Fun in the Sun—But Stay Safe!

Enjoying time outdoors is important for our health and well-being, but it’s just as important to protect your skin while you’re at it. Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, and the statistics are eye-opening: 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. It affects people of all ages, skin tones, and genders. Melanoma, the most dangerous form, claims the lives of nearly 20 Americans every day.

Whether you’re working or playing outside, make sun safety part of your daily routine to reduce the risk of skin damage, premature aging, and skin cancer.

Sunscreen Tips

• Choose broad spectrum, water resistant 30 SPF sunscreen. Broad spectrum sunscreen will help protect from UVB and UVA rays. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) indicates how well a sunscreen protects against sunburn.
• Do not use expired sunscreen. If you’re using enough sunscreen daily and when in the sun, you should not have any trouble utilizing a tube or can before it has expired.
• Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas. Focus on the face, nose, ears, shoulders, feet, hands, back, arms, and even the back of your knees. Wide brimmed hats are encouraged, but if you’re not wearing a hat, be sure to apply sunscreen to your scalp.
• Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. It takes time for your skin to absorb the sunscreen to protect you.
• Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours. When swimming, sweating, or drying off with a towel, apply more often. With each application, use at least a golf ball-sized amount.
• Thoroughly rub in spray sunscreen. Simply spraying sunscreen on your body is not enough to ensure protection. Spray the sunscreen onto the body, out of wind, and rub in. Avoid inhaling spray sunscreen and do not spray the sunscreen near your face and mouth. Spray the sunscreen into your palm, then apply it to your face and ears.

Early Detection is Key for Skin Cancer

You know your body best. By examining your skin monthly, and looking for anything new or unusual, you can catch potentially dangerous conditions when they are still treatable. When performing a full-body monthly self-exam, face the mirror and check your face, ears, neck, under breasts, chest, and belly. Check your underarms, both sides of your arms, tops and palms of hands, in between fingers, and under your fingernails. Utilize a hand mirror to look at hard to see portions of your body. Wrap up your monthly self-exam by using a comb to part your hair to check your scalp. The American Cancer Society recommends specifically looking for:

• New, growing, or changing growth, a spot, or bump on the skin;
• A sore that bleeds and/or doesn’t heal after several weeks;
• Rough or scaly red patches which may crust or bleed;
• Wart-like growths;
• A mole (or other spot on the skin) that’s new or changing in size, shape, or color;
• A mole with an odd shape, irregular borders, or areas of different colors.

Next Steps

• Perform a monthly self-examination and look for anything on your skin. Schedule an appointment and visit your doctor or dermatologist immediately if you notice anything new, changing, or unusual on your skin.
• Schedule your annual skin cancer check.
• Purchase or locate broad-spectrum sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, UV sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirts and pants and utilize when outdoors.
• Brainstorm how you can increase skin protection in your community. Does your local daycare or grade school have adequate shade or policies in place that encourage hats and sunscreen to be worn when youth are outdoors?

Information for this article comes from K-State Extension’s Protect Your Skin from the Sun Fact Sheet. For more information contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], 620-244-3826.

Amanda Clasen- Community Vitality Agent

July 2025

Summer break is and can be full of opportunities for our kids: Sports, vacations, sleeping in, and a break from the school routine. But it’s also the perfect time to teach youth real-life lessons that often get overlooked during the busy school year, like how to manage money.

From lemonade stands to lawn mowing gigs, summer offers an abundance of ways for kids and teens to earn and spend their own money. That means parents, caregivers, and educators have a golden opportunity to help youth learn budgeting basics and develop lifelong financial habits.

Money management doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small with conversations about saving, spending, and sharing. Help young children divide their allowance into jars labeled “Save,” “Spend,” and “Give.” This visual approach teaches them that money has purpose and that not all of it is meant to be spent right away.

Older youth and teens can take it a step further by setting savings goals. Whether they want a new pair of shoes, a bike, or to start saving for college, having a goal in mind makes budgeting more meaningful. Try having them track their spending for one week or one month; the results might surprise both you and them!

Summer also brings real-world financial decisions: Will they buy ice cream every time the truck comes around, or save for something bigger? Can they stick to a budget at the county fair or amusement park? These small, everyday choices offer excellent teaching moments along with responsibility.

Teaching children to handle money doesn’t need to be difficult. It just takes a little time, patience, and practice. When youth learn to make smart money choices now, they’re better prepared for the financial responsibilities that come with adulthood.

So, this summer, skip the lecture and go for the lesson in the form of a lemonade stand, a school shopping plan, or a savings challenge. “Sweet savings” today can lead to even sweeter financial success tomorrow.

