Cooperative efforts: Downtown Plainville, Inc. and the City of Plainville are working together to bring a new kind of energy to downtown Plainville. This new gathering space called The Yard will be a green space that will include a stage, a designated food-truck parking area, connecting sidewalks, shade structures and a play area for children. Read more about it, and see more pictures, in this Hays Post article.

Recruitment strategies: Rooks County's Healthcare recruitment campaign is underway. Local professionals sharing their story is one way. Listen here.

They've also put together a Relocate to Rooks page.

Rural Grocery peer groups: RGI will be facilitating Rural Grocery Peer Groups. By providing space for mutual support and knowledge exchange, these groups will help foster a stronger, more connected rural grocery community. Learn more here.

Micromansions: Experience a new era of home building with MicroMansions. Our prefabricated homes are thoughtfully designed to prioritize your comfort and create unforgettable experiences. Say goodbye to cookie-cutter houses and embrace a home that truly reflects your unique lifestyle. These kits are sent from Columbus. The FAQ section answers many questions.

RAISE Kansas: RAISE is a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting STEMM (science, tech, engineering, math and medicine) education and careers to rural Kansas students and supporting rural Kansas communities and educators.

The second annual Kansas Science Festival will be held in downtown Hays Campus Sunday, May 3.

Interested in your school have RAISE come to you? Contact Lindsay Schmidt at Laschmidt7@fhsu.edu.

Kansas 250: The Kansas 250 Commission would like to hear your story, your history here in Kansas. We want to hear how you and yours made it through difficulties to thrive where you are today. Submit here.

Customer traction cohort: Applications are now open for the fifth year of the NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort, a free program designed to help Midwest entrepreneurs refine product-market fit, boost customer acquisition, identify scalable solutions, and accelerate revenue growth. Participants receive personalized, one-on-one coaching from a national coaching partner, participate in tailored workshops, and gain ongoing mentorship while connecting with a community of like-minded founders.

Latest issue of Zephyr:

This issue features the re-opening of the Kansas Museum of History.

The Zephyr is a bimonthly publication of the Kansas Historical Society (KSHS), a magazine filled with articles, news, and updates on Kansas history, archeology, state sites, and research.

Level Up your career: If you ask yourself any of these questions, go to Level Up Kansas.

• I'd love to level up my career but don't know where to start.
• I need more training or education but don't know how I could pay for it.
• I didn't finish high school and feel like it's holding me back.
• I'm tired of low pay, bad hours and no benefits.
• I'm not sure what career would fit my skills and interest.

Local food system: Registration is now open for the 2026 Local Food Producer Workshops. These workshops, held at seven locations across the state, provide information and resources for small food and farm businesses that plan to sell their products at farmers markets or through other direct-to-consumer marketing methods. Each workshop includes free scale certification and lunch. Cost $25. Learn more and register.

Kansas Healthy Food Financing: The Kansas Healthy Food Initiative provides loan or grant funding to help sustain or enhance the availability of healthy food at the retail level across Kansas. See the recipients of 2025 Round One funding here to help you think about your situation and what you might apply for from the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative Predevelopment Technical Assistance Grant program. Click here to learn more about the funding options for low-resource and underserved communities.

Travel Guides: Recycle your 2025 Kansas Travel Guides and order the new 2026 Kansas Travel Guide. If you have places to distribute, contact Kelli Orender (Kelli.Orender@ks.gov) at state tourism to learn how to get an account so that you can order boxes through the Extranet. 

Or order one just for you!

Photo restoration business:

Greg Peters has a photo restoration business which can fix damaged, faded and aged photographs; address fading and discoloration; provide colorization with historical accuracy; and convert to high-resolution digital files. Find him on Facebook.

We Kan! Awards

Who is out there making intentional and extra efforts to help preserve and sustain rural culture, either to help sustain their community or do something more regional or statewide to support rural? The Kansas Sampler Foundation is watching--and appreciating. There is no nominating process or call for awardees. We pick ten deserving people each year, though our list of those who are deserving is miles long.

The awards started in 1993. Here is the entire list.

