This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Let’s go to Washington DC, to a meeting of the national Farm Credit Council. Council members are meeting to discuss ag credit policy issues. Among these leaders is someone who knows about these issues first hand: A farmer from rural Kansas. Not only is he a borrower, he still serves on his local lending association board and is a leader of other ag organizations as well. We’ll learn about this remarkable individual on today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Larry Kepley. Larry is the remarkable producer who served on the Farm Credit Council. He has given leadership to many groups throughout the years. Here is his story.

Larry was born at Ulysses in southwest Kansas. Ulysses is about 35 miles from Colorado and 35 miles from Oklahoma – truly southwest Kansas.

After growing up on the family farm, Larry graduated from K-State. He taught agriculture for three years, was a county agent for three years, and worked for the Farm Management Association for six years before coming back to the farm.

Larry says, "My dad decided he wanted some sort of value-added activity, so he started raising certified seed." This is seed that brings a premium price, because it is certified to reach certain quality standards. Larry’s dad paid him to do the extra work on the certified seed, and it helped make it possible for him to go to college. Perhaps this was a sign of things to come.

While Larry was still in college, a neighbor stopped him on the sidewalk one time while he was home. The neighbor said, "You ought to go talk to those Farm Credit people."

Larry did indeed meet with some of the people from the Farm Credit System. In later years, he became a borrower and then a board member. He has served on the local board of directors ever since.

When the national Farm Credit Council decided to expand its membership, there was an opportunity for directors from local associations to be elected. The one who was elected from the district serving Kansas was Larry Kepley.

This group met in Washington, as I said at the beginning, and also in other locations around the country, working on national ag credit issues. This is only one example of the leadership and service which Larry provides to agriculture. He is an active member of the Kansas Crop Improvement Association, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Southwest Kansas Irrigation district, 21^st Century Alliance, and is currently serving on the Kansas Wheat Commission.

Just as certified seed was instrumental in Larry’s early career, he has continued that enterprise and taken it to new heights. He sells several varieties of certified white wheat seed to farmers all over the region. He also raises corn, grain sorghum, and a small cowherd.

Larry’s farmstead is 12 and a half miles southwest of the town of Ulysses, not far from historic Wagon Bed Springs. Ulysses is a town of 5,947 people. Now, that’s rural.

From this rural setting, Larry has given outstanding leadership to these ag organizations through the years. As a wheat commission member, he was recently invited to attend a wheat millers conference in Uruguay and visited Argentina while they were there. The mission of the Kansas Wheat Commission is to market and promote Kansas wheat, so it’s definitely the right place for Larry.

It’s time to say goodbye to Washington DC, where a Kansas farmer named Larry Kepley is participating in the national Farm Credit Council. We commend Larry and his wife Virginia for making a difference with their service to agriculture.

And there’s more to this story. Several years ago, Larry was attending a Farm Credit Council meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota when he heard a speaker talking about the new generation farmer cooperatives. That idea stayed with Larry. Ultimately, in concert with many other Kansas producers, this idea would take root in Kansas in the form of a white wheat cooperative, of which Larry Kepley is the chairman of the board. We’ll learn more about this remarkable enterprise on our next program.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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Farmer Direct Foods

This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Are there certain things that make you see red? Well, relax. Today we’ll meet an entrepreneurial farmer organization which is, to coin a phrase, helping to get the red out. I’m not speaking of your eyes or your temper or of football team colors either. I’m talking about an organization which is promoting market opportunities for white wheat, in addition to the traditional red wheat which has been produced in Kansas. We’ll get the colorful story on today’s Kansas Profile.

On our last program, we met a farm leader named Larry Kepley. He is Chairman of the Board of a group now called Farmer Direct Foods, which primarily is promoting white wheat. Here’s the story.

Our tale really begins in the mid-1970s, when a K-State grain science professor by the name of Dr. Elmer Heyne took a sabbatical to travel the world to study the wheat industry. One of his conclusions was rather startling at the time: He suggested that Kansas farmers should raise white wheat. This was startling because Kansans have raised red wheat for generations.

In fact, Kansas was the nation’s leader in red wheat production. Changing to white wheat sounded almost like heresy.

But Dr. Heyne was correct in his assessment that there were benefits in producing white wheat. Still, change came slowly.

In 1989, several ag organizations got together to form a new group to work on white wheat marketing issues. It was a cooperative called the American White Wheat Producers Association.

One of the leaders of the organization was an innovative producer named Larry Kepley. He helped the organization get started by serving as volunteer secretary-treasurer. Among the others involved was a man from northeast Kansas named Kent Symns, who would ultimately be selected as CEO of the enterprise after a national search.

Kent was willing to serve, but he didn’t want to move from his home area of Atchison, Kansas. So the headquarters of the fledgling organization was established at Atchison, where it remains today.

The white wheat organization would evolve with time. In 2003, the organization adopted a new name: Farmer Direct Foods.

I like this name because it conveys that this is a farmer-owned organization which is seeking to market its food products to the consumer. The organization’s primary products are based on white wheat, primarily white wheat flour.

So what are the advantages of white wheat? Larry Kepley says, "The bottom line attribute is flavor." White wheat flour is naturally sweeter than red wheat flour. This means processors can save money since they need fewer additives or flavorings.

More flour itself can be produced from the grain, since it doesn’t have the red coloring. But why would a farmer produce it? Larry Kepley says, "I’ve grown white wheat for 14 years, and in only one year has my red wheat outyielded it." New varieties of white wheat developed by K-State and others have improved yields and sprout resistance.

Kent Symns and the board have worked hard to promote the product. Kansas is now the leading state in the nation in white wheat production. White wheat acreage tripled in 2003, having grown to more than 200,000 acres.

Farmer Direct Foods is selling its white wheat products from coast to coast. These products include a line of wheat flour products, wheat berries, bran, gluten, and more. Yet it remains a rural-based, farmer-owned business, with directors who come from places like Palmer, population 117 people, and Wallace, population 75. Now, that’s rural.

How exciting to see rural Kansas in the lead, developing markets for this innovative white wheat product.

Are there certain things that make you see red? No, not your temper or football team. Now you can see more white in our foods, as white wheat develops its niche in the marketplace. We salute Larry Kepley, Kent Symns, and all those of Farmer Direct Foods who are making a difference by developing this product. It’s not that red is dead, but white is just right.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

Partners of the Prairie

This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Let’s go to a program in Illesheim, Germany. Yes, we’ll travel halfway around the globe to go to a program near a U.S. military base. It is a special program at the Apache Fighting Helicopter base there in Germany. And who do you suppose is providing the entertainment? No, not Bob Hope. This entertainment is provided by a bunch of cowboy poets from western Kansas. Cowboy poets in Germany?? I’ll explain on today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Leonard Hitz of Garden City, Kansas. Leonard told me about this remarkable group of cowboy poets and balladeers who made the trek to Germany. They are called the Partners of the Prairie, and they perform cowboy poetry and songs.

You may ask, what is cowboy poetry? It almost sounds like an oxymoron. But this refers to a type of poetry that celebrates the cowboy way of life in verse. I believe there is growing interest in this unique specialty of cowboy poetry.

Partners of the Prairie includes five genuine western Kansas characters with rural roots. Leonard Hitz grew up on a cow/calf and wheat operation southeast of Dodge City. He went to school at Ford, Kansas, population 274 people. Now, that’s rural. He went on to K-State and served in the Marines before joining the banking business in Garden City. He writes and performs cowboy poetry with a humor that is infectious.

Allen Bailey is not only a radio personality on High Plains Public Radio in western Kansas, he is a talented guitar player and performer. He is also frequently seen in old-time cowboy costume as the gun-totin,’ mustachioed Dodge City Marshall.

Don Eves came from Lakin and now farms near Sublette. He has a wonderful smooth, baritone singing voice. Keith Downer is a long-time cattle feeder and cattle trader in the Garden City area. One of his main inspirations was his own father, who was reciting poems when Keith was a little boy. His father lived to be 99 years old. Randy Fisher is a K-State grad who grew up at Meade, Kansas. He is now in the commodity brokerage and commercial feedyard business.

Each one has experience in the livestock industry and deep roots in the heartland. Some write cowboy poetry, others write and perform songs. All reflect the values of rural Kansas.

In 1991, a cowboy poetry gathering was held during Beef Empire Days, the big festival in Garden City. Leonard Hitz and others were there, and several of them decided to work together.

Since then, Partners of the Prairie has performed all over the region and as far away as Nevada and Ontario. Wow. Then one day Leonard Hitz received an email from a lady in Germany whose husband was an Apache helicopter captain over there. She was trying to put together a program for a Wild West Weekend near the military base.

The members of Partners of the Prairie believe strongly in the importance of honoring our military men and women who bravely serve their country. They decided to make the trip and perform for the community in Germany. Leonard Hitz says,"We had a blast, and were treated with so much hospitality, that we were overwhelmed by it all. It was a real highlight of my life."

Partners of the Prairie continues to perform around the region. They especially enjoy doing cowboy church services, where their special talents are used to share their faith. They strongly believe in honoring God and Country. Their performances reflect patriotism, family values, and of course, the cowboy way.

To contact Partners of the Prairie, call 620-275-1650 or 620-846-2968. Those numbers again are 620-275-1650 or 620-846-2968.

It’s time to say goodbye to Illesheim, Germany, where the entertainment is being provided by a group of cowboy performers from Kansas. We salute Leonard Hitz, Allen Bailey, Don Eves, Keith Downer, and Randy Fisher for making a difference by sharing their wonderful talents – all the way to Germany, and then back Home on the Range.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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Aaron Fisher - Fisher Carriage Works

This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Let’s go to Seattle, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest. How about a romantic ride on an old-time, horsedrawn carriage downtown? It’s a beautiful carriage. Where do you suppose it came from? You guessed right if you guessed rural Kansas. So hitch yourself up for today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Aaron Fisher, proprietor of the Fisher Carriage Works in rural Kansas. Fisher Carriage Works custom-builds old-time horse-drawn carriages, such as the one we found in Seattle, as well as historic model windmills. Here is the story.

