Two Nights Of Ranch Rodeo Featured At EquiFest Of Kansas

April 16, 2024

Winners in the ranch rodeos during EquiFest of Kansas at Salina have been announced by Justine Staten, executive director of the Kansas Horse Council, EquiFest sponsor.

Triple Bar K Ranch Horses led by Brady Karaffa of Plainville placed first overall in Friday evening’s team division.

Second place team Friday was Gibbs Cattle led by Anthony Newman, Monett, Missouri, with the third place overall Friday team being Lonesome Pine Ranch lead by Bud Higgs of Cedar Point.

Lonesome Pine Ranch won the team sorting event Friday, and Gibbs Cattle topped Friday’s wild cow milking.

The winner in the double mugging Friday evening was K Cross Performance Horses lead by Aaron Killingsworth of Westmoreland. Friday’s trailer loading winner was JC Cattle/Lyons Ranch, lead by Justin Brown of Dwight.

Gibbs Cattle came back to be the first-place team in Saturday’s ranch rodeo while winning both the double mugging and the wild cow milking events.

CRB Cattle lead by Cody Brock of Onaga was the second-place team on Saturday evening with Lonesome Pine Ranch coming in as the third-place team.

JC Cattle/Lyons Ranch won Saturday’s team sorting, and Nelson Angus led by Mike Nelson of Leonardville placed first in the trailer loading event Saturday.

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CUTLINES

Triple Bar K Ranch Horses led by Brady Karaffa of Plainville placed first overall in Friday evening’s team division of the ranch rodeo during the EquiFest of Kansas at Salina. (Kirkwood Kreations Photography)

Gibbs Cattle led by Anthony Newman, Monett, Missouri, placed first overall in Saturday evening’s team division of the ranch rodeo during the EquiFest of Kansas at Salina. (Kirkwood Kreations Photography)

Draft Horse Races Major Attraction At EquiFest

Teams came from three states for the draft horse races featured in five divisions of competition at the EquiFest of Kansas in Salina.

Winners were announced by Justine Staten, executive director of the Kansas Horse Council, EquiFest sponsor.

Reverse psychology: Tristan Musa, St. George, driving Cindy and Claire, 3.16.69; Clay Sharp, Stilwell, driving Duke and Dan, 3.28.44; and Tifani Lee, Royse City, Texas, driving Dolly and JP, 3.36.12.

Right of passage: Roger O’Neil, Junction City, driving Mike and Cap, 1,13.34; Aschzer Musa, St. George, driving Daisy and Ricky, 1.18.91; and Keenan Musa, St. George, driving Dillon and Lincoln, 1.20.75.

Double jeopardy: Clay Sharp, Stilwell, driving Duke and Dan, 2.45.85; Tifani Lee, Royse City, Texas, driving Dolly and JP, 2.47.53; and Tony Garrett, Douds, Iowa, driving Travis and Hope, 2.50.19.

Feed team: Tony Garrett, Douds, Iowa, driving Travis and Hope, 1.12.78; Eli Avery, Westmoreland, driving Pete and Gordy, 1.13.03; and Branden Harp, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, driving Alice and Queen, 1.14.41.

Gambler’s choice: Clay Sharp, Stilwell, driving Duke and Dan, 2.41; Tristan Musa, St. George, driving Cindy and Claire, 2.37; and Brian High, Krum, Texas, driving Mavrick and Rooster, 2.4.

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CUTLINES

Feed team competition was a highlight of the draft horse races at the EquiFest of Kansas in Salina. (Kirkwood Kreations Photography)

One of five divisions in the draft horse races was gambler’s choice at the EquiFest of Kansas in Salina. (Kirkwood Kreations Photography)

Journalism lost (1): the editorial

John Marshall

April 16, 2024

The news today is often about complicated matters that even experts have trouble unraveling. Taxes, budgets, the economy and political madness are among today’s many mazy knots. In another time, newspapers put the facts of such matters into plain language, sifted reality from rumor and let readers take it in.

Opinion pages followed, helping readers to understand difficult truths and reach conclusions about them. The newspaper’s opinion or the editor’s view were guideposts, often subtle, sometimes vivid or sharp.

Most daily newspapers in Kansas are now owned by giant corporations and compressed into midget siblings online or in print. They have abolished editorial pages or squeezed the life out of them.

This leaves readers to the Internet jungle of occasional fact and frequent rumor, a tangled landscape that favors the scroller more than the reader. Hawkers peddle versions of truth and suspicion, click-bait for the unaware, the gullible. The regimen of presenting fact and context is abandoned or smothered.

Olden editorials had three goals: To persuade, or to analyze and inform, or to entertain. These purposes weren’t mutually exclusive. An entertaining editorial, well-crafted, could be more persuasive than a thrashing from the Daily Planet.

In Kansas, editorials reflected the persuasion of the editor, or of the newspaper. Great editors managed their opinion pages with insight and precision. Among them were the renowned William Allen White of the Emporia Gazette, Clyde Reed ( Parsons Sun), Rolla Clymer (El Dorado Times), Whitley Austin (Salina Journal), Stuart Awbrey (Hutchinson News) and Emerson Lynn (Iola Register). They were ferociously educated , painfully curious, and recognized nationally.

They encouraged readers to write. Awbrey in 1978 boasted that The Hutchinson News published more letters to the editor than any other newspaper in the country. No one challenged him.

The Kansas editors were experienced. They rubbed elbows with serious thinkers, public leaders and perceptive colleagues. They were deeply involved in their communities.

Today’s hired publishers are in the corporate clutch of survey results, policy wonks and profit mongers. They are more inclined to shove a reader’s complaint onto a focus group or a “business model” than to find out what was wrong (or right). They might understand the numbers in a bond proposal or tax rate, but not the thinking or the history that led to them. They are easy prey for technology’s siren chorus.

We are left with the infrequent corporate editorial page, if at all. Thoughtful examination of important matters – our schools, cities and counties, our state, our lives – threatens the ledger. The occasional guest editorial and syndicated columnist are for balance, one view from the far right and one from the far out.

Symmetry (false equivalence) is the word, lest readers think the opinion page is biased.

Editorial “fairness” risks death from an open mind. A good opinion page is not about bias versus balance. It is about helping people think. Editorials, columns and cartoons may not persuade readers to act, and they seldom persuade them to act in the way an editor hoped. But if they stimulate thought on a particular problem, if they prompt reexamination of attitudes toward the world around us and the people who live in it, the editorial page will have served a purpose.

In America’s growing news deserts and opinion jungles, readers are without a guide, abandoned to the dry winds and the storms gathering on the horizon.

