Submitted by Krista Harding

Extension has been helping people for more than 100 years. A lot has changed since the Extension service was created in 1914, but the one thing that remains the same is the mission of Extension. Extension means “reaching out.” Extension agents reach out and extend their knowledge and resources to the public. Extension is for everyone to use!

The Extension philosophy is to help people help themselves by taking university knowledge to where people live, work and play. We strive to be very attentive to the needs of the people and provide quality information and problem-solving tactics for everyday concerns.

In recent years, with literally everything being on the internet, people might say we don’t need Extension anymore because I can get all the information I need on the internet. Although you can find tons of information on the internet, it is often difficult to determine what is true and what is not. Many times, we get calls from people that have found information on-line, tried it and it actually made things worse.

The environment in southeast Kansas is much different than it is in, say Ohio, but your internet search isn’t going to know that. It’s kind of like searching symptoms of bodily pains. If you search long enough, you will be convinced you are dying because your big toe hurts! We offer that human interaction that you just can’t get with a computer.

Anyone that has a lawn or landscape can benefit from the local Extension office. The weeds you try to keep from growing in your lawn, or the tree that has holes in the trunk, or the spots on your tomato leaves are all areas Extension offers advice.

Your local Extension office is here to help you with problem-solving tactics specific to your needs and to give you the tools to improve the situation. On the horticulture side, you can obtain information on trees, turf, flowers, insects, gardens, soils and other related topics. The office can assist you with any specific plant or insect problem you may have encountered. Home evaluations are even offered when necessary to gather additional information about a specific horticulture problem.

Many times when I take a call, the person on the other ends starts the conversation by saying “I have a dumb question.” My response is always this – “There are never any dumb questions when you call the Extension office.” My job is to help the public with whatever question or issue they may have and to try to educate them. I may not always have the answer they are looking for immediately, but 99 percent of the time I can find an answer.

This summer, there will be three demonstration gardens in the Southwind District for people to view and take notes of plant performance. Pepper plants will be trialed at the Elm Creek Community Garden and tomato plants will be trialed at the community garden in Fort Scott. The plots will be labeled, so feel free to stop by and take a look. Also, a flower demonstration will be at the Allen County Courthouse. The flowers will be planted in the raised berms on the south side of the courthouse.

We often hear that Extension is the best kept secret. Many folks don’t know what we do or what we have to offer. I want you to know that we are your source for all things horticulture!

During the growing season, I am in the Erie office Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Iola on Tuesday and Fort Scott on Thursday. However, you can always reach me by e-mailing kharding@ksu.edu or calling 620-244-3826.

Submitted by Christopher Petty

The Kansas State University Meat Animal Evaluation Team won National Champion honors in the 2017 Collegiate Meat Animal Evaluation Contest in Manhattan, Kans. The team was recognized Tuesday, April 4, at the Stanley Stout Center following the three-day competition.

Team member Chase Gleason, Uniontown, Kans., won high individual overall honors at the National Collegiate Meat Animal Evaluation Contest. He also won high individual in the market animal and swine divisions.

The event, previously known as the AKSARBEN contest, now rotates between host institutions across the country. The competition includes live market animal carcass predictions and pricing, breeding animal evaluation and meat judging competition, and truly serves as a capstone judging experience for students with its incorporation of so many industry-applicable concepts.

The team first won the market animal, breeding, swine and communication divisions of the contest.

Individually, K-State had three place in the top 10 overall. Gleason, Uniontown, Kans., won the high individual title. Shelby Teague, Fort Morgan, Colo., placed third overall and Brooke Jensen, Courtland, Kans., was fourth overall.

“We are proud of our students and coaches for their hard work and accomplishments,” says Ken Odde, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry department head. “This is a challenging contest that not only tests a student’s ability in meat and livestock evaluation, but also requires that they understand pricing, which is particularly important in today’s value-based marketing system.”

Submitted by the Office of the Governor

Governor Sam Brownback [Tuesday] announced his appointment of Senator Jake LaTurner as Kansas State Treasurer. Current State Treasurer Ron Estes was recently elected to represent the fourth congressional district in the House of Representatives. LaTurner will assume his new position once Estes vacates the office later this month.

