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SWEDISH PAINTED DALA HORSES –The rural Kansas community of Olsburg has a rich Swedish heritage. A group of residents recently launched a public art initiative using the Swedish tradition of displaying painted dala horses in front of homes and businesses. Today, 47 individually-painted and creatively named dala horses are displayed across the community and beyond. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says that’s more per capita than anywhere in the nation.

DEB HANES-NELSON– WATERCOLORIST–Upon retiring from the ministry in 2015, Deb Hanes-Nelson took up watercolor as a second career. Her studio, 315 Annex Studio and Gallery, is in Centralia. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says in 2003, Deb went to New Mexico’s Ghost Ranch for art classes in watercolor. She returned in 2005 for a class on Journaling through Watercolor and said she had a “spiritual experience” that launched a passion to paint. In the next six months, she painted every chance she had and produced 54 small paintings.

ROSE GARRISON– VOLUNTEER–It takes commitment and a lot of love to voluntarily plant flowers and weed flower gardens to beautify your community. Ron Wilson, the director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says Rose Garrison has done that in Norton for 40 years. Rose’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, she received the Norton Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award and there’s also a bronze statue and bench in the Library courtyard recognizing her support of Norton. 

CY MOYER– LIFE CENTER–Just a few weeks before Cy Moyer, a retired banked and co-founder of the Huck Boyd Institute, passed away this spring, he and other Dane G. Hansen Foundation representatives helped break ground for the Logan Intergenerational Family and Education Center. Ron Wilson, a personal friend of Moyer’s and director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the LIFE Center, believed to be the first of its kind anywhere, will include a nursing home, pre-school, grade school, and community center, all in one interconnected facility.

AXTELL COMMUNITY GROCERY –The community of Axtell has a long history of volunteerism – rebuilding the American Legion building after it burned down and fundraising and opening a new restaurant to replace one that had been torn down. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the community also raised nearly $500,000 for a community grocery store after the town’s only grocery store closed.

STAFFORD COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY –While serving as the economic development director for Stafford County, Carolyn Dunn, currently president of the Stafford County Port Authority, discovered that companies interested in building grain shipping railroad facilities in her county couldn’t make the financing work. As she researched alternatives, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says Carolyn found that a port authority could help support the infrastructure to make this possible.

CAROLYN DUNN– AFFORDABLE HOUSING–A lack of affordable housing isn’t just an urban problem – it’s also a concern for rural communities. Former Stafford County Economic development director Carolyn Dunn, the current president of the Stafford County Port Authority, was looking for a way to bring more affordable housing to her county when she met someone with a solution. In the second of a three-part series, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says Michael Gibson, a K-State College of Architecture, Planning and Design professor and founder of the Net Positive Studio, helped design and build 10 new, affordable, energy-efficient homes. 

STAFFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT– In the first of a three-part series, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, looks at how the loss of the only grocery store in St. John resulted in a $3.8 million economic development project to build a new store near the highway with additional features to better serve customers.

FIRST FINGERPRINTING CONVICTION –In the 1920s, the Fleagle Gang started robbing card games and then banks. After grabbing the loot they would return to Kansas where they had leased a ranch as a hideout. This gang is believed to be responsible for 60% of the bank robberies in California, plus many robberies in Oregon, Kansas and Colorado. During a bank robbery in Lamar, Colorado, there was an exchange of gunfire and a gang member left a single bloody fingerprint on the getaway car’s window. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the FBI used the fingerprint as part of the evidence leading to a conviction of the gang.

RAINBOW MEADOWS –There are people who like horses, people who love horses, and people who really love horses. Karen Everhart has loved horses since she was a kid. As an adult, she bought horses and then started taking in horses that were abused or neglected. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says that led to the creation of a non-profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes horses, while also offering a place where horse owners can send their older equines to live out their days in comfort and safety.

SALT CREEK FARM – What started as a day-dream to sell beef directly to consumers has become a business that sells cuts of home-raised beef, heritage chicken and lamb directly to consumers. Today, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says they have an online presence and sell to consumers across the nation plus two dozen restaurants in the Kansas City area. And, they also offer local honey from what started as a beekeeping hobby.