2024 Hort Newsletter No. 14

Guest Columnist

April 16, 2024

KSU horticulture logo — KSU horticulture

https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/horticulture-resource-center/horticulture-newsletter/documents/2024/april2024/04082024%20Newsletter%20014.pdf (Downloadable version)

Blog Post: http://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org (Online articles for the week)

HNR Website access: https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/horticulture-resource-center/horticulture-newsletter/

Video of the Week: Watch the recent K-State Garden Hour webinar to learn more about companion planting. Find out which plants support each other and maximize the garden potential.

https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/video-of-the-week-companion-planting-k-state-garden-hour

Video of the Week: Companion Planting (K-State Garden Hour)
Cynthia Domenghini runs the Horticulture Response Center in the Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources at Kansas State University. Other contributors include K-State Extension Specialists.
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
Announcements: Invitations to the public for opportunities to increase your horticulture knowledge.
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/announcements3209626

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Annual Butler County Lawn & Garden Show April 13, 9:00AM-5:00PM & April 14, 11:00AM-4:00PM Professional presentations on garden-related topics including: Insects Starting a Vineyard Vegetable…
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
April Garden Calendar: New additions to the garden calendar this week include fertilizing fruit trees and grapes. There are also some additional crops to prepare for planting.
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/april-garden-calendar5117513

April Garden Calendar
New additions to the garden calendar this week include fertilizing fruit trees and grapes. There are also some additional crops to prepare for planting. April Garden Calendar Fact Sheet
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
Fertilizing Fruit Trees: The best time to fertilize established fruit trees is during the bloom period. Rates vary depending on age of the trees.
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/fertilizing-fruit-trees

Fertilizing Fruit Trees
Before applying fertilizer in the spring, a soil test should be completed if one hasn’t been done for several years. The best time to fertilize established fruit trees is when they enter the…
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
Cauliflower Care: Get the most out of your cauliflower crop. Don’t forget to protect the heads. Learn more about blanching in this week’s article.
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/cauliflower-care

Cauliflower Care
Cauliflower transplants can be set in early to mid-April or early August for a fall harvest. Plants should be spaced 1.5 to 2 feet apart in rows that are 3 feet apart. Use a starter fertilizer…
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
Is it Tomato Time Yet? Tomatoes are the most popular home garden vegetable, and spring gardeners are eager to get them into the garden. Follow these tips for a successful tomato crop this growing season.
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/is-it-tomato-time-yet

Is it Tomato Time Yet?
Tomatoes are the most popular home garden vegetable, and spring gardeners are eager to get them into the garden. Optimal growing temperatures for tomatoes range from 70- to 75-degrees F during the…
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
Best Practices for Lawn Maintenance: Lawns are growing which means many of us have resumed maintenance. Here are some guidelines for lawncare to minimize your costs and the environmental impact.
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/best-practices-for-lawn-maintenance

Best Practices for Lawn Maintenance
Lawns are growing which means many of us have resumed maintenance. Here are some guidelines for lawncare to minimize your costs and the environmental impact. Proper maintenance is a proactive…
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
When to Work Soil: Compaction is problematic in lawn and garden soils. Find out how to reduce compaction during spring lawn and garden chores.
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/when-to-work-soil

When to Work Soil
Compaction is problematic in lawn and garden soils because it can stunt plant growth, reduce yield, impact root formation and lead to soil erosion. Once the soil is compacted it is denser making…
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
Watering the Landscape: Whether establishing a new landscape or enjoying mature trees and shrubs from years ago, water is a concern for gardens of all stages. Here are some considerations to make when watering new and established landscape.
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/watering-the-landscape5890739

Watering the Landscape
Whether establishing a new landscape or enjoying mature trees and shrubs from years ago, water is a concern for gardens of all stages. Considerations for the New Landscape Steep slopes encourage…
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
Community Garden Corner: Learn from the gardeners at Manhattan Community Gardens in Manhattan, KS. Celebrating 50 years in 2024, these community gardeners have some great tips for gardening together.
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/community-garden-corner2798616

Community Garden Corner
Manhattan, KS Community Garden K-State Horticulture retired professor, Chuck Marr, recently gave me a tour of the Manhattan Community Gardens. He shared their procedures and offered lessons learned…
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
Question of the Week: What’s that smell???
https://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/question-of-the-week6645798

Question of the Week
What’s that smell? On my morning walks I have noticed a very fragrant plant. Do you have any ideas what it could be? There are a several likely suspects that bloom early spring and draw…
www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
Coming Up Next Week: In our permaculture feature we will provide a guide for straw bale gardening. Plus, learn more about gardening for butterflies.

See full text content below:

GARDEN CALENDAR
New additions to the garden calendar this week include fertilizing fruit trees and grapes. There are also some additional crops to prepare for planting.

April Garden Calendar Fact Sheet

FRUIT

Fertilizing Fruit Trees

Before applying fertilizer in the spring, a soil test should be completed if one hasn’t been done for several years. The best time to fertilize established fruit trees is when they enter the bloom period. Nitrogen is typically the focus which can be applied with a lawn fertilizer. Choose a high nitrogen fertilizer without herbicides or preemergence included.

Young trees require less fertilizer than established trees.

1-2-year-old tree = ¼ cup
3-4-year-old tree = ½ cup
5-10-year-old tree = 1 – 2 cups
More than 10 years old = 2 – 3 cups
Spread the fertilizer on the soil surface, away from the trunk, but beneath the canopy. Water the fertilizer in well and evaluate the tree for further fertilization needs.

VEGETABLES

Cauliflower Care

Cauliflower transplants can be set in early to mid-April or early August for a fall harvest. Plants should be spaced 1.5 to 2 feet apart in rows that are 3 feet apart. Use a starter fertilizer when planting and every two to three weeks thereafter. Cauliflower requires water during dry periods and fertilizer every two to three weeks.

When the heads are the size of a quarter, pull a few leaves over them and secure with a rubber band (blanching). This will shade the heads from the sun and prevent them from turning yellow.

Environmental stress during transplant can negatively affect the development of cauliflower heads. “Buttoning” is a term to describe heads that stop developing beyond one-inch in diameter. Temperature fluctuations, inconsistent moisture, nutrient deficiencies and root bound transplants can all be susceptible to this condition. Row covers can be used to help regulate air and soil temperature as well as reduce infestations of insects.

Heads will be ready for harvest when they are five to six inches in diameter and still tight. As the head begins to separate, the flavor and texture declines significantly.

Is it Tomato Time Yet?

Tomatoes are the most popular home garden vegetable, and all spring gardeners are eager to get them into the garden. Optimal growing temperatures for tomatoes range from 70- to 75-degrees F during the day and 60- to 65-degrees F at night making late April to May a safer time to transplant. Cold garden soils do not promote growth in tomatoes and plants will have to be protected if there is a danger of frost when planted too early.

This is a great time to do some tomato planning, however. Remove any remaining plant debris from the garden. When the soil is not saturated work compost into the top six inches. Plan enough space in the garden to provide tomatoes up to two feet between plants. This will promote air flow and reduce the risk of disease. If possible, use an area of the garden where tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes and tomatillos have not been grown for the past three years. This is called “crop rotation” and will help prevent the spread of diseases/pests that have overwintered in the soil.

