<a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON</a> K-State Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

&nbsp;Who was the greatest all-around athlete in Kansas State University history?

That question can spark a long conversation. The players of today are incredibly athletic and well-trained, but they are also specialized. In modern sports, athletes need to concentrate on one particular sport in order to succeed.

So when we ask about an all-around college athlete (meaning one who succeeded simultaneously in multiple collegiate sports), a person has to go back many years. Imagine a single ballplayer who would be voted all-conference in football, basketball and baseball.

That’s an amazing accomplishment, probably not achievable in the structure of modern sports. But such a player graduated from K-State in 1932. His name was Elden Auker, and he came from rural Kansas.

Auker was born in Norcatur in 1910. In 2001, he published a book about his experiences in professional baseball. The book is titled Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms, and it is the primary source for this profile.

As a child, Elden Auker’s job was to clean out the barn, milk the Holstein cow every morning and night, and deliver bottles of milk to customers in town. Those customers, by the way, were charged five cents a quart.

He grew up hunting and playing ball with his friends. After one successful basketball tournament game, the referee asked him if he had plans to go to college (there were no scholarships then). Auker replied that he was planning to go to Nebraska, where they had a job lined up for him.

The referee said, “You’re a Kansas boy and Kansas boys should go to college in Kansas. We’ve got a job for you down here too.”

That referee also happened to be the head basketball and baseball coach at K-State.

Auker went to Manhattan, took the job, and joined the football, basketball and baseball teams. His job was to open the on-campus drug store in the morning, clean everything, mop all the floors, and then mop and lock up at night. For all that, he got paid one dollar.

Auker was truly an all-around athlete. He was voted All-Big 6 in baseball, football and basketball. During his time, the football team went 8-2, the baseball team went 16-9, and the basketball team – of which he was captain -- was conference runner-up. One publication named Auker an All-American in all three sports.

More importantly, he won the heart of a pretty young co-ed named Mildred. They would be married for 73 years until his death.

After he graduated from K-State, Auker had options to play pro ball. He was offered a contract to play football for the Chicago Bears, which sent the famous Bronko Nagurski to encourage him to sign. Auker almost signed but chose professional baseball instead, because he didn’t want to wait until fall to get paid. He signed to pitch for the Detroit Tigers.

In 1932, Auker began a ten-year career in professional baseball. This was the era when the uniforms were made of flannel and the teams traveled by train, which was the basis for naming the book Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms.

The subtitle of the book is “A lifetime of memories from striking out the Babe to teeing it up with the President.” Auker did, indeed, strike out Babe Ruth and, much later, play golf with President Ford.

He played baseball with such players as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Goose Goslin, Ted Williams and many more. In his first season in the big leagues, he went 15-7 and helped his team win the pennant. During his career, he pitched in two World Series and was the winning pitcher in one. His ten-year statistics included 333 games and an astounding 128 complete games – unthinkable in modern baseball.

In 1942, he retired from baseball to join the war effort and made a difference by going on to a successful business career. Overall, it’s a remarkable record for someone from the rural community of Norcatur, population 159 people. Now, that’s rural.

In 1989, then-K-State President James McCain named Auker the “greatest all-around athlete in K-State history.” For his era, Elden Auker was number 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737038991978.jpeg" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON</a> K-State Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development &nbsp;Who was the greatest all-around athlete in Kansas State University history?That question can spark a long conversation. The players of today are incredibly athletic and well-trained, but they are also specialized. In modern sports, athletes need to concentrate on one particular sport in order to succeed.So when we ask about an all-around college athlete (meaning one who succeeded simultaneously in multiple collegiate sports), a person has to go back many years. Imagine a single ballplayer who would be voted all-conference in football, basketball and baseball.That’s an amazing accomplishment, probably not achievable in the structure of modern sports. But such a player graduated from K-State in 1932. His name was Elden Auker, and he came from rural Kansas.Auker was born in Norcatur in 1910. In 2001, he published a book about his experiences in professional baseball. The book is titled Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms, and it is the primary source for this profile.As a child, Elden Auker’s job was to clean out the barn, milk the Holstein cow every morning and night, and deliver bottles of milk to customers in town. Those customers, by the way, were charged five cents a quart.He grew up hunting and playing ball with his friends. After one successful basketball tournament game, the referee asked him if he had plans to go to college (there were no scholarships then). Auker replied that he was planning to go to Nebraska, where they had a job lined up for him.The referee said, “You’re a Kansas boy and Kansas boys should go to college in Kansas. We’ve got a job for you down here too.”That referee also happened to be the head basketball and baseball coach at K-State.Auker went to Manhattan, took the job, and joined the football, basketball and baseball teams. His job was to open the on-campus drug store in the morning, clean everything, mop all the floors, and then mop and lock up at night. For all that, he got paid one dollar.Auker was truly an all-around athlete. He was voted All-Big 6 in baseball, football and basketball. During his time, the football team went 8-2, the baseball team went 16-9, and the basketball team – of which he was captain -- was conference runner-up. One publication named Auker an All-American in all three sports.More importantly, he won the heart of a pretty young co-ed named Mildred. They would be married for 73 years until his death.After he graduated from K-State, Auker had options to play pro ball. He was offered a contract to play football for the Chicago Bears, which sent the famous Bronko Nagurski to encourage him to sign. Auker almost signed but chose professional baseball instead, because he didn’t want to wait until fall to get paid. He signed to pitch for the Detroit Tigers.In 1932, Auker began a ten-year career in professional baseball. This was the era when the uniforms were made of flannel and the teams traveled by train, which was the basis for naming the book Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms.The subtitle of the book is “A lifetime of memories from striking out the Babe to teeing it up with the President.” Auker did, indeed, strike out Babe Ruth and, much later, play golf with President Ford.He played baseball with such players as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Goose Goslin, Ted Williams and many more. In his first season in the big leagues, he went 15-7 and helped his team win the pennant. During his career, he pitched in two World Series and was the winning pitcher in one. His ten-year statistics included 333 games and an astounding 128 complete games – unthinkable in modern baseball.In 1942, he retired from baseball to join the war effort and made a difference by going on to a successful business career. Overall, it’s a remarkable record for someone from the rural community of Norcatur, population 159 people. Now, that’s rural.In 1989, then-K-State President James McCain named Auker the “greatest all-around athlete in K-State history.” For his era, Elden Auker was number 1.

Now That’s Rural: Elden Auker, professional baseball player from Norcatur  

<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/01/dealing-spam-texts-emails-and-junk-mail?utm_source=govdelivery">By ANDREW RAYO</a> FTC Consumer Education Specialist

WASHNGTON, D.C. — If it’s not scammers spamming your phone with texts or filling up your inbox with emails, it’s your mailbox crammed with ads and other mail you didn’t ask for. The junk messages and mail might seem endless, but there are some ways to help scale it back.

Scammers send&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams">phishing texts and emails</a>&nbsp;that look legit to trick you into giving them personal or financial information. Legit companies might send mail that you just don’t want — things like magazines, catalogs, or&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/prescreened-credit-insurance-offers">prescreened offers of credit and insurance</a>. While these aren’t necessarily scams, they can pile up quickly.

To help you cut down on spam texts and emails:

• Use filters.&nbsp;Check if your mobile phone has options to&nbsp;filter and block&nbsp;texts from unknown senders. Some call blocking apps can also help block unwanted messages. Many popular email providers (like Gmail or Yahoo Mail) have strong&nbsp;spam filters&nbsp;turned on by default. But if any spam gets into your inbox, mark it as&nbsp;spam or junk.

• Unsubscribe&nbsp;from unwanted emails.&nbsp;Getting fewer unwanted emails helps you avoid clicking on links that can lead to&nbsp;phishing attacks.

• Report unwanted messages.&nbsp;Unwanted messages often lead to scams. Report them. Use your phone’s “report junk” option or forward unwanted texts to&nbsp;7726 (SPAM)&nbsp;and unwanted emails to your&nbsp;email provider.

• Register&nbsp;with the Direct Marketing Association&nbsp;to decide what types of mail you do and don’t want from marketers.

• Opt out&nbsp;of getting prescreened credit and insurance offers in the mail.&nbsp;You can choose to opt out for five years or permanently.

