KDWPT

BOISE, Idaho – Aerial surveys will be begin March 16 and continue through mid-May in five states containing lesser prairie chicken habitat, including Kansas. The surveys are conducted annually by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) to document population trends and the species’ response to management strategies identified in the Lesser Prairie Chicken Range-wide Conservation Plan.

“This survey is critical to provide annual estimates of the lesser prairie chicken population across the five states,” explained Roger Wolfe, WAFWA’s Lesser Prairie-chicken Program manager. “These population estimates help guide decisions related to conservation efforts targeting lesser prairie chickens and their habitat.”

The range-wide plan is a collaborative effort of WAFWA and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, as well as state wildlife agencies in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Colorado. It was developed to ensure the conservation of the lesser prairie chicken with voluntary cooperation of landowners and industry, and allows agricultural producers and industry to continue operations while reducing impacts to the bird and its grassland habitat.

The surveys will be conducted by helicopter in locations chosen at random within lesser prairie chicken range. Preliminary results from the 2018 surveys will be available beginning July 1.

To view the Lesser Prairie Chicken Range-wide Conservation Plan, visit www.wafwa.org and click “Initiatives,” “Grasslands,” then “Lesser Prairie Chicken.”

FHSU University Relations

GREAT BEND – The Kansas Wetlands Education Center will host the “Wild Goose Chase” 5k and 3k fun run at Cheyenne Bottoms on Saturday, April 7, with registration starting at 7:30 a.m.and the race at 9 a.m.

The KWEC, 592 NE K-156 Highway, is at the southeast side of Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, northeast of Great Bend.

The chase, coordinated by the KWEC, Eagle Communications, the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau, is held on even-numbered years. The race route will be on a mowed grass surface and will go around the marsh behind the KWEC building.

Participants will receive a race T-shirt, chip-timing and snacks. Medals will be awarded by age division for men and women.

Registration for people 18 and older is $25 ($35 after March 27). For all ages under 18, registration is $15 ($25 after March 27). To register online or to view registration forms, visit wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/wild-goose-chase-3k5k-fun-run/.

FHSU

The choirs of Fort Hays State University will present their Spring Choral Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Sheridan Hall on the FHSU campus. Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and free for students.

The Concert Choir of 54 voices and the Fort Hays Singers of 20 voices will both appear, singing a wide variety of choral repertoire. The Fort Hays Singers will reprise their program from earlier in the semester when they appeared at the KMEA Convention in Wichita on February 23rd. Both ensembles are conducted by Dr. Terry Crull, and accompanied by Pam McGowne.

As the Fort Hays Singers are taking a concert trip to Austria in June, special activities at the Spring Choral Concert will include a moment of thanks for those who are financially helping them secure the funds for Austria, a raffle of the beautiful music quilt made by Pam McGowne, and recognition of longtime members of both choirs.

HHS Guidon

Last week 35 students from or affiliated with Hays High received Dane Hansen Scholarships. These students were required to take a test to qualify for the scholarship as well as interview to receive it. The total amount of scholarship money received by these students will be $502,000 spread over four years.

Students must have a 21 or higher on their ACT test, and a 3.50 GPA to qualify to take the test to qualify for an interview. Once they pass the test they must get three letters of recommendation as well as partake in an interview process at the Hansen Foundation.

The scholarships are broken up into four brackets: The Leaders of Tomorrow receive $10,000 renewable for three additional years, the Hansen Scholars receive $6,500 renewable for three additional years, the Hansen Students receive $4,000 renewable for one additional year, and the Career and Technical Education receive $4,000 renewable for one additional year.  Specific requirements must be met each year for the scholarship to continue.

The seniors who received scholarships and which scholarship they received are listed below.

Leaders of Tomorrow: Brendan Chapman, Lacey Gregory and Mark Schuckman.

Hansen Scholars: Trinity Callis, Allliana Drees, Autumn Hohmann, Madison Karlin, Dawson Rooney, Kaitlyn Schaben and Ethan Tschanz.

Hansen Students: Abigail Balman, Analyse Claude, Mikayla Koerner, Drew Morley, Sara Rohleder, Kayla Satomi, Taryn Stauth, Kyler Voss, Zachary Wagner, Katherine Weisenborn, Ryan Will, Sarah Wyse and Eric Rorstrom.

Career and Technical Education: Keaton Augustine, Marissa Befort, Savannah Bieker, Ashley Boland, Emma Humphrey, Jared Kisner, Kelsi Page, Taya Randle, Jennifer Vallego, Mason Weber, Jesse Weilert and Tracee Weilert.

Lacey Gregory, recipient of the $10,000 Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship, said she is planning on attending KU in the fall, and finding out about this scholarship made the decision much easier.

“I was very pleased to receive the scholarship,” Gregory said. “I’m glad to have been given such a great opportunity.”

Mark Schuckman, who plans to attend Fort Hays State University next year studying Industrial Technology, said that he was surprised he received the Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship.

“I feel very honored that I was one of the ten students in northwest Kansas to receive this award and I’m very thankful I was chosen,” Schuckman said. “After my interview, I thought it went pretty well so i thought I might get a scholarship of some type but I didn’t expect to get the $10,000 one at all.”

COTTONWOOD EXTENSION

New food experiences can open us to new cultures and new communities. The Hays office of the Cottonwood Extension District will host a Chinese Culinary Workshop on Wednesday, March 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Hays First Presbyterian Church, 2900 Hall Street in Hays. The cost is only $5 per person.

This hands-on Chinese cooking class will serve as an occasion for restaurant professionals, food inspectors, and the community to interact with each other. The workshop is co-sponsored by the K-State Confucius Institute, inspectors of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, and K-State Research and Extension specialists.

Chinese chefs will demonstrate cooking techniques and KDA inspectors will share proper food safety and food handling practices.

This class is designed for local restaurant staff, culinary students and the public. The registration fee includes class instruction and tasting. Class size is limited to 20 people. For questions or to register, contact the Hays office at 785-628-9430.