The North Central Kansas Food Council (NCKFC) is searching for representation from Washington County and Cloud County to serve on our council. If you work with local foods, have an enthusiastic interest in bettering local foods production/ distribution or want to help educate NCK residents on healthy eating and active living, please contact us!
NCKFC meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. approximately every 6 weeks somewhere within our 12-county region. Councilors do have the option to call in and participate remotely if necessary. Our first major project will be working in collaboration with several partners to complete a food assessment of our region!
Currently, our food council members are creating advisory committees within each county who will support the council’s mission, as well as help with some of the food assessment information collection. If you live in any of the following counties and are interested in participating, please let us know and we will get your in contact with your county’s representative: Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Marshall, Mitchell, Ottawa, Republic, Saline and Washington Counties.
Touring AGCO’s Beloit facility was one of the many experiences that participants had during the Career Exploration and Leadership Program in June.
I read recently in the Washington County News that school need not be closed for the summer. Kids can learn all year around, just in different forms in different seasons. Some planned and unique learning has been taking place with youth in Hanover, Linn and Washington this summer with green thumbs being encouraged, talents in the arts explored, and civic concepts raised. Another place where youth are being engaged and challenged is in the Solomon Valley.
Last December the Kansas Department of Education invited school districts and friends to Topeka for a forum featuring Pine Bush, New York, and their approach to career engagement and re-attraction of young persons. Jeff Travis of USD 273, Eric Burks of NCK Tech, Heather Hartman of Mitchell County Community Development and yours truly attended and then pondered the what-ifs upon traveling home. Strategies were developed in subsequent months discussing a pilot summertime career exploration and youth leadership program.
The result was a Career Exploration and Leadership Program available to incoming 7-9th grade students for nine days over the course of three weeks in June. Students learned how communities work, play and survive in rural Kansas. They explored applied agriculture, wildlife biology, food creativity, health care, business technology, graphic design, worldwide advertising, civic leadership, robotics, as well as entrepreneurship. Their heads were not in books or computers, but examining life via microscopes and safety glasses while their hands were all over tools of the various trades they encountered.
This was not a passive program. NCRPC supported this with a small gift from its modest tax credit initiative. Other support came through the school district, technical college and donations such as the local Rotary Club. A big round of applause is well deserved for student guides Cris Adams and Stephanie Litton of USD 273.
Heather Hartman, Mitchell County Community Development Director, says it was a great first year. “I know my measure of success was hearing from several students ‘Wow, I didn’t know I could do this job here,’ and ‘I just figured out what I want to do when I grow up,’ ” Hartman says.
Students are eager to explore and develop their loyalties to place. Costs need not be elaborate. NCRPC is ready and able to help you pilot a similar project in 2018. Let’s engage and try to retain bright young minds and their innovative interests.
Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Rural Voices winners!
First Place Video Entry: Isabella Hartman, St. John’s Catholic High School, Beloit, KS First Place Written Entry:Riley Doebele, Hanover High School, Hanover, KS
Watch the winning video and read the winning essay below.
Rural Kansas…Why it Matters
By Riley Doebele
There is a sense of peacefulness that fills a person when they are surrounded by the beauty of nature. People who live in more urban areas do not have the opportunity to see the beauty of the morning sun as it rises into the sky because there is too much pollution which has filled the sky and too many buildings or objects blocking the sight of it, taking away the allure that exists when it is witnessed in a natural environment. Rather than being able to open the windows while doing the dishes to observe the land while listening to birds chirp while the cool breeze of fresh air permeates the room, people who live in urban areas might have a view of their neighbor’s house or of the busy street. Their ears are filled with buzzing vehicles and the air is tainted. The calming sounds and sights of a trickling stream of water and a mother deer crossing a road with its fawn are nonexistent. They have been replaced with bright, blaring sirens and excruciatingly loud construction work. People in rural areas are blessed with the simple things that others who live in large communities might not even know exist.
The aspect of nature is something I absolutely love and cherish about living in rural Kansas. I love being able to look outside the windows and observe the wonders Almighty God has created for us. I love being able to wake up early on a cold morning to watch the sunrise, the frost glisten on the ground, and the wisps of steam rise from the ponds. I love seeing the clear blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds on a warm summer’s day; with waves of golden wheat rolling in the wind. I love how diverse the seasons are in Kansas. The fact that the weather goes from scorching hot to bitter cold amazes me. We are able to watch the seasons change distinctively from fresh, warm, and lively in the spring with everything blooming to bright, hot, and breezy during the summer. It becomes cool, crisp, and colorful during the autumn season and turns to cold, white, blustery, and enchanting in the winter. People who live in urban communities are still capable of feeling the seasons change but they do not actually see it. They are not able to see the environment change as drastically as they would if they lived in an area that is not as altered as the one they inhabit.
