Shelby Defebaugh is a vendor and the organizer of the Shop, Swig and Swine event. Pictured: some of her creations. Submitted.
A holiday vendor event is happening today, October 19, at the River Room from 5 to 8 p.m.
Shop, Swig, and Swine is being organized by Shelby Defebaugh, who is a vendor herself. “I make pens, lanyards, keychains and wristlets. Customization is welcome,” she said.
“In August I started organizing the event,” Defebaugh said. “When you are a vendor… you become like a community.” And several vendors were interested.
Shelby Defebaugh. Photo by Brian Wade.
The River Room is located at the corner of National Avenue and Oak Street on Fort Scott’s north end. The event is from 5-8 p.m. with no cost to attendees.
Brickstreet BBQ is located at the corner of Oak Street and National Avenue on Fort Scott’s northside. The River Room Event Center is located on the second floor.
“I know everyone is busy,” she said. “I felt like a Thursday evening, when you get off work, go shop with girlfriends and grab some food to take home.”
The Flying P Ranch is a vendor at the Shop, Swig and Swine event, from its Facebook page.
The name “Shop, Swig and Swine” is because “You can shop, and have adult beverages and Brickstreet BBQ will have a concession bar and food,” Defebaugh said.
Defebaugh said she wanted to thank Cathy Bishop, event coordinator at the River Room, and the Fort Scott Tribune for their help with the event.
Amanda Emmerson is a vendor at the event, from its Facebook page.
Vendors pay $40 per booth.
Sammie Gathercole’s S/L Studio is a vendor from Shop, Swig, and Swine Facebook page.
However, she is giving booth space for free to the Fort Scott High School Art Club for a fundraiser which is a Christmas scene photo.
Tim and Deb McKenney at the recent awards ceremony. Submitted photo.
A local business was recognized during the recent ceremony by The Kansas Department of Commerce held in Wichita on Oct. 12.
To The Stars: Kansas Businesses Awards is an annual awards program that recognizes businesses across the state for the valuable contributions they make to the Kansas economy and to the well-being of their communities, according to https://www.kansascommerce.gov/kansasbusinessawards/.
Fort Scott Broadcasting Co. Inc was recognized as the Southeast Kansas Regional Winner in Retail and Service. Tim and Deb McKenney are the owners of the business.
The award plaque was received by the McKenney’s. Submitted photo.
“Deb submitted the information,” Tim McKenney said. “It was really just a statement about the station’s 70th birthday under the same family ownership and management coming up next year. She mentioned some of our programs we air regularly such as the city, county, and school talk shows to keep folks in tune with current happenings in the area.”
“The award was for 69 years of community service to our community,” Deb said.
The order of the awards at the ceremony. Submitted photo.
The categories were:
AgriBusiness – companies that stand out in the agribusiness industry – including agricultural production, products and services, and agri-tourism
Apprenticeship Champions and Partners – companies and other entities that excel providing registered apprenticeship programs in Kansas
Business Innovation – companies from any sector incorporating innovative technologies in their business
Healthcare/Nonprofit – noteworthy services provided by either healthcare facilities or nonprofit organizations
Manufacturing/Distribution – outstanding achievement for companies large and small involved in manufacturing and distribution
Non-Traditional Talent Pools – companies that have gone above and beyond to hire those with prior involvement in the justice system, youth, seniors or individuals with disabilities
Under 30 Entrepreneurs – young entrepreneurs achieving business success under the age of 30
Welcome Back – entrepreneurs and businesspeople who once left Kansas but have returned to make their mark in the Sunflower State.
Businesses and individuals from across the state were honored for their outstanding contributions to Kansas communities and the state’s economy at the ceremony, according to a press release.
Governor Laura Kelly announced at the ceremony that Atwood-based SurePoint Ag Systems has won the 2023 Governor’s Award of Excellence and Tank Connection in Parsons earned the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award, according to the press release.
A record 297 businesses, organizations and individuals were nominated in nine categories for this year’s To the Stars: Kansas Business Awards, according to the release. Nominees were reviewed and scored for various criteria such as business expansion, employee recruitment and retention practices, training and educational programs, capital investments, and support of local community events. A total of 245 Merit Awards and 43 Regional Awards were presented at the event. Additionally, one nominee in each category was designated a Statewide Winner, making them finalists for the Governor’s Award of Excellence.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces this year’s Halloween Parade will be held Saturday, October 28th at 11:00 a.m. in Downtown Fort Scott.
