Now That's Rural: Recent Episodes
Farming Unlimited Network
Now That's Rural - Kansas Profile's is a weekly radio feature hosted by Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development. Each is approximately 4-minutes in length.
Growing food and growing people are the goals of a young rural leader in Kansas. Those goals have propelled this young leader to not one, but two national agriculture awards. In addition, she’s actively involved in promoting FFA and 4-H in her region.
Go to this website for the full blog post.
When the owners of a specialty business in Denver were looking to relocate their business, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says a rural community in Kansas ended up being the perfect fit for the company – a company that makes brass fittings for natural gas, propane and other devices.
For more information, go to https://andersonforrester.com.
Go to this website for the full blog post.
Many businesses had to pivot quickly when COVID-19 hit – especially those deemed to be essential. The chief executive of S&S Drug in Beloit had to keep the business going while battling COVID-19. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says she and her head pharmacist spearheaded an effort to provide vaccinations in the region and administered more than 7,000 shots across Kansas in eight weeks.
For more information about the community, go to www.beloitks.org.
Go to this website for the full blog post.
When Heather Johnson and her husband moved to her hometown and had the chance to join her family’s pharmacy business, she wanted her children to have the same benefits of small-town life that she had enjoyed growing up. Now that she is CEO of the family business, she is making that dream come true by leading various efforts to benefit the community, just as her parents had done.
For more information about the community, go to www.beloitks.org.
Go to this website for the full blog post.
Sarah Siders is the executive director of SPARK non-profit organization is working with several partners to support entrepreneurs and startup business owners in the greater Manhattan region. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says SPARK wants to be a hub where entrepreneurs can connect with resources that support their businesses.
For the Full story, check out Ron's blog.
Sarah Siders encourages everyone to go to www.sparkmhk.com for more information and to share resources, contacts and events.
There are several kinds of community service projects. However, sometimes you need something out of the ordinary that will make a lasting impression. A service project recommended by the president of the Clay Center Rotary Club was a downtown mural. The mural was so well received that it turned into a dozen murals within 11 months.
For the Full story, check out Ron's blog.
For more information, visit A Mural Movement Experience for an interactive map of all the murals, social media links, a donation page and more.
Children often develop the same interests as their parents. In this case, the father pole vaulted in high school. When his son got to school and needed a pole vaulting coach, he volunteered. It went so well that he founded his own pole vault club in rural Kansas. That club now has hundreds of youth, including Olympians from across the nation.
Mark Breault
For the Full story, check out Ron's blog.
For more information, visit Tailwind Pole Vault Club online.
An artist and art teacher who grew up on the west coast where her father was a movie stuntman and quick draw consultant for Hollywood westerns, now lives in Dodge City. That’s where her father was gunned down by U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon in the opening of the hit TV show Gunsmoke. After representing her father at the 50th anniversary Gunsmoke reunion in 2005 and subsequent reunions, she settled down near Dodge City where she paints, draws, carves and sculpts.
For more on the artist Inga Ojala follow this link: https://bit.ly/3lwS3Sh
The search for the perfect wedding dress can be exhausting. However, a bridal shop in rural Kansas is making the process as stress-free as possible. The owner studied clothing and fashion design in Russia. After coming to the U.S. she was able to buy a long-time bridal shop. Her free alterations policy and international connections have enabled her to grow the business to include customers across the nation and overseas.
For the Full story, check out Ron's blog.
Visit Schoen's Bridal World.
A rural Kansas woman who grew up with flowers on the family farm, has taken a few acres of unutilized land on her current farm to plant flowers. She is now creatively marketing and selling the cut flowers by subscription.
Follow this link for more on Prairie Field Flower
Some people prefer their pie plain, others like it with whipped cream or maybe topped with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says there’s a rural community that likes classic cars with its pie.
For the Full story, check out Ron's blog.
