By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher Food insecurity, or the lack of consistent access to enough food, is not something that is top of my mind very often. It probably should be, but it just isn’t. I have enough food, actually more than enough, and given the frantic pace of my life I often neglect to give a second thought to those who are not blessed like I am. I also think many of us in rural America think it is a big city or urban problem. It is not. In fact, I think we would all be shocked to know how many of our neighbors are food insecure. Those of us who live in rural Kansas are proud people and often it is hard for us to ask for help. Your neighbors who may be food insecure are just like you. There is a certain stigma associated with not having enough food, especially in rural areas. Food insecurity happens for many reasons, and many are nothing to be ashamed of, but the reality of the situation is tough. A related aspect is something called a food desert, which also is something I had not really thought about before or the fact that many of us live in them. A food desert is an area that may lack places to buy good-quality or healthy, fresh food. We have seen many of our small, rural grocery stores disappear leaving those who struggle with transportation facing food insecurity simply because they cannot drive to a larger city to shop. I find all of this stunning. We live in the breadbasket of the United States, we grow a large part of the food for our population and yet we have hungry people in our midst. I have problems wrapping my head around it. But it all makes sense, food, especially healthy, fresh food is hard to come by in some of our towns. Couple that with the fact that eating healthy and staying away from packaged and premade food is expensive. Put it all together and we have a problem right here in our backyards. That is why we, the members of Kansas Farm Bureau, are the perfect people to help fight hunger in our communities. We did that last year, when we raised nearly $100,000 in the middle of the pandemic to help our neighbors with a campaign to End Hunger in Kansas. That money went to food banks and pantries across the state. Now we are rolling out Phase 2 and many counties will be partnering with their local Farm Bureau agents, continuing the effort to End Hunger. The Kansas Farm Bureau Foundation will be provide grants to assist county Farm Bureaus with projects to help their communities. Watch your local Farm Bureau for an announcement about how they’re planning to help and then jump in. We are incredibly blessed to live in the small communities most of us are part of, and we probably do not even know how much some of our neighbors are hurting. This is the perfect way to help. I do not know about fixing hunger worldwide, but I do know that if we each dig in, we can solve the problem right here at home. Together we can End Hunger in Kansas.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Brunkow" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Brunkow</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher Food insecurity, or the lack of consistent access to enough food, is not something that is top of my mind very often. It probably should be, but it just isn’t. I have enough food, actually more than enough, and given the frantic pace of my life I often neglect to give a second thought to those who are not blessed like I am. I also think many of us in rural America think it is a big city or urban problem. It is not. In fact, I think we would all be shocked to know how many of our neighbors are food insecure. Those of us who live in rural Kansas are proud people and often it is hard for us to ask for help. Your neighbors who may be food insecure are just like you. There is a certain stigma associated with not having enough food, especially in rural areas. Food insecurity happens for many reasons, and many are nothing to be ashamed of, but the reality of the situation is tough. A related aspect is something called a food desert, which also is something I had not really thought about before or the fact that many of us live in them. A food desert is an area that may lack places to buy good-quality or healthy, fresh food. We have seen many of our small, rural grocery stores disappear leaving those who struggle with transportation facing food insecurity simply because they cannot drive to a larger city to shop. I find all of this stunning. We live in the breadbasket of the United States, we grow a large part of the food for our population and yet we have hungry people in our midst. I have problems wrapping my head around it. But it all makes sense, food, especially healthy, fresh food is hard to come by in some of our towns. Couple that with the fact that eating healthy and staying away from packaged and premade food is expensive. Put it all together and we have a problem right here in our backyards. That is why we, the members of Kansas Farm Bureau, are the perfect people to help fight hunger in our communities. We did that last year, when we raised nearly $100,000 in the middle of the pandemic to help our neighbors with a campaign to End Hunger in Kansas. That money went to food banks and pantries across the state. Now we are rolling out Phase 2 and many counties will be partnering with their local Farm Bureau agents, continuing the effort to End Hunger. The Kansas Farm Bureau Foundation will be provide grants to assist county Farm Bureaus with projects to help their communities. Watch your local Farm Bureau for an announcement about how they’re planning to help and then jump in. We are incredibly blessed to live in the small communities most of us are part of, and we probably do not even know how much some of our neighbors are hurting. This is the perfect way to help. I do not know about fixing hunger worldwide, but I do know that if we each dig in, we can solve the problem right here at home. Together we can End Hunger in Kansas."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Ending hunger at home

Gas prices are up and the politics industry in Kansas and nationally is spinning the issue for political gain, often with little regard for the truth.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Per the U.S. Energy Information Association, the average national price of a regular gallon of gasoline has risen seventy-three cents since January to $3.06/gallon by July. That price is fifteen cents higher than the peak under the Trump Administration but substantially lower than recent historical highs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Enter politics. Republicans are blaming Democrats. Some Republicans are even falsely implying that President Joe Biden increased gas prices to discourage carbon emissions (He didn’t and presidents don’t control gas prices). And Democrats are blaming Republicans in return.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The bipartisan politics industry—from cable infotainment peddling daily victimhood narratives to partisan spokespeople manufacturing truth-stretched outrage for a living—turns issues like this into blame games for political profit, imprinting politics onto issues where sometimes politics isn’t the whole story.&nbsp;

Most honest economists agree that the economic recovery has driven gas prices higher.&nbsp;

Crude oil is the majority component of gas prices. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that global oil demand dropped 9 percent in 2020, the biggest decline in decades. Oil producers decreased production and prices fell. As the economy recovers, oil demand is increasing faster than production can increase, raising oil prices and ultimately gas prices.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Blaming capitalism for gas prices isn’t as sexy, cathartic, or simplistic as blaming politicians or parties for our immediate woes. And that kind of banal reality doesn’t keep the politics industry financially afloat. Alas, truth is sometimes dull.&nbsp;

Speaking of truths, one common lie circulating on social media about this issue is that some politician wronged you by raising your gas taxes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The federal gas tax, which funds highways as a “user fee,” is 18.4 cents/gallon and hasn’t increased since 1993. The Kansas gas tax is 24 cents/gallon and hasn’t increased since 2003 even as other states, red and blue alike, raised theirs. Kansas had the thirty-seventh lowest gas tax in America in 2020.&nbsp;

Gas taxes have been in the news, but neither Kansas nor the federal government have raised theirs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Republican Governor Mike Parson of Missouri just signed a 12.5 cent/gallon tax increase. But that’s not Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kansas legislature, with bipartisan and cross-ideological curiosity, entertained three proposals in 2017 to increase the state gas tax five to eleven cents to compensate for then-Governor Sam Brownback raiding highway funds to pay for his tax cuts. Those proposals didn’t pass.&nbsp;

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran recently participated in a bipartisan group of senators working on infrastructure funding. Two Republicans in that group have outlined a proposal to raise the federal gas tax, possibly gauging it to inflation, and levy a “vehicle miles traveled” tax that would tax drivers based on mileage driven. Despite some bipartisan curiosity, that Republican tax increase has gone nowhere, and President Biden opposes raising the gas tax.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As the economy recovers, the effects of the last year are evident in work mobility, wage and benefit expectations, housing, and even gas prices. Those prices rise and will eventually fall. So goes the market. Unfortunately, capitalism in all its complexity doesn’t care about being simple enough to promote honest or informed public dialogue, which leaves citizens vulnerable to opportunistically oversimplified political messaging and the misinformation that often accompanies it.&nbsp;

Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575644168170.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas. " />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas. </figcaption>
 </figure>Gas prices are up and the politics industry in Kansas and nationally is spinning the issue for political gain, often with little regard for the truth.&nbsp;&nbsp;Per the U.S. Energy Information Association, the average national price of a regular gallon of gasoline has risen seventy-three cents since January to $3.06/gallon by July. That price is fifteen cents higher than the peak under the Trump Administration but substantially lower than recent historical highs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Enter politics. Republicans are blaming Democrats. Some Republicans are even falsely implying that President Joe Biden increased gas prices to discourage carbon emissions (He didn’t and presidents don’t control gas prices). And Democrats are blaming Republicans in return.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The bipartisan politics industry—from cable infotainment peddling daily victimhood narratives to partisan spokespeople manufacturing truth-stretched outrage for a living—turns issues like this into blame games for political profit, imprinting politics onto issues where sometimes politics isn’t the whole story.&nbsp;Most honest economists agree that the economic recovery has driven gas prices higher.&nbsp;Crude oil is the majority component of gas prices. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that global oil demand dropped 9 percent in 2020, the biggest decline in decades. Oil producers decreased production and prices fell. As the economy recovers, oil demand is increasing faster than production can increase, raising oil prices and ultimately gas prices.&nbsp;&nbsp;Blaming capitalism for gas prices isn’t as sexy, cathartic, or simplistic as blaming politicians or parties for our immediate woes. And that kind of banal reality doesn’t keep the politics industry financially afloat. Alas, truth is sometimes dull.&nbsp;Speaking of truths, one common lie circulating on social media about this issue is that some politician wronged you by raising your gas taxes.&nbsp;&nbsp;The federal gas tax, which funds highways as a “user fee,” is 18.4 cents/gallon and hasn’t increased since 1993. The Kansas gas tax is 24 cents/gallon and hasn’t increased since 2003 even as other states, red and blue alike, raised theirs. Kansas had the thirty-seventh lowest gas tax in America in 2020.&nbsp;Gas taxes have been in the news, but neither Kansas nor the federal government have raised theirs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Republican Governor Mike Parson of Missouri just signed a 12.5 cent/gallon tax increase. But that’s not Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas legislature, with bipartisan and cross-ideological curiosity, entertained three proposals in 2017 to increase the state gas tax five to eleven cents to compensate for then-Governor Sam Brownback raiding highway funds to pay for his tax cuts. Those proposals didn’t pass.&nbsp;Kansas Senator Jerry Moran recently participated in a bipartisan group of senators working on infrastructure funding. Two Republicans in that group have outlined a proposal to raise the federal gas tax, possibly gauging it to inflation, and levy a “vehicle miles traveled” tax that would tax drivers based on mileage driven. Despite some bipartisan curiosity, that Republican tax increase has gone nowhere, and President Biden opposes raising the gas tax.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the economy recovers, the effects of the last year are evident in work mobility, wage and benefit expectations, housing, and even gas prices. Those prices rise and will eventually fall. So goes the market. Unfortunately, capitalism in all its complexity doesn’t care about being simple enough to promote honest or informed public dialogue, which leaves citizens vulnerable to opportunistically oversimplified political messaging and the misinformation that often accompanies it.&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Cutting through spin, misinformation about gas prices 

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

“Where should we land?” That sounds like something a pilot might say, but in this case, I’m referring to a business decision. A company in Denver was looking to relocate and considering various locations. The place where they chose to land with their business was a small community in rural Kansas.&nbsp;

Michele Nordahl and Roxane Metzen are co-owners of the Anderson &amp; Forrester company, which they chose to relocate from Colorado to Clearwater, Kansas. Anderson &amp; Forrester is a maker of specialized brass fittings that serve as orifices to channel natural gas or propane inside gas- or propane-powered devices.&nbsp;

Michele is a longtime human resources business executive. She grew up in Oregon and worked in New Jersey before her career took her to Wichita. In 2014, her employer asked her to evaluate different company-owned businesses that the company was considering selling. One of those was Anderson &amp; Forrester, which Michele eventually purchased herself with her friend Roxane. Michele is president and CEO. Michele’s son Chad is now general manager of the company.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Anderson &amp; Forrester company had been founded in 1928 by two men in the Denver area. In their garage, they had tinkered with various items, including the orifices used in natural gas devices. They created a business to manufacture these orifices, which are the specialized brass fittings that connect to the burners. Eventually, their business was purchased by a larger company.&nbsp;

After evaluating and purchasing the business in 2014, Michele and Roxanne made the decision to relocate Anderson &amp; Forrester. Then the question became, “Where should they land?” “We looked at a lot of different locations,” Michele said. In the end, they chose Clearwater, Kansas.&nbsp;

“It had everything we were looking for,” Michele said. “Great location, small-town environment, good work force. Clearwater provided land in the industrial park for us.”&nbsp;

“The biggest thing is the location and the people,” Michele said. “It’s a neat little town and so welcoming. The people are friendlier here than anywhere I’ve ever been.”&nbsp;

Moving the manufacturing equipment was a major proposition. “It took three large semis and eight U-Haul trucks,” Michele said. “It went smoother than I anticipated.”&nbsp;

“The Kansas Department of Commerce has been tremendous. Very helpful,” Michele said. “They want small business to grow.”&nbsp;

Growth has indeed happened since the company relocated to Clearwater. ‘We’ve grown this business tremendously,” Michele said. Recent expansion has come in the outdoor fireplace hearth and patio business.&nbsp;

Because of the way the orifices are used in gas or propane devices, they must be built to exacting standards. “Our customers like us because we have the best quality and pricing,” Michele said. “Our competition is China.”&nbsp;

“The focus and mission of Anderson &amp; Forrester has been to provide quality products and outstanding customer service,” states the company website. “We remain committed to uncompromising quality and customer satisfaction.”&nbsp;

Anderson &amp; Forrester produces nearly a thousand different types of orifices for all kinds of devices that run on propane or natural gas, from vehicles to fireplaces. The company also manufactures related tools such as reamers, plugs and drills.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Kansas is just the right place for manufacturing,” Michele said. “I can’t say enough good things about the state of Kansas, the business environment, the workforce and the people. Kansas brings so much opportunity.”&nbsp;

