USDA Rural Development in Kansas Recognizes Top
Guaranteed Rural Housing Lender Partners
TOPEKA, June 25, 2025 – USDA Rural Development announced the 2025 Lenders of the Year today, to recognize the work of its top lending partners supporting rural homeownership. These lenders helped rural families and individuals buy homes across the nation, including in Kansas last year through USDA Rural Development’s Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program.
“We are proud of these innovative lending partners and our collaborative efforts to boost the availability of rural housing in Kansas,” said Gimmie Jo Jansonius, Rural Development State Director for Kansas. “Thank you to all of our lending partners of all sizes from across the state for supporting the rural communities that make Kansas great.”
The top 5 Kansas lenders were:
Flat Branch Mortgage, Inc.
Landmark National Bank
Community National Bank & Trust
Guild Mortgage Company LLC
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp
USDA is a proud partner to all lenders who work with the agency to support rural homeownership. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit GovDelivery subscriber page. Follow us on X, @RurDev_Kansas
Brandon Pfannenstiel and Noah Terry. Submitted photo.
For those interested in learning self-defense techniques, a new business has opened for teaching those techniques.
The Fort: Bjj and Self Defense co-founders and owners, Noah Terry and Brandon Pfannenstiel, opened to the public on May 8.
“We offer Jiu Jitsu classes for both kids and adults,” Terry said. “We also offer MMA and striking classes as well. All with an orientation towards self-defense.”
For those unfamiliar with these martial arts, here are explanations.
“Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills from a mixture of other combat sports to be used in competition. The rules allow the usage of both striking and grappling techniques while standing and on the ground. Competitions allow athletes of different disciplines of martial arts to compete under a set of unified rules,” according to https://www.ufc.com/intro-to-mma
“Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a predominantly ground-based martial art, using the principles of leverage, angles, pressure, and timing, as well as knowledge of the human anatomy, to achieve a non-violent submission of one’s opponent. Unlike other martial arts that focus on strikes and/or kicks, jiu jitsu focuses on close-contact grappling holds and techniques, and the application of chokes and joint manipulations,” according to https://www.essentialbjj.com/about-us/what-is-jiu-jitsu/
“I started training four years ago out of a desire to better myself through discipline and technique,” Terry said. “Brandon started training his sophomore year of high school at a gym called Mid-America Martial Arts. He walked in untrained and eager to learn at the age of 15. This was about 2003. He gathered an 11-1 amateur and 7-1 pro MMA record, and received his black belt in February 2025.”
Lessons are taught at 123 S. National Avenue at a converted church building.
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The current schedule is:
JIU JITSU: Monday through Friday from 6-7 a.m.
Sparring class: Tuesday is 6:15 – 7:15 p.m.
Open mat: Saturday from 7 to 8 a.m.
KIDS CLASS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
From left, owner Shelly Bradley and long-time employee Debi Fritter stand in front of the current salon site. A new building for the salon is being constructed about 14 blocks east.
Shelly Bradley, owner of The After Affect Salon, said the business will have an “18 and on-our-own party” to celebrate the relocation of her business to a newly constructed building.
“We hope to be open in August (at the new site),” she said. “August will be the salon’s 18th anniversary, and we want to have a party to celebrate.”
“My husband, Zach, had tried to talk me into buying or building a new salon, to invest in our own property, and have our own parking.”
The current salon is located in the Historic Downtown Fort Scott district at 14 E. Wall, and parking can be competitive at times.
The new shop is being built and is located at 1416 E. Wall.
Shelly Bradley opens the door to her new salon at 1416 E. Wall on June 18. Completion is slated for August 2025. The salon door is on the east (left) and the other services door is on the west (right) of the front of the building.
“My Grandma Martha Cook offered to sell a lot next to her house to me. The time was right. God’s timing is perfect, and everything fell into place.”
The new 40-foot-by-40-foot building will have parking for 13 cars.
This will be needed with the additional services she will be offering in the shop: red light therapy, and tanning services, including stand-up, lay-down, and automated. All will have their private work room and additionally, two bathrooms, a utility room/kitchen/storage room, a room for retail products, and a waiting room. In addition, there will be a designated nail technician room.
