More often than we’d like to admit we sometimes shoot ourselves in the foot when talking about the challenges we face in farming and ranching. These conversations with our friends, neighbors and family members take place at the local café, filling station, after church or Friday evening ball games.
During these visits, farmers and ranchers sometimes conclude that consumers and non-aggies don’t like them. Or, their urban acquaintances don’t listen to them or care one iota about raising crops or caring for livestock.
Most people don’t need to know much about farming today. They probably think about agriculture less than 30 seconds a year and 20 seconds of that time is based on misinformation.
Why should they?
Do farmers and ranchers wonder what a Detroit automaker does? Who he or she is? And what about their family?
While non-farm and ranch people harbor misconceptions about agriculture, believe me, they like farmers and ranchers. They admire this profession, especially if they understand farmers and ranchers provide the food their families eat.
Still, no one wants to be educated or preached to. Humans like to engage in conversations. They like give and take. Usually, if a person is knowledgeable about a profession like raising cattle, another person who doesn’t know about the livestock industry may be curious and willing to listen.
And while no one understands agriculture like farmers and ranchers, encourage and foster dialogues with those who know little about this profession. This includes people outside your comfort zone – someone you don’t usually talk to like city cousins, foodies, medics, lawyers, etc.
Conduct such conversations on a flight to another state or country. Develop dialogue with people at a professional meeting, just about anywhere and with anyone who isn’t savvy about agriculture.
Times continue to change. Forty years ago, people expressed little interest in agriculture.
As a fledgling photo journalist in the mid-1970s, I can’t remember someone asking me about agriculture at a social event. This just didn’t happen even though some knew I worked in ag journalism.
Agriculture wasn’t hip, cool or fly back then. Today the tables have turned, and some people are quite interested in where their food comes from. They don’t hesitate to walk up to you, cocktail in hand and ask, “Tell me about antibiotics and beef production.”
Talk to them. Tell your story. Exude passion about your chosen profession.
But remember – ask them about their profession, who they are and what makes them tick. Listen.
Develop those relationships and build on those dialogues. Before you can expect someone to listen to you for one-half hour about how important international trade is to your bottom line, you must listen to them tell you about their home and garden, their chosen path in life or whatever else they choose to talk about at the time.
There is a voice that doesn’t use words – listen.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills Public Television has begun a capital campaign to fund two projects.
The first project is the replacement of the KSWK transmitter located near Lakin. The transmitter broadcasts Smoky Hills Public Television’s signal to southwest Kansas. When the transmitter is at full strength, nearly 83,000 people in southwest Kansas can receive Smoky Hills’ programming for free with an antenna, including nearly 16,000 children who benefit from the educational kids programming. However, due to age, the transmitter is functioning on low power.
The cost to replace the transmitter is $146,000. Approximately half of the project cost has been donated through the Perle and Catherine Frazee Foundation, the Mona and Mel Winger Family Foundation, Pioneer Electric Area Roundup, the Rundell Foundation and an anonymous donor.
The second project is the purchase of a new video server. The server allows the station to record PBS programs and schedule them with local shows, promotions and acknowledgements of supporters. Without the server, SHPTV would be forced to only broadcast a raw PBS stream, which would be a random schedule of shows.
With the current video server failing, SHPTV is raising $147,000 to replace it. The Hansen Foundation has made a contribution toward this project.
“Smoky Hills Public Television is grateful for all the donations towards this capital campaign,” said Larry Calvery, Smoky Hills Public Television Interim General Manager. “The generosity and support of these donors encourages our continued commitment to raising the remaining funds because these pieces of equipment are essential to the broadcast of Smoky Hills Public Television throughout central and western Kansas.”
Fort Hays State University-Energy Division Seeking Position – Skilled Trades Technician, Plant Operations
The FHSU Energy Division/Power Plant is looking for a dependable individual to hire in the Power Plant Department.This is a full time position with benefits.