Learn more about how to get fewer&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages">spam texts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-get-less-spam-your-email">emails</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-stop-junk-mail">junk mail</a>. If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737760576014.jpeg" alt="Imagine you saw this in your inbox. At first glance, this email looks real, but it’s not. Scammers who send emails like this one are hoping you won’t notice it’s a fake. Netflix screenshot" />
 <figcaption>Imagine you saw this in your inbox. At first glance, this email looks real, but it’s not. Scammers who send emails like this one are hoping you won’t notice it’s a fake. Netflix screenshot</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/01/dealing-spam-texts-emails-and-junk-mail?utm_source=govdelivery">By ANDREW RAYO</a> FTC Consumer Education Specialist WASHNGTON, D.C. — If it’s not scammers spamming your phone with texts or filling up your inbox with emails, it’s your mailbox crammed with ads and other mail you didn’t ask for. The junk messages and mail might seem endless, but there are some ways to help scale it back.Scammers send&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams">phishing texts and emails</a>&nbsp;that look legit to trick you into giving them personal or financial information. Legit companies might send mail that you just don’t want — things like magazines, catalogs, or&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/prescreened-credit-insurance-offers">prescreened offers of credit and insurance</a>. While these aren’t necessarily scams, they can pile up quickly.To help you cut down on spam texts and emails:• Use filters.&nbsp;Check if your mobile phone has options to&nbsp;filter and block&nbsp;texts from unknown senders. Some call blocking apps can also help block unwanted messages. Many popular email providers (like Gmail or Yahoo Mail) have strong&nbsp;spam filters&nbsp;turned on by default. But if any spam gets into your inbox, mark it as&nbsp;spam or junk.• Unsubscribe&nbsp;from unwanted emails.&nbsp;Getting fewer unwanted emails helps you avoid clicking on links that can lead to&nbsp;phishing attacks.• Report unwanted messages.&nbsp;Unwanted messages often lead to scams. Report them. Use your phone’s “report junk” option or forward unwanted texts to&nbsp;7726 (SPAM)&nbsp;and unwanted emails to your&nbsp;email provider.To help you cut down on junk mail:• Register&nbsp;with the Direct Marketing Association&nbsp;to decide what types of mail you do and don’t want from marketers.• Opt out&nbsp;of getting prescreened credit and insurance offers in the mail.&nbsp;You can choose to opt out for five years or permanently.Learn more about how to get fewer&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages">spam texts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-get-less-spam-your-email">emails</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-stop-junk-mail">junk mail</a>. If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

FTC tips on dealing with spam texts, emails, junk mail

Like motes floating in late afternoon sunlight, stories of surviving the Dust Bowl permeated my childhood.

 Once we moved to California, when I was 9, knowing real people who survived those events offered serious creds in 8th and 11th grade American history classes. Teachers and fellow students wanted the scoop on what those days were really like for both sides of my families. 

Gramma Lottie’s daily menu—oatmeal for breakfast, beans for supper, and homemade bread smeared with lard for lunch when they had it--impressed no one. The stories of sun-blocking, choking dust were more than most native Californians could conceive.

A recent literary club discussion revived some of those remembered stories I’d tucked into my mind’s dark corners now that grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles who lived through those days have passed. I haven’t buried all those recollections as I still can’t pass a deep road cut in this part of the state without searching upper soil layers to wonder exactly where the Dust Bowl intersects with other collected historical eras.

That book talk led to a later conversation with another native Kansan from this region. She’s a generation behind me, a peer of our daughters, but she too cut her teeth hearing the stories of hanging wet sheets over windows to keep dust out or putting a damp cover over a baby crib to protect tiny lungs. 

I thought my father embellished his tales of single light bulbs hanging from the middle of the room, but her grandparents had drilled into their kids and, as a result, their grandchildren, the necessity for turning THE LIGHT off when you left a room. Clearly, Dust Bowl survivors didn’t leave a light on for folks.

Our discussion led to reports of Ford County residents whose ceilings collapsed in recent years because of decades of accumulated dust. 

My friend shared that that happened at their Rush County farm house when she was an elementary student. Their century-old home survived the Dust Bowl and other dirt storms. During the late 1980s or early '90s, old lathe and plaster caved to the accumulated weight. Even as a grownup with kids of her own, she vividly recalls her parents cleaning the mess and repairing damages.

Her story reminded me of our first home in Ellis. 

It too survived storms that darkened daylight and made breathing more than a challenge. When we put a new roof on, my husband shoveled piles of fine soil out of our attic. When hubs and his dad removed a gable window, dirt filled every crevice of that frame. I’m grateful they cleaned before that mess took out our ceiling.

Not everyone’s home precedes the Dust Bowl, but we all know people whose home did. 

Ask questions. What evidence lingers from those harsh days? What lessons did our elders learn and share that we can use to help us handle adversity?

 These folks raised families without triple-paned windows combined with central heat and air to filter dust. Somehow, they fed themselves even in years without measurable rain.

Oh, and if your house is old enough to have collected bushels of dirt in the attic, you might want to transfer some of that to the yard.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158626307.png" alt="Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINLike motes floating in late afternoon sunlight, stories of surviving the Dust Bowl permeated my childhood. Once we moved to California, when I was 9, knowing real people who survived those events offered serious creds in 8th and 11th grade American history classes. Teachers and fellow students wanted the scoop on what those days were really like for both sides of my families. Gramma Lottie’s daily menu—oatmeal for breakfast, beans for supper, and homemade bread smeared with lard for lunch when they had it--impressed no one. The stories of sun-blocking, choking dust were more than most native Californians could conceive.A recent literary club discussion revived some of those remembered stories I’d tucked into my mind’s dark corners now that grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles who lived through those days have passed. I haven’t buried all those recollections as I still can’t pass a deep road cut in this part of the state without searching upper soil layers to wonder exactly where the Dust Bowl intersects with other collected historical eras.That book talk led to a later conversation with another native Kansan from this region. She’s a generation behind me, a peer of our daughters, but she too cut her teeth hearing the stories of hanging wet sheets over windows to keep dust out or putting a damp cover over a baby crib to protect tiny lungs. I thought my father embellished his tales of single light bulbs hanging from the middle of the room, but her grandparents had drilled into their kids and, as a result, their grandchildren, the necessity for turning THE LIGHT off when you left a room. Clearly, Dust Bowl survivors didn’t leave a light on for folks.Our discussion led to reports of Ford County residents whose ceilings collapsed in recent years because of decades of accumulated dust. My friend shared that that happened at their Rush County farm house when she was an elementary student. Their century-old home survived the Dust Bowl and other dirt storms. During the late 1980s or early '90s, old lathe and plaster caved to the accumulated weight. Even as a grownup with kids of her own, she vividly recalls her parents cleaning the mess and repairing damages.Her story reminded me of our first home in Ellis. It too survived storms that darkened daylight and made breathing more than a challenge. When we put a new roof on, my husband shoveled piles of fine soil out of our attic. When hubs and his dad removed a gable window, dirt filled every crevice of that frame. I’m grateful they cleaned before that mess took out our ceiling.Not everyone’s home precedes the Dust Bowl, but we all know people whose home did. Ask questions. What evidence lingers from those harsh days? What lessons did our elders learn and share that we can use to help us handle adversity? These folks raised families without triple-paned windows combined with central heat and air to filter dust. Somehow, they fed themselves even in years without measurable rain.Oh, and if your house is old enough to have collected bushels of dirt in the attic, you might want to transfer some of that to the yard.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Dust Bowl lessons

A few years back we embarked on an adventure to build a simple and inexpensive deer feeder. A friend had an old unused fuel tank stand made from angle iron – the kind that once held a three-hundred-gallon drum on its side.&nbsp; I bought it for a song, and then came the challenge of what to use for a hopper to hold the corn. I’m not sure my wife has ever thought INSIDE the box, and she came up with the idea of using a poly cart like the ones that hold our weekly trash. I called the local solid waste utility company, found an old one with a broken axle and bought it for another song. We wanted to use a “flinger” style mechanism to dispense the corn, and since the bottom of poly carts are flat, that required somehow making the inside of the poly cart funnel shaped to funnel the corn down to the mechanism. That problem was solved by cutting two pieces of scrap plywood to fit inside the hopper, making the inside wedge-shaped.&nbsp;

We purchased the dispensing mechanism which consists of a small wheel mounted above a motor that’s driven by a square six-volt battery. It’s all controlled by a timer which turns the dispenser on and off at programed times, spinning the wheel and flinging corn around onto the ground.&nbsp; A thick plastic funnel comes with the dispenser and bolts around a hole cut into the bottom of the hopper. That funnel is specially designed so that when it’s positioned the right height above the flinger, it allows corn to run out of the hopper onto the flinger wheel, but causes it to “bridge-up” and stop until the wheel spins. In other words, if the funnel was wider or placed too far above the wheel, the corn would not “bridge-up” and stop running when it hit the motionless wheel, but instead would just pour constantly onto the ground until it had all run out.&nbsp;

Fast forward to spring a couple years later, when we were using the feeder to feed corn to turkeys prior to spring turkey season. I remember going there one evening to check the amount of corn in the hopper and was surprised to find it empty with lots of corn on the ground. I backed the pickup up to the feeder and climbed up onto it with a bucket of corn like I had done numerous times before, but when I dumped the bucket into the hopper, the corn all ran straight through onto the ground. Upon inspection, I found that the plastic funnel had been chewed off by some critter making it much shorter and allowing the corn to just pour through the hole. The feeder was now useless until a new funnel of some sort was put onto the bottom of the hopper.&nbsp;

A couple weeks later we headed out to pick up our then-useless deer feeder for repairs. It dawned on me that the hopper was made to be easily removed and that’s all we needed anyway, so we began removing the bolts that held it to the frame. As we worked, it seemed like I could hear an occasional rustling sound inside the hopper. I felt like Clark Griswald from the movie “Christmas Vacation,” trying to find the squeaking noise coming from the Christmas tree. But each time I stopped to listen, the rustling noise stopped too, so I dismissed it to my imagination. When the hopper was finally loose, we toppled it over into the bed of the pickup, and Joyce began hearing my “imaginary” rustling noise also. Supposing a no-good packrat was inside, I pulled the hopper to the back of the pickup and started to open the lid. My plan was to stand to the side and let the open lid dangle over the back of the tailgate in hopes that our freeloader would jump out the back and be gone without incident. While rolling the hopper around, the rustling inside turned to scratching and clawing and with the hole in the hopper facing away from us, I prepared to open the lid and confront the intruder.&nbsp; I unsnapped the tarp strap that held the lid closed, but before I could fling it open, a squirrel bailed out the hole in front, clearing the side of the pickup in one bound like Rocky the Flying Squirrel. Joyce and I starred at each other in disbelief; I think her only words were” I didn’t see that comin’!” The critter had actually chewed a hole through the half-inch plywood inside and had quite the cozy little nest built within; we pulled grass and leaves out of there for ten minutes.