Early on the awards were presented at the Kansas Sampler Festival but since 2018 the plates have been presented in a surprise "flash mob" style. A local person works with Kansas Sampler Foundation staff to bring friends, family, or work mates together to surprise the recipient. We have chosen to celebrate that Kansan in their environment with those who know them best. It's been pretty special.

In the early years, Bill Linde of Yates Center made plaques. Then, Elk Falls Pottery made round award plates for almost 25 years. Isaac Shue did the honors for one year and now Stacy Barnes of Greensburg is making the plates.

In addition to the recent recipients below, the first four to receive a We Kan! award plate in 2025 have been: Caryl Hale, Norton (Your Open Heart); Shelly Hansel, Harper County (Loud and Proud for Kansas); Sarah Kessinger, Marysville Advocate, (Front and Center); and Nick Levendofsky, Courtland, Kansas Farmers Union (Secretary of Swagriculture).

News release announcing the 2025 ten.

Cheryl Adelhardt, Harper:

You've Given Your All.

“Cheryl excelled as the county clerk for Harper County, always making the extra effort. She's always been a community doer and last year was named a Rural Champion from the Office of Rural Prosperity to work on housing in the county. Whatever her role, she's always given her all and we've appreciated her so much over the years."

Kylee Bergstrom, Seneca Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Impact, Seneca:

Yo, VIP, you're kicking it!

“Kylee, a Very Impactful Person, gives every extra effort to make Seneca a wonderful place to live and visit. She supports businesses in a myriad of ways, including marketing; plans events that help a community come together; and gives Seneca exposure with her involvement in regional and statewide tourism and Main Street efforts. She is a fun person so we thought she'd appreciate the award title reference to one of her favorite songs, Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice."

Steve & Jane Fry, Elk Falls Pottery, Elk Falls: For Lifting All.

“Steve and Jane made the We Kan! award plates for almost 25 years so it was only fitting that they get an award, too. They lifted the 250 award winners who received the plates but their award is even more about their role in their community of 120ish people. From starting and continuing to make the Elk Falls Outhouse festival a huge event to their ongoing neighborly contributions of generosity, kindness, and connection, they lift all."

Susan McKenzie, city clerk, White City: Whatever is Needed. “I've known Susan now for a couple of decades and the main thing I know about her is that she'll do whatever is needed to help her community. She excels as a city clerk but if needed to go help cook at the local bar during a noon rush, she'll do it--and that's just one example. If everyone had a community doer like Susan, rural Kansas would be in great shape."  

Trisha Purdon, Office of Rural Prosperity, Independence: You're Our Rural Champion.

"As director of ORP, Trisha impacts rural communities in a variety of ways, including the Rural Champions program. The program is designed to create a network of grassroots individuals who can resolve critical community needs, an issue identified in the Kansas Sampler Foundation's PowerUp & Go report. In addition to this model program, she and her staff administer grant programs, get on the road to see communities, and have developed other tools to support the sustainability of rural communities. She has championed this Kansas Department of Commerce program with foresight and endurance and her heart and soul. It is these intangibles that make her award worthy."  

Kaydee and Laura Riggs-Johnson, Ladybird Brewing, Winfield: For Making Kansas Cool as Heck.

"Laura and Kaydee have helped change the shape of Winfield into a city that really likes itself. Their brewery is a third place where locals and visitors alike can find good vibes and good company. But it's also the way they offer support to all sorts of local causes through their business, individual creativity and desire to make a difference. Simply, they are pretty cool."

Are you a KSF Supporter? Join these individuals and organizations as KSF Supporters before the end of the year with a donation to support our work.

Your contribution will help us start the new year strong, ensuring our mission can continue supporting rural communities in 2026 and beyond. Here's the link to give. If your name is on the list, thank you.

See previous Tidbits: The November 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.

Kansas Sampler Foundation Board of Directors: Stacy Barnes, Greensburg, president; Sarah Werner, Winfield; Luke Mahin, Courtland; Dave Procter, Manhattan; Lea Ann Seiler, Hanston. Staff: Simone Elder, Leoti; Marci Penner and WenDee Rowe, Inman; and Amy Sallee, Hutchinson--and now adding Karly Frederick, Lyons and Monica Frye, McPherson.