There are many unsung heroes on our Fort Hays State University campus. One group that fits this description is our admissions staff. On the surface, their jobs look like a lot of fun – meeting prospective Tigers and their families, sharing their love of FHSU, helping them complete all the right paperwork, and then welcoming each student to campus with great joy and enthusiasm. They get to dress in Fort Hays State gear EVERY day and connect with so many people in meaningful ways. They inspire and encourage the hearts of many who feel college is a big scary step. In a way, they are the big sisters and brothers of every on-campus student.

What we often fail to think about is exactly how complex, critical, and time-demanding their jobs are. Our staff really need to “be on” – and authentically on – all of the time. The position demands the ability to relate to diverse student populations and their family members while exhibiting a high level of enthusiasm and creativity.&nbsp;

However, they also need more than finely honed people skills. They manage a lot of paperwork and need to understand university policies and processes, not to mention how to navigate often overwhelming federal financial aid forms. They prioritize complex travel and event schedules, which often require extensive overnight, evening, and weekend work. After a long day of meeting students and their families, the administrative work begins. There are records to update, telephone calls to make, social media posts to draft, and relentless follow-up as each counselor continues to check-in with every student to ensure questions are answered and enthusiasm is built.

Two jobs on a college campus have built-in areas of accountability that are both data-driven and demanding. While it’s not only about the numbers for coaches and admissions staffers, coaches are evaluated on winning and admissions professionals must get students to become Tigers. At the end of the day, I know the desire to win is in the DNA of all of our coaches, and I know how much our admissions team cares about meeting institutional enrollment goals; it is, indeed, a heavy weight to bear for both.

Of course, student recruitment work requires a lot of support from the faculty who will teach and advise the new students, as well as from professional staff who will process financial aid and housing requests, help our new Tigers get acclimated to campus, and fulfill many other support service roles. These village-like efforts reinforce and supplement the work of the admissions staff. Our strong university-wide ethic of care also helps – a lot.&nbsp;

The pandemic has significantly changed how we interact with one another, and I got to wondering about its impact on the daily routines of our admissions staff. Like many of us, our admissions colleagues took to the Internet to communicate and develop strong personal relationships. Personal zoom sessions are becoming standard. Our admissions staff also attends virtual college fairs where they deliver short, powerful presentations to hundreds of students across the state simultaneously. To stand out in this media requires a whole different skill set.

Although some recruiters have placed their cars in park, the FHSU Tiger team is still making high school visits whenever they can. Our admissions staff don masks when visiting the schools and, not surprisingly, are thoughtful in adhering to social distancing measures, personal wellness checks, and sometimes temperature checks. In some cases, the in-class meetings have been replaced with socially distanced presentations in the high school gym – which demands our team to be even more creative and personable.

According to our admissions team, so far, we are experiencing larger crowds and more interest in FHSU. One creative high school counselor found our visit to be the perfect opportunity to gather the entire school, from freshmen to seniors, to listen to our presentation.&nbsp;

Jon Armstrong, director of admissions, shared that we have received great feedback from high school counselors. They are truly grateful that FHSU is willing to travel to them. It is a great time to demonstrate our resilience by doing everything we can to show up – even when it is difficult.

Another great example of that “can-do” attitude is how we have been able to accommodate students who are not able to visit campus. For example, when one student was unable to come to campus, our team created a virtual visit. This particular prospective Tiger was so impressed by everything FHSU had to offer that shortly after she participated in the virtual visit, her completed application arrived in our registrar’s office. The high school counselor also followed up, requesting an FHSU pennant and swag.

Other pandemic-related adjustments we’ve made include converting our larger Tiger Day and Tiger Mania fall and spring events into Tiger Days – which feature multiple campus events with a maximum of 45 guests. This will be more work for our admissions staff, but I know the moment one person steps on this campus, the staff will become so energized, and they will feel the extra effort was worth it. They are always so genuinely happy when parents and students share how thrilled they are to be able to visit the campus. And of course, positive energy feeds positive energy. So, I know the quality, personal attention each student and family receives will be exemplary.&nbsp;

Fall 2021 recruitment is even more challenging than fall 2020. I am so grateful for our hard-working admissions staff who always go the extra mile to make our prospective students and campus visitors always feel welcomed. Thank you, unsung heroes, for your positive, restless spirit. I know you love to promote the power of an FHSU education – no matter what it takes!

<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>There are many unsung heroes on our Fort Hays State University campus. One group that fits this description is our admissions staff. On the surface, their jobs look like a lot of fun – meeting prospective Tigers and their families, sharing their love of FHSU, helping them complete all the right paperwork, and then welcoming each student to campus with great joy and enthusiasm. They get to dress in Fort Hays State gear EVERY day and connect with so many people in meaningful ways. They inspire and encourage the hearts of many who feel college is a big scary step. In a way, they are the big sisters and brothers of every on-campus student.What we often fail to think about is exactly how complex, critical, and time-demanding their jobs are. Our staff really need to “be on” – and authentically on – all of the time. The position demands the ability to relate to diverse student populations and their family members while exhibiting a high level of enthusiasm and creativity.&nbsp;However, they also need more than finely honed people skills. They manage a lot of paperwork and need to understand university policies and processes, not to mention how to navigate often overwhelming federal financial aid forms. They prioritize complex travel and event schedules, which often require extensive overnight, evening, and weekend work. After a long day of meeting students and their families, the administrative work begins. There are records to update, telephone calls to make, social media posts to draft, and relentless follow-up as each counselor continues to check-in with every student to ensure questions are answered and enthusiasm is built.Two jobs on a college campus have built-in areas of accountability that are both data-driven and demanding. While it’s not only about the numbers for coaches and admissions staffers, coaches are evaluated on winning and admissions professionals must get students to become Tigers. At the end of the day, I know the desire to win is in the DNA of all of our coaches, and I know how much our admissions team cares about meeting institutional enrollment goals; it is, indeed, a heavy weight to bear for both.Of course, student recruitment work requires a lot of support from the faculty who will teach and advise the new students, as well as from professional staff who will process financial aid and housing requests, help our new Tigers get acclimated to campus, and fulfill many other support service roles. These village-like efforts reinforce and supplement the work of the admissions staff. Our strong university-wide ethic of care also helps – a lot.&nbsp;The pandemic has significantly changed how we interact with one another, and I got to wondering about its impact on the daily routines of our admissions staff. Like many of us, our admissions colleagues took to the Internet to communicate and develop strong personal relationships. Personal zoom sessions are becoming standard. Our admissions staff also attends virtual college fairs where they deliver short, powerful presentations to hundreds of students across the state simultaneously. To stand out in this media requires a whole different skill set.Although some recruiters have placed their cars in park, the FHSU Tiger team is still making high school visits whenever they can. Our admissions staff don masks when visiting the schools and, not surprisingly, are thoughtful in adhering to social distancing measures, personal wellness checks, and sometimes temperature checks. In some cases, the in-class meetings have been replaced with socially distanced presentations in the high school gym – which demands our team to be even more creative and personable.According to our admissions team, so far, we are experiencing larger crowds and more interest in FHSU. One creative high school counselor found our visit to be the perfect opportunity to gather the entire school, from freshmen to seniors, to listen to our presentation.&nbsp;Jon Armstrong, director of admissions, shared that we have received great feedback from high school counselors. They are truly grateful that FHSU is willing to travel to them. It is a great time to demonstrate our resilience by doing everything we can to show up – even when it is difficult.Another great example of that “can-do” attitude is how we have been able to accommodate students who are not able to visit campus. For example, when one student was unable to come to campus, our team created a virtual visit. This particular prospective Tiger was so impressed by everything FHSU had to offer that shortly after she participated in the virtual visit, her completed application arrived in our registrar’s office. The high school counselor also followed up, requesting an FHSU pennant and swag.Other pandemic-related adjustments we’ve made include converting our larger Tiger Day and Tiger Mania fall and spring events into Tiger Days – which feature multiple campus events with a maximum of 45 guests. This will be more work for our admissions staff, but I know the moment one person steps on this campus, the staff will become so energized, and they will feel the extra effort was worth it. They are always so genuinely happy when parents and students share how thrilled they are to be able to visit the campus. And of course, positive energy feeds positive energy. So, I know the quality, personal attention each student and family receives will be exemplary.&nbsp;Fall 2021 recruitment is even more challenging than fall 2020. I am so grateful for our hard-working admissions staff who always go the extra mile to make our prospective students and campus visitors always feel welcomed. Thank you, unsung heroes, for your positive, restless spirit. I know you love to promote the power of an FHSU education – no matter what it takes!

MASON: FHSU admissions staff still going the extra mile

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

With row crop harvest winding down, it is time to start planning fall herbicide applications. Herbicide applications in late October through November can improve control of difficult winter annual weeds. Fall weed control is associated with warmer soils and easier planting in the spring, however, it is important to remember that fall-applied herbicides may limit your crop options in the spring. Also remember that herbicides should not be applied to frozen ground.

Some of the key herbicides to consider for fall herbicide applications include Autumn Super, Canopy, Spartan or Authority, and Valor for residual activity. For burndown activity, glyphosate, 2,4-D or dicamba are good options to consider. One thing to keep in mind about residual activity from fall herbicide applications is that weather conditions will influence the length of residual control and the weed emergence patterns. So, even though they provide some residual activity, additional spring application pre-emergence herbicides will likely be needed for season-long weed control.

Some of the key weeds to target with fall herbicide applications are marestail, henbit, dandelion, prickly lettuce, pepperweed, field pansy, evening primrose, and recently-emerged cool-season grasses. When higher rates of herbicides are used, some control of early spring-germinating summer annual broadleaf weeds such as kochia, common lambsquarters, wild buckwheat, and Pennsylvania smartweed can be achieved.

Marestail is a problem that merits special attention. Marestail is much easier to control in fall or early spring while it is still in the rosette growth stage. 2,4-D or dicamba can effectively control fall-emerging marestail plants. Sharpen can also be very good on marestail and may provide residual control through spring, but should be tank-mixed with 2,4-D, dicamba, or glyphosate to prevent regrowth. Valor is another product that may provide residual control of marestail. Because many marestail populations are resistant to Group 2 herbicides, ALS-inhibitors like Autumn Super and Canopy may not provide control if applied alone.

The use of trade names is for clarity to readers and does not imply endorsement of a particular product, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. Always consult the herbicide label for the most current use requirements.

Every year K-State Research &amp; Extension has available on-line or printed books that can be picked up at your local or district Extension Offices. <a href="https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/SRP1148.pdf">2020 Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland</a>, K-State publication SRP-1148.

Information provided by Sarah Lancaster and Vipan Kumar, K-State Research &amp; Extension Weed Science Specialist.

Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430, if after hours leave a voice mail for a return call.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604350385143.jpeg" alt="89398124-corn-field-after-the-harvest-with-visible-plant-residues-and-fertile-soil.jpg" />
 <figcaption>89398124-corn-field-after-the-harvest-with-visible-plant-residues-and-fertile-soil.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictWith row crop harvest winding down, it is time to start planning fall herbicide applications. Herbicide applications in late October through November can improve control of difficult winter annual weeds. Fall weed control is associated with warmer soils and easier planting in the spring, however, it is important to remember that fall-applied herbicides may limit your crop options in the spring. Also remember that herbicides should not be applied to frozen ground.Some of the key herbicides to consider for fall herbicide applications include Autumn Super, Canopy, Spartan or Authority, and Valor for residual activity. For burndown activity, glyphosate, 2,4-D or dicamba are good options to consider. One thing to keep in mind about residual activity from fall herbicide applications is that weather conditions will influence the length of residual control and the weed emergence patterns. So, even though they provide some residual activity, additional spring application pre-emergence herbicides will likely be needed for season-long weed control.Some of the key weeds to target with fall herbicide applications are marestail, henbit, dandelion, prickly lettuce, pepperweed, field pansy, evening primrose, and recently-emerged cool-season grasses. When higher rates of herbicides are used, some control of early spring-germinating summer annual broadleaf weeds such as kochia, common lambsquarters, wild buckwheat, and Pennsylvania smartweed can be achieved.Marestail is a problem that merits special attention. Marestail is much easier to control in fall or early spring while it is still in the rosette growth stage. 2,4-D or dicamba can effectively control fall-emerging marestail plants. Sharpen can also be very good on marestail and may provide residual control through spring, but should be tank-mixed with 2,4-D, dicamba, or glyphosate to prevent regrowth. Valor is another product that may provide residual control of marestail. Because many marestail populations are resistant to Group 2 herbicides, ALS-inhibitors like Autumn Super and Canopy may not provide control if applied alone.The use of trade names is for clarity to readers and does not imply endorsement of a particular product, nor does exclusion imply non-approval. Always consult the herbicide label for the most current use requirements.Every year K-State Research &amp; Extension has available on-line or printed books that can be picked up at your local or district Extension Offices. <a href="https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/SRP1148.pdf">2020 Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland</a>, K-State publication SRP-1148.Information provided by Sarah Lancaster and Vipan Kumar, K-State Research &amp; Extension Weed Science Specialist.Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430, if after hours leave a voice mail for a return call.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574181994278.png" alt="Campbell" />
 <figcaption>Campbell</figcaption>
 </figure>

CAMPBELL: Control annual weeds with fall-applied herbicides

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher

Fall harvest has come to a screeching halt for my family. We have had some minor issues that have slowed us down, but those issues are always expected during the marathon known as fall harvest. We began back in August picking corn. Since then, we have transitioned to popcorn followed by soybeans followed by sorghum with wheat sowing sprinkled into the mix starting in late September.  