Another reason I love being able to live in rural Kansas is because I adore living in a small community where everyone knows everyone and people like to get involved. Even though this is an extremely small gesture, having someone wave to you while driving by or being able to wave to someone who is walking down the street is always something I look forward to. I look forward to it because it is just something that makes my day; seeing the kindness that people can show towards one another. In large towns people give strange glances if you wave at them. The sense of community which is present in a small town is incredible. In disastrous times people are ready to drop everything and come together to support one another. It does not matter if it is someone you are close to or someone you do not particularly get along with, or even someone who you have never talked to in your life; they will show up to help in times of need. This sense of community is also present during community events. The members of my small community all become involved in community events whether this includes attending the event, donating money, or helping assist in these events. Some of the events that take place in my community is the Days of ‘49 which consists of a carnival, parade, and additional activities. We also have a very impressive firework show which is put on by people who are from our community. Other events that the entire town shuts down for is sporting events. If there is a football or basketball games you can expect almost every member of the community is at the field or in the gym. People look forward to watching the games all week and show the athletes more than enough support. The community is very tight-knit and the kids do everything together. They do activities like, swimming in the ponds, swimming at the pool for hours, sledding, shooting baskets, and riding bikes. Kids are able to develop strong friendships and bonds that will last forever.
Being able to live in a rural area also gives me the opportunity to live on a farm and have experiences with farm animals, farm equipment, and growing crops. Having the background experience of living on a farm is something I would never trade. Being able to work with machinery and being knowledgeable about equipment are life experiences that could come in very handy in certain circumstances. I enjoy being around cattle and like being knowledgeable about agriculture. It has taught me many life lessons and working on the farm is a great way to build a strong work ethic. All of the jobs which need done are not always “fun” tasks but they build character. Not to mention the enjoyment you can receive by living on a farm or in the country. I will never forget the times I was able to watch a calf being born, or being able to bottle feed a baby calf. The times I had to help work cattle or use a blow dryer to try to warm a newborn calf during the winter. I will always remember the times I was able to ride in the combine or tractor with my dad, uncle, and cousins. I will always remember the four wheeler rides and planting and picking the watermelons and pumpkins that we planted in an open spot in a field. I will always remember riding in the back of a pickup with my cousins and the farm dog to go pick mushrooms. I will always remember the times I was able to go play on the sand bar and walk in the river. I will always remember being able to go sledding down the hill at the farm. I will always remember being taken fishing and waking up early in the mornings to drive around and look for deer.
These things should matter to others outside of our geography because these are background experiences that will help people to be successful. They should matter to the people living outside of our geography because we are the backbone of the country. We are the ones who work to provide for our families as well as families across the globe. Without people like us, people across the country wouldn’t have produce like the meats and crops we provide. This is one of the ways that the gap is bridged between the distinct culture of rural Kansas and our neighbors in more urban areas. We raise the livestock, make the grain, and produce ethanol for others to use all across the country. One of the ways we can “reinvent” rural Kansas is by making others informed. By using social media we can easily educate urban individuals on what people in rural Kansas do in their everyday lives as well as promoting and advertising our products. A great example of how social media can help educate others is the Peterson Farm Bros. This group has done well to educate what life is like on the farm; this includes their crops and their cattle. They do so in an entertaining way which has created many global connections for them which could ultimately assist our state to capitalize on future growth. Another way we can reinvent Kansas is to continue to upgrade the technology in our equipment, techniques for growing crops, and medicine for our animals. As technology continues to improve it allows us to work more efficiently in all of these different components.
Everyone has their different likes and dislikes and something I really like is living in rural Kansas. Living on a farm, in the country, or even in a small town might not be ideal for everyone and I’m not saying it should be. I enjoy living in rural Kansas for a number of reasons and that is just my personal opinion. People do not have to enjoy Kansas the way I do, but they should appreciate it. Farmers and Ranchers in rural Kansas do more than some people will ever know and they should be thankful for that. They should be thankful for all that they do and this is the reason rural Kansas should matter to others who live outside of our geography because we are connected in more ways than one would think.
About the Contest: The Rural Voices Youth Contest is sponsored each year by the North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC) to engage high school seniors in North Central Kansas in thoughtful reflection on rural Kansas and to promote a discussion among citizens based on their insights.
The next contest deadline will be November 15, 2017. Further details will be announced and registration for the 2017-2018 Rural Voices Youth Contest will begin in September 2017.
