By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will consider changing the time
and date of its weekly meetings at Monday’s commission meeting.

According to County Administrator Darin Myers, members of
the commission have approached him about changing the times and dates to the
first three Tuesdays of the month at 8:30 a.m.

Myers said in <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09192022-497">prep materials </a>for the meeting that changing
from the current time — 5 p.m. on the first three Mondays of each month — would
have several benefits. Those include allowing staff to attend the meetings without
earning overtime, new employees could more easily attend the morning meetings
and it would free up the commissioners to attend the Ellis and Victoria city council
meetings.

If the measure is approved by the commission, it
would go into effect the first meeting in October which would be Oct. 4 at 8:30 a.m. at the Administrative Building at 718 Main in Hays.

The commission is also set to consider the future the building
at 601 Main, which currently houses the Cottonwood Extension
District, purchase a new ambulance and design for the new public works
facility.

Monday’s commission meeting is at 5 p.m. at the County Administrative
Building. 

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cqzsywHii7o"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostThe Ellis County Commission will consider changing the time
and date of its weekly meetings at Monday’s commission meeting.According to County Administrator Darin Myers, members of
the commission have approached him about changing the times and dates to the
first three Tuesdays of the month at 8:30 a.m.Myers said in <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09192022-497">prep materials </a>for the meeting that changing
from the current time — 5 p.m. on the first three Mondays of each month — would
have several benefits. Those include allowing staff to attend the meetings without
earning overtime, new employees could more easily attend the morning meetings
and it would free up the commissioners to attend the Ellis and Victoria city council
meetings.If the measure is approved by the commission, it
would go into effect the first meeting in October which would be Oct. 4 at 8:30 a.m. at the Administrative Building at 718 Main in Hays.The commission is also set to consider the future the building
at 601 Main, which currently houses the Cottonwood Extension
District, purchase a new ambulance and design for the new public works
facility.Monday’s commission meeting is at 5 p.m. at the County Administrative
Building.

🎥 Ellis Co. Commission to consider changing meeting time

Extension in Kansas introduced a new way of sharing educational programs during the pandemic. While&nbsp;we were not doing&nbsp;face-to-face presentations,&nbsp;people of all ages found&nbsp;webinars recorded by Extension Family and Consumer Sciences professionals from across the state&nbsp;to be an effective&nbsp;way to learn about a variety of topics.

Dubbed as Living Well Wednesday, the topics touched on a wide variety of essential skills that empower you and your family to live, work, and thrive. The webinars were held over the lunch hour on the second and fourth Wednesday, throughout much of 2021 and during the first three months of 2022.&nbsp;The neat thing is that each session is recorded and available to listen to on your schedule.&nbsp;Just go to the KSRE website and in the search type in living well Wednesday.

The first presentation in 2022 was titled, “Parents Guide to Social Media.” A guest presenter, John Calvert, Director of Safe and Secure Schools Unit, shares his expertise about the apps to be aware of on&nbsp;a&nbsp;child’s phone.&nbsp;It was an eye-opening presentation that concerns me when I think of my four grandchildren, aged 7 to 14. Besides the recordings&nbsp;there are links to excellent handouts and additional resources to refer back to.

There are three upcoming Living Well Wednesday presentations that I want to highlight today. The three webinars will be provided in Spanish only.&nbsp;“Connecting Cultures – Celebrating our Diversity”&nbsp;is the title of the Sept. 28 webinar. Elizabeth Brunscheen-Cartagena, Family Life and Resources Agent in Sedgwick County, is the presenter.&nbsp;

Guest presenters from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be sharing “Chronic Illness – Prevention and Management” on Oct. 12. The discussion will cover the leading causes of chronic illnesses for the Latino population. Participants will learn strategies and efforts that one can do to reduce or prevent chronic illnesses.&nbsp;

The final Spanish webinar,&nbsp;on&nbsp;Oct. 26 is titled, “Survive, Strive and Thrive.” This presentation, shared by Elizabeth Brunscheen-Cartagena,&nbsp;will help parents gain confidence in their ability to be a good parent and to gain the skills and attitudes necessary for rearing healthy, positive children.

The three Spanish&nbsp;only&nbsp;webinars are set for 12:15 – 1 PM each of the dates I mentioned. I’m happy to share the flyer with information about registering for the webinars.&nbsp;

And finally, plans are being made to offer another series of Living Well Wednesday in English&nbsp;in 2023.&nbsp;I look forward to sharing the topics with you as soon as they are announced.&nbsp;So, stay tuned!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. " />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. </figcaption>
 </figure>Extension in Kansas introduced a new way of sharing educational programs during the pandemic. While&nbsp;we were not doing&nbsp;face-to-face presentations,&nbsp;people of all ages found&nbsp;webinars recorded by Extension Family and Consumer Sciences professionals from across the state&nbsp;to be an effective&nbsp;way to learn about a variety of topics.Dubbed as Living Well Wednesday, the topics touched on a wide variety of essential skills that empower you and your family to live, work, and thrive. The webinars were held over the lunch hour on the second and fourth Wednesday, throughout much of 2021 and during the first three months of 2022.&nbsp;The neat thing is that each session is recorded and available to listen to on your schedule.&nbsp;Just go to the KSRE website and in the search type in living well Wednesday.The first presentation in 2022 was titled, “Parents Guide to Social Media.” A guest presenter, John Calvert, Director of Safe and Secure Schools Unit, shares his expertise about the apps to be aware of on&nbsp;a&nbsp;child’s phone.&nbsp;It was an eye-opening presentation that concerns me when I think of my four grandchildren, aged 7 to 14. Besides the recordings&nbsp;there are links to excellent handouts and additional resources to refer back to.There are three upcoming Living Well Wednesday presentations that I want to highlight today. The three webinars will be provided in Spanish only.&nbsp;“Connecting Cultures – Celebrating our Diversity”&nbsp;is the title of the Sept. 28 webinar. Elizabeth Brunscheen-Cartagena, Family Life and Resources Agent in Sedgwick County, is the presenter.&nbsp;Guest presenters from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be sharing “Chronic Illness – Prevention and Management” on Oct. 12. The discussion will cover the leading causes of chronic illnesses for the Latino population. Participants will learn strategies and efforts that one can do to reduce or prevent chronic illnesses.&nbsp;The final Spanish webinar,&nbsp;on&nbsp;Oct. 26 is titled, “Survive, Strive and Thrive.” This presentation, shared by Elizabeth Brunscheen-Cartagena,&nbsp;will help parents gain confidence in their ability to be a good parent and to gain the skills and attitudes necessary for rearing healthy, positive children.The three Spanish&nbsp;only&nbsp;webinars are set for 12:15 – 1 PM each of the dates I mentioned. I’m happy to share the flyer with information about registering for the webinars.&nbsp;And finally, plans are being made to offer another series of Living Well Wednesday in English&nbsp;in 2023.&nbsp;I look forward to sharing the topics with you as soon as they are announced.&nbsp;So, stay tuned!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Living Well Wednesday programs announced

K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District will again be hosting their annual make and take pizza night in honor of National Family Day on September 26 from 4:15pm to 6:15pm at our office located at 601 Main in Hays.

Family Day is a national effort to promote family dinners. &nbsp;Research shows family dinners are a great way to reduce youth substance abuse and other risky behaviors as reported by the&nbsp;TheNational Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Colombia University. &nbsp;Not only are family dinners a way to bring families together but young children can also learn valuable life skills. &nbsp;

Cooking is an important life skill for children to learn before they grow up and are out on their own. &nbsp;Knowing how to plan menus, budget for food,&nbsp;and follow a recipe provides many skills that will help children as they become adults. &nbsp;Knowing how to cook meals versus heating something up from a box can also aid our children’s health. &nbsp;Processed foods often have many added ingredients that can lead to health issues. &nbsp;Having children help in the kitchen teaches them math skills and&nbsp;to&nbsp;follow directions. &nbsp;When children help prepare meals they tend to have&nbsp;more&nbsp;motivation to eat the meal as well. &nbsp;If they have taken part in preparation they are more likely to try new foods and recipes. &nbsp;This can be particularly helpful for picky eaters!

Come join us for a low cost and healthy meal that you can make with your children.&nbsp;Please RSVP and pay the $3 per pizza (Limit 2 per family) at 601 Main Street by Sept 16<a></a>.&nbsp;I hope to see many of you there. &nbsp;If you ever have any questions about healthy eating, budgeting, or staying active, please reach out to me. &nbsp;

You can find me at our office on Main Street or you can call or email anytime. &nbsp;Please stay on the lookout for more events and activities in the near future.