And now here we are in November. I can always begin to see the light at the end of the proverbial fall harvest tunnel when we start cutting sorghum. Once we move into our sorghum fields, I know we are getting closer to being done with harvest. We are closer to being done eating sandwiches in the field. Closer to putting fewer miles on my vehicle. Closer to having regular grocery bills for a family of four instead of for a harvest crew. Closer to having my husband home at night to help with bedtime routines. Closer to returning to order and normalcy.

When we start harvesting the sorghum, it’s as if a switch is flipped in my mind. It happens every year. For so many months before the sorghum harvest, I try to stay laser focused on the tasks at hand that need to be done on a day-by-day basis. I do what I can to help the crew stay as efficient as possible. I put my head down and keep moving forward while trying to preserve as much of a routine as possible for the kids. But by the time sorghum harvest rolls around, my focus wears off, and I begin envisioning our anticipated “downtime” once harvest wraps up. I am ready to get the crop in and return to normalcy with my family.

However, sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. Case in point — 2020. The recent change of weather has completely shut down our harvest efforts. We were running full-steam ahead, but our late October ice and snow has made it impossible to get the machines into fields. It’s simply too wet. My husband half-jokingly stated we should be done with harvest by Christmas now. 

In the 10 years I’ve been part of this farm, the latest we have ever gone with fall harvest is the day before Thanksgiving. I’d like to aim for the eve of Thanksgiving this year if possible. But I realize we very well could be harvesting into December. Afterall, we still have the sunflower crop to harvest after we get done with the sorghum.

One silver lining to harvest being delayed because of weather is my husband has been home during the evenings. My family has been able to eat warm meals at the kitchen table together. We’ve cuddled on the couch with the kids to enjoy a family movie night. We’ve played board games in the living room before bedtimes. It’s a rare occurrence to have him join us at home in the evenings during fall harvest, but it’s one we truly embrace when we get the sweet opportunity. 

I know this pause in harvest will soon end, and I also know we will eventually get all of the crops out of the fields. Even though it’s less than ideal — and regardless of my desire to get harvest done as soon as possible — there is a possibility that we will harvest clear into late December. I’ll continue to remind myself that whenever we officially finish our fall harvest it will still allow my little farm family some much anticipated normalcy before spring planting begins and another busy season rolls around.

"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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575904358712.png" alt="Kim Baldwin" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher Fall harvest has come to a screeching halt for my family. We have had some minor issues that have slowed us down, but those issues are always expected during the marathon known as fall harvest. We began back in August picking corn. Since then, we have transitioned to popcorn followed by soybeans followed by sorghum with wheat sowing sprinkled into the mix starting in late September. And now here we are in November. I can always begin to see the light at the end of the proverbial fall harvest tunnel when we start cutting sorghum. Once we move into our sorghum fields, I know we are getting closer to being done with harvest. We are closer to being done eating sandwiches in the field. Closer to putting fewer miles on my vehicle. Closer to having regular grocery bills for a family of four instead of for a harvest crew. Closer to having my husband home at night to help with bedtime routines. Closer to returning to order and normalcy.When we start harvesting the sorghum, it’s as if a switch is flipped in my mind. It happens every year. For so many months before the sorghum harvest, I try to stay laser focused on the tasks at hand that need to be done on a day-by-day basis. I do what I can to help the crew stay as efficient as possible. I put my head down and keep moving forward while trying to preserve as much of a routine as possible for the kids. But by the time sorghum harvest rolls around, my focus wears off, and I begin envisioning our anticipated “downtime” once harvest wraps up. I am ready to get the crop in and return to normalcy with my family.However, sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. Case in point — 2020. The recent change of weather has completely shut down our harvest efforts. We were running full-steam ahead, but our late October ice and snow has made it impossible to get the machines into fields. It’s simply too wet. My husband half-jokingly stated we should be done with harvest by Christmas now. Wait, what?In the 10 years I’ve been part of this farm, the latest we have ever gone with fall harvest is the day before Thanksgiving. I’d like to aim for the eve of Thanksgiving this year if possible. But I realize we very well could be harvesting into December. Afterall, we still have the sunflower crop to harvest after we get done with the sorghum.One silver lining to harvest being delayed because of weather is my husband has been home during the evenings. My family has been able to eat warm meals at the kitchen table together. We’ve cuddled on the couch with the kids to enjoy a family movie night. We’ve played board games in the living room before bedtimes. It’s a rare occurrence to have him join us at home in the evenings during fall harvest, but it’s one we truly embrace when we get the sweet opportunity. I know this pause in harvest will soon end, and I also know we will eventually get all of the crops out of the fields. Even though it’s less than ideal — and regardless of my desire to get harvest done as soon as possible — there is a possibility that we will harvest clear into late December. I’ll continue to remind myself that whenever we officially finish our fall harvest it will still allow my little farm family some much anticipated normalcy before spring planting begins and another busy season rolls around."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.

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Anticipating normalcy

Catching rainbow trout in Kansas seems like an oxymoron; sort of like polar bear hunting in West Virginia or whale watching at Yellowstone Lake. Kansas is known for its walleye, crappie and catfish, but trout?

&nbsp;Wildlife and fisheries programs here in KS are funded largely by revenue from license sales that comes back to the state from the federal government. That money is reallocated back to Kansas according to the number of hunting and fishing licenses sold each year, so the more licenses sold, the more money we get back. In the 1990’s, Kansas began a trout stocking program as a way to generate more fishing license sales in the off-season, and as a way to create more fishing opportunities during the fall and winter.&nbsp;

I spoke with Jeff Conley, Fisheries Program Specialist with the KS Dept of Wildlife Parks and Tourism KDWPT) who oversees the trout stocking program. This year there will be 32 lakes and water impoundments across Kansas stocked with trout. Fifteen of those are private lakes owned by towns or cities that are enrolled in the Community Fisheries Assistance Program (CFAP), meaning they purchase their own fish, but allow the KDWPT to manage the lakes. The rest of the lakes and reservoirs stocked with trout are state owned and operated.&nbsp;

Although KDWPT operates 5 fish hatcheries here in Kansas, none are equipped to hatch and raise trout, which are especially sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, water quality etc., so it’s more cost effective to purchase trout from commercial hatcheries for the stocking program. This year, a Colorado hatchery will supply all trout for the western half of the state, trout for the south central and south eastern portions of the state will come from a hatchery in Missouri, and a hatchery in Nebraska will supply trout for the northern and north central portions of Kansas. &nbsp;

Rainbow trout are the easiest and least expensive trout for hatcheries to raise, making them also the least expensive to buy, plus they tolerate warm temperatures better than other trout, so this year all trout stocked here in KS will be rainbows. Water in the seep stream below Kanopolis reservoir comes from the bottom of the reservoir, and the lakes and ponds that make up the mined land area in eastern KS are old strip mine pits that are very deep, so the water in those impoundments is very cold.&nbsp; Trout in most locations are not expected to live through the hot Kansas summers, but trout in those 2 locations often survive.&nbsp;

All locations are stocked twice a month from November through March; waters in the southwestern region are stocked November through April. A complete stocking schedule can be found on the KDWPT website, <a href="http://www.ksoutdoors.com">www.ksoutdoors.com</a>. Click on “fishing” at the top, then click “special fishing programs” on the left. The “trout program” will appear in a box toward the center of the screen. All available information on the trout fishing and stocking program is available there including license and permit requirements which vary from region to region.&nbsp;

Over the past 10 years, nearly 1.7 million trout (about 3.7 million pounds) have been stocked in Kansas lakes through the program; that averages out to be over 150,000 per year. This year alone, over 95,000 trout (more than 56.000 pounds) will be stocked in the 17 state owned lakes alone. The lakes enrolled in the Communities Fisheries Assistance Program purchase their own fish, so the total number of trout stocked in those 15 lakes is unknown. The state record rainbow trout weighted 15.72 pounds, was 28.5 inches long and was caught in Kill Creek Park Lake in Johnson Co. in February, 2014 by Josh McCullough from Spring Hill, KS.&nbsp;

I know fishermen who do not keep any of the trout they catch because they deem them to be less desirable fish, and yes, compared to walleye and crappie, which is kinda’ like comparing a Volkswagen to a Cadillac, I would agree. But trout is a very mild tasting fish that actually contains higher than average amounts of good Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin B12. Trout is also known to help reduce bad cholesterol and to help lower high blood pressure.

I don’t ever order trout in a restaurant because it always comes with the head still attached and I’m not real crazy about my meal looking back at me. However, trout can be filleted just like any other fish, and can be battered and pan fried or deep fried just like catfish, or can be basted with herb butter and baked. The way I see it, I have now officially removed all excuses for not fishing here in Kansas this winter. So, check out the website for trout stocked near you, purchase a 365-day trout stamp for $14.50, then grab a kid and enjoy some great fall and winter trout fishing as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Catching rainbow trout in Kansas seems like an oxymoron; sort of like polar bear hunting in West Virginia or whale watching at Yellowstone Lake. Kansas is known for its walleye, crappie and catfish, but trout?&nbsp;Wildlife and fisheries programs here in KS are funded largely by revenue from license sales that comes back to the state from the federal government. That money is reallocated back to Kansas according to the number of hunting and fishing licenses sold each year, so the more licenses sold, the more money we get back. In the 1990’s, Kansas began a trout stocking program as a way to generate more fishing license sales in the off-season, and as a way to create more fishing opportunities during the fall and winter.&nbsp;I spoke with Jeff Conley, Fisheries Program Specialist with the KS Dept of Wildlife Parks and Tourism KDWPT) who oversees the trout stocking program. This year there will be 32 lakes and water impoundments across Kansas stocked with trout. Fifteen of those are private lakes owned by towns or cities that are enrolled in the Community Fisheries Assistance Program (CFAP), meaning they purchase their own fish, but allow the KDWPT to manage the lakes. The rest of the lakes and reservoirs stocked with trout are state owned and operated.&nbsp;Although KDWPT operates 5 fish hatcheries here in Kansas, none are equipped to hatch and raise trout, which are especially sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, water quality etc., so it’s more cost effective to purchase trout from commercial hatcheries for the stocking program. This year, a Colorado hatchery will supply all trout for the western half of the state, trout for the south central and south eastern portions of the state will come from a hatchery in Missouri, and a hatchery in Nebraska will supply trout for the northern and north central portions of Kansas. &nbsp;Rainbow trout are the easiest and least expensive trout for hatcheries to raise, making them also the least expensive to buy, plus they tolerate warm temperatures better than other trout, so this year all trout stocked here in KS will be rainbows. Water in the seep stream below Kanopolis reservoir comes from the bottom of the reservoir, and the lakes and ponds that make up the mined land area in eastern KS are old strip mine pits that are very deep, so the water in those impoundments is very cold.&nbsp; Trout in most locations are not expected to live through the hot Kansas summers, but trout in those 2 locations often survive.&nbsp;All locations are stocked twice a month from November through March; waters in the southwestern region are stocked November through April. A complete stocking schedule can be found on the KDWPT website, <a href="http://www.ksoutdoors.com">www.ksoutdoors.com</a>. Click on “fishing” at the top, then click “special fishing programs” on the left. The “trout program” will appear in a box toward the center of the screen. All available information on the trout fishing and stocking program is available there including license and permit requirements which vary from region to region.&nbsp;Over the past 10 years, nearly 1.7 million trout (about 3.7 million pounds) have been stocked in Kansas lakes through the program; that averages out to be over 150,000 per year. This year alone, over 95,000 trout (more than 56.000 pounds) will be stocked in the 17 state owned lakes alone. The lakes enrolled in the Communities Fisheries Assistance Program purchase their own fish, so the total number of trout stocked in those 15 lakes is unknown. The state record rainbow trout weighted 15.72 pounds, was 28.5 inches long and was caught in Kill Creek Park Lake in Johnson Co. in February, 2014 by Josh McCullough from Spring Hill, KS.&nbsp;I know fishermen who do not keep any of the trout they catch because they deem them to be less desirable fish, and yes, compared to walleye and crappie, which is kinda’ like comparing a Volkswagen to a Cadillac, I would agree. But trout is a very mild tasting fish that actually contains higher than average amounts of good Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin B12. Trout is also known to help reduce bad cholesterol and to help lower high blood pressure.I don’t ever order trout in a restaurant because it always comes with the head still attached and I’m not real crazy about my meal looking back at me. However, trout can be filleted just like any other fish, and can be battered and pan fried or deep fried just like catfish, or can be basted with herb butter and baked. The way I see it, I have now officially removed all excuses for not fishing here in Kansas this winter. So, check out the website for trout stocked near you, purchase a 365-day trout stamp for $14.50, then grab a kid and enjoy some great fall and winter trout fishing as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Trout fishing in Kansas … seriously?