Aaron Fisher comes from a truly rural area of southwest Kansas. He lives outside of Copeland, Kansas. Copeland is a town of 289 people. Now, that’s rural. It is located in Gray County, situated between Garden City, Dodge City, and Liberal.

What’s more, Aaron’s home is out in the country. It is not in inner city Copeland, so to speak.

Many of the entrepreneurs that we have met on this program develop a business in response to a need. In today’s example, we might say that it was developed in response to a knee. I’ll explain what I mean.

The knee of which I speak is the one on Aaron Fisher’s leg. Aaron grew up at Copeland and went to school there. While in high school, he injured his knee.

The messed up knee prevented him from doing several things, including the horseback riding which many people in that region enjoy. But Aaron had an idea of a way to continue to stay involved with the horses. In fact, he had already decided to build a horse-drawn carriage as a project during shop class of his senior year.

His project went so well that he decided to do more. Senior citizens are interested in these carriages as a tie to their history and as fun for the grandkids, as well as a way to enjoy horses when it is not practical for them to ride horseback.

Today, Aaron Fisher builds and sells carriages under the business name of Fisher Carriage Works. His carriages have gone coast to coast, to such places as Seattle; Tempe, Arizona; Florida, New York, and Canada.

Aaron says, "We will custom make any vehicle to order." For example, I saw a beautiful white carriage that was just gorgeous. It would be a natural for weddings.

An artisan like this needs specialized, custom made parts - many of which he makes himself. As a result, he is now able to offer preassembled kits with the parts necessary to build such carriages. Examples of these vehicles include doctors’ buggies and farmers’ surreys. And just like in the musical Oklahoma, I saw a surrey with the fringe on top.

In fact, there are several different styles of surreys such as formal surreys, cut under surreys, and those with extension tops. Aaron also builds buckboards, pony wagons, and something called a vis-a-vis, which has two facing seats – kind of like a topless stagecoach.

Aaron has further diversified his business to include old-time wooden windmills. These are not the metal frame windmills which I remember from our pastures. These are the authentic old-time windmills made of wood, with heads that look like a giant fan. They have such brand names as Monitor and Dempster.

Talk about a specialized business. Is there a market for such products? Indeed there is. Aaron ships his windmills from coast to coast from Copeland, Kansas. Wow.

How exciting to find someone in rural Kansas who is building on our history to serve this marketplace. In a sense, he is giving new life to these classic buggy and windmill designs. For more information, contact Aaron at 620-668-5626. That number again is 620-668-5626.

It’s time to say farewell to Seattle, Washington, where we’ve enjoyed a romantic ride in a horse-drawn carriage built in Copeland, Kansas. Thanks to Aaron Fisher of Fisher Carriage Works for making a difference with his skills and entrepreneurship. His bad knee has meant good news for this remarkable enterprise, and helped to create a terrific ride.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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Kevin Gray - Custom Wood Products

This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Today let’s go on a home tour. Come into this kitchen and admire the beautiful custom-built cabinets. They look great. And take a look at this inhouse security cabinet. It contains a flipscreen which we can activate by touching it. It has a built-in CD and DVD player, and can also show the video from security cameras at the front door and in the baby’s room. Wow. Imagine that modern technology combined with beautiful cabinetry. We learned about this advancement from a company which is the source of those beautiful and innovative cabinets. They are custom-made. It’s today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Kevin Gray and John Mitchell, co-owners of Custom Wood Products in St. Marys, Kansas. This company not only produces beautiful cabinets, they keep on top of the latest developments in technology such as I was describing.

This company’s remarkable story goes back to 1980. Don Lake was a farmer and building contractor who lived in the St. Marys area of northeast Kansas. He was interested in cabinetry and wanting to diversify, so he and another fellow started building cabinets in a converted meat locker plant in downtown St. Marys.

Kevin says, "Don was a good country guy who believed in taking good care of people." His emphasis on taking care of customers would pay off in the long run. John Mitchell soon joined the company to help with production, and Kevin Gray joined the company in sales in 1987. In 1996, Don retired and Kevin and John eventually moved into ownership.

As I said, this company is named Custom Wood Products. As the name suggests, this company custom-builds all types of cabinets for its customers.

Kevin says, "The custom part is standard." Uh, what was that again? He is saying that their standard way of operating is to individually custom-build cabinets to fit the home.

Kevin says, "We design and build the cabinets to within an eighth of an inch of your home design." And, he says, "We go beyond selling cabinets. We help design the living space. We design to fit the home, and you end up with a better product."

Custom Wood Products designers actually go and meet with a client in their home and professionally guide them through their selections. The company sells both to homeowners and to contractors. They also offer a lifetime warranty on their products.

Kevin says, "We buy the best hardwood available. We pay a premium, but we consider it a savings in the long run because of less waste and better color. And since our customers are buying direct from the manufacturer, that makes us price-competitive."

And what are the results? Today, that company which started with two guys in an old meat locker plant has grown to 160 employees, sending products from the front range of the Rockies up to Detroit. Wow.

Yet this company remains based in St. Marys, Kansas, population 1,932 people. Now, that’s rural. And maybe being rural is one of their assets.

Kevin says, "I can’t imagine having this kind of workforce in a city. Our people are great, with a quality consciousness and strong work ethic."

He says, "We have to maintain product development, because the cabinet industry has changed a lot. Now we can offer many more accessories, designs, and finishes. And the complexity of homes has grown too. We used to just work in the bathroom and kitchen. Now we’re doing bookcases, wet bars, entertainment centers, and home offices."

It is exciting to see that a home-grown company based in small-town Kansas can thrive in the competitive environment of today.

It’s time to end our home tour. Yes, we can admire those beautiful custom-built cabinets with pride, knowing they are produced by a Kansas company. We commend Kevin Gray, John Mitchell, Don Lake, and all the people of Custom Wood Products in St. Marys for making a difference with their commitment to quality and service. We can truly say that this company’s custom is to custom-make products to serve the customer.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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Norm Jennings - Smoky Hill Vineyard

This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Let’s look in on the Eastern International wine exhibition in New York. It is a wine competition, and it is time to present the Top Honor Gold awards. And the winner is: A white wine from Smoky Hill Vineyard and Winery, out in the middle of Kansas. What?! A Kansas wine winning gold?? That’s right, and it’s not even made of wheat. Was this a fluke or a once in a lifetime Vintage? No, actually Smoky Hill has had many different awards including Best of Show against wines from around the world. So uncork the bottle, this is today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Norm Jennings, the general manager of Smoky Hill Vineyard and Winery near Salina, Kansas. Our story really begins with his father Steve Jennings, who was an engineer in Salina. Back in 1978, Steve’s family gave him a kit on "How to make wine at home" as a practical joke.

Steve decided to give that kit a try. He experimented with winemaking, and his interest expanded. Another engineer in that same firm, Kay Bloom, had an interest in wine as well. The two got together and decided to open a small winery as a retirement project. Norm Jennings says with a smile, "Now we might say this is a retirement hobby gone mad."

Yes, the winery has blossomed, so to speak, into a remarkable business. Steve Jennings and Kay Bloom bought land north of Salina where the vineyard is today, and planted the first grapes there in 1991. In 1995, they produced their first vintage, but only a few gallons.

Norm Jennings came into the business in 2001. He had grown up in Salina and then attended K-State and become an engineer like his father. He worked in corporate life for 11 years, serving as a plant and project manager with large companies. In 2001, he came back into the family wine business. He has led an expansion, while remaining true to the family’s values.

Norm says, "Our mission is to honor God, produce world class wine suited to Kansas, and offer products and services that exceed all expectations."

Today, Smoky Hill Vineyard and Winery has three locations in Kansas, the maximum allowed by law. These are at the original facility in Salina, in northwest Wichita, and the best location: Exit 206 on I-70, at Wilson, Kansas, population 744 people. Now, that’s rural.

How can such a rural location be so successful? Norm Jennings says, "You will see 95 percent out-of-state tags there. This location has high visibility for travelers or tourists. People in the wine industry are becoming familiar with our product. It is not uncommon to have someone from California stop and pick up two or three cases of wine."

Smoky Hill’s wines did win the best of show, as well as Top Honor Gold in New York, as I described at the beginning, and have won many other awards. Under Norm’s leadership, the winery recently bought a new press to replace their manual one. The new one is much bigger and more efficient, and is computer controlled to slow press the grapes just right.

The winery continues to work at improving its product. There are ten varieties of grapes, both red and white, at the original vineyard near Salina. Contract growers provide the remainder. Norm says, "We try to utilize all the in-state production we can, and we supplement from out of state as needed."

Vintage production in 2003 was more than 14,000 gallons or more than 72,000 bottles. Smoky Hill Vineyard and Winery customers have taken its wine as far away as Italy and Israel. Wow.

More information, including a complete description of the varieties of grapes plus a wine list, is available on-line at www.kansaswine.com. Or call 785-825-2515. Again, that’s www.kansaswine.com, or 785-825-2515.

It’s time to say farewell to the Eastern International wine exhibition in New York, where gold has been awarded to a wine from Smoky Hill Vineyard and Winery at Salina, Kansas. We commend Steve Jennings, Norm Jennings, Kay Bloom, and all those of the Smoky Hill Vineyard for making a difference with their vineyard and winery. In terms of rural development, this is a vintage story.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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Cheyenne Bottoms

This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Today’s program is for the birds... No, that’s not a criticism. Today’s program is about a place in rural Kansas which is indeed for the birds. It is a place which not only provides a migratory stop for thousands of birds, it also can be an attraction for human visitors from all over. So spread your wings for today’s Kansas Profile.