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658934620122.png" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. " />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. </figcaption>
 </figure>K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District will again be hosting their annual make and take pizza night in honor of National Family Day on September 26 from 4:15pm to 6:15pm at our office located at 601 Main in Hays.Family Day is a national effort to promote family dinners. &nbsp;Research shows family dinners are a great way to reduce youth substance abuse and other risky behaviors as reported by the&nbsp;TheNational Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Colombia University. &nbsp;Not only are family dinners a way to bring families together but young children can also learn valuable life skills. &nbsp;Cooking is an important life skill for children to learn before they grow up and are out on their own. &nbsp;Knowing how to plan menus, budget for food,&nbsp;and follow a recipe provides many skills that will help children as they become adults. &nbsp;Knowing how to cook meals versus heating something up from a box can also aid our children’s health. &nbsp;Processed foods often have many added ingredients that can lead to health issues. &nbsp;Having children help in the kitchen teaches them math skills and&nbsp;to&nbsp;follow directions. &nbsp;When children help prepare meals they tend to have&nbsp;more&nbsp;motivation to eat the meal as well. &nbsp;If they have taken part in preparation they are more likely to try new foods and recipes. &nbsp;This can be particularly helpful for picky eaters!Come join us for a low cost and healthy meal that you can make with your children.&nbsp;Please RSVP and pay the $3 per pizza (Limit 2 per family) at 601 Main Street by Sept 16<a></a>.&nbsp;I hope to see many of you there. &nbsp;If you ever have any questions about healthy eating, budgeting, or staying active, please reach out to me. &nbsp;You can find me at our office on Main Street or you can call or email anytime. &nbsp;Please stay on the lookout for more events and activities in the near future.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662997379090.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KOERNER: Deadline looms for Family Pizza Night in Hays

I must admit when I arrived back at my air-conditioned office last Wednesday after spending the day at Kid’s Ag Day, it&nbsp;felt good to sit down. The&nbsp;cool&nbsp;early morning temperatures gave way to a hot day, but that did not take away from the fun learning experienced by 4th&nbsp;graders in&nbsp;Barton County. 

Fourth grade is the perfect age for kids to learn about where their food and other products they use daily come from. The station&nbsp;that&nbsp;my team member, Monique, and I manned for the day emphasized the importance of adding whole grains and other nutritious foods to the diet.&nbsp;We also provided a snack of animal crackers and a serving of 100% fruit juice.

Fourth graders are old enough to learn about reading a nutrition fact label, found on food products. During our short session we talked about looking for whole wheat or another whole grain as the first ingredient and making sure that the food had very little added sugar. I know when we had young kids at home, our rule was that they could choose cereal that had seven grams or less of sugar in a serving. That is a harder assignment than you might think. Many of the popular cereals advertised today have upwards of fifteen or more grams of sugar per serving. And then what about the&nbsp;person who fills an enormous cereal bowl with two cups of cereal? You will need to double the amount of sugar that is consumed. Yikes!

Another benefit of eating whole grains is the amount of fiber that contributes to healthier bodies. A feeling of fullness and healthy elimination are achieved when we consume&nbsp;around 30 grams of fiber each day. Our demonstration showed how fast a slice of white bread disintegrates when dipped in water and how the 100% whole wheat slice held together.&nbsp;

Besides talking about eating whole grains, we had Kassie Linsner, from Hoisington, visit with the 4th&nbsp;graders about joining 4-H.&nbsp;It’s always good to see our young people sharing what they are passionate about.

Hats off to our Great Bend Chamber for putting together such a well-planned event.&nbsp;In it’s 28thyear, many of the volunteers have helped lead a session or demonstration every year.&nbsp;I know I appreciated the help of June, Imogene, Aleta, Marilyn, and Kay who served the snacks.

Short after the calendar turns to October the Hays area 4th&nbsp;graders will be treated to a similar event. Their Kid’s Ag Day is sponsored by Farm Bureau on October 5th. Stacy Campbell, a Cottonwood District Ag and Natural Resources Agent, will have a station teaching young people about corn and the many by products they&nbsp;use daily.&nbsp;

I’m so glad we live in communities that value and promote the&nbsp;farming community and want our young people to develop an appreciation as well!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. " />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. </figcaption>
 </figure>I must admit when I arrived back at my air-conditioned office last Wednesday after spending the day at Kid’s Ag Day, it&nbsp;felt good to sit down. The&nbsp;cool&nbsp;early morning temperatures gave way to a hot day, but that did not take away from the fun learning experienced by 4th&nbsp;graders in&nbsp;Barton County. Fourth grade is the perfect age for kids to learn about where their food and other products they use daily come from. The station&nbsp;that&nbsp;my team member, Monique, and I manned for the day emphasized the importance of adding whole grains and other nutritious foods to the diet.&nbsp;We also provided a snack of animal crackers and a serving of 100% fruit juice.Fourth graders are old enough to learn about reading a nutrition fact label, found on food products. During our short session we talked about looking for whole wheat or another whole grain as the first ingredient and making sure that the food had very little added sugar. I know when we had young kids at home, our rule was that they could choose cereal that had seven grams or less of sugar in a serving. That is a harder assignment than you might think. Many of the popular cereals advertised today have upwards of fifteen or more grams of sugar per serving. And then what about the&nbsp;person who fills an enormous cereal bowl with two cups of cereal? You will need to double the amount of sugar that is consumed. Yikes!Another benefit of eating whole grains is the amount of fiber that contributes to healthier bodies. A feeling of fullness and healthy elimination are achieved when we consume&nbsp;around 30 grams of fiber each day. Our demonstration showed how fast a slice of white bread disintegrates when dipped in water and how the 100% whole wheat slice held together.&nbsp;Besides talking about eating whole grains, we had Kassie Linsner, from Hoisington, visit with the 4th&nbsp;graders about joining 4-H.&nbsp;It’s always good to see our young people sharing what they are passionate about.Hats off to our Great Bend Chamber for putting together such a well-planned event.&nbsp;In it’s 28thyear, many of the volunteers have helped lead a session or demonstration every year.&nbsp;I know I appreciated the help of June, Imogene, Aleta, Marilyn, and Kay who served the snacks.Short after the calendar turns to October the Hays area 4th&nbsp;graders will be treated to a similar event. Their Kid’s Ag Day is sponsored by Farm Bureau on October 5th. Stacy Campbell, a Cottonwood District Ag and Natural Resources Agent, will have a station teaching young people about corn and the many by products they&nbsp;use daily.&nbsp;I’m so glad we live in communities that value and promote the&nbsp;farming community and want our young people to develop an appreciation as well!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620) 793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: 4th graders learn where their food comes from

Submitted by STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

This article&nbsp;written by Dorivar&nbsp;Ruiz Diaz, K-State Extension Nutrient Management Specialist,&nbsp;gives a great summary on planning the best wheat fertility program through timely soil testing.&nbsp;It&nbsp;addresses the correlation between the amount of&nbsp;fall&nbsp;nitrate-N&nbsp;in the soil profile and wheat yield.

Taking 24-inch soil profile-N samples in the fall has been a recommended practice for making an N recommendation for winter wheat for many years. However, due to the mobility of nitrate-N in the soil, soil test values observed in the fall may be different from values observed in the spring, particularly on soils prone to leaching. Because many producers wait until spring green-up to make their N application, does soil sampling in the fall for nitrate-N,&nbsp;really provide useful information for N management in wheat?&nbsp;That is a legitimate question.

Analysis of yields taken from K-State&nbsp;research plots that received no N fertilizer shows a strong positive relationship with fall soil profile nitrate-N&nbsp;level and wheat yield.&nbsp;

We found that at low soil nitrate levels, wheat yields responded well to applied&nbsp;N&nbsp;fertilizer&nbsp;in the fall.&nbsp;We also found that when fall soil profile nitrate-N levels are greater than 80 to 100 lbs./acre, it is unlikely the site will respond to additional fertilizer N applied in the spring.

In short, a strong relationship was found between wheat yield and fall nitrate-N levels from 24-inch profile soil test analyses when no N fertilizer was applied. Although new practices have been developed to improve N management in winter wheat, soil sampling in the fall for nitrate-N remains an important practice to manage N efficiently and can result in considerable savings for producers.

When soil sampling for N is not done, the K-State fertilizer recommendation formula defaults to a standard value of 30 lbs./acre available N&nbsp;in the soil profile.&nbsp;In this particular dataset, the average profile N level was 39 lbs.&nbsp;N/acre. However, the N level at individual sites ranged from 11 to 197 lbs.&nbsp;N/acre. Most recommendation systems default to a standardized set of N recommendations based on yield goal and/or the cost&nbsp;of N. Without sampling for N or using some alternative method of measuring the soil’s ability to supply N to a crop, such as crop sensing, the recommendations made for N will be inaccurate, resulting in a reduction in yield or profit per acre and increased environmental impact.

Failure to account for the N present in the soil wastes a valuable resource and can result in excess foliage, increased plant disease, inefficient use of soil water, and reduced yield.&nbsp;Twenty-four-inchprofile soil sampling in fall for nitrate-N can have a significant impact on N recommendations&nbsp;and profitability&nbsp;for winter wheat in Kansas soils.

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.

