Thanks to a pair of agreements Salina Area Technical College has signed with Kansas Wesleyan University and Bethany College, it will be easier than ever for Salina Tech students to take classes at the other two colleges.

While Salina Tech students have always been able to take classes at other colleges, these new agreements streamline the process, said Salina Tech President Greg Nichols. Students will no longer have to apply for admission to the other colleges, he said, and tuition will be billed to the student’s home college, where it will be added to their existing bill – so they don’t have to deal with two sets of payments.

Nichols said discussion of creating these agreements started about two years ago as a benefit to students who are interested in taking classes their home college doesn’t offer.

“Our general education offerings are growing, but we don’t have all the options a four-year liberal arts college can offer,” Nichols said. “If one of our students wants to take, for example, an art or music class, that’s now an option.”

The agreement with Bethany was signed on Aug. 15, and the agreement with Kansas Wesleyan was signed Monday. Both were effective immediately.

Nichols said a similar agreement with Kansas State University’s Salina campus is in the works.

Salina TechThanks to a pair of agreements Salina Area Technical College has signed with Kansas Wesleyan University and Bethany College, it will be easier than ever for Salina Tech students to take classes at the other two colleges.While Salina Tech students have always been able to take classes at other colleges, these new agreements streamline the process, said Salina Tech President Greg Nichols. Students will no longer have to apply for admission to the other colleges, he said, and tuition will be billed to the student’s home college, where it will be added to their existing bill – so they don’t have to deal with two sets of payments.Nichols said discussion of creating these agreements started about two years ago as a benefit to students who are interested in taking classes their home college doesn’t offer.“Our general education offerings are growing, but we don’t have all the options a four-year liberal arts college can offer,” Nichols said. “If one of our students wants to take, for example, an art or music class, that’s now an option.”The agreement with Bethany was signed on Aug. 15, and the agreement with Kansas Wesleyan was signed Monday. Both were effective immediately.Nichols said a similar agreement with Kansas State University’s Salina campus is in the works.

Salina Tech signs sharing agreements with KWU, Bethany

Lancaster Construction, a local contractor in the concrete and light commercial construction seeking driven individuals in the areas of concrete, carpentry, and general labor.&nbsp; Individuals successfully gaining employment will be willing and able to assist in any aspect of the project at hand.&nbsp; The willingness to learn and develop a wide range of skills will be imperative.

●Ability to perform general labor tasks, demolition, clean up, shovel/ racking, and material handling.

●Assist project foreman or superintendent with the task at hand.

●Layout, form, place, and finish different type of concrete structures and slabs.

●Layout, frame and constructed different types of structures: wood framing, metal stud framing, metal building, post frame building.

●Follow and abide by all safety rules and regulations.

●Be a valuable team member with a good attitude and strong work ethic.

●Employment is conditional upon successfully passing drug screening.

●Starting wage of $14.00 – 20.00/HR based on experience.

●Employee is eligible for a raise after 90 days, based on attendance/ performance

●After 90 days of successful employment, employee will be eligible health insurance and 401k program

<a href="http://lancasterci.com/">Lancasterci.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660877734883.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Full timeStart Date: ASAPLancaster Construction, a local contractor in the concrete and light commercial construction seeking driven individuals in the areas of concrete, carpentry, and general labor.&nbsp; Individuals successfully gaining employment will be willing and able to assist in any aspect of the project at hand.&nbsp; The willingness to learn and develop a wide range of skills will be imperative.Responsibilities●Ability to perform general labor tasks, demolition, clean up, shovel/ racking, and material handling.●Assist project foreman or superintendent with the task at hand.●Layout, form, place, and finish different type of concrete structures and slabs.●Layout, frame and constructed different types of structures: wood framing, metal stud framing, metal building, post frame building.Requirements●Ability to meet quality expectations●Follow and abide by all safety rules and regulations.●Be a valuable team member with a good attitude and strong work ethic.●Employment is conditional upon successfully passing drug screening.●Basic hand tools and tool pouch.Benefits●Starting wage of $14.00 – 20.00/HR based on experience.●Employee is eligible for a raise after 90 days, based on attendance/ performance●After 90 days of successful employment, employee will be eligible health insurance and 401k programTo apply, please go to:<a href="http://lancasterci.com/">Lancasterci.com</a>

Proclamations, appointments among City of Salina agenda items

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A local man was arrested after a restroom in a west Salina park was damaged early Sunday.