Our story today takes us to Great Bend, Kansas, where Gary Gore and Janet Siebert are with the Chamber of Commerce. They told me about the Great Bend’s area’s remarkable wildlife resources, which are rapidly growing as a visitor attraction in rural Kansas.

Let’s start with Cheyenne Bottoms. Cheyenne Bottoms is located northeast of Great Bend, roughly between Great Bend and the town of Claflin, population 629 people. Now, that’s rural.

Cheyenne Bottoms has been called the Jewel of the Prairie. It is a 41,000 acre lowland basin which is the largest system of wetlands in Kansas. During the time that birds are migrating north or south, thousands of birds will stop and eat at Cheyenne Bottoms.

The north-south route through the central plains is sometimes called the Central Flyway, which is kind of like an interstate highway for birds. Cheyenne Bottoms may be like the roadside motel and restaurant. I wonder if a baby bird says: Are we there yet?

Anyway, I was amazed to learn the international significance of this ecosystem. Cheyenne Bottoms has been called the most important ecosystem in Kansas and the most important migration point for shorebirds in North America. More than 100 species nest in the area and 63 species are permanent residents. Cheyenne Bottoms is considered the largest marsh in the interior of the U.S. and has been designated a Wetland of International Importance.

Cheyenne Bottoms is the top shorebird spring migration staging area in the contiguous United States. Nearly one-third of all North American shorebirds migrating east of the Rocky Mountains visit the Bottoms each year, along with up to one-quarter million waterfowl. Wow.

Some 320 species of birds frequent the bottoms, such as the bald eagle, whooping crane, and peregrine falcon. Besides birds, the Bottoms is also home to 23 species of mammals, 19 species of reptiles, and 9 species of amphibians.

Nearly 20,000 acres of the Bottoms is operated by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks as a wildlife management area. This is visited by nature enthusiasts, hikers, birdwatchers, and photographers. The Nature Conservancy Cheyenne Bottoms preserve has another 7,200 acres.

South of Great Bend is the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, which is another 21,820 acres of prairie grasses, salt marshes, sand dunes, canals, dikes, and timber. This includes a system of 15 miles of canals, 25 miles of dikes, and 15 acres of century-old cottonwoods. Quivira is a great place for hiking. It also has a visitors center, auto tour routes, and interpretive nature trails.

Of course, all this adds up to a growing attraction for human visitors. Each spring the chamber hosts a Wings and Wetlands Weekend, to showcase the amazing birding and wildlife watching there. One group of visitors from Colorado described it as the "best birding weekend we’ve ever had!"

There are also great opportunities for hunting in the area. Some 58,000 acres of public hunting area can be found within an hour’s drive of Great Bend, and another 40,000 acres of private land allow walk-in hunting through a program of Kansas Wildlife and Parks.

How impressive to find this tremendous natural resource right here in our own backyard – and how great it is that entrepreneurial community leaders are building on these resources, while respecting and preserving them for the future.

Our program today is for the birds – the thousands of birds which migrate through Kansas each year to Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira. We salute Gary Gore, Janet Siebert, and all the people of the Great Bend region for making a difference by utilizing these wonderful natural treasures.

And how did I learn about all this? Well, a little bird told me.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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Dave Brenn - Kansas Water Congress

This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Let’s visit the halls of Congress. Don’t worry, this doesn’t require a long airplane flight. This is a Congress of people, not of fancy buildings in Washington, DC. Just as in our federal Congress, the members of this Congress come from different places and different perspectives. But these are united by an interest in one common, vital topic: Water. What could be more fundamental to our longterm life and livelihood than water? Fortunately, a group of leading Kansans have come together to discuss water issues through a new organization: The Kansas Water Congress. So tap the gavel to convene this session of Congress – that is, the Kansas Water Congress – on today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Dave Brenn, who is currently serving as the first Executive Director of the Kansas Water Congress.

Dave himself has been very active in water issues. After a career in Extension and land management around Garden City, he founded his own company called Western Kansas Resource Management which does consulting on water and oil and gas issues. He was appointed by Governor Bill Graves and reappointed by Kathleen Sebelius to the Kansas Water Authority.

Dave and others have been talking about the future of water policy for some time. They were aware of the success of a Water Congress in the state of Colorado, which brought together diverse interests for a dialogue on water issues.

In February 2003, the Kansas Water Congress was incorporated. Unlike our national congress, it does not receive a taxpayer appropriation.

The Kansas Water Congress is a non-profit, fee-funded entity, separate from existing state agencies, associations, other organizations or direct political affiliations. Its mission is to promote the wise management and stewardship of the State's water resources and to protect, conserve, and develop Kansas water resources for the benefit of Kansas' present and future generations.

To accomplish that mission, the Kansas Water Congress provides a forum where water users strive to reach consensus on water issues; facilitates cooperation and efficiency between water related state agencies and water districts; provides education and information on water issues affecting Kansas; promotes a broad base of membership representing a diversified base of water interests and users, and ultimately will advocate positions on water policy.

Dave Brenn says, "We want to enhance and support the existing planning process which goes on at the basin and sub-basin level, and create a forum for enlightenment and stakeholder participation in forming water policy."

So just like our federal Congress, the Kansas Water Congress is a place where people from different places and perspectives can come together to hammer out issues. The Water Congress is made up of 29 different divisions, so as to be representative.

For example, the Congress includes representatives of all 12 of the main water basins in Kansas, plus 19 other diverse interests. These come from as far east as Kansas City and as far west as the Mountain Time Zone. They represent law, engineering, agriculture, parks and recreation, research and extension, government, municipalities, industry, energy, each of the groundwater management districts, the Geological Survey, and more.

Of course, this includes both urban and rural interests. There are representatives from Wichita, Lawrence, and Olathe, as well as such places as Rolla, population 384 people; Bern, population 189; and Liberty, population 136 people. Now, that’s rural.

It’s good that rural and urban interests can come together for a dialogue and understanding of all dimensions of our water issues. Their first general membership meeting will be March 11, 2004 in Lawrence. Contact 785-290-0003 for more information. That number again is 785-290-0003.

It’s time to say goodbye to the halls of Congress. No, not in some fancy marble building, but rather in the efforts of these leaders from diverse interests who have come together to form the Kansas Water Congress. We commend Dave Brenn and the other visionary leaders who are making a difference by bringing this water congress together. With that, we’ll declare this session of the Kansas Water Congress adjourned.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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Kerry Kuhn

This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Let’s go visit one of the top young teachers in the nation at his classroom. Don’t look for chalk dust, blackboards, or even a computer. This particular classroom consists of a set of livestock panels, and his students are a set of horses. That’s right, the four-legged kind. Today we’ll meet one of the nation’s leading young teachers of horses, who is based in rural Kansas. It’s today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Kerry Kuhn, the young horseman who works with horses and their owners. Kerry says, "I don’t like the term horse trainer. That makes it sound like I know everything and I’m trying to convince the horse. I hope I’m gonna be learnin’ something every day." Kerry prefers the term "horse teacher."

In a broad sense, he works to create a positive relationship between the horse and the owner. It’s a life that Kerry loves, having grown up with it.

Kerry says, "I got started with my granddad, who raised and showed horses all the time." Kerry began to raise and show horses of his own. He says, "I started my first colt when I was 12 years old." Then he started riding and training horses for people locally, and the business started to grow.

Kerry’s family has been featured on Kansas Profile before. His mother Kay is secretary for the Peace Treaty Pageant in Medicine Lodge, as featured on a previous program, and father Earl is a noted western artist.

Kerry learned practical horsemanship as part of everyday life on the ranch. Today, he manages a 3,000 acre ranch in southwest Kansas, where he uses a new style of managing and teaching horses.

In the old days, horses were broke to ride. Kerry teaches a new style, which is based on communicating with the horse, not dictating to it. Kerry says, "I’m asking the horse, not telling it what to do." The result is a more positive interaction between the horse and rider.

Kerry says, "Horses are gonna learn, whether it’s something good or something bad. I want people to learn with the horse and get it right in the first place."

All too often, after horses have learned some bad habits, they end up going to someone like Kerry to fix the problem. He will work with around a hundred head of horses in a year.

But what he really wants is for owners to learn the best way to work with their horses from the start. It’s a relationship with the horse that is built on understanding, not giving orders.

Kerry says, "You can’t ever fault a horse for what he does. He was just being a horse. We’re out there to learn his language."

The results can be remarkable. I witnessed Kerry work with a young colt who had barely been ridden. Within an hour and a half, Kerry had him saddled and riding at a lope. Kerry now does clinics and demonstrations all over the country, where he displays this style of teaching. He is the author of an ongoing video series and is part of a select group which has been added to the national team of horse clinicians sponsored by Purina Mills.

Kerry does all this while managing the ranch, living near Coats, Kansas, population 130 people. Now, that’s rural.

Kerry lives there with his wife Misti and their young son. He says, "Working with a horse is simply building a relationship." Kerry is doing a great job of that.

For more information, go to www.kerrykuhn.com. That’s www.k-e-r-r-y-k-u-h-n.com.

It’s time to say goodbye to this outstanding young teacher. His classroom is a set of horse panels out in the wide open spaces, where he helps horses and riders build a new partnership together, and now he is making his mark nationally. We salute Kerry Kuhn and his family for making a difference with their love of horses and this new style of teaching. For his outstanding work, I’ll give Kerry and his students a grade of A+ – or is that a grade of Hay-plus???