Sixty percent of the company’s business is in the U.S and 40% is international.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anderson &amp; Forrester has customers as far away as Australia, Guam, India, London and Germany.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It’s a remarkable success story for a rural community such as Clearwater, population 2,481 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://andersonforrester.com/">https://andersonforrester.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Where should we land?” That became a question for this business, after deciding to relocate from Colorado. Fortunately for Kansas, the answer was clear – Clearwater, that is. We commend Michele Nordahl, Roxane Metzen, Chad Nordahl and all those involved with Anderson &amp; Forrester for making a difference with international entrepreneurship in a small-town setting. I’m glad the community of Clearwater provided a smooth landing.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626270894369.png" alt="Michele Nordahl, Chad Nordahl, and Roxane Metzen" />
 <figcaption>Michele Nordahl, Chad Nordahl, and Roxane Metzen</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“Where should we land?” That sounds like something a pilot might say, but in this case, I’m referring to a business decision. A company in Denver was looking to relocate and considering various locations. The place where they chose to land with their business was a small community in rural Kansas.&nbsp;Michele Nordahl and Roxane Metzen are co-owners of the Anderson &amp; Forrester company, which they chose to relocate from Colorado to Clearwater, Kansas. Anderson &amp; Forrester is a maker of specialized brass fittings that serve as orifices to channel natural gas or propane inside gas- or propane-powered devices.&nbsp;Michele is a longtime human resources business executive. She grew up in Oregon and worked in New Jersey before her career took her to Wichita. In 2014, her employer asked her to evaluate different company-owned businesses that the company was considering selling. One of those was Anderson &amp; Forrester, which Michele eventually purchased herself with her friend Roxane. Michele is president and CEO. Michele’s son Chad is now general manager of the company.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Anderson &amp; Forrester company had been founded in 1928 by two men in the Denver area. In their garage, they had tinkered with various items, including the orifices used in natural gas devices. They created a business to manufacture these orifices, which are the specialized brass fittings that connect to the burners. Eventually, their business was purchased by a larger company.&nbsp;After evaluating and purchasing the business in 2014, Michele and Roxanne made the decision to relocate Anderson &amp; Forrester. Then the question became, “Where should they land?” “We looked at a lot of different locations,” Michele said. In the end, they chose Clearwater, Kansas.&nbsp;“It had everything we were looking for,” Michele said. “Great location, small-town environment, good work force. Clearwater provided land in the industrial park for us.”&nbsp;“The biggest thing is the location and the people,” Michele said. “It’s a neat little town and so welcoming. The people are friendlier here than anywhere I’ve ever been.”&nbsp;Moving the manufacturing equipment was a major proposition. “It took three large semis and eight U-Haul trucks,” Michele said. “It went smoother than I anticipated.”&nbsp;“The Kansas Department of Commerce has been tremendous. Very helpful,” Michele said. “They want small business to grow.”&nbsp;Growth has indeed happened since the company relocated to Clearwater. ‘We’ve grown this business tremendously,” Michele said. Recent expansion has come in the outdoor fireplace hearth and patio business.&nbsp;Because of the way the orifices are used in gas or propane devices, they must be built to exacting standards. “Our customers like us because we have the best quality and pricing,” Michele said. “Our competition is China.”&nbsp;“The focus and mission of Anderson &amp; Forrester has been to provide quality products and outstanding customer service,” states the company website. “We remain committed to uncompromising quality and customer satisfaction.”&nbsp;Anderson &amp; Forrester produces nearly a thousand different types of orifices for all kinds of devices that run on propane or natural gas, from vehicles to fireplaces. The company also manufactures related tools such as reamers, plugs and drills.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Kansas is just the right place for manufacturing,” Michele said. “I can’t say enough good things about the state of Kansas, the business environment, the workforce and the people. Kansas brings so much opportunity.”&nbsp;Sixty percent of the company’s business is in the U.S and 40% is international.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anderson &amp; Forrester has customers as far away as Australia, Guam, India, London and Germany.&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s a remarkable success story for a rural community such as Clearwater, population 2,481 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://andersonforrester.com/">https://andersonforrester.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Where should we land?” That became a question for this business, after deciding to relocate from Colorado. Fortunately for Kansas, the answer was clear – Clearwater, that is. We commend Michele Nordahl, Roxane Metzen, Chad Nordahl and all those involved with Anderson &amp; Forrester for making a difference with international entrepreneurship in a small-town setting. I’m glad the community of Clearwater provided a smooth landing.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Michele Nordahl, Anderson & Forrester 

At Fort Hays State University, we are breaking ground in today’s higher education landscape as a state university with highly accessible, award-winning programs and an extensive global reach. Nowhere else will you find faculty and staff as dedicated and willing to give 150% effort to our mission of developing engaged global citizen-leaders. Here, we invest in what matters most to us: our students.&nbsp;

We exist to improve lives. Our eagerness to innovate pushes our students to be their best, understanding their success is the community’s success, the region’s success, and ours. The world is ripe for advancement. We motivate students to go forth and lead the charge.

We are firmly committed to maintaining our hard-earned reputation as a high-value university. A high-value university expands access through affordability and flexibility; provides nationally ranked, engaging, and relevant academic programs; and maximizes the out-of-class student experience. An investment in a FHSU education is a strong investment in the future.&nbsp;

According to U.S. News and World Report, “the best jobs pay well, challenge us year after year, match our talents and skills, aren't too stressful, offer room to advance throughout our careers, and provide a satisfying work-life balance.” Sounds pretty good. Guess how many of those jobs require a college education? All of them!

Additionally, data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/fact-sheet-focusing-higher-education-student-success#_ftn1">U.S. Department of Education</a> indicates&nbsp;college graduates with a bachelor’s degree typically earn 66 percent more than those with only a high school diploma. They are also far less likely to face unemployment. That is why we are committed to providing an affordable education.

This fall, our already affordable tuition and fees (per year) for full-time, in-state undergraduate students will decrease slightly for on-campus students and remain flat for online students. Our on-campus, full-time undergraduate students will pay $5,444 compared to the national average of $9,687 and the Kansas Regent university average of $9,048. Basically, our students are awarding themselves an annual scholarship that can range in value from $3,600 to $4,200 or more. On top of our low tuition, our philanthropists have generously funded additional scholarships. Our students clearly get the best value anywhere.

Our affordability is only a small part of our value story. Our programs are nationally ranked, many are accredited, and our 2019-2020 career placement rate is 94%. (A pretty good number given the pandemic.) We have exemplary programs and services to support students in and outside of the classroom. Our students discover their interests, connect, engage, and succeed from student activities, research opportunities, internships, on-campus employment, athletics, the arts, and so much more.&nbsp;

We are the in-state university leader in serving Kansans. Over the past seven years, the number of Kansans enrolling at FHSU has increased by 12%. That is why we are especially excited to announce a new regional tuition rate that is equal to our in-state tuition rate. Beginning in the fall of 2022, we will offer this regional tuition rate to on-campus students from the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.

We are excited for our students and our state. Our success, fueled by our innovation and sound business plan, enabled us to award degrees to more than 37,000 professionals over the past decade. We educate the teachers, healthcare workers, social workers, speech pathologists, accountants, technology professionals, law enforcement officials, and other professionals who directly enhance the quality of life for Kansans. These future tigers will not only have a great experience at FHSU, but they will also help us respond to labor shortages in our state.

We have not forgotten our online students. You will find FHSU Online students all over Kansas, in nearly every state, and in numerous countries across the globe. Our online program is superb. We have been a global leader in serving the needs of adult learners since 1904, and we excel in distance education. We are only one of six universities in the world to meet the strict requirements of the United States Distance Learning Association.&nbsp;

Compare our undergraduate online rate of $266.88 per credit hour to National American University’s $342 per credit hour, Southern New Hampshire University’s $320 per credit hour, University of Phoenix’s $398 per credit hour, and the University of Arizona Global Campus’ $561 per credit hour. These popular online universities all boast about their affordable tuition, but the evidence is clear: Fort Hays State University is the best value in higher education anywhere! Oh, and by the way, FHSU does not have required fees for online students.

A college education provides a proven advantage for individuals and it contributes to the quality of life in our state. We intelligently apply and adapt our resources in our relentless search to add value, breaking the mold to create a culture of progress and inspire the world-changing contributions of today’s and tomorrow’s tigers. Fort Hays State University is indeed a different university.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>At Fort Hays State University, we are breaking ground in today’s higher education landscape as a state university with highly accessible, award-winning programs and an extensive global reach. Nowhere else will you find faculty and staff as dedicated and willing to give 150% effort to our mission of developing engaged global citizen-leaders. Here, we invest in what matters most to us: our students.&nbsp;We exist to improve lives. Our eagerness to innovate pushes our students to be their best, understanding their success is the community’s success, the region’s success, and ours. The world is ripe for advancement. We motivate students to go forth and lead the charge.We are firmly committed to maintaining our hard-earned reputation as a high-value university. A high-value university expands access through affordability and flexibility; provides nationally ranked, engaging, and relevant academic programs; and maximizes the out-of-class student experience. An investment in a FHSU education is a strong investment in the future.&nbsp;According to U.S. News and World Report, “the best jobs pay well, challenge us year after year, match our talents and skills, aren't too stressful, offer room to advance throughout our careers, and provide a satisfying work-life balance.” Sounds pretty good. Guess how many of those jobs require a college education? All of them!Additionally, data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/fact-sheet-focusing-higher-education-student-success#_ftn1">U.S. Department of Education</a> indicates&nbsp;college graduates with a bachelor’s degree typically earn 66 percent more than those with only a high school diploma. They are also far less likely to face unemployment. That is why we are committed to providing an affordable education.This fall, our already affordable tuition and fees (per year) for full-time, in-state undergraduate students will decrease slightly for on-campus students and remain flat for online students. Our on-campus, full-time undergraduate students will pay $5,444 compared to the national average of $9,687 and the Kansas Regent university average of $9,048. Basically, our students are awarding themselves an annual scholarship that can range in value from $3,600 to $4,200 or more. On top of our low tuition, our philanthropists have generously funded additional scholarships. Our students clearly get the best value anywhere.Our affordability is only a small part of our value story. Our programs are nationally ranked, many are accredited, and our 2019-2020 career placement rate is 94%. (A pretty good number given the pandemic.) We have exemplary programs and services to support students in and outside of the classroom. Our students discover their interests, connect, engage, and succeed from student activities, research opportunities, internships, on-campus employment, athletics, the arts, and so much more.&nbsp;We are the in-state university leader in serving Kansans. Over the past seven years, the number of Kansans enrolling at FHSU has increased by 12%. That is why we are especially excited to announce a new regional tuition rate that is equal to our in-state tuition rate. Beginning in the fall of 2022, we will offer this regional tuition rate to on-campus students from the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.We are excited for our students and our state. Our success, fueled by our innovation and sound business plan, enabled us to award degrees to more than 37,000 professionals over the past decade. We educate the teachers, healthcare workers, social workers, speech pathologists, accountants, technology professionals, law enforcement officials, and other professionals who directly enhance the quality of life for Kansans. These future tigers will not only have a great experience at FHSU, but they will also help us respond to labor shortages in our state.We have not forgotten our online students. You will find FHSU Online students all over Kansas, in nearly every state, and in numerous countries across the globe. Our online program is superb. We have been a global leader in serving the needs of adult learners since 1904, and we excel in distance education. We are only one of six universities in the world to meet the strict requirements of the United States Distance Learning Association.&nbsp;Compare our undergraduate online rate of $266.88 per credit hour to National American University’s $342 per credit hour, Southern New Hampshire University’s $320 per credit hour, University of Phoenix’s $398 per credit hour, and the University of Arizona Global Campus’ $561 per credit hour. These popular online universities all boast about their affordable tuition, but the evidence is clear: Fort Hays State University is the best value in higher education anywhere! Oh, and by the way, FHSU does not have required fees for online students.A college education provides a proven advantage for individuals and it contributes to the quality of life in our state. We intelligently apply and adapt our resources in our relentless search to add value, breaking the mold to create a culture of progress and inspire the world-changing contributions of today’s and tomorrow’s tigers. Fort Hays State University is indeed a different university.