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

“Some people want to tear old buildings down. We want to build old buildings up.” That statement from the chair of the Lecompton PRIDE program, Greg Howard, symbolizes the vibrant spirit of this community.&nbsp;

In 2020, Kansas PRIDE is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding. This is another in our series highlighting Kansas PRIDE communities.&nbsp;

Kansas PRIDE is a partnership of K-State Research and Extension, the Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Masons, and Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Through the program, local volunteers identify their community’s priorities and then work with the resources of these partners to create their ideal community future.&nbsp;

Lecompton is one example. “We’re just a group of volunteers that come together for the community,” Greg said. He works at the post office in Lawrence and is a longtime Lecompton resident who served on the local school board for 20 years.&nbsp;

A focal point of the Lecompton PRIDE program is the former high school building. “The city almost sold it to an outside group for a dollar,” Greg said. “We told them the PRIDE group would want to have it available for a community center.”&nbsp;

Despite some skepticism, Lecompton PRIDE took over the building. That turned out to be an excellent move.&nbsp;

The PRIDE group replaced windows, put in new flooring where needed, and restored the third-floor theater. That space now looks like a 1920s theater, complete with red velvet curtains and improved seating. The building has its original marble terrazzo floors. The theater hosts plays written by local artists, dance recitals, and more.&nbsp;

“The building is very heavily used,” Greg said. In a typical year, it hosts youth dance classes, heart-healthy exercise, Zumba and yoga classes. Other gatherings include a Monday morning coffee group, Weight Watchers, and sewing and craft groups.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I’d be glad to give anyone a tour,” Greg said.&nbsp;

As befits a former school, the building is also the site of the Lecompton branch of the Perry-Lecompton library. A local church operates a clothes closet in the building. The PRIDE group also added a gazebo outside. After the pandemic hit in early spring, Lecompton PRIDE hosted a socially distanced, outdoor, live-band concert.&nbsp;

An annual rummage sale is a major fundraiser for the group. PRIDE members gather donated items during the year and then offer those items for sale in the spring. “We offer quality but inexpensively priced items,” Greg said. This benefits families and raises several thousand dollars annually for Lecompton PRIDE.&nbsp;

The organization also hosts bingo, a chili feed, and a fish fry. “The support of the community has been phenomenal,” Greg said.&nbsp;

The activities of Lecompton PRIDE extend beyond the walls of the building. The local PRIDE committee supports Territorial Days, the local community celebration, and Perry-Lecompton school tailgates, plus an Easter egg hunt, and Christmas in Lecompton.&nbsp;&nbsp;They also put flags on downtown utility poles.&nbsp;

These activities have earned Lecompton PRIDE the Community of Excellence award from the state PRIDE organization – not once or twice, but six years in a row.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The backing of the community and the area have been incredible,” Greg said. “Our motto is: Don’t just reside in your community, live in it!”&nbsp;

It’s a fitting motto for a rural community such as Lecompton, population 625. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

Jaime Menon and Jan Steen are co-coordinators of the Kansas PRIDE Program for K-State Research and Extension. “Lecompton PRIDE has done an amazing job transforming their former school building into a community center which offers so much for their community,” Jaime said. “Through the community center and other projects, Lecompton PRIDE continues to work hard to give the residents of their community the opportunity to stay engaged and connected.”&nbsp;

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lecomptoncommunitypride.com/">www.lecomptoncommunitypride.com</a>&nbsp;or<a href="http://www.kansasprideprogram.ksu.edu/">www.kansasprideprogram.ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;

“Some people want to tear old buildings down,” Greg said. “We want to build them up.”&nbsp;

We commend Greg Howard and all the volunteers of the Lecompton PRIDE program for making a difference with their spirit and commitment. They’re not just saving a building; they are building their community.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604498988752.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“Some people want to tear old buildings down. We want to build old buildings up.” That statement from the chair of the Lecompton PRIDE program, Greg Howard, symbolizes the vibrant spirit of this community.&nbsp;In 2020, Kansas PRIDE is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding. This is another in our series highlighting Kansas PRIDE communities.&nbsp;Kansas PRIDE is a partnership of K-State Research and Extension, the Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Masons, and Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Through the program, local volunteers identify their community’s priorities and then work with the resources of these partners to create their ideal community future.&nbsp;Lecompton is one example. “We’re just a group of volunteers that come together for the community,” Greg said. He works at the post office in Lawrence and is a longtime Lecompton resident who served on the local school board for 20 years.&nbsp;A focal point of the Lecompton PRIDE program is the former high school building. “The city almost sold it to an outside group for a dollar,” Greg said. “We told them the PRIDE group would want to have it available for a community center.”&nbsp;Despite some skepticism, Lecompton PRIDE took over the building. That turned out to be an excellent move.&nbsp;The PRIDE group replaced windows, put in new flooring where needed, and restored the third-floor theater. That space now looks like a 1920s theater, complete with red velvet curtains and improved seating. The building has its original marble terrazzo floors. The theater hosts plays written by local artists, dance recitals, and more.&nbsp;“The building is very heavily used,” Greg said. In a typical year, it hosts youth dance classes, heart-healthy exercise, Zumba and yoga classes. Other gatherings include a Monday morning coffee group, Weight Watchers, and sewing and craft groups.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I’d be glad to give anyone a tour,” Greg said.&nbsp;As befits a former school, the building is also the site of the Lecompton branch of the Perry-Lecompton library. A local church operates a clothes closet in the building. The PRIDE group also added a gazebo outside. After the pandemic hit in early spring, Lecompton PRIDE hosted a socially distanced, outdoor, live-band concert.&nbsp;An annual rummage sale is a major fundraiser for the group. PRIDE members gather donated items during the year and then offer those items for sale in the spring. “We offer quality but inexpensively priced items,” Greg said. This benefits families and raises several thousand dollars annually for Lecompton PRIDE.&nbsp;The organization also hosts bingo, a chili feed, and a fish fry. “The support of the community has been phenomenal,” Greg said.&nbsp;The activities of Lecompton PRIDE extend beyond the walls of the building. The local PRIDE committee supports Territorial Days, the local community celebration, and Perry-Lecompton school tailgates, plus an Easter egg hunt, and Christmas in Lecompton.&nbsp;&nbsp;They also put flags on downtown utility poles.&nbsp;These activities have earned Lecompton PRIDE the Community of Excellence award from the state PRIDE organization – not once or twice, but six years in a row.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The backing of the community and the area have been incredible,” Greg said. “Our motto is: Don’t just reside in your community, live in it!”&nbsp;It’s a fitting motto for a rural community such as Lecompton, population 625. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;Jaime Menon and Jan Steen are co-coordinators of the Kansas PRIDE Program for K-State Research and Extension. “Lecompton PRIDE has done an amazing job transforming their former school building into a community center which offers so much for their community,” Jaime said. “Through the community center and other projects, Lecompton PRIDE continues to work hard to give the residents of their community the opportunity to stay engaged and connected.”&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lecomptoncommunitypride.com/">www.lecomptoncommunitypride.com</a>&nbsp;or<a href="http://www.kansasprideprogram.ksu.edu/">www.kansasprideprogram.ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;“Some people want to tear old buildings down,” Greg said. “We want to build them up.”&nbsp;We commend Greg Howard and all the volunteers of the Lecompton PRIDE program for making a difference with their spirit and commitment. They’re not just saving a building; they are building their community.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Greg Howard, Lecompton PRIDE 

During this unprecedented year, it is only natural that we should face an unprecedented election.

It is the first in most of
 our lifetimes to occur during a pandemic, and one in which an 
unprecedented number of Kansas and nationwide voters will cast mail-in 
ballots. While we are accustomed to watching the results roll in on 
election night, this time, it may take days — possibly even weeks — to 
determine a winner.

We all should be OK with that. Accessibility and accuracy are far more important during a close election than immediate results.

As of Monday, the Kansas 
Secretary of State had mailed 508,187 advance ballots. That’s more than 
two and a half times the number of mail-in ballots sent to voters in 
2016, a positive response by responsible county election officials in 
the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Secretary of State’s 
office predicted 70% of the state’s 1.9 million eligible voters will 
cast ballots in Tuesday’s general election.

Even before the pandemic, 
voting by mail was becoming more common nationwide, but it is more 
popular than ever this year because it provides a safe, secure and 
convenient way to cast a ballot.

When the pandemic started,
 34 states including Kansas had laws permitting all eligible voters to 
cast their ballots by mail in November — leaving 16 that did not. The 
ACLU<a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/voting-rights/let-people-vote-our-fight-for-your-right-to-vote-during-2020/"> sued</a>
 and helped ensure that five of these 16 states — Missouri, Alabama, 
Connecticut, Kentucky and South Carolina — expanded vote-by-mail 
eligibility to all voters for the general election.

It is a good thing that vote by mail has become more accessible — all eligible
 voters should have this option, pandemic or not. Still, more mail-in 
ballots means more time spent counting, because these ballots take 
longer to process. While Kansas is again leading on this issue, being 
one of 17 states that permits pre-Election Day processing of mail-in 
ballots, other states do not begin this process until the polls close on
 Election Day. This means we may not have a winner on election night. 
Again, this is not a bad thing. A lag in results is an indication the 
process is working as intended. Every vote must count.

That does not mean media 
pundits or even the candidates themselves will not preemptively declare 
victory. But just because someone says they are the winner doesn’t make 
it true. Any results reported on election night will be based 
disproportionately on votes cast in person, as mail-in votes continue to
 be counted. And there’s a distinct partisan divide based on voting 
method: A <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/08/americans-expectations-about-voting-in-2020-presidential-election-are-colored-by-partisan-differences/">Pew Research survey</a>
 found that 17% of Trump supporters prefer to vote by mail compared to 
58% of Biden supporters. Results based on in-person votes will 
inevitably skew along partisan lines. One candidate could easily win the
 majority of in-person votes, but could ultimately lose once all mail-in
 ballots are counted. And remember: Voters, not candidates or pundits, 
decide the winner.

Announcing a winner too soon is not just likely to be inaccurate, it is potentially dangerous.

Conflicting election 
result reports could undermine election integrity and chip away at voter
 trust. We must temper our expectations and prepare for many days, 
possibly even weeks, before a winner is announced. While it is not 
typically reflected in the nonstop metabolism of our news cycle, 
patience is a democratic virtue.

It takes more time to 
process mail-in ballots, for mundane reasons such as taking the ballots 
out of envelopes, and to apply security protocols to verify each mail-in
 ballot, just as ballots cast in person are also subject to 
verification. Ensuring security and accuracy means more time.

We may also see delays at 
the polls, which will have their own pandemic-related adjustments to 
keep voters and poll workers safe. These safety measures should be 
commended and supported. Despite those 500,000-plus mail-in ballots 
already sent out and more than 318,000 votes already cast in person in 
Kansas, we also are expecting high turnout numbers in Kansas and across 
the nation. This is a good thing: Our democracy is strongest when all 
voices are heard. But taking necessary safety precautions and counting 
every vote may mean delays in official results.