The most amazing thing about the whole squirrel-nest-inside-the-deer-feeder-hopper thing is that the only way into it was up through the hole in the plastic funnel on the bottom. I know squirrels can squeeze their bodies into some impossible places, but I’d loved to have watched it leap from the frame of the feeder onto the motor, then stuff itself up through the gnawed-out plastic funnel and into the poly cart. This gives a whole new meaning to the term “squirrel corn.” So, as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors, if something seems squirrely, it probably is!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>A few years back we embarked on an adventure to build a simple and inexpensive deer feeder. A friend had an old unused fuel tank stand made from angle iron – the kind that once held a three-hundred-gallon drum on its side.&nbsp; I bought it for a song, and then came the challenge of what to use for a hopper to hold the corn. I’m not sure my wife has ever thought INSIDE the box, and she came up with the idea of using a poly cart like the ones that hold our weekly trash. I called the local solid waste utility company, found an old one with a broken axle and bought it for another song. We wanted to use a “flinger” style mechanism to dispense the corn, and since the bottom of poly carts are flat, that required somehow making the inside of the poly cart funnel shaped to funnel the corn down to the mechanism. That problem was solved by cutting two pieces of scrap plywood to fit inside the hopper, making the inside wedge-shaped.&nbsp;We purchased the dispensing mechanism which consists of a small wheel mounted above a motor that’s driven by a square six-volt battery. It’s all controlled by a timer which turns the dispenser on and off at programed times, spinning the wheel and flinging corn around onto the ground.&nbsp; A thick plastic funnel comes with the dispenser and bolts around a hole cut into the bottom of the hopper. That funnel is specially designed so that when it’s positioned the right height above the flinger, it allows corn to run out of the hopper onto the flinger wheel, but causes it to “bridge-up” and stop until the wheel spins. In other words, if the funnel was wider or placed too far above the wheel, the corn would not “bridge-up” and stop running when it hit the motionless wheel, but instead would just pour constantly onto the ground until it had all run out.&nbsp;Fast forward to spring a couple years later, when we were using the feeder to feed corn to turkeys prior to spring turkey season. I remember going there one evening to check the amount of corn in the hopper and was surprised to find it empty with lots of corn on the ground. I backed the pickup up to the feeder and climbed up onto it with a bucket of corn like I had done numerous times before, but when I dumped the bucket into the hopper, the corn all ran straight through onto the ground. Upon inspection, I found that the plastic funnel had been chewed off by some critter making it much shorter and allowing the corn to just pour through the hole. The feeder was now useless until a new funnel of some sort was put onto the bottom of the hopper.&nbsp;A couple weeks later we headed out to pick up our then-useless deer feeder for repairs. It dawned on me that the hopper was made to be easily removed and that’s all we needed anyway, so we began removing the bolts that held it to the frame. As we worked, it seemed like I could hear an occasional rustling sound inside the hopper. I felt like Clark Griswald from the movie “Christmas Vacation,” trying to find the squeaking noise coming from the Christmas tree. But each time I stopped to listen, the rustling noise stopped too, so I dismissed it to my imagination. When the hopper was finally loose, we toppled it over into the bed of the pickup, and Joyce began hearing my “imaginary” rustling noise also. Supposing a no-good packrat was inside, I pulled the hopper to the back of the pickup and started to open the lid. My plan was to stand to the side and let the open lid dangle over the back of the tailgate in hopes that our freeloader would jump out the back and be gone without incident. While rolling the hopper around, the rustling inside turned to scratching and clawing and with the hole in the hopper facing away from us, I prepared to open the lid and confront the intruder.&nbsp; I unsnapped the tarp strap that held the lid closed, but before I could fling it open, a squirrel bailed out the hole in front, clearing the side of the pickup in one bound like Rocky the Flying Squirrel. Joyce and I starred at each other in disbelief; I think her only words were” I didn’t see that comin’!” The critter had actually chewed a hole through the half-inch plywood inside and had quite the cozy little nest built within; we pulled grass and leaves out of there for ten minutes.The most amazing thing about the whole squirrel-nest-inside-the-deer-feeder-hopper thing is that the only way into it was up through the hole in the plastic funnel on the bottom. I know squirrels can squeeze their bodies into some impossible places, but I’d loved to have watched it leap from the frame of the feeder onto the motor, then stuff itself up through the gnawed-out plastic funnel and into the poly cart. This gives a whole new meaning to the term “squirrel corn.” So, as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors, if something seems squirrely, it probably is!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Gilliland: What’s in your hopper?

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

Over half of the farmland in Kansas is leased. 

Therefore, there are many different lease arrangements, factors to consider, and places where misunderstandings can happen. Additionally, many leases are still oral leases that are “signed” with a handshake.

One of the best ways to create a better understanding between tenant and landlord in most cases is to have a written lease.&nbsp; Having a written lease can lead to many topics for discussion that otherwise might not be considered. 

They would include but are not limited to:

Hunting/fishing rights Recreation access Payment due dates Termination procedures

In addition to the previously mentioned items, a written pasture lease for example can spell out responsibilities of both parties in regards to:

Care of fences Noxious weed control Water supply maintenance Grazing capacity restrictions and beginning and ending date of grazing season

A bonus of a written lease is that it documents the terms of the business relationship in case the contract is questioned. This can be especially important if the land changes hands.

Obviously, it is not necessary to have a written lease in order to have good communication between tenant and landlord but it can be helpful in spelling things out and avoiding misunderstandings and hard feelings. 

There may be some cases when introducing the possibility of implementing a written lease might damage the business relationship. Whether you have a written lease or not, make sure those lines of communication are kept open, visit with each other at least a few times a year.

Local county and district extension offices have several resources concerning leases, written leasing arrangement forms, cash rental rate averages, Kansas Agricultural Lease Law Publication C-668, etc. Go to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.agmanager.info/">www.agmanager.info</a>&nbsp;and click onto the Farm Management tab.

If you have questions contact your local county or district extension office. I can be contacted in the Cottonwood District, Great Bend office at 620-793-1910 and Stacy Campbell can be contacted in the Hays office at 785-628-9430.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698682262753.jpeg" alt="Alicia Boor ,&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor ,&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictOver half of the farmland in Kansas is leased. Therefore, there are many different lease arrangements, factors to consider, and places where misunderstandings can happen. Additionally, many leases are still oral leases that are “signed” with a handshake.One of the best ways to create a better understanding between tenant and landlord in most cases is to have a written lease.&nbsp; Having a written lease can lead to many topics for discussion that otherwise might not be considered. They would include but are not limited to: Hunting/fishing rights Recreation access Payment due dates Termination proceduresIn addition to the previously mentioned items, a written pasture lease for example can spell out responsibilities of both parties in regards to: Care of fences Noxious weed control Water supply maintenance Grazing capacity restrictions and beginning and ending date of grazing seasonA bonus of a written lease is that it documents the terms of the business relationship in case the contract is questioned. This can be especially important if the land changes hands.Obviously, it is not necessary to have a written lease in order to have good communication between tenant and landlord but it can be helpful in spelling things out and avoiding misunderstandings and hard feelings. There may be some cases when introducing the possibility of implementing a written lease might damage the business relationship. Whether you have a written lease or not, make sure those lines of communication are kept open, visit with each other at least a few times a year.Local county and district extension offices have several resources concerning leases, written leasing arrangement forms, cash rental rate averages, Kansas Agricultural Lease Law Publication C-668, etc. Go to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.agmanager.info/">www.agmanager.info</a>&nbsp;and click onto the Farm Management tab. If you have questions contact your local county or district extension office. I can be contacted in the Cottonwood District, Great Bend office at 620-793-1910 and Stacy Campbell can be contacted in the Hays office at 785-628-9430.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Getting it in writing – Agriculture land leases

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser talks with Jessica Phelan, assistant professor in the Fort Hays State University Department of Health and Human Performance about regulation of dietary supplements.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Do you really need food supplements and are they safe?" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=sm9wf-17b3b6d-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser talks with Jessica Phelan, assistant professor in the Fort Hays State University Department of Health and Human Performance about regulation of dietary supplements.

🎙 Post Podcast: Do you really need food supplements, are they safe?

<a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON </a>K-State Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

“Voice of the Wildcats.” That title belongs to the legendary sportscasters who have broadcast Kansas State University football and basketball games through the years.