MASON: Fort Hays State — a different university

By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher One of the hardest parts about making a new life in Kansas for me has been missing so much of my old life in Wisconsin. In my early years as a Kansan, I longed for things here to feel more like home. Over time my appreciation for Kansas has grown, and it has begun to feel like home to me. I didn’t realize until recently that the trade-off for this connection and comfort to my new home state was made possible by drifting further from my old one. Since I left for college more than 15 years ago, I always managed to make a handful of trips home each year. With COVID, my visits were limited, and the time between felt somehow longer. Over the Fourth of July holiday, I returned to my childhood home for a visit. As I drove into town around midnight, I felt tired from the 12-hour trek, but I kept blinking my eyes because everything seemed strange. Things felt smaller — the buildings, the distance between streets. Trees and other vegetation seemed bigger, like they were swallowing up the road. The pavement seemed to be faded and cracked in a way I had never noticed before. Barns and sheds I swear were in good shape the last time I drove by are falling down. &nbsp; For a few days, it was like having a surreal dream in which I knew the places, people and sites around me but they were all somehow slightly foreign to me. On my trip home, I was thinking about why things had felt so different and a light bulb went off in my head. The place where I grew up was no longer mine. The nostalgia of our childhoods is powerful. These places grew us, and it can devastating to lose the physical connection to them.&nbsp; A person can know that the home of a long-gone, beloved relative has been demolished and still have their heart skip a beat when they see the reality replacing the faded memory. Alumni can be aware of a school merger changing the name, mascots and colors but not realize how bizarre it will feel to see a new team playing on the same field they once occupied. It was a bittersweet recognition I am an outsider in my hometown. My parents’ home will always be my childhood home, but it is no longer my home. The town is full of people and places that evoke fond memories and have a special place in my heart, but I am no longer a part of their community. When we no longer own these places, it can be hard for our hearts to let go because there was too much life played out in these spaces. My realization actually gave me comfort because it reminded me how fortunate I am to have found a new home that I love. Letting my mental allegiance shift from my childhood hometown to my forever hometown has create the room in my life to make a full commitment to the life I am living here in Kansas. To make the most of my new home, I am going to do my best to be present and cherish everyday moments with people that make me feel at home. Take pictures of the special things I want to remember for years to come. And depart your everyday places with a grateful heart because it could be your last visit, and there really is no place like home.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher One of the hardest parts about making a new life in Kansas for me has been missing so much of my old life in Wisconsin. In my early years as a Kansan, I longed for things here to feel more like home. Over time my appreciation for Kansas has grown, and it has begun to feel like home to me. I didn’t realize until recently that the trade-off for this connection and comfort to my new home state was made possible by drifting further from my old one. Since I left for college more than 15 years ago, I always managed to make a handful of trips home each year. With COVID, my visits were limited, and the time between felt somehow longer. Over the Fourth of July holiday, I returned to my childhood home for a visit. As I drove into town around midnight, I felt tired from the 12-hour trek, but I kept blinking my eyes because everything seemed strange. Things felt smaller — the buildings, the distance between streets. Trees and other vegetation seemed bigger, like they were swallowing up the road. The pavement seemed to be faded and cracked in a way I had never noticed before. Barns and sheds I swear were in good shape the last time I drove by are falling down. &nbsp; For a few days, it was like having a surreal dream in which I knew the places, people and sites around me but they were all somehow slightly foreign to me. On my trip home, I was thinking about why things had felt so different and a light bulb went off in my head. The place where I grew up was no longer mine. The nostalgia of our childhoods is powerful. These places grew us, and it can devastating to lose the physical connection to them.&nbsp; A person can know that the home of a long-gone, beloved relative has been demolished and still have their heart skip a beat when they see the reality replacing the faded memory. Alumni can be aware of a school merger changing the name, mascots and colors but not realize how bizarre it will feel to see a new team playing on the same field they once occupied. It was a bittersweet recognition I am an outsider in my hometown. My parents’ home will always be my childhood home, but it is no longer my home. The town is full of people and places that evoke fond memories and have a special place in my heart, but I am no longer a part of their community. When we no longer own these places, it can be hard for our hearts to let go because there was too much life played out in these spaces. My realization actually gave me comfort because it reminded me how fortunate I am to have found a new home that I love. Letting my mental allegiance shift from my childhood hometown to my forever hometown has create the room in my life to make a full commitment to the life I am living here in Kansas. To make the most of my new home, I am going to do my best to be present and cherish everyday moments with people that make me feel at home. Take pictures of the special things I want to remember for years to come. And depart your everyday places with a grateful heart because it could be your last visit, and there really is no place like home."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: No place like home

After hearing from several friends recently about pest problems they have, this story from my youth comes to mind. Given society’s current penchant for looking at problems through emotional eyes only, I’ll probably get roasted for this one, but here goes anyway.

&nbsp;Amongst all its other merits, high school FFA was OK in my book because we had pest hunts! Pest hunts started in the fall and ran for a couple months. We divided into teams of four or five and for those couple months killed all the pests we could kill. Everything had a point value; starlings and blackbirds were two points each, pigeons were five and so on and so forth, and it was a simple competition to see which team could accumulate the most points by the end of the time period. As proof of “capture,” the heads of all birds were kept, and the tails were kept from mice, rats, possums’ and most everything else. And since all “trophies” were accumulated until the contest was over, they naturally had to be housed in the freezer. And since most folks only had one freezer back then, it was the same freezer where all the frozen meat, vegetables and fruit were kept. Yup, more than once I remember mom screamin’ my name in capital letters when she came up with a bag full of bird heads or possum tails instead of the frozen corn or hamburgers she was after.

The pest hunting game plan was fairly straightforward. We were all farm kids, so mice and rats were killed as we saw them around the barn. We were also hunters and trappers so possums were found squashed along the road or caught in our coon’ traps. Bird hunting gigs were the trickiest. Most barns where I grew up were three or four stories tall with hay lofts on each end. There was always a window high in each end of the barn with a ladder running up the inside wall to the window. One hunter would climb each ladder up to the window, turn around and prepare to swat birds as they headed toward the window, all the while somehow holding onto the ladder for dear life. Now that doesn’t sound all that dangerous, but here’s the thing; it was all done in the dead of night.&nbsp;

Here’s how the process worked. Our team would quietly converge on a barn around 10pm or so. (Of the whole process, the “quietly” part was the toughest.) Remember this was winter so everyone was dressed in old army jackets and mud boots, except the designated “swatters” for that night’s offensive, who had to dress warmly but in clothing that fit loosely around the shoulders so as not to impede their swing once they got into place at the top of the ladders. Clubs for the battle ranged from top-of-the-line gear like tennis or badminton rackets to more simple weapons like a scrap board with a handle nailed to it. Once the climbing swatters were inserted and in place, the rest of the militia on the floor would turn on lights and make as much noise as possible, attempting to roust any birds roosted inside, which would inevitably head for the windows, now guarded by the “swatters.”&nbsp; Snipers (with pellet guns) would begin picking off any drowsy birds still clinging to their perches after the melee started.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, at the tops of the ladders startled birds were flying into a trap, and the action could be fast and furious as flustered birds of all shapes and sizes tried to fly out the windows, and Heaven help you if one of those birds was an owl, which we obviously did not swat, but that would ring your bell if they flew into you. For starters, you only had one hand available to swat as the other was rather busy holding onto an old rickety ladder that you hoped would not crumble into pieces and dump you into the hay below. These were still the days of small square bales of hay and straw which might have been only a few feet below you, or twenty feet below you depending on how much the farmer had used already. It was still pretty dark up there and with birds often coming at you several at a time, it was impossible to swat them all. The ones you missed either flew around, coming back for a second try, or just hit you in the face from the get-go. In the midst of the assault, it could be raining dead bird carcasses down on the floor and it wasn’t out of the question to get “beaned” with the corpse of a deceased pigeon of starling if you were down there. We always tried to make sure the guys on the ground with the pellet guns were the most even-tempered of the group, thereby lessening the chance that one of the swatters would get shot in the butt for inadvertently beaning someone with a bird cadaver. After all forms of pest-life seemed to be vanquished from a barn, out came the flashlights and it was time to collect the spoils, leaving the neighborhood barn cats quite a feast indeed for allowing us to invade their territory.

&nbsp;How many times have you looked back upon crazy things you did as a kid and wondered how in blazes you ever survived past the age of nine? Every time I drive past a tall barn with windows in each end, I stare up at the windows and ask myself “Did we really used to do that?” Well, I’ve lived well past the age of nine and another part of me has to wonder if the world would be a better place today if we just had more pest hunts. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>After hearing from several friends recently about pest problems they have, this story from my youth comes to mind. Given society’s current penchant for looking at problems through emotional eyes only, I’ll probably get roasted for this one, but here goes anyway.&nbsp;Amongst all its other merits, high school FFA was OK in my book because we had pest hunts! Pest hunts started in the fall and ran for a couple months. We divided into teams of four or five and for those couple months killed all the pests we could kill. Everything had a point value; starlings and blackbirds were two points each, pigeons were five and so on and so forth, and it was a simple competition to see which team could accumulate the most points by the end of the time period. As proof of “capture,” the heads of all birds were kept, and the tails were kept from mice, rats, possums’ and most everything else. And since all “trophies” were accumulated until the contest was over, they naturally had to be housed in the freezer. And since most folks only had one freezer back then, it was the same freezer where all the frozen meat, vegetables and fruit were kept. Yup, more than once I remember mom screamin’ my name in capital letters when she came up with a bag full of bird heads or possum tails instead of the frozen corn or hamburgers she was after.The pest hunting game plan was fairly straightforward. We were all farm kids, so mice and rats were killed as we saw them around the barn. We were also hunters and trappers so possums were found squashed along the road or caught in our coon’ traps. Bird hunting gigs were the trickiest. Most barns where I grew up were three or four stories tall with hay lofts on each end. There was always a window high in each end of the barn with a ladder running up the inside wall to the window. One hunter would climb each ladder up to the window, turn around and prepare to swat birds as they headed toward the window, all the while somehow holding onto the ladder for dear life. Now that doesn’t sound all that dangerous, but here’s the thing; it was all done in the dead of night.&nbsp;Here’s how the process worked. Our team would quietly converge on a barn around 10pm or so. (Of the whole process, the “quietly” part was the toughest.) Remember this was winter so everyone was dressed in old army jackets and mud boots, except the designated “swatters” for that night’s offensive, who had to dress warmly but in clothing that fit loosely around the shoulders so as not to impede their swing once they got into place at the top of the ladders. Clubs for the battle ranged from top-of-the-line gear like tennis or badminton rackets to more simple weapons like a scrap board with a handle nailed to it. Once the climbing swatters were inserted and in place, the rest of the militia on the floor would turn on lights and make as much noise as possible, attempting to roust any birds roosted inside, which would inevitably head for the windows, now guarded by the “swatters.”&nbsp; Snipers (with pellet guns) would begin picking off any drowsy birds still clinging to their perches after the melee started.&nbsp;Meanwhile, at the tops of the ladders startled birds were flying into a trap, and the action could be fast and furious as flustered birds of all shapes and sizes tried to fly out the windows, and Heaven help you if one of those birds was an owl, which we obviously did not swat, but that would ring your bell if they flew into you. For starters, you only had one hand available to swat as the other was rather busy holding onto an old rickety ladder that you hoped would not crumble into pieces and dump you into the hay below. These were still the days of small square bales of hay and straw which might have been only a few feet below you, or twenty feet below you depending on how much the farmer had used already. It was still pretty dark up there and with birds often coming at you several at a time, it was impossible to swat them all. The ones you missed either flew around, coming back for a second try, or just hit you in the face from the get-go. In the midst of the assault, it could be raining dead bird carcasses down on the floor and it wasn’t out of the question to get “beaned” with the corpse of a deceased pigeon of starling if you were down there. We always tried to make sure the guys on the ground with the pellet guns were the most even-tempered of the group, thereby lessening the chance that one of the swatters would get shot in the butt for inadvertently beaning someone with a bird cadaver. After all forms of pest-life seemed to be vanquished from a barn, out came the flashlights and it was time to collect the spoils, leaving the neighborhood barn cats quite a feast indeed for allowing us to invade their territory.&nbsp;How many times have you looked back upon crazy things you did as a kid and wondered how in blazes you ever survived past the age of nine? Every time I drive past a tall barn with windows in each end, I stare up at the windows and ask myself “Did we really used to do that?” Well, I’ve lived well past the age of nine and another part of me has to wonder if the world would be a better place today if we just had more pest hunts. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Oh, for pest hunts again!

When Mike Pompeo launched his “Championing American Values” political action committee recently, with the dark warning that America today faces “the dividing line between freedom and oppression,” the heavy language rubbed some people the wrong way. Understanding why that is may tell us a little about broader fears held by some in America today.

Of course, a certain kind of fear is actually part of Pompeo’s argument. If “the encroachment of socialism” and “the woke cancel culture” really are dire threats to “our liberty and freedoms,” as Pompeo’s announcement suggests, then every America should rightfully fear whether our constitutional democracy will survive.

But at the same time, Pompeo’s appeal does exactly what, according to one understanding of our constitution, we are democratically expected to do. On this reading, our entire system is premised upon the idea that we Americans, with all our disagreements over various values, will form discrete factions, and through those factions attempt to influence the government one way or another. Given the diversity of America, however, none of these factions will ever achieve majority support on their own. Thus they’re forced to compromise, to work together. None of the relevant groups ever get all that they want, but all get enough to keep on going.

As I said, that’s one understanding—an understanding that looks at Pompeo’s new PAC, and salutes him for taking the exact same electoral actions (raising money, campaigning for candidates, informing voters, etc.) which every other political action committee, working on behalf of every other possible set of values, also does. We may be deeply divided in our policy preferences when it comes to what we want our government to do, but how can we worry too much about the influence of one division or another when we’re all going about our political business in the same way anyway?

Some worry, I suspect, because we recognize that the bumpy but supposedly consistent “going” mentioned above actually doesn’t always work the way some constitutional thinkers believed it would. What happens when factions, thanks to government dysfunction and cultural divides, become sources of permanent frustration and anger? The traditional story of American pluralism provides no solution. The Civil War, which there was no compromising out of, is proof of that.