Plan for how you will support your plants. This depends in part on the type of tomato. Determinate varieties have more compact growth and can typically be supported by traditional tomato cages commonly sold at garden centers. Sturdy tomato cages can be made using wire fencing. Indeterminate varieties can reach over five feet tall. It is still important to provide support for these vines so they are not lying on the ground. In this case staking or trellising and pruning may be necessary.

Many problems with tomatoes are exacerbated by wet, humid conditions. Providing good airflow within each plant and between plants as well as consistent and properly-timed water minimizes this risk. Water on the leaves and water splashing onto plants from the soil are two occurrences that can spread disease. Using drip irrigation or a soaker hose reduces this problem and enables the gardener to provide consistent moisture to the targeted area.

When the time is right to purchase tomato transplants, select dark green, short, compact plants with sturdy stems about as thick as a pencil. Plants that outgrown their container may be root bound and suffer shock when transplanted. Planting guidelines will be highlighted later in the month, or you can read more by following the link to our KSRE Tomato Publication.

TURF

Best Practices for Lawn Maintenance

Lawns are growing which means many of us have resumed maintenance. Here are some guidelines for lawncare to minimize your costs and the environmental impact. Proper maintenance is a proactive approach to reduce weed growth and other stresses to the lawn.

Mowing

Optimal mowing height depends on the type of grass, lawn use and time of year. Mow at the high end of the recommended range for each species to improve drought resistance by encouraging deeper roots. Only one-third of the grass leaf should be cut at a time. Removing more results in physiological stress and possible heat or cold injury. If the lawn has become overgrown and needs more than one-third removed it will need to be done gradually with a few days between each mowing.

Mowing frequency should be based on the growth rate of the lawn. Following a set schedule may result in excessive clippings left on the grass. Proper timing of mowing means the grass clippings are shorter and can be returned to the lawn. This contributes nitrogen back to the lawn. Long clippings can block sunlight to the live turf and promote disease so they should be bagged and removed.

Maintaining a sharp blade on the mower is essential for a clean cut. A dull mower blade tears the grass and causes the tips to turn whitish.

Mow using a different pattern each time to prevent soil compaction and turf wear from the mower wheels. The grass blades lean the direction of the mower’s path so changing the pattern each time allows the grass to stand more upright.

Trees can be severely damaged if bumped by the mower. Even what appears to be a minor wound can result in death for the tree. Cultivate the soil surrounding trees to prevent grass and weeds from growing up close to the trunk.

Watering

Apply water in the early morning. Nighttime watering promotes disease development. Wait as long as possible between watering. Signs the turf needs water include: darker bluish-green color and footprints remain in the lawn when someone walks across rather than leaf blades bouncing back in place. Soak the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches and wait for signs more water is needed.

Fertilizing

Fertilize only to maintain a moderately green color during favorable weather and minimally or not at all during times of weather stress. Over-fertilizing increases the water and mowing requirements. Do not fertilize when heavy rain is expected and never dump excess fertilizer into storm drains or sewers. The timing of fertilizer applications should be based on turfgrass species.

Fescue and bluegrass – September and November (optional in May)
Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass – between May and August
Buffalograss – June
MISCELLANEOUS

When to Work Soil

Compaction is problematic in lawn and garden soils because it can stunt plant growth, reduce yield, impact root formation and lead to soil erosion. Once the soil is compacted it is denser making it more difficult to cultivate.

Soil compaction can result from:

high clay content in soil
exposure to heavy/excessive rainfall
over-tilling or cultivating wet soil
heavy traffic (vehicles, mowers and even foot traffic)
Preventing compaction is recommended for the best soil health. This can be done by avoiding work on wet soils. Determine if the soil is safe to work by digging to the depth it will be tilled or cultivated and squeeze a handful of soil. If it can be formed into a ball and holds this shape it is too wet and should be allowed to dry before additional digging is done.

It is best to minimize traffic on exposed soils, especially when wet. When wheeling a cart through the landscape, vary the route so a trail is not defined. Carts with more than one wheel reduce the amount of pressure applied beneath each wheel to the soil below and consequently reduce compaction.

Practices for preventing soil compaction in the fall will be provided later in the season.

Watering the Landscape

Whether establishing a new landscape or enjoying mature trees and shrubs from years ago, water is a concern for gardens of all stages.

Considerations for the New Landscape

Steep slopes encourage water runoff and erosion. Choose drought tolerant groundcovers, trees and shrubs for these locations. Consider terracing to further prevent erosion and water loss.
Wind increases the amount of water loss through transpiration. Creating a screen with a fence or low water use trees and shrubs can protect more sensitive plants.
Trees can shade the landscape and reduce the soil and air temperature thus reducing amount of water lost. Choose low water use trees. Research turfgrass species prior to planting to understand their water requirements. Avoid species that are high water users and design turf areas with efficient irrigation.
Design the landscape so plants with similar water requirements are together. A low water use plant situated in a high-water area will result in the plant receiving too much water which can cause damage and waste.
Choose drought tolerant plants for south or west-facing areas of the landscape where there is maximum sun exposure.
Considerations for the Established Landscape

Water deeply, but no deeper than the root zone, and slowly to avoid runoff. Water infrequently to promote deeper root growth
Loosen the soil and add mulch. Soil compaction decreases water absorption. Mulch can help prevent compaction. Mulch can also be used to create a basin around trees to help contain water near the root zone.
Monitor irrigation system for leaks and malfunctions. If you don’t have a smart irrigation system, be sure to turn the irrigation off when we have rain.
Maintain weeds so there isn’t competition for the water applied.

Find out more in our KSRE Publication Water and Conservation in the Home Landscape

COMMUNITY GARDEN CORNER

Manhattan, KS Community Garden

K-State Horticulture retired professor, Chuck Marr, recently gave me a tour of the Manhattan Community Gardens. He shared their procedures and offered lessons learned after years of gardening as a member of the community.

Learn from Chuck and his fellow community gardeners here:

Manhattan, KS Community Garden

QUESTION of the WEEK

What’s that smell?

On my morning walks I have noticed a very fragrant plant. Do you have any ideas what it could be?

There are a several likely suspects that bloom early spring and draw attention from passersby. Perhaps the most notable, and widely used, among them are Viburnum (Viburnum sp.) and Lilac (Syringa sp.).

Viburnum sp. is a versatile, woody shrub with approximately 225 species ranging in size from 4 to 30 feet. The opposite leaves vary in shape and there are deciduous and evergreen varieties. Research the available varieties prior to purchasing to know what attributes the species offers. Some present fragrant spring blooms, colorful berries, lovely fall color and make wonderful specimen plants. Certain varieties can be used as hedges or screens. Viburnum is a hardy, low maintenance plant with a place in every home landscape.