“Jake LaTurner is a dedicated public servant with a keen intellect who will serve the people of Kansas well,” said Governor Brownback. “He is a man of character, principle, and integrity, reflecting the values of our great state.”

LaTurner, a native of South Eastern Kansas, graduated from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. At 24 years old he was elected to the Kansas Senate where he has served with distinction for the last five years. Twice elected to represent the 13th senate district, he successfully authored and passed the property tax lid, allowing Kansans to have a direct voice in their property tax rate, by requiring a local vote on proposed property tax increases beyond inflation. An alumnus and representative of Pittsburg State University, LaTurner has long championed higher education understanding that education is the path out of poverty.

“Being selected to serve as state treasurer is both humbling and exciting,” said Senator LaTurner. “I look forward to getting to work, meeting with folks across the state and continuing the quality work that Kansans have rightly come to expect from their state treasurer.”

Prior to his election to the Kansas Senate, LaTurner worked for former state treasurer Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins.

“As a former state treasurer, I am proud to learn that Jake LaTurner will become our next Treasurer of Kansas,” said Congresswoman Jenkins. “I have known him for more than a decade and hired him as a staffer during my first term in Congress. I have always been a big fan of Jake and know he will continue to be an outstanding public servant to the people of Kansas. I wish him and his family all the best.”

As the outgoing state treasurer, Congressman-elect Ron Estes noted the role of the Treasurer in serving Kansans.

“As outgoing Treasurer, I take great pride in the service the office provided to the citizens of Kansas,” said Congressman-elect Estes. “I trust that Senator LaTurner will continue that great service from the Treasurer’s office.”

LaTurner and his wife, Suzanne, have four children, Ava, Joe, Maggie, and Gus.

Submitted by Senator Adam Lusker

This is the final week before the Kansas legislature adjourns for a three-week long break, during which the governor signs off on or vetoes the bills passed this session. We will return for veto session May 1.

Kansas House Fights for KPERS

On Thursday [April 7], the House and Senate passed Senate Sub for Sub HB 2052, a rescission bill that essentially fixed the budget for the current fiscal year. The current budget was in a deficit of $290 million. Fiscal year 2017 ends June 30.

The House stood its ground on this bill to ensure that the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS) was fully funded through the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. The budget passed by the legislature and signed by the governor in 2016 had not made full payments to the retirement system.

As a result of the House position standing firm for working Kansans, an additional $86 million was appropriated to KPERS and payments will be made through the fourth quarter of FY 2017.

This Week on the House Floor

Before the break, several bills were passed through on the House floor. Here are a few. You can read about all of the bills to hit the floor this week here: http://kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/chamber/house/journals/2017/4/

HB 2319: An act concerning abortion; relating to the woman’s-right-to-know act, relating to certain physician information to be disclosed.

HB 2391: An act concerning driving; relating to driving under the influence and other driving offenses; authorized restrictions of driving privileges, ignition interlock device; expungement of convictions and diversions.

SB 55: An act concerning public construction contracts; relating to performance and payment bonds; Kansas fairness in public construction.

SB 149: An act concerning the attorney general; relating to briefs in a criminal matter or post-conviction case in the supreme court or court of appeals; legal representation charges; legal services; creating the attorney general’s state agency representation fund.

HB 2360: An act concerning the administration of the state employee health benefits plan; creating the division of state employee health benefits plan in the department of administration.

H Sub for SB 70: An act concerning amusement rides; relating to the Kansas amusement ride act.

SB 184: An act establishing the Kansas intelligence fusion center act.

Sub HB 2230: An act concerning property taxation; relating to exemptions, property owned by a redevelopment authority and located in a redevelopment district within a former federal enclave.

HB 2279: An act concerning courts; relating to disposition of failure to comply with a traffic citation reinstatement fees; judicial branch nonjudicial salary adjustment fund.

I look forward to continuing to work for you and Kansas when we come back May 1. Until then, please take care. It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I both value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 50-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at (785) 296-7698 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally, you can e-mail me at adam.lusker@house.ks.gov. You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.