While some delays are 
inevitable, there are ways we can help the process run more smoothly. 
All voters, whether voting in person or by mail, <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/01/election-day-game-plan-paramount-for-kansas-voters-amid-pandemic-record-turnout/">should have a voting plan</a>.
 We can mentally prepare ourselves for a long wait in declaring the 
winner so we know to dismiss any premature claims of victory. It is 
important to remember that we, the people of Kansas, have the power, and
 the more of us who vote, the more sound our democratic process.

The goal of any democratic
 election is to represent the will of the people, and to achieve that 
goal, we must count every single vote. Every Kansas voter’s voice 
deserves to be heard. We should prepare for an extended election process
 to make sure that happens.

Nadine Johnson is the executive director of the ACLU of Kansas. Prior to joining the ACLU in June 2019, Nadine worked at Google in Los Angeles, where she handled strategic operations and community engagement.

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/02/kansans-should-prepare-for-an-extended-election-process-to-make-sure-every-vote-counts/">Republished courtesy the Kansas Reflector</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604354443262.png" alt="While we are accustomed to watching the results roll in on election night, this time, it may take days — possibly even weeks — to determine a winner. We all should be OK with that, writes Nadine Johnson of the ACLU of Kansas. (File photo by Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>While we are accustomed to watching the results roll in on election night, this time, it may take days — possibly even weeks — to determine a winner. We all should be OK with that, writes Nadine Johnson of the ACLU of Kansas. (File photo by Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NADINE JOHNSON ACLU KansasDuring this unprecedented year, it is only natural that we should face an unprecedented election.It is the first in most of
 our lifetimes to occur during a pandemic, and one in which an 
unprecedented number of Kansas and nationwide voters will cast mail-in 
ballots. While we are accustomed to watching the results roll in on 
election night, this time, it may take days — possibly even weeks — to 
determine a winner.We all should be OK with that. Accessibility and accuracy are far more important during a close election than immediate results.As of Monday, the Kansas 
Secretary of State had mailed 508,187 advance ballots. That’s more than 
two and a half times the number of mail-in ballots sent to voters in 
2016, a positive response by responsible county election officials in 
the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.The Secretary of State’s 
office predicted 70% of the state’s 1.9 million eligible voters will 
cast ballots in Tuesday’s general election.Even before the pandemic, 
voting by mail was becoming more common nationwide, but it is more 
popular than ever this year because it provides a safe, secure and 
convenient way to cast a ballot.When the pandemic started,
 34 states including Kansas had laws permitting all eligible voters to 
cast their ballots by mail in November — leaving 16 that did not. The 
ACLU<a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/voting-rights/let-people-vote-our-fight-for-your-right-to-vote-during-2020/"> sued</a>
 and helped ensure that five of these 16 states — Missouri, Alabama, 
Connecticut, Kentucky and South Carolina — expanded vote-by-mail 
eligibility to all voters for the general election.It is a good thing that vote by mail has become more accessible — all eligible
 voters should have this option, pandemic or not. Still, more mail-in 
ballots means more time spent counting, because these ballots take 
longer to process. While Kansas is again leading on this issue, being 
one of 17 states that permits pre-Election Day processing of mail-in 
ballots, other states do not begin this process until the polls close on
 Election Day. This means we may not have a winner on election night. 
Again, this is not a bad thing. A lag in results is an indication the 
process is working as intended. Every vote must count.That does not mean media 
pundits or even the candidates themselves will not preemptively declare 
victory. But just because someone says they are the winner doesn’t make 
it true. Any results reported on election night will be based 
disproportionately on votes cast in person, as mail-in votes continue to
 be counted. And there’s a distinct partisan divide based on voting 
method: A <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/08/americans-expectations-about-voting-in-2020-presidential-election-are-colored-by-partisan-differences/">Pew Research survey</a>
 found that 17% of Trump supporters prefer to vote by mail compared to 
58% of Biden supporters. Results based on in-person votes will 
inevitably skew along partisan lines. One candidate could easily win the
 majority of in-person votes, but could ultimately lose once all mail-in
 ballots are counted. And remember: Voters, not candidates or pundits, 
decide the winner.Announcing a winner too soon is not just likely to be inaccurate, it is potentially dangerous.Conflicting election 
result reports could undermine election integrity and chip away at voter
 trust. We must temper our expectations and prepare for many days, 
possibly even weeks, before a winner is announced. While it is not 
typically reflected in the nonstop metabolism of our news cycle, 
patience is a democratic virtue.It takes more time to 
process mail-in ballots, for mundane reasons such as taking the ballots 
out of envelopes, and to apply security protocols to verify each mail-in
 ballot, just as ballots cast in person are also subject to 
verification. Ensuring security and accuracy means more time.We may also see delays at 
the polls, which will have their own pandemic-related adjustments to 
keep voters and poll workers safe. These safety measures should be 
commended and supported. Despite those 500,000-plus mail-in ballots 
already sent out and more than 318,000 votes already cast in person in 
Kansas, we also are expecting high turnout numbers in Kansas and across 
the nation. This is a good thing: Our democracy is strongest when all 
voices are heard. But taking necessary safety precautions and counting 
every vote may mean delays in official results.While some delays are 
inevitable, there are ways we can help the process run more smoothly. 
All voters, whether voting in person or by mail, <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/01/election-day-game-plan-paramount-for-kansas-voters-amid-pandemic-record-turnout/">should have a voting plan</a>.
 We can mentally prepare ourselves for a long wait in declaring the 
winner so we know to dismiss any premature claims of victory. It is 
important to remember that we, the people of Kansas, have the power, and
 the more of us who vote, the more sound our democratic process.The goal of any democratic
 election is to represent the will of the people, and to achieve that 
goal, we must count every single vote. Every Kansas voter’s voice 
deserves to be heard. We should prepare for an extended election process
 to make sure that happens.Nadine Johnson is the executive director of the ACLU of Kansas. Prior to joining the ACLU in June 2019, Nadine worked at Google in Los Angeles, where she handled strategic operations and community engagement.<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/02/kansans-should-prepare-for-an-extended-election-process-to-make-sure-every-vote-counts/">Republished courtesy the Kansas Reflector</a>

OPINION: Kansans should prepare for an extended election process

Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson dropped another half dollar on Friday and to end the month at $26 a barrel. That's four dollars less than a week ago, and twenty dollars less than a year ago. The average price for the month of October was $29.69 a barrel, compared to $29.84 in September and over $47 in October of 2019. Volatility on the futures markets sent prices for West Texas Intermediate crude up and down Monday following a ten-percent weekly drop last week, the biggest since April. Prices on Friday fell to their lowest levels in five months. By midday, Monday the near-month Nymex contract was up 39 cents to $36.18 per barrel. London Brent gained 41 cents at $38.35. U.S. crude production rebounded last week to reach its highest level since the end of July. Weekly production dropped below 10 million barrels two weeks ago, but last week topped 11 million, an increase of more than 1.2 million barrels per day. The Energy Information Administration reports U.S. crude-oil inventories increased more than four million barrels last week. Stockpiles are now about nine percent above the five-year seasonal average. The government reports weekly crude imports to the United States were up half a million barrels last week to 5.7 million barrels per day. The four-week average is 13% below the same period last year. The Kansas Corporation Commission reported a slight increase in the number of intent-to-drill notices filed across the state. October's tally of 75 intents is the highest since December. That's 468 so far this year, a little over one-fourth of the total through October of last year. There are five new intent-notices in Barton County, one in Ellis County and two in Stafford County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports seven active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, which is up two for the week, and nine west of Wichita, which is down one. Drillers reached total depth on a well in Ellis County last week, and will soon spud a new well in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reported a total national rig count of 296, noting an increase of ten oil rigs, eight of them in Texas and two in New Mexico. A dry hole in Stafford County was among ten newly-completed wells in Kansas last week, four in eastern Kansas and six west of Wichita. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says there are 704 new completions so far this year compared to more than 1,000 up to this point last year. Kansas regulators approved permits for drilling at 28 new locations last week, 19 east of Wichita, nine of them in the western half of the state, including one in Ellis County. So far this year there are 386 new drilling permits across the state, down from nearly 15-hundred a year ago. The government says gasoline demand has dropped to its lowest level since mid-June, and Triple-A says that's good news for motorists. The national average pump price drops to $2.14 [["two fourteen"]] a gallon. Kansas prices are down a cent and a half from a week ago, four cents from a month ago and forty cents from a year ago.&nbsp; We spotted $1.89 at several outlets in Hays, while prices remained at $1.99 across Great Bend. You'll says more than five dollars on your 15-gallon fill-up compared to a year ago. Oil-by-rail traffic in the U.S. is down nearly 22% from a year ago. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,169 tanker cars hauling petroleum for the week ending October 24, down nearly 10,000 cars from the week before. Canada's oil-by-rail traffic is down more than 28% year over year. Exxon Mobil Corp. will slash its global workforce by 15% over the next two years. Bloomberg reports the cuts will include 1,900 U.S. jobs, mostly in Houston, as well as an undisclosed number of positions around the world, up to a total of about 14,000 people. The world's four largest oil companies have announced plans to cut nearly 40,000 jobs between them in response to the demand slump brought on by the pandemic. Canada's Suncor Energy is hoping to sell several of its oil and gas fields in the North Sea. Bloomberg says the company could reap half a billion dollars in the planned sales. After a slow start to the year as the coronavirus crisis disrupted plans across the industry, asset-sale activity in the North Sea has picked up in the second half.&nbsp; Reuters reports that struggling oil and gas companies in the Canadian province of Alberta will get a three-year break on municipal property taxes for land where they are drilling wells or building pipelines. The provincial government last week said it would also lower property tax assessments on less-productive wells and eliminate a provincial tax on drills.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARKansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson dropped another half dollar on Friday and to end the month at $26 a barrel. That's four dollars less than a week ago, and twenty dollars less than a year ago. The average price for the month of October was $29.69 a barrel, compared to $29.84 in September and over $47 in October of 2019. Volatility on the futures markets sent prices for West Texas Intermediate crude up and down Monday following a ten-percent weekly drop last week, the biggest since April. Prices on Friday fell to their lowest levels in five months. By midday, Monday the near-month Nymex contract was up 39 cents to $36.18 per barrel. London Brent gained 41 cents at $38.35. U.S. crude production rebounded last week to reach its highest level since the end of July. Weekly production dropped below 10 million barrels two weeks ago, but last week topped 11 million, an increase of more than 1.2 million barrels per day. The Energy Information Administration reports U.S. crude-oil inventories increased more than four million barrels last week. Stockpiles are now about nine percent above the five-year seasonal average. The government reports weekly crude imports to the United States were up half a million barrels last week to 5.7 million barrels per day. The four-week average is 13% below the same period last year. The Kansas Corporation Commission reported a slight increase in the number of intent-to-drill notices filed across the state. October's tally of 75 intents is the highest since December. That's 468 so far this year, a little over one-fourth of the total through October of last year. There are five new intent-notices in Barton County, one in Ellis County and two in Stafford County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports seven active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, which is up two for the week, and nine west of Wichita, which is down one. Drillers reached total depth on a well in Ellis County last week, and will soon spud a new well in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reported a total national rig count of 296, noting an increase of ten oil rigs, eight of them in Texas and two in New Mexico. A dry hole in Stafford County was among ten newly-completed wells in Kansas last week, four in eastern Kansas and six west of Wichita. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says there are 704 new completions so far this year compared to more than 1,000 up to this point last year. Kansas regulators approved permits for drilling at 28 new locations last week, 19 east of Wichita, nine of them in the western half of the state, including one in Ellis County. So far this year there are 386 new drilling permits across the state, down from nearly 15-hundred a year ago. The government says gasoline demand has dropped to its lowest level since mid-June, and Triple-A says that's good news for motorists. The national average pump price drops to $2.14 [["two fourteen"]] a gallon. Kansas prices are down a cent and a half from a week ago, four cents from a month ago and forty cents from a year ago.&nbsp; We spotted $1.89 at several outlets in Hays, while prices remained at $1.99 across Great Bend. You'll says more than five dollars on your 15-gallon fill-up compared to a year ago. Oil-by-rail traffic in the U.S. is down nearly 22% from a year ago. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,169 tanker cars hauling petroleum for the week ending October 24, down nearly 10,000 cars from the week before. Canada's oil-by-rail traffic is down more than 28% year over year. Exxon Mobil Corp. will slash its global workforce by 15% over the next two years. Bloomberg reports the cuts will include 1,900 U.S. jobs, mostly in Houston, as well as an undisclosed number of positions around the world, up to a total of about 14,000 people. The world's four largest oil companies have announced plans to cut nearly 40,000 jobs between them in response to the demand slump brought on by the pandemic. Canada's Suncor Energy is hoping to sell several of its oil and gas fields in the North Sea. Bloomberg says the company could reap half a billion dollars in the planned sales. After a slow start to the year as the coronavirus crisis disrupted plans across the industry, asset-sale activity in the North Sea has picked up in the second half.&nbsp; Reuters reports that struggling oil and gas companies in the Canadian province of Alberta will get a three-year break on municipal property taxes for land where they are drilling wells or building pipelines. The provincial government last week said it would also lower property tax assessments on less-productive wells and eliminate a provincial tax on drills.