Lilac (Syringa sp.) is another fragrant woody shrub in bloom right now typically in purple or white. With thousands of cultivars available, size, shape, flower color and fragrance vary. Lilacs range from 5 to 25 feet tall. Once established, they tolerate dry weather. Lilacs do best with at least six hours of sunlight each day in order to bloom well and should not be pruned until after flowering in the spring. Recently planted lilacs may not bloom for several years after planting, though some varieties will bloom earlier.

Before adding plants to the landscape research which varieties are the best fit for your conditions. Also consider their susceptibility to diseases and pests.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK…

In our permaculture feature we will provide a guide for straw bale gardening. Plus, learn more about gardening for butterflies.

Contributors:

Cynthia Domenghini, Instructor and Horticulture Extension Specialist

Kansas Garden Guide

K-State Turfgrass Blog

Division of Horticulture

1712 Claflin, 2021 Throckmorton

Manhattan, KS 66506

(785) 532-6173

For questions or further information, contact: [email protected] OR [email protected]

This newsletter is also available on the World Wide Web at:

http://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html

The web version includes color images that illustrate subjects discussed. To subscribe to this newsletter electronically, send an e-mail message to [email protected] or [email protected] listing your e-mail address in the message.

Brand names appearing in this newsletter are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned.

K-State Research and Extension is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision or hearing disability, or a dietary restriction please contact Extension Horticulture at (785) 532-6173.

Cynthia Domenghini, Ph.D.
Instructor; Horticulture Extension Specialist
Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources
Kansas State University
1712 Claflin Rd.
Manhattan, KS 66503
785-340-3013
[email protected]

KU News: Two KU juniors named 2024 Goldwater Scholars

Guest Columnist

April 16, 2024

From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu

Headlines

Two KU juniors named 2024 Goldwater Scholars

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas has two 2024 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars: juniors Cecilia Paranjothi of Lawrence and Kaitlyn (Kit) Savoy of Olathe. This year’s KU recipients are the 78th and 79th KU undergraduates to be given a Goldwater scholarship since they first were awarded in 1989.

KU to welcome vice chancellor for research candidates to Lawrence campus

LAWRENCE — Four candidates will hold public presentations in consideration of becoming the next vice chancellor for research at the University of Kansas. Each candidate will be announced about two business before their respective visit. Presentations are planned April 15, 19, 25 and May 1.

Full stories below.

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Contact: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, KU News Service, 785-864-8858, [email protected], @ebpkansas

Two KU juniors named 2024 Goldwater Scholars

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas has two 2024 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars: juniors Cecilia Paranjothi of Lawrence and Kaitlyn (Kit) Savoy of Olathe.

Congress established the Goldwater scholarship program in 1986 in tribute to the retired U.S. senator from Arizona and to ensure a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers. The only students eligible for nomination are sophomore- and junior-level students with outstanding academic records, significant research experience and high potential for careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.

Paranjothi is majoring in chemistry, and Savoy is majoring in biological sciences and minoring in chemistry and theatre. This year’s KU recipients are the 78th and 79th KU undergraduates to be given a Goldwater scholarship since they first were awarded in 1989.

Goldwater alumni can be found conducting research that is helping defend the nation, finding cures for catastrophic diseases and teaching future generations of scientists, mathematicians and engineers. KU students interested in applying for Goldwater scholarships next year should contact the Office of Fellowships via email.

About Cecilia Paranjothi

The daughter of Krishnan and Adrienne Paranjothi, Cecilia Paranjothi is a graduate of Free State High School. She plans to pursue a doctorate in chemistry and career in inorganic chemistry with the goal of improving the efficiency of sustainable sources of energy.

Paranjothi said that being a Goldwater scholar will allow her to network with fellow Goldwater scholars — of which there are more than 500 this year — and that the financial support for college will allow her to focus on academics and research in the coming year.

She is part of a research lab led by James Blakemore, KU associate professor of chemistry, where she studies the surface of behavior of various uranium complexes, which is motivated by the need for advances in the processing of spent nuclear fuel. Previously, under Blakemore’s guidance, she assessed influences on the quantification of Lewis acidity with phosphine oxide probes.

Paranjothi’s work has been featured in a paper published by the Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, and she has presented at both regional and national American Chemical Society conferences.

“The (Goldwater) application process helped me to work on my scientific writing skills, which will be crucial for a career in chemistry,” Paranjothi said.

She is a member of the KU Chemistry Club and is a former peer tutor for the KU Academic Learning Center. Paranjothi is also the recipient of the Jack and Carolyn Landgrebe Research Scholarship, the Leland and Jill Weigel Scholarship, the WCC Eli Lilly Travel Award, a 2023 and 2024 Undergraduate Research Award, the Bricker Summer ChemScholar Research Stipend and a KU Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship.

About Kaitlyn (Kit) Savoy

The daughter of John and Heidi Savoy, Kaitlyn (Kit) Savoy is a graduate of Olathe North High School majoring in biological sciences and minoring in chemistry and theatre.

“Receiving this award has improved my sense of competence in pursuing my passion, keeping me excited to continue exploring in the field of microbiology,” Savoy said.

Savoy plans to pursue a doctorate in microbiology and conduct, facilitate and share research in microbiology as a principal investigator.

“Not having to worry about financing my senior year means I’ll be able to dive further into my studies and dedicate more attention to graduate school applications, bringing me closer to the career I aspire to,” Savoy said.

Savoy has participated in several research projects under the direction of Benjamin Sikes, KU associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, including those focused on grassland restoration, mimulus plant-soil feedback, perennial crops in sustainable agriculture, gamma irradiation of soils and understanding environmental drivers of extremophile microbes for use in space.

Savoy has also served as a microbiology undergraduate teaching assistant, a Sikes Microbial Lab peer mentor, a biology tutor, a shopkeep for Wander Bee Wares and a transcriber for the Smithsonian Institution. Savoy is a KU BioScholar, the recipient of a 2023 and 2024 Undergraduate Research Award, a Courtwright Award finalist in 2023 and 2024, and a KU Chancellor’s Merit Scholar.

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The official university account for X (formerly Twitter) is @UnivOfKansas.

Follow @KUnews for KU News Service stories, discoveries and experts.

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Contact: Savannah Rattanavong, Office of the Provost, 785-864-6402, [email protected], @KUProvost

KU to welcome vice chancellor for research candidates to Lawrence campus

LAWRENCE — Four candidates will hold public presentations in consideration of becoming the next vice chancellor for research at the University of Kansas. The university is seeking a visionary, strategic and entrepreneurial leader who will inspire discovery that distinguishes KU as one of the nation’s leading research institutions.

