By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension District

The holiday season is around the corner, and this means that the kitchen will likely become a busy place as we prepare meals to gather around. As you prepare tasty dishes to share, be conscious of the possibility of sharing illness too. I found these tips from K-State food scientist, Karen Blakeslee, especially helpful for preventing cross-contamination:

“We use the kitchen sink for food preparation and more,” Blakeslee said. “The possibility exists for foodborne illness-causing bacteria to hang out in the sink too. These bacteria could cross-contaminate your food and make you sick.”

Blakeslee added that a recent USDA study tested surfaces where participants prepared a breakfast meal with raw sausage, shell eggs, and a fruit salad made with cut-up cantaloupe. Test results showed that 34% of the sinks were contaminated after preparing the meal.

Even more scary, 26% of the samples of cut-up cantaloupe from the fruit salad were contaminated after breakfast prep.

“The bacteria in the sink or on your hands can cross-contaminate from the sink to other items, including those you normally eat raw. This means you’ll be eating that bacteria too,” Blakeslee said.

After using your sink to wash or prepare food, clean and sanitize the sink:

1) Use warm, soapy water to wash the sink. Wipe it clean with paper towels.

2) Use a sanitizer and let air dry. Sanitizers can be homemade (1 tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water) or use a commercial sanitizer or sanitizing wipe.

When the sink is used to clean and sanitize, it’s easy to forget that the sink itself can become contaminated. So, be mindful of your food prep habits to keep you and the entire family healthy this holiday season.

Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe holiday season is around the corner, and this means that the kitchen will likely become a busy place as we prepare meals to gather around. As you prepare tasty dishes to share, be conscious of the possibility of sharing illness too. I found these tips from K-State food scientist, Karen Blakeslee, especially helpful for preventing cross-contamination:“We use the kitchen sink for food preparation and more,” Blakeslee said. “The possibility exists for foodborne illness-causing bacteria to hang out in the sink too. These bacteria could cross-contaminate your food and make you sick.”Blakeslee added that a recent USDA study tested surfaces where participants prepared a breakfast meal with raw sausage, shell eggs, and a fruit salad made with cut-up cantaloupe. Test results showed that 34% of the sinks were contaminated after preparing the meal.Even more scary, 26% of the samples of cut-up cantaloupe from the fruit salad were contaminated after breakfast prep.“The bacteria in the sink or on your hands can cross-contaminate from the sink to other items, including those you normally eat raw. This means you’ll be eating that bacteria too,” Blakeslee said.After using your sink to wash or prepare food, clean and sanitize the sink:1) Use warm, soapy water to wash the sink. Wipe it clean with paper towels.2) Use a sanitizer and let air dry. Sanitizers can be homemade (1 tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water) or use a commercial sanitizer or sanitizing wipe.When the sink is used to clean and sanitize, it’s easy to forget that the sink itself can become contaminated. So, be mindful of your food prep habits to keep you and the entire family healthy this holiday season.Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

WINKEL: Clean the kitchen sink

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

Newly bought houseplants or those brought in from outside often lose at least a portion of their leaves. In order to understand why this occurs, we need to look at how these plants are grown and what the plant needs to do to adapt to its new environment. Houseplants are normally produced either under shade outdoors in southern states or in greenhouses. Also, many homeowners move their houseplants outside during the summer. Regardless, the plants receive much more sunlight than they do in an indoor environment. Research done in Florida in the late 1970s revealed that tropical plants grown under high light conditions produce ‘sun leaves' while those grown under low light conditions have ‘shade leaves.' These leaf types differ structurally in that sun leaves have less chlorophyll (the substance that plants use to convert sunlight to energy) and the chlorophyll that is present is located deeper inside the leaf. Sun leaves also tend to be thick, small and numerous while shade leaves are more thin, larger, and fewer in number. When plants are moved from one light condition to another they need time to adjust. This process is known as acclimatization. If they are forced to acclimatize too quickly, they will drop their sun leaves and produce a new set of shade leaves. If the acclimatization process is slower and less drastic, the plant can convert their sun leaves to the shade leaves that do better under low light. If going from shade to sun, this process is reversed.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

 Some houseplants are acclimatized before they are sold but many are not. So how do we help our new houseplants or those moved inside acclimatize to their new home environment? Houseplants should start out in an area of the home that receives plenty of light and then gradually moved to their permanent, darker location. This process should take 4 to 8 weeks depending on the degree of difference in light levels between the initial and final location of the plant. Remember, plants need to be acclimatized whether they are moved from a sunny location to one that receives less light or from shade to sun. Understanding plant processes allows us to anticipate potential problems. Acclimatization gives our houseplants a greater&nbsp;chance of retaining leaves and avoiding the stress of completely replacing them.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698682262753.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictNewly bought houseplants or those brought in from outside often lose at least a portion of their leaves. In order to understand why this occurs, we need to look at how these plants are grown and what the plant needs to do to adapt to its new environment. Houseplants are normally produced either under shade outdoors in southern states or in greenhouses. Also, many homeowners move their houseplants outside during the summer. Regardless, the plants receive much more sunlight than they do in an indoor environment. Research done in Florida in the late 1970s revealed that tropical plants grown under high light conditions produce ‘sun leaves' while those grown under low light conditions have ‘shade leaves.' These leaf types differ structurally in that sun leaves have less chlorophyll (the substance that plants use to convert sunlight to energy) and the chlorophyll that is present is located deeper inside the leaf. Sun leaves also tend to be thick, small and numerous while shade leaves are more thin, larger, and fewer in number. When plants are moved from one light condition to another they need time to adjust. This process is known as acclimatization. If they are forced to acclimatize too quickly, they will drop their sun leaves and produce a new set of shade leaves. If the acclimatization process is slower and less drastic, the plant can convert their sun leaves to the shade leaves that do better under low light. If going from shade to sun, this process is reversed.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Some houseplants are acclimatized before they are sold but many are not. So how do we help our new houseplants or those moved inside acclimatize to their new home environment? Houseplants should start out in an area of the home that receives plenty of light and then gradually moved to their permanent, darker location. This process should take 4 to 8 weeks depending on the degree of difference in light levels between the initial and final location of the plant. Remember, plants need to be acclimatized whether they are moved from a sunny location to one that receives less light or from shade to sun. Understanding plant processes allows us to anticipate potential problems. Acclimatization gives our houseplants a greater&nbsp;chance of retaining leaves and avoiding the stress of completely replacing them.&nbsp;Alicia&nbsp;Boor&nbsp;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: Why do houseplants lose leaves after being brought inside? 

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

Looking at turkeys for your holiday meals? Here are some tips to help make your holiday turkey safe and healthy. Turkey is a healthy choice since it is considered a white meat and full of protein! Some tips for keeping it as healthy as possible is to bake it and not fry it or use herbs and lemon to season rather than butter and salt. Allow one pound (1 lb) of turkey per person you are serving.

Thawing turkeys can be tricky but remember to thaw them in one of three ways: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or the microwave. Allowing your bird to thaw at room temperature can allow dangerous bacteria to grow. Washing a raw turkey or poultry also spreads bacteria around the kitchen so you can save time and skip washing the bird. To roast the turkey, start with an oven temperature set at least at 325 degrees. Timetable for turkey roasting varies based on size and if the turkey is stuffed or not. The turkey should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees when it is thoroughly cooked. Allow the turkey to stand for 20 minutes before carving.

Turkeys must be kept at a safe temperature during "the big thaw." While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. However, as soon as it begins to thaw, any bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to grow again.

Immediately after grocery store checkout, take the frozen turkey home and store it in the freezer. Frozen turkeys should not be left on the back porch, in the car trunk, in the basement, or any place else where temperatures cannot be constantly monitored.

A package of frozen meat or poultry left thawing on the counter more than 2 hours is not at a safe temperature. Even though the center of the package may still be frozen, the outer layer of the food is in the "Danger Zone" between 40 and 140 °F — at a temperature where foodborne bacteria multiply rapidly.

There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave oven.

When thawing a turkey in the refrigerator:

· Plan ahead: allow approximately 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at 40 °F or below.

· Place the turkey in a container to prevent the juices from dripping on other foods.

A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking. Foods thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking but there may be some loss of quality.

First be sure the turkey is in a leak-proof plastic bag to prevent cross-contamination and to prevent the turkey from absorbing water, resulting in a watery product.

Submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed.

A turkey thawed by the cold water method should be cooked immediately. After cooking, meat from the turkey can be refrozen.

Follow the microwave oven manufacturer's instruction when defrosting a turkey. Plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended because any bacteria present wouldn't have been destroyed.

A turkey thawed in the microwave must be cooked immediately.

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictLooking at turkeys for your holiday meals? Here are some tips to help make your holiday turkey safe and healthy. Turkey is a healthy choice since it is considered a white meat and full of protein! Some tips for keeping it as healthy as possible is to bake it and not fry it or use herbs and lemon to season rather than butter and salt. Allow one pound (1 lb) of turkey per person you are serving.Thawing turkeys can be tricky but remember to thaw them in one of three ways: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or the microwave. Allowing your bird to thaw at room temperature can allow dangerous bacteria to grow. Washing a raw turkey or poultry also spreads bacteria around the kitchen so you can save time and skip washing the bird. To roast the turkey, start with an oven temperature set at least at 325 degrees. Timetable for turkey roasting varies based on size and if the turkey is stuffed or not. The turkey should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees when it is thoroughly cooked. Allow the turkey to stand for 20 minutes before carving.Turkeys must be kept at a safe temperature during "the big thaw." While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. However, as soon as it begins to thaw, any bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to grow again.Immediately after grocery store checkout, take the frozen turkey home and store it in the freezer. Frozen turkeys should not be left on the back porch, in the car trunk, in the basement, or any place else where temperatures cannot be constantly monitored.A package of frozen meat or poultry left thawing on the counter more than 2 hours is not at a safe temperature. Even though the center of the package may still be frozen, the outer layer of the food is in the "Danger Zone" between 40 and 140 °F — at a temperature where foodborne bacteria multiply rapidly.There are three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave oven.Refrigerator ThawingWhen thawing a turkey in the refrigerator:· Plan ahead: allow approximately 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at 40 °F or below.· Place the turkey in a container to prevent the juices from dripping on other foods.REFRIGERATOR THAWING TIMESWhole turkey:· 4 to 12 pounds — 1 to 3 days· 12 to 16 pounds — 3 to 4 days· 16 to 20 pounds — 4 to 5 days· 20 to 24 pounds —5 to 6 daysA thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking. Foods thawed in the refrigerator can be refrozen without cooking but there may be some loss of quality.Cold Water ThawingAllow about 30 minutes per pound.First be sure the turkey is in a leak-proof plastic bag to prevent cross-contamination and to prevent the turkey from absorbing water, resulting in a watery product.Submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed.COLD WATER THAWING TIMES· 4 to 12 pounds — 2 to 6 hours· 12 to 16 pounds — 6 to 8 hours· 16 to 20 pounds — 8 to 10 hours· 20 to 24 pounds — 10 to 12 hoursA turkey thawed by the cold water method should be cooked immediately. After cooking, meat from the turkey can be refrozen.Microwave ThawingFollow the microwave oven manufacturer's instruction when defrosting a turkey. Plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended because any bacteria present wouldn't have been destroyed.A turkey thawed in the microwave must be cooked immediately.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: Turkey Basics

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

A new hybrid plant has emerged in Kansas wheat fields. Through genetic and cytogenetic testing, it was determined to be a hybrid derived from wheat and triticale. This hybrid was confirmed in three locations in Kansas this year.

