KANSAS! Magazine Issue No. 3 2025

2025 | vol 81 | issue 3 | kansasmag.com

Our Wild Kansas Landscapes

SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! Celebrate the season in Topeka! Enjoy Fiesta Topeka in July with live music, delicious food, and a vibrant parade.

Explore The Topeka Zoo for exciting exhibits and up-close animal encounters. Plus, don’t miss the Kansas Museum of History’s grand reopening, featuring all-new immersive exhibits!

There’s something for everyone this summer in #TopCity!

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VISITTOPEKA.COM

Home of the Last Remaining Lockheed Electra 10-E Explore interactive STEM and history exhibits! www.AmeliaEarhartHangarMuseum.org

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WHAT’S INSIDE /

featured

featured stories

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Kansas From Above One filmmaker uses drone photography to capture the beauty of the Kansas landscape from a new perspective

46 PHOTO Nick Abt

Wildflower Walks Treks through the Flint Hills let visitors reconnect with nature

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Welcome to Manhattan!

Our city is brimming with charm, innovation, hospitality, and recreation.

Explore our beautiful parks and trails. Experience our bustling Downtown and Aggieville districts. Partake in our unique dining and shopping opportunities.

Delight in discovering our Museum of Art + Light, a cutting-edge addition to our cultural scene.

WHAT’S INSIDE /

departments

kansas DETAILS

10

80 Years

A Look Back at How

KANSAS! Covered Kansas

12

Air

14

Cuisine

16

Heartland

18

Culture

The Freshness of Outdoor Life

Fine Food and Good Eats

People and Places That Define Us

Arts and Experiences

the Scenes 20 Behind A Conversation With KANSAS! Contributors

22 Captured Life in the Sunflower State We Love Kansas 24 Reasons Scenic Back Roads

wide open SPACES

Promise 28 Perennial To ignite sustainable change, the Land Institute works to

promote perennial grain crops in farming worldwide

Land Speaks 34 The A thoughtful exploration of the

Pawnee Indian Museum in Republic

kansas TASTE

PHOTO Amy Meng

the 58 Where Wild Things Flourish IN EVERY ISSUE 7 8

The Extra Details

Hello From Our Publisher

A class offered through

52 64

Kansas Gallery

From the Poet Laureate

On the Cover A gorgeous display of wildflowers can be enjoyed during the annual Wildflower Walk at the Konza Prairie Biological Station. Photograph by Amy Meng.

Above Edible native plants instructor Terry Olson serves her garlic mustard pesto over hot tortellini.

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Manhattan’s UFM Community

Learning Center teaches students the basics of foraging for edible native plants

KANSAS TOURISM, A DIVISION OF THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

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KANSAS! (ISSN 0022-8435) is published five (5) times per year

by Kansas Tourism 1000 SW Jackson St., Suite 100 Topeka, KS 66612; 785.296.3479; TTY Hearing Impaired: 785.296.3487.

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Newsstand price $5 per issue; subscription price $20 per year; $36 for two years.

All prices include all applicable sales tax.

Please address subscription inquiries to: Toll-free: 800.678.6424 KANSAS!, 1000 SW Jackson St., Suite 100 Topeka, KS 66612 Email: kansas.mag@ks.gov | Website: www.KansasMag.com POSTMASTER: Send address change to: KANSAS!, P.O. Box 146, Topeka, KS 66601-0146.

Please mail all editorial inquiries to: KANSAS!, 1000 SW Jackson St., Suite 100 Topeka, KS 66612 email: kansas.mag@ks.gov The articles and photographs that appear in KANSAS! magazine may not be broadcast, published or otherwise reproduced without the express written consent of Kansas Tourism or the appropriate copyright owner.

Unauthorized use is prohibited. Additional restrictions may apply.

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KANSAS /

the extra details

Wildflower Walks Immerse yourself in

nature by joining the Great Plains Nature Center on one of their Wandering Wildflower Walks. Occurring the last Thursday of the month, April–September, these walks at the Wichita nature center explore native plants in bloom while guides answer questions.

The center, which has become a hub for education and conservation, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Its trails, exhibits and programs connect visitors to the region’s prairies, wetlands and wildlife. gpnc.org

the extra details

Turn to Stone SculptureTour Salina

allows visitors to immerse themselves in an open-air art gallery experience. The program carefully selects 15 to 25 sculptures to install in downtown Salina for one year. Visitors are encouraged to vote on their favorites.

(Find ballots in silver boxes on the sculpture pedestals.) The city purchases the winning sculpture and displays it in Salina, and the remaining sculptures are available for purchase. Last year’s 2024 People’s Choice winner, Going Home by Sondra Johnson, depicts a fallen soldier being carried away by an angelic figure. sculpturetoursalina.org

AROUND THE STATE 1 Towanda / page 15

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2 Concordia / page 19

3 Monument / page 25

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4 Bazaar / page 27 5 Salina / page 28

6 Republic / page 34

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7 Red Hills / page 41

PHOTOS Amy Meng, Jason Dailey (2)

Lasting Legacy We were heartbroken to learn about the passing of two Kansas legends, Jim and Josh Hoy. Josh was a rancher and educator who championed sustainable ranching practices at his family ranch, the Flying W in Chase County. His father, Jim, was also a rancher and educator who wrote a number of books about the Flint Hills and was named Kansan of the Year in 2015. These men dedicated their lives to teaching others about the tallgrass prairie and were active participants at Pioneer Bluffs, a historic ranch in Chase County. Over the years, we’ve been honored to work with the Hoys and their ranch. These two men truly embodied the spirit of Kansas, and they will be greatly missed. Our hearts are with the Hoy family and the Flint Hills community.

“Flint Hills sunsets are beautiful, but there is nothing that stirs my spirit more than sitting on a horse early in the morning in a green Flint Hills pasture, waiting to gather cattle, the stars slowly disappearing as the sky lightens until only the morning star remains, the dazzling colors of the clouds slowly transforming into white as the sun edges over the horizon.” —JIM HOY, MY FLINT HILLS 7 KANSAS! magazine

hello F R O M O U R P U B L I S H E R

Breathtaking Beauty

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ANDREA ETZEL

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PUBLISHER, KANSAS! MAGAZINE

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PHOTO Andrea Etzel

On numerous occasions, I’ve heard Kansas referred to as a “flyover state.” I’m sure you have as well. Some may perceive it as a slight, but cinematographer Nick Abt proves otherwise—there’s a vibrant beauty to Kansas’ landscapes that can be truly appreciated only from above (pg. 38). His documentary films have captured the Gypsum Hills, Glacial Hills, and High Plains in breathtaking detail. This year, his latest film, Mysteries of the Tallgrass, brings the Flint Hills to life, revealing its treasures in a way only an aerial perspective can.

As I write this, it’s prescribed burn season. Portions of the Konza Prairie are charred black. But soon—if spring is anything like last year—the prairie will erupt in wildflowers. Each June, I hike to Butterfly Hill, sometimes with the Friends of the Konza Prairie’s annual Wildflower Walk, and other times on my own. Last year’s display was nothing short of stunning.

But Kansas’ land isn’t just for show. It sustains the very lifeblood of our state. Agriculture, like any industry, continues to evolve. In “Perennial Promise” (pg. 28), we explore how the Land Institute is pioneering sustainable perennial grain crops. Meanwhile, the prairie also provides nourishment through its edible native plants, a rich and often overlooked resource.

Stewardship of the land is a significant responsibility, one that the Hoy family has transformed into their legacy.

Jim Hoy, whom we honored as a Kansas Finest in 2017, and his son Josh were invaluable stewards of the tallgrass prairie. They also embodied the spirit and traditions of the cowboy way of life. Their impact will continue to be felt for generations.

From fine arts to fine fare, evenings out to sporting spectacles, however you partake, you’ll feel Wichita’s energy at every turn. Because we’re a little bit fancy, a little bit funky and a whole lot of friendly. Come see the place we love. We have a feeling you’ll love it too.

WICHITA IS A VIBE

80 Years / K A N S A S D E T A I L S

From Pen to Page A look back at the illustrators who defined KANSAS! Story by Andrea Etzel Illustrations courtesy Kansas Tourism

or eight decades, the pages of KANSAS! have painted a vivid portrait of our state, not only with words and photographs but also through brush and pen strokes. From the humorous industry-centric cartoons of our beginning to the contemporary art of today, the past and present magazine artists capture Kansas’ heart and soul in every line and hue.

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1945–1946: Fredericka Richard was the first illustrator to contribute to the magazine. The Seattle native earned an art degree from the California College of Arts and Crafts (now the California College of the Arts). She moved to Kansas to work at the Menninger Foundation, where she joined the art and recreational therapy department.

Recognizing her talent, the Kansas Industrial Development Commission (KIDC) commissioned Richard to create cartoons for their new publication, To the Stars.

1946–1949: Born in Marion, Vic Zimmerman began his artistic career at age 16 when the Wichita Beacon and Topeka Daily Capital published his political cartoons. After attending college, Zimmerman spent time in New York as a commercial artist. When he returned to Kansas, he joined KIDC as the To the Stars cartoonist. Zimmerman later lived in Texas and California, where he built a successful career as a commercial illustrator and freelance cartoonist.