The name of each candidate will be announced approximately two business days before their respective campus visit. The public presentations are scheduled for the following dates and locations:

• Candidate 1: 2:30-3:30 p.m. April 15, 1502 Building Auditorium

• Candidate 2: 2-3 p.m. April 19, 1502 Building Auditorium

• Candidate 3: 3-4 p.m. April 25, Lied Center Pavilion

• Candidate 4: 2:30-3:30 p.m. May 1, 1502 Building Auditorium

The presentations also will be livestreamed through links available on the Provost’s Office website. Members of the KU community are encouraged to attend each candidate’s public presentation and provide feedback to the search committee. Presentation recordings and the online feedback form will remain open throughout the visit process.

The vice chancellor for research will lead KU’s research enterprise on the Lawrence and Edwards campuses, as well as oversee research administration. They will be instrumental in aligning the Office of Research with the university’s mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world.

Research at KU addresses opportunities and challenges of worldwide significance, delivers solutions that make a difference to Kansas and the region, and promotes an inclusive community of responsible inquiry and innovation for students and scholars.

The search committee, co-chaired by Perry Alexander, Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, and Amy Mendenhall, vice provost for faculty affairs, has winnowed a diverse and robust applicant pool down to four top candidates. The committee is aided in the process by WittKieffer, an executive search firm specializing in higher education.

More information about the search can be found online.

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KU News Service

1450 Jayhawk Blvd.

Lawrence KS 66045

Phone: 785-864-3256

Fax: 785-864-3339

[email protected]

http://www.news.ku.edu

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs

KU News: Former NATO commander, leading experts to discuss the Russo-Ukrainian War’s global effects at KU Security Conference

Guest Columnist

April 16, 2024

From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu

Headlines

Former NATO commander, leading experts to discuss the Russo-Ukrainian War’s global effects at KU Security Conference

LAWRENCE — Philip Breedlove, a retired U.S. Air Force general who served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe during Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014, will deliver the keynote address for the 2024 KU Security Conference, “The Russo-Ukrainian War and Global Human Security.” The on-campus event April 10-11 will bring together policymakers, military and intelligence officials, and scholars to discuss the war’s far-reaching effects and how the world can respond.

KU Engineering professor wins NSF CAREER Award for water resources research

LAWRENCE — Research conducted by a School of Engineering professor at the University of Kansas that examines how humans have and will affect natural water systems was awarded a five-year, $609,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. Admin Husic is the recipient of an NSF Early Career Development (CAREER) award for his efforts to understand how landscapes adjust as they direct water — and the sediment and nutrients that it carries — to rivers.

Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors to present public programs at KU

LAWRENCE — Activist, artist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement Patrisse Cullors will visit the University of Kansas on April 10–11 and present two free public programs. At 4 p.m. April 10, Cullors will perform “Opening Up” at the Spencer Museum of Art. At 7 p.m. April 11, Cullors will give a talk titled “Our Collective Imagination Will Set Us Free,” discussing the intersection of abolition and art and the power of human imagination as a liberating force.

Full stories below.

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Contact: Megan Luttrell, Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies, [email protected], @KUCREES

Former NATO commander, leading experts to discuss the Russo-Ukrainian War’s global effects at KU Security Conference

LAWRENCE — Philip Breedlove, a retired U.S. Air Force general who served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe during Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014, will travel to Lawrence to deliver the keynote address for the 2024 KU Security Conference, “The Russo-Ukrainian War and Global Human Security.”

The on-campus event April 10-11 will bring together policymakers, military and intelligence officials, and scholars to discuss the war’s far-reaching effects and how the world can respond.

The event begins at 7 p.m. April 10 at the Dole Institute of Politics with Breedlove’s presentation on how the ongoing war is affecting a range of global issues, including migration, environmental security, food security and disinformation. Breedlove’s presentation and the ensuing discussion will be moderated by Vitaly Chernetsky, professor in the Department of Slavic, German & Eurasian Studies, with introductory remarks given by Barbara Bichelmeyer, KU provost and executive vice chancellor.

The event continues April 11 at the Jayhawk Welcome Center, with a day of panel presentations addressing these important issues in greater detail. Presenters include the following:

Joshua Campbell, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.
Glenn Corn, 34-year veteran of the U.S. intelligence and foreign affairs communities.
Matt Dimmick, a KU Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies (CREES) alumnus and the former director for Russia and Eastern Europe on the U.S. National Security Council.
Mahir Ibrahimov, director of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College’s Cultural and Area Studies Office.

These experts from the military and intelligence community will be joined by invited scholars from across the United States and around the world, including Antonina Broyaka of Kansas State University; Volodymyr Dubovyk of the Center for European Policy Analysis and I.I. Mechnikov National University in Ukraine; Kristina Hook of Kennesaw State University; and Anton Shirikov of Columbia University.

Also taking part will be some of KU’s faculty experts, including Rebecca Johnston (CREES), Shannon O’Lear (environmental studies, geography & atmospheric science), Kurt Preston (Graduate Military Programs), Kat Romanova (communication studies), and Erik Scott (CREES). The day’s events will begin with an introduction by Arash Mafi, executive dean of the KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

More information about the event, including a complete schedule, can be found on the conference website.

Scott, director of KU CREES and of the conference organizers, described the event as both timely and important.

“Russia’s war against Ukraine is more than just a conflict between two states; the conflict has caused the largest refugee migration in Europe since World War II, disrupted global food supplies, damaged ecosystems, and reshaped alliances in the Middle East, Asia, and elsewhere,” he said. “Now is the time to study the war’s consequences and make plans to build a more peaceful and secure future for Ukraine and the international community.”

Other conference partners include the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (ICCAE), Graduate Military Programs and the Dole Institute of Politics.

“KU’s designation as an Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence has opened up doors to the U.S. intelligence community and has led to including leading practitioners in our annual security conference,” said Michael Denning, director for KU Graduate Military Programs.

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The official university account for X (formerly Twitter) is @UnivOfKansas.

Follow @KUnews for KU News Service stories, discoveries and experts.

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Contact: Cody Howard, School of Engineering, 785-864-2936, [email protected], @kuengineering

KU Engineering professor wins NSF CAREER Award for water resources research

LAWRENCE — Research conducted by an assistant professor of civil, environmental & architectural engineering at the University of Kansas that examines how humans have and will affect natural water systems was awarded a five-year, $609,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

Admin Husic is the recipient of an NSF Early Career Development (CAREER) award for his efforts to document and share what he describes as “dynamic connectivity: a research and educational frontier for sustainable environmental management under climate and land use uncertainty.”

Husic is working to understand how landscapes adjust as they direct water — and the sediment and nutrients that it carries — to rivers. If efforts to manage shared water resources are to be successful, he said, it will be critical to understand the role that humans play in affecting such timeless connections.

He sees two questions driving the work: “How have humans changed the landscapes around us for the worse, and how are we able to manage them for the better?”