The mysterious hybrid was observed by Kansas Crop Improvement Association (KCIA) inspectors in Dickinson County and Marion County. In addition, a producer from south-central Kansas also found the same hybrid.

Samples from all three locations were sent to the National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC) in North Dakota. They confirmed all three samples were identical. The NAGC used the NCBI public database and searched for a match using the BLAST algorithm. Based on the database results, they reported that the ITS2 region suggested the samples contained nuclear genomes of Secale and a Triticum species.

The Wheat Genetic Resource Center (WGRC) at Kansas State University provided further testing through a cytogenetic analysis of the seeds produced by the hybrid. Cytogenetics is a branch of genetics that involves the study of chromosomes. The cytogenetic analysis determined that the hybrid plant had 48 chromosomes: 41 wheat and 7 rye. The result indicated that the hybrid plant is likely derived from natural hybridization between hexaploid wheat and octoploid triticale.

In summary, the mystery plant found in Kansas wheat fields has been identified as a wheat x triticale hybrid. To the best of expert’s knowledge, this is the first time this specific hybrid has been found and identified. Over the course of my investigations says Marion Spiering, Manager of Field Services and Seed Certification KCIA. I grew tired of referring to it as “the wheat x triticale hybrid,” so I’ve informally started calling it “quadrotriticale” because it has both the Secale and Triticum species and to distinguish it from commercial triticale.

The seeds collected and tested by KCIA had an overall low fertility rate. It may show up more in areas where a lot of triticale cover crops are being used. In addition, it may also appear if a farmer saves seed from a wheat field that was grown next to a triticale field. The “quadrotriticale” plants were discovered due to the careful field inspection procedures required for Certified seed production. The “quadrotiticale” plants found by KCIA inspectors grew a little taller than the wheat, making them easy to spot. Like its parents, the hybrid is a bunch-type plant that can be pulled easily if it is found in any production field. Now that this hybrid has been identified, KCIA growers can easily locate it and rogue it out of their Certified seed fields.

KCIA’s excellent seed growers and our superior Certified seed standards are more than up to the task of dealing with this new hybrid and continuing to produce high-quality wheat seed.

· The cytogenetic analysis was done by WGRC at KSU.

· The DNA sequencing was done by NAGC, ND.

· The seed germination test was done by KCIA Seed Lab.

· Thanks to Dr. Allan Fritz, K-State Wheat Breeder for his overall assistance with this project and help networking.

Information provided by Marion Spiering, Manager of Field Services and Seed Certification, Kansas Crop Improvement Association, mskcia@kansas.net.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictA new hybrid plant has emerged in Kansas wheat fields. Through genetic and cytogenetic testing, it was determined to be a hybrid derived from wheat and triticale. This hybrid was confirmed in three locations in Kansas this year.The mysterious hybrid was observed by Kansas Crop Improvement Association (KCIA) inspectors in Dickinson County and Marion County. In addition, a producer from south-central Kansas also found the same hybrid.Samples from all three locations were sent to the National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC) in North Dakota. They confirmed all three samples were identical. The NAGC used the NCBI public database and searched for a match using the BLAST algorithm. Based on the database results, they reported that the ITS2 region suggested the samples contained nuclear genomes of Secale and a Triticum species.The Wheat Genetic Resource Center (WGRC) at Kansas State University provided further testing through a cytogenetic analysis of the seeds produced by the hybrid. Cytogenetics is a branch of genetics that involves the study of chromosomes. The cytogenetic analysis determined that the hybrid plant had 48 chromosomes: 41 wheat and 7 rye. The result indicated that the hybrid plant is likely derived from natural hybridization between hexaploid wheat and octoploid triticale.In summary, the mystery plant found in Kansas wheat fields has been identified as a wheat x triticale hybrid. To the best of expert’s knowledge, this is the first time this specific hybrid has been found and identified. Over the course of my investigations says Marion Spiering, Manager of Field Services and Seed Certification KCIA. I grew tired of referring to it as “the wheat x triticale hybrid,” so I’ve informally started calling it “quadrotriticale” because it has both the Secale and Triticum species and to distinguish it from commercial triticale.The seeds collected and tested by KCIA had an overall low fertility rate. It may show up more in areas where a lot of triticale cover crops are being used. In addition, it may also appear if a farmer saves seed from a wheat field that was grown next to a triticale field. The “quadrotriticale” plants were discovered due to the careful field inspection procedures required for Certified seed production. The “quadrotiticale” plants found by KCIA inspectors grew a little taller than the wheat, making them easy to spot. Like its parents, the hybrid is a bunch-type plant that can be pulled easily if it is found in any production field. Now that this hybrid has been identified, KCIA growers can easily locate it and rogue it out of their Certified seed fields.KCIA’s excellent seed growers and our superior Certified seed standards are more than up to the task of dealing with this new hybrid and continuing to produce high-quality wheat seed.Acknowledgments· The cytogenetic analysis was done by WGRC at KSU.· The DNA sequencing was done by NAGC, ND.· The seed germination test was done by KCIA Seed Lab.· Thanks to Dr. Allan Fritz, K-State Wheat Breeder for his overall assistance with this project and help networking.Information provided by Marion Spiering, Manager of Field Services and Seed Certification, Kansas Crop Improvement Association, mskcia@kansas.net.

CAMPBELL: New wheat x triticale hybrid confirmed in Kansas

You know that healthy foods are good for the body, but you may not consider the impact nutrition has on everyday tasks. A balanced diet can support brain functions including balance, posture, coordination, and breathing.

As you know, the brain is complex. It’s the control system of the entire body, and it relies on a network of brain cells and neurons to communicate. The good news is that there are ways to nourish the brain to support cognitive capacity and protect it for years to come.

One way to protect the brain is to reduce inflammation. Harmful molecules around the brain can increase inflammation and damage neurons. In the long term, this increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. Sources of omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, nuts and seeds, and olive oil can reduce brain inflammation, support new brain cells, and help neurons communicate better with the rest of the body. Also, colorful fruits and vegetables provide the brain with antioxidants and vitamins that help to protect the brain.

B Vitamins, especially folate, are another superhero for brain health. They are shown to reduce the risk of dementia and slow cognitive decline. B vitamins are found in whole grains, legumes, nuts, leafy green vegetables, and eggs.

Another essential vitamin for brain health is Vitamin D, and a lack of it can cause issues with memory and thinking and increase the risk of dementia. Foods like salmon, tuna, fortified grains, and milk are high in Vitamin D. Also, at least 5 minutes of sunlight exposure each day allows the body to produce vitamin D from the food you eat.

Overall, an eating plan focusing on plenty of fruits and vegetables, moderate amounts of protein, and low amounts of saturated fat and sugar is best for optimizing brain health. This is known as the MIND diet, and it’s designed to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and slow cognitive decline. This eating approach combines the Mediterranean eating plan with the

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). The MIND eating plan focuses on foods that are associated with brain function like green leafy vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, and olive oil.

If you would like to learn more about the MIND diet, join the Cottonwood District and K-State 105 for Nourishing the Brain: Recommendations for Combating Neurodegenerative Diseases. This program will take place at the Great Bend Senior Center on November 20th at 1 pm.

It’s never too late to incorporate brain-boosting foods into your diet. Immediate and long-term benefits can be achieved by nourishing the brain!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension DistrictYou know that healthy foods are good for the body, but you may not consider the impact nutrition has on everyday tasks. A balanced diet can support brain functions including balance, posture, coordination, and breathing.As you know, the brain is complex. It’s the control system of the entire body, and it relies on a network of brain cells and neurons to communicate. The good news is that there are ways to nourish the brain to support cognitive capacity and protect it for years to come.One way to protect the brain is to reduce inflammation. Harmful molecules around the brain can increase inflammation and damage neurons. In the long term, this increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. Sources of omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, nuts and seeds, and olive oil can reduce brain inflammation, support new brain cells, and help neurons communicate better with the rest of the body. Also, colorful fruits and vegetables provide the brain with antioxidants and vitamins that help to protect the brain.B Vitamins, especially folate, are another superhero for brain health. They are shown to reduce the risk of dementia and slow cognitive decline. B vitamins are found in whole grains, legumes, nuts, leafy green vegetables, and eggs.Another essential vitamin for brain health is Vitamin D, and a lack of it can cause issues with memory and thinking and increase the risk of dementia. Foods like salmon, tuna, fortified grains, and milk are high in Vitamin D. Also, at least 5 minutes of sunlight exposure each day allows the body to produce vitamin D from the food you eat.Overall, an eating plan focusing on plenty of fruits and vegetables, moderate amounts of protein, and low amounts of saturated fat and sugar is best for optimizing brain health. This is known as the MIND diet, and it’s designed to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and slow cognitive decline. This eating approach combines the Mediterranean eating plan with theDietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). The MIND eating plan focuses on foods that are associated with brain function like green leafy vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, and olive oil.If you would like to learn more about the MIND diet, join the Cottonwood District and K-State 105 for Nourishing the Brain: Recommendations for Combating Neurodegenerative Diseases. This program will take place at the Great Bend Senior Center on November 20th at 1 pm.It’s never too late to incorporate brain-boosting foods into your diet. Immediate and long-term benefits can be achieved by nourishing the brain!Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

WINKEL: Nourishing the brain

By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District

The 4-H year runs from October 1 through September 30 of each year. Youth select projects in October or November and work on learning new skills, improving others, and participating in related leadership and community service throughout the year.

Celebrating involvement and accomplishments is an important and fun part of this process! About 80 4-H members and their families gathered on Sunday, November 3, to share a meal, good fellowship, and celebrate 4-H members.

A committee puts together the theme and decides on the meal. They did a great job this year to Level Up with 4-H, a video game themed event! One of the families provided roasters of soup while another took care of the desserts! It was a great way to begin the evening.

One of the hallmarks of 4-H is the focus on communication skills and leadership, and both were on display as 4-H Council officers Melody Braddy, Kassie Linsner, Ailey Williams, and Jonas Kern served as our emcees for the evening.

Each 4-H club has an opportunity to share about events they participated in and to showcase the awards for their club members. It is so much fun to see each club gather with their project awards for a group photo!

