The Kansas Department of Agriculture has launched its second Agriculture Workforce Needs Assessment Survey. This is through a partnership with the Department of Agriculture Economics at Kansas State University. The survey is designed to help find current and future needs people in the industry face. It hopes to identify jobs and specific skills required in the industry and help promote growth in the state. Kansas farmers, ranchers, and producers are asked to contribute to the assessment.
Source: KSNF/KODE

People are getting their first look at a new memorial coming to Parsons. The first rough drafts have been completed for Five Pathways to Freedom veterans memorial. It’s expected to be built next to the Parsons Municipal Building and will honor veterans from the five military branches. The renderings were created by former and current students at Parsons High School. “Mainly it’s just been me and Colin Ryan, we’ve been the main contributors to it and that’s just what we’ve been working on for the majority of our first semester here,” Nick Sanborn, PHS Senior, “We still add little details here and there and still whatever Mr. Rea asks us to do we still put it on there.”
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The winter weather can put a lot of plans on hold like school, business, or even events. But one Pittsburg business was built to grow in this, or any kind of weather — all while making nutritious food more accessible. “Weather does not affect our farm. You know it’s blowing cold wind outside, and we’re standing in here, it’s 71 degrees,” said Brad Fourby, Leafy Green Farms Owner. The winter weather isn’t slowing down production at Leafy Green Farm. “We’re standing in a 40-foot shipping container that’s not even hooked up to the city water, and we use about 10 gallons of water a day to grow about 100 pounds of leafy greens for the community. It’s doing perfectly. We had a nice harvest. We got some nice Swiss chard, some basil, some purple basil.”
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What started as a high school project has become a force for change across Cherokee County. Compost, the newest form of waste reduction that will soon help make some gardens bloom a little brighter. “It’s something that I always wanted to do, but it just gave me time to sit down, plan it out and be like ‘Hey! Maybe this would work out,” said Emily Welch, Columbus High School student. Welch partnered with fellow senior Casey Soper and quickly the project began coming together. “My teacher told me the K-State Extension office had a grant for composting. I was like ‘Oh my gosh, everything is aligning,'” said Welch.
Source: KSNF/KODE