1964–1992: Topeka native Galen Senogles joined the magazine in 1964—his name first appeared on the masthead for “art and design” in the winter issue. For almost three decades, he led the magazine’s visual transformation, adding expressive typography and illustrations that vibrantly captured the stories’ tone and spirit.

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A renowned artist, Senogles owned a graphic arts studio and gallery. He worked across several mediums but favored watercolor because, as he once shared with writer Peggy Greene, “watercolor suits my personality.”

Over his tenure, he created countless original illustrations, leaving an indelible legacy.

1992–Present: After Senogles’ retirement in 1992, KANSAS! continued to evolve, building on the foundation he laid. The magazine, embracing the use of artwork now more than ever, regularly commissions original pieces from artists across the state. Illustrators such as Ric Dunwoody, Lana Grove, Abra Shirley, Angie Pickman and Torren Thomas have added vibrant visuals to its pages.

As we celebrate 80 years of KANSAS!, we honor the artists whose brushstrokes and ink lines have shaped its visual journey. Their work ensures our state’s stories are seen, felt and remembered.

Spawn to Be Wild With the right gear and techniques, you can catch Kansas’ best-tasting fish during the spring spawn Story and photography by Michael Pearce

Timing and Conditions Prime spawning time for crappie is usually between mid-April and the end of May, when daylight hours get longer and water temperatures range from 60 to 68 degrees. Both species of crappie in Kansas, black crappie and white crappie, spawn at the same time. Stable weather and water conditions are ideal for fishing success, but Where to Find Crappie in Kansas water releases Kansas’ fertile waters provide excellent Most public waters in Kansas or spring are home to crappie. For the fishing year-round, but there’s no better cold fronts hamper best fishing spots, anglers time to fish than in spring, when crappie can fishing can visit ksoutdoors.com and gather in the shallows to spawn. navigate to the “Fishing” success for section, then to “Forecasts” several days.

During the spawn, crappie are and “Crappie Combined” for the latest population information drawn to shorelines with small gravel and fishing reports for lakes and reservoirs.

Anglers can also use the website or the GoOutdoorsKS and scattered flooded brush or other app to purchase fishing licenses, which are required for structures. Kansas crappie typically residents ages 16 to 74 and all nonresidents 16 and older. These spawn at depths of 2 to 5 inches of resources also provide daily creel and length limits, which water; they spawn at greater depths may vary by location. in clear water conditions.

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ansas’ fertile waters provide excellent fishing yearround, but there’s no better time to fish than in spring, when crappie gather in the shallows to spawn.

Beginning anglers with basic gear can expect success with what many consider Kansas’ best-tasting fish.

Fishing can be just as productive whether you’re fishing from the shore or from a boat. Craig Johnson, a lifelong angler and longtime fisheries biologist at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, offers the following tips to maximize your experience during this spring’s crappie spawn.

Above Fishing for crappie is equally productive, whether fishing from the shore or from a boat.

Opposite Kansas angler Ronda Miller shows off a fresh-caught crappie.

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KANSAS DETAILS /

air

Equipment and Techniques Crappie fishing during the spawn doesn’t require specialized gear. Bites can be subtle, so medium to light-action rods work well, and reels with a 6- to 10-pound test line do the job. For bait, consider lively small to medium-sized minnows. Look for gold hooks in sizes #6 to #10 and use small floats, no larger than a quarter, which provide minimal resistance. A tiny split-shot positioned about 4 inches above the hook keeps the minnow at the proper depth, ideally where a crappie might be near a nest.

Johnson prefers artificial lures and usually fishes with 1/8-ounce jigs with plastic or marabou bodies. He uses natural-colored jigs in clear water and switches to black and chartreuse jigs in murky conditions. He often fishes the jigs below a small float, with a very slow retrieve, pausing near good habitats such as flooded brush or timber.

Kayaks are excellent for crappie spawn fishing because anglers can move quietly in shallow waters.

If you have waders, try “doodle-socking,” which involves slowly wading through shallow waters with a fly rod or specialized crappie rod (up to 10 feet long).

Lower the jig or minnow into promising spots for a few seconds before moving to the next location. This technique is especially effective in densely covered areas that are difficult to cast into.

Tips for Success Even during peak spawn, some shorelines may have fewer fish. Johnson advises anglers to fish an area for no more than half an hour before moving to another section if the action is slow.

Traveling to different parts of the state can extend the fishing season, as lakes in southern Kansas generally warm a week or more earlier than those in the northern part of the state. In every lake, clear water warms more slowly than turbid water, and open, rocky shorelines warm faster than shaded areas or those surrounded by grasslands or woodlands. Understanding these nuances can help anglers find success in crappie fishing throughout the spawning season.

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OPEN DAILY NEAR MINNEAPOLIS FREE ADMISSION 14 & UNDER

cuisine / K A N S A S D E T A I L S

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he Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site in Olathe will hold intimate, 1860s-style afternoon teas May 3 and October 4 of this year. Afternoon tea began as an English tradition of savoring tea and finger food among good company. Anna Maria Russell, the Duchess of Bedford, is credited for creating this treasured social occasion in the 1800s. It is said that she invited friends to join her for afternoon tea and light snacks because she disliked the hunger pains she experienced between lunch and dinner. Soon, afternoon tea became a midday ritual in the drawing rooms and parlors of English families.

“The Mahaffie farm is a living history museum, so we do everything like it’s 1865. We dress that way, we farm that way, we cook that way, and we actually offer rides on a stagecoach from 1865.” ­—KARI COATES

Porcelain & Pastries Above Historic site guide Sara Cockrum helps serve Victorianstyle afternoon tea at the Mahaffie Historic Site in Olathe.

Enjoy Victorian-era afternoon tea times set in charming locations throughout Kansas Story by Cecilia Harris Photography by Jason Dailey

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The ritual quickly found its way to America. Guests of the historic Mahaffie site will be served tea and homemade goodies, much like how Lucinda Mahaffie might have welcomed guests with afternoon tea in her parlor during the 1860s.

“The Mahaffie farm is a living history museum, so we do everything like it’s 1865.

We dress that way, we farm that way, we cook that way, and we actually offer rides on a stagecoach from 1865,” says Kari Coates, an historic site guide at Mahaffie.

“For tea, we really focus on the Victorian time period, and we dress in 1860s clothing.”

Guests of the farm’s afternoon teas may dress in Victorian clothing, Coates says, but it is not required. Each tea begins with a brief history, followed by an explanation of the differences between American and English tea.

KANSAS DETAILS /

cuisine

“Where there were a lot of sweets for English teas, American teas tended to be more savory with meats, cheeses, breads and a few cookies. It would be a heartier meal,” Coates says. “We don’t do a traditional cream tea, which includes scones, jams, clotted cream and tea. We do an American version of it.”

Guests enter the sitting room of the Mahaffie home to fill their 1860s-reproduction china plates, then step outdoors to find a seat at one of the gingham-covered tables located underneath a canopy of trees on the front lawn.

“We serve bread and butter, which we make here and press with an 1860s butter press. It has a really pretty rose design on the top of it,” Coates says.

Also served is a farmer’s cheese, which is firmer than cottage cheese but not as crumbly as goat cheese, as well as cheddar cheese, strawberries when in season, and meats such as ham, roast beef or pâté.

“We also have gingersnap cookies that are made in our 1860s fire-fueled stove and oven on the property, and I tend to do a shortbread because that would be a sweet they would have made in 1865,” Coates says.

Because tea bags were not invented until the early 1900s, two loose-leaf teas are served—an Earl Grey black tea and, for those looking for a decaffeinated option, chamomile or mint.

During the tea, guests will learn more about Victorian tea etiquette and the language of the Victorian fan and will even enjoy some poetry readings. If this event sounds like your “cup of tea,” purchase tickets as soon as possible. It often sells out early. mahaffie.org / 913.971.5111

Canton Towanda Olathe

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Fulton Valley Farms

Towanda / Spend teatime in the country with family and friends at the Tea Party in the Country on May 3 at Fulton Valley Farms.

Wander through the picturesque property, dotted with colorful signs of spring, and visit the Fulton reindeer before gathering inside the barn, decorated to resemble a charming summer garden. Enjoy sandwiches, tarts and tea served on shabby chic tea sets.

Attendees, guided by an instructor, also get to paint their very own dainty teacup. Wear your favorite Victorian hat or borrow one for a memorable group photo. Seating is limited, and tickets must be purchased before the event, which offers two sessions: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. fultonvalleyfarms.com / 316.775.1894

Three Sisters Victorian Tea and Treasures

Canton / Schedule a private tea party, Tuesday through Saturday, at Three Sisters Victorian Tea and Treasures in Canton, or attend one of their monthly teas or special events held in the quaint late-19th-century building. At their upcoming Victorian Spring Fling, June 14, guests can enjoy high tea followed by a narrated fashion show of spring and summer Victorian attire. The second Saturday of each month brings a themed tea party celebrating the holiday or occasion of the month. Guests choose from 20 flavors of tea and enjoy treats served on three-tiered tea stands: scones and fresh fruit or salad on the top tier, assorted sandwiches on the middle tier, and assorted desserts on the bottom tier. Tea is served in one of the two large dining rooms decorated with vintage and Victorian displays. Reservations must be made by phone. facebook.com/threesisters.tea 620.628.4484

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heartland / K A N S A S D E T A I L S

Flight of the Monarchs As monarch butterflies migrate through the United States, the Monarch Watch research program teaches Kansans how to conserve their declining populations Story by Amber Fraley

Above Monarch butterflies perch on a mossy tree branch deep in the forests of Mexico.