“I feel so blessed with our amazing clientele that has made this a possibility and can’t wait to offer more for our community,” she said. “I am blessed that my husband has the talent and patience to help me build my dream. And I’m excited to be next door to my Grandma’s house.”
Those working on the build are Gieger Plumbing, KTK Electric, and Thomas Concrete and Construction, all of Fort Scott. She has been working with the City of Fort Scott on an economic development grant.
Bradley started the business in 2007, and Debi Fritter started offering services with her in 2010.
Riley Findley will be the new nail technician, and Debi’s daughter, Dani, will help in the tanning area.
Reserved Tickets are now on sale for a show of talent you
do not want to miss! Call 855-222-2849 (the number on the flyer is not correct)
https://www.etix.com/ticket/o/8277/rockballet
Kristin Lewis Gorman will present her Rockballet dancers
in their 5th annual production, “Jet Set to Wonderland” ,
this Friday and Saturday, 7:30 PM at the Ellis Family Fine
Arts center, in Fort Scott.
Kristin was a New York City based career performer and
choreographer for 25 years before coming back to open
Rockballet, sharing her knowledge and love of singing,
dancing and acting with students in her hometown.
Kristin teaches every genre of dance and every class at
Rockballet.
As always, each number in the show is her original
choreography, created exclusively for her students.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee hosted by Kale Nelson State Farm, celebrating twenty years in business in Fort Scott. The Coffee and celebration will be held at the State Farm office, 1805 S. National Ave., this Thursday, June 19th at 8am. Coffee, juice, and refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing.
Kale Nelson is excited to celebrate twenty years with State Farm along with his wife, Kelly, and his team members, Peter Brody, Rita Schroeder, and Monica Walden. Kale opened his agency on July 1, 2005, at 20 W. Wall St., which is now the site of the new Kansas Department for Children and Families. In 2012, Kale moved his office to the 5 Corners complex at 12th and Hwy. 69 and finally settled at his current location, 1805 S. National Ave., in 2019. Kale and his team offer auto, home, life, health, and other insurance and financial services.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.
20 Scott Avenue houses the Hercules Hobby store. Submitted photo.
Hercules Hobby, a store that sells sports cards, autographed memorabilia, helmets, Pokemon, and Magic The Gathering cards, opened in Fort Scott on June 13.
The store is located at 20 Scott Avenue.
“I had 25 kids in here on our soft opening,” said Phil Jackson, owner of the store. “Some kids play tournaments with Pokémon and MTG cards. There may be tournaments possible at a later date.”
“I have been a collector my entire life; my grandpa, who passed away, was a collector,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about a brick and mortar store for a while—something fun for kids to do on the weekend.”
“My grandfather will be in the soul of this store,” he said.
Hours of operation currently are 4-8 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Other days and times to be determined at a later date.
“It’s something we don’t have around here,” Jackson said. “I bought and sold items at shops in Kansas City. There is none like this in our area.”
Levi Qualls, left, is the manager, and Phil Jackson is the owner of Hercules Hobby. Submitted photo.
He hired the manager, Levi Qualls, following a conversation at Faith Church, where they both attend.
“Levi shares the same love of this hobby that I do,” Jackson said.
For more information, contact Jackson at 515-512-3883.
This new business is under Jacksons Enterprise LLC.
Lupe and Mirna Santana in front of La Hacienda, 24 N. Main.
Sixteen years ago, Mirna and Lupe Santana moved to Kansas from Georgia. Lupe had family in Parsons who owned a Mexican restaurant, and they decided to venture into that business, so Lupe began looking in other towns in the area.
In Fort Scott, they discovered that a Mexican restaurant had recently relocated from the downtown area, and they believed this would be an ideal location.
In 2010, they moved into 20 S. Main, Mirna said. By 2015, they were looking for a different location because of the condition of the building.
“We moved into 24 N. Main in 2015,” she said. “And we are celebrating 15 years in Fort Scott.”
“We enjoy when we see people happy and thankful they had a great meal,” she said. “That makes us feel proud.”