News From the Oil Patch: U.S. production way up, prices way down

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” That quote attributed to Sir Winston Churchill might be a good way of describing Randy Bunnel and the many other selfless volunteers who support our rural communities. Randy’s community service earned him a nomination as an Ag Hero for the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s 2020 Ag Growth Summit.&nbsp;

Randy Bunnel grew up on a farm in southern Anderson County. He earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural education at K-State and a master’s degree a year later. He also met his wife Betsy who was majoring in elementary education. They moved back to his family farm.&nbsp;

“She started teaching, and I started farming,” Randy said. He and Betsy got involved with the Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Committee. Today, Betsy is a reading recovery teacher and half-time assistant principal at the school in Garnett.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

As a third-generation farmer, Randy oversees the Bunnel farming operation, which now includes row crops of corn, wheat, soybeans and putting up hay for his 75-head cow-calf herd. The nomination form for Randy said, “His farming is a 365-day per year calling for him.”&nbsp;

Randy’s farm is located three miles south of the rural community of Welda, population 129 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

Rural communities, by their nature, do not have big-city budgets. They depend on the work of volunteers. Those volunteers may serve on the fire department, work as township trustees, assist with church functions, volunteer with the PRIDE committee, maintain the country cemetery, or otherwise provide valuable service to their neighbors and their community – often with minimal or no compensation whatsoever.&nbsp;

Randy Bunnel recognized the importance of such volunteer service. His father had served on a couple of boards, and Randy followed that example.&nbsp;

Randy now serves on the 4 Rivers Rural Electric Co-op board of directors. He has completed courses for National Rural Electric Cooperative Association certification of Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership and the Director Gold Credential. He is on the board of the Anderson County Rural Water District No. 5, Anderson County Farm Bureau, Anderson County Soil Conservation Service Committee and faithfully attends Iola First Christian Church.&nbsp;

Randy knows the challenges of rural areas firsthand. “For one thing, we need better internet service in rural areas,” he said. Other services are important as well.&nbsp;

“Almost 20 years ago, our local fire station (volunteer team) was down to two or three members,” Randy said. Of course, those fire stations are vital for the protection of families and homes, and it is essential that they be fully staffed when needed.&nbsp;

“The assistant fire chief asked me to join, so I signed up,” Randy said. “My wife asked me why, and I said, ‘Somebody’s got to do it.’” That willingness to help would become a hallmark of his ongoing activities.&nbsp;

He was later elected as assistant chief. In 2014, after the chief left, Randy became station chief.&nbsp;

“We have one of eight fire stations in Anderson County under the county emergency management director.” Randy said. “We work really well together.” A recent major improvement was a new fire station building. The old one had been the school-bus barn at the former elementary school, and that building was not well-suited for modern firetrucks.&nbsp;

When the local hospital offered the firefighters free first-responder training, Randy participated. “There’s a lot more training provided for firefighters today,” Randy said. “Safety and effectiveness are our goals.”&nbsp;

He is now a certified emergency medical technician and responds to calls all over the county. His nomination said that many people have appreciated his calm presence in emergency situations.&nbsp;

“I get the satisfaction of knowing I’m helping the community,” Randy said. “It makes the community a better place to live,” he said.&nbsp;

That’s the kind of spirit that makes rural America great.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” We commend Randy Bunnel and all community volunteers for making a difference in their communities with the way they are living&nbsp;and giving.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603893324680.png" alt="Randy Bunnel " />
 <figcaption>Randy Bunnel </figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” That quote attributed to Sir Winston Churchill might be a good way of describing Randy Bunnel and the many other selfless volunteers who support our rural communities. Randy’s community service earned him a nomination as an Ag Hero for the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s 2020 Ag Growth Summit.&nbsp;Randy Bunnel grew up on a farm in southern Anderson County. He earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural education at K-State and a master’s degree a year later. He also met his wife Betsy who was majoring in elementary education. They moved back to his family farm.&nbsp;“She started teaching, and I started farming,” Randy said. He and Betsy got involved with the Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Committee. Today, Betsy is a reading recovery teacher and half-time assistant principal at the school in Garnett.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As a third-generation farmer, Randy oversees the Bunnel farming operation, which now includes row crops of corn, wheat, soybeans and putting up hay for his 75-head cow-calf herd. The nomination form for Randy said, “His farming is a 365-day per year calling for him.”&nbsp;Randy’s farm is located three miles south of the rural community of Welda, population 129 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;Rural communities, by their nature, do not have big-city budgets. They depend on the work of volunteers. Those volunteers may serve on the fire department, work as township trustees, assist with church functions, volunteer with the PRIDE committee, maintain the country cemetery, or otherwise provide valuable service to their neighbors and their community – often with minimal or no compensation whatsoever.&nbsp;Randy Bunnel recognized the importance of such volunteer service. His father had served on a couple of boards, and Randy followed that example.&nbsp;Randy now serves on the 4 Rivers Rural Electric Co-op board of directors. He has completed courses for National Rural Electric Cooperative Association certification of Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership and the Director Gold Credential. He is on the board of the Anderson County Rural Water District No. 5, Anderson County Farm Bureau, Anderson County Soil Conservation Service Committee and faithfully attends Iola First Christian Church.&nbsp;Randy knows the challenges of rural areas firsthand. “For one thing, we need better internet service in rural areas,” he said. Other services are important as well.&nbsp;“Almost 20 years ago, our local fire station (volunteer team) was down to two or three members,” Randy said. Of course, those fire stations are vital for the protection of families and homes, and it is essential that they be fully staffed when needed.&nbsp;“The assistant fire chief asked me to join, so I signed up,” Randy said. “My wife asked me why, and I said, ‘Somebody’s got to do it.’” That willingness to help would become a hallmark of his ongoing activities.&nbsp;He was later elected as assistant chief. In 2014, after the chief left, Randy became station chief.&nbsp;“We have one of eight fire stations in Anderson County under the county emergency management director.” Randy said. “We work really well together.” A recent major improvement was a new fire station building. The old one had been the school-bus barn at the former elementary school, and that building was not well-suited for modern firetrucks.&nbsp;When the local hospital offered the firefighters free first-responder training, Randy participated. “There’s a lot more training provided for firefighters today,” Randy said. “Safety and effectiveness are our goals.”&nbsp;He is now a certified emergency medical technician and responds to calls all over the county. His nomination said that many people have appreciated his calm presence in emergency situations.&nbsp;“I get the satisfaction of knowing I’m helping the community,” Randy said. “It makes the community a better place to live,” he said.&nbsp;That’s the kind of spirit that makes rural America great.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” We commend Randy Bunnel and all community volunteers for making a difference in their communities with the way they are living&nbsp;and giving.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Randy Bunnel, community volunteer 

Berny Unruh, Cottonwood District Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent will present “Healthy Cooking with Air Fryers” on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 5:30 pm at the Cottonwood Extension Office, 601 Main, Hays, Kansas. Another opportunity to attend the program is on Thursday, Nov. 5,&nbsp;at 5:30 at the Ellis Rec Commission Office, 1204 Washington in Ellis.&nbsp;

Air fryers cook food by circulating extremely hot air around the food. The unit contains a basket to hold food, an electric heating element and a fan to circulate the hot air. These small size appliances can provide a healthier alternative to conventional frying because they use little or no oil during the cooking process. The demonstration will include commonly cooked foods and tested recipes will be shared. The information presented will be helpful in making the decision about whether or not to purchase an air fryer.&nbsp;

The program will be held in the large meeting room and social distancing will be practiced. Registration for the program would be greatly appreciated by calling the Extension Office at 785-628-9430 or completing the secure form at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/AirFryerEllisCo">https://tinyurl.com/AirFryerEllisCo</a>&nbsp;so an adequate number of handouts will be available.

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;&nbsp;She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Berny Unruh, Cottonwood District Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent will present “Healthy Cooking with Air Fryers” on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 5:30 pm at the Cottonwood Extension Office, 601 Main, Hays, Kansas. Another opportunity to attend the program is on Thursday, Nov. 5,&nbsp;at 5:30 at the Ellis Rec Commission Office, 1204 Washington in Ellis.&nbsp;Air fryers cook food by circulating extremely hot air around the food. The unit contains a basket to hold food, an electric heating element and a fan to circulate the hot air. These small size appliances can provide a healthier alternative to conventional frying because they use little or no oil during the cooking process. The demonstration will include commonly cooked foods and tested recipes will be shared. The information presented will be helpful in making the decision about whether or not to purchase an air fryer.&nbsp;The program will be held in the large meeting room and social distancing will be practiced. Registration for the program would be greatly appreciated by calling the Extension Office at 785-628-9430 or completing the secure form at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/AirFryerEllisCo">https://tinyurl.com/AirFryerEllisCo</a>&nbsp;so an adequate number of handouts will be available.Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;&nbsp;She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

Extension offers session on healthy cooking with air fryers

One thing I enjoy about my Extension career is that I have great resources at my fingertips, or these days, at the click of a mouse. We have energetic specialists in the area of adult development and aging who have provided great materials that I want you to learn more about.

I piloted the “Keys to Embracing Aging” materials several years ago, but each of the 12 fact sheets is relevant in today’s world. No matter your age, you can take steps now to age well into the future. Keys to Embracing Aging is an interactive program that highlights 12 healthy lifestyle behaviors aimed at helping you age healthfully, successfully and with increased longevity.&nbsp;

The Alzheimer’s 101 fact sheet provides education and awareness about Alzheimer’s disease. That is crucial to bettering the lives of those who are currently facing the disease or will face it in the future. The fact sheet includes the warning signs, the benefits of early detection and diagnosis, and steps to bettering your overall brain health.

One of my favorite programs to share is “Gray for a Day.” Gray for a Day aims to educate participants on age-related sensory and functional challenges some adults might face through various simulations that reflect daily routines, simple tasks, and leisure or social activities.&nbsp;

Elder abuse and neglect is another issue addressed in an Extension program. No one is immune to elder abuse – it can happen to anyone, at any time, and anywhere. Often a silent problem, elder abuse can rob older adults of their dignity and security and leave them feeling fearful and alone. This educational program discusses the warning signs and risk factors of abuse, how to prevent elder abuse, and the steps to report suspected abuse.

The Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans, known as SHICK, is a free program offering Kansans the opportunity to talk with trained, community volunteers and get answers to questions about Medicare. During the next six weeks we are busy helping Medicare recipients review their Part D prescription drug plans.

A visit to the KSRE web site will take you to all of the great resources I mentioned above. Feel free to give me a call or send an e-mail with any questions related to these topics.

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593016082485.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>One thing I enjoy about my Extension career is that I have great resources at my fingertips, or these days, at the click of a mouse. We have energetic specialists in the area of adult development and aging who have provided great materials that I want you to learn more about.I piloted the “Keys to Embracing Aging” materials several years ago, but each of the 12 fact sheets is relevant in today’s world. No matter your age, you can take steps now to age well into the future. Keys to Embracing Aging is an interactive program that highlights 12 healthy lifestyle behaviors aimed at helping you age healthfully, successfully and with increased longevity.&nbsp;The Alzheimer’s 101 fact sheet provides education and awareness about Alzheimer’s disease. That is crucial to bettering the lives of those who are currently facing the disease or will face it in the future. The fact sheet includes the warning signs, the benefits of early detection and diagnosis, and steps to bettering your overall brain health.One of my favorite programs to share is “Gray for a Day.” Gray for a Day aims to educate participants on age-related sensory and functional challenges some adults might face through various simulations that reflect daily routines, simple tasks, and leisure or social activities.&nbsp;Elder abuse and neglect is another issue addressed in an Extension program. No one is immune to elder abuse – it can happen to anyone, at any time, and anywhere. Often a silent problem, elder abuse can rob older adults of their dignity and security and leave them feeling fearful and alone. This educational program discusses the warning signs and risk factors of abuse, how to prevent elder abuse, and the steps to report suspected abuse.The Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans, known as SHICK, is a free program offering Kansans the opportunity to talk with trained, community volunteers and get answers to questions about Medicare. During the next six weeks we are busy helping Medicare recipients review their Part D prescription drug plans.A visit to the KSRE web site will take you to all of the great resources I mentioned above. Feel free to give me a call or send an e-mail with any questions related to these topics.Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

KRUG: Extension program address aging issues

By this Tuesday or Wednesday, Kansans will likely have a new U.S. Senator. For most of the last century, we could simply assume that the state would elect the Republican nominee, especially if the candidate was the incumbent Representative from the Big First district, per Bob Dole, Pat Roberts, and&nbsp; Jerry Moran.

