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Aug. 1, 2024
The Kansas Sampler Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit located near Inman.
Our mission is to preserve and sustain rural culture.
Follow Kansas Sampler Foundation on Facebook.
You can support our work, including these We Kan! Tidbits, at our support page here.
Link to this Tidbits
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TIPS FROM THE KSF PowerUp MANAGER
The power of history and tradition: One of the core values of the PowerUp Movement is to appreciate history. When we respect the builders of the community and the values and virtues of the place we live, we can develop pride in our place. This essay from a small town mayor emphasizes the value in discovering the history of a place (there's a part two you'll enjoy reading too.) It’s an opportunity to balance what came before and use it to motivate and energize as we create communities of the future. If you’re not sure where to start, maybe visit the local museum or have lunch at the senior center, and a meaningful conversation will open your eyes about why things are or were a certain way. This will help you enhance efforts to try something different to move the community you know into the future. Share your discovery of the history and tradition of a place with KSF PowerUp Manager, Simone Elder.
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WELCOMING ACTIVITIES: If you attended the We Kan! Conference and chose one of the Welcoming activity cards, please let Simone if you've completed the fun!
Julie Bugner Smith with the Larned Area Chamber completed hers by taking a young person to lunch. She wrote, "This is Dava Keith from the library. She is an amazing person and is exceptional with all the programs that they do! Love her! She has helped with several committees and is a Rockstar!!" Good job, Julie!
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SPLASHTACULAR: Splashtacular, based in Paola, is a leading company in the waterpark industry, specializing in the design, engineering, manufacturing, and assembly of waterslides, aquatic play units, and spray features. | |
TOURISM DATA: Want to know how to base your budget and policy making decisions on data about tourism’s economic impact to your area? You can purchase a city or county level tourism economic impact study that includes an analysis of visitor spending, employment, and state and local taxes. Contact Babette at the state tourism office if you are interested by August 15th. | |
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GRANTS FROM STATE PROGRAMS: Kansas Department of Commerce grants calendar includes grants for tourism, art, Office of Rural Prosperity programs, and more.
This includes Emergency Response HEAL grant to bring rural downtown buildings back from likely demolition or collapse and rehabilitate them into productive commercial use (open now until June 2025 or until funds are exhausted) and Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program for cities of 10,000 or less.
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ZEPHYR: The latest issue of the Kansas Historical Society's publication is here.
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INMAN MURAL: Mindy Allen of Mindy's Murals painted this 108-foot-tall mural on an Inman grain elevator. Thanks to Ron Regehr for being the impetus behind this project and to the Office of Rural Prosperity for partially funding this mural.
CUSTOM HARVESTING: Many of the custom-harvesters had their beginnings in the Inman area. Fort Hays State University students Raegan Neufeld, Inman; Ryan Schuckman, Hays; and John Billinger put together this documentary, Life on the Harvest Run, that shows two current families involved in custom harvesting and reflections on the early days. Raegan's descendants were some of the early families in this industry.
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HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES:
Help is here. The Kansas Infrastructure Hub would like to help you get money for your infrastructure needs through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) including transportation, energy, broadband, water, resilience, and cybersecurity. Kansas put aside $200 million, in the Build Kansas Fund, for matching funds to help communities afford the match AND to provide technical assistance to help people identify and strategize for the grants. For additional information about the Hub, the Build Kansas Fund, or technical assistance available to you, please visit us at kshub.org or email bil@ks.gov.
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WELCOME NEWCOMERS! K-State Research and Extension has these recommendations for welcoming newcomers to town and helping them get engaged. | |
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CHESS ANYONE? Next to the Carnegie Library in Columbus is this giant chess board. Giant chess pieces are nearby, as is a musical harmony garden.
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K-STATE 105 BLUEPRINT INITIATIVE: Eligible applicants for funding include for-profit businesses (!!), nonprofits, community organizations, municipalities and other groups that have a clear focus on entrepreneurship and business development. Your community must be a Network Kansas e-community. More details here. | |
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DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY SURVEY: The Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) is asking for communities to fill out a survey to better understand capacity of organizations doing work around digital opportunities, specifically work in areas of access, affordability, devices, and digital skills. KOBD is currently creating the digital capacity grant opportunity and your input is key as we work to tailor this grant to best serve the needs of organizations doing this work. Thanks for helping us create the most relevant grant possible.
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CLEAN UP THE TOWN, SUPPORT KSF: The Kansas Sampler Foundation is now part of the CARS Program which accepts donations of used vehicles to support non-profit organizations. It’s an easy way to help get old vehicles, RV’s and boats off the streets while supporting rural Kansas at the same time. Learn more here.
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PHILLIPS COUNTY JOBS: Let's say you're moving to Phillips County and want to know the jobs available. Just look at this great list. One of the jobs available is director of the chamber and tourism. Does your county or community do this? | |
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THE MOST WELCOMING SPOTS: Whenever we can, Sarah and Marci stop in local libraries--and always find a sweet surprise. In Macksville, Jody Suiter, the librarian, makes sure everyone feels welcomed.
