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Youth shooting sports clinic October 11 at Council Grove

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Special event designed to encourage youth participation in hunting

PRATT – Area youth are invited to attend a free shotgun, air rifle, and archery shooting clinic on Saturday, October 11 at Council Grove Reservoir. This Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) event will take place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. With the help of certified firearm and archery skills instructors, participants will have an opportunity to enhance their firearm and archery shooting skills and safety practices in a fun and controlled environment . All gear and supplies will be provided. Youth age 11-16 may participate and are required to pre-register for the event. Students are not required to have completed a hunter education course, but prior completion is preferred.

The event will take place at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) managed area between Marina Cove and Neosho Park, approximately 0.25 miles west of the USACE office at the west end of the dam. Check-in and a free lunch will be between 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m., with instruction beginning at 12:30 p.m. Door prizes will be awarded including a youth model .243 bolt action rifle with scope, donated by SCI.

Those interested are asked to pre-register before October 3. For more information, or to register, contact Council Grove Wildlife Area Manager Brent Konen at (620) 767-5900.

The event is part of KDWPT’s “Pass It On” Program which is designed to increase the percentage of Kansas youth who hunt. Other event sponsors include the USACE, the Flint Hills Chapter of Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation (QUWF), the Munkers Creek Limbhangers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), the Chisholm Trail Chapter of Safari Club International (SCI), the Bill Young Foundation, and Morris County Hunter Education instructors.

Kansas Department of Agriculture awards specialty crop block grants

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Kansas Department of Agriculture
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CHRIS NEAL / THE CAPTIAL-JOURNAL
CHRIS NEAL / THE CAPTIAL-JOURNAL

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $303,812 to the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The program’s purpose is to increase opportunities for specialty crop production in Kansas.

“Agriculture is the state’s largest industry and economic driver. This grant program offers an excellent opportunity to allow farmers and ranchers to diversify into other crops including fruit, vegetable and other specialty crops. Through these grants we are able to promote the growth, education and awareness of Kansas agriculture of all kinds and to help connect consumers to agriculture from the farm all the way to the fork,” said Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey.

The following is a list of Kansas projects that will be funded by the grant:

  • Kansas State University, Dr. Eleni Pliakoni, $69,837 – Improve shelf life, quality and safety of locally grown vegetables in Kansas. The overall objective is to improve the efficiency of storage and distribution of specialty crops as well as develop educational resources to educate specialty crops producers on food safety practices.
  • Highland Community College 2015 Viticulture and Enology Extension Project, $50,300 – To help grow the Kansas Grape and Wine Industry Highland Community College will partner withthe Kansas Department of Agriculture to create internships available for students. In addition, a professionally judged wine competition will complement educational opportunities, including workshops.
  • Harper County Community Educational Center, $61,858 – Develop sustainable practices for growing and preparing fruits and vegetables for local markets. The Sunflower Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. will partner with the Harper County Fair Association to make this project possible.
  • Kansas State University, Department of Horticulture, Dr. Cary Rivard, $30,387 – Develop a survey to document economic impact of fruit and vegetable growers in Kansas.
  • Kansas Department of Agriculture, Statewide Survey of Specialty Crops, $35,941 – Partner with K-State Research and Extension to distribute a survey to specialty crop growers in Kansas. The information gained will allow the Kansas Department of Agriculture to better promote the specialty crop industry.
  • Expansion of Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Cost Share Program, $18,848 – Allocate part of one KDA employee’s time to act as a certified third-party USDA GAP auditor who will only audit Kansas farms interesting in obtaining certification. Designating a Kansas auditor complements the existing cost share program.
  • Printing of Statewide Beverage Brochure and Online Tool Supporting Farm Wineries, $29,376 – KDA will partner with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, to increase consumer interest and purchases from farm wineries in Kansas.

Clinton wildlife area quail habitat tour

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Editor
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Landowners can learn about land management practices that benefit upland wildlife

PRATT – The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), in cooperation with the Jayhawk Chapter of The Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation, will host a Quail Habitat Management Tour Saturday, Oct. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon on Clinton Wildlife Area, 206 N. 1600 Rd., Lecompton. The tour will include several stops scheduled to showcase habitat management practices staff are using to improve upland habitats on the area.

Land managers interested in land management practices and how they can help create habitat beneficial to quail and other upland wildlife are encouraged to attend. KDWPT biologists will discuss technical and cost-share assistance available to landowners through KDWPT programs, as well as Federal Farm Bill programs. Attendees should dress appropriately and wear sturdy shoes or boots. Refreshments will be provided.

If you, or some you know, might be interested in attending, contact KDWPT biologist Brad Rueschhoff at (785) 273-6740, or by e-mail at [email protected] to register for this event. Parties are asked to RSVP no later than Oct. 6.

Source: Kansas Department of Wildlife, Park and Tourism

Kansas duck season takes to the sky

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Editor
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photo credit - Ed Dunens

Duck hunting opportunities available through Jan. 25, 2015

PRATT – Teal season is over for the year, but marsh madness has just begun. From Oct. 4, 2014 – Jan. 25, 2015, waterfowl hunters in various parts of the state will have opportunities to pursue one of the sky’s most sought-after game birds – ducks. So brush up on your waterfowl ID skills, load up those waders, and pack your decoys, it’s time to hit the marsh.