Submitted by STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictThis article&nbsp;written by Dorivar&nbsp;Ruiz Diaz, K-State Extension Nutrient Management Specialist,&nbsp;gives a great summary on planning the best wheat fertility program through timely soil testing.&nbsp;It&nbsp;addresses the correlation between the amount of&nbsp;fall&nbsp;nitrate-N&nbsp;in the soil profile and wheat yield.Taking 24-inch soil profile-N samples in the fall has been a recommended practice for making an N recommendation for winter wheat for many years. However, due to the mobility of nitrate-N in the soil, soil test values observed in the fall may be different from values observed in the spring, particularly on soils prone to leaching. Because many producers wait until spring green-up to make their N application, does soil sampling in the fall for nitrate-N,&nbsp;really provide useful information for N management in wheat?&nbsp;That is a legitimate question.Analysis of yields taken from K-State&nbsp;research plots that received no N fertilizer shows a strong positive relationship with fall soil profile nitrate-N&nbsp;level and wheat yield.&nbsp;We found that at low soil nitrate levels, wheat yields responded well to applied&nbsp;N&nbsp;fertilizer&nbsp;in the fall.&nbsp;We also found that when fall soil profile nitrate-N levels are greater than 80 to 100 lbs./acre, it is unlikely the site will respond to additional fertilizer N applied in the spring.In short, a strong relationship was found between wheat yield and fall nitrate-N levels from 24-inch profile soil test analyses when no N fertilizer was applied. Although new practices have been developed to improve N management in winter wheat, soil sampling in the fall for nitrate-N remains an important practice to manage N efficiently and can result in considerable savings for producers.When soil sampling for N is not done, the K-State fertilizer recommendation formula defaults to a standard value of 30 lbs./acre available N&nbsp;in the soil profile.&nbsp;In this particular dataset, the average profile N level was 39 lbs.&nbsp;N/acre. However, the N level at individual sites ranged from 11 to 197 lbs.&nbsp;N/acre. Most recommendation systems default to a standardized set of N recommendations based on yield goal and/or the cost&nbsp;of N. Without sampling for N or using some alternative method of measuring the soil’s ability to supply N to a crop, such as crop sensing, the recommendations made for N will be inaccurate, resulting in a reduction in yield or profit per acre and increased environmental impact.Failure to account for the N present in the soil wastes a valuable resource and can result in excess foliage, increased plant disease, inefficient use of soil water, and reduced yield.&nbsp;Twenty-four-inchprofile soil sampling in fall for nitrate-N can have a significant impact on N recommendations&nbsp;and profitability&nbsp;for winter wheat in Kansas soils.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.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

CAMPBELL: Fall profile nitrate-N level and wheat yield 

Last week, our K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;specialists&nbsp;shared an update with us about the work being done related to mental health&nbsp;in Kansas. A Strength and Resiliency team&nbsp;is working to train Extension Educators&nbsp;in Kansas in both Mental Health First Aid, which several of our team members have completed,&nbsp;and the QPR program. QPR stands for question, persuade, and refer and targets suicide prevention training.&nbsp;

Since September 4-10 is noted as National Suicide Prevention Week, it seems like the perfect place to provide basic information about suicide prevention and the warning signs of suicide.&nbsp;It also aims to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and encourage the pursuit of mental health assistance because going to therapy should be as normalized as going to the gym.

Some of the things you can do this week to observe suicide prevention would be:

1) Raise awareness – One of the most helpful and effective ways we can observe Suicide Prevention Week is by raising awareness of it. We need to reduce the stigma around it so that more people can reach out for help. 2) Educate yourself – The best thing we can do is to learn more about itourselves. We need to educate ourselves and facilitate proactive prevention in our communities so that we can shatter the silence around our mental health. About a year ago, my husband John, and I started attending the Suicide Prevention Task Force meetings. We always come away from the meetings with a “Wow, I had no idea” kind of feeling. Hearing from family members who have lost loved ones to suicide is heart wrenching but in the safe space at our meetings I know it is an important part of the healing process. 3) Look out for others – Many people suffering from poor mental health do not reach out for help for fear of being judged or misunderstood. We need to look out for others and check for warning signs. Find ways to help people feel heard and understood.

Some of the warning signs of suicide&nbsp;include:

•Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose •Talking about being a burden to others •Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs •Acting anxious, agitated or reckless •Sleeping too little or too much •Withdrawing or feeling isolated.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the lifeline at 988 or text SAVE to 741741 for 24/7 anonymous, free crisis counseling.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Last week, our K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;specialists&nbsp;shared an update with us about the work being done related to mental health&nbsp;in Kansas. A Strength and Resiliency team&nbsp;is working to train Extension Educators&nbsp;in Kansas in both Mental Health First Aid, which several of our team members have completed,&nbsp;and the QPR program. QPR stands for question, persuade, and refer and targets suicide prevention training.&nbsp;Since September 4-10 is noted as National Suicide Prevention Week, it seems like the perfect place to provide basic information about suicide prevention and the warning signs of suicide.&nbsp;It also aims to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and encourage the pursuit of mental health assistance because going to therapy should be as normalized as going to the gym.Some of the things you can do this week to observe suicide prevention would be:1) Raise awareness – One of the most helpful and effective ways we can observe Suicide Prevention Week is by raising awareness of it. We need to reduce the stigma around it so that more people can reach out for help. 2) Educate yourself – The best thing we can do is to learn more about itourselves. We need to educate ourselves and facilitate proactive prevention in our communities so that we can shatter the silence around our mental health. About a year ago, my husband John, and I started attending the Suicide Prevention Task Force meetings. We always come away from the meetings with a “Wow, I had no idea” kind of feeling. Hearing from family members who have lost loved ones to suicide is heart wrenching but in the safe space at our meetings I know it is an important part of the healing process. 3) Look out for others – Many people suffering from poor mental health do not reach out for help for fear of being judged or misunderstood. We need to look out for others and check for warning signs. Find ways to help people feel heard and understood.Some of the warning signs of suicide&nbsp;include:•Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose •Talking about being a burden to others •Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs •Acting anxious, agitated or reckless •Sleeping too little or too much •Withdrawing or feeling isolated.If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the lifeline at 988 or text SAVE to 741741 for 24/7 anonymous, free crisis counseling.&nbsp;Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

KRUG: Mental health promotion, suicide prevention

By MIKE COURSON <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>

GREAT BEND — Recent rainfall will help a little but not much. 

The state 
continues to suffer through a drought with now 72 percent of Kansas 
listed in at least a moderate drought, 57 percent at a severe level, and
 32 percent in extreme conditions. Ten percent of the state, mostly in 
the southwest, is listed at exceptional drought.

Last week, the 
National Weather Service reported the 1.10 inches of rain in Wichita 
through July and August were the third-least since 1888. The 1.08 inches
 during that span in Sedan, located in the southeast part of the state, 
is the lowest on record. Closer to home, Russell reported 2.10 inches in
 July and August, the least on record since 1950. Kansas State 
University's Mesonet reports 12.25 inches of rainfall this year in Great
 Bend, nine inches shy of normal year. According to agronomists at 
K-State, before the recent rains, August was the third driest on record 
behind 2000 and 1913.

The conditions are impacting virtually all 
plants in the state. Alicia Boor, agriculture and natural resources 
agent in the Cottonwood District for K-State Research, said trees are 
usually easy to forget. But try pushing a shovel into the dry dirt, and 
that's also what trees are up against to survive.

"The root 
systems, those very end roots that are there as a feed root trying to 
get the nutrients, it can't push through the soil either," she said. 
"They tend to die back, compromising the root system and making your 
tree weaker."

Boor said, like any other plant, trees need water. 
Keeping trees healthy now can prevent damage even after drought 
conditions end.

"By watering trees a good 12-18 inches deep in 
this massive heat, every other week or every three weeks, is a really 
good way to keep your tree healthy so other things don't come in like 
borers and diseases," she said.  "That can then take out the tree maybe 
not this year but in a couple years because it's still stressed over 
what is happening now."

Crops have also been affected by the 
conditions, especially those not irrigated. Milo and corn are dying in 
the field, and wheat took a hit but largely survived ahead of the 2022 
harvest this summer. Conditions now could have an effect on the 2023 
crop.

"This year, one of the issues we're seeing is some milo is 
not putting heads out," Boor said. "It doesn't have enough water to even
 get to the stage where it's putting out the seeds the producers can 
harvest. Other portions, a lot of corn was cut for sileage early because
 there wasn't enough of an ear to be able to make the bushels of grain 
they needed."

While plants suffer, certain insects thrive in 
drought conditions, including aphids and grasshoppers. Boor said the 
grasshoppers are out there but she's received no complaints about them 
being worse than usual. Damage from elm leaf beetles has been abundant 
but can be reduced with proper tree care.

"Elm leaf beetles are a 
yearly occurrence and this year just seems to be worse," said Boor. 
"That could be just because there's not as much leaf matter out there. 
The trees drop what they can't support. In a severe drought, they're not
 going to push out as many leaves. We're just seeing it look worse. It 
goes back to keeping them well cared for, then the elm leaf beetle is 
not as big of a deal."