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

Gardens are growing, and more will be planted. Now is the time to prepare for preserving your harvest. It starts with equipment and recipes.

Jams and jellies, pickles, many fruits and most tomato products can be safely canned in a water bath canner. This is a large stock pot with a lid and a rack to keep the jars off the bottom of the pot. Make sure it’s the right kind of pot for the type of burners on your stove top. The pot must be tall enough so when jars are added the water covers the top of the jars by 1-2 inches. Learn more about water bath canning and also steam canning in the How-to Guide to Water Bath Canning and Steam Canning at this website: https://bit.ly/SouthwindPreserving

Pressure canning is required for all plain vegetables and meats. There are no instructions to water bath these foods. Stovetop pressure canners are the standard, and if you have dial gauge canner from Presto, National, Maid of Honor, or Magic Seal, our Southwind Extension offices can test the gauge for accuracy. We do not test All American canner gauges.

Use recipes that have been researched. The testing and research behind these recipes will get you on the right path to success. If you have your own favorite recipe, eat it fresh or freeze it for later use. More information on canning, freezing and dehydrating can be found on the Preserve it Fresh, Preserve it Safe website at https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/.

The Southwind District is planning to host a canning workshop this fall—stay tuned for updates by following us on Facebook! There are many ways to preserve food, and we’re here to help you do it safely and confidently. For more information, contact Sandy Haggard at [email protected] or 620-365-2242.

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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

June is National Homeownership Month! Homeownership plays a vital role in our economy and can help build individual wealth, promote community stability, and improve overall health. But like any investment, a home requires regular maintenance to keep it in good shape.

As we enter the summer months, here are a few maintenance tips to keep your home in top condition:

Indoor Maintenance Tips:

• Ensure windows and doors open and close smoothly.
• Replace your air conditioner filter.
• Test ceiling fans for proper operation.
• Clean dryer vents and screens.
• Check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Look for signs of leaks around windows and door sills.

Outdoor Maintenance Tips:

• Confirm water drains away from the house.
• Clean gutters and downspouts.
• Inspect shingles for damage or signs of leaks.
• Service your air conditioning unit before the heat hits.
• Check for peeling paint and make touch-ups as needed.

By addressing maintenance issues early, you can help prevent costly repairs down the road.

For a more detailed list, visit the National Center for Healthy Housing website for a spring and fall maintenance checklist and click on Healthy Homes Maintenance Checklist.

This article was written by Rodney Denholm, Chisholm Trail District Agent.  If you found this article useful, take a moment and provide feedback at https://bit.ly/49SMXra.  For more information contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], 620-244-3826.

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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

As the days grow longer and the sun warms our sidewalks, there’s a familiar buzz in the air: summer is here, and with it comes opportunity.

It’s more than just a season—it’s a moment when our community shines its brightest. The farmers’ market hums with local produce. Sidewalk cafes fill with neighbors and newcomers alike. Downtown shops welcome foot traffic that brings stories, laughter, and support.

Summer tourism may feel like a visitor’s game, but it’s actually a community team effort. Every family that stops at the splash pad, every couple who books a B&B or grabs ice cream on Main Street—they’re more than tourists. They’re economic partners. When we support and promote local attractions, events, and businesses, we strengthen the very heartbeat of our town.

Whether you’ve lived here for decades or just moved in, you’re part of the hospitality that makes this place unforgettable. It starts with simple things:

• Sharing upcoming events on social media.
• Encouraging friends to attend the weekend music series or art walk.
• Choosing local vendors when planning a summer barbecue or birthday party.

Behind every storefront is a family, a dream, and often a neighbor. And in many cases, summer makes the difference between making it and closing up shop.

It’s easy to overlook the hidden gems in our own backyard. When someone asks for local events or places to visit, we often draw a blank—not because they aren’t there, but because we’ve grown so used to them. Need a reminder? Here are 5 simple ways to support locals this summer:

1. Shop the Farmers’ Market
   Buy fresh produce, handmade goods, and baked treats from local growers and artisans. Every dollar stays in the community!
2. Dine Local (and Post It!)
   Eat at family-owned restaurants, food trucks, or cafes—and tag them on social media to help spread the word.
3. Bring Guests Downtown
   Hosting out-of-town friends? Take them on a tour of Main Street, local parks, or community festivals.
4. Attend Local Events
   Music in the park, library programs, art walks, and small-town parades all thrive with your presence and participation.
5. Leave Reviews & Say Thanks
   A kind word goes a long way—online or in person. Leave a 5-star review for a local shop or just tell them you appreciate what they do.