What started as a dad taking pictures of his daughter while she was playing club volleyball turned into a side enterprise while farming and working in agribusiness. Now it is an award-wining business featuring photos of beautiful Kansas landscapes.
For the Full story, check out Ron's blog.
Visit Kirkwood Kreations Photography on Facebook.
After running a greenhouse business near Peabody for 55 years, a rural Kansas woman – inspired by a sunflower field – is giving away recycled mineral tubs and sunflower seeds as a community beautification project. She’s also involved in helping save and restore the historic Sunflower Theatre in downtown Peabody – and 2021 just happens to be the national year of the sunflower.
To read more about the Sunflower Theatre, follow this link.
A renowned musician and composer was teaching and playing cello in the Wichita Symphony. She and her husband moved near Peabody because they wanted a place in the country. That’s where she helped launch an arts and ecology program promoting the Flint HiIls and the rural communities of Marion County.
Susan Mayo
Visit Ron's Blog for the full story on Laurie Bruce's Bulleye Farms
A neighbor’s gift of homemade wild sand plum jelly left lasting impression. In fact, after tasting the “best jelly” she’d ever had, she learned how to make her own. Now, she and her husband have a value-added agriculture products business selling jelly and other homemade products across the nation.
Bruce's Bullseye Farms
Visit Ron's Blog for the full story on Laurie Bruce's Bulleye Farms
A military move to Ft. Riley and a family connection to a yarn shop in Washington state, has resulted in a Kansas business that produces yarn and other products. This business is raising fiber goats and sheep and leading efforts to promote these fibers.
Collen and Mike Mcghee
https://rowantreefarm.business.site
A rural Kansas woman founded a business that is helping to create All-Americans in the sport of equestrian riding. However, her love of equine training goes beyond national awards. She says it’s just as important to see the kids who come to the equine training center who will never enter a horse show grow and learn in their self-confidence.
Follow this link for more from K-State's Huck Boyd Institute.
After stopping at a farmers market, a rural Kansas couple decided to set up a stand to sell their own garden vegetables. It went so well, they added some jams and jellies. Now they travel to several farmers markets each week to sell their bierocks, cinnamon rolls, cookies, maple bars, banana bread, fruit pies, salsa and more.
A new initiative to help businesses grow, including exporting to international markets, has been launched in Kansas. The BRITE Center, an acronym for Business Resources for Innovation, provides team advising, educational evens, program development, and partner engagement for businesses. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, has more on this innovative effort to help businesses grow.
A Kansas farmer growing tired of not having control over the price of his corn, did some research and discovered corn was worth much more when sold as a tortilla. So, he constructed a building, bought corn processing equipment and started raising white, food grade corn. Those tortillas are now available at restaurants and local grocery stores, such as the store at Meade. And, he also created his own brand of salsa using fresh ingredients to go with his chips!
This segment is courtesy of the Huck Boyd Institute.
A Kansas farmer looking to diversify the income from his farm found bird hunting was a good complementary business. The farm now hosts hundreds of hunters from around the nation each year.
A family-owned welding business in rural Kansas expanded its business by manufacturing attachments for skid-steer loaders. These attachments are now being shipped coast to coast.
An entrepreneur, farmer and real estate broker is working to revitalize his rural community through a no-cost community betterment program offered by K-State Research and Extension. The program builds awareness of a community’s strengths and areas of concern, using feedback from outside the community.
It’s often said that we learn by watching. An educator and school superintendent learned the importance of entrepreneurship and small business ownership by watching his father run a business in rural Kansas. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says that knowledge helped to implement entrepreneurial programs that provide a community service and hands-on educational experiences for students.
