KARTA

NESS CITY – The Kansas Ag Research & Technology Association (KARTA) announced last week that they will be making up to $14,000 available for agricultural research funding in 2018. The announcement was made during the 20th Annual Kansas Agricultural Technologies Conference in Junction City, Kansas, in front of more than 150 producers, vendors, and students who attended the growing event.

Between now and February 20th, KARTA members (and prospective members) are encouraged to submit funding applications for on-farm research. “It is getting harder and harder to maintain a viable farming operation with rising input costs,” says KARTA Board President Brent Rendel. “On farm research is so important for testing new products and new methods – and sharing that information with the other producers at our annual conference is always an attendee favorite. It’s not about your theory being right, it’s about being more in-the-know when the data comes in.”

Research grants are available in several amounts. KARTA members who submit new research project receive a grant in the amount of $500 per person. Members who submit applications for continuing projects from previous years receive $400 per person. Group studies are also encouraged, and grants are available at $300 per group member involved with the research project. New group projects are being facilitated this year, with more information being announced to those who apply to participate.

“Grant funding is designed to encourage producers to answer the questions they might have on their own farms,” says KARTA Research Coordinator Tyler Lund. “The first time you take on a research project it can be challenging, but it gets easier the more you practice. We can help new researchers get started tracking their results, and can try to walk them through the process to make it as simple as possible.”

Grant recipients are expected to track their project’s results in a scientific manner that produces comparable data. The funds will be awarded in the spring of 2018, and the recipient will be expected to report their results to the KARTA membership at next year’s conference in January 2019. Anyone interested in learning more about the research funding or reading previous research projects should visit the KARTA website. From there, they can also fill out the convenient online application to request funding for their proposed project. Deadline to apply is February 20th.

Find more details or apply on the KARTA website, www.kartaonline.org. Be sure to like the KARTA facebook page and follow on Twitter, @kartaonline.

USD 489

Hays High School DECA students participated in collecting money for the Ronald McDonald houses Miracle Minutes project.

DECA students took advantage of good crowds at the Bob Kuhn Prairie Classic by collecting spare change from spectators during the wrestling tournament.

All money raised for the Miracle Minutes project will go toward helping children with significant medical needs in Kansas.

Students were able to raise about $500 for their Miracle Minute project this year.

USD 489

KC Wolf treated students at Lincoln and Wilson elementary schools to a visit on Jan. 18.

KC greeted students at each of the schools as they entered the gymnasiums.

Students watched a short video of KC’s tricks that he has completed over his 28 year as the Kansas City Chief’s mascot.

KC then shared an important message with students about bullying and how it affects them.

Students learned how to identify when someone is being bullied and what to do to help address and stop that behavior.

“USD 489 thanks KC the Wolf and the Chiefs for helping share this important lesson without students,” the district said.

GOVE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 3:30a.m. Sunday in Gove County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Ford F250 driven by Andrew Kuntz, 33, Quinter, was westbound on Old Hwy 40 two miles east of Park.

The driver lost control of the pickup. It traveled into the north ditch and the driver overcorrected back onto roadway. The pickup traveled back into the north ditch, overcorrected back to the south ditch and rolled.

Kuntz was transported to Gove County Medical Center.   He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

FHSU

Fort Hays State University Science Café presents: “Same Stress, Different Animal.” All animals (including humans) experience stress. Using insights from the animal kingdom, this presentation will explore why stress is important, and what happens with it when it gets out of hand.

Presenter is Dr. Medhavi Ambardar, Instructor, FHSU Biological Sciences.

The presentation is Tue., Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at Gella’s Diner, 117 E. 11th, Hays. It is free and open to the public.

Science Cafe is sponsored by the FHSU Science and Mathematics Education Institute.

KCCEOA

The Kansas County Clerks Election Officials Association (KCCEOA) has twelve $500 scholarships available to Kansas high school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores.

According to Donna Maskus, Ellis County Clerk and KCCEOA Scholarship Committee Chair, the scholarships are for those students who major in Journalism, Political Science, Communications, or Business.

The Kansas County Clerks’ and Election Officials’ Association awards scholarships annually to Kansas high school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores, provided they carry a minimum 3.0 GPA.

See application for requirements at kcceoa.org or ellisco.net. Applications are due by April 2, 2018.

This scholarship has been in place for several years and was started by the funds the KCCEOA received from the Associated Press and major news outlets for election night reporting. The bulk of the funding now comes from donations and from funds received through a silent auction held annually at the spring conference of the association. Conference participants bring items either donated or purchased for the auction and the conference attendees bid on them throughout the conference.

This scholarship program has awarded hundreds of scholarships to the youth of Kansas over the years and hopes to continue to do so in the years to come.

