By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher We are in the heart of what has been termed the “silly season of politics.” I know that for many of us voter fatigue has set in, and I have good news and bad news on that front. The good news is that in about a week or less it will all be over. The bad news is that the next cycle is a presidential election, so you have about six months before that gets cranked up. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of campaign ads and fliers turns many of us off or makes us numb to the candidates. I get that but you must fight through the urge to ignore all of it and tune it out. This is one of the most critical elections that we as an ag community have faced and this is a call for all hands on deck. It is true that all votes count but when it comes to agriculture that statement has never been truer. Candidates who support agriculture need your vote. Kansas is becoming increasingly urban and because of that voters in those areas are farther and farther away from agriculture. We are a democracy where the majority rules. Soon we could find ourselves having less of a voice over who represents us and, more importantly, what legislation gets passed. We know laws made in Topeka and Washington D.C. can have huge impacts on how we run our farms and ranches. It is important that we elect representatives that will have our best interests in mind and who understand our business. That is why the work Voters Organized To Elect Farm Bureau Friends does is so important. They take the opinions from the grassroots level and develop a list of candidates who are friendly to agriculture and will keep our best interests in mind. That work is not done in a couple of days but rather in a painstaking process, making sure that all voices are heard. However, that great work doesn’t mean anything if we don’t get out and vote for those candidates. While I would like you to vote for the people on that list, and I ask that you take the time to look at it, I just want you to exercise your right to vote. Historically those of us in rural areas have gotten out at higher levels than our urban counterparts, and that amplifies our voice. Lately, that has not been the case and is a trend we need to reverse. If you are really tired of the noise around the election, go vote now. Advanced voting is open, check with your county clerk to find out how. Then it is done and no matter what happens, your voice is heard. If you are like me and a traditionalist, make sure you get out and vote on Nov. 8. Every vote counts and every vote matters. We have seen it time and time again, even right here in Kansas. Please, look at the list of VOTE FBF endorsed candidates before you make your decision. I cannot stress just how important your vote is. It’s our chance to be a voice for Kansas.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Brunkow" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Brunkow</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher We are in the heart of what has been termed the “silly season of politics.” I know that for many of us voter fatigue has set in, and I have good news and bad news on that front. The good news is that in about a week or less it will all be over. The bad news is that the next cycle is a presidential election, so you have about six months before that gets cranked up. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of campaign ads and fliers turns many of us off or makes us numb to the candidates. I get that but you must fight through the urge to ignore all of it and tune it out. This is one of the most critical elections that we as an ag community have faced and this is a call for all hands on deck. It is true that all votes count but when it comes to agriculture that statement has never been truer. Candidates who support agriculture need your vote. Kansas is becoming increasingly urban and because of that voters in those areas are farther and farther away from agriculture. We are a democracy where the majority rules. Soon we could find ourselves having less of a voice over who represents us and, more importantly, what legislation gets passed. We know laws made in Topeka and Washington D.C. can have huge impacts on how we run our farms and ranches. It is important that we elect representatives that will have our best interests in mind and who understand our business. That is why the work Voters Organized To Elect Farm Bureau Friends does is so important. They take the opinions from the grassroots level and develop a list of candidates who are friendly to agriculture and will keep our best interests in mind. That work is not done in a couple of days but rather in a painstaking process, making sure that all voices are heard. However, that great work doesn’t mean anything if we don’t get out and vote for those candidates. While I would like you to vote for the people on that list, and I ask that you take the time to look at it, I just want you to exercise your right to vote. Historically those of us in rural areas have gotten out at higher levels than our urban counterparts, and that amplifies our voice. Lately, that has not been the case and is a trend we need to reverse. If you are really tired of the noise around the election, go vote now. Advanced voting is open, check with your county clerk to find out how. Then it is done and no matter what happens, your voice is heard. If you are like me and a traditionalist, make sure you get out and vote on Nov. 8. Every vote counts and every vote matters. We have seen it time and time again, even right here in Kansas. Please, look at the list of VOTE FBF endorsed candidates before you make your decision. I cannot stress just how important your vote is. It’s our chance to be a voice for Kansas."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Be a voice for Kansas

Voters in Northeast Kansas will soon decide the shape of the Kansas State Board of Education for the next two years. Candidates chosen by statewide primaries in August have set the stage for a general election that may alter the way KSDE has operated for, at least, the past 10 years and impact all Kansas schools.

The current board consists of four Democrats and six Republicans, but the atmosphere on the board has been bipartisan. Members’ party affiliations are not listed on the board’s Website. Meetings are facilitated by a KSDE civilian workforce.

Ten districts make up the KSDE board with five members elected every two years for four-year terms. Of the five open seats (Districts 1,3,5,7 and 9) redistricting after the 2020 census, left Democrat Janet Waugh without a district to represent and out of the race for District 1, while Republican incumbent Michelle Dombrosky in District 3 did not draw an opponent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The August primary then became a battle among Republican candidates. One moderate Republican and two conservatives emerged winners.&nbsp;

In District 5, Republican incumbent Jean Clifford lost to Cathy Hopkins of Hays.&nbsp;Hopkins told the Fort Hays State Tiger Media Network, “We need engaged citizens. This top-down approach has been ongoing for a long time and many believe a shift must occur to see real change.” &nbsp;Hopkins will run unopposed having no Democrat opponent in the November election.

In District 7, Republican incumbent Ben Jones lost to conservative Dennis Hershberger. Hershberber’s Website says he believes getting back to basics will help every child achieve. Hershberger has no Democrat opponent and will run unopposed in the November election.&nbsp;

In District 9, incumbent and board chair, Jim Porter of Fredonia has spent more than 47 years in education serving as a superintendent for 34 years. Porter beat conservative Luke Aichele and has no Democrat opponent in the upcoming election.&nbsp;

Therefore the three Republican primary winners are presumptive election winners.

Two board seats remain contested. In District 3, conservative Republican Michelle Dombrosky, will face Democrat Sheila Albers, a retired educator from Overland Park.&nbsp;

In District 1, Democrat Jeffrey Howards, a Marine veteran and 20-year civilian military educator, will face conservative Republican Danny Zeck who operated a Ford dealership for 30 years. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported recently that Zeck asked the Leavenworth Board of Education to ban a novel about gender and sexuality.&nbsp;

Since KSDE determines policies that carry out state education laws, the outcome of the November election will impact each school in the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;If both Democrats with their elections the board will be balanced with five Democrats and five Republicans, and it’s possible that the board’s former bipartisan decision-making will continue.&nbsp; If only one Democrat or no Democrat wins, the board will be divided with new members bringing a broad conservative agenda to the table.&nbsp;

No one can predict the election outcome or the impact of this election on board policies but it seems likely the result may be more of an earthquake than a tremor.&nbsp;

Voters in Districts 1 and 3 should consider the state board election as important as the governor’s race this Nov. 8.&nbsp; Moreover, all Kansans should be concerned because a lot is riding on this election for students and teachers.&nbsp;

Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593719779701.jpeg" alt="Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education." />
 <figcaption>Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.</figcaption>
 </figure>Voters in Northeast Kansas will soon decide the shape of the Kansas State Board of Education for the next two years. Candidates chosen by statewide primaries in August have set the stage for a general election that may alter the way KSDE has operated for, at least, the past 10 years and impact all Kansas schools.The current board consists of four Democrats and six Republicans, but the atmosphere on the board has been bipartisan. Members’ party affiliations are not listed on the board’s Website. Meetings are facilitated by a KSDE civilian workforce.Ten districts make up the KSDE board with five members elected every two years for four-year terms. Of the five open seats (Districts 1,3,5,7 and 9) redistricting after the 2020 census, left Democrat Janet Waugh without a district to represent and out of the race for District 1, while Republican incumbent Michelle Dombrosky in District 3 did not draw an opponent.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The August primary then became a battle among Republican candidates. One moderate Republican and two conservatives emerged winners.&nbsp;In District 5, Republican incumbent Jean Clifford lost to Cathy Hopkins of Hays.&nbsp;Hopkins told the Fort Hays State Tiger Media Network, “We need engaged citizens. This top-down approach has been ongoing for a long time and many believe a shift must occur to see real change.” &nbsp;Hopkins will run unopposed having no Democrat opponent in the November election.In District 7, Republican incumbent Ben Jones lost to conservative Dennis Hershberger. Hershberber’s Website says he believes getting back to basics will help every child achieve. Hershberger has no Democrat opponent and will run unopposed in the November election.&nbsp;In District 9, incumbent and board chair, Jim Porter of Fredonia has spent more than 47 years in education serving as a superintendent for 34 years. Porter beat conservative Luke Aichele and has no Democrat opponent in the upcoming election.&nbsp;Therefore the three Republican primary winners are presumptive election winners.Two board seats remain contested. In District 3, conservative Republican Michelle Dombrosky, will face Democrat Sheila Albers, a retired educator from Overland Park.&nbsp;In District 1, Democrat Jeffrey Howards, a Marine veteran and 20-year civilian military educator, will face conservative Republican Danny Zeck who operated a Ford dealership for 30 years. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported recently that Zeck asked the Leavenworth Board of Education to ban a novel about gender and sexuality.&nbsp;Since KSDE determines policies that carry out state education laws, the outcome of the November election will impact each school in the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If both Democrats with their elections the board will be balanced with five Democrats and five Republicans, and it’s possible that the board’s former bipartisan decision-making will continue.&nbsp; If only one Democrat or no Democrat wins, the board will be divided with new members bringing a broad conservative agenda to the table.&nbsp;No one can predict the election outcome or the impact of this election on board policies but it seems likely the result may be more of an earthquake than a tremor.&nbsp;Voters in Districts 1 and 3 should consider the state board election as important as the governor’s race this Nov. 8.&nbsp; Moreover, all Kansans should be concerned because a lot is riding on this election for students and teachers.&nbsp;Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Down-ballot races could shift education agenda

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau I recently had to fire up the furnace for the first time this season. As painful as it was to switch the thermostat from the off position to heat, Mother Nature forced my hand with a hard freeze about two weeks early. In my mind there’s nothing better than waking up in a chilly house. On the flip side, there’s nothing worse than being awoken by a freezing house. The acorns falling on my roof for the past few weeks were one of the first signals this day was coming. Despite the drought, the oak tree north of my house has had a productive year. We’ve endured what can best be described as an intermittent hailstorm since late August. The seeds land with a thud before rolling into the gutter. Some of the larger acorns get a significant enough bounce off the hipped roof to make it to the patio, which adds an extra bit of excitement to each step once the little ovals are covered by leaves. The leaves and acorns will require some extra work over the coming weeks to remove. Like switching on the heat, raking leaves, disconnecting hoses and cleaning gutters are just some of the season’s many routines. In a couple of weeks my wife and I will participate in what’s become another fall tradition, voting early. Like any good idiosyncratic custom, this habit developed accidentally rather than on purpose. We’ll go out to breakfast on the Saturday before Election Day. On our way home we’ll stop by the county annex building to cast our ballots. I don’t remember exactly how this particular routine got started, but it ranks high on the list for why fall is my favorite season. Even if I’m not fully satisfied with the slate of candidates, I get to talk over the choices with my wife at our favorite breakfast place. Of course, voting early does involve a little risk. There’s always the chance of late-breaking news happening in the hours between Saturday morning and Tuesday evening that would change my vote in a particular race. I think the odds of that happening are up there with delaying my vote, getting busy on the second Tuesday of November and not voting, only to see a race end in a tie all because I didn’t cast my ballot. Both are plausible if highly unlikely scenarios. After voting, we’ll likely spend the rest of the day working outside, picking up acorns that have bounced off the roof and raking leaves into giant piles. At least one of us will probably try to watch a little football and possibly sneak in an afternoon nap. In some ways, elections are the easiest way we control our own governance. The hard work comes later, when you have to ensure winning candidates stick to their campaign promises if you voted for them. Tougher still is convincing someone you didn’t vote for to reconsider their position. That work will come in a different season. Whether you’re starting a tradition or sticking to an old routine, fall is voting season. I encourage you to make the most of it and cast your ballot anytime between now and Nov. 8.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau I recently had to fire up the furnace for the first time this season. As painful as it was to switch the thermostat from the off position to heat, Mother Nature forced my hand with a hard freeze about two weeks early. In my mind there’s nothing better than waking up in a chilly house. On the flip side, there’s nothing worse than being awoken by a freezing house. The acorns falling on my roof for the past few weeks were one of the first signals this day was coming. Despite the drought, the oak tree north of my house has had a productive year. We’ve endured what can best be described as an intermittent hailstorm since late August. The seeds land with a thud before rolling into the gutter. Some of the larger acorns get a significant enough bounce off the hipped roof to make it to the patio, which adds an extra bit of excitement to each step once the little ovals are covered by leaves. The leaves and acorns will require some extra work over the coming weeks to remove. Like switching on the heat, raking leaves, disconnecting hoses and cleaning gutters are just some of the season’s many routines. In a couple of weeks my wife and I will participate in what’s become another fall tradition, voting early. Like any good idiosyncratic custom, this habit developed accidentally rather than on purpose. We’ll go out to breakfast on the Saturday before Election Day. On our way home we’ll stop by the county annex building to cast our ballots. I don’t remember exactly how this particular routine got started, but it ranks high on the list for why fall is my favorite season. Even if I’m not fully satisfied with the slate of candidates, I get to talk over the choices with my wife at our favorite breakfast place. Of course, voting early does involve a little risk. There’s always the chance of late-breaking news happening in the hours between Saturday morning and Tuesday evening that would change my vote in a particular race. I think the odds of that happening are up there with delaying my vote, getting busy on the second Tuesday of November and not voting, only to see a race end in a tie all because I didn’t cast my ballot. Both are plausible if highly unlikely scenarios. After voting, we’ll likely spend the rest of the day working outside, picking up acorns that have bounced off the roof and raking leaves into giant piles. At least one of us will probably try to watch a little football and possibly sneak in an afternoon nap. In some ways, elections are the easiest way we control our own governance. The hard work comes later, when you have to ensure winning candidates stick to their campaign promises if you voted for them. Tougher still is convincing someone you didn’t vote for to reconsider their position. That work will come in a different season. Whether you’re starting a tradition or sticking to an old routine, fall is voting season. I encourage you to make the most of it and cast your ballot anytime between now and Nov. 8."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Routines of fall

Abortion rights may not be on the ballot, but&nbsp;they&nbsp;will undoubtedly&nbsp;influence&nbsp;the&nbsp;November&nbsp;election.&nbsp;

You’ve probably heard a lot of people try to&nbsp;extrapolate&nbsp;from&nbsp;the August 2nd&nbsp;results to forecast&nbsp;what will happen on November 8th.&nbsp;

Doing so is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

November is a different election with different&nbsp;motivations&nbsp;for voter turnout. The question of abortion rights is not on the ballot for a direct democratic vote the way it was in August.

Between 20 and 30 percent of “No” voters in August were registered Republicans.&nbsp;On the issue of abortion alone, those Republicans voted that it should remain&nbsp;legal,&nbsp;but this issue isn’t a priority for many Republicans when there are other issues at play&nbsp;in the election.

