Have you ever wondered how the new playground equipment at your neighborhood park was funded? Or who paid for the welcoming sign that guides visitors to a local landmark? Maybe you’ve attended a festival that relied on seed money to get started. In many cases, these community projects are made possible because someone took the initiative to write a grant proposal.

Grants play a vital role in helping communities fund ideas, expand services, and strengthen local economies. While many grants come from federal or state government programs, others are offered by local foundations, corporations, and municipal agencies. Because grants provide such an important source of sustainable funding, K‑State Research and Extension’s Community Vitality Team supports communities by offering grant-writing education.

Residents and community groups can learn how to craft effective grant proposals at an upcoming in‑person Grant Writing Workshop hosted by K‑State Research and Extension in the Southwind District.

Southwind Grant Writing April 2026

The workshop will take place on April 7th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Southwind Extension District office in Iola, KS. To register, call 620‑244‑3826 or email [email protected]. The cost to attend is $60, which includes workshop materials and lunch.

The workshop will be led by Nancy Daniels, a community vitality specialist with K‑State Extension and an experienced grant writer. “This workshop is for everyone, from those who have never written a proposal and don’t know where to begin, to those with experience who want to sharpen their skills,” Daniels said. “It’s incredible to see what happens in a community when people realize they don’t have to wait for change. They can create it themselves.”

Participants will also have the opportunity to learn from one another. Daniels noted that even seasoned grant writers often leave the workshop with new ideas, renewed motivation, and valuable insights from peers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their current grant projects or proposal ideas to the sessions.

Workshop topics include:

• Conquering your grant writing fears and start writing
• Identifying sources of data for community needs (where do you find the numbers to back up your request?) ·
• Where to find grants ·
• Practicing the grant writing elements: Problem, Outcomes, Activities, Evaluation and Budget.

For more information, please contact Community Vitality Agent Amanda Clasen at any Southwind District office or at [email protected].

Beyond the Bite Understanding Ticks & Alpha-Gal

Because one bite can change a life

Ticks are more than just a nuisance—they can carry diseases and,
in some cases, trigger long-term, life-altering health conditions
such as Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Join Southwind Extension to learn
how to protect your family and navigate life after an Alpha-Gal
diagnosis.

The program will feature two K-State experts:
Priscilla Brenes, MPH, Ph.D. will talk on how Alpha-Gal affects the body and nutritional strategies for managing life with AGS.

Raymond Cloyd, Ph.D. will talk on tick species, life cycles, and behavior, diseases associated with ticks, and prevention and personal protection tips

Whether you spend time outdoors for work, recreation, or everyday
life, this program offers practical, research-based information to
help reduce risk and increase awareness.

Monday, March 23
Fort Scott Community College
Ellis Meeting Rooms
6:00 p.m.
Call 620-244-3826 by March 20 to register.

Beyond the Box: Easy Biscuit Making

3.7.26 Ft. Scott Biscuit Flyer

Learn to make both drop and rolled biscuits while building
practical, from-scratch baking skills. This Southwind
Extension Food Volunteers class explores ingredient function,
simple techniques, and the benefits and tradeoffs of
homemade versus mix-based options.

Saturday, March 7, Noon – 2pm
First Southern Baptist Church
1818 S. Main in Fort Scott
$10 supplies fee

Contact Sandy Haggard to register:
620-365-2242 or [email protected]