K-State Research and Extension News RSS Feeds>Community Development

Kansas Profile - Now That's Rural - Robert Cugno - Walker Art Collection
Reconnecting with our history: That can be an important strategy for communities. Today we’ll learn about a rural community that made an effort to reconnect with some of its favorite sons. That effort would not only help this community connect with its history, but it enabled the community to connect with a treasure of art that is incredible to find in rural Kansas.
11/18/2009

Water Issues Forum in Wichita and Hays to Examine Climate Change, Kansas’ Future
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The 2009 Kansas Water Issues Forum will take a proactive look this December at climate change and water -- in terms of planning for the future.
11/18/2009

ED HAROLD – MT. SUNFLOWER...

Most people from outside Kansas think the state is very flat. But, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says if you go to western Wallace County you can climb Mount Sunflower.

11/12/2009

Kansas Profile - Now That's Rural - Ed Harold - Mount Sunflower - Wallace County
What are the high points of Kansas? Today we’ll learn about the very highest point in our state, topographically speaking. This is a spot which has been dubbed (with tongue in cheek) Mount Sunflower, because it has the highest elevation in Kansas. So put on your mountain climbing gear, this is today’s Kansas Profile.
11/11/2009

ERNIE POE – BARBED WIRE...

If someone told you there's a place where you could see buffalo, coyotes, horses and even a roadrunner...you'd probably think you were headed to a zoo. But it's a museum. And, the animals are made of barbed wire...lots of it. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, has more on this interesting collection of animals at the Fort Wallace Museum.

11/5/2009

Helping Celebrate Military Family Month
Every day, you may encounter a member of a Kansas military family. This person could be a member of your church, a student in your school, or your neighbor.
11/5/2009

Holiday Season 2009: Some Turkey Producers Call Kansas Home But Obstacles Exist for Such Businesses

Recent crisp fall weather conjures thoughts of cranberries, pumpkin pie, and Grandma’s dressing – not to mention the star of the holiday table – turkey with all the trimmings.

11/4/2009

Kansas Profile - Now That's Rural - Ernie Poe - Barbed Wire - Wallace County
“Look, there’s a buffalo, a coyote, horses, and a roadrunner.” It sounds like a zoo, but this is a museum. The animals I described are all made of barbed wire. These are barbed wire sculptures of animals, part of a remarkable museum in rural Kansas.
11/4/2009

JAYNE PEARCE – FORT WALLACE MUSEUM...

Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, chronicles the history of Wallace, Kansas...and the many treasures that can be found in the Fort Wallace Museum.

10/29/2009

Kansas Profile - Now That's Rural - Jayne Pearce - Fort Wallace Museum
Division. That’s what kids learn in math class. It was also an important term for railroads. In earlier days, a railroad’s division point was the location which marked the end of one crew’s shift and the beginning of the next, so it was a kind of hub. Today we’ll learn about a community which celebrates its history as a railroad division point and military fort.
10/28/2009

Kansas Communities Earn Awards

PRIDE volunteers in Rossville, Kan., worked with the Kansas PRIDE Program's Healthy Ecosystems-Healthy Communities natural resource planning process to complete construction of a rain garden demonstration project, which, in addition to beautifying the area, incorporates water-quality education and protection of storm water runoff.

10/28/2009

Students Earn Community Development Awards
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Inviting students to roll up their sleeves and get involved in community improvement projects can help to get the work done, but doing so also may plant a seed for a lifelong commitment to community service.
10/27/2009

K-State Research and Extension Teams With Fort Riley First Infantry Command

Dr. Jim Shroyer, Extension state leader in agronomy with K-State Research and Extension, talks with Fort Riley First Infantry Command team members recently at Fort Riley. The Fort Riley team was preparing to deploy to Iraq where they will work with Iraqi citizens to help strengthen their communities and agricultural operations.

10/26/2009

KIM ELLENZ – OLD SCHOOL SEALS...

It's common to see celebrities break open the wax seal on an envelope during an awards ceremony, but have you ever wondered where those wax seasl come from? Believe it or not, there's a company in rural Kansas that produces well over 100,000 wax seals a year. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at K-State, profiles Old School Seals in Tipton, Kansas.

10/22/2009

Kansas Profile - Now That's Rural - Kim Ellenz - Old School Seals
“The envelope, please.” A hush falls over the audience at the People’s Choice Awards as the emcee breaks the wax seal on the envelope containing the names of the winners. Where do you suppose that wax seal came from? Would you believe, from a small town in the middle of Kansas?
10/21/2009

SCHAAKES PUMPKIN PATCH...

Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at K-State, explains how a family that started growing pumpkins as a 4-H horticulture project, ended up with 25 acres of pumpkins and a thriving family business.

10/15/2009

Grants Available to Kansas Communities
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Finding the money to fund community health improvements isn't always easy, but funding opportunities, including the 2010 "Get It -Do It" Kansas PRIDE Extension Grants, are available.
10/15/2009

Kansas Profile - Now That's Rural - Schaake Pumpkin Patch
What did you grow for 4-H? 4-H members grow and create all kinds of things as projects these days. This week, we meet a 4-H family that started out growing pumpkins, and ended up growing a remarkable family business.
10/14/2009

K-State Dean, Director: ‘World Peace has Roots in Kansas’
Sam Hanni, Operations Manager of the Hal Ross Flour Mill, part of the Department of Grain Science and Industry Complex at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., is pictured with totes of Kansas' white wheat as he explains how the flour mill is used in teaching and research by Kansas State University students and industry professionals from around the wor
10/14/2009

WALTERS’ PUMPKIN PATCH...

If you're looking for the only pumpkin-shaped canning jar in the world, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institure for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says you'll need to visit Walters' Pumpkin Patch near Burns, Kansas.

10/8/2009

Kansas Profile - Now That's Rural - Becky and Carroll Walters - Walters' Pumpkin Patch
Where would we find the only pumpkin-shaped canning jar in the world? How about at an innovative pumpkin patch in rural Kansas? This is the remarkable story of the Walters’ Pumpkin Patch.
10/7/2009

K-State to Host 61st Annual Kansas Income Tax Institute
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University Research and Extension is again hosting the Kansas Income Tax Institute for accountants, ag. producers, attorneys and others who are interested in learning the latest on tax issues.
10/7/2009

New Wildfire Safety, Prevention Rules Help Owners Make Homes a ‘Defensible Space’
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The near-annual house losses in huge California wildfires are only one example of why fire safety and prevention have taken on a whole new slant. The still-evolving set of rules, tips and advice addresses what’s needed to protect property from fires that start outdoors … and spread.
10/2/2009

RENYER’S PUMPKIN FARM...

Brenda and Doug Renyer like to see a lot of orange and green in the fall. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the Renyer's like orange and green because those are the colors of pumpkins...and they operate Renyer's Pumpkin Farm near Wetmore, Kansas...which attracts thousands of visitors over just five weekends in the fall.

10/1/2009

Kansas Profile - Now That's Rural - Doug and Brenda Renyer - Renyer's Pumpkin Farm
What are your favorite colors? Today we’ll meet a young Kansas family that says their favorite colors are orange and green -- at least in the fall. That’s not because they are the colors of their favorite football team or their favorite school, but because orange and green are the colors of pumpkins. This family is using pumpkins as the basis for a successful agritourism enterprise in rural Kansas.
9/30/2009

GREENSBURG REBUILDS GREEN...

On the night of May 4, 2007, Greensburg, Kansas, was devastated by a tornado. It was an EF-5 tornado that killed eleven people and destroyed almost 95-percent of the small, southern Kansas town. Today, over two years later, the people of Greensburg have rebuilt nearly 50-percent of their town…and in doing so have gone green.

9/24/2009

AMY LUND – SWIMMING HOLE...

Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at K-State, takes a trip down to the old swimming hole. But this isn't just any old swimming hole, it's hydrotherapy for horses...and it's in rural Kansas.

9/24/2009

K-State's Karen Blakeslee and Jana Beckman...

K-State food scientist Karen Blakeslee and Jana Beckman, coordinator of the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture, discuss what's available at Kansas farmers' markets during early fall.

9/23/2009

Kansas Profile - Now That's Rural - Amy Lund - The Swimming Hole
Let’s go down to the old swimming hole. If this calls to mind a rope swing over a muddy creek, think again. This is not your grandfather’s swimming hole. In fact, The Swimming Hole is the name of an innovative business in rural Kansas which is using hydrotherapy for treatment of horses.
9/23/2009

GARTH GARDINER – SUPERHORSE...

Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, profiles a "superhorse" from rural Kansas.

9/17/2009

STEVE AND BECKY TIPTON – HONEY...

Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, profiles a rural Kansas family that has turned a hobby -- raising bees -- into a successful business.

9/10/2009

SILVER SCREEN COWBOY MUSEUM...

Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, profiles the Silver Screen Cowboy Museum, housed at the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper near Benton, Kansas, outside Wichita.

9/3/2009

WAYNE ALEXANDER – ELECTRIC CARS...

Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, profiles Electric Blue Auto Conversions in Walton, Kansas, which takes a gas-powere vehicle and converts it into an electric vehicle.

8/27/2009