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PHOTO Chip Taylor, monarchwatch.org

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Foundation Alliance and the risten Baum, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, National Commission of Protected senior scientist with the Kansas Biology Survey and director Natural Areas in Mexico announce of Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas, knows a the overwintering numbers, which lot about monarch butterflies. Currently, she’s keeping an are in the millions. “The traditional eye on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) recent approach is they go out and find the proposal to list monarchs as a threatened species. tree that’s farthest upslope that’s If the monarch is so designated, the USFWS will create recovery occupied by monarchs. Then, they plans, provide money for conservation and identify critical habitat. measure the distance to all the The USFWS accepted 90 days of public comment to hear from trees around the monarch cluster farmers, conservationists, scientists and landowners—or anyone and estimate the area,” Baum says. else with an opinion or concern about monarch populations or how The enclosed area is calculated in protection efforts might affect agriculture and land use. Because hectares, which is about the size monarchs have a large range across the U.S., any new regulations will of 2.5 American football fields. The affect many farms and ranches. currently accepted estimate is 21.1 “There’s lots of chaos we’re concerned about,” Baum says. million monarchs per hectare.

Since 1992, Monarch Watch has been tracking monarch migration The last across Kansas. What was supposed to overwintering be a short-lived project has become an season (2023– internationally renowned program in monarch “People love monarchs.

2024) was the research, education and conservation.

Monarchs are very lowest on record, There are two main monarch populations at .9 hectares, in the U.S.—the eastern migratory population, charismatic. People can which breeds as far north as southern Canada relate and connect to them.” ­ which means fewer than 20 and migrates to central Mexico for the winter, —KRISTEN BAUM million monarchs and the western migratory population, which made it through overwinters along the coast of California. migration to overwinter in Kansas’ monarchs are part of the eastern migratory population.

Mexico. Thankfully, the population “They overwinter in the high-elevation oyamel fir forests of central rebounded some during the more Mexico,” Baum says. The oyamel forest ecosystem is one of Mexico’s recent 2024–2025 season, at most endangered, with only 2% of the original forest remaining.

1.79 hectares.

Sometime in February or March, the WWF-TELMEX Telcel

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heartland

“They’ll spend about five or so months on those overwintering grounds, and then they’ll start moving north in late February or early March. We’ll get our first records of monarchs in Texas, usually sometime in March,” Baum explains.

Those returning monarchs will lay the first generation of eggs in Texas and sometimes the surrounding states. The monarchs that grow from those eggs continue to move north and to reproduce, including in Kansas. “We’ll usually get our first reports of monarchs in Kansas sometime in April,” Baum says.

During the spring and summer breeding season, the nonmigratory monarchs live only two to six weeks, depending on the conditions. But the migratory monarchs may live as long as nine months. “The difference in lifespan is fascinating and shows how much energy is required for reproduction. The last generation of monarchs that emerge in the fall are in reproductive diapause and instead focus on migration,” Baum says.

Monarchs need different resources depending on the time of year. During fall migration, monarchs rely on blooming, nectarproducing plants. But in the spring, one nectar-producing plant is critical to the monarch’s survival as it’s the only plant on which they lay their eggs—milkweed.

“Milkweed is what caterpillars can eat, so it becomes very important—it’s the only host plant for monarch caterpillars, and their only food source,” Baum says.

Because of the nationwide decline in milkweed, Monarch Watch encourages Kansans to join the Monarch Waystation Registry and create their own Monarch Waystation habitats by planting milkweed and other nectar sources in home or school gardens, parks, zoos and nature centers.

Of course, climate change affects most wildlife, including monarchs. “Most of the monarch lifecycle is tied to temperature,” Baum says. The availability of milkweed in Texas is critical to monarch migration, but milkweed growth depends on temperature and rainfall, both of which are affected by climate change.

Temperature also affects monarch egg and caterpillar development— it slows down in cooler weather and speeds up when it’s warmer.

If monarchs move north too quickly, they can get caught in cooler weather, slowing their progression. Finally, the weather affects southern migration—when it’s too hot, monarchs stop migrating.

Scott Bean Photography

K A N S A S L A N D S C A P E A N D N AT U R E P H O T O G R A P H S

785-341-1047 | SCOTT@SCOTTBEANPHOTO.COM

www.scottbeanphoto.com

Fortunately, people love monarchs, Baum explains. “Monarchs are very charismatic,” she says. “People can relate and connect to them.”

Monarch tagging kits are $15 and available for preorder from Monarch Watch (monarchwatch.org/tagging); they will ship in late July. Download the Monarch Watch mobile app at monarchwatch.org/app to keep track of tagging data. For more information about starting your own Monarch Waystation, visit monarchwatch.org/waystations.

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Upcoming Monarch Watch Events Monarch Watch Spring Open House & Plant Fundraiser Saturday, May 10 (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Foley Hall, 2021 Constant Ave., Lawrence Monarch Watch Fall Open House Saturday, September 13 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

West Campus, 2021 Constant Ave., Lawrence Monarch Watch Tagging Event Saturday, September 20 (8 a.m. to noon) Baker University Wetlands Discovery Center 1365 N. 1250 Road, Lawrence monarchwatch.org/events

culture / K A N S A S D E T A I L S

Stroll Through History

Pay tribute to the children of the Orphan Train Movement by walking the Statue Stroll in Concordia Story by Cecilia Harris

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Photography by Jason Dailey

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n 1924, 11-year-old Anna Fuchs feared she might not be adopted. She was missing fingers, had a bad hip, and was past toddlerhood—qualities that typically didn’t make her a desirable candidate. After recovering from tuberculosis and losing both parents to the disease, Anna and her two younger sisters were placed on the Orphan Train by the Children’s Aid Society in New York and sent to Kansas. Today, a bronze statue of a girl holding an umbrella honors Anna’s story. It is one stop along Concordia’s Orphan Train Statue Stroll.

Concordia is home to 50 statues that honor the children who came to Kansas on the Orphan Train. In an effort to find homes for orphans and children fending for themselves in New York City, the Children’s Aid Society started the Orphan Train Movement. From 1854 to 1929, more than 250,000 children were placed with families across the country; more than 4,000 were placed in Kansas. Concordia’s National Orphan Train Complex collects, preserves and displays the history of the Orphan Train, housing thousands of files on the children and hundreds of artifacts of the movement.

When the National Orphan Train Complex Museum & Research Center opened in 2007, Bobby and Wanda Morgan donated seven statues to commemorate the children who rode the Orphan Trains. These statues were placed on the museum grounds with markers that shared the children’s names.

The city of Concordia later approached the complex for help in rebranding the city as the “Orphan Train Town.”

“As time went on, we thought we should really try to tell their stories on plaques,” says Heather Bigwood, curator at the National Orphan Train Complex. Concordia placed more statues alongside detailed plaques that shared the children’s stories. Today, an eighth statue stands on the complex grounds.

More than 220 descendants of Miriam Zitur—a child who rode the Orphan Train when she was a mere 19 months old—raised funds for her statue, the first placed in downtown Concordia. Since then, more statues have been added throughout Concordia to create the Orphan Train Statue Stroll. (For a full list of statues, visit orphantraindepot. org/orphan-statues.)

“The statues are of children being children; they may be fishing, they might be sitting down on a bench or reading,” Bigwood says. “The plaques highlight details about the Orphan Train riders—the special things that happened in their life.”

Only one statue, that of Anna Laura Hill (placed alongside Anna Louise Dougherty Simpson), was specially designed based on photographs in the complex’s collections. Hill was a Children’s Aid Society placement agent who cared for children aboard 157 Orphan Trains trips. She made sure they were placed in good homes, and she returned for in-home visits until the children turned 18.

This statue, located at the Cloud County Tourism Visitors Information Center and Museum Annex, depicts Hill holding hands with the young, orphaned Simpson.

Ten statues have been placed along three blocks of Sixth Street, making a perfect mini stroll for visitors who don’t have time to drive around town.

“Our museum can’t be open 24/7, so if you’re coming to Concordia, you can visit our main street to see these 10 statues to learn about the Orphan Train riders,” Bigwood says.

But what about little Anna Fuchs? Jennie Bengston, a caring boardinghouse owner and Sunday school teacher, took Anna into her home. Jennie bought her a piano, which she learned to play despite her missing fingers, and encouraged her to pursue higher education. Anna graduated from McPherson College in 1937 with a degree in music and education.

In 1941, she took a job with Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance and worked there until she retired. orphantraindepot.org / 785.243.4471

Madonna of the Trail

Council Grove / Honoring the women who made the long and arduous journey across America by covered wagon, the Daughters of the American Revolution erected the Madonna of the Trail statue in Council Grove in 1928. It is one of 12 identical monuments marking the historic National Old Trails Road, a route used by pioneers during westward expansion. The 10-foot-tall sculpture, designed by August Leimbach, depicts a pioneer woman striding forward, a young child clutching her side. She’s wearing a sunbonnet and holds a baby with one hand, a rifle in the other. This statue is found along the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. councilgrove.com / 620.767.5413

Opposite Located outside the Concordia Post Office, this statue depicts an older John Lukes Jacobus, who rode the Orphan Train at age 2.