Vague talk about how we may be facing “another civil war” is pretty common, on both the left and right. Partly, that’s to be expected—the whole system assumes people will be passionate believers, and will fight hard for their factional causes. But technology and money have long since broken down the electoral structures and responsible practices by which those factions were once defined. As a result, it’s become easy for passionate believers to believe they face uncompromising extremists, not fellow citizens that they’ll have to deal with eventually

This is a somewhat dark diagnosis, and there is plenty of reason to think things aren’t all that bad. Still, if you’re one of those who look at political actors like Pompeo and—even if you agree with the values he expresses—wonder a little about just what the endgame of his language is, then you’re like those of us who are beginning to fear that our constitutional machinery for dealing with disagreement may not be able to handle the internet-empowered, shame-resistant, mutual-destruction, cultural factions of today. Does that mean that some entirely new electoral and political machinery is necessary? I suspect so—but unfortunately, getting any compromise on what that machinery should be remains far away as well.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583339056495.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.</figcaption>
 </figure>When Mike Pompeo launched his “Championing American Values” political action committee recently, with the dark warning that America today faces “the dividing line between freedom and oppression,” the heavy language rubbed some people the wrong way. Understanding why that is may tell us a little about broader fears held by some in America today.Of course, a certain kind of fear is actually part of Pompeo’s argument. If “the encroachment of socialism” and “the woke cancel culture” really are dire threats to “our liberty and freedoms,” as Pompeo’s announcement suggests, then every America should rightfully fear whether our constitutional democracy will survive.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>But at the same time, Pompeo’s appeal does exactly what, according to one understanding of our constitution, we are democratically expected to do. On this reading, our entire system is premised upon the idea that we Americans, with all our disagreements over various values, will form discrete factions, and through those factions attempt to influence the government one way or another. Given the diversity of America, however, none of these factions will ever achieve majority support on their own. Thus they’re forced to compromise, to work together. None of the relevant groups ever get all that they want, but all get enough to keep on going.As I said, that’s one understanding—an understanding that looks at Pompeo’s new PAC, and salutes him for taking the exact same electoral actions (raising money, campaigning for candidates, informing voters, etc.) which every other political action committee, working on behalf of every other possible set of values, also does. We may be deeply divided in our policy preferences when it comes to what we want our government to do, but how can we worry too much about the influence of one division or another when we’re all going about our political business in the same way anyway?Some worry, I suspect, because we recognize that the bumpy but supposedly consistent “going” mentioned above actually doesn’t always work the way some constitutional thinkers believed it would. What happens when factions, thanks to government dysfunction and cultural divides, become sources of permanent frustration and anger? The traditional story of American pluralism provides no solution. The Civil War, which there was no compromising out of, is proof of that.Vague talk about how we may be facing “another civil war” is pretty common, on both the left and right. Partly, that’s to be expected—the whole system assumes people will be passionate believers, and will fight hard for their factional causes. But technology and money have long since broken down the electoral structures and responsible practices by which those factions were once defined. As a result, it’s become easy for passionate believers to believe they face uncompromising extremists, not fellow citizens that they’ll have to deal with eventuallyThis is a somewhat dark diagnosis, and there is plenty of reason to think things aren’t all that bad. Still, if you’re one of those who look at political actors like Pompeo and—even if you agree with the values he expresses—wonder a little about just what the endgame of his language is, then you’re like those of us who are beginning to fear that our constitutional machinery for dealing with disagreement may not be able to handle the internet-empowered, shame-resistant, mutual-destruction, cultural factions of today. Does that mean that some entirely new electoral and political machinery is necessary? I suspect so—but unfortunately, getting any compromise on what that machinery should be remains far away as well.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Why championing American values may not be enough

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

Have you had your shot? That question was on the minds of millions as vaccinations for COVID-19 were rolled out across the country. Today we’ll learn about a rural Kansas pharmacy which responded to the pandemic in remarkable ways.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Last week we learned about Heather Johnson, chief executive of S&amp;S Drug, a family-owned pharmacy in Beloit. Heather and her husband Jim Johnson have three children in college and high school. Jim, an attorney in Beloit, had grown up at the nearby rural community of Randall, population 65 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

“We hosted Jim’s high school class reunion at our house. They had 100% attendance,” Heather said. “Of course, it was only seven people,” she said with a smile.&nbsp;

But serious times hit rural America when the pandemic spread in spring 2020 and stay-at-home orders were issued across the nation. “Like any small business, the pandemic had a big impact on us,” Heather said. S&amp;S closed its doors for four months and reopened in June 2020. Even though the retail operation closed, the pharmacy still had to meet essential needs and provide prescriptions through drive-up and delivery.&nbsp;

The business model had to pivot quickly. “It was like building the airplane while trying to fly it,” Heather said.&nbsp;

Rural areas avoided most of the worst impact of the disease in the early stages, but by fall and winter, COVID-19 had reached the smaller communities as well. Many businesses closed again. The disease even reached the Johnson household in Beloit.&nbsp;

“I had it really bad. I was in the hospital for 10 days,” Heather said. Slowly and painfully, Heather worked her way back into recovery.&nbsp;

“I’m a COVID long-hauler,” Heather said. “Recovery is a long, slow process. I had the extreme fatigue and the muscle weakness – even hair loss,” she said. Eventually, she pulled through.&nbsp;

“I came out of this with a true desire to help as many people as possible avoid what I went through,” Heather said. Then prospects for vaccines began to appear on the horizon.&nbsp;

“Our head pharmacist, Chris Mondero, was very proactive,” Heather said. She credits Chris for learning early on about a program which allocated vaccines to community pharmacies across the nation and signing up as one of the early participants in the program.&nbsp;

“Thanks to Chris, we were able to benefit from early access to the vaccines,” Heather said. “When the local health department was getting 100 doses per week, we got 1,000 doses,” she said. S&amp;S Drug moved quickly to work with the local health department to get those doses administered in the community, and then reached out to the region.&nbsp;

“We realized we needed to take it beyond Beloit,” Heather said. Through word-of-mouth and social media, they informed the public about vaccine availability. As additional categories were added to eligibility, S&amp;S Drug adjusted.&nbsp;

Manhattan became a site for outreach. Trase McQueen, a friend at St. Isidore’s church in Manhattan, arranged for vaccinations there. Four hundred kids signed up in 60 minutes. S&amp;S Drug reached out to sorority houses and fraternities. Heather’s brother took vaccines to Kansas City.&nbsp;

“It kept spiraling, it was such a fast pace,” Heather said. “The S&amp;S team was fantastic.” Pharmacy staff had to maintain day-to-day operations back in Beloit while conducting outreach to other communities. “It took every single person to do it,” she said.&nbsp;

Within eight weeks, S&amp;S Drug administered more than 7,000 vaccinations across Kansas. Not only was this a huge contribution to public health, it helped Heather Johnson recover from COVID-19 itself. “My mind was hazy, and I think the vaccination push helped me refocus,” she said.&nbsp;

“We were blessed,” Heather said. “God gave us a mission to share the vaccines, and every member of our team stepped up to help.”&nbsp;

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

Have you had your shot? We salute Heather Johnson, Chris Mondero, and the entire team at S&amp;S Drug plus all health care providers everywhere who have made a difference by responding to the pandemic with such remarkable effort. It was definitely a good shot.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625664983378.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;&nbsp;Have you had your shot? That question was on the minds of millions as vaccinations for COVID-19 were rolled out across the country. Today we’ll learn about a rural Kansas pharmacy which responded to the pandemic in remarkable ways.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Last week we learned about Heather Johnson, chief executive of S&amp;S Drug, a family-owned pharmacy in Beloit. Heather and her husband Jim Johnson have three children in college and high school. Jim, an attorney in Beloit, had grown up at the nearby rural community of Randall, population 65 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;“We hosted Jim’s high school class reunion at our house. They had 100% attendance,” Heather said. “Of course, it was only seven people,” she said with a smile.&nbsp;But serious times hit rural America when the pandemic spread in spring 2020 and stay-at-home orders were issued across the nation. “Like any small business, the pandemic had a big impact on us,” Heather said. S&amp;S closed its doors for four months and reopened in June 2020. Even though the retail operation closed, the pharmacy still had to meet essential needs and provide prescriptions through drive-up and delivery.&nbsp;The business model had to pivot quickly. “It was like building the airplane while trying to fly it,” Heather said.&nbsp;Rural areas avoided most of the worst impact of the disease in the early stages, but by fall and winter, COVID-19 had reached the smaller communities as well. Many businesses closed again. The disease even reached the Johnson household in Beloit.&nbsp;“I had it really bad. I was in the hospital for 10 days,” Heather said. Slowly and painfully, Heather worked her way back into recovery.&nbsp;“I’m a COVID long-hauler,” Heather said. “Recovery is a long, slow process. I had the extreme fatigue and the muscle weakness – even hair loss,” she said. Eventually, she pulled through.&nbsp;“I came out of this with a true desire to help as many people as possible avoid what I went through,” Heather said. Then prospects for vaccines began to appear on the horizon.&nbsp;“Our head pharmacist, Chris Mondero, was very proactive,” Heather said. She credits Chris for learning early on about a program which allocated vaccines to community pharmacies across the nation and signing up as one of the early participants in the program.&nbsp;“Thanks to Chris, we were able to benefit from early access to the vaccines,” Heather said. “When the local health department was getting 100 doses per week, we got 1,000 doses,” she said. S&amp;S Drug moved quickly to work with the local health department to get those doses administered in the community, and then reached out to the region.&nbsp;“We realized we needed to take it beyond Beloit,” Heather said. Through word-of-mouth and social media, they informed the public about vaccine availability. As additional categories were added to eligibility, S&amp;S Drug adjusted.&nbsp;Manhattan became a site for outreach. Trase McQueen, a friend at St. Isidore’s church in Manhattan, arranged for vaccinations there. Four hundred kids signed up in 60 minutes. S&amp;S Drug reached out to sorority houses and fraternities. Heather’s brother took vaccines to Kansas City.&nbsp;“It kept spiraling, it was such a fast pace,” Heather said. “The S&amp;S team was fantastic.” Pharmacy staff had to maintain day-to-day operations back in Beloit while conducting outreach to other communities. “It took every single person to do it,” she said.&nbsp;Within eight weeks, S&amp;S Drug administered more than 7,000 vaccinations across Kansas. Not only was this a huge contribution to public health, it helped Heather Johnson recover from COVID-19 itself. “My mind was hazy, and I think the vaccination push helped me refocus,” she said.&nbsp;“We were blessed,” Heather said. “God gave us a mission to share the vaccines, and every member of our team stepped up to help.”&nbsp;For more information about the pharmacy, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sandsdrug.com/">www.sandsdrug.com</a>.&nbsp;Have you had your shot? We salute Heather Johnson, Chris Mondero, and the entire team at S&amp;S Drug plus all health care providers everywhere who have made a difference by responding to the pandemic with such remarkable effort. It was definitely a good shot.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Heather Johnson, S&S Drug, Part 2 

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau The big story in agriculture today is how carbon is going to be the next cash crop for farmers and ranchers. There are lots of headlines about how changing agricultural practices can remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it in the soil. While the science is sound, farming practices are just one component in the complex process of accumulation of carbon in the soil. Precipitation, soil type, carbon already present and other variables all factor into just how much of the element can be sequestered underground. What’s grabbing attention is there’s a nascent market blooming where private companies are paying real money to farmers and ranchers who can document increasing stores of carbon in their soils. The idea is the ag producers get some money for changing their practices while the private companies count the sequestered carbon against their own emissions.