Officers were sent to Centennial Park, 746 Commanche Avenue, at approximately 8 a.m. for a welfare check. While they were in route, a City of Salina employee reported that the person on whom the officers were to conduct the welfare check had allegedly damaged a park restroom, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.

A witness reported seeing a man, identified as Cole Zobel, 40, of Salina, entering the restroom at approximately 5 a.m. Sunday and then hearing noises coming from the restroom, Forrester said. 

A cinder block wall was damaged and a toilet was broken. Damage was estimated at just under $1,000.

When officers first made contact with Zobel, he allegedly gave a false name and date of birth, however officers were able to properly identify him.

Zobel was arrested on the following requested charges, Forrester said.

●Interference with a law enforcement officer

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA local man was arrested after a restroom in a west Salina park was damaged early Sunday.Officers were sent to Centennial Park, 746 Commanche Avenue, at approximately 8 a.m. for a welfare check. While they were in route, a City of Salina employee reported that the person on whom the officers were to conduct the welfare check had allegedly damaged a park restroom, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661175420785.jpeg" alt="Cole Zobel. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Cole Zobel. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>A witness reported seeing a man, identified as Cole Zobel, 40, of Salina, entering the restroom at approximately 5 a.m. Sunday and then hearing noises coming from the restroom, Forrester said. A cinder block wall was damaged and a toilet was broken. Damage was estimated at just under $1,000.When officers first made contact with Zobel, he allegedly gave a false name and date of birth, however officers were able to properly identify him.Zobel was arrested on the following requested charges, Forrester said.●Interference with a law enforcement officer●Damage to property

West Salina park restroom damaged; local man arrested

Two minibike drivers were arrested after they led police on a chase through part of south Salina Friday afternoon.

At approximately 1 p.m. Friday, an officer in the 2400 block of Edward Street observed drivers on a red minibike and a black minibike headed southbound in the middle of the street, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. The officer attempted a traffic stop, but the minibike drivers turned into Jerry Ivey Memorial Park and kept going.

The minibikes went through the park and out a sidewalk on the southeast side of the park that connects to a sidewalk that runs along S. Ohio Street, he said. The two continued south past some townhomes and then turned into an alleyway, at which point the officer lost sight of them.

A short time later, an officer saw the duo crossing S. Ohio Street just south of E. Magnolia Road. They went through a church parking lot and then north on Shalimar Drive before turning onto Revere Drive. The minibike drivers cut though a yard on Revere Drive to get to the back yard of a residence in the 2300 block of S. Ohio Street, where they were apprehended, Forrester said.

Jace Hewitt, 19, of Salina, and Daxton Conard, 21, of Salina, were arrested on the following requested charges, Forrester said.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostTwo minibike drivers were arrested after they led police on a chase through part of south Salina Friday afternoon.At approximately 1 p.m. Friday, an officer in the 2400 block of Edward Street observed drivers on a red minibike and a black minibike headed southbound in the middle of the street, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. The officer attempted a traffic stop, but the minibike drivers turned into Jerry Ivey Memorial Park and kept going.The minibikes went through the park and out a sidewalk on the southeast side of the park that connects to a sidewalk that runs along S. Ohio Street, he said. The two continued south past some townhomes and then turned into an alleyway, at which point the officer lost sight of them.A short time later, an officer saw the duo crossing S. Ohio Street just south of E. Magnolia Road. They went through a church parking lot and then north on Shalimar Drive before turning onto Revere Drive. The minibike drivers cut though a yard on Revere Drive to get to the back yard of a residence in the 2300 block of S. Ohio Street, where they were apprehended, Forrester said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660999448128.jpeg" alt="Jace Hewitt. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Jace Hewitt. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660998822100.jpeg" alt="Daxton Conard" />
 <figcaption>Daxton Conard</figcaption>
 </figure>Jace Hewitt, 19, of Salina, and Daxton Conard, 21, of Salina, were arrested on the following requested charges, Forrester said.●Flee and elude●Interference with a law enforcement officer●Multiple traffic violations

Minibike drivers lead police on chase through part of south Salina

Police are investigating an incident in which parts of an east Salina park were spray painted.