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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Edgar Jacobs

This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

What is a wetland? Well, it is land that is wet. My five year old could have told you that. According to the dictionary, a wetland is a lowland area that is saturated with moisture, especially as the natural habitat of wildlife. So a wetland might be a marsh or swamp or duckpond. Today, we’ll meet a wetland in yet another sense. There’s a small community which is using a constructed wetland to solve a water problem. Stay tuned and we’ll wade into today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Edgar Jacobs, owner of the Odin Store in Odin in central Kansas. Odin is a truly rural community. Since it is unincorporated, there is no exact population count, but Edgar Jacobs says the community has about 115 residents. Now, that’s rural.

When you have a problem with septic systems in a town that size, spending gazillions of dollars on a new water treatment system is not likely.

That was the problem facing the residents of Odin. They had a sewer problem, but didn’t have a big budget to fix it.

Edgar says, "The ground is so saturated around here that the sewer water begins to pollute the underground water."

This was a problem for the Odin Store too. The Odin Store is the convenience store in Odin – in fact, the only store in Odin. They are fortunate to have a convenience store.

This store handles the usual products: gas and snacks and more. Edgar has owned this store since 1972 and has seen the water problem firsthand. When the store and its restrooms were extra busy, Edgar says, "We really had to watch it. We were always having to pump out the sewer system."

Large cities might be able to afford a new sewer system, but as I mentioned, that is sometimes not an option in smaller towns. Instead, they have to use their ingenuity.

Dan Curtis, director of the Central Prairie Resource Conservation and Development Council based in Great Bend, became aware of Odin’s water problems. He knew of communities in southern states which had overcome them.

Those communities utilized a wetland. No, not a marshy wildlife refuge out in the wilderness, but rather a constructed wetland in the town. They built a wetland with the same attributes for cleaning and filtering water as a natural wetland has in the wild.

A town meeting was held in Odin where this idea was explained. Edgar Jacobs volunteered to try the constructed wetland project at his store.

The new constructed wetland is in effect an onsite wastewater treatment system. Edgar says, "It is a pit lined with a 50 millimeter thick plastic liner and filled with 15 inches of pea size gravel." Cattails were then transplanted into the pit. Edgar says, "The gray water from the store’s sewer system goes into this lined pit and then into a second small pit which contains sand. By the time it goes through these cells, the water is clean enough to go into the ground."

The cattails pick up the organic nutrients from the waste water so they naturally cleanse and filter the water in the process. Edgar Jacobs says, "It works really good."

So instead of spending gazillions of dollars, they found this innovative way to utilize nature to save and clean the water. The Central Prairie RC&D and Barton County Natural Resources Conservation District contributed funds to help with this test project. If it continues to work, it is hoped that four or five cells could take care of the sewer problems for an entire community this size. This modern design constructed wetland is the first of its kind in Kansas.

What is a wetland? Yes, it is land that is wet. It usually means a natural marsh or wildlife habitat, but this wetland is more. We salute Edgar Jacobs and Dan Curtis and all those involved with this project for making a difference by using the forces of nature through a constructed wetland to address this problem. What is a wetland? In this case, it is part of a solution.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Remember that nice woolen suit? Nothing looks and feels quite like a genuine wool suit. Today, we’ll meet one of the nation’s leading businesses serving the producers of that wool. This business gathers wool from some 14 states and ships livestock supply products all over the country – from a facility in the middle of Kansas. Flock over to your radio and we’ll meet this remarkable business on today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Warren Finder, supply manager for Mid-States Wool Growers Cooperative Association in South Hutchinson, Kansas.

Mid-States Wool Growers has a long history of serving sheep and wool producers. This history goes back to 1918, when a number of wool producers in Ohio banded together to market their wool during World War I. In 1931, a similar group was organized in Kansas City. This organization was called the Midwest Wool Marketing Cooperative. Over time, both organizations grew and diversified, adding a livestock supply business to their operations.

In 1974, the two organizations combined to form Mid-States Wool Growers Cooperative Association. Today it still has offices in Ohio and Kansas and is owned by 6,000 sheep producers in 20 states.

The Kansas staff of Mid-States Wool Growers has rural roots and deep experience in the sheep industry. Warren Finder grew up in the sheep business with his father. Warren has some 35 years experience in sheep shearing, but he says he began when he was two. I’m not sure I’d want to be the sheep that was shorn by a two-year-old...

Anyway, that experience has paid off. Warren has a wealth of knowledge, and owns some 200 ewes and 60 Boer goats himself. He and his wife live near Kingman, where she trains border collies.

Warren succeeded Hank Ruckert as supply manager, and Hank continues to work part-time. He has more than 40 years experience and also has a sheep flock of his own. Rounding out the administrative staff is Alex McClure, manager of the wool department. Alex is a 10-time Kansas State shearing champion. Wow. He lives near Harper, Kansas, population 1,584 people. Now, that’s rural.

These gentlemen give leadership to this remarkable niche business. Wool comes in to their facility in South Hutchinson from all over the midwest and from places as far away as Minnesota, Mississippi, Wyoming, and Louisiana. The wool is quality inspected and marketed on behalf of the growers. Mid-States markets more than six million pounds of wool annually.

They also operate a livestock supply business. Mid-States Livestock Supplies offers one of the most complete lines of products needed by sheep and goat producers, from antibiotics to wound spray and everything in between. Their catalog includes all kinds of medicines and the equipment to apply them, plus lambing supplies, hoof care, clippers, ear tags, grooming supplies, gates, books, spinning wheels, gifts, and more.

In the miscellaneous category is a bottle of coyote urine for 4.95. Apparently this is used for luring coyotes into traps. I wonder how in the world that gets collected?

The cutest item in the catalog is called Kid Jammies. These are soft one piece cloth outfits that can be pulled onto newborn kids to protect them from cold weather. As you may recall, baby goats are called kids. The jammies for these kids have four leg holes and are sized to fit a baby goat. And yes, they come in pink for girls and blue for boys. Now I’ve seen everything....

Mid-States ships livestock supplies all over the country, and as far away as Alaska and Hawaii. They’ve even sent sheep shearing equipment down to Chile.

How exciting to find this remarkable business in the middle of Kansas.

Remember that nice woolen suit? I like wool, and it is good to find that one of the leading businesses serving the wool industry is found here in Kansas. We salute Warren Finder, Hank Ruckert, Alex McClure, and all the people of Mid-States Wool Growers for making a difference by serving this remarkable industry. This wonderful wool business suits Kansas just right.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

It’s midnight, and Rich Porter is on his way to class. Wow, you might ask, what kind of class is that? The answer is, it’s a very advanced one. So let’s accompany Rich Porter on his trip to class. Look fast – Rich can get to class in the time it takes him to walk over to his computer, and if he chooses to attend his class at midnight, that is up to him. This is the story of an innovative program in distance education, which has real benefits for both urban and rural people. It’s today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Dr. Dan Bernardo, who is head of K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics. He and his faculty noted that people would frequently call in who were looking for more education, but couldn’t take several years out from their careers to complete a graduate degree. Being good economists, they responded to this market demand. They recognized that emerging technology would make it possible to offer such education to those people.

So in 1997, the K-State Agricultural Economics Department developed a proposal for a Master of Agribusiness degree program which could be offered through distance education technology. This means that the student would remain in his or her home or office, and participate in almost all the classes electronically. Students would come to K-State for a couple of on-campus sessions each year. Otherwise, the course lectures would be sent to the student on CD-ROM, which the student could view at the time of his or her choosing. Class discussions would take place through organized chat rooms. Homework and exams would also be done over the computer, using chat rooms and email. Dr. Allen Featherstone became program director.

It was an innovative proposal. Dan Bernardo says, "That program went from conception to delivery in nine months, which is warp speed by academic standards." K-State became the first university in the nation to offer a Master of Agribusiness program through distance learning.

This program would be followed by another distance education offering called MAST. That stands for Management, Analysis, and Strategic Thinking, and is targeted to farm managers.

Rich Porter was intrigued when he saw that a Master of Agribusiness program was being offered through distance learning. Rich has degrees from K-State in chemical engineering and from SMU in law. He worked for Bethlehem Steel Company for four years before coming back to the farm with his father, Walter Porter. Rich had been interested in further education, but he didn’t have time to go to classes in Manhattan or somewhere else.

So in January 1998, Rich and eleven others enrolled as the first cohort to take the Master of Agribusiness program. The result? Rich Porter says, "I thought the program was fantastic. It provides you the tools you need for analysis and decision-making."

Rich was a producer, but most of his fellow students were employed in agribusiness. Rich says, "I appreciated the interaction with other experienced students with different backgrounds. And the quality of the faculty was tremendous. They are technically brilliant with a tremendous ability to convey information, and beyond that they are darn fine human beings."

Today, the Master of Agribusiness program consists of students in more than 30 states across the country and ten countries abroad. It includes students from Gove to Beijing. Of course, it is great for rural residents who would otherwise have to travel long distances to get to classes.

Rich Porter farms and has a feedlot. His address is Reading, population 272. But he’s actually closer to Miller, Kansas, population 35 people. Now, that’s rural. Rich says, "This program exceeded my best projections." And in 2000, the University Continuing Education Association presented a national award to this program for its quality and innovation.

It’s time for Rich Porter to leave his class, which he can do in seconds by closing down his computer. We salute Dan Bernardo, Allen Featherstone, Rich Porter, and all those involved who are making a difference with these innovative educational programs. Among other things, they have a lot of class.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Two years ago, this program featured the story of three young sharpshooters who rode in to help the town, just like an old western movie. Now one of those sharpshooters is preparing for the end of the trail – at least at this level. For the sharpshooters of which I speak aren’t shooting bullets, they’re shooting basketballs. It’s not the Wild West, it’s March Madness. I’m speaking of three young women from rural Kansas who have led the K-State’s women basketball team to stardom. Now one of these is wrapping up her collegiate career. It’s today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Nicole Ohlde, senior center for the K-State women’s basketball team. She has led this team to unparalleled success. This success means a lot to Nicole, having grown up at nearby Clay Center.

