Kansas Rural Center - Calendar and News

Five Schools Selected for Wind Energy Project
- October 9, 2007
Kansas Rural Center Awards Clean Water Farms-River Friendly Farm Project Cost-Share Funds
July 31, 2007
Center for Food Safety Challenges Ventria Water Permits
July 16, 2007
Kansas Rural Center Announces Wind Turbines for Schools Initiative
July 2, 2007

Saturday, May 31 - Kansas Barn Alliance Workshop
10 AM - 3 PM, St. Francis, KS
For more info, see below.

Sunday, June 1 - Rural Grocery Store Summit
1:30 - 4:30 PM, Inman, KS
For more info, see below.

Saturday, June 7 - Fruit Grower's Field Day
1:00 - 7:30 PM, Olathe & Edgerton, KS
For more info, see below.

Monday evening, June 9 - Grazing Management Teleconference Call
7:30 - 9 PM
For more info, see below.

Monday, June 16th - Growing Growers Workshop,
Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling for Maximum Quality and Nutrition
4:00-7:30, Osceola, MO
For more info, see below.

Monday evening, July 14 - Grazing Management Teleconference Call
7:30 - 9 PM
For more info, see below.

Monday, July 14th - Growing Growers Workshop,
The Taste & Nutrition of Local Vegetables
4:00-7:00, Lawrence, KS
For more info, see below.

Monday evening, August 11 - Grazing Management Teleconference Call
7:30 - 9 PM
For more info, see below.

Sunday, August 17 - Growing Growers Workshop,
Pests, Disease and Weeds
10:00-4:30, St. Joseph, MO
For more info, see below.

Monday evening, September 8 - Grazing Management Teleconference Call
7:30 - 9 PM
For more info, see below.

Monday, September 15 - Growing Growers Workshop,
Tree Fruit Production
4:00 to 7:00, Williamsburg, KS.
For more info, see below.

Monday evening, October 13 - Grazing Management Teleconference Call
7:30 - 9 PM
For more info, see below.

Grazing Management Teleconference Conversations

Each second Monday evening of the month from June through October (June 9, July 14, August 11, September 8, October 13) KRC hosts an informal teleconference discussion about grazing management. These teleconference calls are from 7:30 – 9 PM and include Gary Kilgore and Keith Harmoney from KSU and grazers across Kansas. This is an opportunity to learn how you can use complementary forages to extend your grazing season, gain management tips and explore ideas to improve profitability while you responsibly manage your natural resources. Our conference call will be hosted by Conference Depot. Anyone can join in the call by simply dialing in 1-888-387-8686. You will then be prompted to dial in a Conference Room Number. Please dial in 4699043 and follow it with the # sign. This will be a toll free call.

Support for this networking opportunity comes from a partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Click on the icon to download the flyer.

Top of page

###

old barns, new ideas

Do you have an old barn? Don’t know what to do with it? The Kansas Barn Alliance is sponsoring a workshop to highlight some of the techniques needed to restore one and provide ideas for transforming them to new uses.

It will be held on Saturday, May 31st, near St. Francis in northwest Kansas.

Workshop Agenda

10 AM: Overview of the history of the Carman farmstead
Analysis of the barn structure
Prioritizing of barn repairs
Noon: Lunch will be available by the Cheyenne County Historical Society
1:00 PM: Discussion of possible new uses for this barn and others with smaller acreages
Special guests - 4-H members from the barn photo contest

To reserve your spot: contact Stan & Jan Carman jjocarman@hotmail.com or call 785.332.3569

Help spread the word! Click the icon for the flyer.

For more information, see the Kansas Barn Alliance website.

Top of page

###

Rural Grocery Store Summit

A Rural Grocery Store Summit will be held on Sunday, June 1 from 1:30 to 4:30 at the Kansas Sampler Foundation in Inman, Kansas. The summit is being hosted by the Center for Engagement and Community Development (CECD), the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, the Kansas Sampler Foundation, and the USDA Rural Development.

The meeting is an opportunity for rural grocery store owners and partners to come together to talk about the business of running a grocery store. Topics will include what rural grocers are doing, the challenges they are facing, and ideas for addressing those challenges. Ideas will be shared about what customers look for in a grocery store and explore ways to bring them our rural grocery stores. The summit is also a chance to connect and talk with store owners and other partners. Results from the grocery store surveys that were distributed, collected, and analyzed by K-State will also be shared at the summit.

There is no registration fee for the summit. Registration deadline is May 15 and space is limited, so register early! Register online at: http://www.ruralgrocery.org/events/ (click on "Registration")

For further information, See this website: http://www.ruralgrocery.org

Or contact:
Chandra Ruthstrom, KSU, Center for Engagement and Community Development,
785-532-7260 (office
785-410-5200 (cell)
cecd@ksu.edu

Top of page

###

Spring/Summer Fruit Field Day

Kansas Fruit Growers Association and K-State Research and Extension will host the Spring/Summer Fruit Field Day on Saturday, June 7, 2008. The event will begin at 1:00 PM at the K-State Horticulture Research and Extension Center, 35230 W 135th St. in Olathe, KS. A farm tour of Gieringer Farms (39675 W 183rd in Edgerton, KS) will follow with an optional barbeque dinner.

SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY:

1:00 p.m. Welcome and introductions. Erik Olsen, President,
Kansas Fruit Growers Association
1:15 to 2:30 Overview of production of strawberry, raspberry and blueberry, with emphasis on high tunnels. Pat Byers, Fruit Extension Specialist, Missouri State University, and Ted Carey, K-State Research and Extension.
2:30 to 2:45 Break
2:45 to 3:15 Marketing your fruit crop. Vincent Amanor-Boadu, Agricultural Economist, K-State Research and Extension. (Video presentation)
3:15 to 3:45 Marketing to retail outlets – Roundtable discussion with Brendan Kline, Whole Foods Market
3:45 to 4:00 Break
4:00 to 5:00 Tour K-State fruit plots, including blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry and apricot plantings. Most of the crops are in both high tunnels and open field.
5:00 to 5:30 Travel to Gieringer Farms
5:30 to 6:15 Orchard and farm tour.
6:15 to 7:30 Barbeque dinner, networking and fellowship

Workshop registration is $20/family with an additional $7.50/person for the meal (barbeque).
Make out check to KFGA and send by June 2 with registration form to:
Ken Krause, 7049 E 149th, Overbrook, KS 66524

Top of page

###

Growing Growers Workshop Schedule For 2008
For more information on any of these workshops, call (816) 805-0362 or email growers@ksu.edu

Monday, June 16th 4:00-7:30 St. Clair County Library 115 Chestnut St. Osceola, MO 64776 Including farm tour of: Bear Creek Farms 12595 NE 40 Rd $15 before June 9th, $18 after	Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling for Maximum Quality and Nutrition What vegetables should be stored at what temperatures? What’s the fastest way to cool down produce after harvest? What about washing and packaging? Information on food safety, harvest timing, storage and presentation. Farm tour of Bear Creek Farms, an organic vegetable farm that produces for market and for wholesale to Whole Foods. Presentations by: Robbins Hail, Bear Creek Farms Ted Carey, K-State Research and Extension
Monday, July 14th 4:00-7:00 Douglas County Extension Office 2110 Harper St. Lawrence, KS 66046 Including farm tour of: Moon on the Meadow Farm Lawrence, KS $15 before July 7th, $18 after	The Taste & Nutrition of Local Vegetables A chance to learn more about and appreciate the food we produce. Hilary Brown of Local Burger will cover preparation and Lisa Markley will discuss the nutritional qualities of different foods. Great for marketing to health-conscious customers. Farm tour of Moon on the Meadow, an organic vegetable farm. Presentations by: Lisa Markley, Nutritionist Hilary Brown, Local Burger Restaurant, Owner/Chef and Former Growing Growers Apprentice
Sunday, August 17 10:00-4:30 Lunch provided Buchanan County Extension 4125 Mitchell Ave. St. Joseph, MO 64507 Including farm tour of: Natures Choice Farm St. Joseph, MO $30 before Aug 10th, $33 after	Pests, Disease and Weeds A full day workshop to cover a full day’s worth of cucumber beetles, early blight, Johnson grass and more. Growing vegetables and fruit in our area is tough enough already – come learn about options for controlling the pests that plague us. Farm tour of Natures Choice, one of the most established vegetable producers in the area and a biodynamic farm. Presentations by: Ray Cloyd, Entomologist, K-State Megan Kennelly, Plant Pathologist, K-State Tim Walters, agronomist and farmer, East Wind Gardens
Monday, September 15, 4:00 to 7:00 Pome on the Range 2050 Idaho Road Williamsburg, KS. 66095 Including farm tour of: Pome on the Range $15 before Sept. 8th, $18 after	Tree Fruit Production An overview of tree fruit production, including both conventional and organic management. Farm tour of Pome on the Range, a family run orchard. Presentations by: Mike Gerhardt, Pome on the Range
October Full day, Lunch provided Time/date TBA Including farm tour of: Fair Share Farm Kearney, MO $30 before Oct. 10, $33 after	Business Planning and Management for Small Farms Presentations by: Tom Ruggieri and Rebecca Graff, Fair Share Farm Katherine Kelly, Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture
November Full day workshop Time/date/location/cost TBA	The Organic Certification Process An in-depth look at the certification process including record keeping, production practices and the application process. Presentation by: Ted Carey, K-State Research and Extension Heather Friedrich, ***

Click the icon for the series flyer, including the registration form.

For more information, call (816) 805-0362 or email growers@ksu.edu

Top of page

###

Kansas Rural Center Links

Membership Information

Who We Are Projects Calendar & News Policy & Advocacy Publications

Heartland Network Kansas Food Policy Council Clean Water Farms Project Links Home Page

Website Index