Derogatory words and pictures were spray painted in black paint on the concession stand at Bill Burke Park, 1501 E. Crawford Street, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. Additionally, a park sign and the fence next to the concession stand were spray painted.

A City of Salina employee noticed the damage on Sunday and called police.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostPolice are investigating an incident in which parts of an east Salina park were spray painted.Derogatory words and pictures were spray painted in black paint on the concession stand at Bill Burke Park, 1501 E. Crawford Street, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. Additionally, a park sign and the fence next to the concession stand were spray painted.A City of Salina employee noticed the damage on Sunday and called police.Damage was estimated at $1,200.

Derogatory words, images spray painted at Salina's Bill Burke Park

A woman was injured when she fell off a moving motorcycle Sunday afternoon in south Salina, and the driver was arrested on outstanding warrants.

Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that Jody Meyer, 36, was driving a 2006 Honda motorcycle northbound in the 1900 block of S. Ohio Street at approximately 4:50 p.m. Sunday when a 33-year-old female passenger identified as his wife fell off the motorcycle just north of the Albert Avenue intersection. The woman received scrapes, but was not transported to the hospital.

Officers working the incident discovered that Meyer had multiple active warrants from Salina Municipal Court.

Forrester said Meyer was arrested on the warrants and the following requested charges.

●Driving with a suspended driver's license

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA woman was injured when she fell off a moving motorcycle Sunday afternoon in south Salina, and the driver was arrested on outstanding warrants.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661174859678.jpeg" alt="Jody Meyer. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Jody Meyer. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that Jody Meyer, 36, was driving a 2006 Honda motorcycle northbound in the 1900 block of S. Ohio Street at approximately 4:50 p.m. Sunday when a 33-year-old female passenger identified as his wife fell off the motorcycle just north of the Albert Avenue intersection. The woman received scrapes, but was not transported to the hospital.Officers working the incident discovered that Meyer had multiple active warrants from Salina Municipal Court.Forrester said Meyer was arrested on the warrants and the following requested charges.●No proof of insurance●Driving with a suspended driver's license

Woman falls off motorcycle in south Salina; driver arrested

We will have a quiet start to the week with mostly sunny skies and highs in the 90s each day.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661170848024.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>National Weather ServiceWe will have a quiet start to the week with mostly sunny skies and highs in the 90s each day.&nbsp;

Sunshine, temps in the low to mid 90s to start work week

American news media often overlook or downplay any news of success in China. But mostly overlooked in the initial stages of the pandemic was a major economic achievement: China totally eliminated extreme poverty nationwide. This makes China exceptional in human history.

According to Reuters, China set the definition of “extreme poverty” at US$1.69 a day or earning less than US$620 a year based on exchange rates. Because the cost of living in rural China is less, this amount is lower than the World Bank threshold of US$1.90.

China’s economic miracle began after Mao’s death, with Deng Xiaoping ending the commune system—so individuals would benefit from their own efforts—and greatly expanding China’s educational system.&nbsp; This has now resulted in a middle class twice the size of America’s middle class, and still rapidly growing. In China there is an income disparity due to so many moving up to a higher standard of living. In America, our growing income disparity involves a shrinking middle class and a growing lower class.

2020 was the last year in their five year effort to end extreme poverty. In February of 2021, President Xi announced that the “arduous task of eradicating extreme poverty has been fulfilled.” He added: “According to the current criteria, all 98.99 million poor rural population have been taken out of poverty, and 832 poverty-stricken counties as well as 128,000 villages have been removed from the poverty list.”