The bad news: scientists are already 
warning the drought will likely continue through 2023.&nbsp;"There are a 
couple different options that might help alleviate it," Boor said, "but 
most signs are pointing that we're going to stay in this drought for a 
little bit longer."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661961378384.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON <a href="https://greatbendpost.com">Great Bend Post</a>GREAT BEND — Recent rainfall will help a little but not much. The state 
continues to suffer through a drought with now 72 percent of Kansas 
listed in at least a moderate drought, 57 percent at a severe level, and
 32 percent in extreme conditions. Ten percent of the state, mostly in 
the southwest, is listed at exceptional drought.Last week, the 
National Weather Service reported the 1.10 inches of rain in Wichita 
through July and August were the third-least since 1888. The 1.08 inches
 during that span in Sedan, located in the southeast part of the state, 
is the lowest on record. Closer to home, Russell reported 2.10 inches in
 July and August, the least on record since 1950. Kansas State 
University's Mesonet reports 12.25 inches of rainfall this year in Great
 Bend, nine inches shy of normal year. According to agronomists at 
K-State, before the recent rains, August was the third driest on record 
behind 2000 and 1913.The conditions are impacting virtually all 
plants in the state. Alicia Boor, agriculture and natural resources 
agent in the Cottonwood District for K-State Research, said trees are 
usually easy to forget. But try pushing a shovel into the dry dirt, and 
that's also what trees are up against to survive."The root 
systems, those very end roots that are there as a feed root trying to 
get the nutrients, it can't push through the soil either," she said. 
"They tend to die back, compromising the root system and making your 
tree weaker."Boor said, like any other plant, trees need water. 
Keeping trees healthy now can prevent damage even after drought 
conditions end."By watering trees a good 12-18 inches deep in 
this massive heat, every other week or every three weeks, is a really 
good way to keep your tree healthy so other things don't come in like 
borers and diseases," she said. "That can then take out the tree maybe 
not this year but in a couple years because it's still stressed over 
what is happening now."Crops have also been affected by the 
conditions, especially those not irrigated. Milo and corn are dying in 
the field, and wheat took a hit but largely survived ahead of the 2022 
harvest this summer. Conditions now could have an effect on the 2023 
crop."This year, one of the issues we're seeing is some milo is 
not putting heads out," Boor said. "It doesn't have enough water to even
 get to the stage where it's putting out the seeds the producers can 
harvest. Other portions, a lot of corn was cut for sileage early because
 there wasn't enough of an ear to be able to make the bushels of grain 
they needed."While plants suffer, certain insects thrive in 
drought conditions, including aphids and grasshoppers. Boor said the 
grasshoppers are out there but she's received no complaints about them 
being worse than usual. Damage from elm leaf beetles has been abundant 
but can be reduced with proper tree care."Elm leaf beetles are a 
yearly occurrence and this year just seems to be worse," said Boor. 
"That could be just because there's not as much leaf matter out there. 
The trees drop what they can't support. In a severe drought, they're not
 going to push out as many leaves. We're just seeing it look worse. It 
goes back to keeping them well cared for, then the elm leaf beetle is 
not as big of a deal."The bad news: scientists are already 
warning the drought will likely continue through 2023.&nbsp;"There are a 
couple different options that might help alleviate it," Boor said, "but 
most signs are pointing that we're going to stay in this drought for a 
little bit longer."

Extension agent: Drought conditions impacting plant, insect life

The past&nbsp;10 days have&nbsp;been&nbsp;a whirlwind of activity. Our Program Development Committee met to welcome Monique, our new Family and Community Wellness agent in the Hays office. Conversation was lively as we planned for&nbsp;some&nbsp;issue-based&nbsp;programming in the months ahead.Then three days on&nbsp;our K-State&nbsp;campus participating in an agent update reinforced the important work we do&nbsp;in Extension&nbsp;related to health and wellness in our communities.&nbsp;

We have all heard it&nbsp;a lot.&nbsp;The pandemic changed the way we do business. A hiring freeze with K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;was lifted&nbsp;late last year so many of the open Family and Community Wellness positions have been filled.&nbsp;There was good energy among the new&nbsp;hires&nbsp;at our conference&nbsp;and I loved it.&nbsp;I found out that many of them have an interest in some of the things I am&nbsp;passionate&nbsp;about. As my Extension career winds down and I retire early next year,&nbsp;I have a full schedule of classes and workshops to lead.&nbsp;

The fermentation workshop I mentioned in last week’s column now has a waiting list, so I am hoping to offer another session later this fall.&nbsp;Several&nbsp;colleagues at K-State asked if I would&nbsp;provide a “train the trainer” workshop for them to learn about fermentation so that is also in the works.&nbsp;

Then there is the signature program I have enjoyed teaching since I&nbsp;was trained&nbsp;in 2012; Stay Strong Stay Healthy. This eight-week program&nbsp;is designed&nbsp;to help older adults improve their strength,&nbsp;flexibility,&nbsp;and balance. When our class starts the last week of September,&nbsp;we’ll&nbsp;be missing Reta Brack, who passed away this summer. Reta sat in the front row of every SSSH class I led, and like&nbsp;many&nbsp;of the other participants, enjoyed the socialization as much as the exercises.&nbsp;To register for the last Stay Strong Stay Healthy workshop that I will be leading, you will want to call our office to reserve your spot. The cost is $20 and class size&nbsp;is&nbsp;limited.&nbsp;

I will be leading a one-hour Medicare Update at our Great Bend activity center on October 12th. As more people become eligible for Medicare it is&nbsp;a good time&nbsp;to review the basic parts of Medicare. My husband John, and I will also be&nbsp;providing appointments during open enrollment (October 15 – December 7) to help people review their prescription drug plan in either the Great Bend or Hays offices.

Besides&nbsp;the face-to-face&nbsp;programs&nbsp;that Extension is&nbsp;well-known for,&nbsp;watch our Cottonwood&nbsp;District website and&nbsp;Facebook page for messages and links to on-line learning resources that you can&nbsp;take advantage whenever you have&nbsp;a few&nbsp;spare moments.&nbsp;

Who would have guessed that when my Extension career started in Barton County in July 1989 (and I typed my column on a typewriter) that I would be talking about websites,&nbsp;internet links, and Zoom meetings&nbsp;in 2022? While&nbsp;a lot&nbsp;has changed technology wise, a lot remains the same.&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;and the Cottonwood District&nbsp;still want to be your go-to source for&nbsp;research-based&nbsp;information to&nbsp;help improve your life!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at (620)792-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. " />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. </figcaption>
 </figure>The past&nbsp;10 days have&nbsp;been&nbsp;a whirlwind of activity. Our Program Development Committee met to welcome Monique, our new Family and Community Wellness agent in the Hays office. Conversation was lively as we planned for&nbsp;some&nbsp;issue-based&nbsp;programming in the months ahead.Then three days on&nbsp;our K-State&nbsp;campus participating in an agent update reinforced the important work we do&nbsp;in Extension&nbsp;related to health and wellness in our communities.&nbsp;We have all heard it&nbsp;a lot.&nbsp;The pandemic changed the way we do business. A hiring freeze with K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;was lifted&nbsp;late last year so many of the open Family and Community Wellness positions have been filled.&nbsp;There was good energy among the new&nbsp;hires&nbsp;at our conference&nbsp;and I loved it.&nbsp;I found out that many of them have an interest in some of the things I am&nbsp;passionate&nbsp;about. As my Extension career winds down and I retire early next year,&nbsp;I have a full schedule of classes and workshops to lead.&nbsp;The fermentation workshop I mentioned in last week’s column now has a waiting list, so I am hoping to offer another session later this fall.&nbsp;Several&nbsp;colleagues at K-State asked if I would&nbsp;provide a “train the trainer” workshop for them to learn about fermentation so that is also in the works.&nbsp;Then there is the signature program I have enjoyed teaching since I&nbsp;was trained&nbsp;in 2012; Stay Strong Stay Healthy. This eight-week program&nbsp;is designed&nbsp;to help older adults improve their strength,&nbsp;flexibility,&nbsp;and balance. When our class starts the last week of September,&nbsp;we’ll&nbsp;be missing Reta Brack, who passed away this summer. Reta sat in the front row of every SSSH class I led, and like&nbsp;many&nbsp;of the other participants, enjoyed the socialization as much as the exercises.&nbsp;To register for the last Stay Strong Stay Healthy workshop that I will be leading, you will want to call our office to reserve your spot. The cost is $20 and class size&nbsp;is&nbsp;limited.&nbsp;I will be leading a one-hour Medicare Update at our Great Bend activity center on October 12th. As more people become eligible for Medicare it is&nbsp;a good time&nbsp;to review the basic parts of Medicare. My husband John, and I will also be&nbsp;providing appointments during open enrollment (October 15 – December 7) to help people review their prescription drug plan in either the Great Bend or Hays offices.Besides&nbsp;the face-to-face&nbsp;programs&nbsp;that Extension is&nbsp;well-known for,&nbsp;watch our Cottonwood&nbsp;District website and&nbsp;Facebook page for messages and links to on-line learning resources that you can&nbsp;take advantage whenever you have&nbsp;a few&nbsp;spare moments.&nbsp;Who would have guessed that when my Extension career started in Barton County in July 1989 (and I typed my column on a typewriter) that I would be talking about websites,&nbsp;internet links, and Zoom meetings&nbsp;in 2022? While&nbsp;a lot&nbsp;has changed technology wise, a lot remains the same.&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;and the Cottonwood District&nbsp;still want to be your go-to source for&nbsp;research-based&nbsp;information to&nbsp;help improve your life!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at (620)792-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Extension learning opportunities around the corner

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood extension district agent Stacy Campbell shares information about the impacts and resources available to ag producers during the ongoing drought.

