across-the-u-s-to-oppose-trumps-executive-actions-and-support-workers-rights-social-justice/">Lawrence</a>, and elsewhere), and by so doing capture the attention of others.

Also, any citizen can petition elected leaders to plead for recognition for the work one does, or the identity one represents. If enough agree, then suddenly a degree of legitimacy—and, crucially, the awareness of others—is granted that didn’t exist before, empowering those who made the request.

Over the past decade, as social media has transformed political life, multiple scholars have begun to rethink democratic politics, and the place of performance and spectatorship within it. 

Today we live in an environment where “attention” is often the most valuable commodity anyone can possess. Those who can do the work and organize with others and put themselves forward to make sure their cause is seen (and sometimes their opponents triggered or scandalized), may not be a distraction; instead, maybe they’re doing politics the way it is fated to be played today.

Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586443443315.jpeg" alt="Russell Arben Fox&nbsp;teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Russell Arben Fox&nbsp;teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RUSSELL ARBEN FOX Insight KansasBack in December I wrote&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mittelpolitan.substack.com/p/insight-kansas-column-for-december">a column on symbolism and substance in politics</a>. At the time, I was especially struck by the problem of what it means to take political rhetoric—the constant, often bizarre social media statements flooding from the White House being a great example—“seriously but not literally.” As we continue, both in Kansas and across the country, to be caught up in a political environment filled with protests and proclamations that may or may not be meant to be taken seriously, a return to the topic is in order.Here in Wichita, the largest stand-alone city in Kansas, the biggest controversy of the past two months has been a declaration which our city council issued in support of Transgender Day of Visibility, a national occasion promoted by LGBTQ organizations. Mayor Lily Wu&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302324064.html">did not endorse that proclamation</a>, though neither did she prevent the majority of council members who did support it from publicly presenting it. Since&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302386849.html">the relevant city ordinance seems to stipulate that the mayor must formally read any proclamation issued by the council</a>, her action (or lack thereof) has generated&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article302362364.html">heated debate</a>, including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302440494.html">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article302929154.html">accusations</a>&nbsp;both by and against the mayor.I brought up this controversy while speaking to a civic group recently, and one participant asked a question that seemed to capture what the majority of that group seemed to be feeling: why are we fighting about entirely symbolic proclamations anyway? It’s a fair question.Like I wrote in my previous column, it’s very easy to get frustrated over what might be broadly called “performative politics.” Often that term is used critically: you, or the church or business or interests you represent, don’t have the votes or resources to affect real change, so instead you just “perform” your demands, grabbing attention, disrupting others with your silly, symbolic claims.But making statements, carrying signs, or organizing on behalf of recognition isn’t silly at all. Rather, these kinds of performative actions occupy a range of places within our political life.At one end, there are those who possess actual administrative or executive authority: a CEO, a mayor, a governor, or the President of the United States. The statements such people make, even if they’re legally groundless or substantively empty, still matter, because the authority they possess will invariably influence others to take action, even if there is no basis for doing so.On the other end, though, are just ordinary citizens, possessing no more authority than anyone else. But citizens can nonetheless take up a signs to express frustration (as sizable crowds have done almost every week over the past few months in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article305500671.html">Wichita</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article303558496.html">Kansas City</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hayspost.com/posts/069b4d3f-9ecc-45cb-95df-c5b75b653d08">Hays</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/01/may-day-rally-draws-hundreds-to-kansas-capitol-to-protest-trump-administration/">Topeka</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/general-news/2025/apr/30/may-day-protest-in-lawrence-and-across-the-u-s-to-oppose-trumps-executive-actions-and-support-workers-rights-social-justice/">Lawrence</a>, and elsewhere), and by so doing capture the attention of others. Also, any citizen can petition elected leaders to plead for recognition for the work one does, or the identity one represents. If enough agree, then suddenly a degree of legitimacy—and, crucially, the awareness of others—is granted that didn’t exist before, empowering those who made the request.Over the past decade, as social media has transformed political life, multiple scholars have begun to rethink democratic politics, and the place of performance and spectatorship within it. Today we live in an environment where “attention” is often the most valuable commodity anyone can possess. Those who can do the work and organize with others and put themselves forward to make sure their cause is seen (and sometimes their opponents triggered or scandalized), may not be a distraction; instead, maybe they’re doing politics the way it is fated to be played today.Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

Insight Kansas: On protests, proclamations, and performative politics

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp; – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Wednesday questioned witnesses from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on changes they are making to improve aviation safety. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held the hearing to examine both the progress and delays within the FAA to make necessary safety changes in accordance with the&nbsp;FAA Reauthorization Act,&nbsp;which Senator Moran helped to draft and pass last Congress.

Sen. Moran questioned witnesses about FAA’s failure to recognize a series of near misses in the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) airspace leading up to the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3b0faf1d-fe84-4e1a-a5ca-e5598350e041">January 29 midair collision </a>involving American Airlines flight 5342originating from Wichita and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter.

“The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary investigation after the tragic collision at DCA highlighted 15,214 events from October 21 to December 24 of commercial planes and helicopters that were separated by less than one nautical mile,”&nbsp;said Moran. 

“That information that NTSB provided came from FAA computer records.&nbsp;Those numbers and other statistics demonstrate to me a continuing problem and circumstance in which there is close proximity between aircraft at DCA. If this information is in the FAA’s computer records, does the FAA monitor these records to recognize trends so that actions can be taken to reduce the risks?”

Following Sen. Moran’s questioning,&nbsp;Mr. Franklin McIntosh, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the Air Traffic Organization at FAA, acknowledged that there were mitigation failures in their systems leading up to the Jan. 29th accident and agreed with Sen. Moran’s assertion that the data “is sufficiently alarming that it should have raised more awareness and action than it did.”