In addition, there are a few special awards presented. The Key Award is for 4-H members who have demonstrated outstanding contributions in leadership, citizenship, community service, demonstrations, judging and the holding of club and county offices. In short, it recognizes 4-H members who have lived up to the high ideals expressed by the 4-H Club Pledge. Jonas Kern received his Key Award as a 10-year member of the Ellinwood Energizers and is involved in a wide variety of project areas. In particular, he was recognized at the 2024 Emerald Circle banquet, held during Discovery Days, for having the Kansas 4-H Wildlife Project Record. He is a member of the Cottonwood 4-H2O Ambassadors and presents water educational information to a wide variety of audiences. He is an active member of Junior Leaders, 4-H Ambassadors, and the 4-H Livestock Committee and has held numerous offices in all of these organizations. He is a gracious leader who is willing to listen but keep the decision-making process moving forward.

The “I Dare You” Leadership award was first offered in 1941 by the late Williams H. Danforth, founder of the Ralston Purina company in St. Louis. He challenged young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through lives of service. The award inspired the book, “I Dare You” written by Danforth in which he encourages a balanced life of mental, physical, social, and spiritual development as the backbone of leadership. Ailey Williams, the first recipient holds multiple leadership roles in her club, Junior Leaders, and 4-H Council. In addition, she always shows up with a smile and a “can do” attitude for any task. Melody Braddy, the second recipient, also holds multiple leadership roles across our county and is a candidate for the Kansas Youth Leadership Council this year. Her creative spark is visible in many activities and projects. Both of these young women are incredibly involved in school activities in addition to 4-H yet show up and LEAD activities! I was particularly pleased to see their commitment and engagement the last couple of years as the Visual Arts superintendents. They had a short and sharp learning curve the first year but have gained much experience in the last two years!

Our final special awards are the Friends of 4-H. The first was presented to Shane and Hayley Dicks for their many years as Busy Buzzers club leaders and advisers for the 4-H Livestock Committee and 4-H Ambassadors. The second was presented to the family of the late Frank Ochs who was a 4-H champion and cheerleader to many 4-H families. His smile and jokes in the barn will be greatly missed but we look forward to many years of involvement by his family.

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

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

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe 4-H year runs from October 1 through September 30 of each year. Youth select projects in October or November and work on learning new skills, improving others, and participating in related leadership and community service throughout the year.Celebrating involvement and accomplishments is an important and fun part of this process! About 80 4-H members and their families gathered on Sunday, November 3, to share a meal, good fellowship, and celebrate 4-H members.A committee puts together the theme and decides on the meal. They did a great job this year to Level Up with 4-H, a video game themed event! One of the families provided roasters of soup while another took care of the desserts! It was a great way to begin the evening.One of the hallmarks of 4-H is the focus on communication skills and leadership, and both were on display as 4-H Council officers Melody Braddy, Kassie Linsner, Ailey Williams, and Jonas Kern served as our emcees for the evening.Each 4-H club has an opportunity to share about events they participated in and to showcase the awards for their club members. It is so much fun to see each club gather with their project awards for a group photo!In addition, there are a few special awards presented. The Key Award is for 4-H members who have demonstrated outstanding contributions in leadership, citizenship, community service, demonstrations, judging and the holding of club and county offices. In short, it recognizes 4-H members who have lived up to the high ideals expressed by the 4-H Club Pledge. Jonas Kern received his Key Award as a 10-year member of the Ellinwood Energizers and is involved in a wide variety of project areas. In particular, he was recognized at the 2024 Emerald Circle banquet, held during Discovery Days, for having the Kansas 4-H Wildlife Project Record. He is a member of the Cottonwood 4-H2O Ambassadors and presents water educational information to a wide variety of audiences. He is an active member of Junior Leaders, 4-H Ambassadors, and the 4-H Livestock Committee and has held numerous offices in all of these organizations. He is a gracious leader who is willing to listen but keep the decision-making process moving forward.The “I Dare You” Leadership award was first offered in 1941 by the late Williams H. Danforth, founder of the Ralston Purina company in St. Louis. He challenged young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through lives of service. The award inspired the book, “I Dare You” written by Danforth in which he encourages a balanced life of mental, physical, social, and spiritual development as the backbone of leadership. Ailey Williams, the first recipient holds multiple leadership roles in her club, Junior Leaders, and 4-H Council. In addition, she always shows up with a smile and a “can do” attitude for any task. Melody Braddy, the second recipient, also holds multiple leadership roles across our county and is a candidate for the Kansas Youth Leadership Council this year. Her creative spark is visible in many activities and projects. Both of these young women are incredibly involved in school activities in addition to 4-H yet show up and LEAD activities! I was particularly pleased to see their commitment and engagement the last couple of years as the Visual Arts superintendents. They had a short and sharp learning curve the first year but have gained much experience in the last two years!Our final special awards are the Friends of 4-H. The first was presented to Shane and Hayley Dicks for their many years as Busy Buzzers club leaders and advisers for the 4-H Livestock Committee and 4-H Ambassadors. The second was presented to the family of the late Frank Ochs who was a 4-H champion and cheerleader to many 4-H families. His smile and jokes in the barn will be greatly missed but we look forward to many years of involvement by his family.Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Celebrating achievements

Living Well Wednesday is a virtual learning series hosted by K-State Research and Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) professionals from across the state of Kansas. Webinars will be offered the second Wednesday of most months, from 12:10-1 pm. There is no charge to participate, however, registration is required.

Our next webinar is scheduled for November 13, 2024. Fall Proof Your Life: A Guide to Better Balance will be presented by Erin Martinez, PhD, Extension Adult Development and Aging Specialist. She will help you discover practical tips and exercises to improve your balance, reduce risk of falls, and help you live a more independent and active life. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/fcs/livingwellwed/ and register for the free Living Well Wednesday webinar series at: bit.ly/3zvWWGQ

All webinars will be recorded and a link, along with supporting resources, will be included on the Living Well Website: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/fcs/livingwellwed/

Those who register will also receive a follow-up email with the link to the recorded presentation and the supporting resources.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictLiving Well Wednesday is a virtual learning series hosted by K-State Research and Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) professionals from across the state of Kansas. Webinars will be offered the second Wednesday of most months, from 12:10-1 pm. There is no charge to participate, however, registration is required.Our next webinar is scheduled for November 13, 2024. Fall Proof Your Life: A Guide to Better Balance will be presented by Erin Martinez, PhD, Extension Adult Development and Aging Specialist. She will help you discover practical tips and exercises to improve your balance, reduce risk of falls, and help you live a more independent and active life. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/fcs/livingwellwed/ and register for the free Living Well Wednesday webinar series at: bit.ly/3zvWWGQAll webinars will be recorded and a link, along with supporting resources, will be included on the Living Well Website: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/fcs/livingwellwed/Those who register will also receive a follow-up email with the link to the recorded presentation and the supporting resources.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: Living Well Wednesday

Kansas State University agronomists have tapped the powerful world of digital technology to make more than four decades worth of crop information almost instantly available to farmers via their phones or home computers. Cropping systems agronomist Ignacio Ciampitti and the director for research for the Institute of Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics (ID3A), says this new site means that yield and other valuable information may now be available within hours of university researchers harvesting crops from Kansas fields. Farmers decide what hybrids to plant the following year during or right after this year’s harvest. A problem we’ve had in the past is that the results of K-State’s crop performance tests have not been made available for two or three months until data was processed and all publications were printed. There was a need to transform how the data was shared so that the information is available immediately, easier for farmers to digest, and more visual.

The Kansas State University Institute of Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics, integrated with Dr. Ciampitti’s research lab (led by Pedro Cisdeli), has created a website called Analysis and Visualization of Crop Yield Trials – or AVYield – that will pack 40 years of K-State crop performance tests and other information into easy-to-read formats for farmers. The online tool is located at https://www.avyield.com. Jane Lingenfelser, an assistant agronomist and coordinator of the university’s crop performance tests each year, said she routinely advises producers to research as many data sources as possible when making decisions on crop varieties to plant. But we haven’t provided the tools for them to do that fully until now. There’s no cost or risk to researching all production options. Using this new tool, switching between crops in a specific growing location is very easy. For example, it is possible to immediately see how canola performed overall and which hybrid performed the best in south central Kansas, without devoting the land or expense to a new enterprise.

K-State’s database makes more than 40 years of data available for most crops – including canola, corn, sorghum, soybean, sunflower, and wheat. With a few on-screen clicks, farmers can find information based on variety, rainfed versus irrigated production, and geographic location within the state. This online resource is available at no cost to producers and researchers.

K-State canola breeder Mike Stamm has also made available the results of the National Winter Canola Variety trials, which his program coordinates at 30 locations in the United States. The collection dates back to the mid-1990s. “We live in an information-rich society, and we are used

to having the information immediately available,” Stamm said. “Sometimes, some of the most important work we do is not readily available because it takes time to analyze, write, review, and publish. We still need to publish our results, to show progress in our programs…but easier and more immediate access to the results will drive impact on our farms.” Kansas Corn provided funding to build AVYield, in collaboration with the Institute of Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics, which was introduced in late September during Celebrate Ag Day at K-State’s home football game against Oklahoma State.

“We are one of the first groups in the country to introduce these types of tools,” Ciampitti said. “The beauty of it is that much of the research information we produce related to crop production doesn’t take too long to get to farmers. Now, they can make their final decisions on planting crops based on information and visualization coming from this tool.”

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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictKansas State University agronomists have tapped the powerful world of digital technology to make more than four decades worth of crop information almost instantly available to farmers via their phones or home computers. Cropping systems agronomist Ignacio Ciampitti and the director for research for the Institute of Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics (ID3A), says this new site means that yield and other valuable information may now be available within hours of university researchers harvesting crops from Kansas fields. Farmers decide what hybrids to plant the following year during or right after this year’s harvest. A problem we’ve had in the past is that the results of K-State’s crop performance tests have not been made available for two or three months until data was processed and all publications were printed. There was a need to transform how the data was shared so that the information is available immediately, easier for farmers to digest, and more visual.The Kansas State University Institute of Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics, integrated with Dr. Ciampitti’s research lab (led by Pedro Cisdeli), has created a website called Analysis and Visualization of Crop Yield Trials – or AVYield – that will pack 40 years of K-State crop performance tests and other information into easy-to-read formats for farmers. The online tool is located at https://www.avyield.com. Jane Lingenfelser, an assistant agronomist and coordinator of the university’s crop performance tests each year, said she routinely advises producers to research as many data sources as possible when making decisions on crop varieties to plant. But we haven’t provided the tools for them to do that fully until now. There’s no cost or risk to researching all production options. Using this new tool, switching between crops in a specific growing location is very easy. For example, it is possible to immediately see how canola performed overall and which hybrid performed the best in south central Kansas, without devoting the land or expense to a new enterprise.K-State’s database makes more than 40 years of data available for most crops – including canola, corn, sorghum, soybean, sunflower, and wheat. With a few on-screen clicks, farmers can find information based on variety, rainfed versus irrigated production, and geographic location within the state. This online resource is available at no cost to producers and researchers.K-State canola breeder Mike Stamm has also made available the results of the National Winter Canola Variety trials, which his program coordinates at 30 locations in the United States. The collection dates back to the mid-1990s. “We live in an information-rich society, and we are usedto having the information immediately available,” Stamm said. “Sometimes, some of the most important work we do is not readily available because it takes time to analyze, write, review, and publish. We still need to publish our results, to show progress in our programs…but easier and more immediate access to the results will drive impact on our farms.” Kansas Corn provided funding to build AVYield, in collaboration with the Institute of Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics, which was introduced in late September during Celebrate Ag Day at K-State’s home football game against Oklahoma State.“We are one of the first groups in the country to introduce these types of tools,” Ciampitti said. “The beauty of it is that much of the research information we produce related to crop production doesn’t take too long to get to farmers. Now, they can make their final decisions on planting crops based on information and visualization coming from this tool.”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.