Mirna has her father living in their home, and Lupe has his mom and dad in town, and that requires a lot of time, she said. They enjoy having their parents so near, but it is a challenge, because “We think about the business 24/7,” she said.
But despite this challenge, “We hope to keep La Hacienda open for another 15 years. We just want to work.” And they are thankful to own their own business.
Her mom and dad were in the food business as well.
“My daddy used to be a baker and my mama used to put a table out on the street and sell food, and I helped her,” she said.
One of their son helps care for her father, and another son, nephew, uncle, and daughter-in-law work with them in the restaurant.
Last month, the restaurant reopened on Sundays after a year-long break.
“We invite you to come and try, we cook with lots of love,” Mirna said.
The history of Mirna and Lupe is told on a page in their menu.
The “mom and pop” restaurant is open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Some lucky person will be the new owner of a brand new 2025 Ford F150 Platinum Edition SuperCrew 4 x 4 Truck—and the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation is hopeful the individual will be from Kansas. This is the agency’s twenty-fifth year for a raffle give-away. The event is a fund-raiser for the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation, a charitable organization that raises money to build homes for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) served by Tri-Valley Developmental Services in Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties.
“Everyone likes the idea that for a $50 donation they may win a brand-new truck.” Comments Tricia Campbell, Special Projects Coordinator. Entries in the drawing are limited to 3,000. “Those are pretty good odds; better than the lottery,” Campbell said.
The Friends of Tri-Valley purchased the truck from Steve Faulkner Ford in Chanute, KS.
“The truck is really luxurious, with lots of unique features,” Campbell said. “We are excited to be able to giveaway a truck that will last for years and bring so much enjoyment to its new owner.”
The lucky winner’s name will be drawn at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 20th, at the Foundation’s offices at 521 W. 35 Ch Pkwy, Chanute.
“Even though it only takes a second to pull the winner’s name, it’s always exciting,” Campbell said. “And it’s really fun when we call the winner to let them know!”
Proceeds from the annual drawing have helped the Friends of Tri-Valley build five houses and acquire ten homes and one duplex for individuals with developmental disabilities. The houses are located in Buffalo, Chanute, Fort Scott, Humboldt, Iola, Neodesha, and Moline and are “home” for 82 individuals served by Tri-Valley Developmental Services. The Foundation is licensed through the state for the annual raffle, license number RAF000005.
About two years ago, McKay moved to Fort Scott from Hutchinson and found he needed something to do with his time.
His son-in-law, Kale Nelson, had some chainsaw blades that needed sharpening, so McKay worked on them.
Nelson then told some of his friends about the service, and this turned into a new business, called Sharpen It.
He can sharpen “about anything with a blade”, McKay said. “Knives, chainsaws, lawnmowers, Dado… about anything, I have a sharpener for it.”
Before he retired in 2001, he was a refrigeration and air conditioning serviceman in Hutchinson. “Then I worked as a bus driver for Nickerson School District for 14 years before I moved here.”
Most people bring the items that need to be sharpened to his workshop at 738 Osbun, on Fort Scott’s northwest side of town.
“If I have to pick it up, I charge about $1, depending on how far I have to go,” he said.
His sharpening prices: $4-12 for knives, $6-12 for chainsaws, and $5 a piece for lawnmower blades.
“I always make sure that I charge a little cheaper than what’s normal,” he said.
“It might be a day or two out before I get to it,” he said.
However, he said he provides the added service of cleaning the blades before sharpening.
This week is McKay’s vacation, but you can text him at 620.960.6059 and leave a message with your phone number for him to call back.
McKay’s sharpening business, Sharpen It, is at his residence. Submitted photo.
The Queen’s Muse is being built adjacent to the Artificers, at 10 N. National Avenue. Construction items can be seen in front of the building project. The green space will be used for an outdoor event space in the future.
Trent and Kate Freeman finally have great weather to make progress on their newest project, called The Queen’s Muse.
A muse is a source of inspiration, according to the dictionary.
“The Artificers is in a ‘Queen Anne’ (style architecture) and we are building her muse. Hence, ‘The Queen’s Muse,'” Kate Freeman said.