Watch Sen. Moran's questioning below.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747327137939.png" alt="U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS). Screen grab from the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS). Screen grab from the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Sen. MoranWASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp; – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Wednesday questioned witnesses from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on changes they are making to improve aviation safety. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held the hearing to examine both the progress and delays within the FAA to make necessary safety changes in accordance with the&nbsp;FAA Reauthorization Act,&nbsp;which Senator Moran helped to draft and pass last Congress. Sen. Moran questioned witnesses about FAA’s failure to recognize a series of near misses in the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) airspace leading up to the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3b0faf1d-fe84-4e1a-a5ca-e5598350e041">January 29 midair collision </a>involving American Airlines flight 5342originating from Wichita and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter.“The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary investigation after the tragic collision at DCA highlighted 15,214 events from October 21 to December 24 of commercial planes and helicopters that were separated by less than one nautical mile,”&nbsp;said Moran. “That information that NTSB provided came from FAA computer records.&nbsp;Those numbers and other statistics demonstrate to me a continuing problem and circumstance in which there is close proximity between aircraft at DCA. If this information is in the FAA’s computer records, does the FAA monitor these records to recognize trends so that actions can be taken to reduce the risks?”Following Sen. Moran’s questioning,&nbsp;Mr. Franklin McIntosh, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the Air Traffic Organization at FAA, acknowledged that there were mitigation failures in their systems leading up to the Jan. 29th accident and agreed with Sen. Moran’s assertion that the data “is sufficiently alarming that it should have raised more awareness and action than it did.”Watch Sen. Moran's questioning below.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2mL6xAuVyqI" title="Sen. Moran Questions FAA Leadership on Aviation Safety Changes Following 2024 FAA Reauthorization" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Sen. Moran Questions FAA leadership on safety system failures, changes implemented

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Sara Meitner, Heartland Community Foundation executive director about spring application deadlines for grant funding, the Youth Action Council, and Table Talk for non-profit organizations.&nbsp;

They also discuss four new funds that have been opened in the past month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650389030295.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Heartland Community Foundation spring deadlines, new funds" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=btedu-18a9a35-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Sara Meitner, Heartland Community Foundation executive director about spring application deadlines for grant funding, the Youth Action Council, and Table Talk for non-profit organizations.&nbsp;They also discuss four new funds that have been opened in the past month.

🎙 Post Podcast: Heartland Community Foundation spring deadlines, new funds

Editor's Note: The following letter was presented to Hays USD 489 board members and Ron Wilson, superintendent.

Other than being a resident and taxpayer for these past 42 plus years, I currently do not have any skin in the game of tennis. I just am hopeful this time around, the USD 489 board would build them correctly, not like the existing disaster, the current courts were built cock-eyed in a NW-SE direction. 

You see, and bet we all would agree, Hays is not a "Hot Bed" for tennis like other communities near or around Wichita. When I went to college in Winfield during the mid-1960s, they had 26 courts scattered around town. Today, or since 2012, they have 14 courts called the Curly Vaughn Tennis Center, and play host to many KSHSAA state tournaments. (Note: All are built legally north to south.)

 When I played college tennis, there were only four courts at that side—now 14. When I did my practice teaching at Winfield High School, they had won 17 of 21 state tennis championships. 

They along with nearby Arkansas City were the Hot Beds of tennis for decades. Many of their grads played D-1 at KU, KSU or WSU.&nbsp;In those two communities, Christmas was a failure if they didn't get new rackets.

The closest Hays ever got to being a hot bed of tennis was when Dennis Douglas was the teacher and head coach. Yes, his sister (Donna Kay) was married to long time coach Jim Maska. Dennis had state champions in both girls and guys. We moved here so my oldest daughter might get a chance to play for him. He resigned at HHS and became the Hays Recreation director, so Cathy Kuhn became our oldest daughter's coach.

If Tanya could make it to state just once in four years, it was going to be worth the move. Wow! She went all four years, and along with Andre' Schmidt, they were the last class 5A State Champions in Doubles or Singles that Hays has produced with a 30-1 record. (That was fall of 1982.) 

We knew then the HHS tennis courts were constructed wrong, as any avid tennis player would know. NO courts in the Northern Hemisphere (Kansas) were constructed that way. Ignorance is one thing meaning lack of knowledge but when architects and board members are educated and know the difference or rely on other professionals, but continue to make the same mistake, then that surpasses ignorance into stubborn stupidity (in my humble opinion). 

KSHSAA knows about the diagram/photo which previous appeared in an edition of the Hays Daily Newspaper and I contacted Sarah Smith (in charge of tennis). She confirmed to me that ALL tennis courts where they assign post-season matches are built and run in a north-south direction. Even other tennis courts in Hays, like down near Larks Park or FHSU, "ALL" are constructed correctly. 

Please be smart and use your intelligence like the board's "Mission Goals" state: "Effective Management of Resources". 