If you have any questions, please contact Ellis County Clerk Donna J. Maskus at 785-628-9410.

GSKH

WICHITA ­– Each year Kansas Heartland Girl Scouts learn critical leadership and life skills through the Girl Scout Cookie Program. This year, Kansas girls will kick-off a new century of entrepreneurship from Feb. 10 to Mar. 18 by powering their experiences with cookies and sparking their future careers through this valuable program.

In 1917, girls began participating in what would evolve into the largest entrepreneurial training program for girls in the world – the Girl Scout Cookie Program – through which they gain tools to become effective leaders, manage finances, and gain self-sufficiency and confidence in handling money. This year marks the beginning of a new century of Girl Scout entrepreneurs. During Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland’s Cookie Sale, these young go-getters are learning essential life skills – goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics – that stay with them forever.

Participating Girl Scouts show their inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, Leader) as they sell delicious cookies and develop strong business practices that are imperative to leadership and future success. When someone buys a box of cookies, they’re not just receiving a sweet deal. Revenue from every cookie purchase powers enriching experiences for girls year-round, such as outdoor adventures, world traveling, and actionable projects that benefit the local community.

These funds power amazing Girl Scout experiences that might not have been possible otherwise. Goddard Troop 40633 members traveled to Savannah, Georgia, birthplace of Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low. There they cultivated a new appreciation for how Girl Scouts began, giving them unique insight into why their organization came to be. Venturing across the country to Washington, D.C., Hutchinson Troop 50230 explored our nation’s capital, learning about our history and reminding themselves of the importance of civic action and duty.

This cookie season will see familiar treats returning to the 2018 Cookie Lineup. Last year, Girl Scouts released the S’mores cookie to celebrate our centennial year. The treat became an instant classic debuting as the highest selling new cookie release in our history. The S’mores will be returning this year along with our famous Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Lemonades, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Shortbreads, Thanks-A-Lots, and the gluten-free Trios and remain priced at the same $4 per package.

The Girl Scouts’ commitment to giving back continues each year, as girls not only invest their cookie earnings into service projects across Kansas, they also give customers the option of sharing cookies with service men and women, their families, and local charities like the Kansas Food Bank.

Through Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland’s Cookie Share Program, Cookie Sale customers can simply purchase a package of cookies and donate it. Since the Cookie Share Program began in 2010, Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland has distributed more than 139,650 packages of cookies to members of the military and local charities, including 22,000 “Cookie Shares” in 2017. This year, girls across Kansas have set a new goal to reach – 150,000 packages.

Make plans today to invest in local girls and your community by supporting the Girl Scout Cookie Sale. Looking for a local Girl Scout, aka Cookie Boss? To find cookies, just enter your zip code at kansasgirlscouts.org, call the Cookie Hotline at 888-686-MINT, or download the free, official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app for iOS and Android mobile devices. Go to kansasgirlscouts.org to learn more.

About Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland

Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland serves more than 14,500 girls and adults in 80 Kansas counties through its operational headquarters in Wichita, Kan., and regional offices in Salina, Hays, Emporia and Garden City. Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls’ healthy development and is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

MANHATTAN – Updates on the latest ways to use water resources most efficiently on farm fields highlight the schedule for the Central Plains Irrigation Conference and Expo, scheduled Feb. 20-21 at the City Limits Convention Center, 2225 S. Range Ave. in Colby, Kansas.

The primary sponsors include Kansas State University and the Central Plains Irrigation Association with numerous irrigation-related agricultural companies. Kansas Corn will host a dinner and farmer panel as part of the conference.

“This conference is the place to find out about the latest research and technology advances relevant for agricultural producers across the Plains states,” said Danny Rogers, agricultural engineer with K-State Research and Extension. “There’s never been a more important time for farmers to be aware of ways they can conserve water as they help grow the nation’s and world’s food supply.”

The opening day lunch will feature the showing of ‘Thirsty Land,’ a documentary film by producer and director Conrad Weaver about drought, water and agriculture in the western United States.

Conference speakers include university researchers and extension specialists, plus government officials and farmers who will share their experiences, addressing such topics as
• Using Remote Sensing to Improve Irrigation Uniformity;
• Irrigated Corn with Reduced Well Capacity;
• KSU Crop Management Results from 28 Years of Subsurface Drip Irrigation Research;
• Producers’ Reactions to Water Use Restrictions;
• Center Pivot Safety and Maintenance;
• and more than 15 other topics.

Vendors will be on hand as part of the Expo to answer questions about the latest irrigation technology and related services.

More information is available at the Central Plains Irrigation Association website, centralplainsirrigationassociation.org or by contacting Donna Lamm at 785-462-7574 or [email protected]. =