There’s a variety of reasons why companies are at the forefront of creating this market, but the primary driver is capitalism. Environmentally conscious customers and investors are demanding goods and services that have less impact on the land, air and water. Companies are responding to these signals by turning to the original conservationists — farmers and ranchers — to lessen the environmental impact of modern life. The public at large is just now discovering what crop and livestock growers have understood for decades — capitalism and conservation are complimentary and not mutually exclusive. Farmers and ranchers understand today’s investments in healthy soil, pristine air and crystal-clear water will pay dividends for generations to come. Farmers and ranchers today are using technology and innovative practices to produce more than ever while using fewer resources. U.S. agriculture would have needed nearly 100 million more acres 30 years ago to match today’s production levels. This is especially true of livestock, which receive a lot of attention for greenhouse gases expelled yet contribute just 4 percent — and falling — of overall emissions. The dairy industry is producing 48 percent more milk with per-unit emissions down 26 percent. Pork production has soared 80 percent while the per-unit emissions have declined by 20 percent. Beef production is up 18 percent and emissions down 8 percent. These efficiencies are driven by simple economics. Livestock emissions are falling because inputs like land and feed are expensive, so producers have a natural incentive to make the most of their resources. In short, market forces are working as they should, and U.S. agriculture is lessening its environmental footprint in addition to offsetting the carbon emissions from other industries. For the most part, this has happened in the absence of government mandates, but that’s not to say government policy doesn’t have a role in further reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. No, the government shouldn’t tell farmers and ranchers how to do their jobs, but policy makers can certainly craft incentive-based programs to speed the adoption of practices that enhance production and profitability on farms and ranches. Legislators also can reduce regulatory barriers in state and federal programs and fund basic research that will help farmers and ranchers achieve greater efficiencies and further enhance the sustainability of their operations. While the government can help facilitate the pace of adoption on proven practices, it should also recognize what works in one field isn’t always the prescription for the next. We have to trust farmers and ranchers, with decades and generations of land management experience, know the capacity of their ground. They’re proven innovators and problem solvers in their own right. And they’re just as invested as the rest of us in successful and sustainable conservation all while continuing to provide a safe, affordable and ample supply of food for a growing population.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau The big story in agriculture today is how carbon is going to be the next cash crop for farmers and ranchers. There are lots of headlines about how changing agricultural practices can remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it in the soil. While the science is sound, farming practices are just one component in the complex process of accumulation of carbon in the soil. Precipitation, soil type, carbon already present and other variables all factor into just how much of the element can be sequestered underground. What’s grabbing attention is there’s a nascent market blooming where private companies are paying real money to farmers and ranchers who can document increasing stores of carbon in their soils. The idea is the ag producers get some money for changing their practices while the private companies count the sequestered carbon against their own emissions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>There’s a variety of reasons why companies are at the forefront of creating this market, but the primary driver is capitalism. Environmentally conscious customers and investors are demanding goods and services that have less impact on the land, air and water. Companies are responding to these signals by turning to the original conservationists — farmers and ranchers — to lessen the environmental impact of modern life. The public at large is just now discovering what crop and livestock growers have understood for decades — capitalism and conservation are complimentary and not mutually exclusive. Farmers and ranchers understand today’s investments in healthy soil, pristine air and crystal-clear water will pay dividends for generations to come. Farmers and ranchers today are using technology and innovative practices to produce more than ever while using fewer resources. U.S. agriculture would have needed nearly 100 million more acres 30 years ago to match today’s production levels. This is especially true of livestock, which receive a lot of attention for greenhouse gases expelled yet contribute just 4 percent — and falling — of overall emissions. The dairy industry is producing 48 percent more milk with per-unit emissions down 26 percent. Pork production has soared 80 percent while the per-unit emissions have declined by 20 percent. Beef production is up 18 percent and emissions down 8 percent. These efficiencies are driven by simple economics. Livestock emissions are falling because inputs like land and feed are expensive, so producers have a natural incentive to make the most of their resources. In short, market forces are working as they should, and U.S. agriculture is lessening its environmental footprint in addition to offsetting the carbon emissions from other industries. For the most part, this has happened in the absence of government mandates, but that’s not to say government policy doesn’t have a role in further reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. No, the government shouldn’t tell farmers and ranchers how to do their jobs, but policy makers can certainly craft incentive-based programs to speed the adoption of practices that enhance production and profitability on farms and ranches. Legislators also can reduce regulatory barriers in state and federal programs and fund basic research that will help farmers and ranchers achieve greater efficiencies and further enhance the sustainability of their operations. While the government can help facilitate the pace of adoption on proven practices, it should also recognize what works in one field isn’t always the prescription for the next. We have to trust farmers and ranchers, with decades and generations of land management experience, know the capacity of their ground. They’re proven innovators and problem solvers in their own right. And they’re just as invested as the rest of us in successful and sustainable conservation all while continuing to provide a safe, affordable and ample supply of food for a growing population."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Capitalism and conservation

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

“Giving back.” The term is frequently used, but what does it mean in practice? Today we’ll meet a family-owned pharmacy where the people have a longtime commitment to giving back to their rural community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Heather Johnson is the CEO of S&amp;S Drug, a family-owned pharmacy in downtown Beloit. S&amp;S Drug has served north-central Kansas for more than 100 years. In 1986, Max and Michele Heidrick purchased the drugstore, and it has been in their family ever since. Their daughter Heather grew up in the business.&nbsp;

Heather went to Kansas State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and later got a master’s in special ed. She married Jim Johnson, who had grown up in neighboring Jewell County and earned a degree in agribusiness. After graduation, they moved to Norton, where Heather taught and Jim worked in a bank until he went to law school at the University of Kansas. In 2005, they moved back to Beloit, where Jim joined the law practice of attorney Curt Frasier. In 2007, Heather took a position as bookkeeper at her family’s business, S&amp;S Drug. Heather and Jim also had three children.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Over the years, my dad and I have kind of switched roles,” Heather said. “Now I’m doing the management, and he’s enjoyed becoming a professional grandpa,” she said with a smile.&nbsp;

S&amp;S Drug has two businesses, a full-service pharmacy and a home-health supply store.&nbsp;&nbsp;The businesses are located across the street from each other in downtown Beloit.&nbsp;

As a businessperson, community member, and mother of three, Heather felt strongly about enhancing the quality of life in the community. “I focused on things I enjoyed as a young child,” Heather said. “I wanted those same opportunities for my kids and their friends.”&nbsp;

This was based on values that Heather had learned from her parents, who had also been deeply involved in the community. “That’s how we were raised,” she said. “My mom and dad were doers.”&nbsp;

As a result, S&amp;S Drug has been a longtime sponsor of community and youth activities in Beloit. S&amp;S Drug and the Heidrick and Johnson families are involved in supporting lots of different activities for virtually every major holiday.&nbsp;

They helped organize and sponsor the Easter egg hunt, for example, where as many as 600 children participate, and everyone gets a prize. At Christmastime, they help sponsor the annual visit by Santa Claus to downtown Beloit, complete with crafts and cookies. The list goes on and on.&nbsp;

“When we first moved back (to Beloit), there were Fourth of July fireworks at Waconda Lake,” Heather said. When funding ran low and the organizers got tired, the fireworks were discontinued. “North-central Kansas went a year without fireworks, and we felt that had to change,” Heather said. Her family solicited funds, and more than $10,000 was raised to bring back the annual fireworks display. As of 2021, the local chamber now operates the fireworks show.&nbsp;

“When my kids were little, I took them to the Beloit city pool,” Heather said. “It had been built in the 1940s and was leaking and costing the city a lot of money.” She saw the need, set up a committee, researched the topic and led a drive to fund a new aquatic center. Voters approved a sales tax increase for the project. Beloit became one of the first rural Kansas communities to construct a large water park.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It’s been a great draw,” Heather said. “There was a village here that helped raise me and my siblings. Someone needs to carry on those traditions.”&nbsp;

That type of commitment to community is vital in rural places such as Beloit, population 3,835 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information about the community, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.beloitks.org/">www.beloitks.org</a>.&nbsp;

“Giving back.” It’s more than a concept for Heather Johnson of S&amp;S Drug, who is making a difference by enhancing the quality of life in her community. She not only moved back, she is giving back.&nbsp;

And there’s more. The second element of this story has to do with COVID-19. We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1625060936385.png" alt="From left, Jay Heidrick, Heather Johnson, Joe Heidrick, Michele Heidrick, Max Heidrick, Missy Heidrick" />
 <figcaption>From left, Jay Heidrick, Heather Johnson, Joe Heidrick, Michele Heidrick, Max Heidrick, Missy Heidrick</figcaption>
 </figure>BY RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“Giving back.” The term is frequently used, but what does it mean in practice? Today we’ll meet a family-owned pharmacy where the people have a longtime commitment to giving back to their rural community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Heather Johnson is the CEO of S&amp;S Drug, a family-owned pharmacy in downtown Beloit. S&amp;S Drug has served north-central Kansas for more than 100 years. In 1986, Max and Michele Heidrick purchased the drugstore, and it has been in their family ever since. Their daughter Heather grew up in the business.&nbsp;Heather went to Kansas State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and later got a master’s in special ed. She married Jim Johnson, who had grown up in neighboring Jewell County and earned a degree in agribusiness. After graduation, they moved to Norton, where Heather taught and Jim worked in a bank until he went to law school at the University of Kansas. In 2005, they moved back to Beloit, where Jim joined the law practice of attorney Curt Frasier. In 2007, Heather took a position as bookkeeper at her family’s business, S&amp;S Drug. Heather and Jim also had three children.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Over the years, my dad and I have kind of switched roles,” Heather said. “Now I’m doing the management, and he’s enjoyed becoming a professional grandpa,” she said with a smile.&nbsp;S&amp;S Drug has two businesses, a full-service pharmacy and a home-health supply store.&nbsp;&nbsp;The businesses are located across the street from each other in downtown Beloit.&nbsp;As a businessperson, community member, and mother of three, Heather felt strongly about enhancing the quality of life in the community. “I focused on things I enjoyed as a young child,” Heather said. “I wanted those same opportunities for my kids and their friends.”&nbsp;This was based on values that Heather had learned from her parents, who had also been deeply involved in the community. “That’s how we were raised,” she said. “My mom and dad were doers.”&nbsp;As a result, S&amp;S Drug has been a longtime sponsor of community and youth activities in Beloit. S&amp;S Drug and the Heidrick and Johnson families are involved in supporting lots of different activities for virtually every major holiday.&nbsp;They helped organize and sponsor the Easter egg hunt, for example, where as many as 600 children participate, and everyone gets a prize. At Christmastime, they help sponsor the annual visit by Santa Claus to downtown Beloit, complete with crafts and cookies. The list goes on and on.&nbsp;“When we first moved back (to Beloit), there were Fourth of July fireworks at Waconda Lake,” Heather said. When funding ran low and the organizers got tired, the fireworks were discontinued. “North-central Kansas went a year without fireworks, and we felt that had to change,” Heather said. Her family solicited funds, and more than $10,000 was raised to bring back the annual fireworks display. As of 2021, the local chamber now operates the fireworks show.&nbsp;“When my kids were little, I took them to the Beloit city pool,” Heather said. “It had been built in the 1940s and was leaking and costing the city a lot of money.” She saw the need, set up a committee, researched the topic and led a drive to fund a new aquatic center. Voters approved a sales tax increase for the project. Beloit became one of the first rural Kansas communities to construct a large water park.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s been a great draw,” Heather said. “There was a village here that helped raise me and my siblings. Someone needs to carry on those traditions.”&nbsp;That type of commitment to community is vital in rural places such as Beloit, population 3,835 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information about the community, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.beloitks.org/">www.beloitks.org</a>.&nbsp;“Giving back.” It’s more than a concept for Heather Johnson of S&amp;S Drug, who is making a difference by enhancing the quality of life in her community. She not only moved back, she is giving back.&nbsp;And there’s more. The second element of this story has to do with COVID-19. We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Heather Johnson, S&S Drug, Part 1 

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." — John Adams

Sometimes, the simplest story is the best one.&nbsp; With the COVID-19 pandemic, two fact-based stories stand out. First, getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do for yourself, your family, and your community. The evidence is overwhelming, whether we’re talking about rates of infection, hospitalization, or death.&nbsp; With more than two billion doses administered around the world, vaccination stands as a historic, unqualified success,

In Kansas, with our great variation among counties in vaccination levels, we have &nbsp;every reason to think that those counties with higher rates will experience fewer new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.&nbsp;

Thanks to the research done by KU scholars Donna Ginther and Carlos Zambrana we do have solid evidence that another tactic – wearing masks—makes a big difference on containing spread, seriousness, and deadliness of COVID-19. That’s the second major COVID story, a straightforward social science narrative of how well-informed policies can produce positive results.

When Governor Laura Kelly announced a mask mandate, taking effect in July 2020, just fifteen counties, mostly large ones, complied.&nbsp; Conversely, 68 counties never adopted any mask requirement.&nbsp; Such a stark division established ideal conditions for a natural experiment. That is, we can compare how counties with a mask mandate fared during the pandemic as opposed to those who never imposed such a policy.

Veteran researchers Ginther and Zambrama are not epidemiologists; rather, Ginther is a distinguished professor of economics and the head of KU’s multi-disciplinary Institute for Policy and Social Research. Their work is straightforward analysis of basic data, with a single, clear policy difference. Moreover, the mask/no-mask dichotomy almost certainly underestimates the impact of mask-wearing, given its focus on overall county policy, not the actual wearing of masks.

When the mask mandate took effect, COVID-19 rates were three times higher in mask counties; in less than four months this trend reversed, with cases twice as high in no mask counties. Similar reversals occurred for both COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. The simple mandating of mask-wearing significantly affected rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

By the July 3 start of Governor Laura Kelly’s mask mandate, the medical/scientific consensus was clear that this policy would slow the spread of COVID-19. But many politicians, in and out of Kansas, battled the mandate and politicized the policy.

They were wrong. Governor Kelly and her advisors were right. The study concludes that the mask mandate saved at least 500 lives in Kansas. Following the known facts proved the better policy.

OK, you might say, in this limited study, good policy proved a better choice. But so what?&nbsp; Well, here’s what, on two major issues.

First, Medicaid expansion, with its natural experiment between states that did and didn’t expand.&nbsp; As of 2018, the expansion states experienced at least 19,000 fewer premature deaths than they would have without expansion, and medical debt dropped almost $1500 per person.

Second, climate change.&nbsp; Thousands of studies form a consensus on the immense fiscal and health benefits of aggressively combatting climate change. It’s difficult for a single state to do much, but as a society the facts demand that we act.

Science is powerful. And per John Adams, “Facts are stubborn things.”

Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574348610067.jpeg" alt="Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." — John AdamsSometimes, the simplest story is the best one.&nbsp; With the COVID-19 pandemic, two fact-based stories stand out. First, getting vaccinated is the best thing you can do for yourself, your family, and your community. The evidence is overwhelming, whether we’re talking about rates of infection, hospitalization, or death.&nbsp; With more than two billion doses administered around the world, vaccination stands as a historic, unqualified success,In Kansas, with our great variation among counties in vaccination levels, we have &nbsp;every reason to think that those counties with higher rates will experience fewer new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.&nbsp;Thanks to the research done by KU scholars Donna Ginther and Carlos Zambrana we do have solid evidence that another tactic – wearing masks—makes a big difference on containing spread, seriousness, and deadliness of COVID-19. That’s the second major COVID story, a straightforward social science narrative of how well-informed policies can produce positive results.When Governor Laura Kelly announced a mask mandate, taking effect in July 2020, just fifteen counties, mostly large ones, complied.&nbsp; Conversely, 68 counties never adopted any mask requirement.&nbsp; Such a stark division established ideal conditions for a natural experiment. That is, we can compare how counties with a mask mandate fared during the pandemic as opposed to those who never imposed such a policy.Veteran researchers Ginther and Zambrama are not epidemiologists; rather, Ginther is a distinguished professor of economics and the head of KU’s multi-disciplinary Institute for Policy and Social Research. Their work is straightforward analysis of basic data, with a single, clear policy difference. Moreover, the mask/no-mask dichotomy almost certainly underestimates the impact of mask-wearing, given its focus on overall county policy, not the actual wearing of masks.When the mask mandate took effect, COVID-19 rates were three times higher in mask counties; in less than four months this trend reversed, with cases twice as high in no mask counties. Similar reversals occurred for both COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. The simple mandating of mask-wearing significantly affected rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.By the July 3 start of Governor Laura Kelly’s mask mandate, the medical/scientific consensus was clear that this policy would slow the spread of COVID-19. But many politicians, in and out of Kansas, battled the mandate and politicized the policy.They were wrong. Governor Kelly and her advisors were right. The study concludes that the mask mandate saved at least 500 lives in Kansas. Following the known facts proved the better policy.OK, you might say, in this limited study, good policy proved a better choice. But so what?&nbsp; Well, here’s what, on two major issues.First, Medicaid expansion, with its natural experiment between states that did and didn’t expand.&nbsp; As of 2018, the expansion states experienced at least 19,000 fewer premature deaths than they would have without expansion, and medical debt dropped almost $1500 per person.Second, climate change.&nbsp; Thousands of studies form a consensus on the immense fiscal and health benefits of aggressively combatting climate change. It’s difficult for a single state to do much, but as a society the facts demand that we act.Science is powerful. And per John Adams, “Facts are stubborn things.”Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Facts and policies

Well, after such a pleasant cool spring, here we go again with summer in Kansas. This week’s column is a concoction of different subjects, all having something to do with summer and the temperature. The internet teems with one-liners about most everything imaginable, and here are a few I came up with about the heat.&nbsp;

It’s so hot that I bought a cup of coffee at McDonalds and poured it over my lap to cool off.

It’s so hot that beer guts and big butts no longer keep people from wearing shorts.

It’s so hot that CRP now stands for Crispy Rotational Pasture.

&nbsp;it’s so hot that congress actually had to take their hands out of OUR pockets to fan themselves.

And my personal favorite; It’s so hot that the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will be offering a new big game hunting license this year; it will be good for 1 camel, either sex! &nbsp;

And speaking of how hot it is, I ran across something I thought to be straight from the “old wives’ tales” folder, but it was splashed all over the internet, so maybe I was wrong again. It seems that in the late 1800’s, AE Dolbear a professor at Tuft’s college near Boston first noted a relationship between air temperature and the rate at which crickets chirp. In 1887 he published the first equation, known as Dolbear’s Law, which can be used to determine the approximate temperature in Fahrenheit based on the number of times a cricket chirps in one minute. Be advised; be very careful here because the equation is slightly different depending on whether you are listening to a common Field Cricket, a Snowy Tree Cricket or a Common True Katydid. For your average run-of-the-mill Field Cricket, the equation goes something like this; subtract 40 from the number of chirps per minute, then add 50 and divide by 4 to get the approximate temperature. (T = 50+ (N-40) / 4) There actually is some science behind this. Since crickets are cold-blooded, they chirp faster as they get warmer.&nbsp; I’ll bet his research took forever as people probably kept smashing his test subjects. Like I said, I found this all over the internet and each source swore there is something to the theory, so test it out and let me know the results. If I get enough feedback, I’ll publish it in a future column.&nbsp; I absolutely hate this heat and I seriously doubt there’s a cricket alive that can chirp enough times in 1 minute to even come close to calculating our temperatures of late.&nbsp;

Every few years, the men’s fellowship group at my church has a fish fry, and we always end the evening by telling our best outdoor related stories. The best story is selected by the group and retold to end the evening.&nbsp; This story was the winner at the last fish fry. It took place while setting bank lines for flathead catfish somewhere on a river here in Kansas. Two buddies had numerous lines set and had checked them several times during the night. Bank lines are heavy cord tied to a tree limb or something else along the river bank that will flex when a big fish is hooked and begins to tug and tussle. They are usually baited with live fish of some sort, often a bluegill or a goldfish. It was the last check of the lines early in the morning just before they would pull them for the day. As the two approached one particular line, a ruckus erupted on the bank; there was a blue heron hooked on the line! Herons feed by swallowing small fish headfirst, and this one had evidently swallowed the fish used for bait on that particular line, meaning the large hook was now several inches down the throat of a very big unhappy bird. Now a blue heron may look tall and spindly, but I have little doubt that one hooked on a fishing line would be a lesson in bronco-bustin’ trying to free it. With the thrashing beast bulldogged and wrapped up in the arms of the storyteller, they could see by the bulge on the outside of the heron’s throat where the hook was wedged. With the point of his knife, his buddy made a small hole where the hook appeared lodged, cut the line and pulled the rig, hook first out through the hole in the heron’s throat. And once again, the victim flew away and lived happily ever after. 

Everyone in attendance that night knew that “Thou shalt not lie” is amongst the Ten Commandments, but as far as I know, nowhere in the Ten Commandments does it state “Thou shalt not embellish!” 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Well, after such a pleasant cool spring, here we go again with summer in Kansas. This week’s column is a concoction of different subjects, all having something to do with summer and the temperature. The internet teems with one-liners about most everything imaginable, and here are a few I came up with about the heat.&nbsp;It’s so hot that I bought a cup of coffee at McDonalds and poured it over my lap to cool off.It’s so hot that beer guts and big butts no longer keep people from wearing shorts.It’s so hot that CRP now stands for Crispy Rotational Pasture.&nbsp;it’s so hot that congress actually had to take their hands out of OUR pockets to fan themselves.And my personal favorite; It’s so hot that the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will be offering a new big game hunting license this year; it will be good for 1 camel, either sex! &nbsp;And speaking of how hot it is, I ran across something I thought to be straight from the “old wives’ tales” folder, but it was splashed all over the internet, so maybe I was wrong again. It seems that in the late 1800’s, AE Dolbear a professor at Tuft’s college near Boston first noted a relationship between air temperature and the rate at which crickets chirp. In 1887 he published the first equation, known as Dolbear’s Law, which can be used to determine the approximate temperature in Fahrenheit based on the number of times a cricket chirps in one minute. Be advised; be very careful here because the equation is slightly different depending on whether you are listening to a common Field Cricket, a Snowy Tree Cricket or a Common True Katydid. For your average run-of-the-mill Field Cricket, the equation goes something like this; subtract 40 from the number of chirps per minute, then add 50 and divide by 4 to get the approximate temperature. (T = 50+ (N-40) / 4) There actually is some science behind this. Since crickets are cold-blooded, they chirp faster as they get warmer.&nbsp; I’ll bet his research took forever as people probably kept smashing his test subjects. Like I said, I found this all over the internet and each source swore there is something to the theory, so test it out and let me know the results. If I get enough feedback, I’ll publish it in a future column.&nbsp; I absolutely hate this heat and I seriously doubt there’s a cricket alive that can chirp enough times in 1 minute to even come close to calculating our temperatures of late.&nbsp;Every few years, the men’s fellowship group at my church has a fish fry, and we always end the evening by telling our best outdoor related stories. The best story is selected by the group and retold to end the evening.&nbsp; This story was the winner at the last fish fry. It took place while setting bank lines for flathead catfish somewhere on a river here in Kansas. Two buddies had numerous lines set and had checked them several times during the night. Bank lines are heavy cord tied to a tree limb or something else along the river bank that will flex when a big fish is hooked and begins to tug and tussle. They are usually baited with live fish of some sort, often a bluegill or a goldfish. It was the last check of the lines early in the morning just before they would pull them for the day. As the two approached one particular line, a ruckus erupted on the bank; there was a blue heron hooked on the line! Herons feed by swallowing small fish headfirst, and this one had evidently swallowed the fish used for bait on that particular line, meaning the large hook was now several inches down the throat of a very big unhappy bird. Now a blue heron may look tall and spindly, but I have little doubt that one hooked on a fishing line would be a lesson in bronco-bustin’ trying to free it. With the thrashing beast bulldogged and wrapped up in the arms of the storyteller, they could see by the bulge on the outside of the heron’s throat where the hook was wedged. With the point of his knife, his buddy made a small hole where the hook appeared lodged, cut the line and pulled the rig, hook first out through the hole in the heron’s throat. And once again, the victim flew away and lived happily ever after. Everyone in attendance that night knew that “Thou shalt not lie” is amongst the Ten Commandments, but as far as I know, nowhere in the Ten Commandments does it state “Thou shalt not embellish!” Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: It’s too hot … again

Fort Hays State University exists to improve lives. I see this statement in action. Every. Single. Day. I love learning about each individual life in our mosaic of impact – individuals such as new alumnus Anthony Ventura.

Anthony, a May graduate, is a truly incredible person who will indeed make a difference in our world. He graduated in three years with a Bachelor of Science in Biology (health profession) and a minor in chemistry. He speaks two languages proficiently, a third with working proficiency, and a fourth with elementary proficiency.

Anthony is clearly ambitious. His life philosophy of “work smart and harder” has successfully guided him. His favorite quote: “Let him who would move the world first move himself.” (Socrates)&nbsp;

Anthony was born in the Philippines, grew up in Los Angeles, California, then moved to Plainville, Kansas, when he was 13. After graduating from Plainville High School in 2018, he came to FHSU to participate in collegiate athletics on the Tiger track and field team.

Many of our student-athletes take athletics seriously at a young age, and many are inspired by their fathers. Anthony was no different. His dad was a collegiate athlete and later became a doctor.

“I am very thankful to God and my family,” Anthony said. “My mom, stepdad, late father, and sisters are a big part of my life that I truly value. My role models are my mom, stepdad, and late father, who gave me a lot of wisdom and discipline. Most importantly, they showed me love.”

While Anthony came to FHSU to compete in track, he soon found so many other opportunities to pursue. And pursue them he did.

Participation in the Kansas Startup competition – an event designed for entrepreneurs to meet, share ideas, and launch new businesses – exposed Anthony to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. His team won the 2020 Kansas Startup with the creation of a mental health app and was a finalist for this spring’s Faulkner Challenge, a business plan competition. The Faulkner Challenge also enabled Anthony to establish professional connections that will help in his graduate study and the professional life that awaits him.&nbsp; &nbsp;

“My passion for entrepreneurship is rooted in the idea of innovating and helping others,” he said. “Entrepreneurship shows a metaphorical brick wall of challenges. That brick wall has pushed me to be creative and learn to move forward.”

One of the many things Anthony values about FHSU is the opportunity for meaningful undergraduate research. Anthony credits Dr. Nicholas Stewart as a scholar-mentor who helped him conduct genetic research that is being reviewed by the Genome Education Project for publication.

During the pandemic, Anthony wanted to find a way to improve mental and physical health on campus. So, he founded the American Healthy Heart student organization at FHSU to advance mental and physical health among students with underlying health challenges. The group considers the definition of “heart” to include a holistic and integrative approach.

Club members enjoyed hearing from a wide variety of speakers, including Charles Camarda, an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. Anthony has a growing interest in space and the sustainability of the earth, and he thoroughly enjoyed hearing Camarda speak about the Columbia disaster, life in space, and what awaits in our exploration of Mars.&nbsp;

While completing a bachelor’s degree in three years, serving on the Student Government Association, and participating in numerous campus organizations, Anthony also served as the music coordinator for Harvest Christian Church. Additionally, he worked at Hays Medical Center as a telemetry technician and coded app games for the digital Apple App Store.&nbsp;

It’s no wonder this very talented, hard-working, ambitious, young man was trying to decide which graduate program to enter – Boston University, MIT, Columbia, or the University of Oklahoma – and which program to study (business, biology, or engineering). Ultimately, he chose Oklahoma, where he can combine a dual program of Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Industrial and System Engineering.

