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September NEWSLETTER | 2026 | |
Letter from the Director!
Continuing to Make an Impact in Our Communities
You may not realize that earlier this year, K-State Extension faced some uncertainty regarding state funding. During the legislative budget process, $21.5 million in funding for Extension was temporarily withheld while Extension leadership was asked to present a plan to the State Finance Council outlining how our organization would continue to evolve, remain relevant, and demonstrate the impact of the work being done across Kansas.
Extension Director Gregg Hadley presented that plan to the State Finance Council, and in June, the funding was released. While this was a positive outcome, the process also provided an important opportunity for Extension to look closely at how we tell our story and demonstrate the value of the work happening in communities across the state.
For those of us serving Edwards and Stafford counties, that mission is nothing new. Every day, our team is working alongside local schools, families, farmers and ranchers, businesses, community organizations, 4-H families and local leaders. We listen to the needs of our communities and work to provide research-based information, education and resources that make a difference.
Moving forward, you may hear us talk even more about the impact of Extension—not just how many programs we offer or how many people attend, but what changes because of those programs. Are youth developing leadership skills? Are families making healthier choices? Are producers gaining information that helps their operations? Are we helping communities address challenges and identify new opportunities? Those are the stories that matter.
As we move into this next chapter for K-State Extension, our commitment here at home remains the same. We are proud of the work already underway throughout Edwards and Stafford counties, and we will continue to listen, adapt, and find ways to make a meaningful impact in the communities we are fortunate to serve.
Thank you for continuing to support K-State Extension and allowing us to be a part of your communities. We look forward to continuing this work together.
Trisha Greene
21 Central District Director
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Thank You to Our Summer Interns!
This summer, we were incredibly fortunate to have Mariah Sanders and Emmarie Ginest as part of our 21 Central District team!
As our Summer Enrichment Intern, Mariah spent 72 hours delivering programs and activities that reached an impressive 372 children throughout Edwards and Stafford Counties. From libraries and daycare programs to Marathon Kids, fairs, camps, and more, Mariah brought energy and enthusiasm to every program she was a part of.
As our Summer 4-H/Office Intern, Emmarie played an important role in helping both offices prepare for the busy 2026 fair season. She assisted with countless projects and day-to-day office needs and was always willing to jump in as an extra set of hands for Mariah when programs needed additional help.
We are so thankful for the time, hard work, and positive attitudes both of these young women brought to our district this summer. Mariah and Emmarie are two wonderful young ladies with very bright futures ahead of them, and we can't wait to see the great things they accomplish!
Thank you, Mariah and Emmarie, for a wonderful summer!
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Ag Day
Stafford County 4th graders will meet in September for the 4th annual Kids Ag Day. This program has been a great way to teach kids about the industry that surrounds them and feeds them. If you are ever interested in presenting or volunteering to help with Ag Day, please let our office know!
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Carcass Shows
Both of our counties' 4-H youth have the opportunity to participate in a carcass contest with both beef and swine species, after the county fairs. This is a great educational event that allows the kids to see the final product of their project. We appreciate both host sites for working with us on these contests (Burkhart Meats – Kinsley KS, Ellinwood Packing – Ellinwood KS) and extend our thanks to those who sponsored our Carcass awards.
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Wheat Plot Drilling
Our district hosted a wheat variety plot tour and meal in Edwards County this past May. Please see results from the harvest below.
We will host another tour in 2027, and we would love for you to attend!
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School Programming
As you plan for the school year, don’t forget about me! I would love to visit your classroom with some fun Ag-related programs and activities.
A few of the programs I have ready:
- Chick Embryology
- Farm-to-Pizza
- Color-Changing Flowers – Science Experiment
If you have an idea for an activity—please let Baley know at baley@ksu.edu! She will do her best to bring it to you!
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Servi-Tech
We have seen an increased use of our Servi-Tech pickup location in St. John over the summer. If you have any water, soil, or feed testing that needs to be done this Fall, don’t forget we are here! Pickup is Tuesday morning around 10:00 AM.
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Starting a Home-Based, Food Business
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If you’ve ever thought about creating a side-hustle from your baking skills or flourishing garden, it might be easier than you think! While there are important guidelines and regulations in place to ensure food safety, Kansas has identified a list of “Direct to Consumer” foods that can be sold without licensing. This creates a little easier entrepreneurial path for individuals who would like to have a home-based food business but can’t afford the overhead of licensing fees.
Kansas-State Extension has published this “Simplified Guide for Unlicensed Foods Sold Directly to Consumers”. https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/download/simplified-guide-for-unlicensed-foods-sold-directly-to-consumers_MF3729
This guide clearly outlines the products that you can sell directly to consumers from your home kitchens, gardens, farmers markets, etc. While licensing is not required for certain items, it is essential that these foods are produced and processed safely according to the relevant regulations and guidelines. All food Safety guidelines can be accessed through your local K-State Extension office.
21 Central District has two Commercial Kitchens available for public use when a licensed commercial kitchen is required to meet regulations for food sales. The Edwards County Commercial Kitchen is located in the Fair Building at 1305 S Niles Av, Kinsley. The Stafford County Commercial Kitchen is located in the St John Annex building at 210 E 3rd Av, St John. Both of these kitchens can be rented through either the Kinsley or St John Extension offices.
Here are some publications relevant to home-based food businesses.
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Meals in Minutes: Skillet and Sheet Pan Meals
Back-to-school schedules can make dinner a challenge. Make weeknights easier with simple, healthy skillet and sheet pan meals you can prep ahead!