A skid steer loader has many uses – moving pallets, receiving deliveries, relocating products, along with hundreds of outdoor tasks. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, introduces us to a rural Kansas family that’s built a business marketing used skid steers.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
A rural telecommunications company founded in 1950 in southwest Kansas is still working hard to meet the needs of its customers. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says that starts and ends with providing great customer service – something its CEO definitely understands.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
A fourth-generation rancher in southwest Kansas launched a meat company that markets directly to consumers and ships its beef across the nation. The company also personally delivers its beef in the region.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Over the last two weeks, we learned about Roger Barta, the legendary high school football coach who led Smith Center to the nation’s longest high school winning streak and about his son, Brooks, a standout player for Kansas State and the head coach of three-time state champion Holton High School. This week, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, concludes his three-part series by introducing us to the youngest branch on the football family tree: Mason Barta. The son of Brooks and Tonya Barta, he’s making a name for himself as a fullback and blocker for Kansas State.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Last week, we learned about Roger Barta, the legendary high school football coach who led Smith Center to the nation’s longest high school winning streak. This week, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, introduces us to Roger’s son, Brooks. He was a four-year starter and a three-time co-captain under coach Bill Snyder at Kansas State and has led Holton to three state championships.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
When Roger Barta became the head football coach at Smith Center, he began building a program that would eventually set the record for the longest winning streak in the nation. As Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, tells us, the impact he has had on his players and family extends well beyond the football field.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
A rural Kansas farm family that raised popcorn for themselves and then started giving it away as Christmas gifts, is now running a business that has sold popcorn to all 50 states and beyond. And now is a busy time of the year their because their flavored popcorn is especially popular during the Christmas holiday.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Anyone who has tried to get something out of the front of a truck bed, knows just how difficult that can be. However, a Kansas business owner has developed a system that solves that problem.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
While no one was prepared for the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of people were quick to respond and join forces to help the people and businesses in their communities. That was the case in Mitchell County. The directors of community development, chamber of commerce and community foundation developed a variety of cash-generating promotions to get more than $150,000 into the hands of local citizens and businesses.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
A stock trailer manufacturing business that originally built steel trailers, now focuses on building aluminum stock trailers which have gone across the nation and as far away as Hawaii. Learn why they made the switch.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
When the pandemic hit Norton County, the Norton County Community Foundation launched a county-wide online bingo game. The game encouraged residents to do good deeds, buy local, and get outside for healthy activities -- and the game was a remarkable success.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
A former High School building that had closed was about to be sold an outside group by the city of Lecompton for a dollar when the local PRIDE group expressed interest in turning the building into a community center. Since Lecompton PRIDE took over the building, it has become a vibrant center for a variety of community activities.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
After graduating from college and moving back to the family farm, a Kansas man saw how rural areas need people to volunteer to serve as firefighters, board members, and other capacities. This man – who always says “yes” to serving – has been recognized as an outstanding community volunteer.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
When the pandemic caused a run on wheat flour, Kansas Wheat and the K-State Grain Science and Industry Department responded. Kansas Wheat donated 20,000 pounds of locally grown wheat, and the campus flour mill reopened to mill the wheat into 10-pounds bags of flour that were given away to local residents.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Due to the pandemic and requirements of many stores and municipalities, masks are an essential part of everyday life. A rural Kansas woman responded to the need for masks in her community and surrounding area by becoming a prolific mask-maker. This effort earned her recognition as an Ag Hero from the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
A goal of Kansas 4-H is to create a spark in youth – something that makes them want to learn more about a particular subject area. In the case of a young 4-H member from Sheridan County, winning a blue ribbon at the county fair sparked a love for gardening that eventually led her to create a business of growing and marketing heirloom produce in California. Her innovative urban farm is using technology to give customers exactly what they want.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