Prior to the parade, starting at 10:00 a.m., there will be special activities including pictures with a spooktacular backdrop at the City Scales building on North Main and face painting by Fort Scott High School Thespians.
The parade trick-or-treats merchants along Main Street, starting at La Hacienda, south to 2nd Street, crossing the street then heading north back to Skubitz Plaza. Any businesses or organizations in the community not located along Main Street are also welcome to set up a table on the sidewalk providing treats, coupons, or other handouts for kids. Children are encouraged to bring a sack or bag to collect treats along the parade route.
Following the parade, a free slice of Papa Don’s pizza and a drink will be served to kids in costumes.
The Chamber is currently seeking sponsors and donations for the pizza lunch following the parade.
Contact the Chamber if interested at 620-223-3566
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee event this Thursday, October 19th at 8 a.m. to celebrate the 9th Anniversary of Sleep Inn & Suites located at 302 E. Wall St. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing.
Sleep Inn and Suites is a 59-room simply stylish hotel that offers a long list of great amenities such as free parking, free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, access to a well-equipped fitness center, business center, and an indoor heated pool with a sundeck. Sleep Inn & Suites is convenient for business and leisure travelers and brings thousands of visitors each year into downtown Fort Scott.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.
This is part of a series featuring young people who have started selling a product or service. If you know of a young business person, send their email or phone number to [email protected]
Luke and Natalie Lehman are twins. Both are young entrepreneurs.
Luke Lehman sold his horseshoe creations at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on Sept. 30.
Luke Lehman,15, started a horseshoe-inspired gifts business in August because of the availability of materials.
“I sell small trinkets, made out of horseshoes, such as pumpkins, napkin holders, and Christmas ornaments,” he said. “I chose this to sell because my grandpa had a lot of horseshoes from auctions, and needed something to do with them. My dad had also made a few things out of them before.”
He calls his business Farmhouse Metalworks.
“I attended the Children’s Business Fair classes and learned about things like marketing, pricing, and target customers,” he said.
Natalie Lehman. Submitted photos.
Natalie Lehman, 15, is an artist by passion.
“I love to paint, watercolor, and use oil pastels,” she said.
The idea of her business started at Christmas last year.
“I got a box of blank cards and envelopes as well as some supplies to decorate them,” she said. “I made a few cards here and there but never thought it would turn into a business.”
Then Natalie and her brother Luke started attending the Children’s Business Fair seminars.
“When we started attending the business seminars, I was trying to think of what I would do for my business,” she said. “That night at dinner, my Grandma made a comment that she was having a hard time trying to find a card to give for the occasion of a baptism and asked if I would be interested in making her a custom card for that. And that’s where I got the idea to make cards for my business.”
The name of her business is Blessings Abundant (Designs of Devotion).
She creates custom cards and keychains.
Some of Natalie Lehman’s creations. Submitted.
She said the Children’s Business Fair gave some valuable information.
“It helped me understand more how to manage my money better, and how to get out of it the profit that I needed to pay for all the work and expenses I put into it,” she said.
Luke and Natalie are the children of Jacob and Amanda Lehman, Girard.
The Children’s Business Fair seminars are made available by the Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center and the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Fort Scott.
The Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center and the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team were sponsors of the Children’s Business Fair on Sept. 30 at the Fort Scott Farmers Market.
This is part of a series featuring young people who have started selling a product or service. If you know of a young business person, send their email or phone number to [email protected]
Gunner Keylon preparing some of his products to sell. Submitted photo.
Gunner Keylon, 12, owns his own business called The JG Store.
He sells homemade treats: such as rock candy, brownies, rice krispy treats, peanut butter fudge, trail mix, etc.
In addition, he sells his artwork: sketches.
An example of Gunner Keylon’s sketches. Submitted photo.
” I like to draw and get requests sometimes, so I thought they might sell well,” he said. “I also thought rock candy sounded fun to make and you can’t buy it just anywhere.”
Gunner Keylon at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on Sept. 30 selling his product: homemade sweets and art sketches. Submitted photos.
“I’ve been thinking about starting the business for a long time but I actually put it into action a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
He didn’t attend the Children’s Business Fair classes at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team in Fort Scott but joined the business fair just before it took place at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on Sept. 30.