But 2020 has proven different, with the first truly competitive Democratic candidate emerging since Representative Bill Roy gave Senator Dole all he could handle in 1974.

The race between two physicians, Republican Representative Roger Marshall and Democratic state senator Barbara Bollier, remains too close to call, although a Bollier win would be regarded as significant upset.&nbsp; Still, all the major national handicappers have the race at “Leans [or Tilts] R,” which means that such a result might well occur.

What we do know is that either Bollier or Marshall will win the seat and serve for the next six years, and probably beyond, given Kansas’s tendency to re-elect its U.S. Senators.

So, what will happen if we elect either Bollier or Marshall?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Given present trends, polling, and forecasts, Democrats are likely to capture the Senate and the Presidency, although neither is a sure thing. And Democrats will almost certainly continue to control the House.&nbsp; Nate Silver, the noted election forecaster, sees a 71% chance of a Democratic Trifecta of the Presidency, the Senate, and the House.

If that is so, Senator Marshall would become a low-ranking member of a Republican minority, whose chances to regain a majority don’t look good until 2024 at the earliest.&nbsp; Given strong parties in Washington, he would have relatively little influence, although individual minority-party senators have far more power than their House counterparts.

Of course, if Trump were to win and bring in a Republican Senate with him, all that would change.

For Senator Bollier, the Democratic Trifecta offers a far more positive outlook.&nbsp; Most important, she would be part of a governing majority that would be poised to pass significant legislation on coronavirus relief, the economy, and health care, among other major issues.

In addition, if Bollier wins the election, she will not be the 50th&nbsp;or 51st&nbsp;Democrat in the party’s majority.&nbsp; Winning Kansas would mean that Democrats would likely win other close races, as part of a Blue Wave.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If Bollier is, say, the 53rd&nbsp;Democratic senator, she would have substantial leverage in various ways.&nbsp; First, she would have great flexibility to negotiate with Democratic leaders; if she banded together with other moderates, they could substantially affect Democratic policies. Indeed, Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum long played such a role.

Second, as an upset winner from a red state, Bollier would be treated well by Majority Leader Schumer and other party leaders.&nbsp; They would like nothing more than to hold onto a Kansas seat well into the future.

Following from this, a third advantage for Bollier would be to win appointment to key committees that would serve both her interests and those of the state.&nbsp; Thus, seats on Agriculture and HELP (Health-Education-Labor-Pensions) would be obvious choices, but she might well gain a seat on a more powerful panel, such as Appropriations or Finance.

In the end, Kansans are voting for an individual Senate seat, but all seats are not created equal.&nbsp; For Kansans, a seat for Barbara Bollier would likely be far more valuable than one for Roger Marshall.

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>By this Tuesday or Wednesday, Kansans will likely have a new U.S. Senator. For most of the last century, we could simply assume that the state would elect the Republican nominee, especially if the candidate was the incumbent Representative from the Big First district, per Bob Dole, Pat Roberts, and&nbsp; Jerry Moran.But 2020 has proven different, with the first truly competitive Democratic candidate emerging since Representative Bill Roy gave Senator Dole all he could handle in 1974.The race between two physicians, Republican Representative Roger Marshall and Democratic state senator Barbara Bollier, remains too close to call, although a Bollier win would be regarded as significant upset.&nbsp; Still, all the major national handicappers have the race at “Leans [or Tilts] R,” which means that such a result might well occur.What we do know is that either Bollier or Marshall will win the seat and serve for the next six years, and probably beyond, given Kansas’s tendency to re-elect its U.S. Senators.So, what will happen if we elect either Bollier or Marshall?&nbsp;&nbsp;Given present trends, polling, and forecasts, Democrats are likely to capture the Senate and the Presidency, although neither is a sure thing. And Democrats will almost certainly continue to control the House.&nbsp; Nate Silver, the noted election forecaster, sees a 71% chance of a Democratic Trifecta of the Presidency, the Senate, and the House.If that is so, Senator Marshall would become a low-ranking member of a Republican minority, whose chances to regain a majority don’t look good until 2024 at the earliest.&nbsp; Given strong parties in Washington, he would have relatively little influence, although individual minority-party senators have far more power than their House counterparts.Of course, if Trump were to win and bring in a Republican Senate with him, all that would change.For Senator Bollier, the Democratic Trifecta offers a far more positive outlook.&nbsp; Most important, she would be part of a governing majority that would be poised to pass significant legislation on coronavirus relief, the economy, and health care, among other major issues.In addition, if Bollier wins the election, she will not be the 50th&nbsp;or 51st&nbsp;Democrat in the party’s majority.&nbsp; Winning Kansas would mean that Democrats would likely win other close races, as part of a Blue Wave.&nbsp;&nbsp;If Bollier is, say, the 53rd&nbsp;Democratic senator, she would have substantial leverage in various ways.&nbsp; First, she would have great flexibility to negotiate with Democratic leaders; if she banded together with other moderates, they could substantially affect Democratic policies. Indeed, Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum long played such a role.Second, as an upset winner from a red state, Bollier would be treated well by Majority Leader Schumer and other party leaders.&nbsp; They would like nothing more than to hold onto a Kansas seat well into the future.Following from this, a third advantage for Bollier would be to win appointment to key committees that would serve both her interests and those of the state.&nbsp; Thus, seats on Agriculture and HELP (Health-Education-Labor-Pensions) would be obvious choices, but she might well gain a seat on a more powerful panel, such as Appropriations or Finance.In the end, Kansans are voting for an individual Senate seat, but all seats are not created equal.&nbsp; For Kansans, a seat for Barbara Bollier would likely be far more valuable than one for Roger Marshall.Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas.

INSIGHT KANSAS: The 53rd Senator

Celebrate the holidays with a beautiful, live wreath. Join Cottonwood Extension's Lauren Fick for an evening of floral design and wreath building. 

In this workshop, participants will join via zoom and have a full hour of creative time, while Lauren guides you through the basic floral design principles. 

Participants will learn how to create a modern door wreath with fresh, winter greenery. Each paying participant will receive a box of materials that include a 16" wreath frame, over 7' of live greenery, a wreath hanger, pinecones, floral wire, and more. Lauren will teach about the different types of greenery and techniques for using them in a wreath or floral design.&nbsp;The best part about this workshop is that you get to participate from the comfort of your own home.

The workshop will take place on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7:30pm. For participants who would like materials the cost is $35 per participant and there is a limited amount of materials available (first 25 people). Registration closes on Nov. 16 at 5:00PM. For participants who want materials they must register and pay by Nov. 16 to secure their spot. Participants who are interested in the free Zoom link are asked to call the office by Nov. 16 to register. Further details will be sent out via email after registration is complete.&nbsp; Call 785-628-9430 to register.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Cottonwood ExtensionCelebrate the holidays with a beautiful, live wreath. Join Cottonwood Extension's Lauren Fick for an evening of floral design and wreath building. In this workshop, participants will join via zoom and have a full hour of creative time, while Lauren guides you through the basic floral design principles. Participants will learn how to create a modern door wreath with fresh, winter greenery. Each paying participant will receive a box of materials that include a 16" wreath frame, over 7' of live greenery, a wreath hanger, pinecones, floral wire, and more. Lauren will teach about the different types of greenery and techniques for using them in a wreath or floral design.&nbsp;The best part about this workshop is that you get to participate from the comfort of your own home. The workshop will take place on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7:30pm. For participants who would like materials the cost is $35 per participant and there is a limited amount of materials available (first 25 people). Registration closes on Nov. 16 at 5:00PM. For participants who want materials they must register and pay by Nov. 16 to secure their spot. Participants who are interested in the free Zoom link are asked to call the office by Nov. 16 to register. Further details will be sent out via email after registration is complete.&nbsp; Call 785-628-9430 to register.

FICK: Holiday wreath workshop

Registration is now open for the Virtual 2020 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Workshop (ARSBC) that will be Nov. 4 and 5. The program targets commercial and seedstock producers, the artificial insemination (AI) and allied industries and veterinarians interested in using or improving implementation of reproductive management tools and associated genetic tools.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Cow-calf producers know that reproduction is the most economically important trait,” said Sandy Johnson, K-State Extension beef specialist. “Thus, reproductive management choices and implementation are critical to profitability.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Johnson is a member of the Beef Reproduction Task Force, which includes reproductive physiologists from land grant universities who work together on reproductive management education.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

This year’s virtual program contains three segments utilizing a host of nationally recognized speakers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The first segment focuses on cows and heifers and includes a presentation by Matt Perrier of Dalebanks Angus, Eureka, Kansas, who will discuss how reproductive technologies have changed the ranch.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. Tom Geary, USDA-ARS, Miles City, Montana, will share research on bull fertility: nutritional effects and new measures as part of the bull segment.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the animal health and management segment, investigating conception failures and pregnancy loss in beef cows will be discussed by Dr. Lee Jones, DVM, University of Georgia, who will help listeners optimize pregnancy rates.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The complete program schedule can be found on the newly updated website&nbsp;<a href="http://beefrepro.org/">BeefRepro.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Continuing education credits will be available, see the website for details.&nbsp;

An advantage of the virtual format is that there will be plenty of time for questions after each speaker and the new website has an “ask the expert” tab, where questions can be submitted at any time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The two-day program will go from 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 4 and Thursday Nov. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. and from 5:15 to 8 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;The program is free with prior registration at:&nbsp;

November 4th – Cow &amp; Heifer session –&nbsp;<a href="http://go.beefrepro.org/Cow_Heifer">http://go.beefrepro.org/Cow_Heifer</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

November 5th – Bull session –&nbsp;<a href="http://go.beefrepro.org/Bull">http://go.beefrepro.org/Bull</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

November 5th – Veterinary CE session -&nbsp;<a href="http://go.beefrepro.org/VET_CE">http://go.beefrepro.org/VET_CE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Beef Reproduction Task Force together with the national Beef Reproduction Leadership Team work to promote wider adoption of reproductive technologies among cow-calf producers; educate cow-calf producers in management considerations that will increase the likelihood of successful AI breeding; and educate producers in marketing options to capture benefits that result from use of improved reproductive technologies.&nbsp;

The group’s mission is to optimize the productivity and improve the profitability of cow-calf operations by facilitating the adoption of cost-effective, applied reproductive technologies. The goal is to educate beef cattle producers on sustainable reproductive management systems to maintain U.S. leadership and competitiveness in the world beef market.&nbsp;

