Category Archives: Food

Chamber of Commerce Coffee Hosted by Tiny Greens and Herbs on August 29

Join us for Chamber Coffee!

Thursday, August 29th, 8am

Hosted by Tiny Greens & Herbs, LLC

Cherri Walrod, Owner

Chamber Coffee will be held in the back room of Common Ground Coffee Co.

12 E. Wall St.

Click here for the Tiny Greens Facebook page.

Click here for the Tiny Greens website.

_____________

Cherri can often be found at the Fort Scott Farmers’ Market which is held thru October, Tuesdays 4-6pm

Saturdays 8am-12pm

Gathering Square Pavilion, Downtown See more details & contact information on Tiny Greens & Herbs below!

Tiny Greens & Herbs, LLC. serves Bourbon County by providing year-round access to locally grown nutrient-packed wellness food. After the Walrod family experienced physical and mental health challenges a few years ago, they were looking for a way to increase nutrients in their diet while reducing exposure to toxic chemicals. Tiny Greens & Herbs, LLC. was born out of the need for their family to have year-round access to nutrient dense produce which is free of pesticides and herbicides.

The Walrod’s envisioned starting a small family business so their special needs children could learn to work, acquire transferable job skills and appreciate meaningful gainful employment. One of their goals is for their young children to be able to learn the business as they work towards a more independent life. Growing nutritious, toxin-free food for their family and their community, while also teaching their children the value of work is a triple-play win in their book. They feel the micro-greens taste amazing and invite everyone to come learn more and have samples this Thursday!

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com

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The Kitchen C & C, Fort Scott, Awarded KS Department of Agriculture Grant

Governor Kelly Announces $5.6M to
Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that $5.6 million has been awarded for 49 projects to strengthen the middle of Kansas’ food supply chain.

“Kansas’ central location and abundant agriculture production are critical to the nation’s food supply chain,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By investing in our producers and businesses in this sector, we are strengthening economic growth across the state.”

Through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program, administered by the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), eight grants will improve producers’ infrastructure. The other 41 will strengthen the middle of the state’s food supply chain operations.

The projects selected for funding were informed by engagement and outreach with underserved producers to understand the needs of the agriculture supply chain.

“These grants will help Kansas food and farm businesses and other eligible organizations create diverse local and regional market options and more economic opportunities for our Kansas communities,” said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “With this financial support, we will see improvements across the middle of our state’s food supply chain, including increased food processing infrastructure, producer aggregation points, and product storage.”

“Projects funded through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program are building strength and resilience in Kansas’ food system, diversifying agricultural markets, creating new revenue streams for small and mid-sized producers, and providing economic opportunities for local communities,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “USDA is grateful for Kansas’ support strengthening local and regional agricultural supply chains.”

This awarded funding is part of the $420 million available through the federal American Rescue Plan.

A complete list of the 49 projects can be found here.

Click here for more information about the RFSI program at KDA.

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Old Settlers Picnic Weekend: Something For Everyone