In national polling, abortion is battling with inflation as the top political issue of the midterms.

In the polls, Republicans are more likely to say inflation is the most important issue, while Democrats and independents&nbsp;still seem to be mostly&nbsp;mobilized by&nbsp;abortion rights.

So, if the August results can’t tell us who will win the general election, what can they tell us?

Turnout is likely to remain higher than previous midterm elections and it is likely due to increased turnout among specific demographics of voters.

Women, especially young women, had a massive surge in turnout in August.

In the months leading up to the election, women made up&nbsp;a majority of&nbsp;first-time registered voters. Also, the number of women registering to vote increased about 35 percent over the summer&nbsp;compared to previous years. There was only a 9 percent increase among men.

Furthermore, women cast&nbsp;56 percent of all votes on the amendment.&nbsp;The&nbsp;12 point&nbsp;gender gap in turnout&nbsp;was&nbsp;larger than any recent election and more than double the 2018 gender gap.

Additionally,&nbsp;21 percent of all voters in August were young people — those under the age of 35. In the 2018 primary, only 14% of ballots were cast by this same age group.

Turnout among Latino voters was also higher than&nbsp;in&nbsp;any other midterm election. In fact, it was higher turnout than we’ve ever seen from Latino voters&nbsp;with the exception of&nbsp;the 2020 presidential election.

Now that these&nbsp;citizens have voted, many of them for the first time, they’re more likely to vote again in the future because with each election they become more familiar with the voting process.&nbsp;Familiarity&nbsp;makes it&nbsp;easier&nbsp;for voters&nbsp;to navigate an increasingly complex system.

In general, these turnout&nbsp;trends are good news&nbsp;for the Democratic Party, which&nbsp;holds&nbsp;a majority of&nbsp;women, young people, and Latino voters within its coalition.&nbsp;But it’s far from a guaranteed victory for any of the statewide Democrats on the ballot.

We will likely once again see elevated turnout from the most ardent pro-life voters. While abortion is not on the ballot, the six judicial retention elections could dramatically alter the makeup of the Kansas Supreme Court — the very court that made the decision, in&nbsp;Hodes and&nbsp;Nauser&nbsp;v. Kansas, that abortion rights are protected by the state constitution.&nbsp;

Pro-life&nbsp;activists&nbsp;are certainly motivated&nbsp;to mobilize&nbsp;their&nbsp;voters&nbsp;against retaining these justices. A new slate of justices could potentially overturn the decision on the&nbsp;Hodes&nbsp;case if they were politically inclined to do so.&nbsp;

There’s a lot we don’t know about what will happen in November. Many statewide races are too close to call. And analyzing the August 2nd&nbsp;results can set some general expectations, but it can’t give us the answers.

The results of the November 8th&nbsp;election are between Kansas voters and the ballot box.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.</figcaption>
 </figure>Abortion rights may not be on the ballot, but&nbsp;they&nbsp;will undoubtedly&nbsp;influence&nbsp;the&nbsp;November&nbsp;election.&nbsp;You’ve probably heard a lot of people try to&nbsp;extrapolate&nbsp;from&nbsp;the August 2nd&nbsp;results to forecast&nbsp;what will happen on November 8th.&nbsp;Doing so is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.November is a different election with different&nbsp;motivations&nbsp;for voter turnout. The question of abortion rights is not on the ballot for a direct democratic vote the way it was in August.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Between 20 and 30 percent of “No” voters in August were registered Republicans.&nbsp;On the issue of abortion alone, those Republicans voted that it should remain&nbsp;legal,&nbsp;but this issue isn’t a priority for many Republicans when there are other issues at play&nbsp;in the election.In national polling, abortion is battling with inflation as the top political issue of the midterms.In the polls, Republicans are more likely to say inflation is the most important issue, while Democrats and independents&nbsp;still seem to be mostly&nbsp;mobilized by&nbsp;abortion rights.So, if the August results can’t tell us who will win the general election, what can they tell us?It’s mostly about voter turnout.Turnout is likely to remain higher than previous midterm elections and it is likely due to increased turnout among specific demographics of voters.Women, especially young women, had a massive surge in turnout in August.In the months leading up to the election, women made up&nbsp;a majority of&nbsp;first-time registered voters. Also, the number of women registering to vote increased about 35 percent over the summer&nbsp;compared to previous years. There was only a 9 percent increase among men.Furthermore, women cast&nbsp;56 percent of all votes on the amendment.&nbsp;The&nbsp;12 point&nbsp;gender gap in turnout&nbsp;was&nbsp;larger than any recent election and more than double the 2018 gender gap.Additionally,&nbsp;21 percent of all voters in August were young people — those under the age of 35. In the 2018 primary, only 14% of ballots were cast by this same age group.Turnout among Latino voters was also higher than&nbsp;in&nbsp;any other midterm election. In fact, it was higher turnout than we’ve ever seen from Latino voters&nbsp;with the exception of&nbsp;the 2020 presidential election.Now that these&nbsp;citizens have voted, many of them for the first time, they’re more likely to vote again in the future because with each election they become more familiar with the voting process.&nbsp;Familiarity&nbsp;makes it&nbsp;easier&nbsp;for voters&nbsp;to navigate an increasingly complex system.In general, these turnout&nbsp;trends are good news&nbsp;for the Democratic Party, which&nbsp;holds&nbsp;a majority of&nbsp;women, young people, and Latino voters within its coalition.&nbsp;But it’s far from a guaranteed victory for any of the statewide Democrats on the ballot.We will likely once again see elevated turnout from the most ardent pro-life voters. While abortion is not on the ballot, the six judicial retention elections could dramatically alter the makeup of the Kansas Supreme Court — the very court that made the decision, in&nbsp;Hodes and&nbsp;Nauser&nbsp;v. Kansas, that abortion rights are protected by the state constitution.&nbsp;Pro-life&nbsp;activists&nbsp;are certainly motivated&nbsp;to mobilize&nbsp;their&nbsp;voters&nbsp;against retaining these justices. A new slate of justices could potentially overturn the decision on the&nbsp;Hodes&nbsp;case if they were politically inclined to do so.&nbsp;There’s a lot we don’t know about what will happen in November. Many statewide races are too close to call. And analyzing the August 2nd&nbsp;results can set some general expectations, but it can’t give us the answers.The results of the November 8th&nbsp;election are between Kansas voters and the ballot box.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD&nbsp;is an Assistant&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at&nbsp;Wichita State&nbsp;University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Lessons learned from Aug. 2 voter turnout

By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher This week in the grocery store, I was delighted to see the first fresh cranberries of the season. I bought a bag and will make cranberry bread with it soon. It might seem odd in Kansas but, for me, those cranberries are one of the surest signs of fall and a reminder of home. Where I grew up, cranberries are a big deal. My parents live in the Wisconsin county with the highest number of acres in cranberry production in the U.S., most of their neighbors grow them, and I even took cranberry science in high school. I love sharing fun facts about cranberries like they do not grow in water. The image you may be thinking of where people are in hip waders with water past their knees is actually during cranberry harvest. Since cranberries are buoyant, the beds where they grow are flooded to make removing berries from the vines with a beater and then collection at one end of the bed easier. Cranberry growers also use water to protect their crop. Harvest is typically from the end of September through October, when the nights are getting cold enough that the berries are at risk of frost damage. &nbsp;Growers have alarm systems to alert them of dangerous temperatures. When the alarms sound, they start their irrigation systems to coat the berries in water. As the water freezes a process called heat of fusion occurs and enough heat is given off to protect the crop. The cold is a necessary part of the fruit’s development as lower temperatures contribute to deepening the berry’s red color, which can bring a premium on the crop. There is something inspirational about the fact that the closer cranberries come to being destroyed, the more they increase in value. There are actually lots of plant equivalents to the saying “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” Drought stressed wheat will have higher protein content. Giant Sequoia seeds can only germinate after a fire. Adversity is sometimes the most effective way for us to gain the character that we need to succeed in life. One particular memory from my childhood comes to my mind when I think about failure pushing us to be our best. When I was 11, I took tractor safety to get my permit so I could drive on public roads. Since I was a relatively inexperienced driver, my dad spent time with me practicing all the components of the test. My dad tried to be patient but to the delight of my older brothers, I was a natural at all the wrong moves, and I am sure my dad was embarrassed. Within the first 30 seconds of the test, I ran over a pole on the course, which gave me enough points that one more mistake would cause me to fail the test. However, I was determined to pass the test and prove to my brothers I could do it. I took a few breaths and proceeded through the course with as much skill and focus as an 11-year-old could muster. I didn’t make another mistake for the remainder of the test and received my certificate. That same lesson has repeated itself through my life dozens of times when I was on the verge of failure. In those moments, I learned important lessons in life and how capable I really am. We all could benefit from acting more like cranberries by realizing that the closer you get to failure, the bigger the reward will be.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher This week in the grocery store, I was delighted to see the first fresh cranberries of the season. I bought a bag and will make cranberry bread with it soon. It might seem odd in Kansas but, for me, those cranberries are one of the surest signs of fall and a reminder of home. Where I grew up, cranberries are a big deal. My parents live in the Wisconsin county with the highest number of acres in cranberry production in the U.S., most of their neighbors grow them, and I even took cranberry science in high school. I love sharing fun facts about cranberries like they do not grow in water. The image you may be thinking of where people are in hip waders with water past their knees is actually during cranberry harvest. Since cranberries are buoyant, the beds where they grow are flooded to make removing berries from the vines with a beater and then collection at one end of the bed easier. Cranberry growers also use water to protect their crop. Harvest is typically from the end of September through October, when the nights are getting cold enough that the berries are at risk of frost damage. &nbsp;Growers have alarm systems to alert them of dangerous temperatures. When the alarms sound, they start their irrigation systems to coat the berries in water. As the water freezes a process called heat of fusion occurs and enough heat is given off to protect the crop. The cold is a necessary part of the fruit’s development as lower temperatures contribute to deepening the berry’s red color, which can bring a premium on the crop. There is something inspirational about the fact that the closer cranberries come to being destroyed, the more they increase in value. There are actually lots of plant equivalents to the saying “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” Drought stressed wheat will have higher protein content. Giant Sequoia seeds can only germinate after a fire. Adversity is sometimes the most effective way for us to gain the character that we need to succeed in life. One particular memory from my childhood comes to my mind when I think about failure pushing us to be our best. When I was 11, I took tractor safety to get my permit so I could drive on public roads. Since I was a relatively inexperienced driver, my dad spent time with me practicing all the components of the test. My dad tried to be patient but to the delight of my older brothers, I was a natural at all the wrong moves, and I am sure my dad was embarrassed. Within the first 30 seconds of the test, I ran over a pole on the course, which gave me enough points that one more mistake would cause me to fail the test. However, I was determined to pass the test and prove to my brothers I could do it. I took a few breaths and proceeded through the course with as much skill and focus as an 11-year-old could muster. I didn’t make another mistake for the remainder of the test and received my certificate. That same lesson has repeated itself through my life dozens of times when I was on the verge of failure. In those moments, I learned important lessons in life and how capable I really am. We all could benefit from acting more like cranberries by realizing that the closer you get to failure, the bigger the reward will be."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Acting like cranberries

A look at the annual Wild Game Feed at Cedar Bluff

Twenty-nine years ago,&nbsp;two of my husband’s hunting buddies hatched an&nbsp;idea to make room in their wild game freezers as hunting seasons&nbsp;peaked&nbsp;and enjoy family and friends&nbsp;at the same time. They called&nbsp;their brainstorm&nbsp;the Wild Game Feed and invited guests to bring wild game or side dishes to one of the cabins at Cedar Bluff on an early October Saturday. Thus began a tradition all of us look forward to every year.

Over three decades,&nbsp;some things stay the same and some change.&nbsp;We’ve said farewell to loved ones, so current game feeds offer opportunities to remember those who’ve passed and how much they loved these gatherings. To balance the losses, our kids have grown up, married, and now bring their&nbsp;spouses and&nbsp;youngsters&nbsp;who&nbsp;play&nbsp;the same made-up games their parents did as children. This year littles, some&nbsp;still in momma’s arms&nbsp;and others&nbsp;big enough to join dads and grandpas in deer stands,&nbsp;kept us on our toes watching them&nbsp;chase one another through tall grass.

The core group may have&nbsp;wrinkled and&nbsp;grayed, but their conversations still focus on the thing that brought them together in the first place—Kansas outdoors. Hunting, fishing, camping, boating, birding, metal detecting, gardening, and ranching&nbsp;topics&nbsp;weave in and out of conversations.&nbsp;Sit back,&nbsp;listen,&nbsp;and learn about reloading, choosing better camo&nbsp;and boots, preferred arrows and bows, the best bait to use at a particular fishing spot, where to see sandhill cranes or eagles, gardening techniques, who got a new metal detector and what they’re finding, and who’s the best jokester in the group.&nbsp;As stories follow one after another,&nbsp;worn out&nbsp;kids and grandkids pop onto soft&nbsp;laps&nbsp;while other&nbsp;zip&nbsp;by&nbsp;to&nbsp;remind us how glad we are that they&nbsp;happily play&nbsp;outdoors and make&nbsp;new friends.

Since it’s a wild game feed,&nbsp;methods&nbsp;to cook deer, elk, antelope, rabbit, turtle, snake, turkey, pheasant, duck, goose, dove, quail,&nbsp;and other&nbsp;critters&nbsp;turn into animated&nbsp;discussions. Over time, the cooks’&nbsp;skills &nbsp;evolved&nbsp;from basic grilling to gourmet dishes&nbsp;involving pasta, sun dried tomatoes, and fresh sage. I’ve never been fond of duck, but one of the original members has perfected his preparation and cooking&nbsp;so&nbsp;that his duck kebabs disappear as fast as he makes them. He’s also tweaked a twice baked deer steak that&nbsp;vanishes the minute he&nbsp;sets&nbsp;the serving dish on the&nbsp;crowded&nbsp;table. If you come late, you miss out. He’s secretive about his recipes but makes it clear preparing the game prior to cooking is&nbsp;key&nbsp;to his success. Several favorite cooks have mastered marinades that make&nbsp;spectacular&nbsp;dishes. A few years ago, a&nbsp;culinary magazine&nbsp;writer joined the festivities and put together an article&nbsp;featuring&nbsp;the Game Feed.&nbsp;

You can’t have dinner without dessert and this crowd makes sure those are memorable. We expect the best ever cowboy cookies, homemade pies from fresh-picked cherries, huckleberry cheese cake, huckleberry crunch, brownies, chocolate cakes,&nbsp;fruit&nbsp;cobblers, and more. The dessert table is a diabetic’s nightmare.

More than anything, this is a gathering of new and old friends who love the outdoors. They’ve found a way to celebrate their common passion that doesn’t require loved ones to dress in camo and sneak silently into a deer tree or goose blind before morning light. It’s become such a tradition that we leave saying,&nbsp;“See you next year.”&nbsp;Many thanks to Steve and Rick who started this.

Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A look at the annual Wild Game Feed at Cedar Bluff</h2>By KAREN MADORINTwenty-nine years ago,&nbsp;two of my husband’s hunting buddies hatched an&nbsp;idea to make room in their wild game freezers as hunting seasons&nbsp;peaked&nbsp;and enjoy family and friends&nbsp;at the same time. They called&nbsp;their brainstorm&nbsp;the Wild Game Feed and invited guests to bring wild game or side dishes to one of the cabins at Cedar Bluff on an early October Saturday. Thus began a tradition all of us look forward to every year.Over three decades,&nbsp;some things stay the same and some change.&nbsp;We’ve said farewell to loved ones, so current game feeds offer opportunities to remember those who’ve passed and how much they loved these gatherings. To balance the losses, our kids have grown up, married, and now bring their&nbsp;spouses and&nbsp;youngsters&nbsp;who&nbsp;play&nbsp;the same made-up games their parents did as children. This year littles, some&nbsp;still in momma’s arms&nbsp;and others&nbsp;big enough to join dads and grandpas in deer stands,&nbsp;kept us on our toes watching them&nbsp;chase one another through tall grass.The core group may have&nbsp;wrinkled and&nbsp;grayed, but their conversations still focus on the thing that brought them together in the first place—Kansas outdoors. Hunting, fishing, camping, boating, birding, metal detecting, gardening, and ranching&nbsp;topics&nbsp;weave in and out of conversations.&nbsp;Sit back,&nbsp;listen,&nbsp;and learn about reloading, choosing better camo&nbsp;and boots, preferred arrows and bows, the best bait to use at a particular fishing spot, where to see sandhill cranes or eagles, gardening techniques, who got a new metal detector and what they’re finding, and who’s the best jokester in the group.&nbsp;As stories follow one after another,&nbsp;worn out&nbsp;kids and grandkids pop onto soft&nbsp;laps&nbsp;while other&nbsp;zip&nbsp;by&nbsp;to&nbsp;remind us how glad we are that they&nbsp;happily play&nbsp;outdoors and make&nbsp;new friends.Since it’s a wild game feed,&nbsp;methods&nbsp;to cook deer, elk, antelope, rabbit, turtle, snake, turkey, pheasant, duck, goose, dove, quail,&nbsp;and other&nbsp;critters&nbsp;turn into animated&nbsp;discussions. Over time, the cooks’&nbsp;skills &nbsp;evolved&nbsp;from basic grilling to gourmet dishes&nbsp;involving pasta, sun dried tomatoes, and fresh sage. I’ve never been fond of duck, but one of the original members has perfected his preparation and cooking&nbsp;so&nbsp;that his duck kebabs disappear as fast as he makes them. He’s also tweaked a twice baked deer steak that&nbsp;vanishes the minute he&nbsp;sets&nbsp;the serving dish on the&nbsp;crowded&nbsp;table. If you come late, you miss out. He’s secretive about his recipes but makes it clear preparing the game prior to cooking is&nbsp;key&nbsp;to his success. Several favorite cooks have mastered marinades that make&nbsp;spectacular&nbsp;dishes. A few years ago, a&nbsp;culinary magazine&nbsp;writer joined the festivities and put together an article&nbsp;featuring&nbsp;the Game Feed.&nbsp;You can’t have dinner without dessert and this crowd makes sure those are memorable. We expect the best ever cowboy cookies, homemade pies from fresh-picked cherries, huckleberry cheese cake, huckleberry crunch, brownies, chocolate cakes,&nbsp;fruit&nbsp;cobblers, and more. The dessert table is a diabetic’s nightmare.More than anything, this is a gathering of new and old friends who love the outdoors. They’ve found a way to celebrate their common passion that doesn’t require loved ones to dress in camo and sneak silently into a deer tree or goose blind before morning light. It’s become such a tradition that we leave saying,&nbsp;“See you next year.”&nbsp;Many thanks to Steve and Rick who started this.Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

MADORIN: A good idea gets better with time

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher The morning air has turned crisp, the temperatures have begun to drop, and the sun noticeably rises a little bit later every morning. It is definitely beginning to feel like fall on the farm. Most evenings are also filled with a layer of dust in the atmosphere stirred up by the steady movement of the combines and tractors in the surrounding fields.&nbsp; While we continue to bring the grain out of the fields during fall harvest, we have also turned our attention to the fields that will soon have green shoots growing. It’s time to start sowing wheat. After missing rain showers practically all summer, we recently received some much-needed moisture. The slow, steady rain provided us assurance that it does, in fact, still rain on occasion.&nbsp; But it also provided our soil with enough moisture to ensure a good start for most of our wheat. The hard red winter wheat we place into the ground every fall has proven time and time again it can handle a lot of extreme weather conditions throughout the year. From arctic blasts in the winter, late freezes and hailstorms in the late spring, we know this crop is hardy.&nbsp; But one thing the wheat absolutely needs to ensure a good start is moisture in the ground. For many months we’ve waited for it to rain. We’ve looked really hard for signs that a rain could be coming.&nbsp; We’ve been teased with chances of precipitation all summer to only see those chances dissipate to nothing within 10-day forecasts.

We’ve prayed for it to rain.&nbsp; And we breathed a sigh of relief and gave thanks when the small rain finally came. It’s amazing how something like a rain shower can completely alter our outlook. It’s as if a rain can wash away any doubt that might have settled in our minds.&nbsp; It’s cleansing and provides the rejuvenation of faith we all need to begin a new season. It encourages us to firmly believe many seeds can and will be produced from one tiny seed planted into the ground. As primarily dryland farmers, a rain shower is life-giving for our present and future crops alike. As we continue to sow the wheat into the soil this month, we know that we’ll need more rain to get to a successful harvest. And while the forecast doesn’t show any chance of precipitation in the near future, we’ll sow anyway.&nbsp; We’ll continue the tasks on the farm this fall and plan for a successful wheat crop this summer — all while patiently waiting on a rain.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher The morning air has turned crisp, the temperatures have begun to drop, and the sun noticeably rises a little bit later every morning. It is definitely beginning to feel like fall on the farm. Most evenings are also filled with a layer of dust in the atmosphere stirred up by the steady movement of the combines and tractors in the surrounding fields.&nbsp; While we continue to bring the grain out of the fields during fall harvest, we have also turned our attention to the fields that will soon have green shoots growing. It’s time to start sowing wheat. After missing rain showers practically all summer, we recently received some much-needed moisture. The slow, steady rain provided us assurance that it does, in fact, still rain on occasion.&nbsp; But it also provided our soil with enough moisture to ensure a good start for most of our wheat. The hard red winter wheat we place into the ground every fall has proven time and time again it can handle a lot of extreme weather conditions throughout the year. From arctic blasts in the winter, late freezes and hailstorms in the late spring, we know this crop is hardy.&nbsp; But one thing the wheat absolutely needs to ensure a good start is moisture in the ground. For many months we’ve waited for it to rain. We’ve looked really hard for signs that a rain could be coming.&nbsp; We’ve been teased with chances of precipitation all summer to only see those chances dissipate to nothing within 10-day forecasts. We’ve prayed for it to rain.&nbsp; And we breathed a sigh of relief and gave thanks when the small rain finally came. It’s amazing how something like a rain shower can completely alter our outlook. It’s as if a rain can wash away any doubt that might have settled in our minds.&nbsp; It’s cleansing and provides the rejuvenation of faith we all need to begin a new season. It encourages us to firmly believe many seeds can and will be produced from one tiny seed planted into the ground. As primarily dryland farmers, a rain shower is life-giving for our present and future crops alike. As we continue to sow the wheat into the soil this month, we know that we’ll need more rain to get to a successful harvest. And while the forecast doesn’t show any chance of precipitation in the near future, we’ll sow anyway.&nbsp; We’ll continue the tasks on the farm this fall and plan for a successful wheat crop this summer — all while patiently waiting on a rain."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Waiting for rain

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher My fellow Kansas Farm Bureau members this is a call to action, a challenge, we need you to go out and vote Nov. 8. I am not going to sugarcoat it, instead I am going to hit this head on. Every one of our members need to get out and vote and your neighbors need to get out and vote — agriculture depends on it. Historically when those of us from farms and ranches and our rural communities have shown up at the ballot box, we have carried the day. But recently we have gotten lax about going to the polls. In 2020, just under 68 percent of voters in the largely rural 1st&nbsp;Congressional District cast ballots. In the compact, urban 3rd&nbsp;District, turnout topped 75 percent of eligible voters. I get it if it is fatigue from all of the haggling or wrangling. I am tired of it too. I don’t care why you might not have voted in the past, I am telling you to get out and vote in this election because it absolutely will matter. Recently we have seen elections turn on just a few votes, elections right here in our own state. Don’t tell me your single vote doesn’t matter because it does. My parents instilled in me the need to get out and vote in every election, and I can proudly say I have never missed the opportunity to cast a ballot. I believe my mother told me that you do not have the option to complain about the government if you did not vote. Rural voters might be a minority in Kansas, but we have proven time and time again that when we go to the polls, we have an impact and often sway the election our way. Am I going to tell you how to vote? No, but if you want my advice and opinion, I would be happy to share it with you. I would urge you to look at the list of candidates endorsed by KFB’s Voters Organized To Elect Farm Bureau Friends (VOTE FBF), our organization’s political action committee. VOTE FBF is a group of Farm Bureau members, elected from all 10 districts who research races, solicit feedback from county Farm Bureaus and endorse candidates friendly to agriculture. You may view endorsements at&nbsp;<a href="https://kfb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45bba928f411d21617c5eadbe&amp;id=727af882cf&amp;e=5bf0f0e5fe">www.kfb.org/votefbf</a>. We need to make sure we elect farm-friendly legislators who will make decisions in the best interest of agriculture. My message is urgent because we have to mobilize the rural vote. We each need to make sure our friends, family and neighbors are registered to vote by Oct. 18. Make sure they know how critical it is for each of us to exercise our right to cast a ballot. I cannot say it strongly enough, if we do not get out and vote, important decisions that affect our way of life will be made by voters who do not understand how those decisions impact us. So, do your homework, look at the list of Vote FBF endorsed candidates and make sure you get to the polls on Nov. 8. If you can’t make it in person, you still have the opportunity to cast a mail ballot or go to the courthouse and cast an absentee ballot. There are no excuses for not voting, our businesses and livelihoods depend on it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Brunkow" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Brunkow</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher My fellow Kansas Farm Bureau members this is a call to action, a challenge, we need you to go out and vote Nov. 8. I am not going to sugarcoat it, instead I am going to hit this head on. Every one of our members need to get out and vote and your neighbors need to get out and vote — agriculture depends on it. Historically when those of us from farms and ranches and our rural communities have shown up at the ballot box, we have carried the day. But recently we have gotten lax about going to the polls. In 2020, just under 68 percent of voters in the largely rural 1st&nbsp;Congressional District cast ballots. In the compact, urban 3rd&nbsp;District, turnout topped 75 percent of eligible voters. I get it if it is fatigue from all of the haggling or wrangling. I am tired of it too. I don’t care why you might not have voted in the past, I am telling you to get out and vote in this election because it absolutely will matter. Recently we have seen elections turn on just a few votes, elections right here in our own state. Don’t tell me your single vote doesn’t matter because it does. My parents instilled in me the need to get out and vote in every election, and I can proudly say I have never missed the opportunity to cast a ballot. I believe my mother told me that you do not have the option to complain about the government if you did not vote. Rural voters might be a minority in Kansas, but we have proven time and time again that when we go to the polls, we have an impact and often sway the election our way. Am I going to tell you how to vote? No, but if you want my advice and opinion, I would be happy to share it with you. I would urge you to look at the list of candidates endorsed by KFB’s Voters Organized To Elect Farm Bureau Friends (VOTE FBF), our organization’s political action committee. VOTE FBF is a group of Farm Bureau members, elected from all 10 districts who research races, solicit feedback from county Farm Bureaus and endorse candidates friendly to agriculture. You may view endorsements at&nbsp;<a href="https://kfb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45bba928f411d21617c5eadbe&amp;id=727af882cf&amp;e=5bf0f0e5fe">www.kfb.org/votefbf</a>. We need to make sure we elect farm-friendly legislators who will make decisions in the best interest of agriculture. My message is urgent because we have to mobilize the rural vote. We each need to make sure our friends, family and neighbors are registered to vote by Oct. 18. Make sure they know how critical it is for each of us to exercise our right to cast a ballot. I cannot say it strongly enough, if we do not get out and vote, important decisions that affect our way of life will be made by voters who do not understand how those decisions impact us. So, do your homework, look at the list of Vote FBF endorsed candidates and make sure you get to the polls on Nov. 8. If you can’t make it in person, you still have the opportunity to cast a mail ballot or go to the courthouse and cast an absentee ballot. There are no excuses for not voting, our businesses and livelihoods depend on it."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: The rural impact