This summer, let’s not just welcome visitors—let’s also rediscover the charm of our own backyard. Your support matters. Your presence matters. And together, we can ensure this season brings prosperity not just for a few weekends—but for the year ahead.

For more information, please contact Community Vitality Agent Amanda Clasen at any Southwind District office.

Bagworms are a yearly pest in our area and can cause considerable damage. Most homeowners typically don’t get too concerned about bagworm control until they see large bags present on plants. By then it is too late and the damage is already done! The window of opportunity for optimum control is approaching.

Bagworms overwinter as eggs deposited in the female bags. From mid-May through mid-June, larvae hatch from the eggs and exit from the bottom opening of the old bag. Larvae begin constructing their miniature silk-lined bags immediately. Only after the bags have been completed do the larvae begin actual feeding activities. And as the larvae grow, so do their bags. By mid-to late August when feeding activities are complete, larvae firmly anchor their bags to the twigs and branches on which they were feeding.

Bagworms are most commonly found on eastern red cedar and junipers. However, bagworms can attack arborvitae, spruce and pine. Broadleaf trees, shrubs and ornamentals can also serve as a host to bagworms. After bagworms have defoliated a host plant, they are capable of migrating in search of additional food sources. They may attack the same species from which they came or a completely different species.

The damage caused by bagworm feeding can be minimal to severe. As larvae enter their later development stages, they require greater amounts of food. Sometimes in what seems to be just overnight, bagworms can completely defoliate a tree. Several successive years of heavy foliar feeding can result in the death a tree, especially with conifers.

There are two ways to control bagworms – cultural and chemical. Cultural practice is used by those who do not want to utilize insecticidal sprays to control bagworms.  Instead, bagworms are eliminated by handpicking individual bags from plants. This is best done in the winter months when bags stand out against a trees background color.  Keep in mind that a single missed bag could result in a thousand new bagworm larvae. Of course, handpicking becomes impractical when a host is literally covered with bags or it is too tall to make handpicking possible.

Chemical control is most effective when larvae are in their early developmental stages. Generally, bagworm larvae will begin emerging from the overwintering bag by mid-to late May. Hatching does not happen overnight. Instead, hatching can continue for 4 to 5 weeks. Controls applied in late summer are often a waste of time and expense because the larvae are large, tough and may have stopped feeding. About the third week of June is the ideal time to make insecticidal control.

Insecticides commonly used to control bagworms include spinosad, acephate, cyfluthrin, or permethrin. These are sold under a variety of trade names. Check the product label for active ingredients.

For more information on bagworm control, please contact me at one of our Southwind Extension District office locations.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Horticulture agent assigned to Southwind District.  She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Soybean planting is well underway in Kansas with 43% planted, based on the USDA-NASS Crop Progress and Condition Report from May 19, 2024. However, heavy rainfall has occurred in many locations across the eastern half of Kansas, with some fields underwater and others with completely saturated soil. If you have been fortunate to get some early soybeans planted here are things to remember.

Wet soil conditions will slow emergence, make the soil more susceptible to compaction (limiting root growth), and cause poor plant-to-plant uniformity after emergence.

Sidewall compaction occurs when soybeans are planted when the soil is too wet, immediately followed by dry weather.

Soil surface crusting is another potential challenge for soybean emergence.

If soybean plants are submerged for less than 48 hours, there is a good chance they will survive. Plants can survive underwater longer in cool temperatures than in warm temperatures. Submerged soybean plants can survive for up to 7 days when temperatures are less than 80 degrees F.

To determine whether the soybeans are damaged after the water recedes, split the stem at the tip and examine the growing point. A healthy growing point will be firm and white or cream-colored. A soft, dark growing point indicates injury. In some cases, the silt coating the plant after short-term flooding can cause more injury than the water itself, possibly even plant death.

Even if the fields do not have standing water, and plants are not totally submerged, waterlogged soils can cause problems if the waterlogging lasts too long.

When soils are saturated for a prolonged period, a lack of oxygen in the roots can lead to the accumulation of lactic acid and other products of anaerobic respiration. This is the underlying cause of damage to plants in waterlogged soils where only the roots are flooded.

Injury can depend on variety, growth stage, duration of waterlogging, soil texture, fertility levels, and diseases present.

Interactions of these factors make it hard to predict how a given soybean field will react to waterlogged soils. Variety differences have been reported, and researchers have identified possible genes associated with tolerance to waterlogged conditions.

Scientists in Missouri have screened a number of soybean varieties, subjecting them to two periods of flooding, each two weeks in duration. The average yield reduction for all varieties was 61%. Yields were reduced by 39% for the most tolerant varieties and 77% for the least tolerant. Producers should check with their seed supplier regarding information about a particular variety.