During Nicole’s freshman year, the team showed great promise but hit a buzzsaw in conference play. In the Big 12, the team went only 2 and 14. Nicole herself had one of the finest freshman seasons in K-State history, but she dreamed of team success.

That dream came true. In the next year, she was joined by a set of tremendous team-mates. Together, they would lift the team to a whole new level. Kendra Wecker and Laurie Koehn would join sparkplug Megan Mahoney as the leaders of the charge. They would achieve a Top Ten ranking and the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. Nicole became an All-American, Big 12 player of the year, and K-State’s all-time leading scorer.

Now Nicole Ohlde is focused on the final games of her collegiate career. Looking back, she says one of the high points for her was the tremendous boom in fan support. Fueled by Kansas players and on-court success, attendance at K-State women’s games has increased by 1,200 percent in 8 years! K-State attendance ranked in the top six in the nation. Wow.

Nicole says she will never forget the sight of the doors opening before game time at Bramlage with fans scrambling in at a wild rush to get the best seats. She and her teammates describe playing before a packed house at Bramlage as "electric."

Part of the mutual love affair between these fans and these players and their coaches is the fact that the players and coaches are such quality people. These girls are remarkably gifted and athletic, but still down to earth college kids with good values from rural Kansas. After all, Nicole comes from Clay Center, population 4,692, Kendra Wecker from Marysville, population 3,128, and Laurie Koehn played at Moundridge, population 1,541 people. Now, that’s rural.

Nicole Ohlde says, "Growing up in a small town is great. I’d like to raise a family in that kind of atmosphere. Manhattan’s plenty big enough for me."

Before that time comes, though, I believe there will be lots of opportunities for Nicole to go a long way, even in professional women’s basketball. For now, however, she is focused on the team doing its best toward its goals.

What has Nicole Ohlde meant to this team? Laurie Koehn says, "She means so much that it’s hard to put into words. She is an unbelievable player, an amazing athlete and person. And she’s touched so many lives."

Laurie also lauds the fan support. She says, "K-State fans have always been loyal. Probably it helps having homegrown kids. We appreciate the fan support. They’ve been a huge part of our success."

Now our old western movie is reaching its final scenes. The bad guys are being conquered, and soon these young sharpshooters can celebrate their achievements. Kendra Wecker and Laurie Koehn will return next season, but Nicole Ohlde is a senior. Yet she’s not riding into the sunset. She looks forward to more basketball at the next level. We commend Nicole Ohlde, Kendra Wecker, and Laurie Koehn for making a difference by using their athletic talents close to home and inspiring a lot of Kansans in the process. It’s nice to see the good guys – and girls – win in the end.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Let’s visit the medical hospital at Harvard University. It’s all about health - even in the cooking oil used in the hospital food service. This hospital exclusively uses a special sunflower cooking oil that has several health-friendly properties. Some of that oil may come from Kansas. It’s a long way from rural Kansas to Harvard, but we’ll trace the path on today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Lynn Hoelting, General Manager of Mueller Grain in Goodland, Kansas, who tells the history of the sunflower.

Lynn explains that the sunflower is one of the few plants that is native to North America. He says with a smile, "We’ve been choppin’ em and cussin’ em for a hundred years." Anyone who’s chopped sunflowers by hand out of a cornfield can relate to that. In a field of corn, a sunflower is a weed. However, it has deep roots - get it? - in our country’s history.

Indian tribes are said to have been growing and using sunflowers in North America 3,000 years before Christ. Cortez found sunflowers while exploring here and brought them back to Spain. They were primarily used as ornamentals there until Europeans found that cooking oil could be squeezed from the seeds. Sunflower production then grew in Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church had forbidden the consumption of oil foods during Lent, but sunflowers were not on the prohibited list so they grew rapidly in popularity there.

In the late 19^th century, Russian immigrants came to North America, and they brought with them their red wheat and sunflowers. Major production of the crop first took place in Canada and then moved back down to the U.S. where it all began. That is one big circle.

Kansas became known as the sunflower state because it is a native wildflower here. In the 1980s, western Kansas producers found many benefits from raising commercial sunflowers in a crop rotation with wheat. They generated more profit, conserved moisture, controlled weeds, and broke crop disease cycles.

This new crop would receive a boost from Mueller Grain, a company founded by Iron and Ruby Mueller of Bird City, Kansas, population 464 people. Now, that’s rural.

Mueller Grain’s General Manager at the time was R. A. True. He saw an opportunity in this industry, and Mueller Grain provided storage to assist. Today, there are three sunflower processing plants operating near Goodland. Mueller Grain continues to give leadership to the industry, and now Goodland is considered the sunflower capital of the sunflower state.

In 1990, the National Sunflower Association organized a High Plains Committee. Its chair was R. A. True, and when he retired, Lynn Hoelting became General Manager of Mueller Grain as well as carrying on this national leadership as chair of the High Plains Committee.

Lynn explains that there are two main types of sunflowers: Oilseeds, which are processed into sunflower oil and meal and used as birdseed, and confectionery sunflowers. No, not sunflowers made of sugar. These are the edible sunflowers used for such things as baking, cookies, bread, and toppings. This also includes sunflowers for snacking. Those are roasted in the shell. You just pop `em in your mouth and spit out the shell before eating, just like those baseball players.

Now there is a new variety of sunflower cooking oil called NuSun. It has a clean and light taste, is easily flavored, lasts 20 percent longer in frying, has less smell and smoke, and is even good for you. It promotes good cholesterol while inhibiting bad cholesterol, does not produce transfatty acids in cooking, and is as good or better than olive oil for heart-healthiness.

It’s time to say goodbye to the medical hospital at Harvard, where NuSun sunflower oil is used exclusively due to its heart-healthy properties. Some of those sunflowers may have come from Goodland, Kansas. We salute Lynn Hoelting, R. A. True, and the Muellers for making a difference with their vision and hard work in assisting the sunflower industry.

And there’s more. How about a sunflower painting that is 80 feet tall? We’ll explain on our next program.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Sometimes we have to keep in mind the big picture. When I say the big picture, I mean it. For example, here is a reproduction of one of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, his Three Sunflowers in a Vase. This reproduction of Van Gogh’s painting covers more than 700 square feet, is 80 feet high, and is the only one in the United States – and it’s found in rural Kansas. We’ll explain on today’s Kansas Profile.

On our last program, we met Lynn Hoelting of Mueller Grain in Goodland. He also serves on the Board of the Sunflowers USA Association there.

Lynn explains that a Canadian artist first completed an enlarged hand painted reproduction of Van Gogh’s famous sunflower paintings in 1997. It inspired an idea: Since Van Gogh painted seven different famous paintings of sunflowers, the Canadian artist thought he would create seven huge versions of these paintings to locate in seven countries around the world, in sites that have a connection to sunflowers or Van Gogh himself. One of those places would turn out to be Goodland, Kansas.

Our previous program chronicled how sunflowers became part of western Kansas crop production in the 1980s. Mueller Grain was an independent grain elevator company in Goodland. The manager at the time saw an opportunity in the sunflower industry, and helped growers get the industry started.

Today, Lynn Hoelting is General Manager of Mueller Grain. He explains that the Mueller Grain Company basically built an export terminal inland. They have a facility which can handle different types of products, which is what is happening in the sunflower industry today.

More types of sunflowers are being grown to respond to more types of niche markets. For example, we’re familiar with the black and white striped sunflower seeds that we buy as a snack at the convenience store. A different variety of those is bred for use in birdseed. There are black shelled sunflower seeds, white shell seeds, and now gray shell. The important thing is not the color of the shell, but the properties of the seeds.

Some are high in oleic oils, which makes them great for cooking. They have longer shelf life and can be used in high end salad dressings. These are even being used in hydraulic lines in food processing plants. That way if a line breaks, it’s not a petroleum product that is sprayed on the food, it is food that is sprayed on the food.

Of course, the sunflower seeds are great for eating. Breeders are continually developing larger and longer seeds in response to consumer demand.

Targeting these markets requires separating and preserving the identity of each variety. Mueller Grain is a leader in this regard. They make the most separations of varieties of any company in the country, and are the largest independent sunflower dealer in the country.

Sunflower acreage in Kansas doubled in less than 10 years. USDA has two recognized market centers for sunflowers in the whole country: Fargo, North Dakota and Goodland, Kansas. So thanks to Mueller Grain and others, Goodland has become the sunflower capital of the high plains.

When that Canadian artist wanted to place his huge reproduction of a Van Gogh sunflower painting in the U.S., Goodland was a logical place to put it.

Local citizens organized a non-profit organization to promote the concept, and today this huge painting stands in Goodland. The canvas consists of 24 plyboard sheets covered with marine fiberglass and bolted to a steel frame, which is mounted on an 80 foot tall steel easel made of 12 inch steel tubing. The artist’s painting consists of 10 layers of ultraviolet urethane enamel. It is a sight to see.

We have to keep in mind the big picture. This is a big picture, alright. It is an international art project in Goodland, Kansas, population 4,834 people. Now, that’s rural. We commend Lynn Hoelting and all those who have made a difference by constructing this striking work of art and by building the sunflower industry in rural Kansas. What a picture!

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Every pilot knows that each flight includes one vitally important element: The landing. Yes, the landing is crucial. Today, we’ll learn how one family came to land in rural Kansas – literally. Now they are contributing to the education and development of their adopted community. It’s today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Bobbi Miles, economic development director of Smith Center in northwest Kansas. Her story begins in Ohio, where Bobbi grew up in Springfield near Dayton. She moved to Denver and later pursued higher education, finishing with a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry. Bobbi was a research scientist at the University of Colorado when she met Bruce Miles. Bruce is from Illinois originally. One thing that Bruce and Bobbi have in common is flying.

Bruce is a pilot. Bobbi was studying atmospheric chemistry, including airborne studies, so she too was spending a lot of time in airplanes. They met and married and lived in Denver, and got a two-seater airplane.