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau Osage orange trees are still common throughout much of the United States, though not many people appreciate just how much the thorny, dense trees have shaped our country. Before Christopher Columbus’ arrival, Osage orange had a limited range in the Red River basin in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Like the droves of Europeans who followed, the tree eventually spread to all corners of our country, so long as you don’t count Alaska and Hawaii. The thorny, dense trees go by a number of names, including hedge trees, prairie hedge, hedge apple, horse apple, bowwood or yellow wood for the hue of the heartwood. Whatever moniker you choose, the trees were the original barbed wire. After sprouting, the hedge trees were aggressively pruned to promote thick growth that was woven into a living fence considered to be “horse high, bull strong and hog tight." Even after the widespread adoption of barbed wire, wood from the hedge tree is still highly prized for fence posts based on its ability to withstand the elements. Termites and other insects don’t bother the wood. Water doesn’t penetrate the dense grain either. Today, a post made from Osage orange is likely to outlast the strands of barbed wire attached to it. In fact, the posts can be difficult if not impossible to work with if they’re left to season too long after cutting. Hedge posts don’t decay, rather they almost petrify into something between wood and stone. Osage orange’s qualities extend well beyond corralling cattle and other livestock. Its tight grain makes the wood extraordinarily flexible, enough so that a bow made from the tree was worth a horse and blanket in the 1800s. Osage orange also offers the highest heat value of any species when burned as firewood. Osage orange is probably the most popular and widely distributed plant that isn’t a food source for either humans or animals. Its fruit is a softball-sized green ball with folded contours that surround a cluster of seeds. We called them brain blobs growing up because the outer shell consisted of folded contours. They were dense and would make a satisfying sound when flung into a tree trunk. They’ll start falling off trees any day this time of year. Rumor has it the fruits keep all sorts of creepy-crawlies away, from boxelder bugs and crickets to spiders and other pests, especially when placed in basements or near the foundation of a home. Research has yet to find any evidence to support those claims, yet the legends endure. &nbsp;Steel T-posts and pipe braces are gaining favor, but some still prefer to use hedge posts for fencing. Composite compound bows can launch an arrow with a much greater force than the traditional longbow, yet Osage orange bow staves are still readily available. The living fencerows are long gone, but hedge trees planted during the Great Depression as windbreaks still mark the edges of fields. There’s no one quality that has seeded the Osage orange across the countryside, rather versality is its main attribute. From hedge to post or bow to kindling, mankind has found it useful for centuries. While modern materials will eventually win out, they won’t ever have a history quite like hedge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau Osage orange trees are still common throughout much of the United States, though not many people appreciate just how much the thorny, dense trees have shaped our country. Before Christopher Columbus’ arrival, Osage orange had a limited range in the Red River basin in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Like the droves of Europeans who followed, the tree eventually spread to all corners of our country, so long as you don’t count Alaska and Hawaii. The thorny, dense trees go by a number of names, including hedge trees, prairie hedge, hedge apple, horse apple, bowwood or yellow wood for the hue of the heartwood. Whatever moniker you choose, the trees were the original barbed wire. After sprouting, the hedge trees were aggressively pruned to promote thick growth that was woven into a living fence considered to be “horse high, bull strong and hog tight." Even after the widespread adoption of barbed wire, wood from the hedge tree is still highly prized for fence posts based on its ability to withstand the elements. Termites and other insects don’t bother the wood. Water doesn’t penetrate the dense grain either. Today, a post made from Osage orange is likely to outlast the strands of barbed wire attached to it. In fact, the posts can be difficult if not impossible to work with if they’re left to season too long after cutting. Hedge posts don’t decay, rather they almost petrify into something between wood and stone. Osage orange’s qualities extend well beyond corralling cattle and other livestock. Its tight grain makes the wood extraordinarily flexible, enough so that a bow made from the tree was worth a horse and blanket in the 1800s. Osage orange also offers the highest heat value of any species when burned as firewood. Osage orange is probably the most popular and widely distributed plant that isn’t a food source for either humans or animals. Its fruit is a softball-sized green ball with folded contours that surround a cluster of seeds. We called them brain blobs growing up because the outer shell consisted of folded contours. They were dense and would make a satisfying sound when flung into a tree trunk. They’ll start falling off trees any day this time of year. Rumor has it the fruits keep all sorts of creepy-crawlies away, from boxelder bugs and crickets to spiders and other pests, especially when placed in basements or near the foundation of a home. Research has yet to find any evidence to support those claims, yet the legends endure. &nbsp;Steel T-posts and pipe braces are gaining favor, but some still prefer to use hedge posts for fencing. Composite compound bows can launch an arrow with a much greater force than the traditional longbow, yet Osage orange bow staves are still readily available. The living fencerows are long gone, but hedge trees planted during the Great Depression as windbreaks still mark the edges of fields. There’s no one quality that has seeded the Osage orange across the countryside, rather versality is its main attribute. From hedge to post or bow to kindling, mankind has found it useful for centuries. While modern materials will eventually win out, they won’t ever have a history quite like hedge."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: History of hedge

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

Two little goats. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but perhaps it could be the beginning of an entrepreneurial career.&nbsp;

Today we’ll meet a young rural-preneur who is using her two little goats to learn the principles of entrepreneurship for the future.&nbsp;

Kansas Lange is a teenager who won her county’s Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in spring 2022. Kansas and her family live in Garfield, in Pawnee County.&nbsp;

Her father is Charles Lange, a K-State grad and public health veterinarian in Dodge City. While inspecting the packing plant in Dodge, Dr. Lang met one of the workers, Sabrina, who is originally from New Mexico. They married, moved to Garfield, and now have two daughters and a son.&nbsp;

Kansas is the younger daughter. “My grandfather suggested they name me Kansas because that is where they met,” Kansas said.&nbsp;

Kansas became very active in 4-H. “I’m homeschooled, so this is my creative outlet and my opportunity to meet people in the community,” Kansas said.&nbsp;

In addition to showing multiple species of livestock, she enrolled in such projects as shooting sports, woodworking, clothing and textiles, and foods and nutrition.&nbsp;

Kyle Grant is the K-State Research and Extension 4-H agent in Pawnee County.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Kansas has excelled in our Pawnee County shooting sports program,” Grant said. “She also excels at livestock judging, meats judging and skillathon, where she earned the opportunity to go to the national contest in Louisville, Kentucky. She is a good role model for Pawnee County 4-H’ers.”&nbsp;

Kansas learned about the Pawnee County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, sponsored by NetWork Kansas. YEC is a sequence of community-based entrepreneurship competitions for students in grades 6-12, culminating in a state championship.&nbsp;&nbsp;Students present their conceptual or business ideas to judges and compete against others in their age division locally. The top contestants advance to the state finals, held in April at K-State in partnership with the College of Business’ Center for Entrepreneurship and the Kansas Masons.&nbsp;

Erik Pedersen is president and COO of NetWork Kansas. “When you walk into one of these events at a middle school or high school, you see a student standing there with a tabletop display that they’ve created,” he said. “They’re dressed up and talking to a group of adult judges; they’re shaking hands, they’re making eye contact, they’re answering questions about their project or business idea. The life skills that they’re gaining will put them miles ahead of their peers.”&nbsp;

Kansas thought about what project she might enter in this competition. As a teenager, she was experiencing acne on her skin and looking for better skin treatments. “I found a lot of articles that said that goat milk soap could help,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;No big city stores carried such products nearby, but she could raise dairy goats and make soap of her own.&nbsp;

Kansas got two Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats that she milked twice daily, did the research and developed a process for producing scented goat milk soap. It worked so well that she wanted to share the products with others and started selling the product locally. She named her business Two Little Goats.&nbsp;

“My mom has a degree in business, so she could help with the business side, and my dad helped with the science and biology,” Kansas said.&nbsp;

She entered her project in the Pawnee County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. In 2022, she took first place and advanced to state. At the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Ag Growth Summit, Kansas spoke about her project at the entrepreneurship breakout session.&nbsp;

“I especially enjoyed doing the research and thinking on my feet when the judges ask questions,” she said.&nbsp;

She’s a remarkable young woman from the rural community of Garfield, population 151 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

More information about YEC is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.networkkansas.com/ecommunities/youth/youth-entrepreneurship-challenge">available online</a>.&nbsp;

How do we as a state develop and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs?&nbsp;&nbsp;The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is a great step in the right direction. We commend Kansas Lange and all those involved with YEC for making a difference with their ideas and business development.&nbsp;

A big career in business just might begin with two little goats.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663765914789.png" alt="Kansas Lange" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Lange</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;Two little goats. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but perhaps it could be the beginning of an entrepreneurial career.&nbsp;Today we’ll meet a young rural-preneur who is using her two little goats to learn the principles of entrepreneurship for the future.&nbsp;Kansas Lange is a teenager who won her county’s Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in spring 2022. Kansas and her family live in Garfield, in Pawnee County.&nbsp;Her father is Charles Lange, a K-State grad and public health veterinarian in Dodge City. While inspecting the packing plant in Dodge, Dr. Lang met one of the workers, Sabrina, who is originally from New Mexico. They married, moved to Garfield, and now have two daughters and a son.&nbsp;Kansas is the younger daughter. “My grandfather suggested they name me Kansas because that is where they met,” Kansas said.&nbsp;Kansas became very active in 4-H. “I’m homeschooled, so this is my creative outlet and my opportunity to meet people in the community,” Kansas said.&nbsp;In addition to showing multiple species of livestock, she enrolled in such projects as shooting sports, woodworking, clothing and textiles, and foods and nutrition.&nbsp;Kyle Grant is the K-State Research and Extension 4-H agent in Pawnee County.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Kansas has excelled in our Pawnee County shooting sports program,” Grant said. “She also excels at livestock judging, meats judging and skillathon, where she earned the opportunity to go to the national contest in Louisville, Kentucky. She is a good role model for Pawnee County 4-H’ers.”&nbsp;Kansas learned about the Pawnee County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, sponsored by NetWork Kansas. YEC is a sequence of community-based entrepreneurship competitions for students in grades 6-12, culminating in a state championship.&nbsp;&nbsp;Students present their conceptual or business ideas to judges and compete against others in their age division locally. The top contestants advance to the state finals, held in April at K-State in partnership with the College of Business’ Center for Entrepreneurship and the Kansas Masons.&nbsp;Erik Pedersen is president and COO of NetWork Kansas. “When you walk into one of these events at a middle school or high school, you see a student standing there with a tabletop display that they’ve created,” he said. “They’re dressed up and talking to a group of adult judges; they’re shaking hands, they’re making eye contact, they’re answering questions about their project or business idea. The life skills that they’re gaining will put them miles ahead of their peers.”&nbsp;Kansas thought about what project she might enter in this competition. As a teenager, she was experiencing acne on her skin and looking for better skin treatments. “I found a lot of articles that said that goat milk soap could help,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;No big city stores carried such products nearby, but she could raise dairy goats and make soap of her own.&nbsp;Kansas got two Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats that she milked twice daily, did the research and developed a process for producing scented goat milk soap. It worked so well that she wanted to share the products with others and started selling the product locally. She named her business Two Little Goats.&nbsp;“My mom has a degree in business, so she could help with the business side, and my dad helped with the science and biology,” Kansas said.&nbsp;She entered her project in the Pawnee County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. In 2022, she took first place and advanced to state. At the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Ag Growth Summit, Kansas spoke about her project at the entrepreneurship breakout session.&nbsp;“I especially enjoyed doing the research and thinking on my feet when the judges ask questions,” she said.&nbsp;She’s a remarkable young woman from the rural community of Garfield, population 151 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;More information about YEC is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.networkkansas.com/ecommunities/youth/youth-entrepreneurship-challenge">available online</a>.&nbsp;How do we as a state develop and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs?&nbsp;&nbsp;The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is a great step in the right direction. We commend Kansas Lange and all those involved with YEC for making a difference with their ideas and business development.&nbsp;A big career in business just might begin with two little goats.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Kansas Lange, Two Little Goats 

BY JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher Over the past decade or two, farmhouse décor has been an in vogue style of interior design. It makes me chuckle when I think about people who don’t live on a farm trying to create clean and pretty spaces through white wash, distressed paint and vintage hardware. Real farmhouses are rarely as desirable as this style is made out to be. I live in a real farm house and can guarantee my house won’t be featured on HGTV anytime soon. I honestly don’t think there is anything in my house that resembles the farmhouse style. However, the character that inspired designers to want to recreate the functional, no frills feel of country living, can be seen in many places in this old farmhouse. Every house has its own story. Our house’s story began as a kit house made by Sears and Roebuck that was delivered by train and assembled by its owner. We don’t know the exact year the house was delivered but estimate it was likely around the 1920s. The house was built just a few yards from the original homestead, which was still standing until about a decade ago and could fit in our kitchen. I can imagine the excitement and pride that must have been felt when this model was selected. It was a statement of perseverance and success to move from a house that was merely shelter to what was likely the equivalent of a mansion for the time. The trade-off of our house’s cool story is it was built by farmers not professional carpenters. The house is sturdy and functional, even though it has lots of little imperfections that are a product of the original DIYers. The house has seen a lot of lifestyle change in the last century: the installation of indoor plumbing, electrification and the move from wood stoves and chimneys to a furnace and air conditioning. Some of the remnants of these eras can still be seen in things like a few push button light switches or nob and tub lights from the original electrification, which have been preserved as novelties. We have also seen glimpses of the interests and taste of former home owners as we have worked to make the house our own. While tearing out outdated carpeting to take advantage of the original hardwood floors, we found decorative room mats that were in style during the time of construction. Each time we discover a new detail in the house, it’s like the house is telling the story of generations that have lived here before. Though each family who has called this house their home has been unique, they all share some things in common. The kitchen has prepared many meals for families who work the land. The floors have been tracked with mud and dirt more times than they have been clean. The rooms have played host to moments of joy, hope, and love that hopefully outweighed the times of worry and grief. The bay windows provided protection for the extreme Kansas weather that has often been a blessing and a curse. Our house is worn and imperfect because it is a place where life has been lived. Character like that can’t be replicated for a home good store. This house will never be as pretty as homes designed to look like the farmhouse style, and that’s OK with me. I am happy to live in this old farmhouse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>BY JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher Over the past decade or two, farmhouse décor has been an in vogue style of interior design. It makes me chuckle when I think about people who don’t live on a farm trying to create clean and pretty spaces through white wash, distressed paint and vintage hardware. Real farmhouses are rarely as desirable as this style is made out to be. I live in a real farm house and can guarantee my house won’t be featured on HGTV anytime soon. I honestly don’t think there is anything in my house that resembles the farmhouse style. However, the character that inspired designers to want to recreate the functional, no frills feel of country living, can be seen in many places in this old farmhouse. Every house has its own story. Our house’s story began as a kit house made by Sears and Roebuck that was delivered by train and assembled by its owner. We don’t know the exact year the house was delivered but estimate it was likely around the 1920s. The house was built just a few yards from the original homestead, which was still standing until about a decade ago and could fit in our kitchen. I can imagine the excitement and pride that must have been felt when this model was selected. It was a statement of perseverance and success to move from a house that was merely shelter to what was likely the equivalent of a mansion for the time. The trade-off of our house’s cool story is it was built by farmers not professional carpenters. The house is sturdy and functional, even though it has lots of little imperfections that are a product of the original DIYers. The house has seen a lot of lifestyle change in the last century: the installation of indoor plumbing, electrification and the move from wood stoves and chimneys to a furnace and air conditioning. Some of the remnants of these eras can still be seen in things like a few push button light switches or nob and tub lights from the original electrification, which have been preserved as novelties. We have also seen glimpses of the interests and taste of former home owners as we have worked to make the house our own. While tearing out outdated carpeting to take advantage of the original hardwood floors, we found decorative room mats that were in style during the time of construction. Each time we discover a new detail in the house, it’s like the house is telling the story of generations that have lived here before. Though each family who has called this house their home has been unique, they all share some things in common. The kitchen has prepared many meals for families who work the land. The floors have been tracked with mud and dirt more times than they have been clean. The rooms have played host to moments of joy, hope, and love that hopefully outweighed the times of worry and grief. The bay windows provided protection for the extreme Kansas weather that has often been a blessing and a curse. Our house is worn and imperfect because it is a place where life has been lived. Character like that can’t be replicated for a home good store. This house will never be as pretty as homes designed to look like the farmhouse style, and that’s OK with me. I am happy to live in this old farmhouse."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: The old farmhouse

Who cares about Saturday night entertainment when you can spend the day at a country auction? Now that it’s cooling down, local auctioneers are&nbsp;revving&nbsp;their season&nbsp;with weekly sales&nbsp;before snow flies. Both my husband and I enjoy looking at the ads to see what what’s&nbsp;on the sale block and where.&nbsp;Fortunately&nbsp;or unfortunately, we’re at that place in our lives where we don’t need anything, but it sure is fun to&nbsp;examine&nbsp;what other folks collected during their time on earth&nbsp;and see how&nbsp;our gathering skills&nbsp;compare.&nbsp;

One of the bonuses to attending local auctions is that we’re sure to run into old&nbsp;friends.&nbsp;A number&nbsp;of us&nbsp;were part of these Saturday crowds for decades as we furnished&nbsp;houses, kitchens, and tool shops&nbsp;from scratch.&nbsp;Once we&nbsp;found&nbsp;our&nbsp;necessities,&nbsp;some of us&nbsp;got hooked on belongings&nbsp;someone else&nbsp;first&nbsp;loved. Others&nbsp;bid on&nbsp;treasures that reminded&nbsp;them&nbsp;of childhood or visits to grandparents’ homes.&nbsp;Depending on the collection, a&nbsp;great&nbsp;auction&nbsp;is&nbsp;better than visiting a museum. It’&nbsp;fascinating&nbsp;to see snippets&nbsp;from folks’ lives&nbsp;from&nbsp;decades before.&nbsp;Sometimes,&nbsp;I find&nbsp;a treasure&nbsp;I didn’t know I needed&nbsp;and my head keeps nodding yes during the bidding.