CAMPBELL: K-State launches site to make crop performance data more quickly available to farmers

Cool fall days have arrived which means we are spending more time indoors. This change increases our exposure to bacteria and viruses that can lead to illness. The good news is that if we are aware of our habits, we can help prevent getting sick.

One key habit is proper handwashing because it reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%. There are promising results from handwashing, and if we teach children good hand- hygiene, we can further reduce the spread of disease! Here are a few simple tips to share with your kids:

1. Wash your hands multiple times throughout the day. This includes before and after eating, after using the restroom, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

2. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Hum “Happy Birthday” twice through to make sure you scrub long enough.

3. Lather with soap and water. Soap is a detergent that removes bacteria and dirt when it is lathered, so using enough soap is key in removing germs.

4. Scrub every part of your hand. If you don’t think about it, it is easy to miss the tops of your hands, under your nails, and between your fingers. Bacteria will build up if you don’t reach every part!

5. In public places, many objects are in constant use such as door handles and water fountains. Using your paper towel to access these areas after you’ve washed can help to reduce exposure to germs.

6. At home, change out cloth hand towels often to limit the build-up of dirt and bacteria. This will keep your hands clean for longer.

7. Consider hanging small posters above sinks to remind kids of proper handwashing techniques.

Staying healthy throughout the fall is challenging, so get a head start with proper handwashing to reduce your family’s risk of getting sick.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension DistrictCool fall days have arrived which means we are spending more time indoors. This change increases our exposure to bacteria and viruses that can lead to illness. The good news is that if we are aware of our habits, we can help prevent getting sick.One key habit is proper handwashing because it reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%. There are promising results from handwashing, and if we teach children good hand- hygiene, we can further reduce the spread of disease! Here are a few simple tips to share with your kids:1. Wash your hands multiple times throughout the day. This includes before and after eating, after using the restroom, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.2. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Hum “Happy Birthday” twice through to make sure you scrub long enough.3. Lather with soap and water. Soap is a detergent that removes bacteria and dirt when it is lathered, so using enough soap is key in removing germs.4. Scrub every part of your hand. If you don’t think about it, it is easy to miss the tops of your hands, under your nails, and between your fingers. Bacteria will build up if you don’t reach every part!5. In public places, many objects are in constant use such as door handles and water fountains. Using your paper towel to access these areas after you’ve washed can help to reduce exposure to germs.6. At home, change out cloth hand towels often to limit the build-up of dirt and bacteria. This will keep your hands clean for longer.7. Consider hanging small posters above sinks to remind kids of proper handwashing techniques.Staying healthy throughout the fall is challenging, so get a head start with proper handwashing to reduce your family’s risk of getting sick.Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

WINKEL: Habits to stay healthy-handwashing

Fall is a wonderful season for agriculture and a time to, hopefully, reap the bounty of the year’s production. If producers have access to crop residue fields following grain harvest, then preparing to turn cattle out to graze such acres is one task that deserves to be near the top of the priority list. Grain sorghum represents an excellent opportunity to extend the grazing season. However, there are several important management considerations that need to be kept in mind with grazing sorghum residue.

Understandably, the absence of fences and water sources is one of the biggest limitations for residue grazing. Many acres are grown in rain-fed systems in which sourcing water from an irrigation well is not possible. Likewise, hauling water long distances is usually not practical. However, if water can be supplied and temporary fences put up, then grazing sorghum residues is usually economical. A single strand of electric fence can work quite well for keeping cows contained, while 2 or more strands may be needed for small calves.

Unlike actively growing forages, both the quantity and quality of residue available for grazing will be highest immediately following harvest and will steadily decline over time due to weathering, trampling, and consumption by cattle. Regarding forage quantity, field data indicate about 2.5 to 3.0 tons of residue per acre on average is produced following harvest. If accounting for 50% of the total residue on the field as available for grazing and of that amount 50% was utilized, then one acre would supply enough forage for one gestating cow for approximately 50 to 60 days.

High amounts of grain on the surface of the field pose a risk of acidosis, particularly for animals with experience grazing residue fields. Cattle selectively graze and will seek out and consume any grain present first. The degree to which grain in the field poses a risk is dependent on many factors, but levels greater than 10 to 15 bushels per acre generally require additional caution. Avoiding turning hungry animals directly on to fields by filling them up on forage, strip grazing to reduce the amount grain available per animal, supplementing low amounts of grain initially before turning them out, and feeding sodium bicarbonate as a rumen buffer are all strategies that may be used to decrease risk of acidosis.

Nitrate and prussic acid toxicity are both conditions that increase in prevalence due to plant stress and cause asphyxiation in the animal, yet are distinctly independent from each other. Nitrates accumulate in the base of the stalk or stem, and while issues associated with nitrate toxicity are generally less common in grazing situations as compared to when cattle are fed a diet, for this reason it is critical to manage stocking rate so that cattle are not forced to consume the lower 1/3rd of the stalk or stem. Prussic acid can occur in plant species within the broader sorghum family, and primarily accumulates in young, rapidly growing plant tissue. Therefore, avoiding grazing sorghum residue around a frost event and for the first 7 days following a killing freeze is a sound practice. Just as with harvested forages, representative samples of standing forage can be collected for analysis of nitrate and prussic acid to determine risk levels and guide management decisions.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698682262753.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictFall is a wonderful season for agriculture and a time to, hopefully, reap the bounty of the year’s production. If producers have access to crop residue fields following grain harvest, then preparing to turn cattle out to graze such acres is one task that deserves to be near the top of the priority list. Grain sorghum represents an excellent opportunity to extend the grazing season. However, there are several important management considerations that need to be kept in mind with grazing sorghum residue.Understandably, the absence of fences and water sources is one of the biggest limitations for residue grazing. Many acres are grown in rain-fed systems in which sourcing water from an irrigation well is not possible. Likewise, hauling water long distances is usually not practical. However, if water can be supplied and temporary fences put up, then grazing sorghum residues is usually economical. A single strand of electric fence can work quite well for keeping cows contained, while 2 or more strands may be needed for small calves.Unlike actively growing forages, both the quantity and quality of residue available for grazing will be highest immediately following harvest and will steadily decline over time due to weathering, trampling, and consumption by cattle. Regarding forage quantity, field data indicate about 2.5 to 3.0 tons of residue per acre on average is produced following harvest. If accounting for 50% of the total residue on the field as available for grazing and of that amount 50% was utilized, then one acre would supply enough forage for one gestating cow for approximately 50 to 60 days.High amounts of grain on the surface of the field pose a risk of acidosis, particularly for animals with experience grazing residue fields. Cattle selectively graze and will seek out and consume any grain present first. The degree to which grain in the field poses a risk is dependent on many factors, but levels greater than 10 to 15 bushels per acre generally require additional caution. Avoiding turning hungry animals directly on to fields by filling them up on forage, strip grazing to reduce the amount grain available per animal, supplementing low amounts of grain initially before turning them out, and feeding sodium bicarbonate as a rumen buffer are all strategies that may be used to decrease risk of acidosis.Nitrate and prussic acid toxicity are both conditions that increase in prevalence due to plant stress and cause asphyxiation in the animal, yet are distinctly independent from each other. Nitrates accumulate in the base of the stalk or stem, and while issues associated with nitrate toxicity are generally less common in grazing situations as compared to when cattle are fed a diet, for this reason it is critical to manage stocking rate so that cattle are not forced to consume the lower 1/3rd of the stalk or stem. Prussic acid can occur in plant species within the broader sorghum family, and primarily accumulates in young, rapidly growing plant tissue. Therefore, avoiding grazing sorghum residue around a frost event and for the first 7 days following a killing freeze is a sound practice. Just as with harvested forages, representative samples of standing forage can be collected for analysis of nitrate and prussic acid to determine risk levels and guide management decisions.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: Grazing sorghum residues

The 94th Annual 4-H Achievement Banquet was recently held on Oct. 26 at the Ellis Co. Fairgrounds in Hays to honor Ellis Co. 4-Her’s! More than 150 4-H members, their families, and special guests attended the annual awards banquet sponsored by the Ellis County 4-H Council. This year they recognized all Ellis Co. 4-H members, leaders and supporters.

Nominated as outstanding 4-H members from the 4-H clubs were

Big Creek Astros Isaac Moreno Preslie Werth

Buckeye Jr. Farmers Faith Schmeidler Brynlee Walter

Ellis Sunflowers Kylee Pfeifer Hunter Talkington

Shooting Sports Zachary McCall Gavin Bemis

The Senior winners were Faith Schmeidler and Ella Neher, and the Junior winners were Preslie Werth and Brynlee Walter.

Grace Schmeidler and John Weisenborn were awarded the “I Dare You” leadership award. The National I Dare You Leadership Award is given in recognition of personal integrity, balanced living, and potential for leadership. Each recipient receives a copy of Danforth’s inspirational book, I Dare You. Grace Schmeidler has demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication, and service through her extensive involvement in 4-H and beyond. Grace’s reference describes her as “honest, dependable, and incredibly hardworking," adding that she goes above and beyond in her 4-H roles and is always willing to help others learn and grow. John Weisenborn has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, and service through his involvement in 4-H, school, and Boy Scouts of America. His reference describes John as a strong leader with a deep commitment to helping others and improving his community. His positive impact and drive make him a deserving recipient of the "I Dare You" Award.

The Kansas Key Award is presented to 10% of Kansas 4-H’ers who attain a high level of leadership throughout their 4-H career. You must be enrolled in the 4-H Leadership project for 4

years and complete 9 of 11 leadership goals set out by the State 4-H program. This special 4-H leadership award went to Grace Schmeidler and John Weisenborn.

