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.