Oftentimes,&nbsp;regular&nbsp;attendees turn their&nbsp;interest and time&nbsp;into businesses where they buy furniture&nbsp;or&nbsp;equipment&nbsp;to&nbsp;re-sell. Others run booths or online businesses&nbsp;marketing&nbsp;finds&nbsp;to those who don’t have the inclination or time to spend at an all-day auction.&nbsp;A few&nbsp;turn&nbsp;their homes and yards into artistic&nbsp;showcases&nbsp;full of&nbsp;quirky&nbsp;items they&nbsp;repurpose. Nothing like a worn-&nbsp;out wheel barrow, rusty cast iron kettle,&nbsp;or cream separator to&nbsp;display&nbsp;overflowing blooms.&nbsp;Some&nbsp;win the bid on&nbsp;giant carved&nbsp;birds&nbsp;to decorate their world.&nbsp;

Who knows who&nbsp;you’ll run into at an auction,&nbsp;so&nbsp;prepare for catch-up&nbsp;gab.&nbsp;This can involve hours discovering where old colleagues&nbsp;now&nbsp;live&nbsp;or&nbsp;finding&nbsp;out what&nbsp;kids and grandkids are&nbsp;up to.&nbsp;Heaven’s,&nbsp;some early starters&nbsp;share&nbsp;stories about great grands!&nbsp;It doesn’t&nbsp;seem possible&nbsp;time&nbsp;enough&nbsp;has passed&nbsp;to create great grands&nbsp;when&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;still feels&nbsp;young on the inside.&nbsp;These conversations&nbsp;also&nbsp;remember&nbsp;those we’ve lost&nbsp;since last&nbsp;we&nbsp;visited.

For those of us who enjoy local comedy, there’s no one better to poke fun than a good auctioneer.&nbsp;From the time I first attended Stithem and Fabrizius auctions back in the '70s,&nbsp;Leon would interrupt the chatter long enough to tease someone in the crowd and then resume business without losing&nbsp;his&nbsp;concentration. This last week, we were in the community&nbsp;center&nbsp;in&nbsp;a nearby town&nbsp;and&nbsp;folks&nbsp;competitively&nbsp;bid&nbsp;high dollar on foofoorah.&nbsp;Eventually,&nbsp;boxes of religious objects, pictures, crosses, and other&nbsp;sentimental&nbsp;objects crossed the table. For whatever reason, it took&nbsp;a&nbsp;while for folks to bid,&nbsp;triggering the auctioneer to astutely remind us, “Jesus is watching.”

For&nbsp;fans of&nbsp;homemade food, auctions&nbsp;showcase local cooks.&nbsp;Area vendors&nbsp;sell homemade pies and cinnamon rolls.&nbsp;Kirwin auctions once guaranteed&nbsp;slices&nbsp;of fresh coconut cream or butterscotch pies. Auctions at the Ellis K of C Hall promise&nbsp;so many&nbsp;choices that diners&nbsp;have to hit the kitchen more than once.&nbsp;Hungry buyers can snag hot-off-the grill brauts, burgers, and dogs. Add a pickled egg or brownie to complete the meal and you’re set&nbsp;to&nbsp;bid the rest of the day.&nbsp;

Folks in big cities might attend&nbsp;concerts and professional&nbsp;entertainment&nbsp;more often than those of us&nbsp;from&nbsp;rural areas.&nbsp;That said, it’s hard to beat a good auction for a full day’s entertainment shared with friends. 

You might even&nbsp;haul&nbsp;home treasure you didn’t know you needed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662584443128.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINWho cares about Saturday night entertainment when you can spend the day at a country auction? Now that it’s cooling down, local auctioneers are&nbsp;revving&nbsp;their season&nbsp;with weekly sales&nbsp;before snow flies. Both my husband and I enjoy looking at the ads to see what what’s&nbsp;on the sale block and where.&nbsp;Fortunately&nbsp;or unfortunately, we’re at that place in our lives where we don’t need anything, but it sure is fun to&nbsp;examine&nbsp;what other folks collected during their time on earth&nbsp;and see how&nbsp;our gathering skills&nbsp;compare.&nbsp;One of the bonuses to attending local auctions is that we’re sure to run into old&nbsp;friends.&nbsp;A number&nbsp;of us&nbsp;were part of these Saturday crowds for decades as we furnished&nbsp;houses, kitchens, and tool shops&nbsp;from scratch.&nbsp;Once we&nbsp;found&nbsp;our&nbsp;necessities,&nbsp;some of us&nbsp;got hooked on belongings&nbsp;someone else&nbsp;first&nbsp;loved. Others&nbsp;bid on&nbsp;treasures that reminded&nbsp;them&nbsp;of childhood or visits to grandparents’ homes.&nbsp;Depending on the collection, a&nbsp;great&nbsp;auction&nbsp;is&nbsp;better than visiting a museum. It’&nbsp;fascinating&nbsp;to see snippets&nbsp;from folks’ lives&nbsp;from&nbsp;decades before.&nbsp;Sometimes,&nbsp;I find&nbsp;a treasure&nbsp;I didn’t know I needed&nbsp;and my head keeps nodding yes during the bidding.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>Oftentimes,&nbsp;regular&nbsp;attendees turn their&nbsp;interest and time&nbsp;into businesses where they buy furniture&nbsp;or&nbsp;equipment&nbsp;to&nbsp;re-sell. Others run booths or online businesses&nbsp;marketing&nbsp;finds&nbsp;to those who don’t have the inclination or time to spend at an all-day auction.&nbsp;A few&nbsp;turn&nbsp;their homes and yards into artistic&nbsp;showcases&nbsp;full of&nbsp;quirky&nbsp;items they&nbsp;repurpose. Nothing like a worn-&nbsp;out wheel barrow, rusty cast iron kettle,&nbsp;or cream separator to&nbsp;display&nbsp;overflowing blooms.&nbsp;Some&nbsp;win the bid on&nbsp;giant carved&nbsp;birds&nbsp;to decorate their world.&nbsp;Who knows who&nbsp;you’ll run into at an auction,&nbsp;so&nbsp;prepare for catch-up&nbsp;gab.&nbsp;This can involve hours discovering where old colleagues&nbsp;now&nbsp;live&nbsp;or&nbsp;finding&nbsp;out what&nbsp;kids and grandkids are&nbsp;up to.&nbsp;Heaven’s,&nbsp;some early starters&nbsp;share&nbsp;stories about great grands!&nbsp;It doesn’t&nbsp;seem possible&nbsp;time&nbsp;enough&nbsp;has passed&nbsp;to create great grands&nbsp;when&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;still feels&nbsp;young on the inside.&nbsp;These conversations&nbsp;also&nbsp;remember&nbsp;those we’ve lost&nbsp;since last&nbsp;we&nbsp;visited.For those of us who enjoy local comedy, there’s no one better to poke fun than a good auctioneer.&nbsp;From the time I first attended Stithem and Fabrizius auctions back in the '70s,&nbsp;Leon would interrupt the chatter long enough to tease someone in the crowd and then resume business without losing&nbsp;his&nbsp;concentration. This last week, we were in the community&nbsp;center&nbsp;in&nbsp;a nearby town&nbsp;and&nbsp;folks&nbsp;competitively&nbsp;bid&nbsp;high dollar on foofoorah.&nbsp;Eventually,&nbsp;boxes of religious objects, pictures, crosses, and other&nbsp;sentimental&nbsp;objects crossed the table. For whatever reason, it took&nbsp;a&nbsp;while for folks to bid,&nbsp;triggering the auctioneer to astutely remind us, “Jesus is watching.”For&nbsp;fans of&nbsp;homemade food, auctions&nbsp;showcase local cooks.&nbsp;Area vendors&nbsp;sell homemade pies and cinnamon rolls.&nbsp;Kirwin auctions once guaranteed&nbsp;slices&nbsp;of fresh coconut cream or butterscotch pies. Auctions at the Ellis K of C Hall promise&nbsp;so many&nbsp;choices that diners&nbsp;have to hit the kitchen more than once.&nbsp;Hungry buyers can snag hot-off-the grill brauts, burgers, and dogs. Add a pickled egg or brownie to complete the meal and you’re set&nbsp;to&nbsp;bid the rest of the day.&nbsp;Folks in big cities might attend&nbsp;concerts and professional&nbsp;entertainment&nbsp;more often than those of us&nbsp;from&nbsp;rural areas.&nbsp;That said, it’s hard to beat a good auction for a full day’s entertainment shared with friends. You might even&nbsp;haul&nbsp;home treasure you didn’t know you needed.Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

MADORIN: Saturday auction fun

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

Today let’s go to the center of the country to visit an innovative family which has centered its business on high quality, locally produced fresh food, including their own specialty pork.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Last week we met Kaden and Emily Roush, the owners of R Family Farms near Lebanon — the geographic center of the contiguous United States. The Roushes operate a niche hog production system involving Berkshire pigs. What is the history of Berkshire hogs?&nbsp;

According to legend, 300 years ago Oliver Cromwell’s army was encamped in winter quarters at Reading, the county seat of the shire of Berks in England. They discovered the hogs there to be larger than any swine of the time and to produce ham and bacon of remarkable quality. That was the beginning of the Berkshire breed.&nbsp;

For years, the royal family kept a large herd of Berkshires at Windsor Castle due to the excellent carcass quality of the hogs. In 1823, the first Berkshires were imported to the U.S. In 1875 the American Berkshire Association was created, becoming the first swine registry to be established in the world.&nbsp;

In modern times, Kaden took note of the carcass quality of these hogs. For example, in a summary of tests conducted over a 20-year span at the National Barrow Show in Austin, Minnesota, Berkshire pigs scored highest of all major American pure breeds in sensory quality.&nbsp;

R Family Farms began raising Berkshire hogs. The business now specializes in private label production and direct online marketing of their Berkshire pork. R Family Farms is a member of the From the Land of Kansas program of the Kansas Department of Agriculture.&nbsp;

During the pandemic, the Roushes were handling more than 1,000 orders per year out of their garage. They were looking for a retail outlet when something happened in their hometown.&nbsp;

A grocery store had been operated in Lebanon for many, many years. In the 1970s, it was purchased by the LaDow family and operated as LaDow’s Market for decades.&nbsp;

As the LaDows were getting older, some people wondered what would happen to the store when the LaDows retired. Then the husband passed away. It appeared the store would close.&nbsp;

“We wanted to keep a store in our community and we were looking for a retail storefront,” Kaden Roush said. In February 2022, they purchased the store, which continues to operate as LaDow’s Market.&nbsp;

With help from K-State’s Rural Grocery Initiative, R Family Farms applied for a grant from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. The HFFI was authorized by the 2014 farm bill. Its’ mission is to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, create and preserve quality jobs and revitalize low income communities.&nbsp;

The program is administered by the Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development. HFFI provides capacity building and financial resources to eligible healthy food retail projects in underserved areas.&nbsp;

In June 2022, USDA announced the current HFFI grants, including three in Kansas. All three of these received help in developing grant proposals from the Rural Grocery Initiative. The grants went to the Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group, a neighborhood coalition in Kansas City, Kansas; the Marmaton Market (as we have previously profiled) and R Family Farms.&nbsp;

The R Family Farms grant will help support the overall construction and costs of rehabilitating the LaDow’s Market historic building into a retail space, adding both refrigerated and dry warehousing capacity. This will accommodate R Family Farms’ growing local meat business as well as creating a permanent aggregation location for other food producers.&nbsp;

As the LaDow’s Market logo states: “The freshest groceries come from the Center.”&nbsp;

For more information on the store, search for LaDow’s Market.on Facebook. For more information on the rural grocery initiative, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ruralgrocery.org/">www.ruralgrocery.org</a>.&nbsp;

It’s time to leave this center of creative pork marketing in the center of the contiguous United States. We commend Kaden and Emily Roush of R Family Farms and LaDow’s Market for making a difference with innovative pork production.&nbsp;

Their commitment to quality for their customers is front and center.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663163404589.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;Today let’s go to the center of the country to visit an innovative family which has centered its business on high quality, locally produced fresh food, including their own specialty pork.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Last week we met Kaden and Emily Roush, the owners of R Family Farms near Lebanon — the geographic center of the contiguous United States. The Roushes operate a niche hog production system involving Berkshire pigs. What is the history of Berkshire hogs?&nbsp;According to legend, 300 years ago Oliver Cromwell’s army was encamped in winter quarters at Reading, the county seat of the shire of Berks in England. They discovered the hogs there to be larger than any swine of the time and to produce ham and bacon of remarkable quality. That was the beginning of the Berkshire breed.&nbsp;For years, the royal family kept a large herd of Berkshires at Windsor Castle due to the excellent carcass quality of the hogs. In 1823, the first Berkshires were imported to the U.S. In 1875 the American Berkshire Association was created, becoming the first swine registry to be established in the world.&nbsp;In modern times, Kaden took note of the carcass quality of these hogs. For example, in a summary of tests conducted over a 20-year span at the National Barrow Show in Austin, Minnesota, Berkshire pigs scored highest of all major American pure breeds in sensory quality.&nbsp;R Family Farms began raising Berkshire hogs. The business now specializes in private label production and direct online marketing of their Berkshire pork. R Family Farms is a member of the From the Land of Kansas program of the Kansas Department of Agriculture.&nbsp;During the pandemic, the Roushes were handling more than 1,000 orders per year out of their garage. They were looking for a retail outlet when something happened in their hometown.&nbsp;A grocery store had been operated in Lebanon for many, many years. In the 1970s, it was purchased by the LaDow family and operated as LaDow’s Market for decades.&nbsp;As the LaDows were getting older, some people wondered what would happen to the store when the LaDows retired. Then the husband passed away. It appeared the store would close.&nbsp;“We wanted to keep a store in our community and we were looking for a retail storefront,” Kaden Roush said. In February 2022, they purchased the store, which continues to operate as LaDow’s Market.&nbsp;With help from K-State’s Rural Grocery Initiative, R Family Farms applied for a grant from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. The HFFI was authorized by the 2014 farm bill. Its’ mission is to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, create and preserve quality jobs and revitalize low income communities.&nbsp;The program is administered by the Reinvestment Fund on behalf of USDA Rural Development. HFFI provides capacity building and financial resources to eligible healthy food retail projects in underserved areas.&nbsp;In June 2022, USDA announced the current HFFI grants, including three in Kansas. All three of these received help in developing grant proposals from the Rural Grocery Initiative. The grants went to the Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group, a neighborhood coalition in Kansas City, Kansas; the Marmaton Market (as we have previously profiled) and R Family Farms.&nbsp;The R Family Farms grant will help support the overall construction and costs of rehabilitating the LaDow’s Market historic building into a retail space, adding both refrigerated and dry warehousing capacity. This will accommodate R Family Farms’ growing local meat business as well as creating a permanent aggregation location for other food producers.&nbsp;As the LaDow’s Market logo states: “The freshest groceries come from the Center.”&nbsp;For more information on the store, search for LaDow’s Market.on Facebook. For more information on the rural grocery initiative, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ruralgrocery.org/">www.ruralgrocery.org</a>.&nbsp;It’s time to leave this center of creative pork marketing in the center of the contiguous United States. We commend Kaden and Emily Roush of R Family Farms and LaDow’s Market for making a difference with innovative pork production.&nbsp;Their commitment to quality for their customers is front and center.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Kaden & Emily Roush, LaDow’s Market 