In spending over $600,000, either do it right or not at all. Don't be stupid. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698091063975.png" alt="Image by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Editor's Note: The following letter was presented to Hays USD 489 board members and Ron Wilson, superintendent.Dear Mr. Wilson and board members: Other than being a resident and taxpayer for these past 42 plus years, I currently do not have any skin in the game of tennis. I just am hopeful this time around, the USD 489 board would build them correctly, not like the existing disaster, the current courts were built cock-eyed in a NW-SE direction. You see, and bet we all would agree, Hays is not a "Hot Bed" for tennis like other communities near or around Wichita. When I went to college in Winfield during the mid-1960s, they had 26 courts scattered around town. Today, or since 2012, they have 14 courts called the Curly Vaughn Tennis Center, and play host to many KSHSAA state tournaments. (Note: All are built legally north to south.) When I played college tennis, there were only four courts at that side—now 14. When I did my practice teaching at Winfield High School, they had won 17 of 21 state tennis championships. They along with nearby Arkansas City were the Hot Beds of tennis for decades. Many of their grads played D-1 at KU, KSU or WSU.&nbsp;In those two communities, Christmas was a failure if they didn't get new rackets.The closest Hays ever got to being a hot bed of tennis was when Dennis Douglas was the teacher and head coach. Yes, his sister (Donna Kay) was married to long time coach Jim Maska. Dennis had state champions in both girls and guys. We moved here so my oldest daughter might get a chance to play for him. He resigned at HHS and became the Hays Recreation director, so Cathy Kuhn became our oldest daughter's coach.If Tanya could make it to state just once in four years, it was going to be worth the move. Wow! She went all four years, and along with Andre' Schmidt, they were the last class 5A State Champions in Doubles or Singles that Hays has produced with a 30-1 record. (That was fall of 1982.) We knew then the HHS tennis courts were constructed wrong, as any avid tennis player would know. NO courts in the Northern Hemisphere (Kansas) were constructed that way. Ignorance is one thing meaning lack of knowledge but when architects and board members are educated and know the difference or rely on other professionals, but continue to make the same mistake, then that surpasses ignorance into stubborn stupidity (in my humble opinion). KSHSAA knows about the diagram/photo which previous appeared in an edition of the Hays Daily Newspaper and I contacted Sarah Smith (in charge of tennis). She confirmed to me that ALL tennis courts where they assign post-season matches are built and run in a north-south direction. Even other tennis courts in Hays, like down near Larks Park or FHSU, "ALL" are constructed correctly. Please be smart and use your intelligence like the board's "Mission Goals" state: "Effective Management of Resources". In spending over $600,000, either do it right or not at all. Don't be stupid. Thank you for your time! —Larry Jantz, Hays&nbsp;

LETTER: New Hays High tennis courts must be built correctly

William Least Heat Moon sold a book promoting the idea of traveling Blue Highways. 

For those who don’t remember paper maps, these two-lane highways carry rural travelers from one burg to another across the United States. Some villages boast a stop light. Other don’t even have a stop sign to control intersection traffic. Those officials trust that locals know enough to follow state driver manuals and hope common sense is a bonus. 

Most such tiny towns have sights worth seeing and stops for folks who make time to travel slow routes, enjoying exploration at a snail’s pace.

Recently, we took a favorite drive to scenic Morland, situated near the South Solomon River. Getting there either via Highway 24 or driving country roads offers impressive views of weathered limestone filled with fossils, vast horizons replete with waving prairie grasses and wheat, wood, brick, and stone homesteads—age confirmed as roofs fall, windows and doors vanish, and barns collapse under the weight of time. Occasionally, travelers luck out and spy a well-kept original homestead that’s survived harsh winters and summers.

Driving into Morland, note a railroad line once passed through. It’s old-time depot recalls memories of travelers with camel back trunks and metal milk cans and huge egg containers waiting for trains to stop. 

With a hop and skip, visit the Veterans Memorial and a public park designed to encourage young imaginations. 

Travel south to explore a two-story stone bank where investors deposited cash and earned interest. Currently, it serves as a museum where visitors can appreciate sturdy 19th century architecture and displays that tell stories of former residents. The school memorabilia surely initiates lively reunion conversations.

Several old brick buildings serve as more than sentinels on Main Street. Cottonwood Digs has a bas relief depicting an impressive fossil collection dug nearby several decades ago. Inside, you’ll find meeting rooms and areas that local enterprises utilize.

Across the street, wide enough two big wagons could meet and pass back in the day, community planners revitalized the old Merc into a grocery, deli, community kitchen, and post office. Visionary supporters/grant writers qualified for funding that enabled them to reopen the old mercantile in 2013 with well-stocked aisles so locals needn’t leave town to buy essentials.

The manager orders not only basics but also intriguing items sightseers might want to buy such as Charlotte Keith paintings, Graham County honey, homemade jams and jellies, Jack’s Gourmet seasonings, Hoganville Family Farm sauerkraut, and local Rock Creek Meats. The well-stocked deli supplies lunch meats and cheeses that satisfy finicky diners and those wanting a sandwich for a fishing trip to nearby Antelope Lake. 

Anna Hutchinson prepares specials Monday through Friday that make Blue Highway travel worth the drive. Her polish sausage with Hoganville sauerkraut, fancy beans, and scalloped potatoes is delicious and filling. I couldn’t eat everything, but I wanted to. Wednesday is fried chicken day. I never thought I’d find fried chicken as good as Grandma Lottie’s, but Anna has the gift. Quantities are limited so call ahead to reserve some. I’m eager to visit on the other three weekdays to sample those meals.

