Goodland/Atwood Northwest Kansas Day One
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Submitted by: Maddy Meier
As Class XVII departed from our first full seminar in November held in Garden City, I could sense that all thirty of us were energized to dive deeper into what Western Kansas had to offer. A month later, as we regrouped again in Goodland, I instantly felt that this momentum had not faded.
We met at Fort Hays Tech Northwest, a technical institution formerly known as Northwest Kansas Technical College. After lunch, we were eagerly welcomed by President Ben Shears, who shared the story of FHTNW, and how the partnership with the main Fort Hays State University campus had further expanded on the institution’s impact, where he stressed the importance of how much student experience matters.
Through Shears’ talk, we learned that the population within the two-hour radius of Goodland has been on a decline since the 1970s (the largest recruiting area for FHTNW), and that the year 2028 will see the largest decline of students attending college. Despite these stats, it is a mission of FHNTW to provide a quality two-year education in many hands-on programs, such as precision agriculture, welding, and even cosmetology, from the cohort-style structure of the class block schedules to making a critical impact on their communities. For example, many of the welding students are able to learn the mechanics of farm equipment by working on local farmers’ tractors, combines, or other machinery.
Shears then shared an impactful story that further detailed one of the many successes of FHTNW within the area of economic development. Until recently, the school had not provided a plumbing program in many years. Like many instances, an aging plumber in the nearby community of Tribune wanted to retire but felt like he couldn’t as he had no one to follow in his footsteps and keep his services alive. FHTNW jumped on the opportunity, and with funding from senators like Jerry Moran, FHTNW was able to restart a plumbing program. A student was able to shadow the plumber and eventually took over the business. While there is the looming tension of many two-year technical schools being consolidated in the state, it is clear that schools like FHTNW provide more than opportunities for students; they allow for rural Kansas to truly thrive.
Following Shears’ presentation, we then heard from a panel on community leadership and the impact of market development for minor crops. Panel members included Jeff Frazier and Michael Myers, Scoular; Brian Linin, Kansas Wheat Commission; and Alan Townsend, 21st Century Bean.
During the panel, Class XVII learned about how the sugar beet industry in Goodland boomed in the 1960s due to the effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis. When the sugar industry declined by the mid-1970s, the sugar plant was bought by three local elevators for $150,000. Then, the plant was transformed into a sunflower crush plant, and later on, a crush facility for canola and soybeans once it was bought by Scoular. By planting canola, wheat producers can experience a higher return on investment when adding canola to their rotations as it increases the quality of wheat yields and regenerates soil health.
The presence of Scoular Grain in Goodland provides opportunities for local growers – with canola acreage shifting, canola producers used to have to haul their crop to Wichita or Hastings, Nebraska. Scoular employs over 40 individuals in Goodland alone, including former students of FHTNW.
21st Century Bean was founded by 21st Century Alliance in 1998, a “new generation of farmer cooperatives” designed to “turn producers into processors”. Today, 21st Century Bean is the only surviving business endeavor from that era.
Originally, the operation raised solely pinto beans, but now grows multiple varieties. Kansas’ altitude levels and low humidity, in addition to its cool nighttime temperatures, are ideal for dry edible bean growing conditions. Today, 21st Century Bean sells over $20 million of products across the U.S. and is owned by 28 individuals. Later on in the afternoon, Class XVII was able to tour the local facilities.
At dinner that evening, we were joined by KARL supporters, board members, and friends. We were fortunate to hear a presentation on Intelligence, Risk Impacts, and Global Cybersecurity Trends by Doug “Skull” Smith, who serves as Field Cheif Information Security Officer for Recorded Future, the largest threat intelligence company in the world. Headquartered in Boston, the company works with over 1,900 clients in over 70 countries to empower said clients to act with speed and confidence to reduce risk and securely drive their businesses forward.
Smith, a Goodland native and a graduate of the Kansas Honors Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy, shared with us the value of intelligence asnd how military operations align with business operations:
Among others.
He concluded his presentation by providing insight on multiple leadership tactics such as never passing up the opportunity to be a good teammate; the importance of knowing your role and the role of others around you; and to always have an open mind and staying curious.