The poorest regions of China are the rural mountainous regions including the provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan. When I spoke to about 200 graduating college seniors at Yunnan Normal University in 2007, I asked how many were from the countryside? About 50 raised their hands. I then asked how many attended the university on government scholarships that required they return and teach in the rural schools for ten years. Only five hands went up! When I asked the remaining rural students why they would not go back? They described the lack of electricity, the need to pump water, etc. in their poor rural schools isolated up valleys. It resembled our Depression-Ara Appalachia. &nbsp;

A decade later, mainly the elderly remained in those isolated villages. China’s five-year effort to eliminate extreme poverty involved the minimal social security, relocation to nearby towns (townification) providing basic apartments with plumbing and electricity, and the establishment of local industries, from mushroom farming to small industries in areas with adequate populations. The abandoned shacks in the mountains were demolished and the mountainsides reforested. For the sustained villages, there is a saying in Chinese: If you want to end poverty, build a road. This means that by providing access to the surrounding affluent population, a poor village can prosper.

“Sci-Tech commissioners” were agriculture specialists sent to the countryside to raise the standard of living for the younger farmers, introducing new crops such as winter potatoes, greenhousing, pigeon farms, etc. and this led nearly 100,000 villages out of poverty. Efforts to eradicate less severe poverty will continue, so this development effort will continue. Bloomberg reports that: “More than 850 million people have been lifted out of extreme penury in under four decades. Almost 90% of the population was below the international poverty threshold in 1981, according to the World Bank; by the 2019, that was under 1%. It’s true the world as a whole has seen a dramatic improvement in poverty rates, but more than three-quarters of that is due to China.”

Bloomberg continues: “A study by economist Thomas Piketty and others last year found that average incomes for that cohort [bottom half of incomes in China] multiplied by more than five times in real terms between 1978 and 2015, [compared] to a 1% drop for same group in the United States.”

So where does the U.S. stand on “extreme poverty”? In 2018, the U.N. published a report indicating 40 million Americans lived in poverty while 18.5 million lived in extreme poverty. U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley at that time called that an exaggeration. U.S. officials claimed that only 250,000 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Americans lived in extreme poverty, a number widely seen as wishful thinking. But that would still be 250,000 more than in China. And China has 4.4 times our population!

But the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities calculates that about 18 percent of Americans still live in poverty, a rate higher than nearly all other developed nations.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities during 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573490075841.jpeg" alt="John Richard Schrock" />
 <figcaption>John Richard Schrock</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN RICHARD SCHROCK American news media often overlook or downplay any news of success in China. But mostly overlooked in the initial stages of the pandemic was a major economic achievement: China totally eliminated extreme poverty nationwide. This makes China exceptional in human history. According to Reuters, China set the definition of “extreme poverty” at US$1.69 a day or earning less than US$620 a year based on exchange rates. Because the cost of living in rural China is less, this amount is lower than the World Bank threshold of US$1.90. China’s economic miracle began after Mao’s death, with Deng Xiaoping ending the commune system—so individuals would benefit from their own efforts—and greatly expanding China’s educational system.&nbsp; This has now resulted in a middle class twice the size of America’s middle class, and still rapidly growing. In China there is an income disparity due to so many moving up to a higher standard of living. In America, our growing income disparity involves a shrinking middle class and a growing lower class. 2020 was the last year in their five year effort to end extreme poverty. In February of 2021, President Xi announced that the “arduous task of eradicating extreme poverty has been fulfilled.” He added: “According to the current criteria, all 98.99 million poor rural population have been taken out of poverty, and 832 poverty-stricken counties as well as 128,000 villages have been removed from the poverty list.” The poorest regions of China are the rural mountainous regions including the provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan. When I spoke to about 200 graduating college seniors at Yunnan Normal University in 2007, I asked how many were from the countryside? About 50 raised their hands. I then asked how many attended the university on government scholarships that required they return and teach in the rural schools for ten years. Only five hands went up! When I asked the remaining rural students why they would not go back? They described the lack of electricity, the need to pump water, etc. in their poor rural schools isolated up valleys. It resembled our Depression-Ara Appalachia. &nbsp; A decade later, mainly the elderly remained in those isolated villages. China’s five-year effort to eliminate extreme poverty involved the minimal social security, relocation to nearby towns (townification) providing basic apartments with plumbing and electricity, and the establishment of local industries, from mushroom farming to small industries in areas with adequate populations. The abandoned shacks in the mountains were demolished and the mountainsides reforested. For the sustained villages, there is a saying in Chinese: If you want to end poverty, build a road. This means that by providing access to the surrounding affluent population, a poor village can prosper. “Sci-Tech commissioners” were agriculture specialists sent to the countryside to raise the standard of living for the younger farmers, introducing new crops such as winter potatoes, greenhousing, pigeon farms, etc. and this led nearly 100,000 villages out of poverty. Efforts to eradicate less severe poverty will continue, so this development effort will continue. Bloomberg reports that: “More than 850 million people have been lifted out of extreme penury in under four decades. Almost 90% of the population was below the international poverty threshold in 1981, according to the World Bank; by the 2019, that was under 1%. It’s true the world as a whole has seen a dramatic improvement in poverty rates, but more than three-quarters of that is due to China.” Bloomberg continues: “A study by economist Thomas Piketty and others last year found that average incomes for that cohort [bottom half of incomes in China] multiplied by more than five times in real terms between 1978 and 2015, [compared] to a 1% drop for same group in the United States.” So where does the U.S. stand on “extreme poverty”? In 2018, the U.N. published a report indicating 40 million Americans lived in poverty while 18.5 million lived in extreme poverty. U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley at that time called that an exaggeration. U.S. officials claimed that only 250,000 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Americans lived in extreme poverty, a number widely seen as wishful thinking. But that would still be 250,000 more than in China. And China has 4.4 times our population! But the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities calculates that about 18 percent of Americans still live in poverty, a rate higher than nearly all other developed nations.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities during 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