The 119th Annual Old Settlers Picnic is this weekend, starting on Friday evening  with a street dance and continuing to the recognition of old settlers to the community on Monday afternoon.
The parade is on Monday,  with the Marilyn Holt family as the grand marshalls.
 The following information was provided by Sara Roufs, president of the Old Settler’s Picnic Committee.
Friday, August 30
To kick off the weekend, there will be a street dance on Friday evening with live music by No Bad Vibes.
Saturday, August 31
“The 5K Run/Walk will now be in Uniontown as well as the kid’s fishing derby so the town will be bustling and we are inviting the community to have a yard sale if they wish,” said Sara Roufs. “It would be a great chance to make some spending cash for Monday where there will be a variety of food and craft vendors available.
Sunday, September 1
There will be the traditional community church service in the park on Sunday at 10 a.m. starting with a coffee, milk and donuts social. This annual event is a collaboration of the First Missionary Baptist Church and Uniontown Methodist Church.
“Everyone really enjoyed bingo last year, so we will start that earlier on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Prizes have been donated by local businesses.”
Sally Johnson will be facilitating the bingo game and it will be at the southeast pavilion in the town’s square.
The grand opening of the new pickleball court will be at 5:30 p.m. at the new court on the south side of the town square park.
The new Uniontown Pickleball Court.
Family Fun Night will begin at 6 p.m. at the park and will also include the kids’ games normally played on Monday. The youth rodeo also begins at 6 p.m. on Sunday.”
Monday, September 2
“The car show will be held at the southeast side of the square starting at 9 a.m. so be sure to check out the amazing vehicles and grab some breakfast before the parade begins.”
“New this year for the car show, Dale Jackson’s family will be judging and picking their top 20 favorite vehicles and top 5 favorite motorcycles and overall best of show. Spectators are invited to vote for their favorite as well. Trophies will be awarded by the family at 1:00.”
Food and craft vendors will mainly be lined up on the north street this year to make room in the park for everyone to stay and enjoy the day.”
“Bring a lawn chair or lay a blanket out on the grass. We will have live music throughout the day performed by Holly Crays and cash prizes, raffle drawings and contests.”
Bring a lawnchair and stay awhile. 2022 Old Settler’s Picnic photo.
“We will have a baby parade at noon at the gazebo where they can introduce and show off their little ones. All babies that register for the baby parade will be entered to win a prize.”
“We will once again be having free kids carnival games in the northwest corner of the park starting at noon. The Old Settlers Committee has purchased prizes with donations from our generous sponsors to provide free fun for the kids to replace the bounce houses they were allowed to have in the past. Starting last year, the city council now requires that we purchase a special event policy to cover all the weekend events and our policy will not cover bounce houses. The carnival games are a great replacement and we are really excited to send the kids home with some fun prizes.”
Parade
“All kids are welcome to be in the children’s parade at 10:30. Ride a bike, wear a costume or just walk for fun. Line up at the fire station at 10:15.
The parade will start at 11 a.m.
The grand marshall of the 2024 parade is Marilyn Holt and her family. Community members are selected to be honored to lead the parade each year.
“Entries for the main parade will line up starting at 10 a.m. at the football field. We hope every club, organization, business, etc will participate. Our parade theme this year is “It’s a family tradition” and we will have a family float category so we hope to see some families join the parade. There will be cash prizes for the top floats.”
All area families, clubs, organizations, teams, churches and businesses are invited to be a part of the parade. First place prize for a float is $100, 2nd place is $75 and 3rd place is $50.
Kids Sign Up To Win a New Bike
“New this year too, all kids in attendance will be able to sign up (for free) at the Old Settlers tent to win a free bike! We will have multiple bikes to give away, which were paid for by raffle ticket sales this year. Mary Pillion has done an amazing job organizing and selling raffle tickets to make this happen.”
“As the treasurer, she keeps meticulous records and devotes a great amount of time to fundraising and contacting our sponsors. We have an entire circle of people volunteering time or making donations. There are far too many to mention individually but we want to thank everyone who has contributed to this and kept this community tradition going since 1905.”
“We hope to have another great year!” Roufs said.

2024 Artwalk on Sept. 6 at Crooner’s Restaurant

Join us

Friday, September 6th

BOURBON COUNTY

ARTS COUNCIL

2024 ART WALK

Please take this opportunity to SUPPORT local and regional artists!

Hope to see you there!

Crooner’s Patio

113 S. Main Street

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

If you have any questions, please contact

Deb Anderson 620.224.8650

Terri Floyd 620.224.7221

ClickHERE to visit our Facebook Page
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US

Experience A Tea Club Tasting Today with MMM Flavor Shop

Submitted graphic.

Mmm Flavor Shop owner Emelia Whiteaker is hosting the business’s first Tea Club Tea Party today, Wednesday, August 21st at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Papa Don’s Pizza, 10 North Main in Fort Scott.