“Water is such a basic necessity — not just for humans but for all living things on Earth,” Husic said. “However, in many places throughout the world, water is often lacking — either in its quantity or quality. I’m motivated by a desire to ensure its availability and safety for people.”

CAREER awards are considered among the NSF’s most prestigious, given annually to about 500 early-career faculty with the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. NSF expects recipients’ activities to build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research.

Husic’s work aims to bring a new, dynamic approach to traditionally qualitative, static assessments of the connectivity of hydrologic systems throughout the United States. His team will look back in time and leverage high-frequency aquatic sensors for nitrate and turbidity in more than 150 rivers, using the data to train a deep learning model. Dynamic connectivity will be expressed through mathematics, revealing dominant pathways of connection. Machine learning will link how attributes of the landscape affect river quality, and a web application will help determine the potential for using dynamic connectivity as a management tool.

“This work will provide us with a set of predictive tools that will indicate where, when and how water quality is deteriorated,” Husic said, noting that the work will attempt to answer a number of critical questions. Among them: “Can dynamic landscape connectivity be strategically managed to confer ecosystem benefits while maintaining societal demands?”

Husic, who joined the KU faculty in 2018, leads a research lab of undergraduate and graduate students developing models and systems that can be used to train the next generation of engineers and policymakers “to be good stewards,” he said, of humanity’s shared and changing human-environment systems.

“The CAREER award will act as a springboard for achieving our lab’s goals and will set us up for success — not only in the next five years, but for the decades to come as land use and climate change intensify and bring new water challenges,” Husic said.

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Don’t miss new episodes of “When Experts Attack!,”

a KU News Service podcast hosted by Kansas Public Radio.

https://kansaspublicradio.org/podcast/when-experts-attack

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Contact: Albert Reyes, Department of Religious Studies, [email protected]

Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors to present public programs at KU

LAWRENCE — Activist, artist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement Patrisse Cullors will visit the University of Kansas on April 10-11 and present two free public programs.

At 4 p.m. April 10, Cullors will perform “Opening Up” at the Spencer Museum of Art. The performance will draw on Yoruba prayers and offerings to honor and remember the lives and experiences of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. The event begins outdoors in front of the Spencer Museum and then moves into the galleries, which currently feature exhibitions that share Emmett and Mamie’s story.

In an artist’s statement, Cullors shared that the performance “is a testament to the enduring strength of memory and the unbreakable bonds of kinship that connect us across generations. Through this performance, we not only pay homage to Emmett and Mamie, but also reaffirm our commitment to a future where such tragedies are no longer repeated, guided by the wisdom and blessings of those who have come before us.”

At 7 p.m. April 11, Cullors will give a talk titled “Our Collective Imagination Will Set Us Free,” discussing the intersection of abolition and art and the power of human imagination as a liberating force. A moderated conversation and Q&A will follow. This event will take place in 100 Stauffer-Flint Hall.

Cullors’ visit is supported by the Department of Religious Studies, the Spencer Museum of Art, the Department of Visual Art and the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging.

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KU News Service

1450 Jayhawk Blvd.

Lawrence KS 66045

Phone: 785-864-3256

Fax: 785-864-3339

[email protected]

http://www.news.ku.edu

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs

KU News: KJHK 90.7 wins ‘Best in the Nation’ at national conference

Guest Columnist

April 16, 2024

From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu

Headlines

KJHK 90.7 wins ‘Best in the Nation’ at national conference

LAWRENCE – KJHK 90.7, the University of Kansas student-operated radio station, was awarded “Best in the Nation” at the Intercollegiate Broadcast System conference, among other honors. Two KU students — Jackson Goodrich of Baxter Springs and Alexis Vielma of Kansas City, Kansas — also won individual awards at the conference.

University Press of Kansas to host talk with Brian Daldorph about teaching creative writing to inmates

LAWRENCE — The University Press of Kansas and the Winter School will host a discussion with Brian Daldorph, senior lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Kansas. The event will take place at 7 p.m. April 9 at Winter School No. 70, 744 North 1800 Road, Lecompton. Daldorph will discuss his book “Words Is a Powerful Thing: Twenty Years of Teaching Creative Writing at Douglas County Jail.”

Full stories below.

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Contact: Bailee Myers, KU Memorial Unions, 785-864-3788, [email protected]

KJHK 90.7 wins ‘Best in the Nation’ at national conference

LAWRENCE – KJHK 90.7, a student-operated radio station, was awarded “Best in the Nation” at the Intercollegiate Broadcast System conference.

The IBS conference, a pinnacle event in the broadcasting community, gathers aspiring broadcasters and industry professionals from high schools and universities nationwide.

Two of KJHK’s students team members were recognized with individual awards:

Alexis Vielma, station IT director and School of Engineering student from Kansas City, Kansas, received the award for Best Phone App.
Jackson Goodrich, station in-studios director and School of the Arts student from Baxter Springs, received the award for Best Live Music Broadcast.

Additionally, staff adviser Bobbi Washechek was recognized as a national finalist for her work.

The station also secured nominations for several other categories.

KJHK, established in 1975, has been a cornerstone of student-led initiatives at the university. Since 2004, the station has evolved under the guidance of the union programs staff, including its relocation to level 3 in 2010.

“I’m so proud of the students and staff. KJHK continues to thrive as a hub for creativity and innovation in broadcasting. They are truly a gem of Lawrence,” said JJ O’Toole-Curran, interim executive director of the KU Memorial Union.

For more information about KJHK and its achievements, please visit the station website.

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Don’t miss new episodes of “When Experts Attack!,”

a KU News Service podcast hosted by Kansas Public Radio.

https://kansaspublicradio.org/podcast/when-experts-attack

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Contact: Derek Helms, University Press of Kansas, 785-864-9170, [email protected]

University Press of Kansas to host talk with Brian Daldorph about teaching creative writing to inmates

LAWRENCE — As part of an ongoing series, the University Press of Kansas and the Winter School will host a discussion with Brian Daldorph, senior lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Kansas.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. April 9 at Winter School No. 70, 744 North 1800 Road, Lecompton.

Daldorph will discuss his book “Words Is a Powerful Thing: Twenty Years of Teaching Creative Writing at Douglas County Jail,” which documents his work teaching creative writing to inmates at the Douglas County Jail.

Daldorph first entered the Douglas County Jail classroom in Lawrence to teach a writing class on Christmas Eve 2001. “Words Is a Powerful Thing” is Daldorph’s record of teaching at the jail between 2001 and 2020, showing how the lives of everyone involved in the class — but especially the inmates who came to class week after week — benefited from what happened every Thursday afternoon in that jail classroom, where for two hours inmates and instructor became a circle of ink and blood, writing together, reciting their poems, telling stories and having a few good laughs.

The historic Winter School was a one-room schoolhouse that served approximately 20 families and functioned for 75 years. After construction to preserve the building, which started in 2019, the building is open as a community center and museum in Douglas County.