Wyatt Thompson is the current and longtime Voice of the Cats, which he especially appreciates because of his roots in rural Kansas. Thompson became Voice of the Wildcats in 2002. He grew up in rural Kansas near Solomon.

Among his interests was livestock judging in high school FFA, which included two elements: One, placing a class of livestock in the desired order; and two, stating oral reasons to a judge to describe the reasons for that placing.

This process required him to make quick judgments and to state his observations articulately and accurately. In a sense, those skills also serve him well as a sportscaster.

Thompson continued livestock judging at Colby Community College but found himself drawn to sports broadcasting. He made the change. In 1976, he began his career, spending time at radio stations in Great Bend and Abilene. He was recognized with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Play-by-Play Award in 1982.

From 1985 until 1989, Thompson worked at KAYS in Hays where he was the play-by-play voice at Fort Hays State. He won the Oscar Stauffer Sportscaster of the Year Award in 1989.

Then Thompson moved to Denver. He was the play-by-play voice for Colorado State's football and men's basketball teams for five years. In addition to his duties at CSU, Thompson was also a sports reporter on radio and host of the Countdown to Kickoff show for the Denver Broncos.

Thompson won the Colorado Broadcasting Association award for best play-by-play announcer in 2000.

In 2002, he moved to K-State to become the Voice of the Wildcat, a position he still holds today. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of legendary broadcasters who have previously served as Voice of the Wildcats:&nbsp;Dev Nelson, Mitch Holthus, Steve Physioc and Greg Sharpe.

Today, Thompson is senior director of broadcasting for the K-State Athletic Department as well as Voice of the Wildcats. He&nbsp;serves as host of the Chris Klieman and Jerome Tang coaches’ shows on television and radio. In addition, he is heavily involved in various Catbacker Club, alumni and athletic department functions, frequently serving as a keynote speaker.

In an era of NIL -- Name, Image, Likeness -- and the transfer portal, it seems remarkable that he is observing local players from Kansas making an impact for their home state team. 

For example, in football, he sees Sam Hecht from Shawnee snap the ball to Avery Johnson, who went to Maize, who then might hand off the ball to Dylan Edwards from Wichita or D.J. Giddens from Junction City – and they just might be led by a block from Hadley Panzer of Lakin.

An estimated 55 Kansans are on the K-State football roster – far more than any other state.

It is especially exciting to see such in-state talent perform well. According to the K-State athletic department, since 1990 K-State’s all-conference selections have come from 37 cities in Kansas.

“I love broadcasting K-State sports for so many reasons,” Thompson said. “At the top of the list would be the amazing coaches and players that I get to work with daily.”

He also relishes the game day experience. “You can just feel the excitement for each game, and the love this fan base has for Kansas State University and the Cats,” Thompson said.

Thompson won the Hod Humiston Award for sports broadcasting from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters in 2011. Over the course of his career, Thompson has been named the Kansas Sportscaster of the Year six times. He ranks second all-time among K-State broadcasters in awards won, and fourth all-time among broadcasters in the state of Kansas.

In 2022 he was inducted into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

It's an impressive record for a farm kid from the rural community of Solomon, population 993 people. Now, that’s rural.

Voice of the Wildcats. We commend Wyatt Thompson for making a difference by sharing the excitement of Power 4 football and basketball with fans across Kansas and beyond. We’re always thankful to hear his voice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737038548828.jpeg" alt="Wyatt Thompson, voice of the Kansas State University Wildcats, is the former voice of the Fort Hays State University Tigers. Photo courtesy K-State" />
 <figcaption>Wyatt Thompson, voice of the Kansas State University Wildcats, is the former voice of the Fort Hays State University Tigers. Photo courtesy K-State</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON </a>K-State Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development “Voice of the Wildcats.” That title belongs to the legendary sportscasters who have broadcast Kansas State University football and basketball games through the years.Wyatt Thompson is the current and longtime Voice of the Cats, which he especially appreciates because of his roots in rural Kansas. Thompson became Voice of the Wildcats in 2002. He grew up in rural Kansas near Solomon.Among his interests was livestock judging in high school FFA, which included two elements: One, placing a class of livestock in the desired order; and two, stating oral reasons to a judge to describe the reasons for that placing.This process required him to make quick judgments and to state his observations articulately and accurately. In a sense, those skills also serve him well as a sportscaster.Thompson continued livestock judging at Colby Community College but found himself drawn to sports broadcasting. He made the change. In 1976, he began his career, spending time at radio stations in Great Bend and Abilene. He was recognized with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Play-by-Play Award in 1982.From 1985 until 1989, Thompson worked at KAYS in Hays where he was the play-by-play voice at Fort Hays State. He won the Oscar Stauffer Sportscaster of the Year Award in 1989.Then Thompson moved to Denver. He was the play-by-play voice for Colorado State's football and men's basketball teams for five years. In addition to his duties at CSU, Thompson was also a sports reporter on radio and host of the Countdown to Kickoff show for the Denver Broncos.Thompson won the Colorado Broadcasting Association award for best play-by-play announcer in 2000.In 2002, he moved to K-State to become the Voice of the Wildcat, a position he still holds today. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of legendary broadcasters who have previously served as Voice of the Wildcats:&nbsp;Dev Nelson, Mitch Holthus, Steve Physioc and Greg Sharpe.Today, Thompson is senior director of broadcasting for the K-State Athletic Department as well as Voice of the Wildcats. He&nbsp;serves as host of the Chris Klieman and Jerome Tang coaches’ shows on television and radio. In addition, he is heavily involved in various Catbacker Club, alumni and athletic department functions, frequently serving as a keynote speaker.In an era of NIL -- Name, Image, Likeness -- and the transfer portal, it seems remarkable that he is observing local players from Kansas making an impact for their home state team. For example, in football, he sees Sam Hecht from Shawnee snap the ball to Avery Johnson, who went to Maize, who then might hand off the ball to Dylan Edwards from Wichita or D.J. Giddens from Junction City – and they just might be led by a block from Hadley Panzer of Lakin.An estimated 55 Kansans are on the K-State football roster – far more than any other state.It is especially exciting to see such in-state talent perform well. According to the K-State athletic department, since 1990 K-State’s all-conference selections have come from 37 cities in Kansas.“I love broadcasting K-State sports for so many reasons,” Thompson said. “At the top of the list would be the amazing coaches and players that I get to work with daily.”He also relishes the game day experience. “You can just feel the excitement for each game, and the love this fan base has for Kansas State University and the Cats,” Thompson said.Thompson won the Hod Humiston Award for sports broadcasting from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters in 2011. Over the course of his career, Thompson has been named the Kansas Sportscaster of the Year six times. He ranks second all-time among K-State broadcasters in awards won, and fourth all-time among broadcasters in the state of Kansas.In 2022 he was inducted into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.It's an impressive record for a farm kid from the rural community of Solomon, population 993 people. Now, that’s rural.Voice of the Wildcats. We commend Wyatt Thompson for making a difference by sharing the excitement of Power 4 football and basketball with fans across Kansas and beyond. We’re always thankful to hear his voice.

Now That’s Rural: Wyatt Thompson, Voice of the Wildcats, former Voice of FHSU Tigers

By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas

If you’ve been to the grocery store since the new year you may have noticed that state sales tax on grocery items dropped to 0%.

In 2022, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill that gradually eliminated the sales tax on groceries, with final elimination on January 1, 2025.

To many, tax cuts represent a meaningful win for Kansas, but it also brings with it tough questions about the future of state revenue and services.

According to the 2022 legislation, State General Funds will take a $437.1 million hit this year and $526.2 million hit in 2026 due to the sales tax elimination.

This dilemma highlights the complexities of reducing taxes.

Most Kansans will celebrate the lessened burden on their bank accounts after visiting the grocery store, but in the same breath expect the same level of government services.

Our state is familiar with this dilemma after Governor Brownback’s deep income tax cuts in 2012 and 2013 — widely known as the “Kansas experiment”.

To be clear, there are important differences between Brownback’s income tax cuts, which primarily benefited the wealthiest Kansans, and eliminating sales tax on food, which spreads the benefits more equitably among Kansans. But the same dilemma remains.

Government services don’t exist in a vacuum. They cost money, and usually are paid for through tax revenue.

To add to this dilemma, the state legislature passed a tax reduction bill in 2024 that is expected to cut about $1.2 billion over three years from income and property taxes, and many state legislators have said that further property tax cuts are a top priority for the 2025 legislative session.

While on the surface, tax cuts seem to be a boon for Kansas families, the potential reduction in state revenue raises the question: what sacrifices might be required to maintain essential government services? Will this lead to cuts in education funding, infrastructure projects, or public safety budgets?

Lessons from the past, such as the “Kansas experiment”, remind us of the major risks that come from enacting tax cuts without a sustainable plan. Under Brownback’s cuts, the state’s revenues plummeted and led to major cuts to education, infrastructure, and other vital services.

Kansans have a lot to gain from the elimination of the grocery sales tax and other tax cuts, but they also have a lot to lose if the state’s financial future is not managed responsibly.

 The reality is clear: every dollar saved via tax cuts is a dollar no longer available to fund schools, roads, public safety, and healthcare. The question isn’t whether these tax cuts are beneficial in the short term — most Kansans would agree they are — but whether the state has a plan to sustain the services that keep our communities strong.