“This is the inaugural meeting of the Tea Club,” Whiteaker said. “I started selling herbs and spices in 2021 when a major health diagnosis was made in the family.”

“The Tea Club is a way to bring interested individuals together to learn, socialize, and experience what is out there beyond the box stores, supplement companies, and mass-produced products.”

 

Submitted graphic.

“This month’s Tea Club Tea Party theme is Iced Teas,” she said. “There will be four loose-leaf teas made as iced tea to sample for free. Everyone is invited to come try tea, ask questions, or just socialize with friends.”

“The health benefits of eating truly natural nutrients in herbs and spices are well documented,” she said. “I added a variety of loose-leaf teas for the same reason. Most of the teas we have offer a wide variety of health benefits along with a delicious taste.”

“This summer we added specialty kinds of rice that have an increase in nutrients due to where they are grown.”

“I have spent hours talking to our suppliers on the phone to make sure the products available are high quality and full of nutrients that the body recognizes and absorbs better. Our suppliers can tell me the exact farm and farmer that each item comes from.”

“I am always researching and taking continuing education courses on nutrition,” she said. “This allows me to continue to work to bring tasty, nutritious ingredients to our rural area.”

She said the business sells its products at vendor’s shows and direct ordering through them.

Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091059316445

 

Free Food Distribution on August 17 by Family Life Assembly Of God Church

 

Fort Scott Middle School, 1105 E. 12th.
Family Life Assembly of God Church is partnering with Convoy of Hope in Springfield, Missouri to distribute non-perishable food to the community.
The distribution will be at Fort Scott Middle School on Saturday, August 17 starting at 10 a.m.
“We know that as school starts a lot of families are really struggling with buying school supplies, school clothes, and a grocery bill. This is just a small way we can help be the hands and feet of Jesus,” said Pastor Justin Eichenberger.
 Eichenberger, 26, is the new pastor at Family Life Assembly of God Church in Fort Scott, since October 1, 2023 .
Eichenberger said ” I believe Jesus has called me to care for people.”
For Eichenberger, the best thing about being a pastor is “Seeing God move in people’s hearts and lives.”
This church is a satellite of FamilyLife Assembly of God (FLAG), Pittsburg, Kansas.

“We meet on Sunday mornings at 10 am in Fort Scott Middle School-1105 E 12th Street,” he said.

To contact the pastor:
Pastor Justin Eichenberger
620-232-3524

REDI Gala Is August 3

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Bourbon County REDI…..

You are cordially invited to the

2nd Annual Bourbon County REDI Gala

featuring Right on Red, a variety band from Kansas City

Saturday, August 3rd, 2024

Liberty Theatre

113 S. Main St.

Fort Scott, Kansas 66701

6:30pm

Cash Bar, Dinner, & Live Auction

$50 single ticket

$375 reserved table of 8

Suggested cocktail attire, theme is an “End of Summer Soiree”, suggested colors: purple, blue, and other floral shades.

Attention All Swifties!

Enter for a chance to win a Taylor Swift Hand-Signed Acoustic Guitar!

Tickets are $20/each or $100/for 6.

(Winner does NOT have to be present to win)

All proceeds go to the Bourbon County REDI Scholarship Fund!