This delightful trip into quieter and slower times offers much to explore. I’ll leave Penokee, Cottonwood Ranch, Antelope Lake, and Sheridan State Fishing Lake for other columns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158626307.png" alt="Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINWilliam Least Heat Moon sold a book promoting the idea of traveling Blue Highways. For those who don’t remember paper maps, these two-lane highways carry rural travelers from one burg to another across the United States. Some villages boast a stop light. Other don’t even have a stop sign to control intersection traffic. Those officials trust that locals know enough to follow state driver manuals and hope common sense is a bonus. Most such tiny towns have sights worth seeing and stops for folks who make time to travel slow routes, enjoying exploration at a snail’s pace.Recently, we took a favorite drive to scenic Morland, situated near the South Solomon River. Getting there either via Highway 24 or driving country roads offers impressive views of weathered limestone filled with fossils, vast horizons replete with waving prairie grasses and wheat, wood, brick, and stone homesteads—age confirmed as roofs fall, windows and doors vanish, and barns collapse under the weight of time. Occasionally, travelers luck out and spy a well-kept original homestead that’s survived harsh winters and summers.Driving into Morland, note a railroad line once passed through. It’s old-time depot recalls memories of travelers with camel back trunks and metal milk cans and huge egg containers waiting for trains to stop. With a hop and skip, visit the Veterans Memorial and a public park designed to encourage young imaginations. Travel south to explore a two-story stone bank where investors deposited cash and earned interest. Currently, it serves as a museum where visitors can appreciate sturdy 19th century architecture and displays that tell stories of former residents. The school memorabilia surely initiates lively reunion conversations.Several old brick buildings serve as more than sentinels on Main Street. Cottonwood Digs has a bas relief depicting an impressive fossil collection dug nearby several decades ago. Inside, you’ll find meeting rooms and areas that local enterprises utilize.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746782589425.jpeg" alt="Morland, Kansas. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Morland, Kansas. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>Across the street, wide enough two big wagons could meet and pass back in the day, community planners revitalized the old Merc into a grocery, deli, community kitchen, and post office. Visionary supporters/grant writers qualified for funding that enabled them to reopen the old mercantile in 2013 with well-stocked aisles so locals needn’t leave town to buy essentials.The manager orders not only basics but also intriguing items sightseers might want to buy such as Charlotte Keith paintings, Graham County honey, homemade jams and jellies, Jack’s Gourmet seasonings, Hoganville Family Farm sauerkraut, and local Rock Creek Meats. The well-stocked deli supplies lunch meats and cheeses that satisfy finicky diners and those wanting a sandwich for a fishing trip to nearby Antelope Lake. My favorite is the lunch special.Anna Hutchinson prepares specials Monday through Friday that make Blue Highway travel worth the drive. Her polish sausage with Hoganville sauerkraut, fancy beans, and scalloped potatoes is delicious and filling. I couldn’t eat everything, but I wanted to. Wednesday is fried chicken day. I never thought I’d find fried chicken as good as Grandma Lottie’s, but Anna has the gift. Quantities are limited so call ahead to reserve some. I’m eager to visit on the other three weekdays to sample those meals.This delightful trip into quieter and slower times offers much to explore. I’ll leave Penokee, Cottonwood Ranch, Antelope Lake, and Sheridan State Fishing Lake for other columns.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Day trippin’ 1

By MONIQUE KOERNER and ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

You are probably asking yourself, “What is QPR?” QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer. They are three steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide. 

QPR is a suicide-prevention training designed to educate people from all walks of life on how to recognize the warning signs of suicide. QPR training helps people get comfortable asking the question "Are you thinking about suicide?" and then helping others get appropriate help. QPR is for anyone interested in helping someone who has thoughts of suicide.

Together with the Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition, Monique and Alicia plan to host a QPR training May 30, 2025.

12:00 p.m. Friday, May 30 Fort Hays Tech North Central 2205 Wheatland Ave., Hays&nbsp;

To register: <a href="https://kansassuicidepreventioncoalition.org/training-registration/">https://kansassuicidepreventioncoalition.org/training-registration/</a>

The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know.

K-State Research and Extension is committed to helping the mental health crisis in Kansas by creating the Stress and Resiliency Transdisciplinary team. Our Stress and Resiliency team provides educational information about stress, stress management and resiliency, or one’s ability&nbsp;to adapt positively to difficult experiences. 

Areas of focus include all types of stress and general mental health information, because stress impacts all of us – regardless of demographic.

Increasing awareness and people’s willingness to talk about mental health will encourage more Kansans to get the help they need. 

Another goal is to equip Kansans with tools and techniques that help them recognize and manage stress within their lives, families and communities. Our team also strives to educate Kansans about resiliency - how to enhance it and how to incorporate it into their daily lives.

In addition to the above training, we are available to present QPR to a wide variety of audiences. Some examples would include workplaces, schools, colleges and universities, faith communities, emergency departments and services, and other civic organizations that are interested in learning more about the mental health crisis and suicide prevention.

For more information about mental health, stress, stress management or to schedule a QPR training, please contact Cottonwood Extension District at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910. Or email Monique at moniquek@ksu.edu or Alica at aboor@ksu.edu

Alicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent. You can reach her at 620-793-1910 or aboor@ksu.edu. Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617728198283.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER and ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictYou are probably asking yourself, “What is QPR?” QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer. They are three steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide. QPR is a suicide-prevention training designed to educate people from all walks of life on how to recognize the warning signs of suicide. QPR training helps people get comfortable asking the question "Are you thinking about suicide?" and then helping others get appropriate help. QPR is for anyone interested in helping someone who has thoughts of suicide.Together with the Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition, Monique and Alicia plan to host a QPR training May 30, 2025.12:00 p.m. Friday, May 30 Fort Hays Tech North Central 2205 Wheatland Ave., Hays&nbsp;To register: <a href="https://kansassuicidepreventioncoalition.org/training-registration/">https://kansassuicidepreventioncoalition.org/training-registration/</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746548795797.png" alt="QPR" />
 <figcaption>QPR</figcaption>
 </figure>The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know.K-State Research and Extension is committed to helping the mental health crisis in Kansas by creating the Stress and Resiliency Transdisciplinary team. Our Stress and Resiliency team provides educational information about stress, stress management and resiliency, or one’s ability&nbsp;to adapt positively to difficult experiences. Areas of focus include all types of stress and general mental health information, because stress impacts all of us – regardless of demographic.Increasing awareness and people’s willingness to talk about mental health will encourage more Kansans to get the help they need. Another goal is to equip Kansans with tools and techniques that help them recognize and manage stress within their lives, families and communities. Our team also strives to educate Kansans about resiliency - how to enhance it and how to incorporate it into their daily lives.In addition to the above training, we are available to present QPR to a wide variety of audiences. Some examples would include workplaces, schools, colleges and universities, faith communities, emergency departments and services, and other civic organizations that are interested in learning more about the mental health crisis and suicide prevention.For more information about mental health, stress, stress management or to schedule a QPR training, please contact Cottonwood Extension District at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910. Or email Monique at moniquek@ksu.edu or Alica at aboor@ksu.eduAlicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent. You can reach her at 620-793-1910 or aboor@ksu.edu. Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER & BOOR: Planned QPR presentation

I first heard about “cultivated or cultured meat” a couple years ago, even though it has been in the research stage for many years. 