TASKS
Operation, maintenance and repair of industrial equipment such as boilers, generators, pumps and valves.Work involves all aspects of boiler operation to include general maintenance and repair of related Energy Division/Power Plant equipment.Follow written and oral procedures, reading and recording gauges and water testing.Able to lift 30-50 lbs.
Working hours during the heating season require 24/7 operation during the months of October to April, requiring shift work for continuous operation.Working hours from May through September are usually Monday – Friday 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM.This position may be required to work a flexible work schedule as needed.
REQUIREMENTS
High school diploma or GED, valid driver’s license.Three years’ experience in some skilled trades area.Prefer experience in electrical or mechanical trades, but this is not required.Must be able to lift 30-50 lbs.
Application Process:To apply for this position, please visit https://fhsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CAREERS.Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.
Required Application Documents:Applicants should submit a resume and names and contact information for three professional references.Applicant documents should be submitted in one PDF.
Notice of Non-discrimination – Fort Hays State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, color, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or veteran status.
Background Check: Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check.
Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative or www.kpers.org for further information on how this might affect you.
Today Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8am and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 77. West wind 6 to 13 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight A 10 percent chance of showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. North wind 7 to 10 mph.
WednesdayMostly sunny, with a high near 84. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 6 mph.
Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Thursday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
At 8:22 a.m. Tuesday, Hays Police officers responded to a 911 call from a business in the 500 block of Vine Street regarding an upset man in a red Ford Mustang looking to get his semi out of impound. The semi had previously been impounded and stored at the business.
The semi owner, later identified as Mitchell W. Dallmann, 29, had reportedly pulled a rifle out of his vehicle while in the parking lot of the business. Dallmann had cycled the action of the rifle, waved it around while yelling at an employee of the business and then drove southbound. Dallmann was located in La Crosse by the Rush County Sheriff’s Department and was arrested without further incident for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Dallman is currently in the Ellis County jail.
“The Hays Police Department would like to thank the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department, Rush County Sheriff’s Department, and the Kansas Highway Patrol for their assistance,” the HPD said in a news release. “Dallmann is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.”
After capturing their first MIAA championship and making the playoffs for the first time in 20 years, the Fort Hays State football team will open the 2018 campaign ranked fifth in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Top 25 Poll. The Tigers share the No. 5 spot with Northwest Missouri State. The Tigers week one opponent, Central Missouri, is ranked 18th. Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Missouri Western State, Central Oklahaoma and Washburn are all in the receiving votes category.
Coming off their first ever Division II national championship in 2017, Texas A&M-Commerce will start the 2018 season ranked No. 1aches’ Top 25 Poll. This is the first time since the poll began in 2000 that the Lions start the season ranked No. 1. West Florida, who lost to Texas A&M-Commerce in the championship game, begins this year at No. 2. The Argonauts are followed by Minnesota State at No. 3, Indiana (Pa.) at No. 4.
The first week of action starts off with four Top 25 matchups, all on Thursday, August 30. The first game has No. 2 West Florida hosting No. 22 Carson-Newman (Tenn.) while No. 4 Indiana (Pa.) travels to No. 15 Ashland (Ohio). The third Top 25 matchup is a conference battle as No. 5t Fort Hays State (Kan.) plays host to No. 18 Central Missouri. The final matchup has No. 10 Grand Valley State (Mich.) hosting No. 13 Indianapolis (Ind.).