<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood extension district agent Stacy Campbell shares information about the impacts and resources available to ag producers during the ongoing drought. <div><iframe title="Cottonwood extension district offers resources for producers dealing with drought" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ay3bk-12a9c3a-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: Cottonwood Extension offers resources for dealing with drought

With many areas of Kansas experiencing significant drought, plant 
triage may be in order. This may mean that you need to prioritize what 
plants are most important. 

Large, established trees should be first on 
your list as they are expensive to remove, expensive to replace and take
 years to become large enough to fulfill their purpose. Next would be 
trees planted in the last 2 to 3 years as their root systems are still 
not completely established. Normally, these trees would be first on our 
list as the larger, more mature trees are more drought resistant. 
However, sometimes a drought will be severe enough that even large trees
 may die or become so weakened that borers move in and take them out. 


Next would be shrubs, then perennial flowers and finally lawns, annual 
flowers and vegetables. You probably see the pattern here. Start with 
what is most expensive to replace and move down from there. &nbsp;

If 
you are planning on watering your trees, one of the more common means is
 the use of soaker hoses. Soaker hoses are notorious for non-uniform 
watering. In other words, you often receive too much water from one part
 of the hose and not enough from another. 

On small trees, circling the 
tree several times with the soaker hose will even out the amount of 
water applied but this isn’t practical for larger trees. On larger 
trees, hooking both the beginning and the end of the soaker hose to a 
Y-adapter helps equalize the pressure and therefore provide a more 
uniform watering. 

The soaker hose can circle the trunk at a distance 
within the dripline of the tree but at least ½ the distance to the 
dripline. The dripline of the tree is outermost reach of the branches. 
On smaller trees, you may circle the tree several times so that only 
soil which has tree roots will be watered. Soil should be wet at least 
12 inches deep as 80% of a trees roots are in the top foot of soil. Use a
 metal rod, wooden dowel, electric fence post or something similar to 
check depth. 

Dry soil is much harder to push through than wet and your 
probe will stop when it hits dry soil. How long it takes water to reach a
 12 inch depth varies depending on the rate of water flow and soil. 
Record the amount of time it takes to reach 12 inches the first time the
 tree is watered. After that, simply water for that same amount of time.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>With many areas of Kansas experiencing significant drought, plant 
triage may be in order. This may mean that you need to prioritize what 
plants are most important. Large, established trees should be first on 
your list as they are expensive to remove, expensive to replace and take
 years to become large enough to fulfill their purpose. Next would be 
trees planted in the last 2 to 3 years as their root systems are still 
not completely established. Normally, these trees would be first on our 
list as the larger, more mature trees are more drought resistant. 
However, sometimes a drought will be severe enough that even large trees
 may die or become so weakened that borers move in and take them out. 
Next would be shrubs, then perennial flowers and finally lawns, annual 
flowers and vegetables. You probably see the pattern here. Start with 
what is most expensive to replace and move down from there. &nbsp;If 
you are planning on watering your trees, one of the more common means is
 the use of soaker hoses. Soaker hoses are notorious for non-uniform 
watering. In other words, you often receive too much water from one part
 of the hose and not enough from another. On small trees, circling the 
tree several times with the soaker hose will even out the amount of 
water applied but this isn’t practical for larger trees. On larger 
trees, hooking both the beginning and the end of the soaker hose to a 
Y-adapter helps equalize the pressure and therefore provide a more 
uniform watering. The soaker hose can circle the trunk at a distance 
within the dripline of the tree but at least ½ the distance to the 
dripline. The dripline of the tree is outermost reach of the branches. 
On smaller trees, you may circle the tree several times so that only 
soil which has tree roots will be watered. Soil should be wet at least 
12 inches deep as 80% of a trees roots are in the top foot of soil. Use a
 metal rod, wooden dowel, electric fence post or something similar to 
check depth. Dry soil is much harder to push through than wet and your 
probe will stop when it hits dry soil. How long it takes water to reach a
 12 inch depth varies depending on the rate of water flow and soil. 
Record the amount of time it takes to reach 12 inches the first time the
 tree is watered. After that, simply water for that same amount of time.&nbsp;Alicia
 Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood 
District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research
 and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Protecting your landscape from drought

I saw a funny post on a friend’s Facebook page a few years ago that said “If parenthood came with a GPS, it would mostly just say ‘recalculating’”. While I had to giggle, it resonated with me as a former 4-H parent and now 4-H agent.

We talk a lot in 4-H about Experiential Learning – Learning by Doing; and having good adults to help youth by setting examples and modeling behavior. This is also much of how we learn to parent!

It is tough to talk through a situation with your child and then, watch them make a mistake in handling it. Unless it has grave consequences, it is much better for them to stub their toe while they are under our direction and guidance than to face plant as a 25-or 30-year old because they have never been allowed to make their own decisions. Are they going to make good decisions all of the time – NOPE! But I would challenge that neither did you or I at that age.

One of my favorite youth development authors, Dr. Tim Elmore, noted in a 2019 article in “Growing Leaders” that parents can make a couple of critical mistakes when it comes to youth and responsibility.

In his opinion, the first occurs when parents take responsibility too often when we should let go. He bases this thought on a 2019 nationwide survey that noted “Parents help their kids in a variety of ways, and that includes financial support, even when their children grow older. Nearly half of millennials get some level of financial help from mom and dad on a monthly basis, according to a new survey released by Money Under 30.”

I agree with Dr. Elmore that sometimes our adult children need our help but does that continued dependence on parents delay a young adult’s ability to shoulder responsibility? He goes on to state that “millions of today’s young adults are forced to delay professional goals because we’ve failed to teach them how to do without luxuries: smartphones, eating out, big tv’s” – which means their life goals….IF they have set them…..are pushed further away.

The second part of Dr. Elmore’s article also notes that parents let go of responsibility too often when we should still be taking it on and modeling appropriate behaviors. Do we expect our schools to teach money management, time management, daily living tasks such as preparing a meal, laundry, or basic car maintenance? Or, are we modelling these behaviors for our kids? Even if we are not great money managers or fantastic cooks, are we looking for resources to improve our own skills knowing that those young people are watching?

Dr. Elmore wraps up his article with a couple of great thoughts about committing to long-term thinking. He states “Let’s delegate responsibility to our young adults for their sake, so they can learn what it means to experience self-efficacy and autonomy. Let’s assume responsibility for our young adults for their sake, so they can see what it looks like to act from honor and justice.”

I see parents who are frustrated that their teens/young adults don’t seem to be responsible but this is not a skill that suddenly appears. It takes practice and some failed attempts to get better. Starting out with small responsibilities as young children and seeing adults model responsibility, good decision-making, and acknowledging their own errors is the best way to help youth develop solid life-time skills. It is Experiential Learning for all of us!