In the early summer of 1999, Bruce and Bobbi were flying back from St. Louis when they ran into a thunderstorm over northwest Kansas. Those storms can be risky.

I’m reminded of the saying that there are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots. Well, Bruce and Bobbi were not bold or foolhardy enough to fly into that thunderstorm, so they knew they needed to land. The first landing strip which they spotted happened to be at Smith Center, Kansas.

They landed safely at Smith Center and found a local bed and breakfast to spend the night. However, the weather did not clear. In fact, thunderstorms continued to roll through the atmosphere for the next three days.

But instead of feeling stranded, something else happened during their impromptu stay in Smith Center: They fell in love with it.

Eventually they made their way home to Denver, but somehow things kept bringing them back. On one occasion when their plane needed fuel, Smith Center happened to be the closest place to get it. Another time they were flying when it got dark, and once again ended up in Smith Center. Now I wonder: Was all this an act of God, or were they subconsciously being drawn to the community?

In any event, Bobbi and Bruce had talked for some time about restoring an old victorian home. Such houses in Denver had an astronomical price tag. But Bobbi and Bruce found an old victorian house in Smith Center that was affordable, and so they bought it. They gutted the house with the thought of restoring it and retiring to it several years down the road.

Again, however, they felt drawn to Smith Center. Bruce applied for a nearby teaching job and they decided that if he got the job, they would move from Denver. He did get the job. Only one problem: They had gutted the old house that they had purchased. That meant no place to stay.

Bobbie and Bruce approached the owner of the original bed and breakfast where they stayed when they first landed there. They ended up buying that bed and breakfast as well, and moving to Smith Center. Now Bruce is teaching at Kensington and Bobbi is Economic Development Director for Smith Center while running the b and b and restoring both buildings.

Bobbi says, "We love it here in small town America."

Every pilot knows that the landing is all-important. Today we met a couple who had the good fortune to land in rural Kansas. We commend Bruce and Bobbi Miles for making a difference by making this their home. I’m glad Smith Center landed this wonderful couple.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

This is hallowed ground - a place where sports, international attention and tragedy intersected in rural Kansas. Today we remember a moment when the entire nation caught its breath, upon hearing the news that one of the great sports figures of all time had died in a tragic plane crash. Now this tragic event is being newly commemorated, near the crash site where it happened in rural Kansas. It’s today’s Kansas Profile.

Our story today surrounds the life and death of one of the greatest football coaches of all time: Knute Rockne. Rockne grew up in Chicago and went to Notre Dame, where he became a star receiver for the Fighting Irish.

He stayed on at the university as a chemist, assistant track coach and assistant football coach and in 1918, was promoted to head football coach. What a career would follow!

Rockne was the most innovative and charismatic coach of his era. He coached the Four Horsemen and George Gipp, whom he immortalized with the phrase, Win One for the Gipper. He set the record for the greatest all-time winning percentage. In thirteen years, he won six national championships.

Then came March 31, 1931. That is 3-31-31, by the way. I’m not superstitious, but there is a 13 in there. Anyway, on that date, Rockne and seven others departed Kansas City on a small plane headed for Los Angeles. They had not traveled far when a wing ripped off the airplane and the plane crashed in the grasslands of eastern Kansas. Everyone aboard was killed instantly.

Easter Heathman was 13 years old when it happened. He was working on the family ranch and heard the sound of engines. He thought someone was racing cars – but there was sudden silence. Then they got word that a plane had crashed. They rushed to the crash scene to help, and found the gruesome scene. They helped pick up the bodies. Now Easter is 87, one of two persons still living who was there at that time. He still remembers the sights, sounds, and smells of that fateful day. On a sunny day, fragments of glass from the long-ago airplane crash can still be seen, glittering in the bright light.

This is hallowed ground. A monument was erected at the crash site, but it is on private property and is available for viewing by appointment only.

In later years, the Kansas Turnpike would be built not far from the crash site. In 1965, the Turnpike Authority and the Knute Rockne Clubs of America dedicated a memorial to Rockne at the nearby Matfield Green service area on the turnpike.

In 2004, a new memorial to Knute Rockne has been built in the Matfield Green service area. The service area has been renovated and rebuilt, and the new memorial is incorporated in the new building. It consists of five, eight-foot-tall panels depicting the life and times of Knute Rockne. There is the text of his famous Gipper speech and memorabilia from his life and death. The inside of the exterior windows are etched with diagrams of his famous plays.

It’s great that the Kansas Turnpike Authority is taking this step to preserve and honor this piece of history in rural Kansas.

Matfield Green is a town of 32 people. Now, that’s rural. But an estimated 4.7 million cars a year will travel along that highway. Wow.

Mary Turkington is the Board Chair of the turnpike authority and Mike Johnston is President. A local volunteer from Cottonwood Falls named Elaine Adkins told me about this new memorial.

Yes, this crash site is hallowed ground. But it’s time to leave this place where Knute Rockne’s plane crashed more than 70 years ago. At the Kansas Turnpike nearby, there is a new memorial to honor this icon of college football history, and to remember both his achievements in life and his death in rural Kansas. We salute Mary Turkington, Mike Johnston, Easter Heathman, Elaine Adkins and all those who are making a difference by honoring this history and sharing it with the world.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Where is rural Kansas? Well, you might say, it’s the space between our cities. No, no, I mean: Where is Rural, Kansas? There was a town in Kansas named Rural - with a capital R. Since May 2004 marks the twelfth anniversary of the Kansas Profile program, we’re going to celebrate by visiting Rural, Kansas – the townsite, that is. It’s today’s Kansas Profile.

We’ll find rural Kansas in Chase County. With 2,886 residents, Chase is in the smallest 10 percent of Kansas county populations and is the lightest populated county east of Highway 81. It is nestled in the heart of the scenic Flint Hills.

Eighty percent of Chase County is grassland, which makes for a great ranching economy and panoramic views but not a lot of jobs or industrial base. What’s more, an estimated 80 percent of the grass is owned by people who don’t live in the county. This isn’t due to some new foreign takeover, but rather the historical pattern of those who owned the large ranches in the region.

The population of Chase County peaked in 1885 at 8,700 people. Today, it has less than 3,000 people.

Whitt Laughridge has a realty and insurance agency in Chase County, in downtown Cottonwood Falls. Whitt is a mere 88 years old. On his wall is a plaque from 1997, recognizing him for 50 years of continuous membership in the American Legion. Wow.

According to a 1901 plat book in Whitt Laughridge’s office, there had been 60 post offices in the county. Today, there are four.

The two largest towns in the county are Cottonwood Falls, population 846, and Strong City, population 592, a mere two miles away. Cottonwood Falls is the county seat, with its beautiful courthouse which is the oldest continuously operated courthouse in Kansas. Strong City is known for its wonderful rodeo each spring.

A century ago, the two towns were competing to see which one would get the railroad. At that point, the two towns were named Cottonwood Falls and Cottonwood Station. The people of Cottonwood Station made a strategic decision to rename themselves Strong City, in honor of W.B. Strong, who was president of the railroad company. Sure enough, the railroad came to Strong City.

Chase County was featured in William Least-Heat Moon’s book Praryerth, which generated international attention on the county. The economy is based in agriculture, but many residents commute to Emporia to work.

Mike Holder says that when he came here as Extension agent, he studied up on the towns in the county. The town of Bazaar reported that it had been the largest cattle shipping point on the Santa Fe Trail. That was impressive. Then he read about the town of Matfield Green. It reported that it had been the largest cattle shipping point on the Santa Fe Trail. Hmm. Then he read about the town of Cassoday, which claimed the same thing. Mike was wondering which one was accurate, when he studied some more and came to this conclusion: They were all right. As the railroad worked its way west, each one in the progression had been the largest cattle shipping point. Such is the rich history of Chase County.

And there in Whitt Laughridge’s office, we find the official record: There was a town named Rural which had a post office from 1896 to 1902, when it closed. Mike Holder drove me to the site. There is nothing there but a peaceful open field, surrounded by beautiful scenic hills of grass. Now, that’s rural.

So where is rural Kansas? It’s not on a map, it’s in your heart. It’s not a place, it is a mindset. Yes, rural Kansas has had population loss. But in a larger sense, it is a place where one can still find wide open spaces, scenic vistas, western heritage, and people like Mike Holder and Whitt Laughridge who treat you like a friend and neighbor. On this 12^th anniversary of Kansas Profile, we salute all those who are making a difference by making Kansas the wonderful place it is today.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Today let’s go to Oslo, Norway. Here we find a chinchilla fancier who is looking for chinchillas. A chinchilla is one of those cute, soft furry animals which some people just love. In fact, this particular breeder in Norway was looking for 10 chinchillas. So this person sent an email inquiry to a leading chinchilla breeder. That inquiry provided a spark to create a truly remarkable business, because the inquiry went halfway around the globe to rural Kansas. You’ll get the explanation on today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Laurie Schmelzle from Seneca, Kansas. It was Laurie who received that email inquiry. Here is the background on how it happened.

Laurie comes from Miami, Florida originally. She went to UCLA where she met a recording engineer named Martin Schmelzle who was working in Hollywood. They married and started a family, but as they were preparing for their first child, they decided they would prefer a less urban setting for their kids. So they decided to move back to where Martin had grown up, near Seneca, Kansas where they live today.

Laurie has had a lifelong interest in genetics and animal breeding. She loves Egyptian Arabian horses, for example. While in college, she wanted a small pet so she went shopping and found a chinchilla. Laurie says, "I didn’t even know what it was, and I’m not sure the people who sold it to me knew either."

But Laurie became very interested in the chinchillas and found there were lots of other people interested in them around the world. In fact, there are shows and competitions for judging and selecting the top chinchillas. Laurie established her own show herd. It had to be easier and more affordable than those horses.