My first thought was that mankind had finally lost its mind completely. In fact, I wrote a column about it back then, and ended that column with the notion that lab-grown meat would never catch-on. Since then, lab-grown meat has in fact more than caught-on, and is being marketed successfully.

Cultured or cultivated meat is made from small amounts of muscle cells taken from living animals, much like a blood sample. Lab technicians add the samples to a bath of nutrients in bioreactors, where they grow actual muscle tissue which the technicians shape into what they call edible “scaffoldings.” Using these “scaffoldings” they can transform those lab-grown cells into steaks, chops, hamburger patties, or chicken nuggets. 

The industry claims their lab-grown meat cooks and tastes just like actual meat, but with no animal slaughter required.

 Now I have to admit, burying myself elbow-deep in innards to field dress a deer is not the highlight of my hunt, and I never particularly looked forward to sending a steer to the processing plant. But with the first bite of grilled venison tenderloin or juicy T-bone steak, any and all twinges of apprehension dissolve like my deodorant on a Kansas August afternoon.

I barely understand people wanting to be vegetarian and not eat meat, but I simply cannot wrap my head around someone wanting to enjoy the taste of a grilled rib-eye or chicken breast, but only if it has been grown in a lab.

 I worked with a guy years ago who was a vegetarian and brought sandwiches in his lunch made from “wham,” a vegetarian ham made from wheat. If you want the taste of ham or other meat, why not eat the real thing?

When I wrote that first article, here were my humorous takes on what shopping for lab-grown meat might look like. 

Maybe I’d walk into the lobby of a storefront that looked for all-the-world like an out-of-business dry cleaners and announce to the clerk “Hi, I’m here to pick up the three pounds of Kansas City strip I ordered 17 years ago.” The clerk would press a button, the racks that used to hold the dry-cleaned clothing would revolve until out popped my steaks, hanging from the rack&nbsp;like a couple old welding gloves.

Or maybe I’d have to don a hospital gown and hairnet and stroll through what looked like the maternity ward at a hospital, where there were row-after-row of large covered Petri dishes contained growing steaks and chops, all labeled with “birth dates” going back 15 years. I’d direct the “lab doctor’s” attention to a couple robust looking pork chops and a giant sirloin and head home with my “slaughter-free” meat.

God has programmed genetic information into seeds telling them what they will become; how else do you explain that a soybean seed grows another soybean plant and not an oak tree, etc. But how are muscle tissue samples from a steer coerced into becoming different cuts of beef in a lab? Seems like the rib eye I order could just as easily grow into Rocky Mountain oysters.

Look, I get that some folks don’t want to eat meat, but for those of us that do, God never meant for our meat to be grown in a lab. 

I find it interesting that large swaths of our society today either deny God completely or want nothing to do with Him in their lives, yet are more than happy for someone to play God for them in a lab. 

Also interesting is how some people vehemently oppose harvesting animals for food, yet have no problem ending the life of an unborn human child.

Steve can be contacted by email at&nbsp;stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas OutdoorsI first heard about “cultivated or cultured meat” a couple years ago, even though it has been in the research stage for many years. My first thought was that mankind had finally lost its mind completely. In fact, I wrote a column about it back then, and ended that column with the notion that lab-grown meat would never catch-on. Since then, lab-grown meat has in fact more than caught-on, and is being marketed successfully.Cultured or cultivated meat is made from small amounts of muscle cells taken from living animals, much like a blood sample. Lab technicians add the samples to a bath of nutrients in bioreactors, where they grow actual muscle tissue which the technicians shape into what they call edible “scaffoldings.” Using these “scaffoldings” they can transform those lab-grown cells into steaks, chops, hamburger patties, or chicken nuggets. The industry claims their lab-grown meat cooks and tastes just like actual meat, but with no animal slaughter required. Now I have to admit, burying myself elbow-deep in innards to field dress a deer is not the highlight of my hunt, and I never particularly looked forward to sending a steer to the processing plant. But with the first bite of grilled venison tenderloin or juicy T-bone steak, any and all twinges of apprehension dissolve like my deodorant on a Kansas August afternoon.I barely understand people wanting to be vegetarian and not eat meat, but I simply cannot wrap my head around someone wanting to enjoy the taste of a grilled rib-eye or chicken breast, but only if it has been grown in a lab. I worked with a guy years ago who was a vegetarian and brought sandwiches in his lunch made from “wham,” a vegetarian ham made from wheat. If you want the taste of ham or other meat, why not eat the real thing?When I wrote that first article, here were my humorous takes on what shopping for lab-grown meat might look like. Maybe I’d walk into the lobby of a storefront that looked for all-the-world like an out-of-business dry cleaners and announce to the clerk “Hi, I’m here to pick up the three pounds of Kansas City strip I ordered 17 years ago.” The clerk would press a button, the racks that used to hold the dry-cleaned clothing would revolve until out popped my steaks, hanging from the rack&nbsp;like a couple old welding gloves.Or maybe I’d have to don a hospital gown and hairnet and stroll through what looked like the maternity ward at a hospital, where there were row-after-row of large covered Petri dishes contained growing steaks and chops, all labeled with “birth dates” going back 15 years. I’d direct the “lab doctor’s” attention to a couple robust looking pork chops and a giant sirloin and head home with my “slaughter-free” meat.God has programmed genetic information into seeds telling them what they will become; how else do you explain that a soybean seed grows another soybean plant and not an oak tree, etc. But how are muscle tissue samples from a steer coerced into becoming different cuts of beef in a lab? Seems like the rib eye I order could just as easily grow into Rocky Mountain oysters.Look, I get that some folks don’t want to eat meat, but for those of us that do, God never meant for our meat to be grown in a lab. I find it interesting that large swaths of our society today either deny God completely or want nothing to do with Him in their lives, yet are more than happy for someone to play God for them in a lab. Also interesting is how some people vehemently oppose harvesting animals for food, yet have no problem ending the life of an unborn human child.Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at&nbsp;stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Makin’ bacon

