We need you.  That’s the message to the Hays Association of Young Professionals (HAYP) from a leading expert in rural development.

Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at KSU-Manhattan, met with the group Tuesday at the Fort Hays State University Robbins Center to talk population decline  in Kansas.

With a presentation involving  lots of maps and lots number crunching, Wilson showed that most of Kansas is experiencing a long-term population loss and accompanying “brain drain.”

There is some good news, he says, and Ellis County is part of it.

“Considered as a ‘select rural area,’  Ellis County’s population is forecast to grow, along with the valued–added agribusiness complex in southwest Kansas, and of course, a handful of big cities in eastern Kansas,” according to  Wilson.

The group talked about why someone chooses to live in rural Kansas and how to build on those assets.   “We like to call them ‘ruralpreneurs’,'” he smiled.

The noon luncheon was part of the Eagle Communications Professional Development Series in cooperation with the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.

Find out more tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

Yep, there are always a lot of pigs at the Ellis County Fair.

New this year, “Pig 1” and “Pig 2,” raised by Coby Fischer, 10,  of the Ellis Sunflowers 4-H Club.

Coby says the hard work starts at home.  “We put them on a self-feeder and make sure they don’t get too fat, and we make a mudhole so they don’t get sunburn and don’t get overheated.”

Finally, Coby and his pigs were ready and in the ring Wednesday morning for the swine show.  Getting them to walk the right way for the judge is the hardest, according to Coby, and,  “I have to hit them a little bit (with my crop.”)

Do his pigs walk the right way?  “Sometimes, ” Coby answers.

And this time they did walk the right way.

“Pig 1,” Pig 2″ and Coby  took home blue ribbons. First time participants, first place winners.

You can see Coby and his pigs tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

The 4-Hrs were at it bright and early this morning in the Rabbit and Poultry Barn at the Ellis County Fair.  The roosters, though, had been crowing since sunrise.

Judging of poultry started at 8a.m. sharp.  The 4-Hrs were there at 7a.m., first checking their birds over and providing food and more water.

Then it was time for some primping.  16-year-old Breanne Kruse of the Buckeye Jr. Farmers 4-H Club, rubs baby oil on the feet and comb of her Golden Sebright rooster, Allistair.  “It makes him stand out a little more for the judges,” she says.

Kruse also has ducks to be judged this morning.  She prefers working with her rooster, though.  “He’s less excitable and doesn’t flap his wings as much as the ducks.”

Kruse has some advice for fair-goers as they walk through the poultry barn.  “Don’t stick your finger in the cages.   They’ll peck you, at least mine will,” laughs Kruse.

See more of the Ellis County Fair 4-H projects tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

Following last month’s redistricting of Kansas political lines by federal judges, Ellis County has been moved from the 36^th into the 40^th Senate District.

The current 36^th District Senator, Democrat Allen Schmidt of Hays, is running for 40^th District Senate seat, along with incumbent Ralph Ostmeyer of Grinnell, and newcomer John Miller, a Norton County Commissioner.  Both Ostmeyer and Miller are Republicans.

All  three men participated in a candidate forum Tuesday evening in Hays hosted by the Big First Tea Party.

The races for 40th Senate District and Ellis County Clerk were the only two contests for which all the candidates participated in the forum.

Hear remarks from the senate candidates tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

There’s a little more protection from the sun and the wind at the new Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex in Hays, thanks to the Hays Area Young Professionals.

What started as a plan to plant just one tree on Earth Day grew into a large fundraiser this past spring, enabling the group to purchase more than 100 trees.  They planted  74 trees April 21st with help from the Hays Parks Department, Hays Recreation Commission and other volunteers.

Thursday morning H-A-Y-P was recognized and thanked with a ribbon cutting and plaque mounted on the soccer field concession stand wall.

More trees will be planted during the next 3-4 years and eventually surround the entire sports complex.

The trees, including crab apple and cherry, were purchased from Hays Greenhouse and Riedel’s Garden Center.

See more tonight Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.