Northwest Kansas Day Two
Thursday, December 5 2024
Submitted by: Clint Glaser
Overview: We had a busy day mostly in Atwood talking with local businesses and learning more about the town and area. We ended back in Goodland for a great evening and dinner.
SurePoint: Our first visit was with SurePoint in Atwood. Matt Wolters with SurePoint (formerly SureFire) gave us an overview of the company and its history. SurePoint Started in 2007 with three partners (Matt, Blane, and Josh).
The company focuses mostly on applying crop inputs, mostly liquids, but is expanding. The company entered a joint venture with John Deere in 2022 and now has over 130 employees. They are headquarted out of Atwood with small offices in Ellinwood and Manhattan. The company now changed names from SureFire to SurePoint after the partnership with John Deere. The company is currently expanding with a new multi-million-dollar building being built. The company did $43 million in revenue and plans has the goal of being a $100 million dollar company within the next 5-7 years. The company’s mission statement is: Economic Engine in NW Kansas.
After our introduction and discussion with Matt, we toured their current facility and buildings. The operations are made up of three primary departments: Production Center, Engineering, and Sales/ Service. The production side shows us their system. The three primary products they showed were their meter tubing, electric system, and their new quick draw product. The engineering department consisted of ±16 people. The engineering department has three divisions being Embedded Software/Cloud, Liquid Systems, and Planting/ Seeding. The engineering department prides themselves on being nimble and being able to adapt and try new things quickly. John Deere gave them some recently acquired IP and passed along to them to allow them to expand and try new things. Their new producing it the RFX row unit suspension. Finally, we toured the sales/ service division. They showed us their sales hall. The sales motto is “Helping a customer is never an interruption”. We ended with lunch and a nice panel discussion from the original three founders.
5Ten Main Youth Center: Next, we toured the 5Ten Main Youth Center and talked with Gracie Simminger (assistant executive director) and Rhonda Higley (board member). The youth center is located downtown Atwood with an address of 510 Main. The goal is to provide a safe space for young people and focus on grades 5-12. The building was a bar before being renovated about 10 years ago and has been a youth center since then. They operate as a non-profit and are funded with fundraising, tax, and grants. They have one full-time employee and two part time employees. They are mostly open Fridays and Saturdays with about 20-30 kids each night. They offer a couple more days during the summer. They have some mentoring with high school students and other area adults. The building is very cool with local sports memorabilia.
Two Homes, LLC: Next, we discussed with Two Homes, LLC and Brian Clark and Matt Wolters. They discussed the housing problems in the area. About 20 years ago, a group called Atwood Property Development started by acquiring dilapidated properties and cleaning them up or dozing the uninhabitable homes. When they started, they noted 74 uninhabitable properties and to date they started have decreased this number by about half. About 10 years ago, Two Homes started building homes on the lots they acquired. They have built about 12 homes in total. They build and resell to end homeowners. The homes sell for around $300,000 and are about 1,500 square feet with full finished basement. The were originally funded by some local partners and their goal is just to “don’t lose your money”. They stated they have a real shortage of sub-contractors. They also have a lack of nicer larger homes. They have plans for a small 9 lot subdivision in the future.
Panel on Homegrown Business: Next, we waked over to Grassroots Garden Hub where JoEllyn Argabright (Grass Roots Garden Hub Owner) and Linda Vap (Vap Construction) talked with us about entrepreneurship and small-town leadership. Both are transplants with JoEllyn being from Colorado and Linda being from California. They discussed their businesses and encouraged everyone to be active in their community and serve on boards.
JoEllyn bought Grassroots Garden Hub. She bought it with the seller having a sign on the register. She has expanded adding a floral shop and is currently adding a certified kitchen and hopes to bring in chefs to cook occasionally for the community or provide area locals and area to cook. She also recently started a pumpkin patch. She said wherever you go be confident and make it your home and you will be successful.
Linda is the owner of VAP construction where they build barns and other outbuildings. She is passionate about empowering women and her companies are all run by women. She is fueled by her community and employees.