ED. FRONTLINES: China eliminates extreme poverty, U.S. does not

Student Support Services Coordinator or Social Worker

Twin Valley USD 240 is accepting applications for a Student Support Services Coordinator or Social Worker for K-12 beginning the 22-23 school year. Preferred is a qualified applicant with teaching, counseling, or social work experience. A Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) certificate is not required.

The successful candidate will be an advocate for our students, be willing to work with multiple programs to reach our entire student body, as well as being able to work with parents/guardians, staff and administration to facilitate programs and address student needs.

The district offers a health insurance fringe benefit package, KPERS, a matching annuity, and a 125 plan with supplemental insurance offerings.

Salary is based on years of experience and degree.

To apply, please complete the required Certified Employment Application. Additional credentials are needed to apply and may be sent to Lisa Everhart,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:leverhart@usd240.org" target="_blank">leverhart@usd240.org</a>&nbsp;or call 785-488-3325 ext 403. Send a cover letter, resume, transcript, copy of license (if applicable), and three letters of recommendation.

Questions about the position may be directed to Superintendent Pam Irwin,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:pirwin@usd240.org" target="_blank">pirwin@usd240.org</a>.

Link to our Certified Application:&nbsp;<a href="https://fs19.formsite.com/dbettstwinvalleynet/certempapp/index.html" target="_blank">https://fs19.formsite.com/dbettstwinvalleynet/certempapp/index.html</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660061833076.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Student Support Services Coordinator or Social WorkerTwin Valley USD 240 is accepting applications for a Student Support Services Coordinator or Social Worker for K-12 beginning the 22-23 school year. Preferred is a qualified applicant with teaching, counseling, or social work experience. A Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) certificate is not required.The successful candidate will be an advocate for our students, be willing to work with multiple programs to reach our entire student body, as well as being able to work with parents/guardians, staff and administration to facilitate programs and address student needs.The district offers a health insurance fringe benefit package, KPERS, a matching annuity, and a 125 plan with supplemental insurance offerings.Salary is based on years of experience and degree. To apply, please complete the required Certified Employment Application. Additional credentials are needed to apply and may be sent to Lisa Everhart,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:leverhart@usd240.org" target="_blank">leverhart@usd240.org</a>&nbsp;or call 785-488-3325 ext 403. Send a cover letter, resume, transcript, copy of license (if applicable), and three letters of recommendation.Questions about the position may be directed to Superintendent Pam Irwin,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:pirwin@usd240.org" target="_blank">pirwin@usd240.org</a>.Link to our Certified Application:&nbsp;<a href="https://fs19.formsite.com/dbettstwinvalleynet/certempapp/index.html" target="_blank">https://fs19.formsite.com/dbettstwinvalleynet/certempapp/index.html</a>