As always if you are noticing issues in your fields feel free to contact me through your local K-State Extension Office to set up a consultation and field visit to asses and try and alleviate the problem.

If needed, I will work with you to send photos of the problem (close-up, seedling, field shot) and plant samples to the K-State Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab.

Lonnie Mengarelli is a K-State Research and Extension Agriculture agent assigned to Southwind District. He may be reached at [email protected] or 620-223-3720

Tina Sullivan, Northeast Area Agronomist
[email protected]

Rodrigo Onofre, Plant Pathology
[email protected]

Chandler Day, Associate Diagnostician, Plant Pathology
[email protected]

Do you have to clear a spot just to sit down? Always searching for lost items? Tired of being the family’s go-to picker-upper? You’re not alone. Clutter creeps in from every corner of the home—but the good news is, you can take control.

Getting Started
Set aside a few days for big cleanups. In each room, start in one spot and move clockwise. Use boxes to sort items into: Keep, Store, Give Away/Sell, and Throw Away.

• Keep Box
  Put items back where they belong. Group similar things and create ‘centers’ for tasks like cooking, cleaning, or hobbies.
• Storage Box
  Label items clearly, including names and seasons (e.g., “Sarah’s Winter Clothes”). Use vacuum bags to save space.
• Give Away/Sell Box
  Donate gently used items to charities (call first). Sell items online or at consignment shops.
• Throw Away Box
  Toss anything broken, worn, or stained. Use a trash bag or can, and consider a trip to the landfill or recycling center if needed.
• Remember the One Touch Rule
  Touch things once—like mail. Sort immediately into pay, file, or trash to avoid clutter buildup.

Closet Organization Tips

• Declutter: Turn hangers backward. Flip them after wearing an item. After a few months, donate or store what you haven’t worn. Things to toss now:  Anything with a stain, hole, or tear; worn-out purses and shoes; outdated clothing or accessories; ratty weekend clothes; clothing that does not fit.
• Space Matters: Leave 2–3 inches between clothes to prevent odor, mold, and pests.
• Smart Choices: Pick mix-and-match clothing in a consistent color scheme. Dark, solid bottoms and classic pieces save space and money.
• Hang It Up: Use hooks, shelves, baskets, and hangers to keep everything visible and off the floor.
• Creative Storage: Try clear bins, vertical folding, and DIY solutions like shower curtain rings for accessories.
• Use All Space: Store out-of-season clothes under beds, in other closets, or above doors. Measure your space before buying storage systems.

Tips to Maintain a Clutter Free Home

• Everyone needs to do a little bit every day.
• It is everyone’s job to keep items picked up and put away.
• Tasks need to be appropriate for age and abilities.
• Share your ideas and expectations of what is expected and acceptable.

This article was adapted from the fact sheet Cut the Clutter and Get Organized.  For more information contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], 620-244-3826.

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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

The month of May marks Small Business Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the powerful role small businesses play in our communities and our economy. While they may be “small” in size, their impact is anything but.

Across the country, small businesses account for nearly half of all private-sector jobs. They’re run by our neighbors, friends, and family members—the people who know us by name, remember our usual orders, and go the extra mile to serve. But behind every small business is a story of hard work, risk, and perseverance. Entrepreneurs invest time, energy, and resources—not to mention heart—into their dreams. Many wear multiple hats, juggle uncertain finances, and navigate ever-changing market demands. And still, they show up every day to keep their doors open, often with a smile.

This month is an opportunity for all of us to say thank you. We can do that by choosing to shop local, spread the word about our favorite businesses, or even leave a positive review online. These seemingly small actions add up and can make a world of difference.

If you’re a small business owner—or thinking about becoming one—there are excellent local resources available to help you succeed:

• Your Local Chamber of Commerce
  Offers networking opportunities, business education workshops, and promotional support.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pittsburg State University
  Provides free business consulting, startup assistance, and help with business plans and funding. Our local SBDC is housed at Pittsburg State University with branches located across Southeast Kansas. If you are considering starting a small business, I encourage you to start with a conversation with SBDA.
• Network Kansas
  Connects businesses with grants, loans, and local incentives designed to foster growth. Network Kansas collaborates with communities, support organizations, and local leaders to drive economic development. They offer a variety of loan options to support entrepreneurs as they begin or expand their business journey.

Whether you’re launching a new venture or growing an existing one, these resources are here to help—and they’re just a phone call or a click away.

As we celebrate Small Business Month, let’s remember that when we support small, we strengthen all. The success of local businesses is closely tied to the well-being of our communities. Let’s continue to invest in that success—not just in May, but all year long!

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