“At the fair, I learned that owning your own business is hard work but it’s worth it!” he said.
The Devon Solar Farm is located at 135th and Range Road in Bourbon County.
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Girard, is a distribution cooperative that has members in Bourbon County.
“What we do is buy wholesale power and distribute it to homes, farms, and businesses over our poles and wires,” said Doug Graham, Communication Specialist for Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. “So we don’t do much in the realm of generating electricity.”
Heartland provides service to around 11,250 meters, with around 1,700 located in Bourbon County, said Graham.
Heartland Adds Solar
“Within the last few years, it became apparent that we could reduce our wholesale power bill by using some locally generated solar energy,” he said. “We worked with our power supplier (KEPCo) to amend our contract so we and other cooperatives would be allowed to generate or otherwise procure up to 15% of our peak power demand, with 5% of that amount specifically allowing for the addition of solar.”
“The way we’ve approached solar has been to work with a company called Today’s Power, Inc. (TPI) to build solar farms on sites very close to our distribution substations,” he said. “We buy the land and lease it to TPI, and then TPI builds, operates, and maintains all the solar equipment.”
“We have long-term agreements with TPI to purchase the electricity generated by the solar farms at a set rate, which reduces how much energy we have to buy off the market,” Graham said. “This is especially beneficial during peak times when electricity is most expensive.”
In May 2021 Heartland built two 1-MW solar farms, one at Greenbush and the other at Urbana.
“The solar farm has a direct benefit to Heartland members in that it helps keep rates stable by reducing our wholesale power cost,” Graham said. “Having it be a clean and locally generated source of energy is a nice bonus.”
After they came online, the solar farms proved very effective at reducing costs, he said.
“We decided to pursue two slightly smaller (750 kW) solar arrays near our Devon and Linn substations,” he said. “The Devon array came online in the spring of 2023, while the Linn array is still in development. We have no other solar projects in development.”
The one in Bourbon County is located at 135th St. and Range Rd., just east of Heartland’s Devon distribution substation.
The 750 kW solar array powers around 130 homes.
The solar array panels in rural Bourbon County. Submitted photo.
These arrays are relatively small in utility terms, with a footprint of around seven acres for each, he said.
“The energy generated at each solar farm is used right away by the members on those substations,” he said. “It’s all local. In fact, we’re not allowed to push energy back onto the transmission grid, which is why it’s very important that we size our solar systems just right to match what our members served on those substations can actually use.”
“These solar farms are part of a larger statewide initiative called the Kansas Cooperative Sun Power Program, a partnership between TPI and 11 other Kansas co-ops. Joining forces with the other cooperatives helped everyone secure better pricing,” Graham said.
Solar Has Saved On Wholesale Power Bill
“So far this year, our three solar farms have saved us roughly 2.5% off of our wholesale power bill versus what we would have had to pay if we didn’t have solar in place to reduce the peak demand,” he said. “It’s a small thing we can do to help control costs while staying within the parameters of our contract with our power supplier. In a way, it’s a lot like what we ask our members to do on peak days in the summer: make small adjustments to your usage and save a little bit on your bill, which in turn adds up to significant savings for the co-op as a whole. That helps keep rates from climbing as fast as everything else these days.”
Is There a Sound Issue?
For neighbors the sound of the arrays is minimal.
“There’s a bit of a hum from the inverters that turn the DC power generated by the solar panels into AC power that can be used in homes, but it’s not very loud,” he said. “You could carry on a conversation at normal volume right next to the inverters. We haven’t had any complaints whatsoever.”
Join us for a Chamber After-Hours and Ribbon Cutting
Mill Creek
Veterinary Clinic
Thursday, October 19th
5:30pm-7:00pm
6 East 13th Street
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members to a Chamber After-hours & Ribbon Cutting Event to celebrate the opening of Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic! The event will take place on Thursday, October 19th from 5:30pm-7:00pm with the remarks and ribbon cutting starting at 5:45pm. After the Ribbon cutting and remarks, everyone is invited to come and go to see the business, enter the drawings, and enjoy refreshments.