By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas

In the 2025 state legislative session, the legislature overrode 14 of Governor Kelly’s 18 vetoes, the most overrides during her time as governor. What should be a rare, constitutionally serious step has become routine — an unmistakable sign that one branch of Kansas’s government now wields outsized power.

With a legislative supermajority firmly in place, the system of checks and balances meant to protect Kansans from government overreach is in jeopardy.

Kansas’s Constitution, like the federal one, is built on the idea of separation of powers. The legislature writes laws, the governor can sign or veto them, and the courts interpret them. Each branch was designed to serve as a check on the others, ensuring no single part of government could dominate the rest.

But when one party secures a supermajority in the legislature — enough seats to override gubernatorial vetoes and unilaterally propose constitutional amendments — this balance is fundamentally disrupted.

A supermajority removes the need for negotiation and compromise.

With two-thirds control, lawmakers can push through legislation without concern for the executive branch or the political minority. In recent years, the Kansas legislature has used this power to bypass Governor Kelly on high-stakes issues ranging from education policy to reproductive healthcare.

Even when the governor exercised her constitutional role to veto, lawmakers reversed her decisions in rapid succession. Often doing so with limited debate and minimal public input.

This isn't just a clash of partisan agendas. It’s an erosion of checks and balances. Supermajorities often lead to extreme policy swings, discourage compromise, and undermine democratic responsiveness.

The normal push-and-pull that leads to moderate, widely supported policies has been replaced with a one-sided rush to enact partisan priorities. In other words, supermajorities further partisan polarization by removing the incentives to listen, negotiate, and build consensus across ideological lines.

Unchecked legislative power also puts judicial independence at risk. Lawmakers in Kansas have proposed changes to how judges are selected and sought to restrict the courts’ ability to block or review legislation. With a supermajority, those proposals don’t face the usual constitutional friction — they can move quickly, and potentially permanently, reshaping how justice is administered in the state.

Political science tells us this is not unique to Kansas. States with long-standing supermajorities — of either party — often see declining voter trust, increased polarization, and stagnant civic engagement. When people believe outcomes are predetermined by one party’s dominance, they disengage from the political system, which only deepens the imbalance.

Kansas voters should take this seriously. Checks and balances aren’t about left versus right — they’re about making sure no one has too much power for too long.

Checks and balances exist to protect everyone from government overreach regardless of party affiliation. That’s how we keep our government grounded, accountable, and focused on solving real problems, not scoring political points.

Defending that balance doesn’t require radical reform. It just means standing up for fair-minded policies — like fair redistricting — protecting judicial independence, supporting candidates who value consensus over confrontation, and showing up at the ballot box in every single election.

Most Kansans don’t want government by extremes. They want pragmatism. They want thoughtful debate. They want leaders who listen.

The Kansas Constitution wasn’t written to let any one party push through its full agenda unchecked. It was written with the understanding that no group, however popular, should govern without limits and to make sure every voice has a seat at the table.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740007073583.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood&nbsp;s an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood&nbsp;s an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight KansasIn the 2025 state legislative session, the legislature overrode 14 of Governor Kelly’s 18 vetoes, the most overrides during her time as governor. What should be a rare, constitutionally serious step has become routine — an unmistakable sign that one branch of Kansas’s government now wields outsized power.With a legislative supermajority firmly in place, the system of checks and balances meant to protect Kansans from government overreach is in jeopardy.Kansas’s Constitution, like the federal one, is built on the idea of separation of powers. The legislature writes laws, the governor can sign or veto them, and the courts interpret them. Each branch was designed to serve as a check on the others, ensuring no single part of government could dominate the rest.But when one party secures a supermajority in the legislature — enough seats to override gubernatorial vetoes and unilaterally propose constitutional amendments — this balance is fundamentally disrupted.A supermajority removes the need for negotiation and compromise.With two-thirds control, lawmakers can push through legislation without concern for the executive branch or the political minority. In recent years, the Kansas legislature has used this power to bypass Governor Kelly on high-stakes issues ranging from education policy to reproductive healthcare.Even when the governor exercised her constitutional role to veto, lawmakers reversed her decisions in rapid succession. Often doing so with limited debate and minimal public input.This isn't just a clash of partisan agendas. It’s an erosion of checks and balances. Supermajorities often lead to extreme policy swings, discourage compromise, and undermine democratic responsiveness.The normal push-and-pull that leads to moderate, widely supported policies has been replaced with a one-sided rush to enact partisan priorities. In other words, supermajorities further partisan polarization by removing the incentives to listen, negotiate, and build consensus across ideological lines.Unchecked legislative power also puts judicial independence at risk. Lawmakers in Kansas have proposed changes to how judges are selected and sought to restrict the courts’ ability to block or review legislation. With a supermajority, those proposals don’t face the usual constitutional friction — they can move quickly, and potentially permanently, reshaping how justice is administered in the state.Political science tells us this is not unique to Kansas. States with long-standing supermajorities — of either party — often see declining voter trust, increased polarization, and stagnant civic engagement. When people believe outcomes are predetermined by one party’s dominance, they disengage from the political system, which only deepens the imbalance.Kansas voters should take this seriously. Checks and balances aren’t about left versus right — they’re about making sure no one has too much power for too long.Checks and balances exist to protect everyone from government overreach regardless of party affiliation. That’s how we keep our government grounded, accountable, and focused on solving real problems, not scoring political points.Defending that balance doesn’t require radical reform. It just means standing up for fair-minded policies — like fair redistricting — protecting judicial independence, supporting candidates who value consensus over confrontation, and showing up at the ballot box in every single election.Most Kansans don’t want government by extremes. They want pragmatism. They want thoughtful debate. They want leaders who listen.The Kansas Constitution wasn’t written to let any one party push through its full agenda unchecked. It was written with the understanding that no group, however popular, should govern without limits and to make sure every voice has a seat at the table.Those are principles worth protecting.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