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

Kansas State University is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision, or hearing disability.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114162620.jpeg" alt="written by: Michelle Beran - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Michelle Beran - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>I saw a funny post on a friend’s Facebook page a few years ago that said “If parenthood came with a GPS, it would mostly just say ‘recalculating’”. While I had to giggle, it resonated with me as a former 4-H parent and now 4-H agent.We talk a lot in 4-H about Experiential Learning – Learning by Doing; and having good adults to help youth by setting examples and modeling behavior. This is also much of how we learn to parent!It is tough to talk through a situation with your child and then, watch them make a mistake in handling it. Unless it has grave consequences, it is much better for them to stub their toe while they are under our direction and guidance than to face plant as a 25-or 30-year old because they have never been allowed to make their own decisions. Are they going to make good decisions all of the time – NOPE! But I would challenge that neither did you or I at that age.One of my favorite youth development authors, Dr. Tim Elmore, noted in a 2019 article in “Growing Leaders” that parents can make a couple of critical mistakes when it comes to youth and responsibility.In his opinion, the first occurs when parents take responsibility too often when we should let go. He bases this thought on a 2019 nationwide survey that noted “Parents help their kids in a variety of ways, and that includes financial support, even when their children grow older. Nearly half of millennials get some level of financial help from mom and dad on a monthly basis, according to a new survey released by Money Under 30.”I agree with Dr. Elmore that sometimes our adult children need our help but does that continued dependence on parents delay a young adult’s ability to shoulder responsibility? He goes on to state that “millions of today’s young adults are forced to delay professional goals because we’ve failed to teach them how to do without luxuries: smartphones, eating out, big tv’s” – which means their life goals….IF they have set them…..are pushed further away.The second part of Dr. Elmore’s article also notes that parents let go of responsibility too often when we should still be taking it on and modeling appropriate behaviors. Do we expect our schools to teach money management, time management, daily living tasks such as preparing a meal, laundry, or basic car maintenance? Or, are we modelling these behaviors for our kids? Even if we are not great money managers or fantastic cooks, are we looking for resources to improve our own skills knowing that those young people are watching?Dr. Elmore wraps up his article with a couple of great thoughts about committing to long-term thinking. He states “Let’s delegate responsibility to our young adults for their sake, so they can learn what it means to experience self-efficacy and autonomy. Let’s assume responsibility for our young adults for their sake, so they can see what it looks like to act from honor and justice.”I see parents who are frustrated that their teens/young adults don’t seem to be responsible but this is not a skill that suddenly appears. It takes practice and some failed attempts to get better. Starting out with small responsibilities as young children and seeing adults model responsibility, good decision-making, and acknowledging their own errors is the best way to help youth develop solid life-time skills. It is Experiential Learning for all of us!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.Kansas State University is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision, or hearing disability.

BERAN: Children becoming responsible

Area teens are invited to participate in the Ellis County 4-H Civil Discourse Workshop from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, at Fort Hays State University's Memorial Union. 

The event will introduce teens to the importance of civil discourse through a keynote address from Dr. Lori Kniffin from the Fort Hays State University Leadership Studies department. Breakout sessions for both parents and their teens will allow each group to practice these vital communication skills. The event will conclude with a free concert for all in attendance by the Peterson Farm Brothers. Free commemorative T-shirts will be given to the first 100 teens who register, and refreshments will be served.

The event will be hosted by Ellis County 4-H Council and spearheaded by Hays High sophomores Elizabeth Noble, Marisa Wasinger and John Weisenborn. Teens who attend will be given training in how to have productive conversations about difficult topics that can lead to meaningful change.

Sponsors for the event include eyeSMILE Vision and Dental, Hays Optimist Club, Hays Kiwanis Club, Lang Diesel, the Midwest Energy Community Fund, Redeem Designs and private donors.&nbsp;

To learn more or to register, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/2fp3mk8u?fbclid=IwAR00aOPM60PndhhSuqVC1mI_6jGnb1M2B5oBwNrqEYBF9fFfnXKnxP9O674" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/2fp3mk8u</a>&nbsp;or contact the Cottonwood District office at 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660928754272.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseArea teens are invited to participate in the Ellis County 4-H Civil Discourse Workshop from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, at Fort Hays State University's Memorial Union. The event will introduce teens to the importance of civil discourse through a keynote address from Dr. Lori Kniffin from the Fort Hays State University Leadership Studies department. Breakout sessions for both parents and their teens will allow each group to practice these vital communication skills. The event will conclude with a free concert for all in attendance by the Peterson Farm Brothers. Free commemorative T-shirts will be given to the first 100 teens who register, and refreshments will be served.The event will be hosted by Ellis County 4-H Council and spearheaded by Hays High sophomores Elizabeth Noble, Marisa Wasinger and John Weisenborn. Teens who attend will be given training in how to have productive conversations about difficult topics that can lead to meaningful change.Sponsors for the event include eyeSMILE Vision and Dental, Hays Optimist Club, Hays Kiwanis Club, Lang Diesel, the Midwest Energy Community Fund, Redeem Designs and private donors.&nbsp;To learn more or to register, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/2fp3mk8u?fbclid=IwAR00aOPM60PndhhSuqVC1mI_6jGnb1M2B5oBwNrqEYBF9fFfnXKnxP9O674" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/2fp3mk8u</a>&nbsp;or contact the Cottonwood District office at 785-628-9430.

Peterson Farm Brothers to headline free teen event in Hays

K-State Research and Extension - Cottonwood District

Event is next weekend it is FREE and open to all teens. 

Sign up now; the first 100 registrants will get a free t-shirt!To register for the event, use the following link:<a href="https://tinyurl.com/2fp3mk8u?fbclid=IwAR2S8SYAVNi6ZrYFGD30E0mDGvvghmAlC1g-aKWIF-mGnFVM_-s-CveDAh8" target="_blank"> https://tinyurl.com/2fp3mk8</a>u

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660922979443.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>K-State Research and Extension - Cottonwood DistrictEvent is next weekend it is FREE and open to all teens. Sign up now; the first 100 registrants will get a free t-shirt!To register for the event, use the following link:<a href="https://tinyurl.com/2fp3mk8u?fbclid=IwAR2S8SYAVNi6ZrYFGD30E0mDGvvghmAlC1g-aKWIF-mGnFVM_-s-CveDAh8" target="_blank"> https://tinyurl.com/2fp3mk8</a>u

Ellis Co. 4-H Civil Discourse Workshop free for Kansas high school students

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Good fences make good neighbors is the old saying we’ve all heard. The challenge is that there are many things that property owners need to be aware of when it comes to fences and fence laws.&nbsp;

Roger McEowen, Washburn University School of Law &amp;&nbsp;KSU Ag Economist, a&nbsp;noted agricultural law specialist, will present an informative program on Kansas fence law.&nbsp;It will be held on Tuesday, August 23rd&nbsp;at 7:00 pm at the Geary County 4-H/Senior Citizens Building, 1025 S. Spring Valley Road, Junction City, KS. The seminar will also be&nbsp;Livestreamed&nbsp;Online.&nbsp;To register for the&nbsp;Livestream&nbsp;go to&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3C6V2v3">https://bit.ly/3C6V2v3</a>

Topics to be addressed include basics of the Kansas fence law statutes; partition fences; locating, building and maintaining legal fences; handling fence disputes; highway fences; adverse possession and other regularly encountered fence law questions.&nbsp;

There is no charge to attend this seminar,&nbsp;it is open to the public&nbsp;but registration is required. A recording of the presentation will be available afterward. To find that information following the seminar go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/">www.agmanager.info</a>

If you have any questions you can contact myself or Alicia Boor in either Cottonwood District Office or also contact Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension agent at 785-238-4161,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cotte@ksu.edu">cotte@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660758678943.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictGood fences make good neighbors is the old saying we’ve all heard. The challenge is that there are many things that property owners need to be aware of when it comes to fences and fence laws.&nbsp;Roger McEowen, Washburn University School of Law &amp;&nbsp;KSU Ag Economist, a&nbsp;noted agricultural law specialist, will present an informative program on Kansas fence law.&nbsp;It will be held on Tuesday, August 23rd&nbsp;at 7:00 pm at the Geary County 4-H/Senior Citizens Building, 1025 S. Spring Valley Road, Junction City, KS. The seminar will also be&nbsp;Livestreamed&nbsp;Online.&nbsp;To register for the&nbsp;Livestream&nbsp;go to&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3C6V2v3">https://bit.ly/3C6V2v3</a>Topics to be addressed include basics of the Kansas fence law statutes; partition fences; locating, building and maintaining legal fences; handling fence disputes; highway fences; adverse possession and other regularly encountered fence law questions.&nbsp;There is no charge to attend this seminar,&nbsp;it is open to the public&nbsp;but registration is required. A recording of the presentation will be available afterward. To find that information following the seminar go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/">www.agmanager.info</a>If you have any questions you can contact myself or Alicia Boor in either Cottonwood District Office or also contact Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension agent at 785-238-4161,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cotte@ksu.edu">cotte@ksu.edu</a>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.

Kansas fence law seminar will be livestreamed

Extension Agent, Horticulture opportunity in Cottonwood District.

Primary office location is negotiable between GREAT BEND and HAYS, KS. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs" target="_blank">www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs</a>&nbsp;for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure.

Application deadline: 8/31/22. K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659737809311.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Extension Agent, Horticulture opportunity in Cottonwood District.Primary office location is negotiable between GREAT BEND and HAYS, KS. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs" target="_blank">www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs</a>&nbsp;for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure.Application deadline: 8/31/22. K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

Beran: All ribbons count

When the calendar turns to August, I&nbsp;find myself saying the same four words, “Where did summer go?” Families with kids adapted to a summer schedule filled with&nbsp;ball games, camp, swimming lessons, and&nbsp;4-H activities and now the schedule is about to change again! With the start of school just a few short weeks away it is the perfect time to call a family meeting and get everyone on board with the new routine.

​Research shows that kids ages 3 to 6 need ten to twelve hours of sleep each day.&nbsp;As youngsters begin pre-school or the early grades it is important to have a set bedtime with a routine that encourages success. Perhaps you want to target 8 p.m. as bedtime. If so you will want to begin the wind down process around 7. Perhaps a warm bath and bed time story help your child to relax. Planning what will be worn the next day or eaten for breakfast also encourages a less hectic morning when the alarm goes off. Whatever you want to adopt as a routine, now is a good time to start working toward your final goal.&nbsp;If the summer schedule has been lax, start moving the bedtime up a few minutes each day until your target is reached. That should help make the first day of school a success.