One of the state’s leading vendors of sweet corn is helping to fill the void of a lack of fresh produce for those in need. Over the past 12 years, this company has donated 454,000 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks for distribution. This generosity caused the company to be recognized as an Ag Hero by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Wheat flour sales, which were in a five year slump, surged in early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. A rural Kansas flour milling company responded to the increased demand by doubling its flour production capacity in just one week. This achievement was so remarkable the company has been recognized as an Ag Hero by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
A “food fight” – while fun – also creates a mess. However, a recent food fight in a rural Kansas community turned into a competition that generated much-needed food for local pantries hit hard by an increased demand for food because of the pandemic.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
A long-time, award-winning Kansas broadcaster is reaching his community through a new channel of communication – producing programs for the My Phillips County Online Facebook page. Learn about his remarkable career and how he’s using that talent to provide special reports during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
There are many types of engineers, but probably not many spacesuit engineers. Learn about a woman from rural Kansas who is living her childhood dream of exploring the universe.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Frying pork rinds started as a hobby and then became a way to fund a cruise. Now, it’s a successful business in rural Kansas that is shipping pork rinds across America and beyond. In fact, these pork rinds have been requested by a former U.S. President.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
How about a cup of coffee while you have your motorcycle or ATV serviced? A couple in rural northwest Kansas are making that possible. They own Fresh Seven Coffee and the business next door – a motorcycle shop where track-day and road-race machines can be serviced and equipped.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
A lot of people love coffee. But would they open a roastery and coffee shop in rural Kansas? That’s exactly what a married couple with a shared love of coffee decided to do after having a “cup of joe” at a community coffee shop in India. They also offer food and beverages and ship their hand-roasted, small-batch coffee across the nation.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
It sounds like a script for a romantic comedy. But it’s not. A couple meets and fall in love. They get married, sell everything and travel the globe. Along the way, they see marvelous sights, create memories, and help others. Then, they return to Kansas to pursue another love: coffee.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
It turns out that working in peach orchards as a kid is a lot more fun than working behind a desk as an adult. So, Gabe Spurgeon seized the opportunity to put in an apple and peach orchard with his father-in-law. His innovative practices have made them one of the largest tree fruit producers in Kansas – on a limited amount of acreage.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Setting up a virtual business meeting isn’t too hard, but a virtual livestock show takes lots of work, technology and collaboration. When the Haskell County spring livestock show was canceled due to the pandemic, the county 4-H youth livestock ambassadors conducted the show entirely virtually.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Moving out of the city so the kids could grow up in a small town environment led to growing a garden, raising some chickens – and because two of the kids are lactose intolerant – dairy goats. The goats produced more milk than the family could consume. After researching what to do with the excess milk, they discovered that it’s good for the skin. Now they produce an entire line of hand-made goat milk products.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
The idea to make a candle for his wife instead of buying one ended up being so much fun that he and his wife turned it into a business that uses natural fragrances that relate to their life in Kansas.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Making pottery started out as a hobby between two friends – who also happen to be related. Their pottery was so well-received by others that it became a pottery and boutique business that ships products made in rural Kansas all across the nation.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Kids not only say the darndest things, they often make us say the darndest things. For a rural Kansas woman who started selling purses and jewelry to help her mom after her mother was diagnosed with cancer, what she kiddingly said to her daughters became the name of her boutique business.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
From selling new pianos for someone else to starting his own business to sell new and used pianos, a rural Kansas man has built a remarkable company that sells across the nation and beyond from its 11,000 square-foot building. The company – which started in a little hole-in-the-wall place – might also have the finest collection of art case pianos in the world.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
Nike receives thousands of applications each month from graphic designers who want to work for them. However, a designer from rural Kansas was surprised when Nike reached out to him. He’s been with the company since 2015 and his latest project was designing the logo and uniforms for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several disruptions, including the food supply. A rural Kansas man, who saw a disconnect between the people raising beef and the consumers looking for it in the store, had an idea. That idea, to use social media to connect producers and consumers, now has more than 100,000 followers and is enabling people to purchase food locally.
For the Full List of Kansas Profiles by the Huck Boyd Institute visit https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/other/kansas-profile.html
The Meinhardt Farm Museum collection spans thousands of sq feet indoors and out, displaying more than 50 different types of equipment.