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Concordia Council Grove

Above Located outside the Majestic Theatre, this statue depicts Anna Fuchs who rode the Orphan Train at age 11.

behind the scenes / K A N S A S D E T A I L S

Amy Meng

Amy Meng has lived in Kansas since 2004, when her husband was stationed at Fort Riley. She purchased her first DSLR to document her family’s life. Amy became hooked on photography when landscape photographer Scott Bean taught her how to use the camera, and she continued learning through various online courses. In 2019, she discovered the Click Community, an online network of photographers that offers tutorials, support and other membership benefits.

She was later accepted into Click Pro, a women’s organization for professional photographers and other highly skilled artists. In 2020, the pandemic deepened her love for nature and her desire to learn more about the native plants in Kansas.

Eventually, she became a docent at the Konza Prairie and later joined the board of the Friends of Konza Prairie, where she organizes their annual Wildflower Walks and produces their social media posts and newsletters. Currently, she is focused on cultivating and photographing the native wildflower patches in her own backyard.

amymengphotography.com @amymengphotography

What is one of the most difficult subjects to photograph well? My active boys constantly challenge my photography skills. I learned to depend on a fast shutter, quiet moments and prayer.

How would you describe your photography in terms of a color wheel? I love blues, golds, dark greens and shades of red, often repeated over and over again in our prairie landscapes … whether on a road trip across Kansas with golden fields and blue skies or stepping into the prairie filled with pink wildflowers dotting the green grass.

Tell us about the shot that got away. A shot gets away every day. When you start to learn the rules of photography, you see great photos everywhere you look. It’s a fun game that never gets boring. I often don’t have the right equipment or preparation, and the moment has passed—it was only captured in my mind.

Tell us about the moments leading up to one of the photographs that you are including in this collection of your work. We visited my husband’s hometown near Kingman. His parents’ farm had seen great drought and had just flooded. I created my photo “Flood Reflection” to symbolize this play on the elements. I picked a Lensbaby lens to soften the edges, then I found a puddle, framed the windmill’s reflection upside down and flipped the image in Lightroom.

What is your most common advice to beginning photographers? First, learn the rules of photography and your gear. Second, study art and determine your preferences. Finally, conquer your fear of failure enough to courageously break a rule to create your own art—to create your unique view of the world.

I’m still learning!

What has photography taught you about life? Photography has opened my eyes; I notice the everyday beauty in life and have developed gratitude. I see colors, details and patterns that I hadn’t noticed before. And, I have learned so much about myself. I find I am often looking for calming colors and serene patterns … I am often looking for calm in a chaotic life.

What is a Kansas location that you return to again and again to photograph? I love the prairie, but this was not always the case. When I looked closely at all the life and diversity in the prairie, my appreciation for this endangered ecosystem grew.

I love how the prairie changes from year to year. I love how elements of wind, rain and fire shape the landscape. The prairie is a very spiritual place—it’s never boring, and it deserves our attention and respect.

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PHOTOS COURTESY Amy Meng

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH

“I am often looking for calming colors and serene patterns …

I am often looking for calm in a chaotic life.” –Amy Meng

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captured / K A N S A S D E T A I L S

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KANSAS DETAILS /

captured

“During a trip to Manhattan, I pulled off the interstate to capture photos of a cowboy while he was out checking cattle riding through the pastures at sunset. I love to drive around back roads and search for cattle or horses, particularly at sunset, and I enjoy going out to farms or ranches and capturing their everyday moments. This cowboy’s dedication to his animals is felt through the photo.”

­­–Josie Alexander

Josie Alexander / Photographer Wabaunsee County north40photography.weebly.com north40photographyanddesigns North 40 Photography + Designs Josie Alexander captured this image using her Canon R5 Mirrorless and a Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 lens. In 2012, she purchased her first camera and began to travel the back roads of western Kansas to build her portfolio. As a country girl through and through, she loves capturing photos of landscapes, cattle and horses.

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Kansas REASONS WE LOVE

By Cecilia Harris

IN THIS ISSUE

Scenic Back Roads Picturesque drives that bring out the adventure-seeker in everyone

Monument, Minneola, Medicine Lodge, Olsburg, Bazaar

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KANSAS DETAILS /

reasons we love kansas

marker designates the site of the Monte Casino Monastery, which three Benedictine brothers established in 1876.

Another sandstone marker, at St. Joseph’s and Highland Cemetery, northeast of Ashland, honors all Civil War soldiers. It was erected by Jerome Berryman and his wife, Nancy McNickle Berryman, in memory of their fathers, who fought on opposing sides. The Highland Cemetery is also the resting place of Ashland native Harold Krier, a precision aerobatic pilot who thrilled audiences with aerial stunts in the 1950s and 1960s. Artifacts and memorabilia, including one of his stunt planes, are on display at the Pioneer-Krier Museum in Ashland.

Penner advises anyone planning a back road adventure to take plenty of water and a road map because GPS and cell service can be unreliable.

“Make sure your gas tank is full because a lot of these unpaved roads are in areas where you go miles without seeing a gas pump. Another thing is to really be aware of the weather, as sometimes just a little bit of rain can make these areas sticky,” Penner says. “I always say to have a spare tire because you never know

“Unpaved roads are often where you find the most beautiful scenery.”

—MARCI PENNER what kind of impediments you might encounter on the road.”

Penner also warns drivers to slow down for cattle guards (metal grids laid across ditches that allow vehicles to cross while deterring livestock) in open-range country where cattle or buffalo may have the right-of-way— and never get out of your vehicle to photograph or attempt to pet them.

“There are field driveways leading to oil pumps or pastures, but stay on the public road,” Penner says. “Drive slowly, especially in sandy areas, and soak in the scenery at this slower pace.” kansassampler.org / 620.960.0552 Directions From Minneola, travel south on U.S. 283 for 4.25 miles; turn left on Clark County Road G and travel east for 8.5 miles; turn left on Clark County Road 15 and travel north for 1 mile; turn right on Clark County Road F and travel east for 2.5 miles toward Clark County State Fishing Lake. Drive around the lake on South Lake Road until you reach K-94; turn left on K-94 and head north until it veers east, then turn right on the unpaved Clark County Road 20. Travel south for 16 miles until you arrive in Ashland.

Before driving along one of these routes, make sure your vehicle can handle uneven terrain. To check local road conditions, call the Kansas Department of Transportation at 511 or 1.866.511.KDOT (5386), or visit kandrive.gov.

PHOTOS PHOTOS Nick Harland KrugJ. Schuster (2)

CLARK COUNTY STATE FISHING LAKE DRIVE Minneola to Ashland / Kansas offers countless back roads perfect for leisurely drives when the goal is simply to enjoy the journey. For those who dare to travel dirt and gravel roads, several scenic drives are listed in The Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers, written by Marci Penner and WenDee Rowe of the Kansas Sampler Foundation.

“Unpaved roads are often where you find the most beautiful scenery,” says Penner, the foundation’s executive director.

One of Penner’s favorite scenic back roads is the road from Clark State Fishing Lake to Ashland. “It is one of the most phenomenal drives in the state,” she says. “It is just so unexpected. Driving south from the lake to Ashland, it’s cropland. Then, all of a sudden, it’s canyons and craggy. I don’t know of another place in Kansas that you can get a view like this—it’s rare. It took my breath away.”

During the 16-mile drive, there are few signs of civilization. No houses, no telephone poles, no oil pumps— nothing to impede the view. “It’s just wide open, and it’s absolutely beautiful,” Penner says.

Beyond its impressive geographic features, Penner suggests a few spots to visit along the way. Three miles north of Ashland, a large sandstone

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For the best colors, travel the 8-mile Carnahan Creek Drive in autumn. This drive, with views of hilly wooded areas and river valleys, takes you from the plains to the upper Flint Hills.

ate

g.

WASHINGTON

COUNTY TOURISM

785.325.2116 | washingtoncountyks.gov FISHING AND PUBLIC HUNTING

The Washington County State Fishing Lake is located 12 miles NW of Washington

Proud Past – Brilliant Future Ride, Play, Eat, and Stay in Osage City!

Disc Golf, Pickle Ball, Swimming, Fishing Air BnBs, Downtown Shopping, and Smoke in the Spring

785-528-3714 (Osage City Hall) www.osagecity.com

MONUMENT HILLS DRIVE Monument to Lake Scott / This 36-mile route features chalk formations, prairie grasses, wildlife and abandoned stone structures.

The Smoky Valley Ranch trailhead, located along the route about 15 miles south of Monument on County Highway 350, starts two hiking trail loops. (One is a 1-mile trek, the other 5.5 miles.) Watch for rattlesnakes, swift foxes, pronghorns and other wildlife.

Along the route, you will pass the Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park (a short detour) and Historic Lake Scott State Park, which National Geographic called one of the country’s 50 must-see state parks.

CARNAHAN CREEK DRIVE Olsburg to Carnahan Creek Park / For the best colors, travel this 8-mile scenic route in autumn. The drive, with views of hilly wooded areas and river valleys, takes you from the plains to the upper Flint Hills.