There is no cost to attend, however registration is required.&nbsp;&nbsp;Detailed information on the schedule, speakers and continuing education is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://beefrepro.org/">BeefRepro.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Sandy Johnson,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sandyj@ksu.edu">sandyj@ksu.edu</a>, or Vitor Mercadante,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:vrgm@vt.edu">vrgm@vt.edu</a>.&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Registration is now open for the Virtual 2020 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Workshop (ARSBC) that will be Nov. 4 and 5. The program targets commercial and seedstock producers, the artificial insemination (AI) and allied industries and veterinarians interested in using or improving implementation of reproductive management tools and associated genetic tools.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Cow-calf producers know that reproduction is the most economically important trait,” said Sandy Johnson, K-State Extension beef specialist. “Thus, reproductive management choices and implementation are critical to profitability.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Johnson is a member of the Beef Reproduction Task Force, which includes reproductive physiologists from land grant universities who work together on reproductive management education.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This year’s virtual program contains three segments utilizing a host of nationally recognized speakers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The first segment focuses on cows and heifers and includes a presentation by Matt Perrier of Dalebanks Angus, Eureka, Kansas, who will discuss how reproductive technologies have changed the ranch.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. Tom Geary, USDA-ARS, Miles City, Montana, will share research on bull fertility: nutritional effects and new measures as part of the bull segment.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the animal health and management segment, investigating conception failures and pregnancy loss in beef cows will be discussed by Dr. Lee Jones, DVM, University of Georgia, who will help listeners optimize pregnancy rates.&nbsp;&nbsp;The complete program schedule can be found on the newly updated website&nbsp;<a href="http://beefrepro.org/">BeefRepro.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Continuing education credits will be available, see the website for details.&nbsp;An advantage of the virtual format is that there will be plenty of time for questions after each speaker and the new website has an “ask the expert” tab, where questions can be submitted at any time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The two-day program will go from 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 4 and Thursday Nov. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. and from 5:15 to 8 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;The program is free with prior registration at:&nbsp;November 4th – Cow &amp; Heifer session –&nbsp;<a href="http://go.beefrepro.org/Cow_Heifer">http://go.beefrepro.org/Cow_Heifer</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;November 5th – Bull session –&nbsp;<a href="http://go.beefrepro.org/Bull">http://go.beefrepro.org/Bull</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;November 5th – Veterinary CE session -&nbsp;<a href="http://go.beefrepro.org/VET_CE">http://go.beefrepro.org/VET_CE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The Beef Reproduction Task Force together with the national Beef Reproduction Leadership Team work to promote wider adoption of reproductive technologies among cow-calf producers; educate cow-calf producers in management considerations that will increase the likelihood of successful AI breeding; and educate producers in marketing options to capture benefits that result from use of improved reproductive technologies.&nbsp;The group’s mission is to optimize the productivity and improve the profitability of cow-calf operations by facilitating the adoption of cost-effective, applied reproductive technologies. The goal is to educate beef cattle producers on sustainable reproductive management systems to maintain U.S. leadership and competitiveness in the world beef market.&nbsp;There is no cost to attend, however registration is required.&nbsp;&nbsp;Detailed information on the schedule, speakers and continuing education is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://beefrepro.org/">BeefRepro.org</a>&nbsp;or contact Sandy Johnson,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sandyj@ksu.edu">sandyj@ksu.edu</a>, or Vitor Mercadante,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:vrgm@vt.edu">vrgm@vt.edu</a>.&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910&nbsp;

BOOR: Seminar will focus on beef reproductive strategies

By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher

Fall is winding down on our farm. Brown grass is hidden beneath piles of colorful leaves that have fallen. Wheat drilled last month has popped up providing a spiky looking cover to fields for the winter. Corn and soybeans have been harvested and shipped off to the elevator. By the time you read this, we may even have had a dusting of snow.

But — a single field of double-crop milo remains uncut. It could take weeks before it is dry enough to harvest. This one field has caused a disproportionate amount of anxiety. Even though all the other work is done, harvest season cannot be complete without it. Equipment can’t be winterized, paperwork can’t be finalized, and the weight of unfinished work sits heavy in our house.

It seems like so much of this year has been spent in a similar state. Waiting anxiously to see what will happen with COVID-19 when we just want to get back to “normal” life. Counting down the days until the election and the merciful end of campaign ads. Watching our fellow humans so frustrated by inequality that violence erupts in the streets and wondering helplessly how to make it stop.

All this seems to have led to many of us feeling “over it”, where anxiety and frustration create a mental fatigue and you just don’t care anymore how it turn out as long as it is over. 

The problem with this apathy is that it can cause you to forget to stop and appreciate the value of an ending.

Endings can be satisfying. Like the feeling that comes from indulging in large gulps for air after you sprinted across the finish line, the satisfying swish and thud of the hard cover closing when you have finished a good book, or making a joyful “Victory March” across the stage to receive your diploma.

Endings can also be disappointing. The feeling of defeat that comes from losing a playoff game to end your high school athletic career. The regret of a missed opportunity. Getting the devastating news of a friend or loved one’s life being unexpectedly cut short.

To truly value endings, you must recognize that our final ending is that of life. All the other endings are leading to that one and it will probably come sooner than most of us would like.

So, when I find myself feeling apathetic or anxiously waiting for an ending, I try to stop and appreciate the moment: imagining an end and pondering how it can bring me joy or teach me an important lesson. I reflect on how past satisfactions or disappointments made me who I am and motivate me through the promise or threat of how things will end.

Each ending fills our life with experience and opens a space for another beginning.

Next week the 2020 campaign season will come to an end. There will be winners and losers.  In the future, COVID outbreaks will be controlled and the world should go back to some kind of normal. Racial inequalities can even be overcome. And harvest on our farm will eventually be finished.

For now, I am going to appreciate the lessons of this crazy year and dream of all the wonderful endings in my future.

<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 Fall is winding down on our farm. Brown grass is hidden beneath piles of colorful leaves that have fallen. Wheat drilled last month has popped up providing a spiky looking cover to fields for the winter. Corn and soybeans have been harvested and shipped off to the elevator. By the time you read this, we may even have had a dusting of snow.But — a single field of double-crop milo remains uncut. It could take weeks before it is dry enough to harvest. This one field has caused a disproportionate amount of anxiety. Even though all the other work is done, harvest season cannot be complete without it. Equipment can’t be winterized, paperwork can’t be finalized, and the weight of unfinished work sits heavy in our house.It seems like so much of this year has been spent in a similar state. Waiting anxiously to see what will happen with COVID-19 when we just want to get back to “normal” life. Counting down the days until the election and the merciful end of campaign ads. Watching our fellow humans so frustrated by inequality that violence erupts in the streets and wondering helplessly how to make it stop.All this seems to have led to many of us feeling “over it”, where anxiety and frustration create a mental fatigue and you just don’t care anymore how it turn out as long as it is over. The problem with this apathy is that it can cause you to forget to stop and appreciate the value of an ending.Endings can be satisfying. Like the feeling that comes from indulging in large gulps for air after you sprinted across the finish line, the satisfying swish and thud of the hard cover closing when you have finished a good book, or making a joyful “Victory March” across the stage to receive your diploma.Endings can also be disappointing. The feeling of defeat that comes from losing a playoff game to end your high school athletic career. The regret of a missed opportunity. Getting the devastating news of a friend or loved one’s life being unexpectedly cut short.To truly value endings, you must recognize that our final ending is that of life. All the other endings are leading to that one and it will probably come sooner than most of us would like.So, when I find myself feeling apathetic or anxiously waiting for an ending, I try to stop and appreciate the moment: imagining an end and pondering how it can bring me joy or teach me an important lesson. I reflect on how past satisfactions or disappointments made me who I am and motivate me through the promise or threat of how things will end.Each ending fills our life with experience and opens a space for another beginning.Next week the 2020 campaign season will come to an end. There will be winners and losers. In the future, COVID outbreaks will be controlled and the world should go back to some kind of normal. Racial inequalities can even be overcome. And harvest on our farm will eventually be finished.For now, I am going to appreciate the lessons of this crazy year and dream of all the wonderful endings in my future."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Pondering endings

Without a doubt, Halloween will be different this year. Families may have the opportunity to participate in drive-by events and some families may choose to stick close to home. Either way it is possible to have a healthy Halloween and it could include making some fun, healthy snacks at home.

My kids loved to make apple smiles and banana ghosts. The apple slices can be dipped in lemon juice so they do not turn brown as quickly, then peanut butter or your child’s favorite nut butter is added between two apple slices and the teeth can be yogurt covered berries or nuts. Peeled clementine oranges with a sprig of celery for the stem also make a fun healthy snack.

&nbsp;Last year for a program I made a skeleton out of my favorite vegetables and it really looked just like the picture I fashioned it from! Fresh Veggie Pizza can be decorated to look like candy corn with chopped carrots, yellow peppers and cauliflower.&nbsp; If children are going out for the evening fill them up with a healthy meal before the fun begins. And on the return home, make a plan for how the stash will be divided up so only a small portion will be available each day.&nbsp;

If you are handing out treats to children, consider some alternative Halloween treats. We had one creative neighbor who always had a surprise for us and it was never candy. My kids could not wait to see what the surprise was each year. Small toys, bouncy balls, glider airplanes to put together and many other items can be just as exciting for kids as a candy bar.

Never fear, there will be Halloween in some shape or form. Parents may have to work extra hard this year to create a fun atmosphere with fun food and games. Make it a year to remember and have a spooky good time!&nbsp;

Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603372235600.png" alt="image001.png" />
 <figcaption>image001.png</figcaption>
 </figure>Without a doubt, Halloween will be different this year. Families may have the opportunity to participate in drive-by events and some families may choose to stick close to home. Either way it is possible to have a healthy Halloween and it could include making some fun, healthy snacks at home.My kids loved to make apple smiles and banana ghosts. The apple slices can be dipped in lemon juice so they do not turn brown as quickly, then peanut butter or your child’s favorite nut butter is added between two apple slices and the teeth can be yogurt covered berries or nuts. Peeled clementine oranges with a sprig of celery for the stem also make a fun healthy snack.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Last year for a program I made a skeleton out of my favorite vegetables and it really looked just like the picture I fashioned it from! Fresh Veggie Pizza can be decorated to look like candy corn with chopped carrots, yellow peppers and cauliflower.&nbsp; If children are going out for the evening fill them up with a healthy meal before the fun begins. And on the return home, make a plan for how the stash will be divided up so only a small portion will be available each day.&nbsp;If you are handing out treats to children, consider some alternative Halloween treats. We had one creative neighbor who always had a surprise for us and it was never candy. My kids could not wait to see what the surprise was each year. Small toys, bouncy balls, glider airplanes to put together and many other items can be just as exciting for kids as a candy bar.Never fear, there will be Halloween in some shape or form. Parents may have to work extra hard this year to create a fun atmosphere with fun food and games. Make it a year to remember and have a spooky good time!&nbsp;Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.