BLING GLAMOUR –When you love fashion and were successful selling purses from your basement online, the next step would be to open a shop that sells handbags and accessories. Some might consider that a risky move, especially in a smaller community. However, the owner had faith that Bling Glamour would be successful – and she was right. In addition to its online presence, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says Bling Glamour now has 26 stores in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri, with another on the way.

BEACHY’S FLOWERS AND PRODUCE –A love for growing things in the garden has become a business that uses a state-of-the-art polycarbonate truss-style greenhouse to grow flowers and produce in northeast Kansas. The operation is fully hydroponic so the plants are raised in recycled water with the precise nutrients needed. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says their goal is to provide a place where people can buy produce at the same place that it is grown.

AMELIA EARHART HANGAR MUSEUM –Atchison is the childhood home of pioneering aviatrix Amelia Earhart. When the town learned that the only remaining model of the airplane she flew on her last flight was sale, not only did they purchase it, they built a hangar museum to display it. But that’s not all! Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says they’ve created a set of high-tech interactive displays to inspire the public and educate people about Earhart’s life.

BUFFALO SOLDIERS –Fort Leavenworth is the site where the first peacetime African-American Cavalry units formed, referred to by Native Americans as Buffalo Soldiers. The history of Fort Leavenworth is fascinating. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, traces the important role Fort Leavenworth has played in developing leaders for the U.S. military.

RIVERS EAGLE BAR & GRILL –A community celebration of the centennial of the 1893 Cherokee Strip Land Run in Arkansas City made such an impression on a young boy that he’s working to commemorate the Land Run’s 130^th anniversary later this year. In addition, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says this sixth generation Ark City resident is also the owner of Rivers Eagle Bar and Grill and the Cherokee Strip Campground near Arkansas City.

PERFORMANCE SPORTS –Two outstanding high school athletes who became teachers and coaches were able to buy a nearby school to train basketball players and track and field athletes. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says this athletic training facility is serving athletes from a three-hour radius.

LEFFLER PRIME PERFORMANCE – In business, being able to overcome adversity is often the key to success. That’s the case for a woman who moved back to her family’s fourth generation beef cattle operation and decided to add value by direct marketing the beef to consumers. Despite the first order being cancelled at the last minute, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the business is marketing retail and custom beef to states throughout the Midwest.

ROSE CREEK SUDS –It’s often difficult for those with sensitive skin to buy products off-the-shelf that don’t sting or cause irritation. The mom of a three-year-old with sensitive skin decided to try something she remembered her grandmother doing – make soap by hand! It got rave reviews form her daughter and soon friends and family were asking for products so she started a business venture. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says she is producing handmade soaps, candles, wax melts, face mists and sugar scrubs.

CIRCLE P PROCESSING –”Do you know anywhere we can get in to get our beef processed?” was a question a professional farrier kept hearing from his customers. After doing some research and seeing how the retail price of meat had skyrocketed, he decided there might be an opportunity to process beef locally. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, explains how a former locker plant in rural Kansas is now home to this new locker plant.

C&L CRAFTS – After suffering a serious back injury at work, Curtis Swenson was looking for something to do with his hands while making a full recovery. He had seen a man hand-cutting designs into wood and decided to give that a try. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says it went so well that he and his wife now produce thousands of hand-made wood designs that have been sold across the nation and beyond.

SMALL TOWN BASKETBALL – Teams prepare for game days in a variety of ways. However, there’s probably not too many that prepare like Franklin High School…reading to younger kids in the classroom. Frankfort has a K-12 attendance center so all grades are in the same building, creating an opportunity for interaction between older and younger students. Three years ago, Franklin principal, Dean Dalinghaus, created an initiative called Wildcat Readers. On game days, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says athletes take turns reading a book to elementary school children while wearing their jerseys or dress clothes, depending on the sport.

