We Kan! Tidbits

January 23, 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.

KANSAS DAY APPROACHES: Next Wednesday, January 29, is the day to celebrate the 164th birthday of our Sunflower State. What will you do? For some encouragement, we will be sending out an all-Kansas blast complete with symbols and a playlist. You could take a quick road trip to see buffalo, buy a jar of honey or sand hill plum jelly, take a hike through some Little Bluestem, land at a microbrewery or crack open a bottle of Kansas wine and sip while reading up on some Kansas history. Give Kansas some love today!

TIPS FROM THE KSF PowerUp MANAGER

The power of keeping sharp: In a rural community, PowerUps often seek ways to keep an edge because the challenge is personally and professionally fulfilling. They may have experienced professional development opportunities in previous roles and find that rural cultures and systems don’t always offer or reward challenges or growth. Whether it’s shifting an organization to using different technology instead of paper files or finding a group to offer constructive feedback or correction for accountability, supporting a PowerUp’s desire to stay sharp can help a community thrive. We are hoping to build out both the network and potential resources for PowerUps so help us know what formats you find most beneficial to staying sharp by filling out this short poll.

BIG RURAL BRAINSTORM: In the next few weeks registration for the 2025 Big Rural Brainstorm will appear in your inbox. The BRB will take place Thursday, April 3 in McPherson with a beneficial pre-event (afternoon) on April 2. Stay tuned for the deets.

GET NEIGHBORLY: Don't think too hard about how to be neighborly or bring people "on the block" together. Kansas Explorer #7914 Jeff Dorsett of Osawatomie shared that in November, he and his wife Sarah went door to door and left flyers at 20 neighborhood houses. Two days later, twenty-two people showed up at the Dorsett's backyard for hotdogs and roasting marshmallows over a campfire. People kicked in some money to help pay expenses but the result was a very appreciative neighborhood who had been craving some relaxed and fun interaction.

STEMM SPEAKERS SOUGHT: Careers in STEMM include science, tecnhology, engineering, math and medical. STEMMFIRE.or g has partnered with Fort Hays State University to form RAISE Kansas, an effort to promote STEMM education and careers to students in rural schools. With this partnership, more and more schools are signing up for presentations. Are you involved in a career that includes expertise in these STEMM areas? If you are willing to present here is a list of schools and time slots that are open. Contact Sailor at sgseiler@fhsu.edu or Lindsey at director@stemmfire.org.

Goessel: Feb. 7, 8:20-9:35a and 10:15-11:30a
Lakeside (Downs): Feb. 19, 9-10:15a and10:30-11:45a
Burlington: Feb. 20, 8-9:15a, 9:20-10:35a, and 10:40-11:55a
Peabody: Feb. 27,8-9:30a
LaCrosse: Mar. 6
Caldwell: Mar. 13
Carbondale: Mar. 27, 9:45-11:10a
Bucklin: Apr. 9, 9-10:15a
Hodgeman: Apr. 9, 1-2:15p

PREPARE FOR ATTRACTION DEVELOPMENT GRANTS: Applications for the Kansas Tourism Attraction Development Grant opens on February 1st. You can view the guidelines and information here.

MUSEUM POSITION OPEN: The Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute is looking for a director.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL FOODS: The next Kansas Local Foods virtual town hall is January 29 at 11a. Sign up here.

FOOD ACCESSIBILITY POSITIONS: Interested in working with Local Foods? Find open Local Fellow positions here. They will be hiring in early 2025.

HEALTH INSURANCE SUPPORT FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS: Be one of the 100 child care providers that can be reimbursed up to $300 per month for paid insurance premiums. Learn more here.

CHILD CARE HEALTH & SAFETY GRANTS: KDHE is now providing grants for licensed facilities with regulatory or statutory violations, to assist in correcting these violations with minor renovations, repairs, or other safety-related expenses. Application is open until June 30. Check your eligibility and apply for funding at KDHE.

BECOME A CHILD CARE ZONE: Becoming a Child Care Zone makes a community eligible for grants funded by the Kansas Federal Preschool Development program. A webinar given twice will help you learn more. These will be recorded and posted on AllInforKansasKids.org. Questions? Contact Megan.

January 27, 11a-12:30p webinar. Register here.
January 27, 6:30-8p webinar. Register here.

AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM: This quick-action grant is part of the nationwide AARP Livable Communities initiative that helps communities become great places to live for residents of all ages. The program is intended to help communities make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress. Applications are due March 5. Learn all about it and hop on their January 29 Q&A webinar.

GET YOUR ART ON!: You may now apply for Public Art and Murals, Visiting Artists, General Operating Support, and Arts Everywhere Program.

RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM: Overdose Response is a one-year federal program supporting improved health care in rural areas by addressing their immediate and short-term needs related to the provision of substance use disorder services. It grants up to $300,000 for specific, short-term substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery activities, as well as work related to capacity building, supportive services, and special populations, transitional housing included. Application is due March 10. A technical assistance webinar via Zoom will be held for applicants on January 30, at 2p. This is a program of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

REFINE YOUR PRODUCT MARKET FIT: NXTUS is offering a NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort. This free program is tailored for early-stage Kansas entrepreneurs with a product in the market and some revenue. Participants will focus on refining their product-market fit, accelerating customer acquisition, identifying scalable solutions, and driving revenue growth.

LEARN ABOUT LAND BANKS: K-State's First Friday (February 7, 9:30-10:30a) E-Call will feature DeAnna Goering of Pittsburg's Neighborhood Redevelopment program. Register here.

GRANT WRITING: Grant writing courses offered by K-State Research and Extension will take place February 10 and 11 (online). This course targets food system partners, farmers, and food businesses. In-person courses will take place in Topeka on February 18 (contact candism@ksu.edu) and in McPherson on February 27 (contact claughlin@ksu.edu). $60 for the in-person classes.

GRANTS FROM STATE PROGRAMS: Kansas Department of Commerce grants calendar includes grants for tourism, art, Office of Rural Prosperity programs, and more.

AGRITOURISM FOCUS GROUPS: A contingent from K-State and a team of undergraduate/graduate students are organizing focus groups on agritourism. The focus groups will take place across the state between February 13 and March 15 with a couple of Zoom dates available as well. See locations and schedule here. The findings will be shared with Kansas Tourism Agritourism office.

SEE PREVIOUS TIDBITS: The December We Kan! Tidbits was full of excellent information.

SIGN UP FOR THIS NEWSLETTER: If you get this Tidbits through a forward, go here to sign up for We Kan! Tidbits. Find the KSF Facebook page here.

DO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM: 'Well, I'm not a leader' they would say; but we say 'you know the problem. If you know the problem, you see the problem. You know what needs to be done to solve that problem then YOU need to be the one to take the ball and run with it.' Bernice Robinson. (Quote brought to light by The Winter School)

WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOUR STATE BETTER?: We'll do the work providing Kansas adventure ideas. All you have to do is jump in your car and go see things. Warning: This activity can become addicting. Join the Kansas Explorers Club today or renew.

WE'D BE PRETTY PLEASED IF YOU'D HELPED SUPPORT OUR WORK. We make it easy. Go here and choose PayPal, Venmo, credit card or just tell Simone you want to be invoiced!