Today in History - August 22

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

Today let’s learn about a cross-section of agriculture. Let’s talk to a cattle feeder, a timber producer, a crop farmer, a stocker cattle grower, and a beef seedstock producer.&nbsp;

To cover all of these, we could bring together a panel of people from across the state. Or, we could meet a single innovative family which has diversified into multiple segments of the agriculture industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dirck and Natalie Hoagland of J&amp;N Ranch are owners of the family operation that includes multiple components of agriculture. It began in 1866 when Dirck’s ancestors homesteaded near the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of Tecumseh. The population of Tecumseh and the nearby areas is 696 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;

“We still own part of that original farm ground,” Dirck Hoagland said. Known as the Decker Farm, it is mostly native prairie that is now leased to local producers.&nbsp;

Hoagland’s parents, Joe and Norma Hoagland, started raising registered cattle in 1978. In 1985, they bought a ranch along the Missouri River near Leavenworth and moved their cowherd to that site. Using their initials, the place was named J&amp;N Ranch. Later, the Hoaglands acquired the Gunbarrel Ranch in Wabaunsee County and the F. Morgan Feedyard near Leavenworth.&nbsp;

Dirck earned a baseball scholarship and became a pitcher at Tulane University, even pitching in the College World Series. After graduation, he moved to Brussels, Belgium, where he earned an MBA before coming back to the states. He met and married Natalie, who had majored in education at K-State. They have two boys, ages 10 and 8.&nbsp;

Hoagland worked in the corporate world in downtown Kansas City for five years but found he missed ranch life. 

“I was always drawn to the ranch,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hoagland decided to leave corporate life and move back into the day-to-day operations of J&amp;N Ranch.&nbsp;

The main J&amp;N Ranch is located along the Missouri River near Leavenworth. This includes timbered hills and productive river bottom ground. The land includes fine hardwood trees that are a source of timber harvesting.&nbsp;

J&amp;N Ranch has native stands of oak, ash and walnut trees along three miles of land along the Missouri River bluffs.&nbsp;

The ranch’s river bottom farm ground is a fertile location to produce corn, soybeans, and hay. This is also where they develop and evaluate their bulls and heifers to be sold or retained. That provides a complementary setting to the open rangeland of the Wabaunsee County ranch.&nbsp;

“We work the two ranches together,” Hoagland said. 

The cowherd will go to pasture at Gunbarrel Ranch for the summer and then come back to Leavenworth for the winter.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We have more grass in Wabaunsee County than we need for our cowherd, so we use that extra capacity to run steers as a stocker operation or for a bred heifer program, depending on the market,” Hoagland said.&nbsp;

The registered cowherd is a source of bulls and heifers for other cattlemen. Production sales are held twice yearly, plus semen is available. The Hoaglands have done pioneering work in the development of the Black Hereford breed. The F. Morgan Feedyard for finishing cattle is located near the home ranch as well.&nbsp;

All of that means that the Hoaglands are active in every segment of the beef production system, from cow-calf to stocker cattle to finished cattle. “We’re involved in all segments of the industry, and what we’ve learned from that helps shape our production system,” Hoagland said. “I want to be in the shoes of someone in every step of the way so we can see what works best.”&nbsp;

For example, observing how cattle perform in the feedyard helps assure that the Hoaglands raise the right kind of genetics in the cattle seedstock that they produce. “We want to raise cattle that work for producers in the real world,” Hoagland said.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.jnranch.com/" target="_blank">www.jnranch.com</a>.&nbsp;

We commend Joe and Norma Hoagland, Dirck and Natalie Hoagland and their family for making a difference through hard work and diversification in various sectors of agriculture. One could say that they really have it together.&nbsp;