STATE OF KANSAS FOOTBALL –Three of Kansas State University’s five starting linemen come from the state of Kansas: Kansas City, Lakin and Plainville. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says four other K-State players, representing Cimarron, Junction City, Louisburg and Topeka, contributed to the Wildcats winning the Big 12 Championship this season.

BRET FITZPATRICK– AGRABILITY–AgrAbility, a program to assist farmers who are injured or disabled but want to continue in production agriculture, was able to help Bret Fitzpatrick following a terrible car accident. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says Bret is now caring for cattle and doing other chores on the family farm while working remotely in rural Kansas.

SHILOH VINEYARD –Kansas may be known as a wheat-producing state, but it also has vineyards that produce premium wines. In an effort to diversify their grandfather’s farm, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says Kirk and Treva Johnston put in a vineyard and eventually a commercial winery. Today, Shiloh Vineyard offers a variety of premium wines produced from their own fruit and hosts visitors from across the nation and beyond.

AMELIA EARHART STATUE –Amelia Earhart was a Kansas native and an aviation pioneer, setting multiple records for flying and capturing the imagination of the world. In July, the State of Kansas unveiled a statue of Amelia Earhart in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol building, honoring her many accomplishments. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, has more on her amazing story and the significance of Statuary Hall.

ZFI STUD AND WILDCAT BLOCKCHAIN –A 1997 decision to switch from a traditional diversified livestock farm raising cattle, crops and pigs to a boar farm turned out to be the right move for a five generation farm family. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says they developed a process for collecting semen and distributing to other producers. Today, Zoltenko Farms has nearly 1,400 boars, most of those in Kansas. He also says this innovative farm family is pursuing blockchain and bitcoin mining from its location in rural Kansas.

COUGHLIN LAW FIRM– Daniel Coughlin became intrigued with the patent process when a product he created was eligible for a patent. He later became a patent attorney and opened a law office in his wife’s hometown in rural Kansas. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says he now assists inventors and businesses across the nation in protecting intellectual property rights.

HILMAR CHEESE COMPANY –A new state-of-the-art processing plant is being built in Kansas. In 2021, Hilmar Cheese Company, based in California, announced it would build a $630 million milk processing facility in Dodge City and create 260 jobs with an average salary projected to be $63,000. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the plant will operate 365 days a year and have the capacity to handle 260 tanker trucks of milk per day – the equivalent of the production of 110,000 cows.

HISPANICS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW –As the population of Emporia became more diverse, parents saw a need for scholarships to encourage Hispanic students to pursue higher education. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow organization, known at HOTT, has raised $100,000 for scholarships.

VICTORIA LUMBER –Jim Scheck originally went to work at his local small-town lumberyard part-time. In 2006, he and his wife bought it. He credits personal, customer-service as one of the keys to staying competitive with nearby big box stores. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says Victoria Lumber is a full-service lumberyard and hardware store offering its customers and local contractors plumbing and electrical supplies and repairs and much more.

400 NORTH CREATIVE – Doug Barrett enjoyed taking pictures and making videos as a youth, and eventually this became his business. His photos have become internationally recognized. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says Doug has also played a leading role in founding the Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills organization.

COUNCIL GROVE GROWTH –The movie, Field of Dreams, has a central theme: if you build it, they will come. Council Grove hasn’t converted a corn field into a baseball diamond, but they have experienced a resurgence of businesses – primarily woman-owned – that are revitalizing downtown. By working together, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says businesses are now open and thriving.

FLINT HILLS BOOKS – Even when business models indicated an independent bookstore might struggle in rural Kansas, a woman with a lifelong interest in books decided to move forward with her plan. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the bookstore has been successful and is now partnering with a number of other woman-owned businesses to revitalize downtown.

AMBER WAVE –A new wheat processing project in rural Kansas could end up being the largest wheat protein producer in North America. Currently, 70% of the wheat protein used by U.S. food manufacturers is imported. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the protein from the wheat flour can be extracted for food and feed use, and the starch can be used for ethanol.