Laurie says, "For what it would take to buy a million dollar horse, I could get a chinchilla of comparable quality for $500." I might add, it doesn’t hurt as much when the chinchilla steps on your foot.

Anyway, this chinchilla enterprise turned into a business for Laurie. By this time, however, she had moved to Kansas and in 1999, sold her chinchilla herd to concentrate on the horses and family. But, she says, "The business kept coming. Customers kept looking for good animals."

In 2000, Laurie received the Internet inquiry from Oslo, Norway which I referenced at the beginning. This was a new one for Laurie. She had customers all over the country, but never from Norway. So she contacted a friend in Ohio who was one of the best chinchilla breeders in the country and who had done some exporting.

This would develop into a business relationship. Today, Laurie and her partner in Ohio operate chinchillas.com. This is a web-based business which sells topflight chinchillas and all the supplies which go with them. Laurie provides her knowledge of chinchillas, husband Martin assists with the technology, and their friend in Ohio actually provides the breeding animals.

This is an amazing example of modern technology at work. Chinchillas.com includes a e-store where a person can buy feed, cages, treats, toys and accessories for chinchillas, plus a live on-line animal auction and a sales gallery. It is worldwide over the Internet.

Laurie says, "Our business is 100 percent virtual. We can operate at any dataport in the world."

Seventy percent of their business comes from overseas. Laurie says, "In the last three years we have exported to 15 countries, to such places as Singapore, Norway, Chile, and France." Yet they operate from their home near Seneca, population 1,995 people. Now, that’s rural.

Laurie says, "It’s allowed us to communicate with people from all over, but I can still look out my window and see my horses." She says, "Kansas should pursue other virtual businesses. We have the rural climate which other entrepreneurs might want to try."

It’s time to say goodbye to Oslo, Norway. We’re thankful for the inquiry from here which launched Chinchillas.com. We salute Laurie and Martin Schmelzle for making a difference with entrepreneurship and technology and making the world a smaller place - even for chinchillas.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Let’s connect to a city in Japan. We’re seeing it from 10 stories up. But you won’t need an airplane to make this connection, because we are connected electronically. This view is being transmitted from that city in Japan to the computers and technical equipment at the Solomon Valley Regional Learning Center in northwest Kansas. Today we’ll learn about a remarkable new initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship in rural Kansas, using technology which can connect them around the world. It’s today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Jeff Hofaker, Director of Phillips County Economic Development or PCED Inc. in Phillipsburg, Kansas. Jeff lives in the Phillips County town of Logan, population 589 people. Now, that’s rural.

Jeff is director of PCED, director of the Phillips County Development and Community Foundation, interim director of the Solomon Valley Regional Learning Center, and manager of the Fischer Building.

What is this regional learning center? Jeff Hofaker says, "It began with a dream and a vision of creating more startup entrenpreneurial businesses in the area. People like Cy Moyer on our economic development board had a vision that we need to develop and support entrepreneurs in our community."

Jeff worked on ideas for supporting entrepreneurs, including a learning center to help train and provide them skills to build businesses. The Fischer Building in downtown Phillipsburg became home for this new initiative along with other offices, and the Solomon Valley Regional Learning Center was created.

It has six aspects: One is offering distance learning through video conferencing; a second is having two base curriculums and incorporation of other smaller classes; third is a business mentor program; fourth is a full-time director for the learning center; fifth is a business incubator building to assist with start-ups; and finally, the county development and community foundation would be used to create a future regional and local venture fund for business development and expansion in a rural setting. Conrad Corman is the assistant director.

The learning center has teamed up with Wichita State University’s Center of Entrepreneurship to bring courses to Phillipsburg through distance learning. They have offered two courses: Developing a Business Plan and Growing and Managing an Entrepreneurial Firm.

These cover such topics as preparing income statements, cash flow statements, discussing stages of growth, strategic planning, time management, succession issues, and other issues. The courses can be taken as a workshop or continuing education credit.

I might note that the Kansas Legislature and Governor have enacted legislation for a new Center for Entrepreneurship which will help rural business development. This new initiative is to be commended. But the people in Phillips County weren’t waiting for the government to do something. They created their regional learning center through grass-roots vision and private sector initiative, with support from business and a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

Classes began at the learning center in October 2003, and already nearly 30 people have participated in such classes. The training center is wonderful. It is like a high-tech classroom, with computers at each station and a videoconference camera and projector.

Jeff says, "Long term, our hope is to incorporate this learning into the schools and encourage our youth to understand the opportunities of creating businesses in a rural setting. Our goal is making western Kansas the new frontier for creating entrepreneurs."

Conrad Corman points out that one of the test sites for the equipment is in Japan. That means they can connect to the videoconference equipment and get a view of this city in Japan through their system.

It’s time to disconnect from this city in Japan, but it reminds us of the power of technology to connect entrepreneurs and others to resources around the world, even from rural Kansas. We salute Cy Moyer, Jeff Hofaker, Conrad Corman, the PDEC Inc. Board, and all those who have initiated this visionary project. They are not just making a difference, they are making a connection.

And there’s more. We’ll meet an example of a new business created through this center on our next program.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

What did you bring back from your trip? My kids ask that question when they’re hoping for presents from my journeys. Today, we’ll meet someone who came back from a trip with something that would become a life skill. I’ll weave this story together on today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Sally Brandon of Phillipsburg, Kansas. As a youth, Sally went on the International 4-H Youth Exchange program to Finland, meaning that she spent six months living with families there. She brought home souvenirs and memories, but more than that, she brought home a love of weaving.

Weaving is popular all over Scandinavia, where lamb’s wool is woven into various kinds of fabrics. Sally says, "I learned to weave while I was there, and I came home in love with it."

She was also in love with a Kansan. Sally came back and married Jay Brandon at Phillipsburg. She remained interested in weaving and even built a loom from a kit and did a lot of research. Meanwhile, her sister had learned to spin.

Sally says, "She taught me to spin and I taught her to weave." The love of natural fibers must run in the family. Sally has been weaving for some 15 years now, and has created her own line of hand woven clothing. In the hands of a skilled craftswoman like Sally, weaving is more than a hobby or pastime, it becomes a form of art.

In 1998, Sally and her mother, Virginia Hopson, and sister Kay McCoy set up an organization called Great Plains Artisans or G-P-A. The mission of GPA is to support fiber artists by selling quality items and supplies, helping with marketing, and providing learning opportunities. In three years, GPA sales rose to $28,000. GPA helps weavers and wool producers by providing supplies such as looms, dyes, yarn, bobbins and ribbons. GPA also offers a line of classes on spinning and weaving.

You’ve heard about football players taking basketweaving class? Sure enough, GPA offers a class on basketweaving – but it’s harder than it looks. There is even a class on spinning designer yarn. I know some oldtimers who spin yarns, but that’s another story.

GPA’s retail outlet is a store known as Past Times, which offers handmade woolens, linens and other products from producers and consignors around Kansas and Nebraska.

In 2003, GPA had a booth at an alpaca show in Denver, next door to a booth that was promoting a weaving business. As they drove home from this show, Jay observed to Sally that they could do such a business. He said, "I think that’s what we’re supposed to be doing." So they did.

As mentioned on our last program, the Solomon Valley Regional Learning Center opened in the fall of 2003. Sally was one of the entrepreneurs who took a class there, developed a plan, and launched her own business called The Shepherd’s Mill. This business takes wool from producers and processes it into yarn or even finished goods. This involves washing, separating, dyeing, carding, spinning, weaving, felting, and even retail packaging and labeling. They also sponsor an annual fiber festival including seminars, fashion shows, contests, and sales.

Sally has served customers as far away as Minnesota and Texas, and from Kansas City to a yarn shop in Gove - population 113 people. Now, that’s rural.

The name Shepherd’s Mill has dual meaning here. They are handling wool just like a shepherd, but there is more. Jay says, "We thought and thought and couldn’t come up with a name, but the Lord is our Shepherd and we think this is where He wants us to be."

What did you bring back from your trip? In Sally’s case, she came back from Finland with a love for weaving which she has translated into a new enterprise. We salute Sally and Jay Brandon, Virginia Hopson, Kay McCoy, and others involved with GPA, Past Time, and the Shepherd’s Mill for making a difference through creativity and entrepreneurship. That makes for a good trip, whatever spin you put on it.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Imagine a big, strong wooden staircase. Such a staircase can be a model of development, because we need to build our communities one step at a time. Today we’ll find such a staircase at the historic Midland Hotel in Wilson, Kansas. This hotel has been restored to its previous glory, thanks to the initiative and leadership of local citizens. So book your room for today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Ally Britton, the General Manager and Executive Chef of the Midland Hotel. Like that staircase, the Midland’s history was built one step at a time.

The first step was in 1899. A man named Wilke Power moved to the midwest from Philadelphia. He envisioned a magnificent hotel, so he built the Power Hotel in Wilson. The hotel was built of limestone from quarries in the area.

Of course, this was the railroad era. Many guests at the hotel came from the Union Pacific railroad station across the street.

In 1902, the hotel was destroyed by fire. Fortunately, the townspeople rebuilt the hotel, which was renamed the Midland.

This was another step, because the Midland Hotel was built to be state-of-the-art. It had the region’s first kerosene lighting and later converted to acetylene lighting before going to electricity. It even had an apparatus for heating water - a true luxury at the time. There were 27 elegantly decorated rooms and a large dining room with fine cuisine. A sweeping wooden staircase was featured in the lobby, with attractive wood and stained glass windows in the decor.

By 1915, the Midland was considered the classiest hotel in Kansas and was doing a booming business. It was a popular stop for the vendors and businessmen who traveled the railroad. These vendors were called Drummers. They would bring their trunks of items to the hotel basement and sell them to buyers from surrounding towns.