The spring also makes for a beautiful drive and should include a stop at Carnahan Creek Park to see the tulip beds at the Carnahan-Garrison Cemetery, which is on a bluff overlooking Tuttle Creek Lake.

Directions From Olsburg, travel east on K-16; turn right on Carnahan Road and travel south for 6 miles; turn right on Park Road and travel southwest for almost a mile to Carnahan Creek Park. To visit the Tuttle Creek Dam, follow Park Road back to Carnahan Road; turn right on Carnahan Road and travel southeast for 5 miles; turn right on K-13 and travel south for 4 miles until you reach the dam.

Directions From Monument, travel south on unpaved Logan County Road 350 for 15 miles to the Smoky Valley Ranch and continue south another 5 miles; turn left on Indian Road and travel east for 2.5 miles; turn right on County Road 375 and travel south for 3 miles until the road becomes County Road 390; continue southeast another 7 miles until the road becomes North Kansas. At the fork, take either route around Lake Scott.

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GYP HILLS DRIVE Medicine Lodge / Not to be confused with the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway, the Gyp Hills Scenic Back Road is one of the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s “8 Wonders of Kansas Geography.” This 22-mile trip on winding, unpaved roads features rust-red buttes and mesas capped by layers of white gypsum. The distinctive color of the Red Hills comes from iron oxide, which stains the area’s rocks and soil. The area is home to abundant wildlife, birds, wildflowers and native grasses. Drive slowly and follow the small green “Scenic Drive” signs to stay on public roads.

The route travels through open range, so watch for livestock.

Directions About 4 miles west of Medicine Lodge, a sign on U.S. 160 that says “Gyp Hills Scenic Drive” marks the first turn of this drive. Turn south at the sign on Gyp Hill Road and travel south for 6 miles; turn right on the gravel Scenic Drive and travel west for 7 miles; then turn right on gravel Lake City Road and travel north for 7 miles until you return to U.S. 160.

SHARPS CREEK DRIVE Bazaar to Matfield Green / This 17-mile creek gravel drive through one of the largest remaining tracts of tallgrass prairie in the world takes you through a landscape that appears much as it did thousands of years ago. As you wind through the peaceful, rolling Flint Hills, watch for herds of grazing cattle (which are open range and may be on the road) and vibrant wildflowers and grasses that beautifully transform with the seasons.

You’ll drive from hilltop to valley again and again, proving Kansas is not “flat as a pancake.” Carry a spare tire, as creek gravel is made up of larger, sharper stones than crushed gravel.

Directions From Bazaar, travel east, then south, on Sharps Creek Road for 11 miles; turn right on County Road 50 and travel west for 3 miles until the road becomes Little Cedar Creek Road. Continue west, then north for 6 miles until you reach Matfield Green.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE MARYSVILLE, KANSAS

Free camping in Marysville City Park

The 22-mile Gyp Hills Scenic Back Road features rust-red buttes and mesas capped by layers of white gypsum. The distinctive color of the Red Hills comes from iron oxide, which stains the area’s rocks and soil.

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onemarysville.org

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Perennial Promise To ignite sustainable change, the Land Institute works to promote perennial grain crops in farming worldwide Story by Patricia Ackerman

Photography by David Mayes

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he Land Institute, a nonprofit research organization in Salina, is working to change the future of farming. Founded in 1976, the institute is led by a team of plant breeders, ecologists and sociologists from all over the world. Its goal is to create an alternative farming system based on perennial grains that will produce abundant food while minimizing environmental harm.

According to the Land Institute’s website, “We believe we must grow food in partnership with nature by planting perennial grains in mixtures that can help build and protect the soil. We are dependent on our soil. It is everyone’s future.”

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Above A diverse mix of perennial grasses form a complex ecosystem within the Land Institute’s nature area.

Right An enthusiastic puppy enjoys one of the institute’s guided walking tours.

Perennial Grain Crops The Land Institute hopes to ignite sustainable change in our agriculture through the use of perennial grain crops.

“Increasing problems with soil erosion and water conservation demand that multi-use perennial grains become part of resilient, future-proofed agricultural systems,” explains Tammy Kimbler, chief communication officer at the Land Institute.

Annual crops such as corn, wheat and soybeans help feed the world but can lead to soil erosion and pollution from fertilizers and pesticides. By contrast, perennial crops do not require annual tilling and replanting and therefore put less strain on the land. “Perennial grains, legumes and oilseed crops represent a system shift in modern agriculture and hold great potential for truly sustainable production systems,” Kimbler says.

Because grains make up more than 70 percent of our global caloric consumption and global croplands, using perennial grain crops is one of the best ways to protect our food future. For this

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reason, the Land Institute is working to adapt existing crops, such as wheat and sorghum, and develop new crops, such as Kernza, a perennial grain with sustainable benefits.

“Kernza is the trademark name for the grain harvested from intermediate wheat grass being developed at the Land Institute,” Kimbler says. Kernza’s deep roots, which extend as far as 10 feet into the ground, improve the soil’s ability to absorb and hold water while minimizing the problems associated with tilling and topsoil loss. Harvest yields have increased, and the goal is to produce yields similar to annual wheat. Kernza’s seed heads can contain more seeds than an annual wheat head, and cattle can graze its leftover leaves, stems and regrowth. And, significantly, because it’s a perennial, it grows back every year.

This grain has a sweet, nutty flavor that has gained popularity over the past five years. Dozens of craft breweries and distilleries (including Lawrence Beer Company in Lawrence, The FARM and

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Challenges Despite its progress, the Land Institute acknowledges that sustainable agriculture faces significant hurdles. To overcome these challenges, Kimbler identifies several requirements for continued progress: • Policies that support perennial, multi-use crops to conserve water and mitigate soil erosion, topsoil loss, water pollution and environmental catastrophes such as drought and extreme rain events • Diverse, worldwide partnerships to address global needs for resilient agricultural systems that are “future-proofed” • Awareness of potential regional effects. What might a regional economy look like in Kansas with shared goals and innovation Visit the Land Institute supporting perennial From April through November, agriculture? the Land Institute offers Friday• Understanding morning tours led by a member that long-term, of their research team. These multigenerational guided walking tours explore the projects move Wauhob Prairie Overlook of their slowly, so research plots and their research maintaining buildings and greenhouses. momentum Tour request forms are available and funding is a online at landinstitute.org. constant challenge Visitors can also explore the Land Institute’s Marty Bender International Initiatives Nature Area. Located 1 mile These goals for north of the organization’s main sustainable grounds, the 206-acre nature agriculture extend The Odd Fellows in Minneapolis, and Smoky area features a 3-mile hiking trail beyond farming Valley Distillery in Marquette) now feature through the prairie and along the practices in Kansas.

Kernza beers and whiskies, and bakeries are Smoky Hill River.

Through global developing Kernza breads, pastry mixes, pastas, collaborations crackers and pancakes. Salina restaurants with more than Barolo Grille and Martinelli’s Little Italy feature Kernza in their 200 researchers across six entrées, and Prairieland Market carries products such as flour, continents, the institute whole grain and pasta. Read more about Kernza at kernza.org. hopes to drive change

more.

Above Visitors of the Land Institute can enjoy guided tours in the Marty Bender Nature Area or the Wauhob Prairie Overlook.

Opposite The Land Institute is nestled within the Smoky Hill Uplands.

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worldwide. In March 2025, the Land Institute participated consumers to purchase Kernza in the International Perennial Grains Symposium at the products and support bipartisan Mexico International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center collaboration in advancing multi-use (CIMMYT), where more than 100 researchers from 25 different perennial grain crops. countries, including Ukraine, gathered to share knowledge and landinstitute.org collaborate.

“Discussion at the 2025 symposium centered around The public is invited to engage with researchers, ways to establish a road map for artists and growers at the Land Institute’s 50th future development of perennial Anniversary Prairie Festival, September 27–28, 2026. grains and agro-ecological 50th Anniversary All festival events will be held at the Land Institute, systems driven by local Prairie Festival!

2440 E. Water Well Road, Salina. resources and connected by a The celebration will kick off on Friday evening shared network,” Kimbler says. with a traditional barn dance and bonfire. Saturday events will include a Kernza To support sustainable pancake breakfast, prairie plot and campus tours, hayrack rides and a featured agriculture, Kimbler encourages artist. Sunday morning will begin with a dynamic keynote speaker. Throughout the weekend, vendors will sell a variety of prairie products, including perennial grain products such as Kernza, perennial sorghum, wheat, baki beans and silflower (relative of the sunflower) honey. The 2026 Prairie Festival will also serve as a homecoming, inviting 50 years of board members, donors, supporters, partners, students and employees to reconnect and share their enthusiasm for the Land Institute and its mission.

enjoy.

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Weekend in WaKeeney Located halfway between Kansas City and Denver at the intersection of Interstate-70 and Highway 283.

WaKeeney.org • GetWaKeeney@gmail.com @GetWaKeeney Smoky Valley Scenic Byway

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The Land Speaks Rex Buchanan, director emeritus of the Kansas Geological Survey, goes on a thoughtful exploration of the Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site in Republic Story by Rex Buchanan

Photography by Tanner Colvin

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t the end of a lonely, black-topped road in northcentral Kansas, near the Nebraska border, sits one of the most underappreciated spots in Kansas. The Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site, perched atop a hill in Republic County west of Belleville, offers history and solitude. It’s a place to learn, experience and better understand an important chapter in the state’s history.