As we move forward, we must learn from the past. The Brownback tax experiment serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that poorly planned tax policies can do more harm than good. Kansans deserve transparency and accountability from their leaders about how these cuts will impact the state budget and the quality of life for all residents.

The elimination of the grocery sales tax offers relief, but it also requires vigilance. Kansans should demand a balanced approach — one that ensures tax relief without sacrificing the future of our state.

The choices we make today will shape the Kansas of tomorrow. Will we build a future that prioritizes short-term gains at the expense of long-term stability? Or will we find a path that balances relief with responsibility? The answer is up to all of us.

The success of these policies depends on the willingness of citizens, policymakers, and leaders to come together, ask tough questions, and make informed decisions to ensure Kansas continues to thrive.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694699489540.png" alt="Alexandra Middlewood is&nbsp;an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.&nbsp; Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood is&nbsp;an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.&nbsp; Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas If you’ve been to the grocery store since the new year you may have noticed that state sales tax on grocery items dropped to 0%.In 2022, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill that gradually eliminated the sales tax on groceries, with final elimination on January 1, 2025.To many, tax cuts represent a meaningful win for Kansas, but it also brings with it tough questions about the future of state revenue and services.According to the 2022 legislation, State General Funds will take a $437.1 million hit this year and $526.2 million hit in 2026 due to the sales tax elimination.This dilemma highlights the complexities of reducing taxes.Most Kansans will celebrate the lessened burden on their bank accounts after visiting the grocery store, but in the same breath expect the same level of government services.Our state is familiar with this dilemma after Governor Brownback’s deep income tax cuts in 2012 and 2013 — widely known as the “Kansas experiment”.To be clear, there are important differences between Brownback’s income tax cuts, which primarily benefited the wealthiest Kansans, and eliminating sales tax on food, which spreads the benefits more equitably among Kansans. But the same dilemma remains.Government services don’t exist in a vacuum. They cost money, and usually are paid for through tax revenue.To add to this dilemma, the state legislature passed a tax reduction bill in 2024 that is expected to cut about $1.2 billion over three years from income and property taxes, and many state legislators have said that further property tax cuts are a top priority for the 2025 legislative session.While on the surface, tax cuts seem to be a boon for Kansas families, the potential reduction in state revenue raises the question: what sacrifices might be required to maintain essential government services? Will this lead to cuts in education funding, infrastructure projects, or public safety budgets?Lessons from the past, such as the “Kansas experiment”, remind us of the major risks that come from enacting tax cuts without a sustainable plan. Under Brownback’s cuts, the state’s revenues plummeted and led to major cuts to education, infrastructure, and other vital services.Kansans have a lot to gain from the elimination of the grocery sales tax and other tax cuts, but they also have a lot to lose if the state’s financial future is not managed responsibly. The reality is clear: every dollar saved via tax cuts is a dollar no longer available to fund schools, roads, public safety, and healthcare. The question isn’t whether these tax cuts are beneficial in the short term — most Kansans would agree they are — but whether the state has a plan to sustain the services that keep our communities strong.As we move forward, we must learn from the past. The Brownback tax experiment serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that poorly planned tax policies can do more harm than good. Kansans deserve transparency and accountability from their leaders about how these cuts will impact the state budget and the quality of life for all residents.The elimination of the grocery sales tax offers relief, but it also requires vigilance. Kansans should demand a balanced approach — one that ensures tax relief without sacrificing the future of our state.The choices we make today will shape the Kansas of tomorrow. Will we build a future that prioritizes short-term gains at the expense of long-term stability? Or will we find a path that balances relief with responsibility? The answer is up to all of us.The success of these policies depends on the willingness of citizens, policymakers, and leaders to come together, ask tough questions, and make informed decisions to ensure Kansas continues to thrive.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

Insight Kansas: Balancing tax relief and responsibility

By TISA MASON FHSU University President

The VIP Ambassador Program at Fort Hays State University, established by President Gerald Tomanek in 1982, empowers students to publicly represent their university while fostering a spirit of connection among these talented future leaders. Each year, a select group of 15-20 VIP Ambassadors participate in significant projects and events, gaining invaluable experiences along the way. Hazel Frans, Katie Ecord, and Noah Erichsen are members of our current VIP Ambassadors team, and each has had a compelling personal journey that I would like to share with the readers of this column.

Hazel Frans, an Overland Park, Kansas junior, has always focused on the future. Her affinity for science began early, influenced by her participation in a gifted program in 5th grade. “My teacher introduced me to the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS). I was hooked.” KAMS is Kansas' premier early college program designed to provide a STEM-focused academic experience for gifted &amp; talented 11th &amp; 12th-grade students. By 7th grade, Hazel was already dreaming of a future at FHSU.

Since her arrival, Hazel has engaged in a variety of activities, including serving as the President of Custer Hall Community Council and presenting research at the annual SACAD event. Her experience in the KAMS program motivated her to apply for the VIP Ambassador Program as a freshman: "I was encouraged by friends who were VIPs. Their enthusiasm was infectious."

The moment she received the news of her acceptance was a highlight of her FHSU experience. “I learned so much from the interview process. It taught me how to articulate my visions and ambitions.” Each VIP Ambassador receives professional attire and participates in training sessions, including an etiquette dinner.

Hazel particularly cherishes the Promotion and Tenure Recognition event, where she celebrated the achievements of faculty who have profoundly impacted her academic path. "Participating in that celebration was incredible. It underscored how interconnected we all are in this community."

For Hazel, being a VIP Ambassador represents more than just a title; it's a heartfelt commitment to give back. "Every interaction has deepened my love for the university and highlighted the importance of being involved."

Katie Ecord, a junior from Pomona, Kansas, has a goal of becoming a Speech Language Pathologist. "The program here is renowned—it truly stands out nationally. After shadowing a professional, I realized I had found my passion."

Katie’s decision to become a VIP Ambassador sprang from her desire to connect with the broader FHSU community. "I wanted to strengthen connections between current students and alumni, recognizing their crucial support of our education."

Katie’s work regularly puts her in touch with FHSU donors. “Meeting them in person has been one of the most rewarding parts of being a VIP Ambassador. Hearing their stories and commitment to the university inspires me.” She often shares insights into donor impact through her work at the FHSU Foundation, expressing heartfelt appreciation for their generosity.

This experience has dramatically broadened Katie’s perspective: "I’ve come to understand how closely knit our university community is. I’m immensely grateful to everyone involved in our education."

Noah Erichsen, a senior from Ellsworth, Kansas, first stepped onto FHSU’s campus for a music camp, where he instantly felt a sense of belonging. “The staff is incredibly supportive. I’ve felt like I could pursue anything here.” Currently, he serves as the principal trombonist and Low Brass Section Leader in the FHSU Marching Band, merging his love for music with leadership.

A dual major in environmental geoscience and history, Noah is also actively involved in student government and tutoring, modeling the VIP Ambassador Program’s emphasis on community service. "I wanted to express my gratitude for the scholarships that have made my education possible, and the VIP Program was the perfect avenue."

“For me, VIP events are all about advocacy. Each donor has a unique story that resonates with my own journey; it’s incredible how connected we truly are.”

Noah recalls fondly the rewarding interactions he has had with alumni and donors, underscoring the program's success in nurturing relationships and understanding. “Every conversation is a meaningful exchange of experiences.”

Looking to the future, Hazel plans to pursue a Ph.D. in plant molecular biology, Katie aims to enter the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology at FHSU, and Noah is preparing for a career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after graduation. They are well-equipped to carry the lessons learned from their ambassador experiences into their future careers, championing the values of kindness, professionalism, and community.

Each holds their time as VIP Ambassadors in high regard, recognizing its significance in their FHSU journey. "Being involved has fostered a strong sense of belonging and built a support network," Noah reflects.

The VIP Ambassador Program is a powerful testament to the value of engagement and service, particularly in an era when personal connections often feel tenuous. As these students continue their journeys, the relationships they have formed and the principles they have embraced will undoubtedly resonate, enriching their futures and those of Fort Hays State University.