Marisa Wasinger was awarded the 2024 Rosemary Smith 4-H Scholarship given by her family in memory of long time 4-H Leader Rosemary Smith. Marisa has served at many levels in her 4-H career to help promote 4-H. Her latest has been as a member of the Cottonwood Extension District 4-H Water Ambassadors and as the Ellis County 4-H Council President.

Receiving Gold Certificates for their Project Record books were Addy Haffner – Jr. Clothing, Bret Pope – Jr. Beef and Wood Science, James Wheeler – Jr. Poultry, Jessa Taylor – Foods and Nutrition, Alaina Yarmer – Int. Clothing, Poultry, and Self-Determined, Audrey Yarmer – Int, Dog, Poultry, and Recreation, Brynlee Walter – Int. Beef, Foods and Nutrition, Meat Goat, Photography, Sheep, and Visual Arts, Cannon Vajnar – Int. Entomology, Karci Kimzey - Int. Horse, Kate Pope – Int. Wood Science, Layne Haffner – Int. Shopping in Style, Chloey Brown – Sr. Foods and Nutrition and Photography, Faith Schmeidler – Sr. Beef, Grace Schmeidler – Sr. Leadership, Keeli Kimzey – Sr. Horse, Lizzy Vajnar – Sr. Communications and Meat Goat winners will advance to the NW Area competition in January.

Each 4-H Club in the county has the opportunity to nominate a business and an individual who they feel have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help Ellis Co. 4-H. The Ellis Co. 4-H Council makes the final decision on who to recognize as a “Friend of 4-H”.

This year’s individual Friend of 4-H goes to Bill &amp; Susan Rajewski. They were nominated by the Gemini Jrs 4-H Club. Bill and Susan have a definitive love for 4-H and the youth of Ellis County. Susan was the long-time co-leader of the Gemini Jrs 4-H Club. In that role, she was a strong advocate for club members and encouraged each to actively participate in local, regional, and state activities. She was also well known for her cute, hand-crocheted doodads that always contained a treat of some kind, usually candy. Both Bill and Susan have always answered the call when asked to lend a hand. Susan stepped up as the superintendent of the Foods Challenge when it first come to the Ellis County Fair and has been involved since. She is also the fair superintendent for open-class arts and crafts. They also support 4-Hers through their participation as buyers at the Ellis County Fair Livestock Auction. Thank you for your dedication to Ellis County 4-H, through both volunteerism and financial support, you truly are a Friend of 4-H!

This year’s business Friend of 4-H is the Bank of Hays, nominated by the Gemini Jrs 4-H Club. The Bank of Hays was founded in 2004 with the goal of meeting the needs of the Hays

community. One of the ways they have shown that commitment to community support is through their devotion to Ellis County 4-H ever since. Shortly after the new bank building opened, Bank of Hays hosted a 4-H photography exhibit. In the years since, Bank of Hays has contributed in many and varied ways, from volunteering at 4-H events to being one of the donors for the construction of the new food stand. For many years, Bank of Hays has funded the exhibitor breakfast at the Ellis County Fair at the request of the Ellis County 4-H Council. The exhibitor breakfast is a key event to kick-off fair activities and is something that exhibitors and judges both appreciate. For all of these reasons, it is clear that the Bank of Hays is highly deserving of being name the Business 2024 Friend of 4-H.

All Ellis Co. 4-H members present received their certificate of completion of the 2023-2024 4-H Program Year and if criteria were meet, they were awarded membership pins based on the number of years and level of involvement in the local and statewide 4-H program activities. Club leaders and Shooting Sports instructors were also recognized for their dedication to the 4-H program.

Congratulations &amp; thank you to these individuals for their dedication to and support of Ellis County 4-H youth.

The evening concluded with the 4-H Scholarship &amp; Development Committee holding a silent and live auction to raise money for 4-H activities and graduating senior scholarships. If you would like to donate to the organization please contact our office at 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730675483176.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe 94th Annual 4-H Achievement Banquet was recently held on Oct. 26 at the Ellis Co. Fairgrounds in Hays to honor Ellis Co. 4-Her’s! More than 150 4-H members, their families, and special guests attended the annual awards banquet sponsored by the Ellis County 4-H Council. This year they recognized all Ellis Co. 4-H members, leaders and supporters.Nominated as outstanding 4-H members from the 4-H clubs wereSR Nominees JR NomineesBig Creek Astros Isaac Moreno Preslie WerthBuckeye Jr. Farmers Faith Schmeidler Brynlee WalterEllis Sunflowers Kylee Pfeifer Hunter TalkingtonGemini Jrs. Kimberly Sack Eva BetzShooting Sports Zachary McCall Gavin BemisVictoria Vikings Ella Neher Esther NeherThe Senior winners were Faith Schmeidler and Ella Neher, and the Junior winners were Preslie Werth and Brynlee Walter.Grace Schmeidler and John Weisenborn were awarded the “I Dare You” leadership award. The National I Dare You Leadership Award is given in recognition of personal integrity, balanced living, and potential for leadership. Each recipient receives a copy of Danforth’s inspirational book, I Dare You. Grace Schmeidler has demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication, and service through her extensive involvement in 4-H and beyond. Grace’s reference describes her as “honest, dependable, and incredibly hardworking," adding that she goes above and beyond in her 4-H roles and is always willing to help others learn and grow. John Weisenborn has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, and service through his involvement in 4-H, school, and Boy Scouts of America. His reference describes John as a strong leader with a deep commitment to helping others and improving his community. His positive impact and drive make him a deserving recipient of the "I Dare You" Award.The Kansas Key Award is presented to 10% of Kansas 4-H’ers who attain a high level of leadership throughout their 4-H career. You must be enrolled in the 4-H Leadership project for 4years and complete 9 of 11 leadership goals set out by the State 4-H program. This special 4-H leadership award went to Grace Schmeidler and John Weisenborn.Marisa Wasinger was awarded the 2024 Rosemary Smith 4-H Scholarship given by her family in memory of long time 4-H Leader Rosemary Smith. Marisa has served at many levels in her 4-H career to help promote 4-H. Her latest has been as a member of the Cottonwood Extension District 4-H Water Ambassadors and as the Ellis County 4-H Council President.Receiving Gold Certificates for their Project Record books were Addy Haffner – Jr. Clothing, Bret Pope – Jr. Beef and Wood Science, James Wheeler – Jr. Poultry, Jessa Taylor – Foods and Nutrition, Alaina Yarmer – Int. Clothing, Poultry, and Self-Determined, Audrey Yarmer – Int, Dog, Poultry, and Recreation, Brynlee Walter – Int. Beef, Foods and Nutrition, Meat Goat, Photography, Sheep, and Visual Arts, Cannon Vajnar – Int. Entomology, Karci Kimzey - Int. Horse, Kate Pope – Int. Wood Science, Layne Haffner – Int. Shopping in Style, Chloey Brown – Sr. Foods and Nutrition and Photography, Faith Schmeidler – Sr. Beef, Grace Schmeidler – Sr. Leadership, Keeli Kimzey – Sr. Horse, Lizzy Vajnar – Sr. Communications and Meat Goat winners will advance to the NW Area competition in January.Each 4-H Club in the county has the opportunity to nominate a business and an individual who they feel have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help Ellis Co. 4-H. The Ellis Co. 4-H Council makes the final decision on who to recognize as a “Friend of 4-H”.This year’s individual Friend of 4-H goes to Bill &amp; Susan Rajewski. They were nominated by the Gemini Jrs 4-H Club. Bill and Susan have a definitive love for 4-H and the youth of Ellis County. Susan was the long-time co-leader of the Gemini Jrs 4-H Club. In that role, she was a strong advocate for club members and encouraged each to actively participate in local, regional, and state activities. She was also well known for her cute, hand-crocheted doodads that always contained a treat of some kind, usually candy. Both Bill and Susan have always answered the call when asked to lend a hand. Susan stepped up as the superintendent of the Foods Challenge when it first come to the Ellis County Fair and has been involved since. She is also the fair superintendent for open-class arts and crafts. They also support 4-Hers through their participation as buyers at the Ellis County Fair Livestock Auction. Thank you for your dedication to Ellis County 4-H, through both volunteerism and financial support, you truly are a Friend of 4-H!This year’s business Friend of 4-H is the Bank of Hays, nominated by the Gemini Jrs 4-H Club. The Bank of Hays was founded in 2004 with the goal of meeting the needs of the Hayscommunity. One of the ways they have shown that commitment to community support is through their devotion to Ellis County 4-H ever since. Shortly after the new bank building opened, Bank of Hays hosted a 4-H photography exhibit. In the years since, Bank of Hays has contributed in many and varied ways, from volunteering at 4-H events to being one of the donors for the construction of the new food stand. For many years, Bank of Hays has funded the exhibitor breakfast at the Ellis County Fair at the request of the Ellis County 4-H Council. The exhibitor breakfast is a key event to kick-off fair activities and is something that exhibitors and judges both appreciate. For all of these reasons, it is clear that the Bank of Hays is highly deserving of being name the Business 2024 Friend of 4-H.All Ellis Co. 4-H members present received their certificate of completion of the 2023-2024 4-H Program Year and if criteria were meet, they were awarded membership pins based on the number of years and level of involvement in the local and statewide 4-H program activities. Club leaders and Shooting Sports instructors were also recognized for their dedication to the 4-H program.Congratulations &amp; thank you to these individuals for their dedication to and support of Ellis County 4-H youth.The evening concluded with the 4-H Scholarship &amp; Development Committee holding a silent and live auction to raise money for 4-H activities and graduating senior scholarships. If you would like to donate to the organization please contact our office at 785-628-9430.

4-H host annual Achievement Banquet

Over the past several decades, researchers across the country have recognized the strong correlation between parents’ and caregivers’ educational attainment and children’s educational outcomes. We know that families thrive when they learn together.

Back in 1994, the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) worked with Congress to designate November 1 as National Family Literacy Day®. Each year for the past 29 years, we have joined libraries, schools, and educational programs across the country to celebrate National Family Literacy Month throughout each November.

Encouraging families to read and giving them the resources to read to their children every day is so important for a young child’s development and success in school. Reading to my children was one of my favorite things to do with them when they were young and even as they got older. I have fond memories of attending library story time as well as snuggling on the couch to read a good book. This is one of those times that parents can use to touch base with their child and maybe help them wind down for nap or bedtime. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, finding a time to read in your routine is what is important.

Not only is reading an important skill for school but it also helps children with other developmental skills as well. Exposing children to books from birth or even prenatally is a great way to aid their development. Books not only aid literacy skills but they also help little fingers develop. As they learn to turn pages of a book, they strengthen their fingers and fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are important to develop now so when they get to school they can hold pencils, crayons, and scissors.

Often times parents think they have to read a book from beginning to end, not skipping any pages. However, research from the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch Up (ABC) program at the University of Delaware, actually promotes following your child’s lead with reading and play. If a child is looking at or chewing on a book on their own that’s okay! Talk to them about what they are doing. If they bring you a book, allow them to turn the pages and talk to them about what is on the page. This can put the child in charge and allow them time to explore on their own terms which aids their social emotional development by making them feel important and that they can have an effect on their world.