I visited this museum on a cold morning last November. The sun was showing through thin, wispy clouds. The museum is closed in the winter, but visitors can typically arrange a visit almost any time of year by calling ahead.

Educational exhibits, maps and photographs line the walls, blending seamlessly with the experience of standing where the Pawnee people lived and worked, planted and harvested, flourished and left. In this place, you can walk where they walked.

A Brief History The Pawnee, who called themselves the Chatiks si chatiks, comprised four bands.

The Kitkehahki band, which occupied this village, was called the Republican band by early white explorers who thought the Natives practiced a republican form of government.

“Every once in a while, somebody asks me to name my favorite location in Kansas. My answer varies, depending on my mood.

But if the question is ‘What place should everyone visit?’ it is the Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site.”

—REX BUCHANAN

Above The Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site features a structural model of this excavated lodge from the 1820s.

Right Educational exhibits, maps and photographs line the walls of the museum.

“Museum” is maybe a misnomer. This site is unlike any traditional museum I’ve ever visited. For starters, the building is round and low. Though the front door opens to a small gift shop, the next door opens to the heart of the experience—an excavated Pawnee lodge from the 1820s.

The museum was built over this excavated lodge in the 1960s, its limestone exterior blending with the land around it. Visitors walk around and slightly above the bare earth floor, which is about 50 feet in diameter. Holes dotting the surface indicate where posts supported the earthen lodge above.

Artifacts—tools, pottery shards, a bison skull and even a small pile of corn kernels—lie scattered on the lodge floor, most discovered in the same position they were left. A round, deep storage pit once hid food and other supplies while the Pawnee were away. There’s a skylight in the middle of the roof, mimicking the hole in the top of a lodge where smoke once escaped.

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The Pawnee were celestially oriented, looking to the sky, planets and stars as part of their spiritual practice. On display in the museum is a photograph of a Pawnee star chart, a drawing depicting the stars as “crosses” (rather than five-point stars, as Westerners might draw them) and showing the Pawnee vision of the night sky. The Field Museum in Chicago houses the original star chart but does not display it because it is a sacred object.

Seeing these artifacts in the quiet, mostly dim light of the museum feels like a privilege. Because it is.

There’s even more to see outside. The remains of more than 20 grass-covered lodges dot the 10-acre museum grounds. The Kitkehahki Nature Trail takes visitors through those lodge circles, offering a view of the Republican River valley to the north. Small Nebraska towns are visible in the distance. On the fall morning of my visit, the cottonwoods along the river had already lost their leaves. Two bald eagles swooped and flew across the land to the north.

For centuries, Pawnee lived in earth lodges in north-central Kansas and south-central Nebraska. They planted crops in the spring, hunted on the plains in the summer and returned home in the fall to harvest their bounty. In the winter, they made a hunting trip to the west. The Pawnee abandoned this village in the 1800s. Today, their reservation is in northern Oklahoma.

For a time, it was thought that American brigadier general and explorer Zebulon Pike visited this village during his 1806 travels across Kansas. An obelisk was even erected to mark the place people believed Pike had raised the American flag.

Research later confirmed that Pike visited another Pawnee village in Nebraska.

plan a trip.

Opposite Author Rex Buchanan advises visitors wander the museum grounds and take a moment to think about the people who once lived there.

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PHOTO COURTESY (OPPOSITE BOTTOM) Kansas Tourism

A Sense of Belonging In working on a book about Native rock carvings in central Kansas, I learned that the Pawnee are credited with many of the carvings (or petroglyphs) found in Kansas. The Pawnee were among one of the largest tribes in Kansas when European settlers first arrived, but most of today’s Kansans know little about them.

That educational gap is one reason the Pawnee Indian Museum State

Historic Site is such an important piece of our state’s history. Visiting this site is a learning opportunity, a chance to see a village in the place it originated and where it belongs. When I worked on my book about petroglyphs, it became evident that Kansas’ Native peoples deliberately left carvings in certain places—near springs or in caves, for example. These glyphs are inseparable from the land where they were carved.

Similarly, these lodges are profoundly connected to their land. They are in, and of, this place.

There is a tendency to view Indigenous people as a singular entity.

This tendency is even reflected in the word “Indigenous”; each tribe has its own identity, way of life and spiritual practices. This museum is a place to learn about the Pawnee and how this tribe was connected to their land—on this now-quiet hilltop, thrust into the sky.

The Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site deserves more visitors.

When I’ve visited, I’ve often been the only person there (unless I’m leading a field trip). The solitude, though, is part of its charm. Make a visit, and you’ll likely have the place to yourself. Wander the grounds and take a moment to ponder, to think about the land and The Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site is located on the people who lived here 480 Pawnee Trail in Republic. It is about 8 miles north of U.S. before settlers arrived.

Highway 36, on KS-266 N/Pawnee Trail. Signs lead the way.

They lived here first, The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday and we owe them our afternoons, April to October. Visitors can call 785.748.2205 respect and an effort to during the off-season to make an appointment. Be sure to understand their place in call at least a few days in advance. this place.

The Kitkehahki Nature Trail, a paved, half-mile path, Every once in a while, winds through the unexcavated lodges and is easily somebody asks me to accessible. A picnic area is also available on museum name my favorite location grounds. in Kansas. My answer Visitors can find lodging and restaurants in nearby varies, depending on my Belleville. In addition, the nearest town of Courtland offers mood. But if the question Airbnb rentals and a local brewpub. is “What place should Visit kansashistory.gov/pawnee_indian for more everyone visit?” it is the information.

Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site.

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One filmmaker uses drone photography to capture the beauty of the Kansas landscape from a new perspective

Story by Bill Stephens Photography by Nick Abt

Kansas From Above

PHOTO Bill Stephens

“My latest video, Mysteries of the Tallgrass, is my love

letter to the Flint Hills,” says Wichita-based videographer Nick Abt. “When I think about what our state has that no other state has, the Flint Hills are always at the top of my list. The Red Hills are an extension of what is in northern Oklahoma.

The Smoky Hills are similar to what you see in New Mexico. But the Flint Hills are totally unique.”

Abt is the owner of Abt Films, a company that specializes in creating documentaries and short films about the history and geography of Kansas. He is most well-known for his stunning drone footage of Kansas landscapes, which you can watch in many of his documentaries, including his most recent film, Mysteries of the Tallgrass, scheduled to premiere later this year. Another of his latest films, Kansas From Above, showcases stunning footage of 12 unique regions of Kansas, along with each region’s history, through the lens of a drone.

“My documentaries are a call to people from outside our state to come and experience Kansas,” Abt says. “When I moved here from Florida, people told me Kansas is flat with nothing to see. Then I saw Horsethief Canyon, and I realized there is more to this state. If you are driving on I-70 out west, all you have to do is exit and drive 20 minutes south to get face-to-face with Cedar Bluffs, which offer massive 100-foot bluffs,” Abt explains. “Just south of Oakley is Monument Rocks, and Little Jerusalem is off to the east.”

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Opposite Above The towering Monument Rocks in Gove County are also referred to as the Chalk Pyramids.

Opposite Left Videographer Nick Abt’s love for Kansas is infectious. He loves to capture its beauty through the lens of a drone.

Above Abt’s documentary Kansas From Above delves into the geological history of the Red Hills of Central Kansas.

Exploring the Land

As Abt began to explore the Kansas landscape, he realized just how much of its natural beauty was underappreciated. “After I found out about Elk River Trail, I knew there had to be more to Kansas than I was being told. I became obsessed with searching Google Earth for rougher and more remote areas,” Abt says.

In the western part of the state, he most enjoys filming the geology of the landscapes, which you can see in Kansas From Above and Exploration Kansas, an earlier production that delves into the diverse landscapes and geological

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history of the Smoky Hills and Red Hills of Central Kansas. “Bluff Creek heads south with a 300-foot, steep-sided cliff.

You can see millions of years of geology in the hillside,” he says. “The Cheyenne sandstone sits on top of the red rock beds.

It is extremely colorful.”

Abt has photographed the western part of Kansas, up and down the Colorado border. The extreme northwest corner of the state—where Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas meet—home to the Arikaree Breaks, named after one of the rivers in the area. Characterized by its deep, steep-sided canyons and eroded badlands, the breaks were once used by old-time rustlers to stash stolen cattle.

Abt has also visited the northeast part of the state, where he photographed the Glacial Hills, known for its rolling hills and rock-strewn valleys, and Echo Cliff, sandstone bluffs that wind along Mission Creek.

“My documentaries are a call to people from outside our state to come and experience Kansas.”

Picture This

“My passion has always been Kansas landscapes, and the drone is perfect for that kind of subject matter,” Abt says.

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–NICK ABT

Above A prescribed fire at the Flint Hills manages the health of its grasslands.

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Kansas in focus To best capture the beauty of Kansas, some areas are best appreciated when viewed from above.

Here is a collection of aerial shots of the beautiful Kansas landscape from some of our other KANSAS! magazine photographers.

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one. The photographer arrived shortly before sunset and set up two cameras on tripods to timelapse the rapidly changing light of the golden hour for this shot of the Monument Rocks in Gove County.