Opened on January 16, 2023 and located on the corner of 13th and National; Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic is a new addition to Fort Scott, however, Dr. Amanda Brown and her husband are natives to Fort Scott. Dr. Amanda and staff at MCVC to be kind and efficient while providing clients and their pets an affordable modern approach to preventive care as well as managing acute and chronic illnesses. Mill Creek is a small animal focused clinic, but has the ability to provide large animal services on farm. MCVC has the capability to perform a full diagnostic work up due to in house Idexx laboratory equipment, in house digital x-ray, and Butterfly ultrasound.
Contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for more information at 620-223-3566 or [email protected].
An info banner at the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market last Saturday.
The Fort Scott Farmers Market showcased some young business people on September 30.
“Most of the children that had booths had attended at least one workshop at Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (office) before Saturday’s event,” said Dacia Clark, Pittsburg State University’s Small Business Development Center.
The SBDC partners with HBCAT in Fort Scott.
“We held two different workshops (for the young entrepreneurs) before Saturday,” she said. “One was about business planning and just introducing business terminology to the kids and the other workshop talked about pricing and expenses.”
“We ended up having 20 kids participate on Saturday and gave out $340 in prize money,” she said.
1st Place received $50, 2nd Place received $25 and 3rd Place received $10.
There were four different age groups: 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-16 year-olds.
5-7 Age Group
1st Place – Adelaide Bowman
2nd Place – Judah Whitson
3rd Place – Ethan Nilges
8-10 Age Group
1st Place – Jonathon Howard
2nd Place – Camren lamb
3rd Place – Asher Whitson
11-13 Age Group
1st Place – Gunner Keylon
2nd Place – Anabelle Nilges
3rd Place – Isabelle Nilges
14-16 Age Group
1st Place – Natalie Lehman
2nd Place – Luke Lehman
3rd Place – Devlin Cole
There is the possibility of another Children’s Business Fair at Fort Scott Farmers Market next spring, she said.
For more information or to become involved with the Children’s Business Fair, please email Rachel Carpenter at [email protected]
FortScott.Biz Grant Recipients Tell of Plans
Several children received $50 grants from a fortscott.biz reader who wished to remain anonymous.
The subscriber who had been reading the Young Entrepreneur Series on fortscott.biz this summer was touched by the efforts of the children and wanted to support each young entrepreneur’s business.
This is what he wrote:
“I always stop at the local kids’ lemonade stands. When I was growing up in Fort Scott, I remember the postman buying a cup of lemonade from me. For some reason that stayed with me.
“Selling Grit Magazine door to door, making birdhouses and selling them door to door, having a Tribune newspaper route back when you paid for your batch of papers up front, delivered them, and then collected monthly. If anyone stiffed you, you were out the dough. All of those things were great life lessons for me growing up in Fort Scott. That’s why I really like your program of highlighting young entrepreneurs”
The Young Entrepreneur Series features youth under 18 years old who have a business in product or services.
To recommend a young entrepreneur in our community, please send contact info, email, or phone number to [email protected]
The following are the recipient’s comments about how the grant was spent:
Devlin Cole, 16, sells handmade leather crafts at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on Sept. 30.
“I’m purchasing more supplies for my leather crafts, Devlin Cole said. “I’m very appreciative for the money. Thankfully there is someone wanting to do that for kids wanting to make a name for themselves.”
Malachi Whitson, jewelry maker, at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on September 2023.
“I bought different things for my jewelry business,” Malachi Whitson, age 10, said. “It was a big boost. I’m so glad he did it, it helped a lot.”
Camren Lamb shows a placard explaining where he spent his Young Entrepreneur Grant. He had a booth for his artwork and guitar playing at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on Sept. 30, 2023.
“The funds went directly to Answers in Genesis 2024 Vacation Bible School Program Kit,” Melanie Lamb, Camren’s mom said. “It will be used over and over. Camren’s first priority is to do it at youth homes and places with children in need. But he also plans to collaborate with kids near his age to do the program here in Fort Scott.”
Camren, 10, also purchased four Samaritan’s Purse and Bible Workbook Kits, his mom said.
Asher Whitson, a young entrepreneur, makes cards and decorative art.
Asher Whitson, whose business is Art by Asher, spent his grant money “to help a single mom and the rest towards buying new items for his business,” Maria Whitson, his mom said.
Judah Whitson at his shop at the Fort Scott Farmers Market, September 2023.