TWO LITTLE GOATS –“Necessity is the mother of invention” is a well-known proverb. Simply put, it means that the primary driving force for most new inventions is a need. When a rural Kansas teenager, looking for goat milk soap to help her complexion, was unable to find any locally, she used her 4-H goat project to produce it herself. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the goat milk soap worked so well that she started selling it to others and used the entrepreneurial project to win first place in a Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge hosted in her county.

La DOW’S MARKET– A rural grocery store is often tied to the success of a community. However, when one closes it can be difficult to find new owners. Sometimes, according to Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, it boils down to timing. He says a couple were looking for a retail outlet for their specialty pork business when their local grocery store suddenly closed. Using a grant from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and assistance from the Rural Grocery Initiative, they purchased the store and remodel it to support their meat business as well as continue to serve the community.

R FAMILY FARMS –Kaden Roush was active in the swine project in 4-H and developed a knack for livestock judging. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says his experience as a collegiate livestock judge helped him develop ideas about how to produce high quality pork for specialty markets. Now, Kaden and his wife Emily are putting those ideas into practice on their family hog farm.

BLACKBEAR BOSIN– ARTIST–A Wichita artist of Comanche and Kiowa descent had a remarkable career. In addition to developing an internationally recognized career as an artist, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says one of his most visible creations was the magnificent sculpture honoring the native American history of Kansas – known as the Keeper of the Plains.

DIRCK HOAGLAND– BLACK HEREFORDS–Dirck Hoagland’s parents partnered with a friend to develop a breed of black Herefords, eventually founding the American Black Hereford Association and registry. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says Dirck and his wife, Natalie, are continuing and expanding on that tradition, with hopes of passing it on to another generation of their family.

J&N RANCH– ”Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a common saying. In business, diversification is often the key to success. That’s proving to be a successful business practice for a rural Kansas ranch. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says this innovative family has diversified into multiple segments of the industry. He says the ranch has a cattle feeder, a timber producer, a crop farmer, a stocker cattle grower and a beef seedstock producer.

HEARTLAND GAME BIRDS –When you grew up pheasant hunting with friends and think the opening weekend of pheasant season is better than Christmas, owning and operating a pheasant business makes perfect sense. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says this rural Kansas business raises thousands of pheasants, leases farmground for hunting, provides guided hunts, and even opened a hunting lodge. He says the business aims to provide customers with the best upland hunting experience the Heartland has to offer.

PIVOTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS –The vision of the founder and CEO of a non-profit organization equipped with a fitness center, resource center and physical therapy clinic is to build stronger rural communities physically, mentally and emotionally across all age groups. As a non-profit organization, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says they can provide free services to the uninsured and indigent patient populations.

MARMATON MARKET – It often takes energy, initiative and “out-of-the-box” thinking to keep rural grocery stores open and financially successful. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says a rural grocery store in southeast Kansas has been re-energized with the help of volunteers, K-State’s Rural Grocery Initiative and others.

ASTRONAUT RON EVANS –For a youth from rural northwest Kansas, touring a naval air station as part of his Navy ROTC commitment sparked an interest in becoming a naval aviator. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says he not only became a successful pilot, he became an astronaut and played a record-setting role in the United States’ final manned flight to the moon.

LEARNING CROSS CHILD CARE –There’s magic in a smile, especially a young child’s smile. After observing an inter-generational childcare facility in southern Kansas, Brett Schmidt was inspired to open a similar facility in Hays. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the facility allows children to share space and interact with seniors – and it’s proving to be beneficial for both the children and the seniors.

RESURRECTION VINEYARD –After returning to the family’s dairy farm following a distinguished military career, Allen Schmidt listened to his son’s suggestion to turn it into a winery. They opened as a commercial operation in 2017 and are producing wine in the former dairy facilities and revitalizing the family farm. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says they offer five dry wines and seven sweet wines which are available online and through local stores.

HUMANITIES KANSAS –For 50 years, an organization in Kansas has worked to enhance the humanities in communities across Kansas. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the executive director of Humanities Kansas, Julie Mulvihill, became enchanted and inspired by the humanities as a child in Kansas. Now, her organization is promoting the humanities to new generations of Kansans.