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher Last spring my father-in-law purchased a handful of ewes to graze a pasture near his house. The pasture had not been grazed in a few years, and he liked the idea of having some animals on his farm after getting out of the cattle business about six years ago. He decided to purchase the ewes and make it a project with the grandkids.&nbsp; After the trailer of sheep arrived, each grandchild was allowed to pick out two ewes to claim as their own. Even before the sheep arrived, the kids helped their grandpa build the fencing and prepared the area for the animals. Since their arrival, the kids have attempted to help tame these ewes that were born and spent the early part of their lives in the Flint Hills. The grandkids have helped feed and vaccinate the ewes. Some days I’ve found one of the kids sitting on the fence talking to the ewes as they anxiously eat their grain before returning to the pasture. At the end of March, the kids watched as we turned out a ram with the flock. Soon blue chalk markings began appearing on the ewes.&nbsp; Fast forward to September where we are now on alert for lambs to begin arriving any day now. While the kids are simply excited to have some little lambs running around, my father-in-law is more focused on maintaining the health of the soon-to-arrive lambs and their mothers. I’m most concerned about how many lambs we could possibly bottle feed at once and being prepared with the supplies needed to ensure we can successfully feed multiple babies. It reminds me a lot of when I was pregnant with my two children and the different areas of concern people within my family focused on.&nbsp; While I know my concern is one that can easily be addressed with a quick trip to town, I still want to be ready for the scenario in which we have bottle babies. A handful of years ago my son was given a newborn calf whose mother had unexpectedly died on the coldest day of the year. My husband brought the tiny heifer home just a few hours after being born, and we quickly made adjustments to housing and bottle feeding the calf. In that scenario we weren’t even expecting a calf, but we were able to pivot quickly and begin caring for it.&nbsp; That calf is now Sunflower the cow, and she, too, is due to have her calf any day now. Although she is an experienced mama cow, my son and I are still on alert as we await her newest arrival. The anticipation of baby animals on the farm this fall is exciting, and to have my two children observe life through their animals is something I am so thankful to expose them to. As we patiently await and prepare for these new little additions on the farm, we have begun to embrace and understand the importance of the task of keeping watch.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher Last spring my father-in-law purchased a handful of ewes to graze a pasture near his house. The pasture had not been grazed in a few years, and he liked the idea of having some animals on his farm after getting out of the cattle business about six years ago. He decided to purchase the ewes and make it a project with the grandkids.&nbsp; After the trailer of sheep arrived, each grandchild was allowed to pick out two ewes to claim as their own. Even before the sheep arrived, the kids helped their grandpa build the fencing and prepared the area for the animals. Since their arrival, the kids have attempted to help tame these ewes that were born and spent the early part of their lives in the Flint Hills. The grandkids have helped feed and vaccinate the ewes. Some days I’ve found one of the kids sitting on the fence talking to the ewes as they anxiously eat their grain before returning to the pasture. At the end of March, the kids watched as we turned out a ram with the flock. Soon blue chalk markings began appearing on the ewes.&nbsp; Fast forward to September where we are now on alert for lambs to begin arriving any day now. While the kids are simply excited to have some little lambs running around, my father-in-law is more focused on maintaining the health of the soon-to-arrive lambs and their mothers. I’m most concerned about how many lambs we could possibly bottle feed at once and being prepared with the supplies needed to ensure we can successfully feed multiple babies. It reminds me a lot of when I was pregnant with my two children and the different areas of concern people within my family focused on.&nbsp; While I know my concern is one that can easily be addressed with a quick trip to town, I still want to be ready for the scenario in which we have bottle babies. A handful of years ago my son was given a newborn calf whose mother had unexpectedly died on the coldest day of the year. My husband brought the tiny heifer home just a few hours after being born, and we quickly made adjustments to housing and bottle feeding the calf. In that scenario we weren’t even expecting a calf, but we were able to pivot quickly and begin caring for it.&nbsp; That calf is now Sunflower the cow, and she, too, is due to have her calf any day now. Although she is an experienced mama cow, my son and I are still on alert as we await her newest arrival. The anticipation of baby animals on the farm this fall is exciting, and to have my two children observe life through their animals is something I am so thankful to expose them to. As we patiently await and prepare for these new little additions on the farm, we have begun to embrace and understand the importance of the task of keeping watch.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Keeping watch

“Kon'nichiwa.” That is hello in Japanese. Today, a shipment from the United States is arriving in Japan. It’s some samples of specialty, high quality pork produced by a family halfway around the globe in rural Kansas.

Kaden and Emily Roush are the owners of R Family Farms and a local grocery store in Lebanon, Kan. Kaden grew up in Lebanon on a crop and livestock farm. Five generations of his family have been involved in agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hog production was a major part of the Roush family operation until the hog market crash of the 1990s. As described by the family’s website: “However, out of the ashes sprang an opportunity for an energetic little boy, a few sows, and a 4-H project.”&nbsp;

Young Kaden Roush was that little boy.&nbsp;

Roush enrolled in the swine project in 4-H, raised pigs and showed them successfully at the county fair. Soon he was selling extra pigs to fellow 4-H members.&nbsp;

In the process, Roush developed a knack for livestock evaluation. He would develop and use those skills on the livestock judging teams at Allen Community College in Iola and then Kansas State University. The national judging team tours gave Roush the opportunity to observe diversity in agriculture and potential opportunities for marketing pork.&nbsp;

Roush soon met Emily. She was raised on a three-generation wheat, corn and soybean farm near the rural community of Iola, population 5,396 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

Emily was active in FFA. After studying at Allen Community College, she finished her degree in agronomy at K-State and married Kaden. He earned a degree in agribusiness with a major in animal science.&nbsp;

Together, Kaden and Emily’s families embody more than two centuries of history of caring for the land and animals.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kaden and Emily thought about the opportunities for niche marketing of pork and decided to move back to his home area to launch a specialty hog enterprise. They named it R Family Farms. The Roush website states about Emily: “Although pigs were not her first love (or second, for that matter), she quickly grew to love them and joyfully welcomed them as a part of her future.”&nbsp;

The Roush’s vision was to educate consumers about where their food comes from while providing a world-class culinary experience. To do so, they chose to raise the Berkshire breed of hogs.&nbsp;

In 2015, R Family Farms broke ground on a new hog facility. The first Berkshire pigs arrived in January 2016. Today, R Family Farms is home to 75 sows that farrow all year long. The resulting litters are raised to market weight.&nbsp;About half of the meat is sold by private label and half to vendors in Missouri. In 2019, they shipped samples to Japan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Kaden works as a loan officer at a local bank and Emily serves as Lebanon city clerk.&nbsp;

The family needed a specific outlet for their specialty Berkshire pork. They were supplying pork to a national chain of organic whole food stores when the chain cancelled their contract. It appeared to be a disaster.&nbsp;

Then they were contacted by Paradise Locker Meats in Paradise, Mo. That company was selling Berkshire pork to high-end restaurants and suddenly found that their source could not supply it.&nbsp;

“It was divine intervention,” Emily said. “We lost our contract and he’d lost his supplier.&nbsp;&nbsp;He needed the number of hogs that we had.”&nbsp;

The Roush’s farm supplied the pork and Paradise Locker Meats filled the order. The two businesses have worked together ever since.&nbsp;

Today, R Family Farms is using old-style outdoor production practices combined with modern day technology to bring superior quality pork to market.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rfamilyfarmsks.com/">www.rfamilyfarmsks.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It’s time to leave Japan, which was the recipient of these Berkshire pork samples produced halfway around the world in Kansas. We salute Kaden and Emily Roush of R Family Farms for making a difference with innovative marketing of their products.&nbsp;

It’s time to say goodbye – or as they say in Japan, “Sayonara.”&nbsp;

And there’s more.&nbsp;&nbsp;Remember that the Roush family owns a grocery store?&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662555942364.png" alt="Screen Shot 2022-09-07 at 8.05.22 AM.png" />
 <figcaption>Screen Shot 2022-09-07 at 8.05.22 AM.png</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“Kon'nichiwa.” That is hello in Japanese. Today, a shipment from the United States is arriving in Japan. It’s some samples of specialty, high quality pork produced by a family halfway around the globe in rural Kansas.Kaden and Emily Roush are the owners of R Family Farms and a local grocery store in Lebanon, Kan. Kaden grew up in Lebanon on a crop and livestock farm. Five generations of his family have been involved in agriculture.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hog production was a major part of the Roush family operation until the hog market crash of the 1990s. As described by the family’s website: “However, out of the ashes sprang an opportunity for an energetic little boy, a few sows, and a 4-H project.”&nbsp;Young Kaden Roush was that little boy.&nbsp;Roush enrolled in the swine project in 4-H, raised pigs and showed them successfully at the county fair. Soon he was selling extra pigs to fellow 4-H members.&nbsp;In the process, Roush developed a knack for livestock evaluation. He would develop and use those skills on the livestock judging teams at Allen Community College in Iola and then Kansas State University. The national judging team tours gave Roush the opportunity to observe diversity in agriculture and potential opportunities for marketing pork.&nbsp;Roush soon met Emily. She was raised on a three-generation wheat, corn and soybean farm near the rural community of Iola, population 5,396 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;Emily was active in FFA. After studying at Allen Community College, she finished her degree in agronomy at K-State and married Kaden. He earned a degree in agribusiness with a major in animal science.&nbsp;Together, Kaden and Emily’s families embody more than two centuries of history of caring for the land and animals.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kaden and Emily thought about the opportunities for niche marketing of pork and decided to move back to his home area to launch a specialty hog enterprise. They named it R Family Farms. The Roush website states about Emily: “Although pigs were not her first love (or second, for that matter), she quickly grew to love them and joyfully welcomed them as a part of her future.”&nbsp;The Roush’s vision was to educate consumers about where their food comes from while providing a world-class culinary experience. To do so, they chose to raise the Berkshire breed of hogs.&nbsp;In 2015, R Family Farms broke ground on a new hog facility. The first Berkshire pigs arrived in January 2016. Today, R Family Farms is home to 75 sows that farrow all year long. The resulting litters are raised to market weight.&nbsp;About half of the meat is sold by private label and half to vendors in Missouri. In 2019, they shipped samples to Japan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Kaden works as a loan officer at a local bank and Emily serves as Lebanon city clerk.&nbsp;The family needed a specific outlet for their specialty Berkshire pork. They were supplying pork to a national chain of organic whole food stores when the chain cancelled their contract. It appeared to be a disaster.&nbsp;Then they were contacted by Paradise Locker Meats in Paradise, Mo. That company was selling Berkshire pork to high-end restaurants and suddenly found that their source could not supply it.&nbsp;“It was divine intervention,” Emily said. “We lost our contract and he’d lost his supplier.&nbsp;&nbsp;He needed the number of hogs that we had.”&nbsp;The Roush’s farm supplied the pork and Paradise Locker Meats filled the order. The two businesses have worked together ever since.&nbsp;Today, R Family Farms is using old-style outdoor production practices combined with modern day technology to bring superior quality pork to market.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rfamilyfarmsks.com/">www.rfamilyfarmsks.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s time to leave Japan, which was the recipient of these Berkshire pork samples produced halfway around the world in Kansas. We salute Kaden and Emily Roush of R Family Farms for making a difference with innovative marketing of their products.&nbsp;It’s time to say goodbye – or as they say in Japan, “Sayonara.”&nbsp;And there’s more.&nbsp;&nbsp;Remember that the Roush family owns a grocery store?&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Kaden and Emily Roush, R Family Farms 

History buffs&nbsp;are&nbsp;always&nbsp;in&nbsp;search&nbsp;for stories of the past. They want to&nbsp;learn&nbsp;about the landscape, animals, people and&nbsp;communities&nbsp;connected to those who came before&nbsp;them. Anytime they take a&nbsp;drive or wander about an old homestead or&nbsp;ghost&nbsp;town, their&nbsp;imaginations&nbsp;go into overdrive, wondering how those&nbsp;people’s&nbsp;lives compare to&nbsp;the&nbsp;modern world. This condition has afflicted me since childhood,&nbsp;and I&nbsp;challenge&nbsp;my husband’s patience as I distract him from looking for&nbsp;wild&nbsp;game to seek out&nbsp;evidence of these tales.&nbsp;

We recently traveled to rural area of SE Wyoming,&nbsp;once a mining and logging empire that evolved into a ranching, tourism, and wind energy&nbsp;driven economy.&nbsp;While there are plenty of updated sights to see, plenty of&nbsp;vintage&nbsp;log, stone, and brick structures remain to remind newcomers of the past.

The&nbsp;ranch&nbsp;where&nbsp;we stayed has modern log cabins with&nbsp;wi-fi, TV,&nbsp;hot and cold running water, and&nbsp;electricity&nbsp;for guests.&nbsp;As a counterbalance, it&nbsp;maintains&nbsp;the&nbsp;old homestead cabin and barn to remind&nbsp;owners and guests&nbsp;of its humble beginnings.&nbsp;

Imagine being one of the earliest pioneers in the Platte Valley where summer is short and winter is long.&nbsp;Settlers&nbsp;required&nbsp;protection from&nbsp;the elements&nbsp;in an area small enough they could&nbsp;readily&nbsp;heat it.&nbsp;As a result, these first cabins are&nbsp;small&nbsp;even though you know some families were large. All required minimal construction,&nbsp;and each has a stove pipe hole or remnants of a stone chimney even if they’re&nbsp;tumbling&nbsp;down. &nbsp;Every ranch we drove past still has original buildings on site.&nbsp;One reason,&nbsp;I’m sure,&nbsp;is for esthetics. Another has to be to remind&nbsp;them&nbsp;how hard life was for their ancestors.&nbsp;

Seeing these&nbsp;historic remnants caused me to&nbsp;compare&nbsp;my&nbsp;Great Plains ancestors to&nbsp;those mountain&nbsp;residents’ forebearers. Just&nbsp;as&nbsp;native people&nbsp;around&nbsp;the world used the resources at hand to construct homes, so did&nbsp;my&nbsp;predecessors. Those who settled mountains had forests to provide logs and rivers where they could access stone building materials. Those of us on the prairie&nbsp;struggled&nbsp;to find&nbsp;enough logs to build an&nbsp;outhouse,&nbsp;let alone a&nbsp;cabin. &nbsp;They left sod and dirt as their construction choices.