Then came the Great Depression. Travel and commerce nearly ground to a halt, and the Midland struggled along with everybody else. At that point, the third floor of the hotel was converted to a chicken coop. Those chickens were raised and housed to be served in the dining room, and I don’t mean as a customer.

The Midland survived and made a comeback in the 1960s, offering Czech food reflecting the local ethnic roots. Then along came the next step: Hollywood.

A movie company was filming the movie Paper Moon, starring Ryan O’Neal and his daughter Tatum O’Neal. The film was to be set in the Depression-era rural midwest. The film company ended up coming to the Midland Hotel and shooting several scenes there. So the Midland made the silver screen, all the way from Wilson, Kansas, population 744 people. Now, that’s rural.

I stayed at the Midland in 1973. Since my name is Wilson, I wanted to stay in Wilson, Kansas and made a stop there that spring. I particularly remember that big wooden staircase and the shared bathroom down the hall.

But apparently there weren’t enough people named Wilson, because the hotel finally had to close in 1988. Fortunately, some local citizens had a vision and commitment to save the old hotel. It was a big step. As the Wilson Foundation, they implemented a 2.4 million dollar renovation which brought modern convenience while preserving the historical features.

The Midland with its classic limestone structure reopened in July 2003. Now each room has a private bath and dataport. There are spacious dining areas plus the lounge in the basement, which has appropriately been named the Drummer’s Tavern. The stained glass windows and much of the woodwork is original, along with that big beautiful staircase. The Midland even received the Kansas Preservation Alliance award in 2004.

It’s time to say goodbye to that big wooden staircase, which is a central feature of the Midland Hotel. It’s great to see this hotel restored to its former glory. We salute Ally Britton and the members of the Wilson Foundation who are making a difference by preserving and building on this heritage. Their efforts will help them climb to the top.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Let’s go around the globe to Israel, where we find a new worker coming into a kibbutz. A kibbutz is a type of community farm which is operated in that country. When the kibbutz workers find that the new man comes from rural Kansas, they are soon asking "How far are you from Dodge City?" and "How are the cowboys out there?" Those questions would trigger a thought which this man would bring back to Kansas. The result is a special event to benefit at-risk kids that draws on this interest in the cowboy. It’s today’s Kansas Profile.

Meet Roy Crenshaw, the Kansan who had this experience at the kibbutz.

Roy grew up on a farm outside Manhattan and attended a one-room school in the tiny community of Wabaunsee. Wabaunsee has an estimated population of about 30 people. Now, that’s rural.

Roy graduated from K-State and went on for a masters degree in political science and international relations. Then he joined Kansas Farm Bureau, where he worked his way up to become state executive director. But after nearly 20 years in the corporate world, he wanted to do something different with his life.

He wanted to go overseas – not as a tourist, but to live as part of a community. He chose to go to Israel and work in a kibbutz. Roy says, "They needed somebody who could drive a tractor, and so I went. It became a real highlight of my life."

So it was a meaningful experience for Roy, and as I mentioned earlier, it didn’t take long for his co-workers to ask about those Kansas cowboys.

After several months in Israel, Roy came back to Manhattan where he helped out on his parent’s farm. Then in 2003, he had the chance to serve in another way: He became executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manhattan and now serves Junction City and Pottawatomie and Geary Counties as well.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a very worthwhile organization. Roy explains, "We work with at-risk youth, ages 6 to 17, and pair them up with someone who can provide some positive adult companionship. Maybe it’s a kid who needs a male mentor who can help with homework or just hang out together or answer the questions that kids have. It doesn’t replace the parents but it sure helps." Research shows that kids who are involved in this program are much less likely to be involved in drugs, alcohol, or violence.

So it’s a worthy cause, but of course, it needs financial support from lots of donors and volunteers. Fundraising is among Roy’s responsibilities, and as he looked for new ideas, he thought about those days in the kibbutz when his coworkers asked about the Kansas cattle drives. Maybe that type of farflung interest could translate into a fundraising opportunity.

The result is a genuine Flint Hills cattle drive that is being held on May 29, 2004 as a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters. There are really two parts to this event. The first is the cattle drive, in which 300 cow-calf pairs will be driven 16 miles across the scenic Flint Hills. Riders will pay a fee and bring a horse to ride. The Downey Ranch and the Crenshaw’s own Shamrock Angus Farms will host the event, and commercial sponsorships are also available. The second part of the event is youth activities which will be held during the day. These include hiking, horses, fishing, hay rack ride and a campfire meal.

Roy says, "This is a chance for these kids to have fun and experience some positive adult interaction." For more information, all 785-776-9575.

It’s time to leave this kibbutz in Israel, where their questions about cowboys would plant a seed which would become an idea to raise funds for kids in Kansas. We commend Roy Crenshaw and Big Brothers Big Sisters for making a difference in kids’ lives. As the writer Jim Suber says, it can help kids find a greener pasture.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Rebounding. It’s one of the important fundamental skills of basketball. Today, we’ll discuss rebounding in two different ways: One, we’ll meet a rural-based company which provides products to help basketball players improve their skills; and secondly, we’ll find that this company is on the rebound itself. So lace up your sneakers for a home-grown basketball edition of Kansas Profile.

Meet Tom Mahoney of Dorrance in west central Kansas. His roots go deep in Kansas basketball. Tom’s father Ken and uncle Elmo were standout high school basketball players at Dorrance. Ken went on to play for K-State on the 1951 team that went to the national championship game. The assistant coach on that team was Tex Winter. Tex, of course, went on to coach K-State to eight conference championships and is still in the NBA.

Tex stayed in touch with his former players. In the 1960s, he told Ken Mahoney that he needed a device to bounce the ball back to his players when the player was working on individual skills. Ken set out to build such a device on his farm.

Ken took some metal tubing and an old volleyball net and cut up some inner tubes for rubber strips. Then he built a stand with a metal frame and net on it which could bounce the ball back to the player.

Tom Mahoney says of that first prototype, "It was a failure. Us kids used it for a trampoline."

But Ken refined the product until it worked perfectly. Tex Winter really liked the product, so Ken built some more. The Mahoneys formed a business to produce and sell these devices, which were called tossbacks.

They set up shop in an old car dealership in Dorrance. They expanded their business to produce breakaway rims so that backboards wouldn’t shatter when players dunked the ball. Then they made ball returns for baseball and soccer, plus women’s volleyball equipment.

Tom Mahoney grew up in this business and also went to K-State. He went to every one of the 23 NBA sites to install their basketball rims and backboards. The Mahoneys were in regular contact with people like Phog Allen, Bill Walton, and Pete Maravich. Wow.

By the mid-1980s, this had become a million dollar business, selling thousands of pieces of equipment around the country. Unfortunately, the `80s were also a time when lots of banks failed. One of those was holding the note which financed the Mahoney’s business.

When the FDIC intervened, Ken Mahoney sold the business to settle the debt. The new owner in St. Louis eventually closed the business and took the assets, although Ken retained title to the building.

But Tom Mahoney still had ideas from his father’s business in the back of his mind. It was time for a rebound. In 1993, Tom and his wife Heddy reopened such a business in the same facility. It was named Pro-Bound Sports.

Tom had also become a pilot. He flew for UPS and TWA while re-growing the business. Now Pro-Bound Sports sells a line of sports equipment all over the world. They are selling the modern version of the tossback and breakaway rims, plus more.

Tom Mahoney says, "What they did with hammer and anvil, we’re doing with a plasma torch and powder oven." Tom’s new and improved breakaway rim is impressive. Most such rims last 15 to 20,000 cycles. Tom’s has been tested to 100,000 cycles.

Pro-Bound has expanded their line to include scorer’s tables, roll-in baskets, bleachers, ball storage carts, and other equipment. These products are going to such places as Spokane and Saudi Arabia, but the company is still based in Dorrance, Kansas, population 183 people. Now, that’s rural.

For more information, their website is www.proboundsports.com.

Rebounding. It is a fundamental skill in basketball, but also in life. We commend Ken and Tom and Heddy Mahoney for making a difference through innovation, hard work, and the resiliency to overcome challenges and rebuild a business. It’s a great example of learning how to bounce back.

Kansas Profile is produced with assistance from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils of Kansas. For the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, this is Ron Wilson with Kansas Profile.

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OZ Museum

This is Kansas Profile. I'm Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Today let’s take a trip over the rainbow to the fanciful world of Oz. Fortunately, no tornado is required. A wonderful new museum about the land of Oz has been created in rural Kansas. So click your heels together - this is an Oz-some edition of Kansas Profile.

Meet Jim Ginavan, curator of the OZ Museum in Wamego, Kansas. Jim tells about a Wamego native named Tod Machin, who - like many of us - became fascinated with the Wizard of Oz as a child. Tod’s family and friends bought him souvenirs and gifts with an Oz theme, and he began to collect them. This would grow into one of the largest private collections of Oz memorabilia in the world.

In 1995, the Columbian Theatre in Wamego featured Tod’s collection as a temporary exhibit in the art gallery. Thousands of people came to the display, and it made Wamego leaders think that this could be a permanent attraction. After a lot of work on design and fundraising, the OZ Museum opened in downtown Wamego in April 2004.

The museum features many of Tod Machin’s collectibles, including more than 2,000 pieces. This includes everything from toys to dolls to games to books to records, all related to Oz.

Of course, this is based on the classic book The Wizard of Oz, which L. Frank Baum published in 1900. In fact, an original 1900 first edition is on display. Much of the museum’s contents revolve around the 1939 movie version, which generations have come to love.

The museum is great fun to visit. You enter at Dorothy’s farmhouse. The family name is on the mailbox and old workboots are on the porch - and the tornado is to your right. Everything is painted in the sepia colors of the movie.

But upon entering the farmhouse, one is suddenly transported to a colorful Munchkinland. You are g