RANK SCHOOL 2017 RECORD POINTS PREVIOUS RANK
1 Texas A&M-Commerce (13) 14-1 748 1
2 West Florida (14) 11-4 721 2
3 Minnesota St. (2) 13-1 691 4
4 Indiana (Pa.) (2) 13-1 666 3
T-5 Fort Hays St. (Kan.) 11-1 591 8
T-5 NW Missouri St. (2) 9-3 591 16
7 Harding (Ark.) 11-4 550 6
8 Ferris St. (Mich.) 11-2 503 5
9 Central Washington 11-1 494 7
10 Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 8-3 478 NR
11 Midwestern St. (Texas) 10-1 473 11
12 West Alabama 10-3 470 12
13 Indianapolis (Ind.) 11-1 402 13
14 Colorado St.-Pueblo 9-3 401 17
15 Ashland (Ohio) 11-2 350 10
16 Shepherd (W.Va.) 10-1 332 14
17 Assumption (Mass.) 11-2 292 9
18 Central Missouri 9-3 209 NR
19 West Georgia 9-4 196 19
20 Sioux Falls (S.D.) 9-3 158 20
21 Winona St. (Minn.) 10-2 134 15
22 Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 8-3 118 NR
23 Ohio Dominican 7-3 105 NR
24 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 9-3 102 NR
25 Findlay (Ohio) 10-3 101 22
Others Receiving Votes: California (Pa.), 89; Delta St. (Miss.), 74; West Chester (Pa.), 74; Colorado Mesa, 66; Bowie St. (Md.), 60; Virginia St., 51; Minnesota-Duluth, 41; Albany St. (Ga.), 39; Florida Tech, 36; Colorado Mines, 34; Shippensburg (Pa.), 31; Tuskegee (Ala.), 26; Wingate (N.C.), 25; Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 22; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 22; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 21; Notre Dame (Ohio), 18; Eastern New Mexico, 17; Edinboro (Pa.), 15; Missouri Western St., 14; Bloomsburg (Pa.), 13; Emporia St. (Kan.), 11; Central Oklahoma, 9; LIU Post (N.Y.), 8; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 8; Augustana (S.D.), 5; Fairmont St. (W.Va.), 5; Humboldt St. (Calif.), 4; Catawba (N.C.), 3; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 3; Hillsdale (Mich.), 3; Southern Arkansas, 1; Washburn (Kan.), 1.
Rooks County is in process of purchasing the Rooks County Golf Course, but not all local residents are pleased with the purchase.
The 70-acre-golf course, which is 5 miles north of Plainville, is owned privately by a family that lives out of state. Recently, the family has been unable to care for the course.
The course has fallen into disrepair, and membership renewals and statements for cart shed rentals were not sent out this year.
“Because of the maintenance issues, people didn’t have to join,” said Roger Hrabe, director of Rooks County Economic Development. “They could just go out and golf. People were keeping their sheds out there and their carts, and no one was being paid.”
The Hambright family, which owned the course, was seeking to sell the nine-hole course, the only grass-green course in the county.
Hrabe said economic development agreed to put up the $130,000 for the purchase of the course with the county retaining ownership and providing management of the course. The county agreed to buy the course with economic development funds on a split vote with Commission Chairman John Ruder and Commissioner Larry Poore voting for the purchase and Commissioner Corky Hagan voting against. A verbal agreement has been made with the owners, and the county is waiting for the contract to be signed.
Hrabe said saving the course is a quality of life issue for the county.
“If you start looking at the percentage of people who golf out of your total county population,” Hrabe said, “it’s not high, but it is a quality of life issue that a lot of people want and a lot of people would use whether they are residents or not. If you are going to attract people, whether you are attracting younger people coming in or keeping the retired people here, it is something that is important.”
The course is currently being run by volunteers. The county’s hope is that the course will be able to regain enough paying members that the course will be self-sustaining. The county has estimated an annual operating budget of $30,000. The county has a group of five volunteers who have agreed to serve as a board for the course, Ruder said, but the county is waiting on the sale to go through to formally organize that group.
Ruder admitted the county did not have a formal business plan for the golf course, saying he thought that “was putting the cart before the horse.”
The lack of a clear business plan and questions about maintenance and operating expenses at the course drew concerns from community residents.
Shayn Balthazor, Rooks County resident and business owner, started a petition requesting that certain questions be answered about the course before the sale went through. The petition also requested the sale go to a public vote.
“I started the petition because I didn’t feel that the commissioners had done enough research or analysis into costs, overhead, condition of property and equipment or potential income,” Balthazor said.
Balthazor attended two county commission meetings to speak on the issue.