DYNAMICS DISCS– PART 2–Last week, we learned about how one man’s passion for disc golf became a successful business in rural Kansas, selling products across the nation and sponsoring tournaments. This week, Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, has the story of another passionate disc golfer who joined the company in 2016 and moved up through the ranks to become president in 2021. The company is doing more than selling discs and merchandise, it’s also helping the community thrive.

DYNAMIC DISCS– (PART 1)–For one student at Emporia State, discovering the fun of playing disc golf was just the beginning of his interest in the sport. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says it all started with labeling and dyeing discs different colors and selling them through eBay. Now, this passion for disc golf has become a successful business, selling products across the nation and sponsoring tournaments.

SANTA Fe TRAIL ASSOCIATION –While a student at Washburn University, a present-day historian and writer became enamored of western history. She is now leading the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says more of the trail is found in Kansas than any other state. He traces the history of the Santa Fe Trail and the efforts underway to commemorate its bicentennial.

RENATA’S GARDEN –Whether it’s food from the local grocery store or clothes, furniture and other merchandise from a national retailer or company, we’re increasingly dealing with businesses willing to come to us. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, introduces us to a business located in a retrofitted old school bus that sells plants on a mobile basis across south central Kansas.

HARVEY KING KNIVES –Hunters know the importance of a good knife. In fact, they have an old saying: the gun does the work for 30 seconds, but the knife does the work for 2-to-3 hours. In other words, a hunting knife is used extensively, so it’s important to have a good one. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, introduces us to a rural Kansas man who started making his own handcrafted knives and then turned it into a business. Those knives are now being sold from coast-to-coast.

BOOTH CREEK WAGYU –When a Manhattan businessman ate some of his uncle’s Wagyu beef, he thought it was wonderful – and a great business opportunity. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says this entrepreneur has launched an integrated Wagyu beef operation of his own, from genetics and production all the way through to processing, sales and distribution. And, it’s all being done in rural Kansas.

HYS FILLING STATION – YATES CENTER–A café in rural Kansas has some people wondering whether it’s a place to eat or a place to fill up their vehicle. That’s because an antique gas pump sits out front and the café has an automotive theme. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says it’s the homemade food that’s drawing customers to this café from across the region and beyond.

“TELEPRESENCE ROBOTS” –In what appears to be something straight from “The Jetsons” cartoon, K-State’s Rural Education Center has used a grant to deploy innovative mobile “telepresence robots” to several schools across the state. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says these robots enable students to connect with fellow students and a teacher in another classroom miles away.

JILL ZIMMERMAN– KARL PROGRAM–The Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership program, or KARL for short, has provided a two-year, privately-funded leadership development experience for young leaders in rural Kansas for more than 30 years. In addition to educational tours across Kansas, class members participate in educational tours in Washington DC and overseas. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the most recent class went to the United Arab Emirates.

RURALPRENEURS IN LINCOLN –A husband and wife in rural Kansas are ruralpreneurs – entrepreneurs who have taken on multiple projects in their small town. According to Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, the couple are involved in the family farm equipment supply business that has expanded to specialize in hay equipment, augmented by an auto parts store. They also bought and renovated two downtown businesses. One is now a coffee shop/Airbnb and the other houses MarCon Pies.

FLY BOY BREWERY AND EATS –The owners of an airplane-themed brewery and restaurant in rural Kansas are proving that you can be successful by offering a variety of made-from-scratch main dishes and house taps – or prop washes. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says this brewery and restaurant is thriving in a town of only 297 people – which makes it the state’s smallest town with an active brewery.

MANHATTAN CHIEF THUNDER –It takes talent, hard work and dedication to become a championship team. It also takes teamwork. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, spotlights a rural Kansas coach who has led his team to four straight national championships at the Division 2 Christian Homeschool Association Tournament. He says this coach credits the players, not himself, for the national championships.

INA ALERT– ELLINWOOD–A rural Kansas company has grown from one person building something in their garage to 46 employees. The company’s product lines include texting software, surveillance camera systems, “smart door” controls, nurse calling, VOIP phone systems, computer hardware, and private LTE networks. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the business has grown by servicing rural communities with a need for technology.

