“We could have retired anywhere in the world. We chose to come back to northwest Kansas.”
That statement from Skip Yowell, co-founder of JanSport and the featured speaker at Thursday night’s Hays Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet, brought a big round of applause from the crowd.
The Grainfield native went to Seattle, Washington, and turned a his passion for climbing and hiking into the top-selling daypack in the world.
He and his wife retired two years ago to Saint Peter and also have a home in Hays.
Yowell helped build one of the most recognized brand names, JanSport, sponsoring climbing expeditions, outdoor programs and recreating in Bhutan, Kenya, Mount Everest and other far-flung places.
He will also speak Friday morning at 9 during the HACC Chamber Chat at the Hays Welcome Center, 2700 Vine. Yowell will discuss his book, “The Hippie Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder & Other Mountains.”