“I stated that if any other business owner or prospective business owner asked for help from economic development (where the money to purchase the golf course is coming from), they would be required to have a business plan before economic development would consider helping financially,” he said.
Balthazor raised concerns about the septic system, which had allegedly seeped in the area of the clubhouse in the past.
Ruder said the county is hoping the septic tank just needs cleaned out.
Hrabe said maintenance does need to be done at the course, specifically work on the cart sheds. Ruder said it was the county’s hope that once the county gained ownership of the course and started collecting fees again, money could be set aside for these upgrades.
Hrabe said none of the maintenance issues, including the septic system, appeared to be serious. Ruder said the course is in working order at this time. It will be staffed strictly by volunteers until further notice, Ruder said.
Balthazor also expressed concern about the property tax implications and objected to the economic development money being used for the purchase of the golf course. As county property, the golf course would be tax exempt.
“The money is coming from economic development, which receives its revenue from a mill levy,” he said. “The money is taxpayer paid money, and taxpayers pay mils on their property tax. I’d like to see this money put toward bringing new business to the county or help a private owner purchase the golf course without footing the whole purchase. I’m not sure how the county purchasing the golf course will help develop the economy in our county.”
Hrabe said if private owners could eventually be found to purchase and operate the course again, the county would support that.
Because no fees were being collected by the current owner, the number of members or potential members is in question.
Ruder said as few as 40 to 50 paid members could mean the golf course could be self-sustaining. Hrabe was optimistic, saying the course had the potential for as many as 200 members. He said the numbers are a matter of conjecture, but the county is basing membership goals on what they once were.
Balthazor said there were too many unknowns.
“I oppose the purchase. If they had done a proper business plan, knew costs, overheads and true income potential, and could know with little shadow of doubt that it would be successful, I might be (swayed) for the purchase of the golf course,” he said. “Ultimately, we the petitioners just wanted the commissioners to do their homework and then give the voters the opportunity to vote on the subject. We wanted to be informed and then decide if it would be a good investment for the county as a whole.”
Balthazor, who is a former member of the golf course, said the petition received more than 250 signatures and was presented to the county clerk within 14 days of the legal notice of sale appearing in the local newspaper. However, this was after the commission had already voted to purchase the property on June 29. Poore said the petition was not considered for this reason.
“We were not asking much,” Balthazor said, “just a say in how our tax dollars are going to be spent on a subject that isn’t a necessity to the business of running the county.”
Despite the petition, Ruder and Hrabe both said most of the feedback they had received on the purchase of the golf course has been positive.
“The folks that are talking to me are happy that the county got involved,” Ruder said. ” Our goal is to save the golf course.”
Commissioner Corky Hagan was out of state and unable to speak to the Hays Post before publication.
MANHATTAN – Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder announced Monday that Dalton Risner and Hays native Alex Delton will serve as captains for the 2018 season, while Colby Moore will be an honorary special teams captain and Kendall Adams, Duke Shelley, Trey Dishon, Reggie Walker, Skylar Thompson and Alex Barnes will be co-captains.
Risner is a captain for a third-straight season, joined only by Brooks Barta (1990-92), Mark Simoneau (1997-99), Collin Klein (2010-12) and B.J. Finney (2012-14) to hold that distinction. The remaining captains and co-captains were elected to those leadership positions for the first time in their careers.
A product of Wiggins, Colo., Risner is coming off an All-American season when he was named to the first team by Pro Football Focus and the second team by CBSSports.com. A career 38-game starter – including his last 25 at right tackle – Risner led the Wildcats to a tie for third place in school history in rushing yards per carry (4.98) last season, while they finished seventh in program history with 2,584 total rushing yards.
Delton, Hays, played in seven games in 2017 with four starts, throwing for 637 yards and three touchdowns on 49-of-85 aim, while rushing for 500 yards on 100 carries with eight scores. He came off the bench in the Cactus Bowl to rush for a K-State bowl record 158 yards and three scores en route to Offensive MVP accolades.