And there’s more. Remember the reference to the Black Hereford breed? We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661128756000.jpeg" alt="The Hoagland family. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>The Hoagland family. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Kansas State UniversityToday let’s learn about a cross-section of agriculture. Let’s talk to a cattle feeder, a timber producer, a crop farmer, a stocker cattle grower, and a beef seedstock producer.&nbsp;To cover all of these, we could bring together a panel of people from across the state. Or, we could meet a single innovative family which has diversified into multiple segments of the agriculture industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dirck and Natalie Hoagland of J&amp;N Ranch are owners of the family operation that includes multiple components of agriculture. It began in 1866 when Dirck’s ancestors homesteaded near the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of Tecumseh. The population of Tecumseh and the nearby areas is 696 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;“We still own part of that original farm ground,” Dirck Hoagland said. Known as the Decker Farm, it is mostly native prairie that is now leased to local producers.&nbsp;Hoagland’s parents, Joe and Norma Hoagland, started raising registered cattle in 1978. In 1985, they bought a ranch along the Missouri River near Leavenworth and moved their cowherd to that site. Using their initials, the place was named J&amp;N Ranch. Later, the Hoaglands acquired the Gunbarrel Ranch in Wabaunsee County and the F. Morgan Feedyard near Leavenworth.&nbsp;Dirck earned a baseball scholarship and became a pitcher at Tulane University, even pitching in the College World Series. After graduation, he moved to Brussels, Belgium, where he earned an MBA before coming back to the states. He met and married Natalie, who had majored in education at K-State. They have two boys, ages 10 and 8.&nbsp;Hoagland worked in the corporate world in downtown Kansas City for five years but found he missed ranch life. “I was always drawn to the ranch,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hoagland decided to leave corporate life and move back into the day-to-day operations of J&amp;N Ranch.&nbsp;The main J&amp;N Ranch is located along the Missouri River near Leavenworth. This includes timbered hills and productive river bottom ground. The land includes fine hardwood trees that are a source of timber harvesting.&nbsp;J&amp;N Ranch has native stands of oak, ash and walnut trees along three miles of land along the Missouri River bluffs.&nbsp;The ranch’s river bottom farm ground is a fertile location to produce corn, soybeans, and hay. This is also where they develop and evaluate their bulls and heifers to be sold or retained. That provides a complementary setting to the open rangeland of the Wabaunsee County ranch.&nbsp;“We work the two ranches together,” Hoagland said. The cowherd will go to pasture at Gunbarrel Ranch for the summer and then come back to Leavenworth for the winter.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We have more grass in Wabaunsee County than we need for our cowherd, so we use that extra capacity to run steers as a stocker operation or for a bred heifer program, depending on the market,” Hoagland said.&nbsp;The registered cowherd is a source of bulls and heifers for other cattlemen. Production sales are held twice yearly, plus semen is available. The Hoaglands have done pioneering work in the development of the Black Hereford breed. The F. Morgan Feedyard for finishing cattle is located near the home ranch as well.&nbsp;All of that means that the Hoaglands are active in every segment of the beef production system, from cow-calf to stocker cattle to finished cattle. “We’re involved in all segments of the industry, and what we’ve learned from that helps shape our production system,” Hoagland said. “I want to be in the shoes of someone in every step of the way so we can see what works best.”&nbsp;For example, observing how cattle perform in the feedyard helps assure that the Hoaglands raise the right kind of genetics in the cattle seedstock that they produce. “We want to raise cattle that work for producers in the real world,” Hoagland said.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.jnranch.com/" target="_blank">www.jnranch.com</a>.&nbsp;We commend Joe and Norma Hoagland, Dirck and Natalie Hoagland and their family for making a difference through hard work and diversification in various sectors of agriculture. One could say that they really have it together.&nbsp;And there’s more. Remember the reference to the Black Hereford breed? We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.

NOW THAT'S RURAL: Dirck Hoagland, J&N Ranch, Part 1

By TIM UNRUH For Salina Airport Authority

Whether for the first-time air traveler or a veteran, airline workers at the Salina Regional Airport’s M.J. Kennedy Air Terminal are proud to serve most any need.