Insight Kansas: The danger of a supermajority in Kansas

By Congressman Tracey Mann R-KS, First District

This past November, Kansas rejected the nonsense of the Biden-Harris Administration and demanded that Washington, D.C. restore common sense, secure our border, make America safe again, get our fiscal house in order, grow our economy, and get our country back on track. In a little more than 100 days, President Trump has done just that.

The only way to describe the start of President Trump’s historic second term is promises made, promises kept.

Our border is the most secure it has been in our nation’s history and the data speaks for itself. This past March, apprehensions along the southern border dropped 95% from the average daily encounters under President Biden. In California, chaos unfolded along the border when President Biden rescinded Title 42.

 This week, the Los Angeles Times reports that crossings along that segment of the border had nearly come to a halt under President Trump. Along our northern border, Customs and Border Patrol agents apprehended a total 54 migrants in March, down 95% from March 2024. Promises made, promises kept.

House Republicans and President Trump did what many Democrats were afraid to do—enforce the law and enact bills like the&nbsp;Laken Riley Act&nbsp;that make it clear there is no place for violent criminals who are illegally in the United States of America.

While President Trump and his administration have worked tirelessly to remove bad actors from our country, it has been a different story on the left. The same Democrats outraged by President Trump’s removal of terrorists, gang members, and criminals were silent when the Biden Administration abandoned&nbsp;actual&nbsp;American citizens in Afghanistan after his botched withdrawal. The contrasts in priorities for Democrats and Republicans could not be clearer.

President Trump promised to revive the American dream and usher in the golden age of America. Over the last 100 days, he and his administration announced more than $5 trillion in new American investments, including right here in Kansas. Fiserv recently announced a $175 million investment that will create good-paying job opportunities for individuals in the eastern part of our state.

The Consumer Price Index continues to show inflation is cooling and prices are falling. Because of the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and President Trump, wholesale egg prices have fallen, and we anticipate retail prices will soon follow suit. Americans are feeling far less pain at the pump compared to the Biden years because we have a President who has finally decided to embrace an all of the above energy approach. House Republicans have also repealed Biden-era rules that tried to implement&nbsp;electric vehicle mandates because we know they only drive-up costs for rural Americans like those in the Big First District. Promises made, promises kept.

President Trump made a promise to restore common sense and get our country back on track. He is not afraid to state the obvious—there are&nbsp;two&nbsp;genders, and biological men should not play in women’s sports. One of the first bills President Trump signed during his second term was the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

President Trump has uprooted wasteful, fraudulent, and abusive spending, going line by line through our federal budget to make sure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely. While Democrats are advocating for American families to have the largest tax hike in history, President Trump has spent the last 100 days working tirelessly with Congressional Republicans to extend his 2017 tax cuts. Promises made, promises kept.

It feels great to have real leadership back at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that fights for America’s families and a brighter future for our country.&nbsp;One hundred days of winning and I look forward to many, many more.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698091063975.png" alt="Image by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By Congressman Tracey Mann R-KS, First DistrictThis past November, Kansas rejected the nonsense of the Biden-Harris Administration and demanded that Washington, D.C. restore common sense, secure our border, make America safe again, get our fiscal house in order, grow our economy, and get our country back on track. In a little more than 100 days, President Trump has done just that.The only way to describe the start of President Trump’s historic second term is promises made, promises kept.Our border is the most secure it has been in our nation’s history and the data speaks for itself. This past March, apprehensions along the southern border dropped 95% from the average daily encounters under President Biden. In California, chaos unfolded along the border when President Biden rescinded Title 42. This week, the Los Angeles Times reports that crossings along that segment of the border had nearly come to a halt under President Trump. Along our northern border, Customs and Border Patrol agents apprehended a total 54 migrants in March, down 95% from March 2024. Promises made, promises kept.House Republicans and President Trump did what many Democrats were afraid to do—enforce the law and enact bills like the&nbsp;Laken Riley Act&nbsp;that make it clear there is no place for violent criminals who are illegally in the United States of America. While President Trump and his administration have worked tirelessly to remove bad actors from our country, it has been a different story on the left. The same Democrats outraged by President Trump’s removal of terrorists, gang members, and criminals were silent when the Biden Administration abandoned&nbsp;actual&nbsp;American citizens in Afghanistan after his botched withdrawal. The contrasts in priorities for Democrats and Republicans could not be clearer.President Trump promised to revive the American dream and usher in the golden age of America. Over the last 100 days, he and his administration announced more than $5 trillion in new American investments, including right here in Kansas. Fiserv recently announced a $175 million investment that will create good-paying job opportunities for individuals in the eastern part of our state.The Consumer Price Index continues to show inflation is cooling and prices are falling. Because of the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and President Trump, wholesale egg prices have fallen, and we anticipate retail prices will soon follow suit. Americans are feeling far less pain at the pump compared to the Biden years because we have a President who has finally decided to embrace an all of the above energy approach. House Republicans have also repealed Biden-era rules that tried to implement&nbsp;electric vehicle mandates because we know they only drive-up costs for rural Americans like those in the Big First District. Promises made, promises kept.President Trump made a promise to restore common sense and get our country back on track. He is not afraid to state the obvious—there are&nbsp;two&nbsp;genders, and biological men should not play in women’s sports. One of the first bills President Trump signed during his second term was the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.President Trump has uprooted wasteful, fraudulent, and abusive spending, going line by line through our federal budget to make sure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely. While Democrats are advocating for American families to have the largest tax hike in history, President Trump has spent the last 100 days working tirelessly with Congressional Republicans to extend his 2017 tax cuts. Promises made, promises kept.It feels great to have real leadership back at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that fights for America’s families and a brighter future for our country.&nbsp;One hundred days of winning and I look forward to many, many more.