As they transition from college to their respective careers, Hazel, Katie, and Noah exemplify what it means to be an ambassador: to advocate, to connect, and ultimately, to give back to the community that has given them so much. Their stories shine as a beacon of the program's impact, fostering a vibrant culture of leadership and philanthropy at Fort Hays State University for years to come.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Tisa Mason, FHSU president. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Tisa Mason, FHSU president. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By TISA MASON FHSU University PresidentThe VIP Ambassador Program at Fort Hays State University, established by President Gerald Tomanek in 1982, empowers students to publicly represent their university while fostering a spirit of connection among these talented future leaders. Each year, a select group of 15-20 VIP Ambassadors participate in significant projects and events, gaining invaluable experiences along the way. Hazel Frans, Katie Ecord, and Noah Erichsen are members of our current VIP Ambassadors team, and each has had a compelling personal journey that I would like to share with the readers of this column.Hazel Frans, an Overland Park, Kansas junior, has always focused on the future. Her affinity for science began early, influenced by her participation in a gifted program in 5th grade. “My teacher introduced me to the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS). I was hooked.” KAMS is Kansas' premier early college program designed to provide a STEM-focused academic experience for gifted &amp; talented 11th &amp; 12th-grade students. By 7th grade, Hazel was already dreaming of a future at FHSU.Since her arrival, Hazel has engaged in a variety of activities, including serving as the President of Custer Hall Community Council and presenting research at the annual SACAD event. Her experience in the KAMS program motivated her to apply for the VIP Ambassador Program as a freshman: "I was encouraged by friends who were VIPs. Their enthusiasm was infectious."The moment she received the news of her acceptance was a highlight of her FHSU experience. “I learned so much from the interview process. It taught me how to articulate my visions and ambitions.” Each VIP Ambassador receives professional attire and participates in training sessions, including an etiquette dinner.Hazel particularly cherishes the Promotion and Tenure Recognition event, where she celebrated the achievements of faculty who have profoundly impacted her academic path. "Participating in that celebration was incredible. It underscored how interconnected we all are in this community."For Hazel, being a VIP Ambassador represents more than just a title; it's a heartfelt commitment to give back. "Every interaction has deepened my love for the university and highlighted the importance of being involved."Katie Ecord, a junior from Pomona, Kansas, has a goal of becoming a Speech Language Pathologist. "The program here is renowned—it truly stands out nationally. After shadowing a professional, I realized I had found my passion."Katie’s decision to become a VIP Ambassador sprang from her desire to connect with the broader FHSU community. "I wanted to strengthen connections between current students and alumni, recognizing their crucial support of our education."Katie’s work regularly puts her in touch with FHSU donors. “Meeting them in person has been one of the most rewarding parts of being a VIP Ambassador. Hearing their stories and commitment to the university inspires me.” She often shares insights into donor impact through her work at the FHSU Foundation, expressing heartfelt appreciation for their generosity.This experience has dramatically broadened Katie’s perspective: "I’ve come to understand how closely knit our university community is. I’m immensely grateful to everyone involved in our education."Noah Erichsen, a senior from Ellsworth, Kansas, first stepped onto FHSU’s campus for a music camp, where he instantly felt a sense of belonging. “The staff is incredibly supportive. I’ve felt like I could pursue anything here.” Currently, he serves as the principal trombonist and Low Brass Section Leader in the FHSU Marching Band, merging his love for music with leadership.A dual major in environmental geoscience and history, Noah is also actively involved in student government and tutoring, modeling the VIP Ambassador Program’s emphasis on community service. "I wanted to express my gratitude for the scholarships that have made my education possible, and the VIP Program was the perfect avenue."“For me, VIP events are all about advocacy. Each donor has a unique story that resonates with my own journey; it’s incredible how connected we truly are.”Noah recalls fondly the rewarding interactions he has had with alumni and donors, underscoring the program's success in nurturing relationships and understanding. “Every conversation is a meaningful exchange of experiences.”Looking to the future, Hazel plans to pursue a Ph.D. in plant molecular biology, Katie aims to enter the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology at FHSU, and Noah is preparing for a career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after graduation. They are well-equipped to carry the lessons learned from their ambassador experiences into their future careers, championing the values of kindness, professionalism, and community.Each holds their time as VIP Ambassadors in high regard, recognizing its significance in their FHSU journey. "Being involved has fostered a strong sense of belonging and built a support network," Noah reflects.The VIP Ambassador Program is a powerful testament to the value of engagement and service, particularly in an era when personal connections often feel tenuous. As these students continue their journeys, the relationships they have formed and the principles they have embraced will undoubtedly resonate, enriching their futures and those of Fort Hays State University.As they transition from college to their respective careers, Hazel, Katie, and Noah exemplify what it means to be an ambassador: to advocate, to connect, and ultimately, to give back to the community that has given them so much. Their stories shine as a beacon of the program's impact, fostering a vibrant culture of leadership and philanthropy at Fort Hays State University for years to come.

Heart of a Tiger: VIP Ambassadors gain insight, give back to FHSU community

Nothing like a good storm starting with ice and ending with blowing snow and arctic temps to bring in the birds. 

While warmer than normal days and plentiful sunshine highlighted late fall and early winter, a first week in January storm countered those non-wintry days that had encouraged birds to forage naturally rather than rely on backyard feeders. Upon arrival, that more seasonal weather delivered hordes of birds to our feeders and heated water dish. Their appearance invited the local Cooper’s hawk to join the feeding frenzy.

One thing we’ve learned over decades of putting out seeds and suet for neighborhood birds is you also feed raptors who take the term bird feeder literally. This familiar female has lived nearby the four years we’ve been in this house and is the reason we installed protective netting over our chicken coop.

We hadn’t seen the old girl or our usuals while the nicer weather afforded them opportunities to fill their bellies in the wild. Once that storm blew in, it didn’t take long for the regulars to crowd the feeder for dinner and a drink. 

Because we leave plenty of summer garden growth standing, they also nibble seeds, perch high to scan the horizon, or duck and cover when their nemesis flies by. That day they darted unconcerned amongst the feeders, gobbling sunflower seeds and grain.

During the first day of the storm, the little brown birds—sparrows, starlings, and black birds flitted in and out of dried corn stalks, tomato vines, and sunflowers between visits to food and water. Watching them out the window, they didn’t act like a predator roamed the vicinity. It made me wonder if our resident Cooper’s hawk had left town.

Our freshly-filled dishes stood abandoned. It didn’t take long to spy our resident raptor perched on a stick near the asparagus bed where she actively tugged feathers from something larger than a sparrow but smaller than a Eurasian dove. 

She’d positioned herself so I could see only her backside and not the feast she intended to devour. While her body blocked the gory details, sharp winds blew feathers in every direction as she used her precision beak and talons to harvest protein necessary for survival. Arctic gusts not only blew her prey’s feathers about, they riffled her head, wing, and back as she swallowed life-sustaining calories.

Part of me felt sorry for her target. However, the side that loves raptors cheered her on. 

Ice, sleet, snow, and wind worked against every one of these birds. Ask any traveler or first responder standing outside in that storm, and they’d tell you it was miserable. During the peak of this storm, we received a text from some state entity telling us not to travel unnecessarily. Duh!

We didn’t drive anywhere. Instead, we stood in our dining room, watching creatures fighting wind, moisture, and frigid temps. All of them desperately needed fuel to survive. As I warmed my feet on the furnace vent, sipping morning coffee, gazing out the window at Mother Nature’s spin on the movie Frozen, I admired this hunter’s skill and wished her well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736523108332.jpeg" alt="Cooper's hawk devouring its prey. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Cooper's hawk devouring its prey. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINNothing like a good storm starting with ice and ending with blowing snow and arctic temps to bring in the birds. While warmer than normal days and plentiful sunshine highlighted late fall and early winter, a first week in January storm countered those non-wintry days that had encouraged birds to forage naturally rather than rely on backyard feeders. Upon arrival, that more seasonal weather delivered hordes of birds to our feeders and heated water dish. Their appearance invited the local Cooper’s hawk to join the feeding frenzy.One thing we’ve learned over decades of putting out seeds and suet for neighborhood birds is you also feed raptors who take the term bird feeder literally. This familiar female has lived nearby the four years we’ve been in this house and is the reason we installed protective netting over our chicken coop.We hadn’t seen the old girl or our usuals while the nicer weather afforded them opportunities to fill their bellies in the wild. Once that storm blew in, it didn’t take long for the regulars to crowd the feeder for dinner and a drink. Because we leave plenty of summer garden growth standing, they also nibble seeds, perch high to scan the horizon, or duck and cover when their nemesis flies by. That day they darted unconcerned amongst the feeders, gobbling sunflower seeds and grain.During the first day of the storm, the little brown birds—sparrows, starlings, and black birds flitted in and out of dried corn stalks, tomato vines, and sunflowers between visits to food and water. Watching them out the window, they didn’t act like a predator roamed the vicinity. It made me wonder if our resident Cooper’s hawk had left town.By mid-morning Sunday, we knew better. Our freshly-filled dishes stood abandoned. It didn’t take long to spy our resident raptor perched on a stick near the asparagus bed where she actively tugged feathers from something larger than a sparrow but smaller than a Eurasian dove. She’d positioned herself so I could see only her backside and not the feast she intended to devour. While her body blocked the gory details, sharp winds blew feathers in every direction as she used her precision beak and talons to harvest protein necessary for survival. Arctic gusts not only blew her prey’s feathers about, they riffled her head, wing, and back as she swallowed life-sustaining calories.Part of me felt sorry for her target. However, the side that loves raptors cheered her on. Ice, sleet, snow, and wind worked against every one of these birds. Ask any traveler or first responder standing outside in that storm, and they’d tell you it was miserable. During the peak of this storm, we received a text from some state entity telling us not to travel unnecessarily. Duh!We didn’t drive anywhere. Instead, we stood in our dining room, watching creatures fighting wind, moisture, and frigid temps. All of them desperately needed fuel to survive. As I warmed my feet on the furnace vent, sipping morning coffee, gazing out the window at Mother Nature’s spin on the movie Frozen, I admired this hunter’s skill and wished her well.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Admiring a hunter

Kansas Democratic Party TOPEKA — First, Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover) banned the free press from the Senate Chamber floor and now, as reported by the <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/13/kansas-house-speaker-bans-reporters-from-chamber-floor-doesnt-say-why/">Kansas Reflector</a>, his counterpart in the House, Speaker Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita) is doing the same and forcing the press off the floor of the House Chamber.