For&nbsp;prairie&nbsp;immigrants, rock&nbsp;required&nbsp;first&nbsp;a source,&nbsp;then&nbsp;quarrying, cutting, and hauling, efforts that&nbsp;required&nbsp;time&nbsp;enough&nbsp;it put folks in danger of facing winter without roof&nbsp;or&nbsp;walls. &nbsp;To outwit Mother Nature, inventive ancestors discovered they could&nbsp;build a dugout in a creek bank or&nbsp;cut sod and&nbsp;stack it into walls to build&nbsp;a home that mostly kept weather out until they could build something more substantial.&nbsp;According to family lore,&nbsp;I don’t think&nbsp;these earth dwellings&nbsp;kept out snakes and bugs.

Those first prairie homes didn’t hold up&nbsp;well&nbsp;against weather&nbsp;extremes&nbsp;so we don’t see many&nbsp;remaining&nbsp;on family&nbsp;farm sites.&nbsp;When visiting&nbsp;old homesteads, check for indentions in banks of creeks or sides of hills. &nbsp;Look for&nbsp;piles of melted sod with remnants of stove pipes, wood frames, or odd metal&nbsp;sticking out.&nbsp;Today, those interested in&nbsp;such&nbsp;stories can visit museums&nbsp;with reproduction&nbsp;soddies&nbsp;or look through old&nbsp;family&nbsp;photos to see how&nbsp;prairie&nbsp;relatives&nbsp;fared compared to those who&nbsp;lived&nbsp;back East or in the mountains.

Based on experience,&nbsp;I find&nbsp;it’s easier to&nbsp;find&nbsp;fragments&nbsp;of the past where pioneers built with long lasting resources like rock and wood. However, it’s worth&nbsp;getting permission&nbsp;to walk old farmsteads&nbsp;to find original soddy or dugout&nbsp;sites.&nbsp;Once you discover one, be careful walking around.&nbsp;Spying&nbsp;the&nbsp;lid to an old stove that great great-gramma cooked on is a Eureka moment that memorializes&nbsp;where you came from and&nbsp;the&nbsp;sturdy folk who made you.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662568668351.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINHistory buffs&nbsp;are&nbsp;always&nbsp;in&nbsp;search&nbsp;for stories of the past. They want to&nbsp;learn&nbsp;about the landscape, animals, people and&nbsp;communities&nbsp;connected to those who came before&nbsp;them. Anytime they take a&nbsp;drive or wander about an old homestead or&nbsp;ghost&nbsp;town, their&nbsp;imaginations&nbsp;go into overdrive, wondering how those&nbsp;people’s&nbsp;lives compare to&nbsp;the&nbsp;modern world. This condition has afflicted me since childhood,&nbsp;and I&nbsp;challenge&nbsp;my husband’s patience as I distract him from looking for&nbsp;wild&nbsp;game to seek out&nbsp;evidence of these tales.&nbsp;We recently traveled to rural area of SE Wyoming,&nbsp;once a mining and logging empire that evolved into a ranching, tourism, and wind energy&nbsp;driven economy.&nbsp;While there are plenty of updated sights to see, plenty of&nbsp;vintage&nbsp;log, stone, and brick structures remain to remind newcomers of the past.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>The&nbsp;ranch&nbsp;where&nbsp;we stayed has modern log cabins with&nbsp;wi-fi, TV,&nbsp;hot and cold running water, and&nbsp;electricity&nbsp;for guests.&nbsp;As a counterbalance, it&nbsp;maintains&nbsp;the&nbsp;old homestead cabin and barn to remind&nbsp;owners and guests&nbsp;of its humble beginnings.&nbsp;Imagine being one of the earliest pioneers in the Platte Valley where summer is short and winter is long.&nbsp;Settlers&nbsp;required&nbsp;protection from&nbsp;the elements&nbsp;in an area small enough they could&nbsp;readily&nbsp;heat it.&nbsp;As a result, these first cabins are&nbsp;small&nbsp;even though you know some families were large. All required minimal construction,&nbsp;and each has a stove pipe hole or remnants of a stone chimney even if they’re&nbsp;tumbling&nbsp;down. &nbsp;Every ranch we drove past still has original buildings on site.&nbsp;One reason,&nbsp;I’m sure,&nbsp;is for esthetics. Another has to be to remind&nbsp;them&nbsp;how hard life was for their ancestors.&nbsp;Seeing these&nbsp;historic remnants caused me to&nbsp;compare&nbsp;my&nbsp;Great Plains ancestors to&nbsp;those mountain&nbsp;residents’ forebearers. Just&nbsp;as&nbsp;native people&nbsp;around&nbsp;the world used the resources at hand to construct homes, so did&nbsp;my&nbsp;predecessors. Those who settled mountains had forests to provide logs and rivers where they could access stone building materials. Those of us on the prairie&nbsp;struggled&nbsp;to find&nbsp;enough logs to build an&nbsp;outhouse,&nbsp;let alone a&nbsp;cabin. &nbsp;They left sod and dirt as their construction choices.For&nbsp;prairie&nbsp;immigrants, rock&nbsp;required&nbsp;first&nbsp;a source,&nbsp;then&nbsp;quarrying, cutting, and hauling, efforts that&nbsp;required&nbsp;time&nbsp;enough&nbsp;it put folks in danger of facing winter without roof&nbsp;or&nbsp;walls. &nbsp;To outwit Mother Nature, inventive ancestors discovered they could&nbsp;build a dugout in a creek bank or&nbsp;cut sod and&nbsp;stack it into walls to build&nbsp;a home that mostly kept weather out until they could build something more substantial.&nbsp;According to family lore,&nbsp;I don’t think&nbsp;these earth dwellings&nbsp;kept out snakes and bugs.Those first prairie homes didn’t hold up&nbsp;well&nbsp;against weather&nbsp;extremes&nbsp;so we don’t see many&nbsp;remaining&nbsp;on family&nbsp;farm sites.&nbsp;When visiting&nbsp;old homesteads, check for indentions in banks of creeks or sides of hills. &nbsp;Look for&nbsp;piles of melted sod with remnants of stove pipes, wood frames, or odd metal&nbsp;sticking out.&nbsp;Today, those interested in&nbsp;such&nbsp;stories can visit museums&nbsp;with reproduction&nbsp;soddies&nbsp;or look through old&nbsp;family&nbsp;photos to see how&nbsp;prairie&nbsp;relatives&nbsp;fared compared to those who&nbsp;lived&nbsp;back East or in the mountains.Based on experience,&nbsp;I find&nbsp;it’s easier to&nbsp;find&nbsp;fragments&nbsp;of the past where pioneers built with long lasting resources like rock and wood. However, it’s worth&nbsp;getting permission&nbsp;to walk old farmsteads&nbsp;to find original soddy or dugout&nbsp;sites.&nbsp;Once you discover one, be careful walking around.&nbsp;Spying&nbsp;the&nbsp;lid to an old stove that great great-gramma cooked on is a Eureka moment that memorializes&nbsp;where you came from and&nbsp;the&nbsp;sturdy folk who made you.Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

MADORIN: The stuff of sturdy folk

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher Tuesday I was hauling hay; it was my fifth or sixth load of the day, and I had been hauling hay for the better part of a week. It was probably all too routine. I was making the left-hand turn off of the highway onto the county road. I looked back in my rearview mirror and did not see anyone before I started to turn. That was when I saw the Subaru had decided to pass me at that very point. Thankfully, nothing more happened than the driver squealing their brakes and shaking their fist at me, but it could have been much worse. Over the past couple of months, I have had a couple of friends who have had worse experiences sharing the highways with other motorists. Thankfully, none of them were seriously hurt, but the damage to farm equipment was not something they had planned to deal with, I am sure. Let me be the first to say I was not without fault. Upon inspection, I learned my left-turn signal was not working. However, if I remember my driver’s ed classes right, it is not permissible to pass on a double yellow line or at an intersection. Along with that, following so close to a trailer that the driver in front of you cannot see you is not good either. My point is all drivers need to share the road, and those roads are starting to get even more crowded with slow moving ag equipment as harvest starts. As ag producers we need to make sure our equipment has working lights and turn signals. We need to be aware of who is around us on the roads and have a plan of action that assumes other drivers will not do the right thing. If at all possible, move equipment at times when the road is less crowded. If you are driving during harvest, please, give the equipment plenty of room. Stay far enough back to see the rearview mirrors of the vehicle ahead of you because that will mean they can also see you. Farm equipment moves slowly so take that into account as you approach. You will close the gap much faster than you may realize. Please, never pass near an intersection, many times our turn signals don’t work. Yes, farm equipment will slow your drive down, again, please take a deep breath. Don’t be in such a rush that you pass in a bad place or at the wrong time. That farmer is growing the food you are rushing home to put on your table. I got lucky, and I am using that fortunate moment as a reminder to be more vigilant when I am on the road. It only takes a second, a blink for things to go bad. Take the time to slow down, make the right decisions and be courteous. We are all in this together, we have to share the same road, let’s all be safe and make sure we make it home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Brunkow" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Brunkow</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher Tuesday I was hauling hay; it was my fifth or sixth load of the day, and I had been hauling hay for the better part of a week. It was probably all too routine. I was making the left-hand turn off of the highway onto the county road. I looked back in my rearview mirror and did not see anyone before I started to turn. That was when I saw the Subaru had decided to pass me at that very point. Thankfully, nothing more happened than the driver squealing their brakes and shaking their fist at me, but it could have been much worse. Over the past couple of months, I have had a couple of friends who have had worse experiences sharing the highways with other motorists. Thankfully, none of them were seriously hurt, but the damage to farm equipment was not something they had planned to deal with, I am sure. Let me be the first to say I was not without fault. Upon inspection, I learned my left-turn signal was not working. However, if I remember my driver’s ed classes right, it is not permissible to pass on a double yellow line or at an intersection. Along with that, following so close to a trailer that the driver in front of you cannot see you is not good either. My point is all drivers need to share the road, and those roads are starting to get even more crowded with slow moving ag equipment as harvest starts. As ag producers we need to make sure our equipment has working lights and turn signals. We need to be aware of who is around us on the roads and have a plan of action that assumes other drivers will not do the right thing. If at all possible, move equipment at times when the road is less crowded. If you are driving during harvest, please, give the equipment plenty of room. Stay far enough back to see the rearview mirrors of the vehicle ahead of you because that will mean they can also see you. Farm equipment moves slowly so take that into account as you approach. You will close the gap much faster than you may realize. Please, never pass near an intersection, many times our turn signals don’t work. Yes, farm equipment will slow your drive down, again, please take a deep breath. Don’t be in such a rush that you pass in a bad place or at the wrong time. That farmer is growing the food you are rushing home to put on your table. I got lucky, and I am using that fortunate moment as a reminder to be more vigilant when I am on the road. It only takes a second, a blink for things to go bad. Take the time to slow down, make the right decisions and be courteous. We are all in this together, we have to share the same road, let’s all be safe and make sure we make it home."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Sharing the same road

Our house faces west, it’s brick, and the flower bed in front is filled with river rock. If only one of these ingredients were our reality, the sun would work its magic and multiply the heat. Tripled, the thermometer can’t keep up with the increasing temperatures by 5 p.m. Though the previous owners chose plants that do well in heat and require less water than most,&nbsp;I&nbsp;wetthem down several times a week during blast furnace days that&nbsp;don’t remember&nbsp;when&nbsp;the last raindrop fell.

A couple of weeks ago, I was dousing those wilted lilies and salvia when a thin cottontail hopped into the hose stream. It stood under the water, getting plenty damp. As I continued down the line of plants, it&nbsp;stood on its hind legs, preening and polishing its fur. I thought it was odd behavior, but it was 105 in the shade that day and out front was even hotter. She wasn’t there the next time I watered on a cooler day so I put&nbsp;her behavior&nbsp;down to a weird coincidence, even though NCIS’s Gibbs has drilled into me there are no coincidences.&nbsp;

No more bunny for the next few waterings. That is until this morning when&nbsp;cottontails&nbsp;shrank and multiplied. I went out early to take advantage of the cool morning and early pastel light.&nbsp;In the smaller bed north of the porch,&nbsp;helianthus and&nbsp;the&nbsp;bush next to it guzzled their&nbsp;refreshment before I tugged the hose over to the bigger rock garden on the&nbsp;south&nbsp;side. Those lilies, roses, and salvia looked pretty dry so I gave them an extra count of ten as I watered.&nbsp;

While the drought and heat wilt my garden plants, weeds thrive. As I counted&nbsp;40 for&nbsp;each plant’s drink time, I was&nbsp;calculating&nbsp;how much time I’d need to spend weeding once things dried out.&nbsp;At that point, I got to the salvia where I’d earlier seen the&nbsp;showering rodent.&nbsp;My plant&nbsp;looked&nbsp;even&nbsp;more spread out and leggy&nbsp;than before&nbsp;so I directed a head-on shot of water toward it.

Imagine my surprise when four tiny, tiny fur-covered&nbsp;cottontails exploded out of it! Aha, mom may have taken an inadvertent shower two weeks before but what she was really doing was guarding her nest&nbsp;that probably contained still naked newborns with closed eyes. I can’t believe I never thought of that, but it’s so hot out front I couldn’t imagine anything but a snake turning that into a nursery.

Naturally, I&nbsp;turned the&nbsp;water&nbsp;toward other plants while those babies made their escape.&nbsp;Once I turned off the&nbsp;spigot&nbsp;and rolled up&nbsp;the hose, I returned to the house and opened the living room shades. I kept&nbsp;peaking&nbsp;out the window to see if&nbsp;any bunnies were&nbsp;returning to their cozy nest.&nbsp;For the next few&nbsp;days&nbsp;I never saw hide nor hare!