While libraries are great and offer many programs to get children involved with books and reading, sometimes it’s nice to start building a library at home as well. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has been integral in getting books into the hands of children and their parents. Once you sign up, books are mailed to the child every month from birth to age five. They are sent directly to the child so it’s exciting for them to get mail and the books are age appropriate also. The program is available both in Ellis and Barton County. Contact information is below.

Fax: 785-623-2432 Email: burban@usd489.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictOver the past several decades, researchers across the country have recognized the strong correlation between parents’ and caregivers’ educational attainment and children’s educational outcomes. We know that families thrive when they learn together.Back in 1994, the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) worked with Congress to designate November 1 as National Family Literacy Day®. Each year for the past 29 years, we have joined libraries, schools, and educational programs across the country to celebrate National Family Literacy Month throughout each November.Encouraging families to read and giving them the resources to read to their children every day is so important for a young child’s development and success in school. Reading to my children was one of my favorite things to do with them when they were young and even as they got older. I have fond memories of attending library story time as well as snuggling on the couch to read a good book. This is one of those times that parents can use to touch base with their child and maybe help them wind down for nap or bedtime. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, finding a time to read in your routine is what is important.Not only is reading an important skill for school but it also helps children with other developmental skills as well. Exposing children to books from birth or even prenatally is a great way to aid their development. Books not only aid literacy skills but they also help little fingers develop. As they learn to turn pages of a book, they strengthen their fingers and fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are important to develop now so when they get to school they can hold pencils, crayons, and scissors.Often times parents think they have to read a book from beginning to end, not skipping any pages. However, research from the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch Up (ABC) program at the University of Delaware, actually promotes following your child’s lead with reading and play. If a child is looking at or chewing on a book on their own that’s okay! Talk to them about what they are doing. If they bring you a book, allow them to turn the pages and talk to them about what is on the page. This can put the child in charge and allow them time to explore on their own terms which aids their social emotional development by making them feel important and that they can have an effect on their world.While libraries are great and offer many programs to get children involved with books and reading, sometimes it’s nice to start building a library at home as well. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has been integral in getting books into the hands of children and their parents. Once you sign up, books are mailed to the child every month from birth to age five. They are sent directly to the child so it’s exciting for them to get mail and the books are age appropriate also. The program is available both in Ellis and Barton County. Contact information is below.United Way of Central Kansas1409 WILLIAMS STGREAT BEND KS 67530Contact: Ken MarstonPhone: 620-792-2409Fax: Email: kmarston@greatbendpl.infoEllis County Imagination Library2501 E 13TH STHAYS KS 67601Contact: Brenda UrbanPhone: 785-623-2430Fax: 785-623-2432 Email: burban@usd489.comMonique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: November-National Family Literacy Month

K-State Research and Extension and the Northwest/North Central Extension Districts are hosting two Crop Pest Management Schools in mid-November. 

The first one is set for Nov. 19 in Beloit at the Beloit Methodist Church, and the second one will take place on Nov. 20 in Dighton at the United Methodist Church. 

Both events will begin at 7:45 a.m. with registration and conclude at 5:00 p.m.

Join us in person to learn how to control the latest pests – weeds, insects, and diseases – affecting all crops in central and western Kansas!

7:45 Registration 8:05 Welcome 8:15 Weed research update for western KS - Jeremie Kouame, Weed Scientist at Hays 9:10 Row crop disease that should be on your radar – Rodrigo Onofre, Row Crop Pathologist 10:05 Break 10:20 A new corn disease that should be on your radar – Anthony Zukoff, Entomologist, Garden City 11:15 Insect outlook for 2025 – Anthony Zukoff 12:10 Lunch 12:50 Drones in agronomic pest management – Deepak Joshi, Precision Ag Specialist 1:45 Recipe for tank mixing successfully – Sarah Lancaster, Weed Science Specialist 2:40 Break 2:55 Wheat diseases to watch for next spring – Jeanne Falk Jones, Craig Dinkel, Sandra Wick 3:50 Kansas Regulation (Core Hour) – Kansas Dept. of Ag 4:45 Questions/Adjourn

Commercial Applicators will earn 1 Core Hour &amp; 7 Hours for 1A, certified by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. 

Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) will also earn 8 Pest Management Credits. 

These schools would also be an excellent educational opportunity for producers.

The cost to participate is $50 if registered by November 11; after that date, the fee is $75. To register, go to https://www.wkrec.org/events/crop-pest-management-school.html. 

You can also scan the QR code below. If you register at the door, cash and checks will be accepted. We are unable to accept credit/debit cards at the door. If inclement weather occurs, the program will be held at a later date in an online format.

For questions, please contact Jeanne Falk-Jones, Multi-County Agronomist, at 785-462-6281 or Sandra Wick, Post Rock District Crop Production Agent, at 785-282-6823.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictK-State Research and Extension and the Northwest/North Central Extension Districts are hosting two Crop Pest Management Schools in mid-November. The first one is set for Nov. 19 in Beloit at the Beloit Methodist Church, and the second one will take place on Nov. 20 in Dighton at the United Methodist Church. Both events will begin at 7:45 a.m. with registration and conclude at 5:00 p.m.Join us in person to learn how to control the latest pests – weeds, insects, and diseases – affecting all crops in central and western Kansas!Event Schedule:7:45 Registration 8:05 Welcome 8:15 Weed research update for western KS - Jeremie Kouame, Weed Scientist at Hays 9:10 Row crop disease that should be on your radar – Rodrigo Onofre, Row Crop Pathologist 10:05 Break 10:20 A new corn disease that should be on your radar – Anthony Zukoff, Entomologist, Garden City 11:15 Insect outlook for 2025 – Anthony Zukoff 12:10 Lunch 12:50 Drones in agronomic pest management – Deepak Joshi, Precision Ag Specialist 1:45 Recipe for tank mixing successfully – Sarah Lancaster, Weed Science Specialist 2:40 Break 2:55 Wheat diseases to watch for next spring – Jeanne Falk Jones, Craig Dinkel, Sandra Wick 3:50 Kansas Regulation (Core Hour) – Kansas Dept. of Ag 4:45 Questions/AdjournCommercial Applicators will earn 1 Core Hour &amp; 7 Hours for 1A, certified by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) will also earn 8 Pest Management Credits. These schools would also be an excellent educational opportunity for producers.The cost to participate is $50 if registered by November 11; after that date, the fee is $75. To register, go to https://www.wkrec.org/events/crop-pest-management-school.html. You can also scan the QR code below. If you register at the door, cash and checks will be accepted. We are unable to accept credit/debit cards at the door. If inclement weather occurs, the program will be held at a later date in an online format.For questions, please contact Jeanne Falk-Jones, Multi-County Agronomist, at 785-462-6281 or Sandra Wick, Post Rock District Crop Production Agent, at 785-282-6823.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.

CAMPBELL: 2024 K-State crop pest management schools set for Nov. 19-20

The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place Oct. 16, 2024, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

Atchison ‑&nbsp;73‑3 KA‑7473‑01 – U.S. 73, from the east city limits of Lancaster north to the Atchison/Brown county line, milling and overlay, 6.6 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,472,981.04.

Atchison ‑&nbsp;73‑3 KA‑3890‑01 – U.S. 73, bridge #016 located 0.52 mile south of the U.S. 73/U.S. 59 junction, bridge removal, Julius Kaaz Construction Co. Inc., Leavenworth, Kansas, $878,007.00.

Brown ‑&nbsp;73‑7 KA‑7474‑01 – U.S. 73, from the Atchison/Brown county line west to the east city limits of Horton, milling and overlay, 8.4 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,825,026.88.

Douglas ‑&nbsp;24‑23 KA‑7512‑01 – U.S. 24, from the Jefferson/Douglas county line east to the Douglas/Leavenworth county line, milling and overlay, 6.6 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,589,811.20.

Jackson ‑&nbsp;75‑43 KA‑7516‑01 – U.S. 75, from the Shawnee/Jackson county line north to 158th Road, milling and overlay, 8.0 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $6,509,385.16.

Jefferson ‑&nbsp;24‑44 KA‑7510‑01 – U.S. 24, from the Elm Street/U.S. 24 junction in the city of Perry east to the Jefferson/Douglas county line, milling and overlay, 7.7 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,950,850.25.

Jefferson ‑&nbsp;92‑44 KA‑7514‑01 – K‑92, from the K‑92/K‑4 junction east to the west city limits of Oskaloosa, milling and overlay, 12.0 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $2,718,791.78.

Jefferson ‑&nbsp;59‑44 KA‑7513‑01 – U.S. 59, from the U.S. 24/U.S. 59 junction, north to the south city limits of Oskaloosa, milling and overlay, 10.6 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $2,188,785.75

Jefferson ‑&nbsp;159‑44 KA‑7475‑01 – U.S. 159, from the K‑4/U.S. 159 junction north to the Jefferson/Atchison county line, milling and overlay, 0.7 mile, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $319,864.00.

Riley ‑&nbsp;24‑81 KA‑5565‑01 – U.S. 24, junction U.S. 24/K‑13 in Riley County, roundabout, Ebert Construction Co. Inc. &amp; Subsidiary, Wamego, Kansas, $4,888,945.45.

Riley ‑&nbsp;24‑81 KA‑5564‑01 – U.S. 24, junction U.S. 24/K‑113 in Riley County, roundabout, Ebert Construction Co. Inc. &amp; Subsidiary, Wamego, Kansas, $3,649,412.86.

Shawnee ‑&nbsp;40‑89 KA‑7504‑01 – U.S. 40, from the K‑4 westbound offramp east to 0.63 mile west of Tecumseh Road, milling and overlay, 0.5 mile, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $500,578.44.

Shawnee ‑&nbsp;70‑89 KA‑1266‑04 – I‑70 Polk/Quincy Viaduct and approach Roadway in Topeka (west phase), from 0.2 mile east of I‑70/MacVicar Avenue east and south to 0.1 mile south of I‑70/4th Street, grading, bridge and surfacing, 2.4 miles, Bettis Koss Construction Joint Venture, Topeka, Kansas, $239,178,617.48.

Shawnee ‑&nbsp;75‑89 KA‑7515‑01 – U.S. 75, from 0.4 mile south of the 62nd Street/U.S. 75 intersection north to the Shawnee/Jackson county line, milling and overlay, 4.5 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $3,575,974.08.

Wyandotte ‑&nbsp;70‑105 KA‑6768‑01 – I‑70, bridge #027 over the railroad yard/Kansas River located at the Central Avenue/I‑70 east junction, bridge repair, Clarkson Construction Company, Kansas City, Missouri, $1,462,492.53.