Community Childcare Facilities: Next, Travis Rickford with LiveWell Northwest Kansas talked with us about childcare in the area. Their mission statement is: Working to make NW Kansas a healthier place for all to live, work, and play. Livewell has four primary initiatives being 1. Home Visiting and Health Services 2. Assistance for Childcare and Preschools 3. Building Economic and Social Resilience and 4. Health Resources and Support. They also have some smaller initiatives.
We talked mostly about Rawlins County in particular. They recently had a study showing they were 92 slots short of childcare availability. They are currently renovating an old dental building which will fill 24 slots. They received granted funding recently and will be operated as a 501C3 non-profit organization.
Misfit Leadership: Our final speaker was Matt Wolters with SurePoint. He discussed leadership and emphasized that most successful leaders are unconventional or “misfit” leaders. He mentioned that if you are truly leading you probably need to be somewhat misfit, clearly visible, and somewhat different. What opportunities do we have in our lives and community to be different and a “misfit” leader.
He referred to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his decision to move back to Alabama from Boston to further his civil rights passion. This was not the easy decision but the one where it would have the most impact. Also, he referenced former President Kennedy stating, “we purposely chose to do the hard things.”
Finally, he referenced Dave Hanson who is a local icon and leader. He said Dave was a misfit leader of his time. He originally was in the mule trading business and later moved into building road and the oil business. He started the Dave Hanson foundation that serves 26 counties in the NW part of the state.
Finally, Matt said part of why SurePoint is successful is because of their “Open Book Management” style. In this style, all employees are shown and can see the financials of the company. This allows everyone to see where they are and where they are headed.
Dinner/ Evening: We ended the night at Jeff and Jill Deeds shop/shed where we had a brief presentation about the cuts of meat from Schilling Cattle Company. We then all cooked our own steaks. We enjoyed a great meal and conversation for the remainder of the night. The Deeds’ building was very cool!
Southwest Kansas Day Three
Friday, December 6, 2024
Submitted by: Mollea Wainscot
Morning Keynote: “Kings and Kingmakers” by Kendal Frazier: Kendal Frazier, retired CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, shared insights from Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh’s influential presentation, “Kings and Kingmakers.”
The session explored the dynamics of leadership and influence in public decision-making. Attendees discussed the roles of “kings” (public figures) and “kingmakers” (behind-the-scenes influencers), emphasizing how effective leaders shape community outcomes. Examples of local and national kingmakers illustrated their critical, often understated, impact on policy. “Quality of leadership of Kings had diminished” – Kendal Frazier.
Precision Agriculture Classroom Tour
Presenter: Jack Polifka, Precision Agriculture Instructor, Fort Hays State University Participants toured the Precision Agriculture classroom to learn about advancements in technology integration within agriculture. Key highlights included:
· Technological Applications: Utilizing GPS systems, geospatial data, and irrigation telemetry to optimize crop management.
· Soil and Water Management: Demonstrations of tools like soil moisture sensors and nutrient mapping technologies that enhance resource efficiency.
· Student Engagement: Insights into how students apply classroom learning to real-world farming practices, preparing them for careers in both agricultural production and industry roles.
Water Issues in Northwest Kansas: Panel Discussion
Moderator: Shannon Kenyon, District Manager, Groundwater Management District #4 The panel, comprising local producers and water experts, tackled critical issues surrounding the Northwest Kansas aquifer:
· Groundwater Management: Strategies to address declining water levels through Local Enhanced Management Areas (LEMAs).
· Community and Economic Impacts: Discussions on balancing water conservation with agricultural productivity and local economic stability.
· Technological Integration: The role of precision agriculture tools in promoting sustainable water use.
Panelists shared their personal experiences, successes, and challenges in advocating for water conservation. The audience explored collaborative approaches to ensure long-term water security for the region. Panelist included Jeff Deeds, Mitchell Bauman, Brett Oelk, and Brent Rogers.
Closing Luncheon and Debrief The seminar concluded with a luncheon and debriefing session led by Bailey Miller. Participants reflected on the themes of technology, community development, and leadership explored throughout the seminar. They emphasized the importance of building partnerships and fostering innovation to address rural challenges.
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