“Judah gave a little to help the single mom (his brother Asher also did this) and he saved the rest to buy a cow,” Maria Whitson, his mom said.
5:15 to 5:45pm ~ Social & Networking, Refreshments & Spirits
5:45 to 6:15pm ~ Program
6:15 to 6:30pm ~ Wrap-up/Questions/Social
Free to attend!
Registration requested for planning purposes, click here to register.
Click here for the Facebook event, please help spread the word!
The event will feature Guest Speaker/Consultant
Toby Joplin on a Simple Model
Business Strategy for Future Success!
About the Program:
How is 2024 going to be better for your business than 2023? If we keep on doing what we have always done, we will keep getting what we have previously got – only if we are lucky! Retailers like Sears & Roebuck, Blockbuster, Radio Shack and many others have proven that past success is no guarantee of future success, regardless of the size of your business. And if we want better results in the future, we need to change what we are currently doing. It would sure help if we knew what the future holds. The best way to predict the future is to create it. While some things like the economy and interest rates are outside of our control, we have much more influence and agency over our future results than we realize. Would you like to know how to improve the results from your business in 2024?
At the Chamber After-hours on October 12th, Dr. Toby Joplin, who teaches the capstone business strategy course at the University of Tulsa and is the founder of the Joplin Consulting Group will explain a simple plan to help your business achieve its goals in 2024. Dr Joplin has been helping companies be more successful for over 25 years. He has helped companies from Kansas City to Fort Worth. He has helped companies from as small as start-ups to as large as $15 Billion in annual revenues – and nonprofit organizations too. (Your company’s revenues probably fall somewhere between $0 and $15 Billion.) Dr Joplin can help you too. On October 12th, Dr J, as he is affectionately referred by his students, will explain a simple model that you can follow to make 2024 your best year ever.
Thaddeus and Kelly Perry have added another business in Bronson.
Kelly and Thaddeus Perry, owners of Perry’s Pork Rinds and Country Store and a new campground. Submitted photo.
Perry’s Park RV & Campground, opened October 1 at 702 Pine Street in Bronson, which is on Hwy. 54 that runs through the small town in western Bourbon County.
“We purchased a big chunk of land here in Bronson from the corner of Pine Street to the city limit signs on the west side of town, it’s a lot,” she said. “We can mow it for the rest of our lives and do nothing; instead, we wanted to do something to use the land.”
So they devised a plan.
“A few RV hookups made sense to us,” she said. “It will hopefully give back to our business for several years and generate tax revenue for the city and county and hopefully more visitors to the area.”
“We can only hope campers will stay here, buy their grocery goods here, and eat at our local Chicken Shak while in town, and for the hunters they can easily get their deer processed a block away at the Bronson Locker! It’s a win for all of us in my opinion.”
“We have a great little community that has good-hearted people,” she said. “Those people have friends and family that often visit the area for hunting, fishing, ATV or rock climbing, and with the new state park announcement in Iola and the construction on Hwy. 7 and of course the Wolfe Creek project, we anticipate the four little spots we have staying full… or at least that’s our hope.”
“We currently have 4 hookups for RV’s,” Kelly said. “Each hook-up has a sewer, water, and electric 30amp/50amp/110v at each site. Wi-Fi within walking distance. Trash pick up. Full grocery, beer, ice, deli, and diner on-site. Pull through parking. We are still in the process of adding the firepits, and picnic tables per site as well. The last portion will be the playground and BBQ Grill area for the campers.”
“We have nightly and monthly rates available,” she said.
The cost is $40 per night, $175 per week, and $475 per month.
“We have an ADA-compliant unisex bathroom inside of our storefront 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday for the visitors to use if needed,” she said. We will eventually have a full coin laundry facility on-site for campers and the community. However, that will be a few years because we simply have a lot on our plate at this time.”
A new sign tells passersby that the new campground has opened in Bronson. Submitted photos.
“We specifically worked with small businesses to build the RV Park to feed back into the local economy using Bandara Stone for our rock; Brandon Krebs with Rocking K Construction for groundwork, Matt Kelly with Kelly Electric for the hookups, Eric Stewart with C&S Contracting for our plumbing, and Adam Arnold and Cory Chandra with Deep Roots Lawn Care for all the final touches.”
To reserve a spot, contact the Kelly’s at: 620.939.4300.