Waterfowl hunters 16 and older must have a Federal Waterfowl Stamp, and all hunters who are required to have a hunting license must also have a Kansas State Waterfowl Permit and a Kansas Harvest Information Program (HIP) Permit before hunting ducks, geese, or mergansers. Licenses, stamps and permits may be obtained wherever licenses are sold, or online at ksoutdoors.com, except for the Federal Waterfowl Stamp, which can be purchased at a U.S. Post Office.

Kansas HIP Permits are $2.50, State Waterfowl Stamps are $7, and Federal Waterfowl Stamps are $16.50. Hunters may also purchase a 48-hour Waterfowl license if they so chose for $27.50.

Federal and state waterfowl permits are not required to hunt coots, doves, rails, snipe, woodcock, or sandhill cranes; however a HIP Permit is required.

2014 DUCK SEASONS

YOUTH WATERFOWL SEASONS

High Plains Zone: Oct. 4-5, 2014

Low Plains Early Zone: Oct. 4-5, 2014

Low Plains Late Zone: Oct. 25-26, 2014

Low Plains Southeast Zone: Nov. 1-2, 2014

(Bag limits for the youth seasons are the same as during the regular seasons and include ducks, geese, coots and mergansers.)

HIGH PLAINS ZONE

Season:  Oct. 11-Dec. 8, 2014 AND Dec. 20, 2014-Jan. 25, 2015

Area open: High Plains Zone*

Daily bag limit: 6**

Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit

LOW PLAINS EARLY ZONE

Season: Oct. 11-Dec. 7, 2014 AND Dec. 20, 2014-Jan. 4, 2015

Area open: Early Zone*

Daily bag limit: 6**

Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit

LOW PLAINS LATE ZONE

Season: Nov. 1, 2014-Jan. 4, 2015 AND Jan. 17-25, 2015

Area open: Late Zone*

Daily bag limit: 6**

Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit

LOW PLAINS SOUTHEAST ZONE

Season: Nov. 8-9, 2014 AND Nov. 15, 2014-Jan. 25, 2015

Area open: Southeast Zone*

Daily bag limit: 6**

Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit

*A map showing duck zone boundaries is included in the 2014 Kansas Hunting and Furhavesting Regulations Summary or can be viewed at www.ksoutdoors.com

**The daily bag limit on ducks is six, which may include no more than five mallards, of which only two may be hens; three wood ducks; three scaup; two pintails; two redheads; and one canvasback. Possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.

For more information on Kansas duck hunting, visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting / Hunting Regulations / Migratory Birds.”

Source: Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

Barn location revealed for commercial

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barn commercialProducers Zach Lowry and Luke Rafferty of New York flew to Kansas to attend the September 26 evening session of the annual BarnFest, organized by the Kansas Barn Alliance. Held at Brown Memorial Camp near Abilene, the evening session featured special presentations by Lowry, Rafferty and Kevin Kirkwood.

 

In January of 2014, Kirkwood responded to e-blasts put out by the Kansas Barn Alliance and the Kansas Sampler Foundation on behalf of Lowry. Lowry was looking for a particular barn and setting to use for a commercial featuring Coca Cola and Ford products.

 

In his presentation, Kirkwood revealed that a 1907 barn near the unincorporated town of Upland in northern Dickinson County was the chosen barn. Currently owned by Lonnie Heigele of New Cambria, the land around the barn had been farmed by Kirkwood’s in-laws, the Schlappi’s, decades ago and Kirkwood thought it fit Lowry’s requirements. Lowry said he received over two thousand barn suggestions from the e-blast but the Upland barn and Kirkwood’s willingness to prepare it made the difference.

 

Kirkwood used a PowerPoint to tell about the 500 man-hours it took to transform the barn. In all, about 100 Kansans participated in fixing the barn, building a driveway through the wheat field, landscaping the area and doing whatever it took to accommodate Lowry and Rafferty. Certain vehicles were needed for the commercial and Kirkwood found them. Cindie Bailey of Hoyt provided a restored 1965 Ford Mustang, Nathan Liska of Lawrence had the beat-up 1965 Mustang, and Ron Scripter of Abilene owned just the right 1970 blue Ford truck.

 

Bruce Silkey of Lecompton was chosen to play the Grandpa in the commercial. Seven-year old Kaeden Saunders from Wisconsin played the grandson.  Glenn Davis, an actor with Abilene’s Great Plains Theatre Festival from North Hollywood, CA played Kaeden’s character as the grown-up grandson.

 

On May 30 and 31 the filming took place. In all, two hours of footage were shot for the 60-second commercial.

 

Lowry and Rafferty surprised the BarnFest audience of 100 with their presence and delighted them with the first public showing of the commercial-to-be.  Lowry and Rafferty will now work at getting the commercial distributed for television or online usage.

 

Kirkwood said he was willing to go to all the work when he found out that producer Lowry was a sophomore at New York University and his partner at Flex Collective, LLC, Rafferty, was a junior at Syracuse. Lowry explained the story he wanted to convey in the commercial and Kirkwood was eager to help make it happen.

 

Lowry said, “This was an incredible experience in Kansas. All the generosity and friendliness was beyond my wildest comprehensions. The outpouring of help and support was overwhelming. We’ll come back to Kansas.”

 

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