The NCRPC offers Certified Asbestos Inspections to governmental entities and private property owners.
“Cities need to know that by rule they should have commercial buildings inspected prior to demolition,” Carol Torkelson, NCRPC Housing Director, says. “We have an inspector on staff who is accredited to do asbestos inspections.”
In Kansas, the asbestos program is operated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau of Air. Regulations are in place in Kansas to help protect the public and workers from exposure to asbestos fibers during removal, renovation and demolition of commercial and public buildings. In certain circumstances, residential properties fall under these regulations as well. If in question, contact KDHE or the NCRPC for guidance on how to proceed. As a result, prior to demolition, all commercial, industrial and some residential buildings must be inspected by a qualified asbestos inspector.
The cost of asbestos inspections vary based on the structure and how many samples must be taken.
“Each unit is unique and has different sampling requirements,” Torkelson says. “This is a service we are able to offer that is available for a city or property owner’s own protection.”
Many building products contain asbestos because of its strength, durability and resistance to heat. Its uses are widespread and could be present in just about any structure. For demolition, a notification form must be submitted to KDHE at least 10 business days prior to the start of work — even if asbestos is not found in the inspection.
To learn more about NCRPC’s asbestos inspection services or to request a bid, contact the NCRPC Housing Department.
Is your local government planning for the future? A capital improvement plan (CIP) helps a local government take a critical look at itself, identify what is good, what could be improved and what opportunities for new projects exist. The CIP provides several benefits to local communities and counties. Those without a CIP may proceed with no solid priorities or direction for community development and community betterment.
The CIP process takes time, but it offers a good return on the investment and a wealth of benefits.
Join the NCRPC for a workshop presented by Beth Tatarko of Austin-Peters on Capital Improvement for Local Government on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 9 a.m. at 803 Valley Street in Concordia. The workshop is sponsored in part by the Kansas Association of Regional Development Organizations with support from USDA Rural Development.
Click here for the workshop flyer for additional details or to share with other representatives and officials from your city and county departments.
A capital improvement plan…
Provides a framework for decisions about area growth and development.Planning for water, sewer, transportation, public safety and recreation are as important to those who develop residential, commercial and industrial tracts as they are to public officials who regulate land use.
Helps preserve existing property values. A well-maintained infrastructure directly affects neighborhood property values and indirectly influences owners to better maintain their private property.
Acts as an effective administrative tool.It can help elected and appointed officials make more productive use of their time. It provides a “window” into the future, helps prevent surprises and reduces the time necessary for crisis management. It also provides a control mechanism for judging departmental spending requests.
Serves as a community education tool.Citizens who are informed about a community’s overall needs and priorities for improvement can more readily understand why particular projects are implemented and others are postponed.
Enhances opportunities for outside financial assistance.The existence of a plan affords time to explore funding alternatives from state, federal and local sources. These sources and bond underwriters look more favorably on a community with a strategy for its capital investments.
Promotes a more efficient government operation.Coordination of capital projects can reduce scheduling problems and conflicts among several projects, thereby saving time and money. As many of you know, working on water lines in coordination with street surfacing saves time and overall expense if done simultaneously.
Helps distribute costs more equitably over a longer period of time.This avoids the need to impose a “crisis” rate and tax increases.
Focuses community attention on priority goals, needs and capabilities.A project may seem very desirable when considered independently; however, when included in a comprehensive plan in which it competes with other projects for limited funding, it may appear less important.
Several NCRPC staffers recently spent a day learning about the Entrepreneurial Mindset. The day provided a new look at what entrepreneurship means and how important the early phase of “searching” is to business development. The curriculum, the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program, is being utilized at several community colleges and small business development centers in North America. Entrepreneurial thinking is a newish concept for education today in that entrepreneurs have a mindset allowing them to identify problems in their environment, to take action, to test possible solutions, and then ultimately to manifest something that will provide value for other people. To learn more, check out their website https://elimindset.com/ or read the book, “Who Owns the Ice House?” also available at the site and at many popular outlets.
The North Central Kansas Food Council (NCKFC) is searching for representation from Washington County and Cloud County to serve on our council. If you work with local foods, have an enthusiastic interest in bettering local foods production/ distribution or want to help educate NCK residents on healthy eating and active living, please contact us!
Congratulations to the 2016-2017 
Is your local government planning for the future? A capital improvement plan (CIP) helps a local government take a critical look at itself, identify what is good, what could be improved and what opportunities for new projects exist. The CIP provides several benefits to local communities and counties. Those without a CIP may proceed with no solid priorities or direction for community development and community betterment.