Anthony fully embraces his mantra, “Be fearless,” while chasing his goals. But I have no doubt this Tiger will succeed and make a lasting impact on his community – and our world.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>Fort Hays State University exists to improve lives. I see this statement in action. Every. Single. Day. I love learning about each individual life in our mosaic of impact – individuals such as new alumnus Anthony Ventura.Anthony, a May graduate, is a truly incredible person who will indeed make a difference in our world. He graduated in three years with a Bachelor of Science in Biology (health profession) and a minor in chemistry. He speaks two languages proficiently, a third with working proficiency, and a fourth with elementary proficiency.Anthony is clearly ambitious. His life philosophy of “work smart and harder” has successfully guided him. His favorite quote: “Let him who would move the world first move himself.” (Socrates)&nbsp;Anthony was born in the Philippines, grew up in Los Angeles, California, then moved to Plainville, Kansas, when he was 13. After graduating from Plainville High School in 2018, he came to FHSU to participate in collegiate athletics on the Tiger track and field team.Many of our student-athletes take athletics seriously at a young age, and many are inspired by their fathers. Anthony was no different. His dad was a collegiate athlete and later became a doctor.“I am very thankful to God and my family,” Anthony said. “My mom, stepdad, late father, and sisters are a big part of my life that I truly value. My role models are my mom, stepdad, and late father, who gave me a lot of wisdom and discipline. Most importantly, they showed me love.”While Anthony came to FHSU to compete in track, he soon found so many other opportunities to pursue. And pursue them he did.Participation in the Kansas Startup competition – an event designed for entrepreneurs to meet, share ideas, and launch new businesses – exposed Anthony to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. His team won the 2020 Kansas Startup with the creation of a mental health app and was a finalist for this spring’s Faulkner Challenge, a business plan competition. The Faulkner Challenge also enabled Anthony to establish professional connections that will help in his graduate study and the professional life that awaits him.&nbsp; &nbsp;“My passion for entrepreneurship is rooted in the idea of innovating and helping others,” he said. “Entrepreneurship shows a metaphorical brick wall of challenges. That brick wall has pushed me to be creative and learn to move forward.”One of the many things Anthony values about FHSU is the opportunity for meaningful undergraduate research. Anthony credits Dr. Nicholas Stewart as a scholar-mentor who helped him conduct genetic research that is being reviewed by the Genome Education Project for publication.During the pandemic, Anthony wanted to find a way to improve mental and physical health on campus. So, he founded the American Healthy Heart student organization at FHSU to advance mental and physical health among students with underlying health challenges. The group considers the definition of “heart” to include a holistic and integrative approach.Club members enjoyed hearing from a wide variety of speakers, including Charles Camarda, an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. Anthony has a growing interest in space and the sustainability of the earth, and he thoroughly enjoyed hearing Camarda speak about the Columbia disaster, life in space, and what awaits in our exploration of Mars.&nbsp;While completing a bachelor’s degree in three years, serving on the Student Government Association, and participating in numerous campus organizations, Anthony also served as the music coordinator for Harvest Christian Church. Additionally, he worked at Hays Medical Center as a telemetry technician and coded app games for the digital Apple App Store.&nbsp;It’s no wonder this very talented, hard-working, ambitious, young man was trying to decide which graduate program to enter – Boston University, MIT, Columbia, or the University of Oklahoma – and which program to study (business, biology, or engineering). Ultimately, he chose Oklahoma, where he can combine a dual program of Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Industrial and System Engineering.Anthony fully embraces his mantra, “Be fearless,” while chasing his goals. But I have no doubt this Tiger will succeed and make a lasting impact on his community – and our world.

MASON: Ventura took full advantage of FHSU opportunities

By DALE YOUNKER Natural Resources Conservation Service

One thing about living in Kansas is if you don’t like to current weather, don’t worry, because it will change to the other extreme, and sometimes that can happen quickly. Just a couple of weeks ago we were struggling to get fall crops planted because of the wet conditions. Now we are hoping that the hot and dry conditions we are currently experiencing isn’t a trend that will last through the summer. Thankfully, we do have some decent sub-soil moisture conditions that will keep the fall crops going through this dry period.

Given the current dry conditions you may think that the last thing I would be wanting to talk about is planting cover crops. But cover crops can provide as many benefits, especially in fallow systems where there will not be a cash crop planted until next spring. These cropping systems only capture and store about 15 to 25% of the moisture received during the fallow period and the rest is just lost to evaporation, runoff and deep percolation.

Cover crops will use some soil moisture like any other living growing plant, including weeds. But a cover crop, that is properly designed with the right species in the mix, and planted and terminated timely, can mitigate the soil moisture losses during the fallow period. So, when the rains do come, we can capture and store more water in the soil then we would of without the cover crop.

I typically I like to get a cover crop established in wheat stubble within a day or two after harvest. It’s been my experience that there is usually enough moisture near the soil surface for the seeds to germinate and emerge because the soil surface is shaded by the mature wheat. But once the wheat is harvested the moisture evaporates quickly. Another option is to delay the cover crop planting later into the summer after a rain or two. Typically, a flush of weeds and volunteer wheat has come up by that time, which can be terminated before planting to cover crop.

I would stick with predominately low water use species in the mix. Millets work well in this situation. They are shallow rooted and grow and mature quickly and very drought tolerant once established. Seed costs is reasonable because the seed is small and just a few pounds is all that is needed in a mix. Because of the small seed size planting depth should be no more then about an inch deep. I would also add a small amount deep rooted species like sunflowers turnips or radishes. They can really help with breaking compaction layers that almost all cropped fields have. 

Some of these species can also be great habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators. Adding a legume, like sunn hemp can also be beneficial in the mix if allowed to grow long enough the nodulate and fix nitrogen. If the planting is delayed until mid-August,&nbsp;oats could be added to the mix. Oats really help feed the soil biology that is critical to building and maintaining soil aggregates, which in turn increases soil porosity.

Most summer planted cover mixes will frost terminate once temperatures get cold enough in the fall. But if dry conditions persist through late summer it may be appropriate to terminate the cover early so it doesn’t continue to use moisture that may be needed for the next cash crop. This is really a judgement call based on current conditions at the time and long-term weather forecasts.

If you used an herbicide in the growing wheat herbicide carryover could be a concern. Many post wheat herbicides provide long term residual weed control and have long plant back restrictions. These herbicides could inhibit the germination and growth of many cover crop species. Always check your herbicide label and if in doubt consult with your supplier or crop advisor.

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has recently adjusted the crop insurance provisions regarding cover crops and termination guidelines, easing many of the prior restrictions. I would suggest that you contact your crop insurance agent before planting the cover crop to make sure you are meeting all the insurance requirements.

For more information about soil health practices you can contact me at&nbsp;dale.younker@ks.usda.gov&nbsp;or any local NRCS office.

Dale Younker is a soil health specialist with the&nbsp; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Jetmore.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593956642758.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By DALE YOUNKER Natural Resources Conservation ServiceOne thing about living in Kansas is if you don’t like to current weather, don’t worry, because it will change to the other extreme, and sometimes that can happen quickly. Just a couple of weeks ago we were struggling to get fall crops planted because of the wet conditions. Now we are hoping that the hot and dry conditions we are currently experiencing isn’t a trend that will last through the summer. Thankfully, we do have some decent sub-soil moisture conditions that will keep the fall crops going through this dry period.Given the current dry conditions you may think that the last thing I would be wanting to talk about is planting cover crops. But cover crops can provide as many benefits, especially in fallow systems where there will not be a cash crop planted until next spring. These cropping systems only capture and store about 15 to 25% of the moisture received during the fallow period and the rest is just lost to evaporation, runoff and deep percolation.Cover crops will use some soil moisture like any other living growing plant, including weeds. But a cover crop, that is properly designed with the right species in the mix, and planted and terminated timely, can mitigate the soil moisture losses during the fallow period. So, when the rains do come, we can capture and store more water in the soil then we would of without the cover crop.I typically I like to get a cover crop established in wheat stubble within a day or two after harvest. It’s been my experience that there is usually enough moisture near the soil surface for the seeds to germinate and emerge because the soil surface is shaded by the mature wheat. But once the wheat is harvested the moisture evaporates quickly. Another option is to delay the cover crop planting later into the summer after a rain or two. Typically, a flush of weeds and volunteer wheat has come up by that time, which can be terminated before planting to cover crop.I would stick with predominately low water use species in the mix. Millets work well in this situation. They are shallow rooted and grow and mature quickly and very drought tolerant once established. Seed costs is reasonable because the seed is small and just a few pounds is all that is needed in a mix. Because of the small seed size planting depth should be no more then about an inch deep. I would also add a small amount deep rooted species like sunflowers turnips or radishes. They can really help with breaking compaction layers that almost all cropped fields have. Some of these species can also be great habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators. Adding a legume, like sunn hemp can also be beneficial in the mix if allowed to grow long enough the nodulate and fix nitrogen. If the planting is delayed until mid-August,&nbsp;oats could be added to the mix. Oats really help feed the soil biology that is critical to building and maintaining soil aggregates, which in turn increases soil porosity.Most summer planted cover mixes will frost terminate once temperatures get cold enough in the fall. But if dry conditions persist through late summer it may be appropriate to terminate the cover early so it doesn’t continue to use moisture that may be needed for the next cash crop. This is really a judgement call based on current conditions at the time and long-term weather forecasts.If you used an herbicide in the growing wheat herbicide carryover could be a concern. Many post wheat herbicides provide long term residual weed control and have long plant back restrictions. These herbicides could inhibit the germination and growth of many cover crop species. Always check your herbicide label and if in doubt consult with your supplier or crop advisor.The Risk Management Agency (RMA) has recently adjusted the crop insurance provisions regarding cover crops and termination guidelines, easing many of the prior restrictions. I would suggest that you contact your crop insurance agent before planting the cover crop to make sure you are meeting all the insurance requirements.For more information about soil health practices you can contact me at&nbsp;dale.younker@ks.usda.gov&nbsp;or any local NRCS office.Dale Younker is a soil health specialist with the&nbsp; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Jetmore.

YOUNKER: Planting a summer cover crop in wheat stubble

By EDWARD CROSS Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association

July is a special month for many Americans.&nbsp; Most of us will eagerly take a break from our busy summer schedules to once again celebrate Independence Day.&nbsp; There will be much fanfare with fireworks, parades, picnics, and other patriotic events celebrating our country’s independence from Great Britain in 1776.&nbsp; But when the festivities have ended, only a few will have reflected upon the true meaning of independence and the role it has played in shaping our nation’s character.

Our founding fathers made it clear in the Declaration of Independence that all men were entitled to certain unalienable rights.&nbsp; Among those rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.&nbsp; It is easy to take for granted those rights and freedoms we share as Americans.&nbsp; However, it is important that we understand and appreciate the hard work and sacrifice that our forefathers made in order for us to enjoy the luxury of freedom.&nbsp; Freedom and independence are cornerstones in the foundation of our country’s heritage.&nbsp; The independent ideology of the American people is a fundamental element of our society and a key to our nation’s prosperity.&nbsp; We must protect that independence at all cost.

One important freedom we must protect is our free enterprise system.&nbsp; American business, and certainly the oil and gas industry, was founded upon the ideology of independence and free-market principles.&nbsp; Those principles allow business to be governed by the laws of supply and demand without government interference and excessive regulation.&nbsp; The dynamic free market has led to innovation and wealth creation, and has established an economic environment where hard work is rewarded.

But now, it seems free-market capitalism and independence is under attack.&nbsp; Environmental activists work to obstruct energy development and infrastructure projects, reducing our energy options under a false belief that oil and natural gas production and use are incompatible with environmental progress. &nbsp;

The U.S. continues on a path toward one of the greatest self-inflicted wounds in history.&nbsp; President Biden has adopted liberal climate change priorities calling for an end to fossil fuel production and use and a restoration of the failed energy policies of the Obama-era.&nbsp; Biden’s anti-fossil fuel barrage will have no effect on the climate as global demand for fossil fuels will continue to increase for decades no matter what the U.S. does.&nbsp; Meantime, Russia, China, and Iran will take advantage of America’s astonishing fossil-fuel retreat.

The Biden Administration’s energy policy errors are oblivious to the needs of low-income families who would be hurt the most by these misguided energy policies.&nbsp; Biden’s plans are out-of-touch with working people and the economy. &nbsp;

What Biden’s anti-energy agenda combined with climate proposals like the Green New Deal do is concentrate more power in the hands of the federal government and central planners, which at the end of the day, is what they want.&nbsp; We should use our energy abundance to lift people up, which is a different philosophy than a zero-emissions world.&nbsp;

Contrary to claims from environmental activists, cutting U.S. oil and natural gas production would not magically reduce world energy demand.&nbsp; But it could raise costs significantly for American families and manufacturers, profoundly damage the U.S. economy, diminish our geopolitical influence and severely weaken our energy security.&nbsp; That’s where environmental activists strategies lead, and it is not a path most Americans want to take.

In his 1946 Independence Day speech, John F. Kennedy said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”&nbsp; Those words were never so true.&nbsp; Being mindful of the erosion of our independence and free-market system by misguided environmental activist ideologies cannot be over emphasized.&nbsp; We must, now more than ever, remain steadfast in our resolve to protect and preserve the precious independence that has molded our nation’s character.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584027001010.png" alt="Edward Cross is president of the&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association." />
 <figcaption>Edward Cross is president of the&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association.</figcaption>
 </figure>By EDWARD CROSS Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas AssociationJuly is a special month for many Americans.&nbsp; Most of us will eagerly take a break from our busy summer schedules to once again celebrate Independence Day.&nbsp; There will be much fanfare with fireworks, parades, picnics, and other patriotic events celebrating our country’s independence from Great Britain in 1776.&nbsp; But when the festivities have ended, only a few will have reflected upon the true meaning of independence and the role it has played in shaping our nation’s character.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Our founding fathers made it clear in the Declaration of Independence that all men were entitled to certain unalienable rights.&nbsp; Among those rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.&nbsp; It is easy to take for granted those rights and freedoms we share as Americans.&nbsp; However, it is important that we understand and appreciate the hard work and sacrifice that our forefathers made in order for us to enjoy the luxury of freedom.&nbsp; Freedom and independence are cornerstones in the foundation of our country’s heritage.&nbsp; The independent ideology of the American people is a fundamental element of our society and a key to our nation’s prosperity.&nbsp; We must protect that independence at all cost.One important freedom we must protect is our free enterprise system.&nbsp; American business, and certainly the oil and gas industry, was founded upon the ideology of independence and free-market principles.&nbsp; Those principles allow business to be governed by the laws of supply and demand without government interference and excessive regulation.&nbsp; The dynamic free market has led to innovation and wealth creation, and has established an economic environment where hard work is rewarded.But now, it seems free-market capitalism and independence is under attack.&nbsp; Environmental activists work to obstruct energy development and infrastructure projects, reducing our energy options under a false belief that oil and natural gas production and use are incompatible with environmental progress. &nbsp;The U.S. continues on a path toward one of the greatest self-inflicted wounds in history.&nbsp; President Biden has adopted liberal climate change priorities calling for an end to fossil fuel production and use and a restoration of the failed energy policies of the Obama-era.&nbsp; Biden’s anti-fossil fuel barrage will have no effect on the climate as global demand for fossil fuels will continue to increase for decades no matter what the U.S. does.&nbsp; Meantime, Russia, China, and Iran will take advantage of America’s astonishing fossil-fuel retreat.The Biden Administration’s energy policy errors are oblivious to the needs of low-income families who would be hurt the most by these misguided energy policies.&nbsp; Biden’s plans are out-of-touch with working people and the economy. &nbsp;What Biden’s anti-energy agenda combined with climate proposals like the Green New Deal do is concentrate more power in the hands of the federal government and central planners, which at the end of the day, is what they want.&nbsp; We should use our energy abundance to lift people up, which is a different philosophy than a zero-emissions world.&nbsp;Contrary to claims from environmental activists, cutting U.S. oil and natural gas production would not magically reduce world energy demand.&nbsp; But it could raise costs significantly for American families and manufacturers, profoundly damage the U.S. economy, diminish our geopolitical influence and severely weaken our energy security.&nbsp; That’s where environmental activists strategies lead, and it is not a path most Americans want to take.In his 1946 Independence Day speech, John F. Kennedy said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”&nbsp; Those words were never so true.&nbsp; Being mindful of the erosion of our independence and free-market system by misguided environmental activist ideologies cannot be over emphasized.&nbsp; We must, now more than ever, remain steadfast in our resolve to protect and preserve the precious independence that has molded our nation’s character.