Photographed by Colt Sturgeon two. In this photo taken near Medicine Lodge, a fleet of combines finishes harvesting a field. Photographed by Colt Sturgeon three. Mullinville, a city in Kiowa County, is the home of the historical Fromme-Birney Round Barn. It was built in 1912 and restored in 1995. It is difficult to see it as a round structure unless you can see it from above.

Photographed by Bill Stephens four. This photographer’s goal was to show the graceful entry and exit ramps on the interstate near Emporia. He was particularly taken by the puffy white clouds.

Photographed by Corky Heller

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Nick first got into unmanned aircraft systems in 2016 and quickly got his Remote Pilot Certificate, or Part 107 license, for professional drone usage—an FAA requirement for commercial photography using drones.

Nick currently operates a DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone and prefers Sony DSLR cameras to other professional still cameras such as Canon or Nikon.

“When I started work on Exploration Kansas, I upgraded to a better drone [a DJI Mavic II Pro].

Created by Nick Abt of Abt Films and Adam Successful drone photography means being very Dreher of Adler Grey Media, Kansas From Above aware of your surroundings and being cautious about showcases 12 unique physiographic regions of how and where you fly to avoid crashing.”

Kansas through the lens of a drone. The film After the premiere of Mysteries of the Tallgrass first aired on PBS Kansas and is now available to (available on the Abt Films YouTube channel later watch at youtube.com/@seldomheard. Abt’s this year), Abt is set to start his next project—a look newest film, Mysteries of the Flint Hills, explores into the Smoky Hills buttes. the history and native ecosystems of the Flint “I feel like my mission is to uplift Kansans with my Hills. It will be available to watch later this year videography. But, honestly, even if nobody watched at youtube.com/@abtfilmskansas. In addition my videos, I would still get out and do it because I to these films, Abt has produced short-format truly love what I do.” documentaries on YouTube, including Lions in Kansas, Forests of Kansas and Into the Badlands of Kansas, all available on his YouTube channel.

watch this!

Abt’s newest documentary, Mysteries of the Tallgrass, explores the beauty of the Flint Hills, one of the most iconic regions in Kansas.

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FREE admission and parking | 701 Beach Lane, Manhattan, KS 66506 Tues., Wed., Fri. 10-5 | Thurs. 10-8 | Sat. 11-4 | 785-532-7718 | beach.k-state.edu @beachmuseum | BeachMuseumofArt | @beachmuseum

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Treks through the Flint Hills let visitors reconnect with nature

Wildflower walks

STORY BY

Nick Spacek and Beccy Tanner PHOTOGRAPHY BY

Amy Meng

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Without a doubt,

the best artist thanks to a Bison Conservation Initiative in 2008. In in Kansas is Mother Nature. Her palette is bright an effort to increase the biodiversity of the preserve, and bold with eye-popping displays of red butterfly 13 bison were airlifted from Wind Cave National Park milkweed, bursts of blue wild indigo and glorious in South Dakota to the Flint Hills. Today, the preserve arrays of Indian blanket flowers. The Flint Hills is home to about 100 bison. showcases how the prairie once stretched across the Great Plains. Moreover, this complex ecosystem plays To walk among the tall grasses, smell the an important role in biodiversity. wildflowers, or even catch a glimpse of bison, follow “The Great Plains once was a vast grassland one of the preserve’s 40 miles of hiking trails or extending from Oklahoma to Canada,” says Krista guided tours. “If we take the time to visit the Flint Dahlinger, a geologist, amateur botanist from Wichita Hills, we can find inspiration in every season,” says and secretary of the Kansas Native Plant Society.

Annie Wilson, an educator, rancher and singer“Most of the grasslands have been converted to songwriter near Elmdale. “The secret is to get out of farmland or agricultural use. And ranchers only want the car and find a trail.” grass, so they will spray out everything they consider a In the spring, Wilson suggests broadleaf weed.” walking along the scenic Only 4% remains of the ridgetops, rocky hillsides or open tallgrass prairie that once meadows. Spring is also when the covered 170 million acres of prairies are burned. “Even the North America, according to the burned prairie is a wonderland of National Park Service. Because The Tallgrass Prairie National geology, revealing ancient ‘bones’ of farming, urban sprawl and Preserve is open year-round except of the Flint Hills in limestone other consequences of westward during scheduled burns, which ridges, outcrops and fascinating expansion, much of it has been begin in late February and continue displays of fossils from the early lost forever. The largest surviving through mid-April, according to inland sea,” Wilson says. “Within portion is found in the Tallgrass the Kansas Fire Service. These just a few days after the fires, we Prairie National Preserve near prescribed burns maintain the can witness a resurrection as Strong City. health of the grasslands and reduce the lifeless, charred soil turns the risk of wildfire. Always check into a luminous green blanket the park’s website for the most Located in the heart of the stretching over the hills.” current information.

Flint Hills, the Tallgrass Prairie In the fall, Mother Nature’s National Preserve was established artwork is just as stunning as it Hiking trails consist of old gravel on November 12, 1996. Spanning was in the spring. “Prairie soils ranch roads and mowed paths. nearly 11,000 acres, this protected reveal a bounty so glorious, the Expect to see grasses up to 6 piece of land is cooperatively prairie seems to have almost inches in the spring; they’ll grow managed through public-private outgrown itself,” Wilson says. all summer and reach maximum partnership between the National “Enormous, intricate seedheads heights in late September to early Park Service and the Nature crown the waist-high trunks of Conservancy. tallgrass, so heavy they bend October. nps.gov/tapr/index.htm The preserve features rolling under their own weight, spilling hills covered in four tallgrasses out over trails and large rocks.” that can reach 6 to 8 feet, given the right conditions: For a deeper understanding of the prairie big bluestem, Indian grass, little bluestem and ecosystem, consider attending any of the Flint Hills’ switchgrass. Native grasses are outnumbered only nature talks, walks or tours. For example, the Friends by the wildflowers that paint the prairie. Wildflowers of the Konza Prairie (keep.konza.k-state.edu/fokp) account for 80% of the preserve’s biodiversity, offers an annual Wildflower Walk in June. Both the according to the National Park Service. However, they Kansas Native Plant Society (kansasnativeplantsociety. cover only 20% of the prairie; grass species cover the org) and Kansas Land Trust (klt.org) offer seasonal remaining 80%. events that provide a closer look at the unique beauty This living landscape also supports a variety of of the area. Experts, including authors, conservation wildlife, including bison that freely roam the preserve, coordinators and scientists from the Kansas

A Step in the Right Direction

Prairie Preserve

The Power of Preservation

48 KANSAS! magazine

Opposite Only 4% remains of the tallgrass prairie that once covered 170 million acres of North America.

Biological Survey offer guided tours and share their wisdom. Program organizers often require RSVPs to gauge interest, so be sure to respond early to event announcements.

Dahlinger also suggests joining Kansas conservation groups such as the Friends of the Konza Prairie or the Kansas Native Plant Society, which periodically hosts field trips. The Kansas Wildlife Federation (kansaswildlifefederation.org), Kansas Land Trust (klt.org), The Nature Conservancy (nature.org) and the Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society (nfhas. org) are also excellent resources for discovering opportunities for outdoor education and exploration.

For some of the best wildflower displays in any season, visit the rural county lakes within the Flint Hills. A Pocket Guide to Kansas Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses (Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center) lists more than 50 easily identifiable plants.

Thanks to guides like this, even novice explorers can point out some foliage.

Regardless of your skill or knowledge, there’s something to appreciate in the open air and expanses of the prairie for those willing to make the trek.

Konza Prairie Wildflower Walks The Friends of the Konza Prairie host an annual Wildflower Walk at the Konza Prairie Biological Station. Guides point out native plants and answer questions during this 1.5-mile hike along the Butterfly Hill Trail. The Konza prairie is a tallgrass prairie preserve located in the Flint Hills. The next guided tour will be June 1 at 6:30 p.m. Call 785.587.0381 for more information. keep.konza.k-state.edu/fokp/index.html

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Above Hikers enjoy the annual Wildflower Walk hosted by the Friends of the Konza Prairie.

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Mandy Remus / Stanton County

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kansasgallery

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Tom Arnhold / Johnson County

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Christine Curry / McPherson County

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Brooke Buck / Gove County

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Where the Wild Things Flourish A class offered through Manhattan’s UFM Community Learning Center teaches students the basics of foraging for edible native plants Story by Meta Newell West

Photography by Amy Meng

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taste

s

A relative newcomer to the class, ue Maes, Terry Olson and Kelly Yarbrough is a local artist who also Yarbrough’s passion for edible organizes Manhattan’s annual “Seed native plants is unwavering. No Swap” event at the Discovery Center. In stranger to foraging, this trio is my personal class, she explained how well-versed in adding nutrition juniper berries must be harvested in the and variety to their diets with locally fall when they are blue and soft. Drying sourced fruits, nuts and plants. Each year, and then pulverizing them releases their they offer the class Edible Native Plants citrusy and rosemary-like overtones and through Manhattan’s UFM Community adds a burst of flavor to her juniper berry Learning Center, where they use their years gravy, which she served over seared lamb. of foraging experience to educate others Yarbrough also enjoys cooking with about the benefits of nature’s bounty. For hickory nuts, which have this article, they recreated a a starring role in her scaled-down version of that popular pumpkin hickory class experience just for me. maple cornbread bars.