Moore, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship following the 2017 season, has been a valuable member of all special teams units throughout his career. He played in every game as a junior, tying for team-high honors with six tackles on kickoff coverage. A native of Argyle, Texas, Moore is a two-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 performer.
K-State hosts South Dakota on Saturday, September 1, inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game kicks off at 6:10 p.m., and will be televised globally on ESPN3. The Wildcats then host SEC foe Mississippi State at 11 a.m., on September 8, in a game televised on ESPN, while they wrap up non-conference play on September 15, by hosting UTSA at 3 p.m., on FSN.
K-State begins Big 12 play on the road for the 18th time in the 23-year history of the Big 12 and the second time in the last three years at West Virginia when the Wildcats travel to Morgantown, West Virginia, on September 22. The Wildcats’ Big 12 home opener comes against Texas on September 29.
The “logical recourse is reconstruction at this point.”
John Braun, project manager for the city of Hays, told city commissioners Thursday night numerous patches have been made to 43rd and 45th Streets when they were constructed in 2000 in conjunction with the Walmart Supercenter, 4301 Vine.
“For various reasons the pavement has prematurely failed,” reported Braun. “The most logical course of action at this point is to remove the existing pavement, stabilize the road base, and place new concrete pavement.” The existing driveways and curb and gutter will remain.
This project was originally scheduled for construction in 2019 but bids for other projects have come in under budget, according to Braun, allowing for reconstruction of the two streets to be accelerated. The pavement will be reinstalled on both streets from Vine Street west to the end of the existing pavement.
Vogts Parga Construction, LLC, Newton, was the low bidder at $876,324.12, which will be funded out of Commission Capital Reserves.
A new sidewalk along the north side of 43rd will be installed and paid for with Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) funds of $27,212.40. The sidewalk will serve the proposed convention center in that area, Braun explained, therefore meeting the qualification to utilize CVB monies.
Construction of 45th Street will begin shortly and is scheduled to be completed by Thanksgiving; 43rd Street reconstruction will begin after the first of the year as winter weather allows and is to be done by July 1, 2019.
Braun emphasized the pavement reconstruction is separate from the planned extension of 43rd Street by developers to serve the planned Hilton Garden Inn and convention center west of Walmart.
“They have the same engineer as we do. Briggs Design Group is working for the developer to do the extension of the road and utilities for the Hilton Garden Inn development. So the coordination is hand-in-glove due to that. Our construction would be done well before Hilton Garden Inn and convention center opens for business,” Braun told commissioners.
Although she voted in favor of the bid, Sandy Jacobs said she “resented” having to vote yes.
“These streets should have lasted, and with the code the way it is now, they will last longer than these were. We’re having to do this because the base was put in improperly,” she noted.
The construction project calls for 45th Street to be shut down entirely and be rebuilt in one phase.
“Because of all the other businesses on 43rd Street and the access that’s required, it will have to be reconstructed in several phases,” Braun said, “but we would always provide access to every business along 43rd. He added that the Walmart lot would be accessible from 43rd but traffic would have to exit onto 45th, which will have been completed. “That will ease congestion in the construction zone.”
The faculty at Thomas More Prep-Marian is engaging in a one-day fundraising effort.
The faculty was divided into teams, given $30 and charged with Making Hays Great Again.
The team of Latisha Haag, Chelsie Niehaus, Troy Ruda, Cody Marintzer and Jim Balthazor are using their $30 to raise money for the St. Joseph Food Pantry.
They are asking businesses to match their $30 as a donation to the food pantry.
ABC Seamless has already donated $30 to the campaign.
You can donate online click here. Under the Please designate my gift to: drop down menu, choose Let Me Choose. Then, in the comments note, type the food pantry.
Donors have until the end of the day today to donate to the team’s cause.
You can follow the team’s progress at #TMPMakeHaysGreat.
“I want to thank everyone in advance,” said Jim Balthazor. “We have a wonderful community, and I want to thank them for their amazing giving.”