Wyandotte ‑&nbsp;670‑105 KA‑6748‑01 – I‑670, bridge #244 located 1.06 miles east of Mill Street, bridge repair, Clarkson Construction Company, Kansas City, Missouri, $3,997,489.16.

Wyandotte ‑&nbsp;670‑105 KA‑6745‑01 – I‑670, bridge #243 located 1.06 miles east of Mill Street, bridge repair, Clarkson Construction Company, Kansas City, Missouri, $3,817,702.88.

Ottawa ‑&nbsp;106‑72 KA‑7489‑01 – K‑106, from the east city limits of Minneapolis east to State Park, surface recycle, 1.5 miles, Dustrol Inc., Towanda, Kansas, $946,547.20.

Ottawa ‑&nbsp;106‑72 KA‑6725‑01 – K‑106, bridge #045 over the Solomon River located 7.66 miles north of K‑18, bridge repair, Wildcat Construction Co. Inc. &amp; Subsidiaries, Wichita, Kansas, $735,403.60.

Ottawa ‑&nbsp;72 C‑5223‑01 – County bridge, over Pipe Creek located 0.03 mile west of Minneapolis, bridge replacement, 0.2 mile, Reece Construction Company, Inc., Salina, Kansas, $1,119,686.64.

Osborne ‑&nbsp;281‑71 KA‑7480‑01 – U.S. 281, from the south city limits of Portis (State Street) north to the Smith/Osborne county line, milling and overlay, 0.7 mile, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $241,109.22.

Osborne ‑&nbsp;24‑71 KA‑7476‑01 – U.S. 24, from the north end of the Portland Cement Concrete Pavement at Osborne northeast to the U.S. 281/U.S. 24 north junction; U.S. 24, from the U.S. 281/U.S. 24 north junction east to the 2-lane/4-lane west of Downs; U.S. 24, from the 2 lane/4 lane west of Downs east to the Osborne/Mitchell county line, ultra-thin bonded asphalt surfacing, 14.6 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $2,436,686.53.

Osborne ‑&nbsp;71 C‑5233‑01 – County bridge, over tributary to Covert Creek located 1.0 mile south and 0.7 mile west of Covert, bridge replacement, 0.2 mile, Reece Construction Company, Inc., Salina, Kansas, $456,638.86.

Thomas ‑&nbsp;70‑97 KA‑7445‑01 – I‑70, from just east of County Road K southeast 11.96 miles to the Thomas/Logan county line, milling and overlay, 12.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $9,009,553.76.

Bourbon ‑&nbsp;69‑6 KA‑6967‑01 – U.S. 69, bridge #009 over U.S. 54 located at the U.S. 54/U.S. 69 south junction in Fort Scott, bridge repair, PCI Roads, LLC, Saint Michael, Minnesota, $1,552,793.79.

Cherokee ‑&nbsp;11 TE‑0510‑01 – West Maple Street, from Sunset Avenue to High School Avenue and East Sycamore Street from U.S. 69 to 7th Avenue in Columbus, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 0.8 mile, Heck &amp; Wicker Inc., Parsons, Kansas, $355,559.20.

Coffey ‑&nbsp;75‑16 KA‑7486‑01 – U.S. 75, from 0.06 mile north of the K‑58/U.S. 75 north junction north to 0.31 mile north of the south city limits of Burlington, sealing, 8.0 miles, Vance Brothers Inc. And Subsidiary, Kansas City, Missouri, $318,180.00.

Elk ‑&nbsp;160‑25 KA‑6969‑01 – U.S. 160, bridge #008 over the Elk River located 5.86 miles east of the U.S. 160/K‑99 east junction, bridge repair, B &amp; B Bridge Company LLC, St. Paul, Kansas, $1,177,742.55.

Franklin ‑&nbsp;169‑30 KA‑7482‑01 – U.S. 169, from the Anderson/Franklin county line north to the Franklin/Miami county line, milling and overlay, 2.4 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $407,791.83.

Miami ‑&nbsp;169‑61 KA‑7483‑01 – U.S. 169, from the Franklin/Miami county line north to 0.77 mile south of the K‑7/U.S. 169 south junction, milling and overlay, 6.5 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,131,034.70.

Montgomery ‑&nbsp;166‑63 KA‑6466‑01 – U.S. 166, six locations beginning 0.21 mile east of 1900 Road east to 0.47 mile east of County Road 3950, guard fence, 11.0 miles, Klaver Construction Company Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $1,394,407.21.

Montgomery ‑&nbsp;63 C‑5226‑01 – County bridge, over Pumpkin Creek located 1.5 miles east of Coffeyville, bridge replacement, 0.3 mile, Bridges Inc., Newton, Kansas, $1,774,971.60.

Woodson ‑&nbsp;75‑104 KA‑7487‑01 – U.S. 75, from the Wilson/Woodson county line north to the south city limits of Yates Center, sealing, 10.7 miles, Circle C Paving And Construction LLC, Goddard, Kansas, $710,273.18.

Cowley ‑&nbsp;18 TE‑0471‑01 – Paris Park Pool to West Lincoln Avenue to Cowley Sports Complex in Arkansas City, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 1.6 miles, Prado Construction LLC, Valley Center, Kansas, $1,345,884.20

Harper ‑&nbsp;2‑39 KA‑7396‑01 – K‑2 from the south end of bridge #033 northeast to the Harper/Kingman county line, milling and overlay, 10.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $1,622,381.93.

Kingman ‑&nbsp;42‑48 KA‑7395‑01 – K‑42, from the K‑14/K‑42 junction east to the Sumner/Kingman county line, overlay, 15.1 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $1,917,319.60.

Kingman ‑&nbsp;2‑48 KA‑7397‑01 – K‑2, from the Harper/Kingman county line northeast to the Kingman/Sumner county line, milling and overlay, 5.6 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $785,096.50.

Pawnee ‑&nbsp;183‑73 KA‑7380‑01 – U.S. 183, from the U.S. 183/K‑56 junction north to the U.S. 183/K‑156 junction, milling and overlay, 12.3 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $2,269,583.80.

Reno ‑&nbsp;78 C‑5229‑01 – County bridge, over Little Arkansas River located 0.5 mile east and 2.0 miles south of Buhler, bridge replacement, 0.1 mile, King Construction Company Inc. &amp; Subsidiaries, Hesston, Kansas, $738,711.49.

Rush ‑&nbsp;96‑83 KA‑7488‑01 – K‑96, from the Ness/Rush county line east to the U.S. 183/K‑96 junction, milling and overlay, 15.1 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $2,777,443.64.

Sedgwick ‑&nbsp;49‑87 KA‑7379‑01 – K‑49, from the Sumner/Sedgwick county line north to the K‑49/K‑42 junction, milling and overlay, 1.0 mile, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $188,073.34.

Sumner ‑&nbsp;49‑96 KA‑7378‑01 – K‑49, from the K‑49/U.S. 160 junction north to the Sumner/Sedgwick county line, milling and overlay, 14.1 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $2,028,883.75.

Sumner ‑&nbsp;81‑96 KA‑5768‑01 – U.S. 81, bridge #047 over Spring Creek located 4.84 miles north of U.S. 166, bridge replacement, Dondlinger &amp; Sons Construction Co Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $1,363,991.30

Sumner ‑&nbsp;42‑96 KA‑7394‑01 – K‑42, from the Sumner/Kingman county line east to the K‑42/K‑2 junction, overlay, 1.0 mile, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $133,330.80