In addition to meaningful dialogue, beer donated by Free State Brewing Company in Lawrence will be provided. The event is free to attend and does not require registration.

The University Press of Kansas publishes scholarly books that advance knowledge and regional books that contribute to the understanding of Kansas, the Great Plains and the Midwest. More information about the work of the press is available here.

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KU News Service

1450 Jayhawk Blvd.

Lawrence KS 66045

Phone: 785-864-3256

Fax: 785-864-3339

[email protected]

http://www.news.ku.edu

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs

Wheat Scoop: National Wheat Yield Contest: Entries Open Until May 15 For audio version, visit kswheat.com.

Guest Columnist

April 16, 2024

Catch a break from Mother Nature with moisture this winter? Have a sweet spot with an excellent stand thanks to perfect planting and growth conditions? Kansas Wheat encourages growers with renewed enthusiasm for this year’s harvest to enter the ninth annual National Wheat Yield Contest, which is accepting entries now until May 15 for winter wheat categories.

“We are so thrilled to launch this new website where contestants will find it easier to enter, even using their cell phones,” said Anne Osborne, NWF yield contest director, in a press release. “The data analysis is improved on this new website, so we can continue to share production practices that lead to winning yields and top quality.”

The National Wheat Yield Contest is organized by the National Wheat Foundation. The 2024 categories include irrigated winter wheat, dryland winter wheat, irrigated spring wheat and dryland spring wheat. The contest will name 26 national winners, including state winners. All national winners will receive a trip to the 2025 Commodity Classic to be held March 2-4, 2025, in Denver.

Contest fields must be at least five continuous acres planted with professionally produced, certified, branded and newly purchased wheat seed. The field must be verified by a third-party supervisor during harvest of the contest field. Entries cost $100, with vouchers available from contest sponsors.

Contest rules also require growers to retain a 10-pound sample of grain from their entry, which will be milled, baked and evaluated for quality if the entry places nationally. For each class, the three highest ranking samples for quality will be recognized and awarded an additional $250.

In last year’s contest, William Noll of Winchester had the top yields for both dryland and irrigated winter wheat categories. His dryland entry of AgriMaxx 516 soft red winter wheat yielded 103.99 bushels per acre, while his irrigated entry of AgriMaxx 505 soft red winter wheat yielded 121.1 bushels per acre. Second prize in the state’s dryland winter wheat category was awarded to Matt Grabbe of Hays with a sample of WestBred WB4792 that yielded 79.18 bushels per acre, the same variety with which he won third place in the previous year’s contest.

Partnering sponsors for the 2024 National Wheat Yield Contest include WestBred, John Deere, BASF, U.S. Wheat Associates, The McGregor Company, Croplan, Limagrain, Ardent Mills, AgriMaxx, Bushel, DynaGro, Eastman, Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association, Mennel, North Carolina Small Grains, Ohio Corn & Wheat, Siemer Milling Company, USG, Grain Craft, Kansas Wheat, Miller Milling, Montana Grain Growers Association, ND Mill & Elevator and PlainsGold. DTN/Progressive Farmer is the competition’s official media outlet.

Growers have until May 15 to submit their entries. Enter the National Wheat Yield Contest or learn more about the contest at: wheatcontest.org Kansas entrants must be members in good standing of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, so renew your membership today at kswheat.com/KAWG.

Lettuce Eat Local: A Partial Boba Eclipse

Guest Columnist

April 16, 2024

The sky darkened, the temperature dropped, the birds and breeze stilled. Dusk in the countryside is beautiful, isn’t it?

It was beautiful, and it was out in the country, but this time it wasn’t dusk — you can probably guess by now that I’m referencing the afternoon of the solar eclipse. I would have mentioned the shadows deepening or lengthening, but I’m not sure what they were actually doing; they were just changing. The cast of the light changed too, but again I’m not sure what descriptors to use. It’s like the sun “going down” in the middle of the day isn’t something we talk about often.

It wasn’t eerie, per se, but for an hour or so things felt different. Although we here in the partial zone didn’t have full darkness and couldn’t see the moon’s shadow over the sun without intervention, even if I would have had neither eclipse glasses nor known what was going on, I would have definitely known something was going on.

I had just started walking home with the kids when the sun was most shadowed here. We had been invited to a neighbors’ house for chili and eclipsing, an apposite pairing since I got distinctly chillier as the eclipse progressed. We sat outside around noon to chat and wait, taking peeks through our hostess’s telescope and quick glimpses through our funny special glasses, and for a while I could feel the sun burning the back of my winterized neck as the day warmed up. Gradually I realized that not only was I not too hot but that I was pining for a sweatshirt — it’s amazing what a little moonshade can do to an environment. How incredible that our solar system was designed so precisely that we can predict and witness something like this, and also that we’re not always having these “weird” events.

My parents were actually in the zone of totality in central Ohio, and while what we saw here was cool, what they experienced there sounded epic. A once in a lifetime event for them! Here in the States we’ve been talking about it so much, but did you know that total solar eclipses happen fairly regularly? As in, approximately every year and a half — but the path of totality just isn’t often over such a widely populated swath.

Since everyone was talking about it, everyone had to be making special food for it, too. My SiL let me sample her black-ish Sonic eclipse slushie-float thing, my mom told me about her chocolate-disc-topped eclipse latte, and my email showed me a purple Vitamix eclipse smoothie bowl ringed with coconut shavings. Of course I was dreaming up various eclipse-esque dishes, but when I listened to a completely unrelated podcast about bubble tea, I knew I found it. A sunny partial-zone smoothie cup full of black tapioca-pearl moon shadows! My inspiration on bubble tea was clinched as I then made boba drinks with a friend who’d never had it, and out-of-the-blue was brought milk tea boba by another friend. Three days in a row of bubble tea showing up might happen to me even less than solar eclipses.

Boba tea might be a new thing to you, but I encourage you to give it a try. The chewy “bubbles” might catch you off guard, so if they’re not your thing, try wearing your eclipse glasses. They won’t help, but might help you remember it’s An Experience.

Eclipsed by the Bubble Smoothie

The April 8 Great North American Eclipse also covered parts of Mexico, so the fruit in this sunny-colored smoothie are also a nod to the tropical produce available south of our border. You’ll notice I’m throwing around combinations of words, bubble and boba with smoothie and tea; they’re all different aspects of related ideas, but I’d need a whole other article to elucidate them better (perhaps you’ll see one in the future). Awkwardly upon already beginning to make our drinks, I realized the bubbles I had were kiwi-flavored popping boba and not the black-tea-cooked tapioca pearls I intended, but it was still tasty and perhaps a more appropriate color anyway for our partial zone of totality. A fat straw is definitely the best way to drink this — yes it is a smoothie with surprise chewy bits — but if you don’t have any, you can use a spoon to catch the bubbles. Benson just wanted to eat them all straight out of the container..