​One of the most important messages I like to share at this time of year is to “Eat breakfast every day.” &nbsp;As kids start back to school they need to start each day with some nutritious food in their stomachs. &nbsp;It’s really brain food. &nbsp;Countless studies have shown that kids perform better in school, and are less irritable, when their day starts with breakfast.

​There is no doubt about it: our bodies need to refuel after not eating for 10-12 hours. &nbsp;So why is it that breakfast is the meal most often skipped? &nbsp;The most common answers I hear are that “there isn’t time” or “my kids aren’t hungry in the morning.”&nbsp;

As you plan to start each day with breakfast, keep in mind the following tips. &nbsp;Breakfast does not have to be a big meal. &nbsp;Try to include something from the grain group as well as a fruit. &nbsp;Breakfast does not have to be traditional. &nbsp;Be creative; nutritious foods are healthy any time of the day. Last night’s leftovers can be reheated in a hurry. &nbsp;Peanut butter can be spread on a piece of whole grain toast and served with a glass of 100% fruit juice. &nbsp;Equal amounts of juice, milk and yogurt can be combined for a smoothie like treat. Get your day off to a great start and be a breakfast eater!

​And finally, if you live close enough to school can your children safely walk or bike to school? Research shows that starting your day with some physical activity (i.e. walking to school) encourages better concentration and behavior in the classroom.&nbsp;If your schedule allows it, do a trial run with your child; either walking or biking on a safe route to the front door of the school.​

Here’s hoping your school year gets off to a great start!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. " />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. </figcaption>
 </figure>When the calendar turns to August, I&nbsp;find myself saying the same four words, “Where did summer go?” Families with kids adapted to a summer schedule filled with&nbsp;ball games, camp, swimming lessons, and&nbsp;4-H activities and now the schedule is about to change again! With the start of school just a few short weeks away it is the perfect time to call a family meeting and get everyone on board with the new routine.​Research shows that kids ages 3 to 6 need ten to twelve hours of sleep each day.&nbsp;As youngsters begin pre-school or the early grades it is important to have a set bedtime with a routine that encourages success. Perhaps you want to target 8 p.m. as bedtime. If so you will want to begin the wind down process around 7. Perhaps a warm bath and bed time story help your child to relax. Planning what will be worn the next day or eaten for breakfast also encourages a less hectic morning when the alarm goes off. Whatever you want to adopt as a routine, now is a good time to start working toward your final goal.&nbsp;If the summer schedule has been lax, start moving the bedtime up a few minutes each day until your target is reached. That should help make the first day of school a success.​One of the most important messages I like to share at this time of year is to “Eat breakfast every day.” &nbsp;As kids start back to school they need to start each day with some nutritious food in their stomachs. &nbsp;It’s really brain food. &nbsp;Countless studies have shown that kids perform better in school, and are less irritable, when their day starts with breakfast.​There is no doubt about it: our bodies need to refuel after not eating for 10-12 hours. &nbsp;So why is it that breakfast is the meal most often skipped? &nbsp;The most common answers I hear are that “there isn’t time” or “my kids aren’t hungry in the morning.”&nbsp;As you plan to start each day with breakfast, keep in mind the following tips. &nbsp;Breakfast does not have to be a big meal. &nbsp;Try to include something from the grain group as well as a fruit. &nbsp;Breakfast does not have to be traditional. &nbsp;Be creative; nutritious foods are healthy any time of the day. Last night’s leftovers can be reheated in a hurry. &nbsp;Peanut butter can be spread on a piece of whole grain toast and served with a glass of 100% fruit juice. &nbsp;Equal amounts of juice, milk and yogurt can be combined for a smoothie like treat. Get your day off to a great start and be a breakfast eater!​And finally, if you live close enough to school can your children safely walk or bike to school? Research shows that starting your day with some physical activity (i.e. walking to school) encourages better concentration and behavior in the classroom.&nbsp;If your schedule allows it, do a trial run with your child; either walking or biking on a safe route to the front door of the school.​Here’s hoping your school year gets off to a great start!Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension –&nbsp;Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Back to school tips

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call the new behavior health/suicide hotline at 988.

High Plains Mental Health Center's emergency after-hours telephone number is 1-800-432-0333.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Suicide rates among farmers in Kansas are up to seven times higher than state rates.

Members of a panel on Thursday said high stress among farmers combined with a reluctance of individuals to seek professional help has led to a mental health crisis.

Representatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture were in Hays Thursday to talk to local farmers and listen to the panel, which was assembled by High Plains Mental Health Center. 

Attendees included Joseph Palm, regional director, HHS Intergovernmental and External Affairs; Kimberly Nelson, regional administrator of Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration; Nancy Rios, regional administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration; Nickolas Clasen, HHS Intergovernmental and External Affairs; and Christy Davis, Kansas state director of USDA Rural Development.

Kansas' suicide rate is higher than the national average. It increased 65 percent between 2001 and 2020, said Dania Zolk, section director of injury and violence prevention at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Kansans ages 10 to 34. Suicide in 2020 cost the state $5.7 billion in medical expenses and work loss.

The highest rates are among white males. The suicide rates for rural and frontier counties were 58 percent higher than the state rate.

Duane Keller grew up on a farm in Trego County. He and his wife lost their home and all of his belonging in the Four Counties Fire in December. 

Nine hundred acres of farm ground and 50,000 bushels of corn also burned while the couple was visiting Kansas City.

The couple had built the home 40 years ago with the help of their children. 

"We got a call from our daughter, and she said you're home's gone," Keller said with a crack in his voice. 

"On the way home, I told my wife, 'Look in the back seat of the pickup.' She said there is nothing back there except a couple of bags. I said, 'Well, that's all we got.'"

He said it is therapeutic to talk about the loss and each time he tells the story, it gets easier. 

"Out of tragedy, I think comes opportunities," he said. "I think our family's stronger. I think our son and daughter appreciate us a lot more, and we appreciate what we had. 

"I tell people, on a happy side, how many people at 74 years of age get to build a brand new home and put all new crap in it," he said with a smile, "and the insurance company is going to pay for it."

&nbsp;The damage from the fire lingered. Initially, the wind blew away much of the topsoil from the barren land.&nbsp; The ash from the fire damaged the fertility of the soil. Keller planted and lost two rounds of crops on the burnt ground. A third planting of milo is finally growing.

Keller said farming has always been stressful.

"How many of you would check the markets in the afternoon and you've lost $200,000, but you still eat supper that night? You still move on," he said. "Or you go in to buy fertilizer and it's up four times what it was the year before, but you still write the check."

Brenda Seaman is a licensed clinical social worker at High Plains Mental Center but also comes from a multi-generation farm family.

"As has been said, we deal with things that are not in our control — commodity prices, input prices, weather, government policies that change. We are used to that," she said.

"What I have seen in recent years is a dwindling of resources that help us be resilient. What I mean by that is our communities, our connectedness and our growing isolation."

Many farmers are working additional jobs off the farm and rural populations are shrinking as farms consolidate. 

"There's no time to gather in those informal settings that we used to do, drink a cup of coffee at the local elevator or co-op and talk about the mutual stressors and mutual joys," she said.

She added, "Isolation in my view together with the difficult financial time can create despair hopelessness and a loss of shared purpose. When you are doing a really tough job, that's a big deal."

Farms used to be operated by multiple generations of a family — grandfathers, uncles, fathers and children.

"The weight of this now can be on the farmer alone," Seaman said, "because it is no longer financially viable sometimes to hand that farm down, so kids are working off the farm."

&nbsp;Jessie Wyrill, who lives on a farm in Phillips County, said separating work from home life is impossible on a farm.

Wyrill, holding back tears, talked about the heartbreak of losing a cow and her calf during birthing.

"Imagine moments like that building up day after day," she said. "Tomorrow it might be a bolt that breaks on the bailor and keeps them from finishing before supper and they lose out on spending time with their family. Then the guilt comes."

Wyrill, who is on the Phillips County Hospital Board, said wait times for mental health care are a barrier to many rural Americans. These wait times can be anywhere from two weeks to eight months.

"How is someone who is struggling expected to wait that long to get help and how do they feel if they are just put on the back burner," she said.

Farmers, who are subject to the needs of their livestock or the whims of the weather, can't commit to appointments set far in advance, she said.

This coupled with a desire for privacy makes telehealth a more viable option for many farmers, Wyrill said.

Panel members said high-speed internet is still lacking for many rural families. If you happen to be next to a fiber optic line and can access service with that provider, access is good.

However, panel members gave examples of families who couldn't access internet access when the fiber optic cable was as close as across the road from their homes. One company wanted to lay fiber across a farmer's land but refused to give him internet access because the farmer was not in their coverage area.