CROSS: Protecting our independence

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer It’s wheat harvest time in central Kansas! I always know harvest will arrive, but it also always seems to sneak up on me. This year it seems to have snuck up a bit more than usual as we are still catching up from dealing with our wicked weather from a month ago. &nbsp; We are still replanting fields damaged by hail or flooded by rain. Our days leading up to this year’s harvest have included the regular preparation for summer and harvest, as well as a lot of unanticipated extras.&nbsp; &nbsp; Extra time has been needed in the fields replanting, spraying and cultivating while also dealing with insurance claims, adjustors, contractors, windshield repairs, dent repairs and a roofing crew. There’s definitely been a lot of those unexpected extras this year leading up to summer harvest.&nbsp; &nbsp; Thankfully, we have wonderful helpers who have been able to assist with the needed annual tasks that must be done prior to and during harvest. From preparing irrigation, laying pipe, servicing the tractors, trucks and combines, helping with irrigation repairs, cutting wheat and delivering the grain, we have a great group of people helping us. &nbsp; I realized a few days ago this is the first year in a very long time that I do not have a personal helper of my own this summer. Normally I would have a teenage girl helping me with the kids and household chores during the summer months. I called these helpers my “right-hand gals” because the job wasn’t just babysitting. &nbsp; In the past, I’d be able to leave the kids with my helper when I’d need to quickly drive out to a field to shuttle equipment or crew members to another location. Sometimes I would need to drive to another town to get machine parts. It was wonderful to have a helper who I could leave in charge of the house and kids to be able to complete all the necessary and unscheduled tasks associated with summer and harvest. &nbsp; My helper’s main role was to keep the day moving forward whether I was at home with the kids or not. At times, the job would require prepping food or baking cookies for our harvest crew. Sometimes it entailed loading and unloading the dishwasher or the laundry. Sometimes it meant reading books to the kids, making sure they were put down for their scheduled naps or lifeguarding when the kids would take an afternoon dip in our stock tank pool. &nbsp; Having a “right-hand gal” helped keep the kids rested and on a schedule. Summer on the farm and wheat harvest is incredibly exciting to participate in, but it’s also tiring for everyone involved. Between the hot, dry winds constantly blowing, and the long days and nights of work, it’s understandable why adults might — on occasion — get cranky. I’m sure one can imagine how the intense harvest schedule would affect a child if not properly rested!&nbsp; &nbsp; But as in all of life, this year I am reminded that seasons continually change, and my right-hand gals are grown and gone. My son has transitioned to helping more on the farm this summer. He’s now shadowing his daddy and grandpa, helping the men service machines by handing them tools, riding in the combine and helping with irrigation. I no longer fill a sippy cup and strap him into his car seat. Instead, he fills his own water jug daily and is doing his part helping with summer tasks on the farm under the supervision of some pretty patient people. &nbsp; My daughter is now another little helper. She’s transitioned to helping with laundry and baking cookies with her grandma. Now, whenever I have to jump in a vehicle to complete a pressing task, my little assistant is usually with me. Most of the time she’s happy to tag along as long as she has a book or two with her. But sometimes when the day gets tough, the immediate playing of a requested soundtrack and the promise of a frozen drink or popsicle usually helps.&nbsp; Yes, I’ve always been aware and thankful for the wonderful help we have especially during the summer months. This year, I have become acutely more aware of the blessing of helpers — both big and small.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer It’s wheat harvest time in central Kansas! I always know harvest will arrive, but it also always seems to sneak up on me. This year it seems to have snuck up a bit more than usual as we are still catching up from dealing with our wicked weather from a month ago. &nbsp; We are still replanting fields damaged by hail or flooded by rain. Our days leading up to this year’s harvest have included the regular preparation for summer and harvest, as well as a lot of unanticipated extras.&nbsp; &nbsp; Extra time has been needed in the fields replanting, spraying and cultivating while also dealing with insurance claims, adjustors, contractors, windshield repairs, dent repairs and a roofing crew. There’s definitely been a lot of those unexpected extras this year leading up to summer harvest.&nbsp; &nbsp; Thankfully, we have wonderful helpers who have been able to assist with the needed annual tasks that must be done prior to and during harvest. From preparing irrigation, laying pipe, servicing the tractors, trucks and combines, helping with irrigation repairs, cutting wheat and delivering the grain, we have a great group of people helping us. &nbsp; I realized a few days ago this is the first year in a very long time that I do not have a personal helper of my own this summer. Normally I would have a teenage girl helping me with the kids and household chores during the summer months. I called these helpers my “right-hand gals” because the job wasn’t just babysitting. &nbsp; In the past, I’d be able to leave the kids with my helper when I’d need to quickly drive out to a field to shuttle equipment or crew members to another location. Sometimes I would need to drive to another town to get machine parts. It was wonderful to have a helper who I could leave in charge of the house and kids to be able to complete all the necessary and unscheduled tasks associated with summer and harvest. &nbsp; My helper’s main role was to keep the day moving forward whether I was at home with the kids or not. At times, the job would require prepping food or baking cookies for our harvest crew. Sometimes it entailed loading and unloading the dishwasher or the laundry. Sometimes it meant reading books to the kids, making sure they were put down for their scheduled naps or lifeguarding when the kids would take an afternoon dip in our stock tank pool. &nbsp; Having a “right-hand gal” helped keep the kids rested and on a schedule. Summer on the farm and wheat harvest is incredibly exciting to participate in, but it’s also tiring for everyone involved. Between the hot, dry winds constantly blowing, and the long days and nights of work, it’s understandable why adults might — on occasion — get cranky. I’m sure one can imagine how the intense harvest schedule would affect a child if not properly rested!&nbsp; &nbsp; But as in all of life, this year I am reminded that seasons continually change, and my right-hand gals are grown and gone. My son has transitioned to helping more on the farm this summer. He’s now shadowing his daddy and grandpa, helping the men service machines by handing them tools, riding in the combine and helping with irrigation. I no longer fill a sippy cup and strap him into his car seat. Instead, he fills his own water jug daily and is doing his part helping with summer tasks on the farm under the supervision of some pretty patient people. &nbsp; My daughter is now another little helper. She’s transitioned to helping with laundry and baking cookies with her grandma. Now, whenever I have to jump in a vehicle to complete a pressing task, my little assistant is usually with me. Most of the time she’s happy to tag along as long as she has a book or two with her. But sometimes when the day gets tough, the immediate playing of a requested soundtrack and the promise of a frozen drink or popsicle usually helps.&nbsp; Yes, I’ve always been aware and thankful for the wonderful help we have especially during the summer months. This year, I have become acutely more aware of the blessing of helpers — both big and small."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Helpers big and small

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

A little spark can get a fire going – or in this case, it might help get entrepreneurship going. I’m referring to an organization named Spark which serves as a hub for resources to support entrepreneurs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sarah Siders is executive director of Spark.&nbsp;A Kansas State University graduate in social work, she left Manhattan briefly and planned to work overseas but came back a year later.&nbsp;She got married, went to graduate school for clinical social work with the goal of becoming a therapist, and then worked in the mental health department at Fort Riley’s Irwin Army Community Hospital.&nbsp;She and her husband also serve as a co-pastors of a Manhattan-based church, The Well.&nbsp;After nine years in the mental health field, she opened her own business.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;“When I started my own counseling and coaching practice, I found I loved the business side of things,” Sarah said.&nbsp;She joined the organizing team of the 1 Million Cups entrepreneurship organization, worked closely with some of the original founders of the Manhattan co-working space called The Fellow, and wrote for Manhattan Business News.&nbsp;In 2019, colleagues encouraged her to run for Manhattan City Commission, which she did but was not elected.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;“Five days after the election, a member of the organizing team recruited me to help develop a new entrepreneurship nonprofit organization in Manhattan called Spark,” Sarah said.&nbsp;In the first few months, Sarah developed Spark's branding and took the lead on the proposal securing the bulk of Spark's funding.&nbsp;In July 2020, Sarah was selected as executive director and the organization earned 501(c)3 status.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624454890978.png" alt="Siders" />
 <figcaption>Siders</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentA little spark can get a fire going – or in this case, it might help get entrepreneurship going. I’m referring to an organization named Spark which serves as a hub for resources to support entrepreneurs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sarah Siders is executive director of Spark.&nbsp;A Kansas State University graduate in social work, she left Manhattan briefly and planned to work overseas but came back a year later.&nbsp;She got married, went to graduate school for clinical social work with the goal of becoming a therapist, and then worked in the mental health department at Fort Riley’s Irwin Army Community Hospital.&nbsp;She and her husband also serve as a co-pastors of a Manhattan-based church, The Well.&nbsp;After nine years in the mental health field, she opened her own business.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“When I started my own counseling and coaching practice, I found I loved the business side of things,” Sarah said.&nbsp;She joined the organizing team of the 1 Million Cups entrepreneurship organization, worked closely with some of the original founders of the Manhattan co-working space called The Fellow, and wrote for Manhattan Business News.&nbsp;In 2019, colleagues encouraged her to run for Manhattan City Commission, which she did but was not elected.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Five days after the election, a member of the organizing team recruited me to help develop a new entrepreneurship nonprofit organization in Manhattan called Spark,” Sarah said.&nbsp;In the first few months, Sarah developed Spark's branding and took the lead on the proposal securing the bulk of Spark's funding.&nbsp;In July 2020, Sarah was selected as executive director and the organization earned 501(c)3 status.&nbsp;&nbsp;Spark has “a vision to connect, resource, and successfully launch entrepreneurs and promote a dynamic and inclusive culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in the greater Manhattan region.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“We spent the first six months doing a lot of listening to what business groups and resources were already doing,” Sarah said.&nbsp;“Everything we do is through collaboration and partnerships.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Spark is sponsored by Kansas State University Innovation Partners, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Gas Service, and a private donor. It partners with the Small Business Development Center, K-State Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship, Network Kansas, Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills, Pottawatomie County Economic Development, K-State Research and Extension - Riley County, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We want to serve as a hub where entrepreneurs can connect with resources to support them,” Sarah said.&nbsp;She believes everyone has a role. “We are all part of the entrepreneurial network, whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur or business owner, service provider, or buying local,” she said. “That’s why we call it an entrepreneurial ecosystem, we’re all connected.”&nbsp;&nbsp;She encouraged everyone to go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sparkmhk.com/">www.sparkmhk.com</a>&nbsp;for more information and to share resources, contacts and events.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Spark logo is carefully and intentionally designed.&nbsp;“It is all lowercase letters, because a spark starts small,” Sarah said.&nbsp;The logo also has different shades of color.&nbsp;“It starts with the light of a bright idea and progressively moves to the deep dark red of established growth,” she said.&nbsp;“As we go forward, we’ll be targeting industry-specific innovation that our region is uniquely designed to support.”&nbsp;Spark continues to support 1 Million Cups, an area pitch competition called Startup MHK, and is currently offering an entrepreneurship business basics class.&nbsp;“We’re based in Manhattan, but we want to support people across the region,” Sarah said.&nbsp;For example, she told about a business which she had worked with in the rural community of St. Marys, population 2,627 people.&nbsp;Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We need investors to help provide the resources to support entrepreneurs,” Sarah said.&nbsp;“We encourage those who are in the pre-venture or early stages of starting a business to contact us.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We want to tell the story that greater Manhattan is a great place to start and grow a business,” Sarah said.&nbsp;&nbsp;A little spark can get a fire going, and this Spark organization is helping entrepreneurs get going too.&nbsp;We salute Sarah Siders and all those involved with Spark for making a difference with support for small businesses.&nbsp;I hope the results will ignite a flame of entrepreneurship.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Opinion