OPINION: Congressman Mann: Promises made, promises kept

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

State forestry and horticulture experts are urging patience and persistence when trying to manage bagworms, noting that caterpillars may emerge from eggs from late spring through early summer, depending on weather conditions.

Shad Hufnagel, forest health coordinator with the Kansas Forest Service, and Raymond Cloyd, extension specialist in horticultural entomology with K-State Research and Extension, advise that homeowners scout for bagworms from early- to mid-May and apply insecticides when young bagworms are present.

Once bagworms are detected, they said, homeowners might need to treat with an insecticide weekly for up to four weeks.

Cloyd said that in addition to emergence over time, young bagworms can ‘blow in’ - called ‘ballooning’ - from neighboring plants on silken threads, thus increasing the importance of treating multiple times during the growing season.

“Once the caterpillars emerge from eggs, they begin feeding on the host tree or shrub, creating a protective bag, hence the common name,” Cloyd said. “The plant material fed upon is used to build a protective covering that provides protection from predators and insecticide treatments, which can influence the effectiveness of insecticide applications.”

Hufnagel added “The larger and more robust the caterpillars and their cases become, the more difficult they are to control chemically.”

Bagworm feeding is commonly associated with such conifers as juniper, arborvitae, pine, and spruce, but Hufnagel said the caterpillars also feed on numerous deciduous host plants. Although defoliation of deciduous trees and shrubs typically does not result in long-term plant damage, extreme defoliation of conifers can cause significant plant stress and even plant mortality.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698682262753.jpeg" alt="Alicia Boor&nbsp;s an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor&nbsp;s an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictState forestry and horticulture experts are urging patience and persistence when trying to manage bagworms, noting that caterpillars may emerge from eggs from late spring through early summer, depending on weather conditions.Shad Hufnagel, forest health coordinator with the Kansas Forest Service, and Raymond Cloyd, extension specialist in horticultural entomology with K-State Research and Extension, advise that homeowners scout for bagworms from early- to mid-May and apply insecticides when young bagworms are present.Once bagworms are detected, they said, homeowners might need to treat with an insecticide weekly for up to four weeks.Cloyd said that in addition to emergence over time, young bagworms can ‘blow in’ - called ‘ballooning’ - from neighboring plants on silken threads, thus increasing the importance of treating multiple times during the growing season.“Once the caterpillars emerge from eggs, they begin feeding on the host tree or shrub, creating a protective bag, hence the common name,” Cloyd said. “The plant material fed upon is used to build a protective covering that provides protection from predators and insecticide treatments, which can influence the effectiveness of insecticide applications.”Hufnagel added “The larger and more robust the caterpillars and their cases become, the more difficult they are to control chemically.”Bagworm feeding is commonly associated with such conifers as juniper, arborvitae, pine, and spruce, but Hufnagel said the caterpillars also feed on numerous deciduous host plants. Although defoliation of deciduous trees and shrubs typically does not result in long-term plant damage, extreme defoliation of conifers can cause significant plant stress and even plant mortality.He said insecticides can be effective in mitigating damage to trees and shrubs. However, bagworm infestations are often cyclical; consequently, bagworm infestations may be low enough that spraying an insecticide may not be needed.For increased effectiveness and to prevent bagworms from causing substantial plant damage, Hufnagel advises judicious treatment of windbreaks, Christmas trees, and ornamental landscape trees as soon as bagworms are present.“Thorough coverage is important when treating for bagworms, including penetration into the interior plant canopy and upper branches,” he said. “Commercial treatments may be more effective for large trees or established windbreaks where applications from common household sprayers cannot reach the upper canopy of trees.”Many insecticides are labeled for bagworms, but timing of application and thorough coverage will ensure the effectiveness of insecticides in managing bagworms. When bagworm caterpillars are small (1/8 to 1/4 of an inch long), products containing Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki (Btk) or spinosad as the active ingredient can be effective in managing bagworms.Cloyd said the recommended insecticides have minimal direct impact on beneficial insects compared to broad-spectrum insecticides, which could lead to outbreaks of spider mites or scale insects that can cause damage to treated trees and shrubs.If insecticides are not applied when bagworm caterpillars are 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch in length, then broad-spectrum insecticides -- including those containing malathion, acephate, or cyfluthrin as the active ingredients -- can be applied. Be sure to read the product label and follow directions.Hand removing and destroying bagworm bags is an option for smaller infestations. For more information on controlling bagworms, reference the publication, <a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/item/bagworm-insect-pest-of-trees-and-shrubs_MF3474">Bagworm: Insect Pest of Trees and Shrubs</a>, written by Cloyd.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

Opinion