Prep tips: you can buy regular or popping boba, or you can also skip this whole recipe and buy a readymade bubble tea! In Hutchinson, Sugartime Confections has a large flavor selection, and BHappy Pho & Boba is set to open the end of this month.

1-2 mangos, cubed (peeled if desired)

2 cups cubed papaya

½ a pineapple, cubed

squeeze of lemon or lime juice

1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt

ice cubes

1 cup boba pearls or popping bobas

Add all ingredients but boba to a blender and process until smooth; add sweetener if necessary. Divide boba among cups, and top with smoothie.

Insight: Farm Finances

Guest Columnist

April 16, 2024

Jackie Mundt,
Pratt County farmer and rancher

There was a line in one of those corny comedy/action-adventure movies that made me roll my eyes recently. A character asked, “What’s in Kansas?” in reference to them being unable to understand why a mutual friend moved to Kansas. That’s not the line that made me roll my eyes. I am a transplant myself and know from experience that Kansas doesn’t seem to be very exciting until you get to know what makes it such a wonderful place to live.
The line I am still thinking about was the response, “she married a rich rancher.” The insinuation that the only thing making Kansas attractive to a highly affluent, college educated woman is lots of money, makes me little concerned about how many people think all ranchers and farmers are rich.
Since Tax Day is this week, I thought it would be appropriate to dive into how much money farmers make and why people have so many misconceptions about the topic.
In my opinion, there are several culprits creating mystery around farm income levels. The first is non-farm people. I find it humorous to watch an outsider ask a farmer how many acres or cows they have. Some farmers see that as asking point-blank, “What’s your salary?” The poor outsider is probably just trying to show interest and wouldn’t have a clue if 500 or 5,000 acres was normal, let alone have any insight on the value of a cow.
Farmers also contribute to the problem. Growing up, my parents had off-farm jobs, so I never really thought about if our dairy made money. In college, I meet farm kids who somewhat proudly talked about getting Pell grants because their parents had a low income or at least had a low taxable income. I never liked that attitude and was glad to meet other farmers who were content to pay taxes because that meant their business was successful and they were being productive members of society.
Legislators and estate taxes are also part of the misunderstanding. Farming is incredibly capital intensive; high land and equipment prices make it really difficult to get started if you don’t inherit family assets. Politicians regularly point to a lower threshold for estate taxes as a way to tax the rich. The reality for farmers and many family businesses is that property and equipment quickly add up to large figures.
Those dollar signs aren’t the same as cash. They represent the tractor and field used to plant a crop. Most family farms would have to sell land and equipment to pay estate taxes if the threshold were lowered. Unless a farmer sells out, they will never see the kind of money in cash that makes people think they are rich.
Farmers deal with bigger numbers than other people. They may bring in $1 million in a great year and $100,000 the next – before expenses. After paying for seed, fertilizer, machinery, fuel, rent and other business costs, a farmer may make six figures or lose money for the year.
Farmers have tremendous amounts of money invested in equipment, inputs and land. Their risk level is high; they make many decisions without knowing if the weather or market at harvest will cover the costs they’ve already incurred. All farmers experience bad years. Sometimes they event put a farmer out of business. The stress and uncertainty of trying to keep the farm alive for the next generation is often cause of mental health issues.
Judging a farmers’ income is complicated and difficult because there are too many factors; rich or poor, materialistic or humble, heavily leveraged or paid in cash. My experience is that farmers’ finances may look different than the average American, but we really aren’t that different at all.

Dairy Cows With Avian Influenza, What?

Guest Columnist

April 16, 2024

Trent Loos
Columnist

All hands on deck. I smell a serious rat in the situation that is unfolding in the dairy cattle world. Earlier today, I had a tremendous conversation with Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller about the dairy females that are testing positive for H5N1, otherwise known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Sid told me that, for the longest time, they were testing these sick cows for bovine diseases when someone suggested there were a large number of dead birds in the area. They tested the cows for H5N1 and got positive test results. Clearly, it was originally called a “mystery disease” and I would say that name still fits.
So right off, let’s describe what the “sick cow” means. As Sid Miller indicated, the cows affected are all in lactation. They are the older cows within in each herd. The young cows seem to be resistant to any symptoms that the older infected cows are experiencing. Now I have had dairy folks tell me that 5-10% of the positive cows will actually dry up and quit milking. For the most part, the cows experience very typical flu-like symptoms. They lose their appetite and have a fever for a few days and then come back into milk and move forward with no issues. In the realm of animal diseases. the situation could be significantly worse.
At the time of this writing, Sid Miller also reported that, for only the second time in recorded US history, a human has contracted H5N1 from interacting with animals. The symptom experienced by the worker on one of the dairies was simple pink eye. As always, there is zero reason to be careless around animals but certainly not a reason to have an elevated fear about contamination.
Honestly, I find the whole think strange. I mean migratory birds cover more than just this path in Texas where the outbreak originated. Yet the animals infected in all states, with the exception of Kansas thus far, have a direct tie to animals from Texas. Capturing many headlines in the past couple of days is the fact that the state of Nebraska announced that it will now require a permit for breeding dairy females with a Health Certificate from the state of origin in order to come into the state. To me, the news in that is the fact that a permit was not already required. As a person who routinely delivers animals to dozens of states, it is rare that permits are not already commonplace.
It needs to be said that this is an animal disease and no way should be confused as a human health issue. The milk from sick cows is discarded and not sent into the normal fluid milk channels. If that were to happen, the pasteurization process would remove any health risk for human consumption. I am concerned that I see quite a few negative sentiments about the consumption of raw milk surfacing through this situation, at a time when raw milk consumption was making a comeback.
Already the fear mongering fools out there are trying to work the consuming public into a frenzy about mass injections of mRNA H5N1 vaccines being given to these cows. That is a blatant lie.
It has not and will not happen. In fact, I attended a USDA meeting last week in Omaha where the poultry producers in the room asked Secretary of Ag Tom Vilsack why the USDA could not champion an Avian Influenza vaccine for birds. His answer was horrible but nothing short of “it will not happen anytime soon.”
At the end of the day, I am going to quote Sid Miller from our broadcast when he said, “This is not a good thing, but certainly it isn’t a real bad thing either.” I am going to predict that if we do not get armed with the truth and become louder than we have been in the past, the collateral damage to dairy and beef production will be severe.
There are plenty of folks in the world today looking to bring the cow business crashing down. Let’s not let them even start crowing about all the problems these cows are suffering. Hey, but then again, we are a week ahead of a solar eclipse that will last less than 4 minutes in any one spot and we have state governors already declaring a state of emergency. That is proof that it doesn’t take much darkness to spook some folks.

https://trentloos.substack.com/p/dairy-cows-with-avian-influenza-what?publication_id=974571&post_id=143416431&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=o4hmr&triedRedirect=true

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