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FIRST FRIDAY E-CALL: This K-State Research & Extension program will take place August 2 at 9:30a.m. and will feature Doug Griffith. He will share hisThe 7 Essentials: A Practical Guide to Results. Sign up at ksre-learn.com/ecall.
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BIG KANSAS ROAD TRIP Pop Up
August 24 in Blue Rapids
Marshall County
A BKRT Pop Up is a one-day Kansas Explorers Club event, though everyone is welcome! It is being held in conjunction with Blue Rapid's Round Town Square Festival. They have the only round square in Kansas (finalist for one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs) and we're inviting everyone to come roll around with us on the squircle (square circle) from 10-11a.m. before exploring all the other round features in Blue Rapids and the area. These options range from riding the historic rails in an open-air rail tram to going out to Alcove Spring, just like those using the big wheels of a covered wagon did.
The Kansas Sampler Foundation invests time in events like this to help educate Kansans about Kansas--and help create a thoughtful audience for rural.
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CONFERENCES:
Kansas Housing Conference, Aug. 20-22, Overland Park. Learn more.
Kansas Local Food Summit, Aug. 27-28, Wichita. Learn more.
Workforce Innovation Conference, October 1-2, Salina. Learn more.
Kansas Arts Council Symposium, October 9-10, Salina. Learn more.
Kansas YP Summit, October 10, Salina. Learn more.
Annual National 2024 Conference for Growing Community Foundations. Hosted by
Kansas Association of Community Foundations. Oct. 16-18, Wichita. Learn more.
Kansas Tourism Conference, October 21-23, Olathe. Learn more.
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NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR RURAL:
Radically Rural - The in-person summit on Sept. 24-25 in Keene, New Hampshire will focus on ways to "Regenerate Rural." Learn more and register here. KSF PowerUp and Engagement Manager, Simone Elder, will be speaking at this conference and KSF co-director Sarah Green will moderate that session.
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ONE THING
Kansas Sampler Foundation co-directors Sarah Green and Marci Penner are on a statewide journey to every incorporated city. As of July 30, 2024 they have gone to 102 cities, with 523 to go in the next two-and-a-half years. Their mission is to see how cities are doing in their present day environment and learn thoughts about their future. What are their hopes and dreams, roadblocks and setbacks, and solutions to move forward? Below are "One Things" from the 28 cities we've done since the last Tidbits. See "One Thing" from our earlier stops here.
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Bendena, unincorporated
How many towns can boast a bank in a 1925 barn? But the One Thing here is the small grocery store kept going by owner Ruth Weiland. For over 30 years she has made sure Bendena has groceries. She doesn't take credit cards but she dishes out a lot of love, especially to kids coming in for candy.
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Denton, population 129
The exclamation point in Denton is the functioning town pump. Thanks to the mayor's wife, this plot of beauty welcomes people to the bank and post office.
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Elwood, population 1,114
In this city that has been devastated by more than one flood, they are now home to Clear Sky, a rehabilitation hospital.
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Highland, population 915
In a county of few restaurants, the Kirkwood & Co. Table & Tap brings people together in a quality atmosphere and offers great food.
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Leona, population 40
Hey back, Leona!
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Severance, population 76
There are home gardens everywhere in this city due to the rich loess soil.
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Troy, population 968
Peter Toth sculpted an Indian chief in a bur oak in 1978 sculpture in a bur oak of an Indian Chief and it stands as the standout feature in Troy...but it's the Feed Store cafe that might be the most important as it is where the day starts for many and problems are solved.
p.s. Hope you get Stacy as your waitress.
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Wathena, population 1,250
City Clerk Doris Delzeit is the glue in this community. She has a vast knowledge of Wathena, is a good listener and treats everyone with respect.
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Hudson, population 89
It's pretty cool to buy Hudson Cream Flour at its source. With the flour mill in operation next door, you can stop at the office to buy flour and a few other goods. The day we were there, the woman ahead of us bought 700 pounds of flour.
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Macksville, population 447
The community garden, located next to the city office on Main Street, uses old tractor tires for raised beds.
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Radium, population 23
Radium is home to a big grain operation, American Plains Co-op.
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Seward, population 41
Mom's Bar and Grill does a chicken fried steak the Explorer Way: fresh meat, hand-breaded, and pan or grill fried.
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St. John, population 1,154
White's Foodliner is an amazing grocery store for any sized city, especially one under 1,200! It has a great selection of food and dry goods, plus gas pumps, and a pharmacy.
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Stafford, population 914
The Ritz Theatre has opened its doors once again to provide first-run movie entertainment.
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WHERE WE'VE BEEN: As of July 30, we've been to every city in the following counties: Cherokee, Clark, Comanche, Doniphan, Douglas, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Lane, Morris, Morton, Norton, Pawnee, Rice, Scott, Stafford, Stanton, Sumner and Wilson. | |
SIGN UP FOR THIS NEWSLETTER: Go here to sign up for We Kan! Tidbits. Find the KSF Facebook page here. | |
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YOUR DONATIONS HELP US DO THIS WORK: One Thing your support as a KSF Supporter does is help compensate for the time it takes to go to every incorporated city in Kansas and gather unique knowledge that we share with organizations and communities statewide.
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