Reporters and other media will no longer be allowed access to a designated workstation on either chamber floor and instead must observe and report from the public gallery. 

This move comes on the heels of <a href="http://honest">Senate Democratic Leader’s Dinah Sykes’ recent op-ed</a> highlighting Republican leadership’s efforts to hide their true priorities: “With their supermajority, Republican politicians have promised paybacks for the ultra-rich, big corporations and out-of-state interests trying to impose their will on our state.”

 “Very few things that are good, right or well-intentioned are done in the dark,” said Kansas Democratic Party Chair Jeanna Repass.

 “Our free press and media provide a light on our politics and our lawmakers. It is disgraceful and disrespectful to Kansans to have this assault on the free press in our state capitol. What are Republicans trying to hide from the people who they are supposed to represent?,” said Repass.

 The Kansas Democratic Party calls on Speaker Dan Hawkins to reverse this disturbing measure to suppress the media and reporters immediately. 

As the 2025 legislative session moves into its first full week, Republicans must allow the citizens of Kansas to have access to the people whom we have entrusted as our representatives as they make the laws that impact our lives.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736956952802.png" alt="Kansas Democratic Party" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Democratic Party</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Democratic Party TOPEKA — First, Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover) banned the free press from the Senate Chamber floor and now, as reported by the <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/13/kansas-house-speaker-bans-reporters-from-chamber-floor-doesnt-say-why/">Kansas Reflector</a>, his counterpart in the House, Speaker Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita) is doing the same and forcing the press off the floor of the House Chamber. Reporters and other media will no longer be allowed access to a designated workstation on either chamber floor and instead must observe and report from the public gallery. This move comes on the heels of <a href="http://honest">Senate Democratic Leader’s Dinah Sykes’ recent op-ed</a> highlighting Republican leadership’s efforts to hide their true priorities: “With their supermajority, Republican politicians have promised paybacks for the ultra-rich, big corporations and out-of-state interests trying to impose their will on our state.” “Very few things that are good, right or well-intentioned are done in the dark,” said Kansas Democratic Party Chair Jeanna Repass. “Our free press and media provide a light on our politics and our lawmakers. It is disgraceful and disrespectful to Kansans to have this assault on the free press in our state capitol. What are Republicans trying to hide from the people who they are supposed to represent?,” said Repass. The Kansas Democratic Party calls on Speaker Dan Hawkins to reverse this disturbing measure to suppress the media and reporters immediately. As the 2025 legislative session moves into its first full week, Republicans must allow the citizens of Kansas to have access to the people whom we have entrusted as our representatives as they make the laws that impact our lives.&nbsp;

Kansas Democratic Party: 'Republicans intent on hiding their actions from Kansas public'

By STEVE GILLILAND As I left our deer blind this morning ahead of the approaching winter storm, the windows of my pickup were already icing over, and my driveway was so slick already, I nearly feel on my butt when I stepped out of the truck at home. That should have answered the nagging question “Did I stay long enough in the blind?” Yet here I sit, a little guy on my shoulder whispering in my ear “What a loser; you should have stayed loooonger!”

This has been a different and exasperating deer season for many hunters in my area. 

Several local hunters have come away without harvesting deer, as the deer just don’t appear to be here. The moon was full or bright for much of the regular firearms season, raising the excuse that the deer were simply moving at night. That coupled with the unseasonably mild weather, makes that theory more than plausible. 

But an avid deer hunter nearby told me he has seen fewer pictures on his cameras this year than any year he can remember. The three years of drought that has plagued our state might also be a factor, as drought affects fawn survival and forces deer to drink from stagnant water holes which foster diseases like Blue Tongue.

Around here, it always seems the nearer the river, the more deer there are. 

With that in mind, I was given the chance to hunt from a friend's raised blind close to the river. He had gotten a buck there opening morning, but for the next several days, I saw a total of two small bucks. The owner even sat with me one morning this week during antlerless season as a second set of eyes, and we saw nothing. 

The farmer just across the fence had counted 17 in the field well after dark one night as he worked in the field, again, lending credence to the theory that the deer were moving at night. But this morning ahead of the storm, a 13-year-old girl got her first deer from that blind, which happened to be the only deer they saw.

Volumes have been written instructing deer hunters how to have a successful deer season, but try as I might, I can’t find anything consoling those of us who failed to harvest a deer this year, or instructing us how to cope for the next twelve months. 

So, besides giving you the names of the local psychiatrists and advising you to just go out and buy half a hog, I’ll try to offer some advice as coming from a deer hunter who’s been down that “empty freezer” road more than once.

First and foremost, you know how I feel about the term “unsuccessful” as it relates to any hunting trip or outdoor adventure. I live by the cliché that a bad day in the woods is still better than a good day at work or most other places for that matter. 

I have to remind myself that watching the owl silently land in the tree in front of our blind, or hearing the wailing howls of coyotes help make the morning anything but “unsuccessful.” 

Failure to harvest a deer doesn’t necessarily mean you did something wrong. If you missed an easy shot or spooked the deer by being seen, smelled or heard, yes, that was your mistake. But things beyond our control affect deer harvests also.

So, here’s my advice to all deer hunters who didn’t connect this year. 

First, figure out how to correct mistakes that might have cost you your venison. This can include spending time at the range if you missed an easy shot. 

Secondly, get permission to hunt more property. One cannot have too many places to hunt deer; it’s like having too much&nbsp;money! The more ground you can hunt, the better the odds of finding deer under any circumstance. 

Last, and certainly not least, spend time in the field or woods with your binoculars. I grew up hunting Ohio whitetails with a group of guys that included a couple seasoned deer hunters. When deer season ended, it became a tradition to ask each other “Well, are you eating venison or bologna?” Pre-season scouting can often mean the difference between venison and bologna for the next twelve months.

Now that I’ve finished this week’s contribution, please excuse me while I get to work on recipes for my new cookbook, 101 Ways to Cook Bologna...

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND As I left our deer blind this morning ahead of the approaching winter storm, the windows of my pickup were already icing over, and my driveway was so slick already, I nearly feel on my butt when I stepped out of the truck at home. That should have answered the nagging question “Did I stay long enough in the blind?” Yet here I sit, a little guy on my shoulder whispering in my ear “What a loser; you should have stayed loooonger!”This has been a different and exasperating deer season for many hunters in my area. Several local hunters have come away without harvesting deer, as the deer just don’t appear to be here. The moon was full or bright for much of the regular firearms season, raising the excuse that the deer were simply moving at night. That coupled with the unseasonably mild weather, makes that theory more than plausible. But an avid deer hunter nearby told me he has seen fewer pictures on his cameras this year than any year he can remember. The three years of drought that has plagued our state might also be a factor, as drought affects fawn survival and forces deer to drink from stagnant water holes which foster diseases like Blue Tongue.Around here, it always seems the nearer the river, the more deer there are. With that in mind, I was given the chance to hunt from a friend's raised blind close to the river. He had gotten a buck there opening morning, but for the next several days, I saw a total of two small bucks. The owner even sat with me one morning this week during antlerless season as a second set of eyes, and we saw nothing. The farmer just across the fence had counted 17 in the field well after dark one night as he worked in the field, again, lending credence to the theory that the deer were moving at night. But this morning ahead of the storm, a 13-year-old girl got her first deer from that blind, which happened to be the only deer they saw.Volumes have been written instructing deer hunters how to have a successful deer season, but try as I might, I can’t find anything consoling those of us who failed to harvest a deer this year, or instructing us how to cope for the next twelve months. So, besides giving you the names of the local psychiatrists and advising you to just go out and buy half a hog, I’ll try to offer some advice as coming from a deer hunter who’s been down that “empty freezer” road more than once.First and foremost, you know how I feel about the term “unsuccessful” as it relates to any hunting trip or outdoor adventure. I live by the cliché that a bad day in the woods is still better than a good day at work or most other places for that matter. I have to remind myself that watching the owl silently land in the tree in front of our blind, or hearing the wailing howls of coyotes help make the morning anything but “unsuccessful.” Failure to harvest a deer doesn’t necessarily mean you did something wrong. If you missed an easy shot or spooked the deer by being seen, smelled or heard, yes, that was your mistake. But things beyond our control affect deer harvests also.So, here’s my advice to all deer hunters who didn’t connect this year. First, figure out how to correct mistakes that might have cost you your venison. This can include spending time at the range if you missed an easy shot. Secondly, get permission to hunt more property. One cannot have too many places to hunt deer; it’s like having too much&nbsp;money! The more ground you can hunt, the better the odds of finding deer under any circumstance. Last, and certainly not least, spend time in the field or woods with your binoculars. I grew up hunting Ohio whitetails with a group of guys that included a couple seasoned deer hunters. When deer season ended, it became a tradition to ask each other “Well, are you eating venison or bologna?” Pre-season scouting can often mean the difference between venison and bologna for the next twelve months.Now that I’ve finished this week’s contribution, please excuse me while I get to work on recipes for my new cookbook, 101 Ways to Cook Bologna...Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: How to survive an unsuccessful deer season

By&nbsp;MICHAEL A. SMITH Insight Kansas

Currently (excuse the pun), electric vehicles make up only about 1% of the car and light truck market in Kansas–but that will change. Even the climate denialism of President-elect Trump cannot stop it. His newfound friendship with Tesla CEO Elon Musk is sure to keep EV sales strong. Besides, a new Panasonic EV battery factory being built in DeSoto received the largest state tax incentive package in Kansas history– $2.5 billion.