Sumner ‑&nbsp;2‑96 KA‑7398‑01 – K‑2, from the Harper/Kingman county line northeast to the Kingman/Sumner county line, milling and overlay, 1.4 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $228,936.55.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724428131694.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>KDOTThe Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects. The letting took place Oct. 16, 2024, in Topeka. Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.District One — NortheastAtchison ‑&nbsp;73‑3 KA‑7473‑01 – U.S. 73, from the east city limits of Lancaster north to the Atchison/Brown county line, milling and overlay, 6.6 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,472,981.04.Atchison ‑&nbsp;73‑3 KA‑3890‑01 – U.S. 73, bridge #016 located 0.52 mile south of the U.S. 73/U.S. 59 junction, bridge removal, Julius Kaaz Construction Co. Inc., Leavenworth, Kansas, $878,007.00.Brown ‑&nbsp;73‑7 KA‑7474‑01 – U.S. 73, from the Atchison/Brown county line west to the east city limits of Horton, milling and overlay, 8.4 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,825,026.88.Douglas ‑&nbsp;24‑23 KA‑7512‑01 – U.S. 24, from the Jefferson/Douglas county line east to the Douglas/Leavenworth county line, milling and overlay, 6.6 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,589,811.20.Jackson ‑&nbsp;75‑43 KA‑7516‑01 – U.S. 75, from the Shawnee/Jackson county line north to 158th Road, milling and overlay, 8.0 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $6,509,385.16.Jefferson ‑&nbsp;24‑44 KA‑7510‑01 – U.S. 24, from the Elm Street/U.S. 24 junction in the city of Perry east to the Jefferson/Douglas county line, milling and overlay, 7.7 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,950,850.25.Jefferson ‑&nbsp;92‑44 KA‑7514‑01 – K‑92, from the K‑92/K‑4 junction east to the west city limits of Oskaloosa, milling and overlay, 12.0 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $2,718,791.78.Jefferson ‑&nbsp;59‑44 KA‑7513‑01 – U.S. 59, from the U.S. 24/U.S. 59 junction, north to the south city limits of Oskaloosa, milling and overlay, 10.6 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $2,188,785.75Jefferson ‑&nbsp;159‑44 KA‑7475‑01 – U.S. 159, from the K‑4/U.S. 159 junction north to the Jefferson/Atchison county line, milling and overlay, 0.7 mile, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $319,864.00.Riley ‑&nbsp;24‑81 KA‑5565‑01 – U.S. 24, junction U.S. 24/K‑13 in Riley County, roundabout, Ebert Construction Co. Inc. &amp; Subsidiary, Wamego, Kansas, $4,888,945.45.Riley ‑&nbsp;24‑81 KA‑5564‑01 – U.S. 24, junction U.S. 24/K‑113 in Riley County, roundabout, Ebert Construction Co. Inc. &amp; Subsidiary, Wamego, Kansas, $3,649,412.86.Shawnee ‑&nbsp;40‑89 KA‑7504‑01 – U.S. 40, from the K‑4 westbound offramp east to 0.63 mile west of Tecumseh Road, milling and overlay, 0.5 mile, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $500,578.44.Shawnee ‑&nbsp;70‑89 KA‑1266‑04 – I‑70 Polk/Quincy Viaduct and approach Roadway in Topeka (west phase), from 0.2 mile east of I‑70/MacVicar Avenue east and south to 0.1 mile south of I‑70/4th Street, grading, bridge and surfacing, 2.4 miles, Bettis Koss Construction Joint Venture, Topeka, Kansas, $239,178,617.48.Shawnee ‑&nbsp;75‑89 KA‑7515‑01 – U.S. 75, from 0.4 mile south of the 62nd Street/U.S. 75 intersection north to the Shawnee/Jackson county line, milling and overlay, 4.5 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $3,575,974.08.Wyandotte ‑&nbsp;70‑105 KA‑6768‑01 – I‑70, bridge #027 over the railroad yard/Kansas River located at the Central Avenue/I‑70 east junction, bridge repair, Clarkson Construction Company, Kansas City, Missouri, $1,462,492.53.Wyandotte ‑&nbsp;670‑105 KA‑6748‑01 – I‑670, bridge #244 located 1.06 miles east of Mill Street, bridge repair, Clarkson Construction Company, Kansas City, Missouri, $3,997,489.16.Wyandotte ‑&nbsp;670‑105 KA‑6745‑01 – I‑670, bridge #243 located 1.06 miles east of Mill Street, bridge repair, Clarkson Construction Company, Kansas City, Missouri, $3,817,702.88.District Two — North CentralOttawa ‑&nbsp;106‑72 KA‑7489‑01 – K‑106, from the east city limits of Minneapolis east to State Park, surface recycle, 1.5 miles, Dustrol Inc., Towanda, Kansas, $946,547.20.Ottawa ‑&nbsp;106‑72 KA‑6725‑01 – K‑106, bridge #045 over the Solomon River located 7.66 miles north of K‑18, bridge repair, Wildcat Construction Co. Inc. &amp; Subsidiaries, Wichita, Kansas, $735,403.60.Ottawa ‑&nbsp;72 C‑5223‑01 – County bridge, over Pipe Creek located 0.03 mile west of Minneapolis, bridge replacement, 0.2 mile, Reece Construction Company, Inc., Salina, Kansas, $1,119,686.64.District Three — NorthwestOsborne ‑&nbsp;281‑71 KA‑7480‑01 – U.S. 281, from the south city limits of Portis (State Street) north to the Smith/Osborne county line, milling and overlay, 0.7 mile, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $241,109.22.Osborne ‑&nbsp;24‑71 KA‑7476‑01 – U.S. 24, from the north end of the Portland Cement Concrete Pavement at Osborne northeast to the U.S. 281/U.S. 24 north junction; U.S. 24, from the U.S. 281/U.S. 24 north junction east to the 2-lane/4-lane west of Downs; U.S. 24, from the 2 lane/4 lane west of Downs east to the Osborne/Mitchell county line, ultra-thin bonded asphalt surfacing, 14.6 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $2,436,686.53.Osborne ‑&nbsp;71 C‑5233‑01 – County bridge, over tributary to Covert Creek located 1.0 mile south and 0.7 mile west of Covert, bridge replacement, 0.2 mile, Reece Construction Company, Inc., Salina, Kansas, $456,638.86.Thomas ‑&nbsp;70‑97 KA‑7445‑01 – I‑70, from just east of County Road K southeast 11.96 miles to the Thomas/Logan county line, milling and overlay, 12.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $9,009,553.76.District Four — SoutheastBourbon ‑&nbsp;69‑6 KA‑6967‑01 – U.S. 69, bridge #009 over U.S. 54 located at the U.S. 54/U.S. 69 south junction in Fort Scott, bridge repair, PCI Roads, LLC, Saint Michael, Minnesota, $1,552,793.79.Cherokee ‑&nbsp;11 TE‑0510‑01 – West Maple Street, from Sunset Avenue to High School Avenue and East Sycamore Street from U.S. 69 to 7th Avenue in Columbus, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 0.8 mile, Heck &amp; Wicker Inc., Parsons, Kansas, $355,559.20.Coffey ‑&nbsp;75‑16 KA‑7486‑01 – U.S. 75, from 0.06 mile north of the K‑58/U.S. 75 north junction north to 0.31 mile north of the south city limits of Burlington, sealing, 8.0 miles, Vance Brothers Inc. And Subsidiary, Kansas City, Missouri, $318,180.00.Elk ‑&nbsp;160‑25 KA‑6969‑01 – U.S. 160, bridge #008 over the Elk River located 5.86 miles east of the U.S. 160/K‑99 east junction, bridge repair, B &amp; B Bridge Company LLC, St. Paul, Kansas, $1,177,742.55.Franklin ‑&nbsp;169‑30 KA‑7482‑01 – U.S. 169, from the Anderson/Franklin county line north to the Franklin/Miami county line, milling and overlay, 2.4 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $407,791.83.Miami ‑&nbsp;169‑61 KA‑7483‑01 – U.S. 169, from the Franklin/Miami county line north to 0.77 mile south of the K‑7/U.S. 169 south junction, milling and overlay, 6.5 miles, Bettis Asphalt &amp; Construction Inc., Topeka, Kansas, $1,131,034.70.Montgomery ‑&nbsp;166‑63 KA‑6466‑01 – U.S. 166, six locations beginning 0.21 mile east of 1900 Road east to 0.47 mile east of County Road 3950, guard fence, 11.0 miles, Klaver Construction Company Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $1,394,407.21.Montgomery ‑&nbsp;63 C‑5226‑01 – County bridge, over Pumpkin Creek located 1.5 miles east of Coffeyville, bridge replacement, 0.3 mile, Bridges Inc., Newton, Kansas, $1,774,971.60.Woodson ‑&nbsp;75‑104 KA‑7487‑01 – U.S. 75, from the Wilson/Woodson county line north to the south city limits of Yates Center, sealing, 10.7 miles, Circle C Paving And Construction LLC, Goddard, Kansas, $710,273.18.District Five — South CentralCowley ‑&nbsp;18 TE‑0471‑01 – Paris Park Pool to West Lincoln Avenue to Cowley Sports Complex in Arkansas City, pedestrian and bicycle paths, 1.6 miles, Prado Construction LLC, Valley Center, Kansas, $1,345,884.20Harper ‑&nbsp;2‑39 KA‑7396‑01 – K‑2 from the south end of bridge #033 northeast to the Harper/Kingman county line, milling and overlay, 10.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $1,622,381.93.Kingman ‑&nbsp;42‑48 KA‑7395‑01 – K‑42, from the K‑14/K‑42 junction east to the Sumner/Kingman county line, overlay, 15.1 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $1,917,319.60.Kingman ‑&nbsp;2‑48 KA‑7397‑01 – K‑2, from the Harper/Kingman county line northeast to the Kingman/Sumner county line, milling and overlay, 5.6 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $785,096.50.Pawnee ‑&nbsp;183‑73 KA‑7380‑01 – U.S. 183, from the U.S. 183/K‑56 junction north to the U.S. 183/K‑156 junction, milling and overlay, 12.3 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $2,269,583.80.Reno ‑&nbsp;78 C‑5229‑01 – County bridge, over Little Arkansas River located 0.5 mile east and 2.0 miles south of Buhler, bridge replacement, 0.1 mile, King Construction Company Inc. &amp; Subsidiaries, Hesston, Kansas, $738,711.49.Rush ‑&nbsp;96‑83 KA‑7488‑01 – K‑96, from the Ness/Rush county line east to the U.S. 183/K‑96 junction, milling and overlay, 15.1 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $2,777,443.64.Sedgwick ‑&nbsp;49‑87 KA‑7379‑01 – K‑49, from the Sumner/Sedgwick county line north to the K‑49/K‑42 junction, milling and overlay, 1.0 mile, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $188,073.34.Sumner ‑&nbsp;49‑96 KA‑7378‑01 – K‑49, from the K‑49/U.S. 160 junction north to the Sumner/Sedgwick county line, milling and overlay, 14.1 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $2,028,883.75.Sumner ‑&nbsp;81‑96 KA‑5768‑01 – U.S. 81, bridge #047 over Spring Creek located 4.84 miles north of U.S. 166, bridge replacement, Dondlinger &amp; Sons Construction Co Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $1,363,991.30Sumner ‑&nbsp;42‑96 KA‑7394‑01 – K‑42, from the Sumner/Kingman county line east to the K‑42/K‑2 junction, overlay, 1.0 mile, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $133,330.80Sumner ‑&nbsp;2‑96 KA‑7398‑01 – K‑2, from the Harper/Kingman county line northeast to the Kingman/Sumner county line, milling and overlay, 1.4 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $228,936.55.District Six — SouthwestGrant ‑&nbsp;25‑34 KA‑7499‑01 – K‑25, from the Grant/Stevens county line north to the south city limits of Ulysses, milling and overlay, 13.4 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $2,303,462.00.Haskell ‑&nbsp;83‑41 KA‑7500‑01 – U.S. 83, from the Haskell/Seward county line north to the U.S. 56/U.S. 83 junction, milling and overlay, 6.0 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $1,052,824.11.Haskell ‑&nbsp;83‑41 KA‑1008‑02 – U.S. 83, from 0.19 mile north of the U.S. 83/U.S. 56 junction north to 1.75 mile south of the U.S. 83/U.S. 160 junction, grading and surfacing, 4.1 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $15,545,585.53.Meade ‑&nbsp;54‑60 KA‑7558‑01 – U.S. 54, from the Meade/Seward county line east 0.103 mile, milling and overlay, 0.1 mile, J &amp; R Sand Company Inc., Liberal, Kansas, $42,251.40.Stevens ‑&nbsp;56‑95 KA‑7497‑01 – U.S. 56, from the U.S. 56/K‑51 junction east&nbsp;to the K‑25/U.S. 56 east junction, milling and overlay, 2.2 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $1,078,907.00.Stevens ‑&nbsp;25‑95 KA‑7498‑01 – K‑25, from the U.S. 56/K‑25 east junction north to the Grant/Stevens county line, milling and overlay, 13.1 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, Kansas, $2,772,246.50.The following projects were approved from the Sept. 18, 2024, letting.Chase ‑&nbsp;9 TE‑0533‑01 ‑ Cottonwood Street, from 4th Street to U.S. 50 in Strong City, landscaping and beautification, 0.3 mile, Killough Construction, Inc., Ottawa, Kansas, $872,916.56.Geary ‑&nbsp;31 C‑5231‑01 – County road, bridge over Tributary of Republican River located 3.0 miles north and 1.0 mile west of Junction City, bridge replacement, Bayer Construction Co. Inc., Manhattan, Kansas, $536,461.18.Butler ‑&nbsp;54‑8 TE‑0508‑01 ‑ Along the old BNSF Railway grade/Redbud Trail rail corridor over U.S. 54 in Augusta, pedestrian and bicycle paths, Dondlinger &amp; Sons Construction Co. Inc., Wichita, Kansas, $1,533,312.95.Sedgwick ‑&nbsp;15‑87 N‑0727‑01 ‑ Nelson Drive, between Patriot and just south of Red Powell in Derby, grading and surfacing, 0.6 mile, Pearson Construction LLC, Wichita, Kansas, $7,318,642.00.