UNRUH: A Healthy Halloween

Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $30 per barrel. That's down $1.25 from a week ago, up a dollar from the first of the month, but down $17 from a year ago. After posting their first weekly loss in three weeks, U.S. crude futures prices plunged on Monday. In afternoon trading the benchmark Nymex contract was down $1.34 to $38.51 per barrel. London Brent was down $1.37 to $40.40. Drilling activity in Kansas was up slightly last week. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports ten active drilling rigs in Western Kansas, up two for the week. The count east of Wichita was unchanged at five active rigs. Drilling is underway on two leases in Ellis County, where a third has reached total depth and is being evaluated. An operator in Stafford County is preparing to spud two new wells there. Baker Hughes reports 287 active drilling rigs across the country, an increase of six oil rigs. Texas added two rigs to the weekly count, while Oklahoma added one. Regulators approved 12 new permits to drill across Kansas last week, five of them east of Wichita and seven in Western Kansas, including one in Barton County and two in Stafford County. That's 358 permits for drilling at new locations statewide so far this year, compared to 876 at this time last year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports a newly completed well in Ellis County among 13 completions in Western Kansas last week. Add one east of Wichita for a statewide total of 14 newly completed wells for the week, 694 so far this year. The government said U.S. crude inventories dropped one million barrels last week to just over 488 million. The report came less than a day after the American Petroleum Institute reported a surprise increase in stockpiles of more than half a million barrels.&nbsp; U.S. production dipped below ten million barrels per day for the first time in six weeks. The Energy Information Administration reports average production last week of 9.86 million barrels per day, down 586,000 barrels per day from the week before. Output is down nearly three million barrels per day from a year ago at this time. EIA said imports were down 167,000 barrels per day last week to just over five million barrels per day. The four-week average is nearly 14% less than during the same four-week period last year. Oil by rail traffic was up slightly on the week, but remained 19% below last years tallies. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,293 tanker cars hauling petroleum or petroleum products during the week ending October 17. Oil by rail in Canada is down nearly thirty percent compared to a year ago. Lower gasoline demand is dropping gasoline prices for the majority of the country.&nbsp; Across the U.S., pump prices were a penny cheaper last week than a week earlier, two cents lower than a month ago, and nearly half a dollar below last year at this time. Triple-A says the national average Thursday was $2.16 a gallon, while the average across the Sunflower State was $1.93. Kansas was among 13 states across the U.S. with average prices below two dollars. It was selling for $1.99 across Great Bend, and $1.90 in Hays. Filling your 15-gallon tank with cost you nine dollars more than it did six months ago, but about five dollars less than last year at this time. The two sides in Libya's civil war appear to have completed their reconciliation. On Friday they signed a permanent cease-fire, although skepticism is already rising.&nbsp; The deal includes an order for all foreign mercenaries to leave the country, and sets the state for political talks next month. Libya descended into chaos in 2011, after an uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.&nbsp; Renewed production amid continuing low demand have prompted renewed concerns about U.S. crude-oil storage capacity. The Energy Information Administration reports the national totals are safe, but users have reached 77% of capacity at the storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma. EIA reports on net stockpiles as a percentage of working storage capacity. That figure reached a high of 62 percent back in June, but has since dropped to 54%. Cushing is fast approaching the all-time high. The Oklahoma total reached 77% in the week ending June 19. The record of 83% of capacity was set May 1. ConocoPhillips agreed to buy Concho Resources for about $9.7 billion in stock, marking the largest shale industry deal since the collapse in energy demand earlier this year. Concho Resources was worth $32 billion just two years ago, but is selling for $9.7 billion in stock. The deal will create what Bloomberg calls a heavyweight driller in America’s most prolific oil field, rivaled only by the likes of Occidental Petroleum and Chevron.&nbsp; Native American tribes opposed to the Dakota Access Pipeline have once again asked a federal judge to stop the flow of oil while the legal battle over the line’s future plays out. The tribes succeeded on their first attempt, only to have an appeals court overturn the shutdown order earlier this year. The Bismarck Tribune reports they are now asking the judge to clarify his order to satisfy the appeals court and once again shut down the pipeline. The court is awaiting a new environmental study to determine the risk the pipeline poses to the tribes' water supply. The study is expected to take more than a year to complete. Given pandemic lockdown restrictions around the globe, worldwide crude oil demand is shrinking. You can't even dock a crude-oil tanker in some ports, where users are instead winding down inventories built up since March. Demand for crude tankers has fallen more than 14% this year according to Lloyd's List Maritime Intelligence, which covers shipping news. Only about 80% of the international tanker fleet is currently in use according to Lloyd's List.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARKansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $30 per barrel. That's down $1.25 from a week ago, up a dollar from the first of the month, but down $17 from a year ago. After posting their first weekly loss in three weeks, U.S. crude futures prices plunged on Monday. In afternoon trading the benchmark Nymex contract was down $1.34 to $38.51 per barrel. London Brent was down $1.37 to $40.40. Drilling activity in Kansas was up slightly last week. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports ten active drilling rigs in Western Kansas, up two for the week. The count east of Wichita was unchanged at five active rigs. Drilling is underway on two leases in Ellis County, where a third has reached total depth and is being evaluated. An operator in Stafford County is preparing to spud two new wells there. Baker Hughes reports 287 active drilling rigs across the country, an increase of six oil rigs. Texas added two rigs to the weekly count, while Oklahoma added one. Regulators approved 12 new permits to drill across Kansas last week, five of them east of Wichita and seven in Western Kansas, including one in Barton County and two in Stafford County. That's 358 permits for drilling at new locations statewide so far this year, compared to 876 at this time last year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports a newly completed well in Ellis County among 13 completions in Western Kansas last week. Add one east of Wichita for a statewide total of 14 newly completed wells for the week, 694 so far this year. The government said U.S. crude inventories dropped one million barrels last week to just over 488 million. The report came less than a day after the American Petroleum Institute reported a surprise increase in stockpiles of more than half a million barrels.&nbsp; U.S. production dipped below ten million barrels per day for the first time in six weeks. The Energy Information Administration reports average production last week of 9.86 million barrels per day, down 586,000 barrels per day from the week before. Output is down nearly three million barrels per day from a year ago at this time. EIA said imports were down 167,000 barrels per day last week to just over five million barrels per day. The four-week average is nearly 14% less than during the same four-week period last year. Oil by rail traffic was up slightly on the week, but remained 19% below last years tallies. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,293 tanker cars hauling petroleum or petroleum products during the week ending October 17. Oil by rail in Canada is down nearly thirty percent compared to a year ago. Lower gasoline demand is dropping gasoline prices for the majority of the country.&nbsp; Across the U.S., pump prices were a penny cheaper last week than a week earlier, two cents lower than a month ago, and nearly half a dollar below last year at this time. Triple-A says the national average Thursday was $2.16 a gallon, while the average across the Sunflower State was $1.93. Kansas was among 13 states across the U.S. with average prices below two dollars. It was selling for $1.99 across Great Bend, and $1.90 in Hays. Filling your 15-gallon tank with cost you nine dollars more than it did six months ago, but about five dollars less than last year at this time. The two sides in Libya's civil war appear to have completed their reconciliation. On Friday they signed a permanent cease-fire, although skepticism is already rising.&nbsp; The deal includes an order for all foreign mercenaries to leave the country, and sets the state for political talks next month. Libya descended into chaos in 2011, after an uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.&nbsp; Renewed production amid continuing low demand have prompted renewed concerns about U.S. crude-oil storage capacity. The Energy Information Administration reports the national totals are safe, but users have reached 77% of capacity at the storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma. EIA reports on net stockpiles as a percentage of working storage capacity. That figure reached a high of 62 percent back in June, but has since dropped to 54%. Cushing is fast approaching the all-time high. The Oklahoma total reached 77% in the week ending June 19. The record of 83% of capacity was set May 1. ConocoPhillips agreed to buy Concho Resources for about $9.7 billion in stock, marking the largest shale industry deal since the collapse in energy demand earlier this year. Concho Resources was worth $32 billion just two years ago, but is selling for $9.7 billion in stock. The deal will create what Bloomberg calls a heavyweight driller in America’s most prolific oil field, rivaled only by the likes of Occidental Petroleum and Chevron.&nbsp; Native American tribes opposed to the Dakota Access Pipeline have once again asked a federal judge to stop the flow of oil while the legal battle over the line’s future plays out. The tribes succeeded on their first attempt, only to have an appeals court overturn the shutdown order earlier this year. The Bismarck Tribune reports they are now asking the judge to clarify his order to satisfy the appeals court and once again shut down the pipeline. The court is awaiting a new environmental study to determine the risk the pipeline poses to the tribes' water supply. The study is expected to take more than a year to complete. Given pandemic lockdown restrictions around the globe, worldwide crude oil demand is shrinking. You can't even dock a crude-oil tanker in some ports, where users are instead winding down inventories built up since March. Demand for crude tankers has fallen more than 14% this year according to Lloyd's List Maritime Intelligence, which covers shipping news. Only about 80% of the international tanker fleet is currently in use according to Lloyd's List.

News From the Oil Patch: Drilling activity up slightly

<a href="https://www.jimrichardsonphotography.com/index">By JIM RICHARDSON</a>

“Republicans shouldn’t thresh with Democrats.”

My father was imparting 
wisdom upon me, something he’d heard from his father, learned on their 
farm in Kansas. Wisdom that maybe we could use today.

I’d probably better 
translate. Back then farmers banded together to buy a threshing machine 
to be shared among neighboring farms during wheat harvest. This great 
communal tradition is laden with nostalgic memories of neighbor helping 
neighbor. The threshing picnic at the end of harvest is a rich icon of 
idyllic rural life. Friendship shown all around, we imagine.

Not so, my father was 
telling me. Peace among farmers meant politics shouldn’t rear its ugly 
head. Republicans should harvest with Republicans. Democrats with 
Democrats. Worked better that way. Even then politics was bad medicine 
on farms in Liberty and Freedom townships in Republic County.

Our current season of <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/09/23/were-so-close-to-civil-war-everyone-can-smell-the-smoke/">fire and brimstone</a>
 triggered this memory. Politics consumes us now, like a raging prairie 
fire we can’t outrun. We are at each others’ throats, treat our 
neighbors like traitors. We suspect people we’ve known all our lives are
 actually an alien species, not one of us. We’ve learned to hate them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603748511118.png" alt="Jim Richardson's "Voting Baby" photograph was taken in 1976 in Russell, Kansas, when Bob Dole was running for vice president with Gerald Ford. (Submitted by Jim Richardson to Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Jim Richardson's "Voting Baby" photograph was taken in 1976 in Russell, Kansas, when Bob Dole was running for vice president with Gerald Ford. (Submitted by Jim Richardson to Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jimrichardsonphotography.com/index">By JIM RICHARDSON</a>“Republicans shouldn’t thresh with Democrats.”My father was imparting 
wisdom upon me, something he’d heard from his father, learned on their 
farm in Kansas. Wisdom that maybe we could use today.I’d probably better 
translate. Back then farmers banded together to buy a threshing machine 
to be shared among neighboring farms during wheat harvest. This great 
communal tradition is laden with nostalgic memories of neighbor helping 
neighbor. The threshing picnic at the end of harvest is a rich icon of 
idyllic rural life. Friendship shown all around, we imagine.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Not so, my father was 
telling me. Peace among farmers meant politics shouldn’t rear its ugly 
head. Republicans should harvest with Republicans. Democrats with 
Democrats. Worked better that way. Even then politics was bad medicine 
on farms in Liberty and Freedom townships in Republic County.Our current season of <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/09/23/were-so-close-to-civil-war-everyone-can-smell-the-smoke/">fire and brimstone</a>
 triggered this memory. Politics consumes us now, like a raging prairie 
fire we can’t outrun. We are at each others’ throats, treat our 
neighbors like traitors. We suspect people we’ve known all our lives are
 actually an alien species, not one of us. We’ve learned to hate them.This partisan rancor is 
not new. My mother wrote about a neighbor who got so worked up at a 
political meeting at a nearby farm that he drove home and forgot his 
wife and children. So he had to go back to the barn at midnight, hitch 
up the horses to the buggy and go get them. And when her grandfather (a 
staunch Democrat) was sick and required a transfusion, he got it from 
Aunt Lila — a Republican. Republican blood in his veins! They never let 
him live it down.What have we forgotten about how to deal with this recurring feverish malady?Recently I read of a New 
York editor (a COVID refugee) who had moved to rural Pennsylvania. 
Things had changed for her. Gone was her comfortable bubble, life among 
reliably like-minded people with whom any political thought could be 
shared without fear. It was pure culture shock.Welcome to our world. I 
live in a small town where no such ideologically segregated enclaves are
 possible. No, out of necessity we live and work with each other every 
day. (We may well think that some of our friends and neighbors are 
wackos, but if we are smart we just shut up about it.) We need them, 
they need us. I don’t debate politics with our plumber; tomorrow I may 
have a clogged drain.More than cynical social 
utility is at work here. (I’m not naive; political differences can’t 
just be swept under the carpet.) Without ever knowing his politics I 
know that plumber as a good and decent person. So are lots of people in 
town who don’t share my politics. That’s OK. Politics is just one 
measure of our social bargaining. Mutual respect demands forbearance, 
shown in small acts of tolerance. The conservative coffee group gathers 
early in the coffee shop, but they are careful to make way in good time 
for the liberal coffee group that comes in later.So perhaps America has not
 fallen from some imagined state of divine neighborly grace. (That 
probably never existed.) But we do seem to have forgotten the rules of 
co-existence that our grandparents practiced.Something else may also be at work. If this societal truce has broken down (replaced by mutual contempt that verges on <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/07/a-kansas-history-professor-sees-troubling-deeply-problematic-danger-signs-for-the-united-states/">civil breakdown</a>)
 perhaps it is because we have let politics monopolize our lives. What 
is wrong here is not that politics is bad but that it has come to 
dominate — indeed obliterate — all other measures by which we know each 
other.Political parties are in 
the business of winning. But if winning means vanquishing your neighbor 
down the street, then that’s not winning at all. Small-town politics is a
 paradox: You can’t really win by winning. We need each other too much, 
whatever our disagreements.Our communities are built 
out of a multitude of shared experiences and values, respect and mutual 
need. Politics today threatens to silence all those other ways by which 
we&nbsp;define ourselves, to break those links that bind us together.The day after the upcoming
 election we must set politics aside for a while. We must remember the 
rules of daily life by which a community — and a state — can grow and 
prosper. We must not let politics become the sole defining aspect of our
 public lives. It will be the end of us.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603748636131.jpeg" alt="Jim Richardson" />
 <figcaption>Jim Richardson</figcaption>
 </figure>Jim Richardson is a photographer known for his work in rural Kansas and for his 35 years with National Geographic Magazine. Among other awards, he was named Kansan of the Year, has received the Governor’s Arts Award and an honorary doctorate from Kansas State University, and has been named an Honored Citizen by the people of Cuba, Kansas. He lives in Lindsborg with his wife Kathy, where they own Small World Gallery.Courtesy the Kansas Reflector

Opinion