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Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Carl Koster – Regional Economic Area Partners

Posted on by Mary Lou Peter

“You reap what you sow.” The truth of that timeless proverb has been demonstrated forever. Today we will learn about an organization serving south central Kansas which is helping to sow regional cooperation and reaping the results.

Carl Koster is the chair of the Regional Economic Area Partnership, or REAP. Carl is a member of the city council in Cheney, which is located near the Sedgwick-Kingman county line west of Wichita.

carlkosterreapCarl’s grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1884. In 1891, his grandfather bought a farm near Cheney. That land has been in the family ever since, and the farm has grown through the years. Carl grew up here, went to K-State, and pursued a career in video journalism but still lives at Cheney and manages his farm ground.

“My family was always public spirited,” Carl said. “My grandfather served on the school board and my dad was a township trustee.” Carl continued this family tradition. He got elected to the city council in Cheney and went on to serve as mayor for 12 years. He still serves on the city council today. Continue reading “Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Carl Koster – Regional Economic Area Partners” →

Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Cole Herder – Humboldt

Posted on by Mary Lou Peter

“Here’s your mail.” It is always good to check the mailbox and receive personal mail. Today we’ll learn about a remarkable rural town that has people working together to improve the community. They are also working to attract and retain youth in their community, using the mail – and an actual mailbox – as a reminder.

Cole Herder is city administrator in his hometown of Humboldt, Kansas. Cole grew up here and went to Wichita State where he studied electrical engineering technology. After a 29-year career in manufacturing, he gave local government a try and became city administrator.

humboldtparkentranceCole had already been involved in the civic affairs of his community as a volunteer. He was concerned about the future of the community in the early 2000s, as economic and government problems challenged the region.

In 2007, the community of Humboldt signed up for a program called Public Square Communities. As we have previously profiled, this program is intended to bring elements of the community together for progress. When the program came to Humboldt, a public meeting was held.

Cole Herder spotted a notice in the paper about Public Square having a public meeting about the future of the community. He was curious, but also tired of hearing negative comments from people at the time. He still remembers that night.

Continue reading “Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Cole Herder – Humboldt” →

Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Dan Meers – KC Wolf

Posted on by Mary Lou Peter

The stunt went horribly wrong. The team mascot was to drop 20 feet on a bungee cord above the stadium, bounce back up to a zip line, and ride down to midfield. But something must have malfunctioned, and instead of the bungee cord bouncing down 20 feet, the mascot fell 75 feet and crashed into the stadium seats below. This excruciating incident marked an important point in the life of this costumed mascot, who is making a difference in the lives of others.

Dan Meers and the KC Wolf mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs
Dan Meers and the KC Wolf mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs

Dan Meers is the Kansas City Chiefs football team official mascot, the costumed character KC Wolf. A group of rabid Chiefs fans began calling themselves the Wolfpack during the 1980s. In response, the Chiefs created the KC Wolf mascot position in 1989.

Dan grew up near St. Louis and attended the University of Missouri where he served for four years as the school mascot, Truman the Tiger. In 1989, he was crowned the National Collegiate Mascot Champion. After graduation, he became the mascot Fredbird for the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1990, he was hired for the position of KC Wolf.

A mascot’s job is to entertain and “rev up” the fans and to be an ambassador for the team. On game days, KC Wolf does a pregame skit and participates in the player introductions and coin toss. He will visit designated tailgates, deliver birthday wishes, and even help couples get engaged at the stadium. He engages in various antics, such as teasing people with a giant rubber spider on a fishing line or dangling Twinkies above their heads for them to try to grab.

Continue reading “Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Dan Meers – KC Wolf” →

Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Geff Dawson – Poetry Rodeo

Posted on by Mary Lou Peter

The rodeo is coming to town! But this isn’t a competition of riding bulls or roping calves. This competition takes the form of rhyming words. For the first time ever, the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo is coming to Kansas.

Geff Dawson is the new organizer of this event, which he is bringing to Kansas for the first time. Geff grew up at Abilene, where he was always around horses and rodeos. After studying at K-State, he and his wife Dawn bought a place in rural Wabaunsee County north of Alma, population 785 people. Now, that’s rural. Geff worked at the Aye Ranch for a time and now manages the Illinois Creek Ranch.

Geff Dawson, cowboy poet.
Geff Dawson, cowboy poet.

Like me, Geff is a cowboy poet. Like me, it was not something he planned to do.

“I’d come home from work at the ranch and tell my wife about something funny that happened that day,” Geff said. “She’d say, `You ought to write that down.’”

He wasn’t very quick to take the time to write those things down, but one day when he did sit down to record the day’s events, he tried to write in rhyme. He found it was a fun way to tell a story. Geff became a cowboy poet.

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Deanna Munson – Munson’s Prime

Posted on by Mary Lou Peter

It’s time to name the Grand Champion at the American Royal. And here it is! But this isn’t the grand champion steer, it is the grand champion steak. The American Royal has wisely started to honor a top quality end product, in the form of a steak, as well as the traditional grand champion steer. The Grand Champion steak for 2013 is from the Munson Angus farm near Junction City, Kansas. The Munson family are high quality beef producers and innovators in marketing their product all the way to the consumer.

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Deanna Munson makes ice cream at Munson’s Prime restaurant in Junction City, Kansas.

Deanna and Chuck Munson are owners of the Munson Angus farm and a new restaurant, Munson’s Prime, in Junction City. Counting their grandchildren, there have been six generations of the Munson family in Geary County going back to the 1870s. In 1924, they started breeding Angus cattle for their superior meat production and quality.

Charles and Deanna and son David now operate some 200 Angus cows and 2,000 acres of pasture plus 3,000 acres of crop ground. Friends and neighbors started buying Munson beef directly from the farm and then the Munsons opened a retail outlet for fresh beef in Junction City. One constant through all the years had been the hearty meals prepared for family and farmworkers each day, and those could be marketed to others too. The Munsons discussed trying to get all their enterprises under one roof.

Meanwhile, a Munson steak was entered in the competition at the American Royal. The purpose of this competition is to identify the best tasting steak in America. The winner, based on a sensory lab and trained judges, was the steak from Munsons.
Continue reading “Deanna Munson – Munson’s Prime” →