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October 16, 2025
The Kansas Sampler Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit located near Inman.
Our mission is to preserve and sustain rural culture. We do this by educating Kansans about Kansas and networking and support rural communities.
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Leadership transition news from the Kansas Sampler Foundation: The Kansas Sampler Foundation (KSF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Simone Elder as the organization’s next Executive Director. Elder, a Kansas native currently living in rural Greeley County, has been a key member of the KSF team since 2023, currently serving as its PowerUp & Engagement Manager. Throughout her tenure, she has worked closely with rural communities and businesses across the state, fostering connections and supporting vital initiatives.
Founder emeritus Marci Penner shared her thoughts on the transition: “My dad, Mil Penner, and I started the organization in 1993 to help Kansans get to know and love their own state and to create a grassroots network where small town leaders and doers could share successes with each other. With great trust, I’m excited and confident that Simone, and the staff she will build, will carry this difference-making work forward to make a stronger Kansas.”
Click here for the full news release. To congratulate Simone, contact her at simone.elder@kansassampler.org.
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Explore Kansas Project Manager position open with the Kansas Sampler Foundation
If you love exploring Kansas and see how that activity can make a difference and are open to interacting with “the locals”, seeing Kansas with new eyes, and cultivating a thoughtful audience for rural, then this role could be for you. As Program Manager for our “Explore Kansas” work, you’ll engage Kansans in meaningful explorations of their own state. You’ll steward the Kansas Explorers Club, coordinate the Big Kansas Road Trip Pop Ups and develop compelling content to connect people to the heart of rural Kansas. This is more than a program role - it’s a chance to help shape the way Kansans see themselves and each other. Through every newsletter, event, and story, you’ll be promoting rural vitality and helping communities feel seen, valued, and connected. See full job description here.
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Tips from the KSF PowerUp Manager
The power of local first: One of the PowerUp values is supporting locally-owned businesses. Support can take many different forms - whether you are shopping local first or sharing a local business or attraction’s social media posts regularly -- you can become someone’s champion. The same can be said for local events. Showing up is a great way to honor someone’s efforts of planning. Share with us about a feel good moment when you shopped local first or as a business owner tell us about someone you notice championing your business. Send your stories to simone.elder@kansassampler.org. To learn about the other PowerUp values and principles visit our website here.
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We Kan! Award: Sarah Kessinger, editor and publisher of the Marysville Advocate, was surprised with a We Kan! award presented by Marci Penner and WenDee Rowe of KSF recently in the offices of the Marysville Advocate. Kessinger’s award had the words “Front and Center” engraved on a round plate made by artist Stacy Barnes. Penner said, “To keep a newspaper thriving, to volunteer, to help promote activities, to participate in community activities, to be a family here, all these things and more are what make Sarah such a good force, in her soft-spoken way, for the community." News release here.
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Where will the first Big Kansas Road Trip Pop Up be in 2026?:
In 2025, the Kansas Sampler Foundation created opportunities for the public to learn about rural culture in Morton County, Halstead, and most recently Sheridan County. The diversity of Kansas life and the specialness of the people was on display in each place. Which community will roll out the red carpet in open-house fashion on May 2, 2026? Humboldt in southeast Kansas! From a trail base camp for bicyclists and hikers to a 19th century wood-working shop, Humboldt is looking forward to helping you get to know them. Full news release.
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Newcomer & Networking event:
Recently Marysville held a first-time event that welcomed and informed newcomers to town. Organized by One Marysville, newcomers were greeted at the door and found drinks, snacks, and tables staffed by businesses and organizations ranging in topic from pickle ball to arts. Prizes were given. Not only was it a benefit to those who had moved to town in the last five years but the 32 businesses and organizations had never been together as a group and they found great value in the networking they did with each other.
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250 Challenge: Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks invites the public to take part in a year-long celebration of America's 250th birthday in 2026 with the Kansas Outdoor Recreation Challenge. Click here to learn more.
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SEED grant: SEED grants from the Kansas Department of Commerce are for the following categories in communities with a population of 5,000 or less.
- Childcare and senior programming – projects that support or enhance these services, such as building improvements, educational materials, supplies and equipment
- Community vibrancy – projects that refresh, re-energize and unlock the attractiveness of rural communities, such as art installations, murals and signage
- Food retail – projects that support access to food retail establishments, including development, renovation and/or expansion
- Libraries – projects that support providing free and open access to a broad range of materials and services, including reading material, technology, furniture and building improvements
Applications are due October 28. Learn more here.
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Trail building: Learn the art and science of trail building through Kansas Trails. They will also help train trail crews, help develop custom maps and signage templates, connect you with engineers and trail designers, and more!
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Best of Kansas: The Kansas Press Association announced that nominations are now open for the Best of Kansas Holiday Contest. Help spotlight the very best Kansas has to offer when it comes to celebrating the holiday season — from Halloween thrills to Thanksgiving traditions, Christmas lights, New Year’s festivities, and more. Go here to see who has been nominated already or to make a nomination.
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It was so neighborly: Osawatomie's second annual Porchfest brought more than 200 people together from within the community and beyond. Fifteen amateur musicians or groups took over ten porches in a two-block area. A cook out and funnel cakes were part of the day as well.
Organized by the Osawatomie Arts Commission to promote the arts and local talent, this free and fun family event featured local and high school musicians. There was a poet's corner as well. Total expense for this community bonding event was less than $100.
| | Rural attorney support: The Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) Legal Foundation has named two new attorneys as recipients of the organization’s Rural Law Practice Grants. See full news release here. | | |
Great idea: Countywide baby shower: The third annual McPherson County baby shower was held to provide new and expecting families safety tips and resource information. Participants received a portable crib. The event is part of the KIDS Network Safe Sleep initiative.
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Wuz Tour: Marquette has put together a "Wuz" audio tour that can be accessed with a QR code. It shares information that will share the story of what that building was (wuz!). You get it. Listen here.
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Mural awards: The Office of Rural Prosperity has recently awarded $75,000 in Rural Mural funding to these twelve public art projects. Make sure your mural or ar iinstallation is on the state tourism web site. Go here to submit.
| | Grassroots Art Center position open: The Grassroots Art Center in Lucas is looking for a new executive director. Learn more here. | | |
Get help with blighted structures: The North Central Regional Planning Commission has launched a program, Demo to Dirt, to help remove unsafe or blighted residential structures in North Central Kansas. Eligible property owners may qualify for reimbursement grants of up to $4,000 toward demolition costs. Applicants must contribute a 25% match.
Eligible counties: Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Marshall, Mitchell, Ottawa, Republic, and Washington.
| | First certified welcoming community: Emporia is first community in Kansas to receive certified welcoming designation from Welcoming America. The formal designation recognizes cities and counties that have “created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion". The Emporia team would be glad to advise and guide any other community. Contact Lelan. | | See previous Tidbits: The September We Kan! Tidbits was full of excellent information. | | |
Sign up for We Kan! Tidbits: If this Tidbits is forwarded to you, sign up here for this monthly blast. Find the KSF Facebook page here.
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Donate here to support the work of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. If your name is on this list, thank you.
| Kansas Sampler Foundation Board of Directors: Stacy Barnes, Greensburg, president; Sarah Werner, Winfield; Luke Mahin, Courtland; Dave Procter, Manhattan; Lea Ann Seiler, Hanston. Staff: Marci Penner, WenDee Rowe, Inman; Simone Elder, Tribune; Kim Clark, The Highlands; and Amy Sallee, Hutchinson. | | | | |