“It’s to house our out-of-town artists,” she said. “Our artist’s respite, while here teaching a workshop and doing art shows. It will help our artists have a space close to stay (near their business) and hopefully attract more artists to Fort Scott with a place to stay as well as show their work.”
The building is an addition to the Artificers art gallery and teaching studio, at 8 N. National Avenue.
Currently, there is no designated completion date, she said.
“It will be two suites on the upper level, Airbnb, each with a bathroom. The lower level will be to cater out of and a bathroom, an event space.”
In front of that building will be an outdoor event space and a sculpture garden.
“We’ll have large, mixed-media pieces on concrete pads. The space will also be available for events such as a bridal shower or wine-tasting event.”
“We started to plan this after we acquired the land. It’s something awesome for the community and our business,” she said.
The Queen’s Muse will be an addition to the Artificers Gallery. Pictured are materials and the start of the build, May 29, 2025.
“We are proud to be supporting local and regional businesses every step of the way. Keeping our investment close to home is a priority, and we’re grateful to work with such talented peeps in our community,” she said. “Such as Redbud Nursery, Fort Scott-the plants and trees; Henry Witt Fabrications, Fort Scott- the sculpture garden gate; Red Logic, Mound City, the website; Ron Hurd Construction, Fort Scott, concrete work; Cedar Valley Metal, Garnett, materials; Gibson Construction, Paola is the builder/contractor.”
“And the Bourbon County Garden Club has helped design the garden area. They got together and plotted it all, for us.”
The Freemans received a $25,000 Kansas Tourism Attraction Development Grant in December 2024 that is helping to fund this newest project.
Kate and Trent Freeman, from the Artificer Facebook page.
About the Artificers
T.E. Freeman Studio, Trent and Kate’s art business, moved to Fort Scott during the COVID-19 Pandemic, from the Kansas City area.
“We bought the building in October 2022 and opened the art gallery in January 2023.”
In addition to the Artificers Gallery, in 2024, another business, Bourbon County Clay, was launched, utilizing clay extracted from the county for creations sold in the gallery.
Currently, they have a gallery assistant who helps with all three LLC businesses they own and an apprentice who helps with Kate’s Bourbon County Clay business.
Earlier this year, they were awarded the 2025 Kansas Governor’s Arts Award for Art in Business.
They initiated a First Friday event each month, where their gallery is open until 9 p.m. when they first opened. The First Friday event includes some artists’ openings.
“The City of Fort Scott is trying to get all the businesses on board to have more events on the first Friday of each month,” she said.
Photos from the Artificers Facebook page.
This First Friday, June 6, will feature Trent’s first show since opening in Fort Scott. He will be featuring outside mixed-media art sculptures, called luminaries.
Artist Roxi Hardegree, Texas, will be showing, selling, and teaching about her art medium, botanical arts, on June 6, as well.
The CEO Award winner is Grace Kramer, pictured with husband Larry. Submitted photo.
50th Anniversary Celebration Held
Tri-Valley Developmental Services celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 1st with a party and awards ceremony. The event was held during the afternoon at Central Park Pavilion in Chanute. 175 Attendees were treated to celebration cupcakes and punch as well as a travel mug celebrating Tri-Valley’s 50 years. The afternoon’s entertainment was Robbie Bell, who performed hits from the year 1975. Right before the awards ceremony, Bill Fiscus raised a glass to toast Tri-Valley’s past, present, and future.
Robbie Bell. Submitted photo.
Following the toast, the annual awards ceremony was held. Awards were given to individuals and organizations who actively support Tri-Valley in its mission to support our neighbors with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties.
Awards were presented to the following:
Business of the Year – Ruddick’s Furniture and Flooring, Fort Scott and C & H Lanes, Chanute
Ruddick’s Furniture, Business of the Year Award (pictured left to right: Anna Musselman, Josh Davenport, Terry Davenport, Cindy Davenport, Sheila Kelly, and TVDS Board Member Lindsay Madison). Submitted photo.
Achievement Awards – Koby Erie, Michael Mitchell, and Matthew Patch
Ed Bideau Advocacy Award – Jim Godinez
Masterson Family Award – Beth Ringwald
Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation Visionary Award – Mike Reid