How it works:
- Pick a protein: Chicken, beef, pork, or ground meat
- Add veggies: Carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, green beans, tomatoes—whatever your family likes
- Choose a starch: Potatoes, rice, or pasta
- Toss with just enough oil to coat
- Sprinkle on favorite spices or seasoning blends (salt, pepper, Italian seasoning)
- Mix everything in a bowl so it’s coated
- For sheet pan meals: Bake at 375°F. Stir after 15 minutes and cook until done.
- For skillet meals: Cook over medium heat—add more oil or broth if needed.
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4-H UPDATE
JUNE - CAMP
June 9-11th, we took 20 4-Hers to WildHorse Camp held at the Silver Maple Campgrounds in Kingman County. Our youth participated in a lot of fun camp activities such as, fishing, archery, kayaking, line dancing, swimming, crafts, and so much more!
We had a blast and cannot wait to attend again next year!
JULY - COUNTY FAIRS
Edwards County Theme: Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights at the Edwards County Fair 2026
This year brought together nearly 70 4-H exhibitors with more than 800 entries and calling it a success is an understatement! The projects on display were incredible, and the fairgrounds were filled with energy and fun. A big highlight of the week was Stars, Stripes and Bead Brigade, our week-long game where each youth competed for who could collect the most bead necklaces. It was all about trivia knowledge, bingo fun, and fair participation! On top of that, we enjoyed crowd favorites like the Blender Bike, and of course, the always-exciting Barnyard Olympics. We’re already counting down the days until we can do it all again next year!
Check the EDCO Fair Results
Stafford County Theme: Rooted in the Past, Growing the Future “Celebrating 120 Year’s of Kansas 4-H”
We had a week packed full of fun! The community joined in our Clover Contest, showcasing creative sewing and craft projects. Our youth sported their clovers and the color green for Spirit Day. The excitement didn’t stop there; we held our first 4-H BBQ Cookoff and it was a hit, with 4 teams entering, attracting quite the audience! A big thank you to our county commissioners for donating prize money and being our guest judges, along with our awesome concession stand manager. And of course, the always-popular Barnyard Olympics brought out the competitive spirit in youth and parents. With nearly 80 exhibitors and over 1,000 entries, this year’s fair was nothing short of a success!
Check the SFCO Fair Results
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UPCOMING IN 4-H
September - Kansas State Fair
This year, our district will be taking a total of 95 exhibits to the State Fair in Hutchinson. We have a broad range of projects going, some areas are Ag Mechanics, Woodworking, Fiber Arts, Foods & Nutrition, Photography, Sewing & Textiles, Vet Science, Visual Arts, Rocketry, Small Engine, and many more! We also have a total of 6 participating in the Fashion Revue Contest and 4 bringing livestock in poultry, rabbit, beef, and sheep.
October - National 4-H Week
Get ready for National 4-H Week from October 4th to 10th! It’s time to show off our 4-H pride together!
On Monday, October 5th, join us for “Go Green Day.” Wear your favorite green clothes—shirts, shoes, socks, or anything else green you have!
Then, on Thursday, October 8th, we will celebrate “Thankful Thursday” to appreciate all the fantastic contributions from our 4-H members and volunteers throughout the year.
Come and join the fun as we celebrate the amazing spirit of 4-H this week! Your participation really makes a difference!
November - Achievement Banquets
In each county, we dedicate a night to celebrating the achievements of our 4-Hers during the 4-H year. Each night consists of a dinner with the awards to follow.
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Edwards County: Sunday, November 8, 2026 with dinner starting at 6:30 pm and awards beginning at 7:00 pm
- Stafford County: Saturday, November 7, 2026 with dinner starting at 6:30 pm and awards beginning at 7:00 pm
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No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
By Ree Drummond - Updated: May 9, 2024
Ingredients:
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened, plus more for greasing the pan
- 1 cup chunky peanut butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 (12-oz.) box vanilla wafers
- 1 (12-oz.) bag semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
Directions:
- Yields: 20 servings
- Total Time: 20 minutes
Instructions:
1. For the topping, melt the chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter using a double boiler or microwave. Allow it to cool for a couple of minutes while you prepare the bars.
2. Grease a 13-by-9-inch pan with some butter. In a stand or electric hand mixer, combine the softened butter and chunky peanut butter until smooth. Gradually stir in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time.
3. Place the vanilla wafers into a food processor and blend until they become crumbs. Add the crumbs and mini chocolate chips to the peanut butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Spread this mixture evenly into the prepared pan and set aside.
4. Pour the melted chocolate topping over the base, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts. Refrigerate for at least one hour, then cut into 20 bars.
5. Keep the bars refrigerated as they may soften at room temperature. Enjoy!
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212 E 6th St, Kinsley, KS 67547 | (620) 659-2149
210 E 3rd Ave, St John, KS 67576 | (620) 549-3502
https://www.21central.k-state.edu
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Kansas State University Extension - 21 Central District
This e-newsletter is intended to inform community members of events, activities, and information from our district.
This institution is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities. Program information may be available in languages other than English. Language access requests and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including alternative means of communication (e.g., Braille, large print, and American Sign Language), may be requested by contacting the event contact, Trisha Greene, four weeks prior to the start of the event , at 620.659.2149 and trishagreene@ksu.edu. Requests received after this date will be honored when it is feasible to do so. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request.
Kansas State University is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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