The panel members said expanding broadband is essential in expanding telehealth services to rural communities, but business models and regulations are getting in the way of access.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659120294939.jpeg" alt="Representatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration and High Plains Mental Health Center talk with farmers on a farm southwest of Hays, which is owned by Dylan Bryant, center. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Representatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration and High Plains Mental Health Center talk with farmers on a farm southwest of Hays, which is owned by Dylan Bryant, center. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call the new behavior health/suicide hotline at 988.High Plains Mental Health Center's emergency after-hours telephone number is 1-800-432-0333. By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostSuicide rates among farmers in Kansas are up to seven times higher than state rates.Members of a panel on Thursday said high stress among farmers combined with a reluctance of individuals to seek professional help has led to a mental health crisis.Representatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture were in Hays Thursday to talk to local farmers and listen to the panel, which was assembled by High Plains Mental Health Center. Attendees included Joseph Palm, regional director, HHS Intergovernmental and External Affairs; Kimberly Nelson, regional administrator of Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration; Nancy Rios, regional administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration; Nickolas Clasen, HHS Intergovernmental and External Affairs; and Christy Davis, Kansas state director of USDA Rural Development.<h2>Suicide by the numbers in Kansas</h2>Kansas' suicide rate is higher than the national average. It increased 65 percent between 2001 and 2020, said Dania Zolk, section director of injury and violence prevention at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Kansans ages 10 to 34. Suicide in 2020 cost the state $5.7 billion in medical expenses and work loss.The highest rates are among white males. The suicide rates for rural and frontier counties were 58 percent higher than the state rate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659121560317.jpeg" alt="Duane Keller, left, speaks will Walt Hill, director of High Plains Mental Health Center, during a panel Thursday on ag and mental health. Keller lost his home and his farm burned during the Four Counties Fire in December. Photo by Cristina Janney " />
 <figcaption>Duane Keller, left, speaks will Walt Hill, director of High Plains Mental Health Center, during a panel Thursday on ag and mental health. Keller lost his home and his farm burned during the Four Counties Fire in December. Photo by Cristina Janney </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Recovery after the 4-Counties Fire</h2>Duane Keller grew up on a farm in Trego County. He and his wife lost their home and all of his belonging in the Four Counties Fire in December. Nine hundred acres of farm ground and 50,000 bushels of corn also burned while the couple was visiting Kansas City.The couple had built the home 40 years ago with the help of their children. "We got a call from our daughter, and she said you're home's gone," Keller said with a crack in his voice. "On the way home, I told my wife, 'Look in the back seat of the pickup.' She said there is nothing back there except a couple of bags. I said, 'Well, that's all we got.'"He said it is therapeutic to talk about the loss and each time he tells the story, it gets easier. "Out of tragedy, I think comes opportunities," he said. "I think our family's stronger. I think our son and daughter appreciate us a lot more, and we appreciate what we had. "I tell people, on a happy side, how many people at 74 years of age get to build a brand new home and put all new crap in it," he said with a smile, "and the insurance company is going to pay for it."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659122582012.jpeg" alt="Mental Health and agriculture panel presented Thursday in Hays. Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Mental Health and agriculture panel presented Thursday in Hays. Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;The damage from the fire lingered. Initially, the wind blew away much of the topsoil from the barren land.&nbsp; The ash from the fire damaged the fertility of the soil. Keller planted and lost two rounds of crops on the burnt ground. A third planting of milo is finally growing. Keller said farming has always been stressful."How many of you would check the markets in the afternoon and you've lost $200,000, but you still eat supper that night? You still move on," he said. "Or you go in to buy fertilizer and it's up four times what it was the year before, but you still write the check."<h2>Isolation pervasive for farm families</h2>Brenda Seaman is a licensed clinical social worker at High Plains Mental Center but also comes from a multi-generation farm family."As has been said, we deal with things that are not in our control — commodity prices, input prices, weather, government policies that change. We are used to that," she said."What I have seen in recent years is a dwindling of resources that help us be resilient. What I mean by that is our communities, our connectedness and our growing isolation."Many farmers are working additional jobs off the farm and rural populations are shrinking as farms consolidate. "There's no time to gather in those informal settings that we used to do, drink a cup of coffee at the local elevator or co-op and talk about the mutual stressors and mutual joys," she said. She added, "Isolation in my view together with the difficult financial time can create despair hopelessness and a loss of shared purpose. When you are doing a really tough job, that's a big deal."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659123479655.jpeg" alt="Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Farms used to be operated by multiple generations of a family — grandfathers, uncles, fathers and children."The weight of this now can be on the farmer alone," Seaman said, "because it is no longer financially viable sometimes to hand that farm down, so kids are working off the farm."<h2>Heartbreak of farm life</h2>&nbsp;Jessie Wyrill, who lives on a farm in Phillips County, said separating work from home life is impossible on a farm.Wyrill, holding back tears, talked about the heartbreak of losing a cow and her calf during birthing. "Imagine moments like that building up day after day," she said. "Tomorrow it might be a bolt that breaks on the bailor and keeps them from finishing before supper and they lose out on spending time with their family. Then the guilt comes."Wyrill, who is on the Phillips County Hospital Board, said wait times for mental health care are a barrier to many rural Americans. These wait times can be anywhere from two weeks to eight months."How is someone who is struggling expected to wait that long to get help and how do they feel if they are just put on the back burner," she said.<h2>Need for telehealth, broadband expansion</h2>Farmers, who are subject to the needs of their livestock or the whims of the weather, can't commit to appointments set far in advance, she said.This coupled with a desire for privacy makes telehealth a more viable option for many farmers, Wyrill said.Panel members said high-speed internet is still lacking for many rural families. If you happen to be next to a fiber optic line and can access service with that provider, access is good.However, panel members gave examples of families who couldn't access internet access when the fiber optic cable was as close as across the road from their homes. One company wanted to lay fiber across a farmer's land but refused to give him internet access because the farmer was not in their coverage area.The panel members said expanding broadband is essential in expanding telehealth services to rural communities, but business models and regulations are getting in the way of access. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659122876270.jpeg" alt="Dr. Christine Fisher, medical director of First Care Clinic, urges the expansion of integrated health care to include mental health care. She along with Angel Romero Jr, hemp farmer, left, and veterinarian Lauren Mack, right, sat on a panel on ag and mental health on Thursday in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Dr. Christine Fisher, medical director of First Care Clinic, urges the expansion of integrated health care to include mental health care. She along with Angel Romero Jr, hemp farmer, left, and veterinarian Lauren Mack, right, sat on a panel on ag and mental health on Thursday in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Christine Fisher, medical director of First Care Clinic in Hays, promoted the use of the integrated health approach that is used at First Care. All First Care patients are screened for both physical and mental health needs when they are seen for appointments."People don't like to come back and talk about I'm depressed. I have suicidal thoughts," she said. "But if this is just part of the visit — it's included in your visit — they will stay for that. We can do those suicide interventions."The clinic hired a psychiatric telehealth nurse practitioner for medication management."If there is a hole in medical school teaching and nurse practitioner teaching, it is revolving around behavioral health and behavioral health medication management. Very, very poor teaching, unfortunately," she said.<h2>'Weight of legends'</h2>Lauren Mack, is a veterinarian with The Animal Hospital, which has locations in Plainville and Phillipsburg. She works daily with farmers and ranchers.She talked about the "weight of legends" in farm families. "When you stand chute side. The legend is grandpa. ... Sometimes it was great-grandpa or it was the neighbor down the road. You not only have an obligation to your family to keep farming but to the whole region and your children. The list becomes vast."That weight is paired with a lack of secession planning and substance abuse, she said. She said she sees many psychiatric issues and damaged marriages.Mack added later the ranchers she works with tend to be very isolated, which she said she thought also contributed to mental health issues."If you have ever spent all day working by yourself, you have a lot of time to convince yourself of all the things you have done wrong and all of the things that are going wrong and there is a lot of time to get to a place you shouldn't," she said.She said she has had ranchers break down into tears with her, but she said it took asking questions and reaching out as a friend to get someone to talk about their struggles.<h2>Addressing needs, looking for solutions </h2>Alicia Boor, Cottonwood Extension District agent, said her agency is trying to get as many people as possible training in Question, Pursue and Refer, which is also known as QPR. This one-hour training helps lay people learn techniques to deal with mental health emergencies. "Most farmers don't want to admit that they are struggling, but they will move mountains to save their buddy," she said.Andrew Brown, commissioner of Behavioral Health Services for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, said the governor dedicated $1.5 million in her budget this year for suicide prevention.On July 16, the new 988 mental health/suicide hotline launched. It will work much like 911. The majority of the calls to the line will be answered by workers in Kansas.Kansas is also working to open crisis centers, as well as mobile crisis units, Brown said.KDHE has applied for a grant from the Centers for Disease Control for mental health programs among youth in agriculture in frontier communities in Kansas, Zolck with KDHE said. Cover photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post