EVs are not perfect. They are expensive. It takes longer to charge an EV battery than to fill a gas tank, and that’s assuming that high-capacity chargers are available. These tend to be found only along interstates and in urban areas. EV motors and batteries require precious metals, the mining of which can lead to environmental degradation and abuse of workers. Finally, their unique combination of metals can burn differently than other materials, presenting new challenges to firefighters and other first responders

That said, EVs are still much better for the environment. They require no petroleum fuels, and the carbon footprint of generating their electricity is just a fraction of the tailpipe emissions generated by internal combustion engines. EVs also save the environmental cost of oil drilling, refining and shipping. Many EV drivers recharge the vehicles overnight at home. This leads to more consistent electricity generation throughout the day, which brings greater efficiencies at the power plant. The electricity can also be generated through cleaner sources such as wind and solar. Recharging EV batteries costs only about a third the price of refueling a gas tank.

For Kansas, several policy challenges await. Like most states, Kansas funds the state’s roads and highways primarily with motor fuel taxes on gasoline and diesel, which in turns leverage federal matching funds, also generated with motor fuel taxes. EV drivers do not pay these taxes. Kansas joins many other states in levying additional registration fees on EVs, but at $20-$30 per year, they do not replace the revenue generated by the average car or light truck in Kansas: over $110 annually in state taxes alone.

Some states have gotten creative. Oregon’s experimental OReGO plan uses monitors to assess how many miles a driver puts on their car each year, and levies a per-mile tax. Yet the idea of the state monitoring our driving habits is sure to rankle Kansas’ libertarian sensibilities. Even Oregon made the program voluntary. OReGO will probably be a no-go around here.

In a classic example of steering a straight course in all directions, the federal government and many states also offer tax credits for the purchase of EVs, due to their environmental benefits. A recent Kansas Reflector article noted that these credits were sharply restricted for EVs in Kansas several years ago. However, the federal credit is still in effect.

Other EV challenges include new training for firefighters. Notwithstanding the recent, viral, debunked “Tesla fires” social media post, EVs’ unique materials present some challenges to first responders, including those working along highways and near battery factories.

As for Tesla, they no longer own the market for EVs but they are still a major player. Kansas’ auto dealership licensing laws currently prohibit Tesla’s direct-to-consumer sales, but this may be the year that the legislature updates those laws. Right now, the closest place for most Kansans to test drive and service Teslas is Kansas City, MO.

EVs’ popularity continues to grow. Conspiracy theories and culture warriors notwithstanding, it is time for Kansas legislators to make the law more… well, current.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700168795368.png" alt="Michael A. Smith" />
 <figcaption>Michael A. Smith</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;MICHAEL A. SMITH Insight KansasCurrently (excuse the pun), electric vehicles make up only about 1% of the car and light truck market in Kansas–but that will change. Even the climate denialism of President-elect Trump cannot stop it. His newfound friendship with Tesla CEO Elon Musk is sure to keep EV sales strong. Besides, a new Panasonic EV battery factory being built in DeSoto received the largest state tax incentive package in Kansas history– $2.5 billion.EVs are not perfect. They are expensive. It takes longer to charge an EV battery than to fill a gas tank, and that’s assuming that high-capacity chargers are available. These tend to be found only along interstates and in urban areas. EV motors and batteries require precious metals, the mining of which can lead to environmental degradation and abuse of workers. Finally, their unique combination of metals can burn differently than other materials, presenting new challenges to firefighters and other first respondersThat said, EVs are still much better for the environment. They require no petroleum fuels, and the carbon footprint of generating their electricity is just a fraction of the tailpipe emissions generated by internal combustion engines. EVs also save the environmental cost of oil drilling, refining and shipping. Many EV drivers recharge the vehicles overnight at home. This leads to more consistent electricity generation throughout the day, which brings greater efficiencies at the power plant. The electricity can also be generated through cleaner sources such as wind and solar. Recharging EV batteries costs only about a third the price of refueling a gas tank.For Kansas, several policy challenges await. Like most states, Kansas funds the state’s roads and highways primarily with motor fuel taxes on gasoline and diesel, which in turns leverage federal matching funds, also generated with motor fuel taxes. EV drivers do not pay these taxes. Kansas joins many other states in levying additional registration fees on EVs, but at $20-$30 per year, they do not replace the revenue generated by the average car or light truck in Kansas: over $110 annually in state taxes alone.Some states have gotten creative. Oregon’s experimental OReGO plan uses monitors to assess how many miles a driver puts on their car each year, and levies a per-mile tax. Yet the idea of the state monitoring our driving habits is sure to rankle Kansas’ libertarian sensibilities. Even Oregon made the program voluntary. OReGO will probably be a no-go around here.In a classic example of steering a straight course in all directions, the federal government and many states also offer tax credits for the purchase of EVs, due to their environmental benefits. A recent Kansas Reflector article noted that these credits were sharply restricted for EVs in Kansas several years ago. However, the federal credit is still in effect.Other EV challenges include new training for firefighters. Notwithstanding the recent, viral, debunked “Tesla fires” social media post, EVs’ unique materials present some challenges to first responders, including those working along highways and near battery factories.As for Tesla, they no longer own the market for EVs but they are still a major player. Kansas’ auto dealership licensing laws currently prohibit Tesla’s direct-to-consumer sales, but this may be the year that the legislature updates those laws. Right now, the closest place for most Kansans to test drive and service Teslas is Kansas City, MO.EVs’ popularity continues to grow. Conspiracy theories and culture warriors notwithstanding, it is time for Kansas legislators to make the law more… well, current.

INSIGHT KANSAS: More electric vehicles are coming to Kansas 

By STACY CAMPBELL Crop Production&nbsp;Agent Cottonwood Extension District

The Cottonwood Extension District along with other county and district Extension offices throughout the state are offering several programs that may be of interest to agricultural producers and their families this winter.

Transition planning is always a hot topic, especially among agriculture producers and agriculture landowners. This winter K-State Research &amp; Extension (KSRE) County and Districts are teaming up with the KSRE Agriculture Economics Department to offer throughout the state, the series “Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women – Succession Planning." 

This program will feature a livestreamed keynote presentation and local hands-on activities to motivate participants to create farm succession plans and facilitate family and business conversations around this vital topic.

According to data from the U.S. Census, 70% of U.S. farmland will transfer to the next generation within 20 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell, Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell, Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Crop Production&nbsp;Agent Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe Cottonwood Extension District along with other county and district Extension offices throughout the state are offering several programs that may be of interest to agricultural producers and their families this winter.Transition planning is always a hot topic, especially among agriculture producers and agriculture landowners. This winter K-State Research &amp; Extension (KSRE) County and Districts are teaming up with the KSRE Agriculture Economics Department to offer throughout the state, the series “Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women – Succession Planning." This program will feature a livestreamed keynote presentation and local hands-on activities to motivate participants to create farm succession plans and facilitate family and business conversations around this vital topic.According to data from the U.S. Census, 70% of U.S. farmland will transfer to the next generation within 20 years.The Succession Planning workshops will be held on successive Tuesdays in Great Bend and Hays beginning Jan. 21 and 28, and continuing on Feb. 4 and 11. To learn more and to register by the Jan. 13th deadline go to <a href="https://www.agmanager.info/">www.agmanager.info</a>.The popular annual “Cover Your Acres Winter Conference" in Oberlin will be held January 21 and 22. The same programs will be offered both days of the conference, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 5:00 p.m. The conference, which typically draws more than 400 attendees from Kansas and other states, highlights the latest technology, methods, and conservation practices to improve crop production in the region. To see program topics and speakers and to register by the early bird deadline of January 15, go to <a href="https://www.wkrec.org/events/">www.wkrec.org/events</a>.Do you currently have agriculture employees or wish to hire them? Learn about employee classification, labor laws, payroll computation, payroll deposits, and employee benefits at an “Agricultural Payroll for Producers" program January 22 in Dodge City, January 23 in Hays, January 28 in Topeka and January 30 in Parsons. For additional information and to register, contact Chelsea Plummer at ecplummer@ksu.edu or 316-393-1830 or the Cottonwood Extension Office in Hays at 785-628-9430.Two other programs being offered both on January 29 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. are “Soil Fertility School” in Rush Center at Township Hall, 220 Union St., and “Keeping Grass Grass a Rangeland Brush Management: Identification and Control Program” at Hoisington Activity Center. To register for the brush management meeting, call the Great Bend office 620-793-1910. To register for the soil fertility meeting, call the Hays Office by Jan. 15 at 785-628-9430.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension 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 by calling 785-628-9430.

Opinion