Click here to purchase tickets or call 620.215.3546

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 

Ongoing Revitalization of 110 S. Main Has Target of Fall Completion

Kathy and Tracy Dancer own the former Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main. Submitted photo.
The former Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main, is in a constant stage of revitalization.
Kathy and Tracy Dancer, who purchased the building at a public auction, plan an “ongoing effort to revitalize the building and increase the useable commercial space.  We also want to improve the energy efficiency of the building.”
Terry and Kathy Dancer. Stock photo.
The work will be a combination of restoration and renovation.
“The first project is new signage for the front of the building,” she said.  “We will be removing the blue plastic lettering designating the building as the Scottish Rite Temple and replacing it with a new sign for the cafe and retail store.  We are also installing a new ceiling and lighting in the south half of the building.”
The ceiling is being replaced in the south half of the building. . Submitted photo.
“Because the building is part of the historic district, we are working with the Fort Scott Design Review Board,” she said.  “Any changes to the exterior of a building in the historic district including painting, windows, and signage must go through the Design Review Board.  They have been very helpful during this process and a great source of feedback for our plans.”
Completed mural in the south side of the building by local artist Rudy.Castillo. Submitted photo.
New windows, heating, and air conditioning are coming.
“Next, we will be installing glass windows in archways to restore the storefront appearance,” she said.  “The new windows mean you will be able to see into the cafe and retail store if you are walking or driving down Main Street.”
” We are also adding several new HVAC…  Once HVAC is installed, we will be moving and expanding our retail store into the south portion of the building.  Moving the retail store to the south side of the building will more than double the amount of space we have for the Mercantile and Market store.  The additional space will allow us to add new vendors and craftspeople to the retail store.”
“New HVAC will also be installed for the Speak Easy space we created on the second floor,” she said.  “This will allow us to operate the Speak Easy year round.”
Speakeasy was a term used during Prohibition for drinking establishments and illegal bars,  Dancer said in a prior interview. “They were usually hidden away in a building and sometimes you needed a password to be allowed to enter. Fort Scott had several speakeasies including The Green Lantern, operated by J.D. McClintock.”
On the horizon
“The Speak Easy will reopen in the Fall after we have installed new HVAC.  We plan on being open  two evenings a week for cocktails and light food.  We had an excellent response to our soft opening in the Spring so we are really excited to reopen on a regular basis.  While we wait for reopen, we have been working on the cocktail menu and working with suppliers to provide additional Kansas made wines, beers, and spirits.”
“We will also be hosting another Murder Mystery Dinner in October.  The dinner we hosted this past spring sold out quickly and was very well received.  Tickets for the October show will be available in mid-August.”
 
They are in the process of applying for grants focused on energy efficiency to defray the cost of adding HVAC and energy efficient windows and lighting.
“We might need to adjust the scope of some of the work based on the grant amounts, but we still plan on completing these projects,” she said.
” The new ceiling and lighting for the south half of the building has already started,” she said. “New sign letters for the front of the building have been ordered and should be ready for installation in August.  The HVAC and storefront will take a bit longer since we will be ordering equipment and materials for these projects.”
“We hope to have the work completed by late Fall this year,” Dancer said.
“Our other BIG project is the distillery.  We are in the final stages of the Federal licensing process to open the distillery and then we will file for state licensing.  We do not have a projected opening date yet but we hope to be in production by the end of this year.”
Artist rendition of the new sign at 110 S. Main. Submitted photo.

End of Summer Craft Event on Saturday July 27

Fort Scott River Room, 3 W. Oak St., is the site of a Second Annual End of Summer  Craft Creations event on July 27 from 10 a.m .to 4 p.m.

 

Food, Drinks, Crafts are offered for sale.

 

“We will have tees, hats, purses, wallets, trendy bags, bookmarks, keychains, pens, keychains, lanyards, scarfs, crochet baby booties, scrubbies, ponchos, wooden crafts,” said Cathy Bishop, event coordinator.

“Brick Street will have food and drinks available upstairs and off of their menu.”

“The bake sale is a fundraiser for the High School Volleyball Team selling all sorts of goodies.”

Vendors are still being accepted.

 

Cathy Bishop is the events coordinator at the River Room Event Center. Submitted photo.

For more info

Email:  [email protected]

620.224.8289

Care to Share Golf Tournament: Golf, Auction, Raffle, Live Music on July 27

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Care to Share “The Sharing Bucket”…

Join Care to Share for a fun filled day while supporting your favorite golfer and Care to Share THIS Saturday, July 27th starting at 7am!

*A Community Smashburger lunch & Brickstreet BBQ Dinner, both requesting a freewill donation!