About a week afterward, I discovered why. Mom moved her bouncing babes to our backyard and hid them in the pumpkin patch. Now that I know they are there, I’ll be more careful when&nbsp;and where&nbsp;I water.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661545554426.jpeg" alt="DSCN0533.JPG" />
 <figcaption>DSCN0533.JPG</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINOur house faces west, it’s brick, and the flower bed in front is filled with river rock. If only one of these ingredients were our reality, the sun would work its magic and multiply the heat. Tripled, the thermometer can’t keep up with the increasing temperatures by 5 p.m. Though the previous owners chose plants that do well in heat and require less water than most,&nbsp;I&nbsp;wetthem down several times a week during blast furnace days that&nbsp;don’t remember&nbsp;when&nbsp;the last raindrop fell.A couple of weeks ago, I was dousing those wilted lilies and salvia when a thin cottontail hopped into the hose stream. It stood under the water, getting plenty damp. As I continued down the line of plants, it&nbsp;stood on its hind legs, preening and polishing its fur. I thought it was odd behavior, but it was 105 in the shade that day and out front was even hotter. She wasn’t there the next time I watered on a cooler day so I put&nbsp;her behavior&nbsp;down to a weird coincidence, even though NCIS’s Gibbs has drilled into me there are no coincidences.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>No more bunny for the next few waterings. That is until this morning when&nbsp;cottontails&nbsp;shrank and multiplied. I went out early to take advantage of the cool morning and early pastel light.&nbsp;In the smaller bed north of the porch,&nbsp;helianthus and&nbsp;the&nbsp;bush next to it guzzled their&nbsp;refreshment before I tugged the hose over to the bigger rock garden on the&nbsp;south&nbsp;side. Those lilies, roses, and salvia looked pretty dry so I gave them an extra count of ten as I watered.&nbsp;While the drought and heat wilt my garden plants, weeds thrive. As I counted&nbsp;40 for&nbsp;each plant’s drink time, I was&nbsp;calculating&nbsp;how much time I’d need to spend weeding once things dried out.&nbsp;At that point, I got to the salvia where I’d earlier seen the&nbsp;showering rodent.&nbsp;My plant&nbsp;looked&nbsp;even&nbsp;more spread out and leggy&nbsp;than before&nbsp;so I directed a head-on shot of water toward it.Imagine my surprise when four tiny, tiny fur-covered&nbsp;cottontails exploded out of it! Aha, mom may have taken an inadvertent shower two weeks before but what she was really doing was guarding her nest&nbsp;that probably contained still naked newborns with closed eyes. I can’t believe I never thought of that, but it’s so hot out front I couldn’t imagine anything but a snake turning that into a nursery.Naturally, I&nbsp;turned the&nbsp;water&nbsp;toward other plants while those babies made their escape.&nbsp;Once I turned off the&nbsp;spigot&nbsp;and rolled up&nbsp;the hose, I returned to the house and opened the living room shades. I kept&nbsp;peaking&nbsp;out the window to see if&nbsp;any bunnies were&nbsp;returning to their cozy nest.&nbsp;For the next few&nbsp;days&nbsp;I never saw hide nor hare!About a week afterward, I discovered why. Mom moved her bouncing babes to our backyard and hid them in the pumpkin patch. Now that I know they are there, I’ll be more careful when&nbsp;and where&nbsp;I water.Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and
 sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

MADORIN: Blooming Bunnies

Thomas Jefferson once wrote critically of those who “look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the arc of the covenant, too sacred to be touched.” While he firmly opposed “frequent and untried changes in laws,” he argued that, in the end “laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind.” In other words, as people learn and grow and change, their constitutions necessarily should too.

These words are on my mind today, with one failed constitutional amendment in our recent past and another constitutional amendment facing Kansas voters this coming November.

There have always been Americans who believe that society needs clear and unchanging constitutional rules, reflecting clear and unchanging values, or else it will fall apart. It’s undeniable that there is much&nbsp;truth in that belief.

But some of these people seem to express far more confidence as to the content of those values, and the operation of those rules, than is justified. Which means that when the democratically expressed interests of the people — their “mind” in Jefferson’s terms — come to challenge what those individuals assume to be necessarily unchanging rules and values, they sometimes see it as a political development that they need to save the “true” or “authentic” constitution from.

When the Kansas Supreme Court determined that the guarantee of “equal and inalienable natural rights” in the Kansas Constitution included at least a limited protection of “bodily integrity” and therefore the right of Kansas women to choose abortion, anti-abortion voters, and those who represent them, were furious, which was to be expected. But their response was to propose amending the Kansas Constitution itself, so as to make it impossible for people to legally or politically interpret the document in that way. That proposal was firmly rejected on August 2.

Come November 8, there will be another amendment on the ballot, this one designed to increase the power of the legislature in Topeka, enabling it to exercise exclusive veto power over how the governor chooses to implement the laws which the legislature itself had written and passed. This proposal, like the last one, is driven by political fury, this time to the way Governor Kelly, at the beginning of the pandemic, used the power granted her under existing laws to order school closures and take other extensive public health measures, actions that were highly unpopular with certain voters and their representatives. A legislative veto is their proposed response.

Legislative vetoes aren’t a new idea; there are plenty of good legal and theoretical arguments both for and against them. What’s notable here is not the arguments being made, but the political reality inspiring them. In both cases, we have a specific action or decision which created a conviction that something shouldn’t be politically possible—that abortion can’t possibly be interpreted as a right, or that a governor’s emergency powers can’t possibly be used in ways which a legislative majority dislikes—in turn causing people who claim to value stability looking to change the constitutional basis of those powers and interpretations themselves.

I’m with Jefferson; I don’t think constitutions are sacred, and changing them doesn’t strike me as at all illegitimate. But when the impetus behind a proposed amendment isn’t an engagement with legal or theoretical arguments, but rather a politically-driven conviction, maybe voters should think twice. They did three weeks ago; whether they will again in November remains to be seen.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583339056495.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.</figcaption>
 </figure>Thomas Jefferson once wrote critically of those who “look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the arc of the covenant, too sacred to be touched.” While he firmly opposed “frequent and untried changes in laws,” he argued that, in the end “laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind.” In other words, as people learn and grow and change, their constitutions necessarily should too.These words are on my mind today, with one failed constitutional amendment in our recent past and another constitutional amendment facing Kansas voters this coming November.There have always been Americans who believe that society needs clear and unchanging constitutional rules, reflecting clear and unchanging values, or else it will fall apart. It’s undeniable that there is much&nbsp;truth in that belief.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>But some of these people seem to express far more confidence as to the content of those values, and the operation of those rules, than is justified. Which means that when the democratically expressed interests of the people — their “mind” in Jefferson’s terms — come to challenge what those individuals assume to be necessarily unchanging rules and values, they sometimes see it as a political development that they need to save the “true” or “authentic” constitution from.When the Kansas Supreme Court determined that the guarantee of “equal and inalienable natural rights” in the Kansas Constitution included at least a limited protection of “bodily integrity” and therefore the right of Kansas women to choose abortion, anti-abortion voters, and those who represent them, were furious, which was to be expected. But their response was to propose amending the Kansas Constitution itself, so as to make it impossible for people to legally or politically interpret the document in that way. That proposal was firmly rejected on August 2.Come November 8, there will be another amendment on the ballot, this one designed to increase the power of the legislature in Topeka, enabling it to exercise exclusive veto power over how the governor chooses to implement the laws which the legislature itself had written and passed. This proposal, like the last one, is driven by political fury, this time to the way Governor Kelly, at the beginning of the pandemic, used the power granted her under existing laws to order school closures and take other extensive public health measures, actions that were highly unpopular with certain voters and their representatives. A legislative veto is their proposed response.Legislative vetoes aren’t a new idea; there are plenty of good legal and theoretical arguments both for and against them. What’s notable here is not the arguments being made, but the political reality inspiring them. In both cases, we have a specific action or decision which created a conviction that something shouldn’t be politically possible—that abortion can’t possibly be interpreted as a right, or that a governor’s emergency powers can’t possibly be used in ways which a legislative majority dislikes—in turn causing people who claim to value stability looking to change the constitutional basis of those powers and interpretations themselves.I’m with Jefferson; I don’t think constitutions are sacred, and changing them doesn’t strike me as at all illegitimate. But when the impetus behind a proposed amendment isn’t an engagement with legal or theoretical arguments, but rather a politically-driven conviction, maybe voters should think twice. They did three weeks ago; whether they will again in November remains to be seen.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: When politics and constitutions collide

Let’s visit a birthplace – not of a president or a general, but the birthplace of a cattle breed. Today we’ll learn more about an innovative family that helped develop a new breed of cattle in rural Kansas.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2022/08/kansas-profile-hoagland-jn-ranch.html">Last week in this column</a>, we met Dirck and Natalie Hoagland of J&amp;N Ranch near Leavenworth. Dirck’s parents, Joe and Nancy Hoagland, bought the place near Leavenworth in 1985 and have expanded operations since. For years, they raised registered Hereford cattle.&nbsp;

Hereford cattle are recognized for having a white-colored face and a red-colored body.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the 1990s, the Hoaglands and their friend John Gage had the idea of trying to breed Herefords that had the traditional white face but were black in color.&nbsp;

To traditional cattle producers, the name black Hereford might sound like an oxymoron – a contradiction in terms, like jumbo shrimp or single option. Yet these breeders wanted the carcass quality and market premiums of black Angus, while retaining the hardiness, docility and versatility of the Hereford breed.&nbsp;

They did so using the same process as that used by other breeds; namely, by introducing Angus genetics and then selecting for black hair color in the descendent generations.&nbsp;

When Joe Hoagland’s friend, John Gage, passed away from cancer, Joe purchased cattle and records from his estate and established the Black Hereford Registry in the barn office at the J&amp;N Ranch in 1999. Joe and Norma registered the first black Hereford and purchased the first membership in the American Black Hereford Association.&nbsp;

Later, the Hoaglands publish the first Black Hereford magazine and hold the first ABHA national sale.&nbsp;

As the association grew, the breed headquarters moved from J&amp;N Ranch to a Kansas City office in 2011. In 2017, Joe and Norma were inducted into the American Black Hereford Association Hall of Fame. Today the association has 500 breeders in 45 states plus overseas. All of these trace their cattle lineage back to the J&amp;N Ranch in Kansas.&nbsp;

Joe and Norma’s son, Dirck, and his wife, Natalie, now operate J&amp;N Ranch, which continues to be a major producer of black Hereford cattle.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bull and heifer development takes place at the ranch near Leavenworth. Their summer pasture is in Wabaunsee County at the Hoagland’s Gun Barrel Ranch, located near the rural community of Eskridge, population 439 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

The Hoaglands recently received a Kansas Wildlife Habitat Conservation award from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for their work to improve prairie chicken habitat on the Wabaunsee County ranch. In this case, improving habitat meant removing trees so as to reduce predator risk for the prairie chicken.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We believe that we should protect the original species on the prairie,” Dirck said.&nbsp;

J&amp;N Ranch has two production sales yearly, selling bulls and females. Their breeding stock is sold across the Midwest and beyond. They’ve sent bulls as far east as Pennsylvania and as far west as Hawaii.&nbsp;

“One of our favorite things is delivering bulls and seeing our customer’s operations first hand,” Dirck Hoagland said (although the bulls that went to Hawaii were shipped by plane, so it sounds like the Hoaglands missed out on that trip).&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s great to travel around and see how our genetics have benefitted our customers’ herds.”&nbsp;

Dirck and Natalie have two boys, Dayton and Reed, ages 10 and 8. The Hoaglands value their rural, agricultural lifestyle deeply and seek to pass it on. “Natalie and I were very lucky to be able to come back into our family operation,” Hoagland said.&nbsp;

“Our one driving goal is to give these two boys the opportunity to live this life on the ranch if they choose to do so,” he said. “We want to be able to provide this opportunity to the next generation.”&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.jnranch.com/">www.jnranch.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information on Black Herefords, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.blackhereford.org/">www.blackhereford.org</a>.&nbsp;

It’s time to leave this birthplace – the birthplace of a cattle breed. We commend Joe and Norma Hoagland, Dirck and Natalie Hoagland, and all those who are making a difference at J&amp;N Ranch.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661350321003.png" alt="Joe and Natalie Hoagland" />
 <figcaption>Joe and Natalie Hoagland</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;Let’s visit a birthplace – not of a president or a general, but the birthplace of a cattle breed. Today we’ll learn more about an innovative family that helped develop a new breed of cattle in rural Kansas.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2022/08/kansas-profile-hoagland-jn-ranch.html">Last week in this column</a>, we met Dirck and Natalie Hoagland of J&amp;N Ranch near Leavenworth. Dirck’s parents, Joe and Nancy Hoagland, bought the place near Leavenworth in 1985 and have expanded operations since. For years, they raised registered Hereford cattle.&nbsp;Hereford cattle are recognized for having a white-colored face and a red-colored body.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the 1990s, the Hoaglands and their friend John Gage had the idea of trying to breed Herefords that had the traditional white face but were black in color.&nbsp;To traditional cattle producers, the name black Hereford might sound like an oxymoron – a contradiction in terms, like jumbo shrimp or single option. Yet these breeders wanted the carcass quality and market premiums of black Angus, while retaining the hardiness, docility and versatility of the Hereford breed.&nbsp;They did so using the same process as that used by other breeds; namely, by introducing Angus genetics and then selecting for black hair color in the descendent generations.&nbsp;When Joe Hoagland’s friend, John Gage, passed away from cancer, Joe purchased cattle and records from his estate and established the Black Hereford Registry in the barn office at the J&amp;N Ranch in 1999. Joe and Norma registered the first black Hereford and purchased the first membership in the American Black Hereford Association.&nbsp;Later, the Hoaglands publish the first Black Hereford magazine and hold the first ABHA national sale.&nbsp;As the association grew, the breed headquarters moved from J&amp;N Ranch to a Kansas City office in 2011. In 2017, Joe and Norma were inducted into the American Black Hereford Association Hall of Fame. Today the association has 500 breeders in 45 states plus overseas. All of these trace their cattle lineage back to the J&amp;N Ranch in Kansas.&nbsp;Joe and Norma’s son, Dirck, and his wife, Natalie, now operate J&amp;N Ranch, which continues to be a major producer of black Hereford cattle.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bull and heifer development takes place at the ranch near Leavenworth. Their summer pasture is in Wabaunsee County at the Hoagland’s Gun Barrel Ranch, located near the rural community of Eskridge, population 439 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;The Hoaglands recently received a Kansas Wildlife Habitat Conservation award from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for their work to improve prairie chicken habitat on the Wabaunsee County ranch. In this case, improving habitat meant removing trees so as to reduce predator risk for the prairie chicken.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We believe that we should protect the original species on the prairie,” Dirck said.&nbsp;J&amp;N Ranch has two production sales yearly, selling bulls and females. Their breeding stock is sold across the Midwest and beyond. They’ve sent bulls as far east as Pennsylvania and as far west as Hawaii.&nbsp;“One of our favorite things is delivering bulls and seeing our customer’s operations first hand,” Dirck Hoagland said (although the bulls that went to Hawaii were shipped by plane, so it sounds like the Hoaglands missed out on that trip).&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s great to travel around and see how our genetics have benefitted our customers’ herds.”&nbsp;Dirck and Natalie have two boys, Dayton and Reed, ages 10 and 8. The Hoaglands value their rural, agricultural lifestyle deeply and seek to pass it on. “Natalie and I were very lucky to be able to come back into our family operation,” Hoagland said.&nbsp;“Our one driving goal is to give these two boys the opportunity to live this life on the ranch if they choose to do so,” he said. “We want to be able to provide this opportunity to the next generation.”&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.jnranch.com/">www.jnranch.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information on Black Herefords, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.blackhereford.org/">www.blackhereford.org</a>.&nbsp;It’s time to leave this birthplace – the birthplace of a cattle breed. We commend Joe and Norma Hoagland, Dirck and Natalie Hoagland, and all those who are making a difference at J&amp;N Ranch.&nbsp;This ranch built more than a cattle breed – it built innovation, commitment and family.&nbsp;

Opinion