GOOD FARM – SPECIALTY PORK–When the hog market crashed in 1998, a pork producing family in Kansas faced a difficult decision…keep doing what they were good at or try something new.  Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says they contacted a K-State professor and he encouraged them to keep raising hogs. He also connected them with a startup company that was sourcing heritage breed products for upscale urban restaurants, primarily on the east and west coasts. That partnership is still going strong and continues to serve a niche market of urban consumers.

PAWNEE ROCK EASTER PAGEANT –In 1936, the ministerial alliance in the rural community of Pawnee Rock decided to put on an outdoor performance of an Easter play as an Easter Sunday sunrise pageant. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says using the actual Pawnee Rock as the natural backdrop for the play made this performance unlike any other and it quickly became a community tradition.

C CROSS CUSTOM WELDING – A self-taught welder has taken his passion for welding and fabrication to create a business that makes custom-built products, including specialized farm equipment, gate personalization, custom art and more. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says he and his wife create products for government clients, rock quarries, parks, farms and ranches, industrial clients, and their friends and neighbors.

AUDREY RUPP– HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR–HorseThief Reservoir, constructed in 2009, is the largest body of water in southwest Kansas, consisting of 450 acres of water in 1,600 acres of prairie. Thousands of outdoor recreation enthusiasts come to HorseThief Reservoir each year. There are 54 camping sites with utilities, primitive camping sites all over and even five yurts.

MJE LLC– MONTEZUMA–A rural Kansas excavation business that started with a tractor and just one pull-type earth scraper has grown into a business with more than 200 employees and 350 pieces of equipment. According to Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, this earth-moving business has added a livestock equipment line that sends products coast to coast and beyond.

DONNA KRUG– BICYCLE TRAIL–When you have tandem bicycled in each of the 48 U.S. contiguous states, it’s probably no surprise that your name surfaces when a national bicycling trail organization needs help with a local project. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says this tandem bicycling team worked to reroute a bike trail through their hometown of Great Bend and help develop a bike park which has hosted visitors from across the nation and beyond.

DONNA KRUG– COTTONWOOD DISTRICT–Staff retreats are typically held in a bigger city with lots of venue choices. However, the district director for the K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District chose to go in the opposite direction. She holds their retreats in smaller towns within Barton and Ellis Counties. In addition to the retreat, the staff takes time to explore each town and enjoy some kind of fun activity.

CARRICO LEATHERWORKS –A fourth generation farmer grew up making leather products he could use as a cowboy and then as a Civil War re-enactor. Now he creates period leather goods used by Hollywood actors and others across the United States and beyond. He specializes in authentic Cavalry equipment and old west gear, including making McLellan and Hope saddles, military belts and holsters, western belts and holsters, and horse and saddle accoutrements.

KRAFFT BEEF– PHILLIPSBURG–If you want to skip a trip to the grocery store to buy beef, you can place an order online from a family-owned business in rural Kansas that sells its products across the country. They’re using  direct-to-consumer marketing to add value to their family beef operation and to connect with customers through social media, such as Instagram and Facebook – because that’s where the next generation of consumers are.

THE COMEAUS– BRANT’S MARKET–It’s common to be disappointed when one of your favorite retailers closes their business. However, it’s less common to purchase that business. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says that’s exactly what a couple in rural Kansas did – purchase the market they frequented for authentic German sausage and other meats.

HISTORIC LaSADA LODGE– What can a couple do when one is an avid outdoorsman wanting to find a career involving hunting and fishing and the other wants to have an events center? How about purchase and upgrade a historic lodge in rural Kansas. Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, says the lodge has an events center, lodging, multiple hunting options and hunting dogs that attract visitors across the nation.

JOE SEDLACEK– THE JOE CHUTE–When a longhorn cattle operator needed better equipment to handle his herd while giving them shots and other treatment, he designed his own working chute. It worked so well others wanted one too and it became a business that now ships chutes to ranches and zoos across the nation and beyond.