*Silent and Live Auction Items

*50/50 Raffle

*Live music featuring Vic Vaughan & Souled Out, 6-9pm.

If you like to golf, eat, drink, dance or just want to support Care to Share–this event is FOR YOU!

First round of the tournament starts at 7am, with the second round starting at 1pm!

If you can’t make it and want to donate–click here!

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 

HBCAT Receives Grant To Help With Food Insecurity

 

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is located at 104 N. National Avenue, Fort Scott.

Last month, the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) received a $55,000 grant per year over three years to help with food insecurity in Bourbon County.

Rachel Carpenter. Submitted photo.
“We will first need to develop a strategic plan by identifying the gaps within our local food system,” Rachel Carpenter, Executive Director of the HBCAT said. “We will be organizing a Food Summit within the next year where citizens can voice their needs. We also will leverage our partnerships and community members in our coalition, Local Health Equity Action Team, to implement any community changes. This grant also opens up opportunities to network with leaders addressing food insecurity across the State.”
She can be reached at 620-215-2562.
HBCAT is one of eight Kansas community coalitions to be funded to help launch a food secure initiative.
Consistent access to healthy food is important for children to thrive and part of the mission is to address food insecurity.

On June 4, the Kansas Food Action Network, a program of KC Healthy Kids,  announced the launch of the Food Secure Communities Initiative, which aims to end hunger in Kansas by addressing the policy, systems, and environmental barriers to food security, also known as “root causes., according to a press release.

The Food Secure Communities Initiative will put results in the hands of community members who are uniquely positioned to understand and address the root causes of food insecurity in their community, according to the release.

Kansas Food Action Network unveiled eight Kansas health and wellness coalitions selected as inaugural members of the Food Secure Communities Initiative. Each member will receive funding of $55,000 per year over three years, plus peer networking and strategic assistance.

Food Secure Communities Initiative Members

  • Bourbon County (Healthy Bourbon County Action Team)
  • Thomas County Thomas County Coalition)
  • Cowley County (RISE Cowley)
  • Harvey County (Healthy Harvey Coalition)
  • Lyon County (Healthier Lyon County)
  • Sedgwick County (Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita)
  • Seward County (Liberal Area Coalition for Families)
  • Shawnee County (LiveWell Shawnee County)

The initiative will share best practices, resources, and strategies to advance food security at the local level.

The grant is from the Kansas Health Foundation and United Methodist Health Ministries Fund.

About Healthy Bourbon County Action Team

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s mission is to increase access to healthy food and physical activity, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life and encourage economic growth. The problems of health inequity and social injustice are complex in nature and inextricably linked to key economic indicators. A healthy workforce is a prerequisite for economic success in any industry and in all cities, according to its website.

About KC Healthy Kids
Founded in 2005, KC Healthy Kids is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit dedicated to addressing the physical and mental health challenges impacting children in the Greater Kansas City area, including western Missouri and all of Kansas. Through food policy and local food initiatives, mental health support, and active community initiatives or advocacy, KC Healthy Kids and their partners promote health for thousands of local kids and their families. Find out
more at www.kchealthykids.org.

About Kansas Food Action Network
Kansas Food Action Network, a program of KC Healthy Kids, is committed to creating a Kansas where all residents have dependable access to food for an active, healthy and productive life. The network supports communities as they identify and address local food system priorities by offering support, resources and partnerships. As a result of their efforts, an estimated 73% of Kansans are represented by a local food council, the highest per capita rate in the United States.

Brickstreet BBQ Hosts Americas Best Restaurants TV Program on July 1: Join The Fun

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Brickstreet BBQ…

Join Brickstreet BBQ for an EXCLUSIVE event where they host America’s Best Restaurants!

They will be open for a full service lunch on Monday July 1st from 11am-2pm, so stop in for your chance to be on tv!

Monday, July 1st, 2024

3 W. Oak St.

11am-2pm

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US