“There are hundreds of destinations just a connection away, and for the small-town friendliness and feel that you get at Salina, it’s a hidden gem,” said Steph Flanagan, general manager of the SkyWest Salina station. 

The SkyWest staff operates United Express flights Salina to Chicago O’Hare and Denver International airports.

The Denver hub connects to 165 destinations, from Albuquerque to Williston Basin (North Dakota), not to mention Honolulu; Aspen, Colorado; Boston; Palm Springs, California; New York City; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. International connections are to 16 destinations across eight countries, including Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, The Bahamas, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Belize.

Chicago connections include 157 domestic destinations from Key West, Florida, to Fargo, North Dakota, Phoenix, Louisville, Tampa, Tulsa, and Tucson. There is a connection to Yellowstone International Airport in Bozeman, Montana, along with Detroit Metro Airport and Portland International. Once at O’Hare, there are also 43 international destinations across 27 countries, from Aruba to London, Mexico, Italy (Rome and Milan), Iceland, Israel, Ireland, and Switzerland, just to name a few.

All of the above journeys can originate from SLN, nestled near the intersection of Interstate highways 70 and 135 in north-central Kansas, in a relatively small town with big ambitions, loaded with friendly folks aiming to please the flying public.

“For the first-timers, this is a traveling 101 station where they can get their feet wet without being overwhelmed. We’re the people to ask. We have maps at the counters to show passengers who are a little more anxious what to expect when they land at Denver or Chicago,” Flanagan said. “We say ‘Ok, you’re going to land at this gate and this is how you’re going to get to your next gate.’ We can take the time to see where their connections are and help them navigate the process.”

With free parking — space is expanding as well — plenty of room to maneuver, and guidance from friendly staff and Transportation Security Administration officials, Flanagan said, air travelers with all ranges of experience can enjoy a smooth transition.

By TIM UNRUH For Salina Airport AuthorityWhether for the first-time air traveler or a veteran, airline workers at the Salina Regional Airport’s M.J. Kennedy Air Terminal are proud to serve most any need. “There are hundreds of destinations just a connection away, and for the small-town friendliness and feel that you get at Salina, it’s a hidden gem,” said Steph Flanagan, general manager of the SkyWest Salina station. The SkyWest staff operates United Express flights Salina to Chicago O’Hare and Denver International airports. The Denver hub connects to 165 destinations, from Albuquerque to Williston Basin (North Dakota), not to mention Honolulu; Aspen, Colorado; Boston; Palm Springs, California; New York City; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. International connections are to 16 destinations across eight countries, including Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, The Bahamas, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Belize. Chicago connections include 157 domestic destinations from Key West, Florida, to Fargo, North Dakota, Phoenix, Louisville, Tampa, Tulsa, and Tucson. There is a connection to Yellowstone International Airport in Bozeman, Montana, along with Detroit Metro Airport and Portland International. Once at O’Hare, there are also 43 international destinations across 27 countries, from Aruba to London, Mexico, Italy (Rome and Milan), Iceland, Israel, Ireland, and Switzerland, just to name a few. All of the above journeys can originate from SLN, nestled near the intersection of Interstate highways 70 and 135 in north-central Kansas, in a relatively small town with big ambitions, loaded with friendly folks aiming to please the flying public. “For the first-timers, this is a traveling 101 station where they can get their feet wet without being overwhelmed. We’re the people to ask. We have maps at the counters to show passengers who are a little more anxious what to expect when they land at Denver or Chicago,” Flanagan said. “We say ‘Ok, you’re going to land at this gate and this is how you’re going to get to your next gate.’ We can take the time to see where their connections are and help them navigate the process.” With free parking — space is expanding as well — plenty of room to maneuver, and guidance from friendly staff and Transportation Security Administration officials, Flanagan said, air travelers with all ranges of experience can enjoy a smooth transition. “All travelers appreciate the ease, recognition and quickness,” she said. “I hear all the time how much they love to come home, pick up their bags and go to their cars that have been safe here for weeks. There are so many perks. It’s simple and super convenient.” Just remember this. “Always show up an hour before takeoff, and if you’re checking bags, maybe even a bit earlier,” Flanagan said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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