We started in Olson’s “Not all hickory nuts are kitchen, where the smells the same,” she warns. and sounds of seared “Bitternut hickories meat and bubbling gravy are the most common, permeated the air. Prepared but they live up to their foods lined the counter, and name.” She has recently I quickly surmised that the This UFM Community found a palatable species sampling they promised Learning Center class on near Blue Rapids that was a wild feast. At first, I edible native plants will be must be husked, shelled, was apprehensive to eat offered June 24 from 5:30 repeatedly soaked and what my farmer father once to 7:00 p.m. at Prairiewood dried before being added referred to as “weeds” or Retreat and Preserve. In to her moist and flavorconsume anything with the addition to the slideshow packed cornbread bars. word “stinging” in its name. and sampling, participants For her delicious But I soon discovered these will be divided into small bergamot and sumac tart, women know how to make groups for a hike along Yarbrough steeps fragrant the most of prairie-food the preserve’s reclaimed red sumac berries to create flavors and textures. prairie trails. Guides an infusion that is the base Let me begin with the will point out seasonal of her tart’s custard filling. stinging nettle quiche plants and provide tips She also incorporates prepared by Maes, who has on identification. Plants ground bergamot leaves taught the Edible Native expected to be available into the melt-in-yourPlants class at UFM for four in June include spider mouth shortbread crust. decades. She combines milkweed, plantain and Olson, who owned and nettles with spinach to create garlic mustard. For operated the Eastside and a flavor combination that more information, visit Westside Markets for 43 made me regret choosing tryufm.org. years, is a pro at finding a small portion. Nettles are culinary uses for edible at their peak in the spring. prairie plants. Her rule for cooking Maes picks the young, tender leaves off the greens: “The more bitter the green, the top of plants, then blanches and freezes the more likely I am to use bacon grease as excess in 1/2 cup portions to use throughout the added fat. Less bitter, I use butter.” the year. She stresses the importance of To prepare dock, a wild plant often wearing gloves when harvesting stinging found in open fields or along roadsides, nettles but assures me that cooking the chop its young, tender leaves, then steam leaves neutralizes the stingers.

edible native plants

Opposite Rose hips can be steeped as a tea, candied or made into jelly.

59 KANSAS! magazine

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taste

recipe.

Sue’s Spinach & Nettle Quiche Instructor Sue Maes serves this quiche in her Edible Native Plants class. If you already have a favorite spinach quiche recipe, she suggests substituting one-third of its spinach with blanched nettles. In this recipe, you will need half a pound of a nettlespinach mixture. It has been divided accordingly in the ingredient list.

INGREDIENTS PIE CRUST

•

9-inch pie crust

FILLING

•

and season them with salt and butter to create a simple dish that tastes like lemony spinach. Similar to spinach, dock cooks down to almost nothing, so always start with more. “It’s in every byway,” Olson says. “It can be found everywhere from spring to fall.”

Olson enjoys turning wild blackberries and plums into jellies, filling tea bags with dried leaves for easyto-make teas, and freezing containers of pesto that she makes from garlic mustard. Another invasive plant, garlic mustard grows rampant in shady areas in the spring and early summer. For our sampling, Olson heats a portion of pesto and serves it over tortellini for a quick and tasty dish. “Because garlic mustard is considered an invasive plant, you’re doing the environment a favor by harvesting it,” Olson explains.

Although cooking with native plants is a great way to add delicious, healthful foods to your diet, harvesting them must be done responsibly. During a slideshow, Olson points out various look-alike plants that can be dangerous to mistake for one another, including poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), which is commonly mistaken for elderberry (Sambucus canadensis).

Common sense is key. Avoid harvesting plants from fields, yards or roadsides that may have been treated with herbicides or contaminated by vehicle emissions.

Only forage in state, county or municipal parks where it is not prohibited, and on private property if the landowner grants permission. And—most importantly— don’t eat anything you can’t identify with absolute certainty. Would-be foragers are encouraged to read Above Instructor Sue Maes combines nettle with spinach to create a flavorful quiche.

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• • • • • • • • • •

⅓ pound Swiss cheese (cheddar or Gruyère are also options) pound stinging nettles ½ medium onion, finely chopped 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil ⅓ pound fresh spinach ½ teaspoon dry mustard ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon salt Pinch black pepper 4 large eggs 1½ cups whole milk (or use part half-and-half)

INSTRUCTIONS

one. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. two. Pre-bake pie crust for 10 minutes. When cooled, sprinkle cheese over top. three. Use tongs to drop nettles into a pot of boiling water. Blanch for 1 to 2 minutes, or until tender. Drain and squeeze out excess water. Set aside. four. Sauté onion in a skillet with olive oil until translucent. Add fresh spinach, blanched nettles, dry mustard, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Continue to cook for 3 to 4 minutes to enhance flavor. Set aside. five. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and milk. six. Combine sautéed spinach and nettle mixture with egg mixture. Pour over cheese-topped pie crust. seven. Bake in a preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes.

Test for doneness with a thin-bladed knife. Insert knife about 1 inch from the center of the quiche. If it’s clean when pulled out, it’s done. If any quiche clings to the blade, bake a few minutes longer and test again.

Opposite Hickory nuts have a starring role in instructor Kelly Yarbrough’s popular pumpkin hickory maple cornbread bars.

what else is on the menu?

Instructors Sue Maes (left), Kelly Yarbrough (center) and Terry Olson (right) share some of their favorite edible native plant creations.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Common milkweed pods Breaded and fried to serve like fried okra Daylilies (non-native, but naturalized orange “ditch lilies”) Use in place of lettuce in salads Elderberry blossoms Lightly battered and fried to make funnel cake-like fritters Dandelion Greens sautéed or stir-fried in bacon grease; blossoms battered and fried Grape leaves Briefly fried in ¼-inch olive oil in a heavy skillet, drained and salted to make crispy chips Jerusalem artichoke roots Eat raw or cook for a vegetable side dish Mulberries Use to make jellies or pies Pawpaw fruit Eat raw, add to smoothies or salads, or use in baked goods Spider milkweed pods Steamed and served like edamame Sumac berries Steeped overnight in cold water to make a refreshing cold tea Wild parsley Use in dressings and dips

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authoritative reference books and field guides. Plant photo apps can be a useful learning tool for confirming identification, but Yarbrough warns they are not 100 percent accurate. She suggests cross-referencing with reliable field guides.

“After several times in the field, you’ll become familiar with plants, and then it becomes easy to identify them,” Olson says, reminding class newcomers to relax and enjoy the fresh air and exercise.

Olson also reminds students to never take more than 10% to 20% of a given plant’s population so as to avoid overharvesting. Partial harvesting, as Olson points out, can actually encourage the growth of some crops such as nettles, lambsquarters, dock and dandelions. When it comes to morel mushrooms, however, people tend to pick everything in sight. That’s why morels should be collected in mesh bags so their spores can fall back to the ground.

Foraging provides a bounty of free foods that can be transformed into flavorful fare, but the process is timeconsuming and laborintensive. So why bother?

“It’s a way to connect with “After several nature,” Olson says.

For Yarbrough, times in the field, former president of you’ll become Friends of Konza Prairie, foraging expands the familiar with world by encouraging plants, and then her to notice new plants. it becomes easy “I get excited taking people on the trails,” to identify them.”

Yarbrough says. “They —TERRY OLSON find things that they recognize and then discover they are edible.

Suddenly, they see the world with a new eye and begin to understand there is abundance that can sustain life in so many ways.”

Following the advice of Olson, I plan to start with lambsquarters this spring. “It’s probably the easiest to find and a good one to start cooking with,” Olson says.

“Look for a silvery plant with textured leaves that are kind of furry. To prepare, just boil or steam it and season with salt and butter.”

I’m also planning spring salads of watercress, chickweed, violets, henbit and young, tender dandelion leaves. Perhaps I’ll invite a few friends over for my own “wild” party, amid conversations about the edible gifts from our Kansas landscapes.

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taste

recipe.

Garlic Mustard Pesto Garlic mustard grows rampant in shady areas in the spring and early summer. Instructor Terry Olson likes to serve this pesto over hot tortellini for a quick and tasty dish.

INGREDIENTS

• • • • • •

2 cloves fresh garlic ½ cup olive oil, plus more as needed ½ teaspoon salt 2 to 4 tablespoons butter, optional 6 to 8 cups wild garlic mustard leaves, washed and dried ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

one. Put everything but the cheese in a food processor.

Process until smooth, scraping sides down and adding more oil as necessary to create a thick but pourable consistency without being too runny. two. Add cheese and process again until smooth. three. Serve over hot pasta, such as cheese-stuffed tortellini or ravioli.

Above Serve garlic mustard pesto over hot tortellini.

Opposite Use summer goldenrod flowers to make a delicious tea.

suggested references.

Books • Edible Wild Plants of the Prairie: An Ethnobotonical Guide, 2nd ed.,

by Kelly Kindscher (University Press of Kansas, 2024) • Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons (Stackpole Books, 1962) • Wildflowers & Grasses of Kansas: A Field Guide, revised and expanded ed.,

by Michael John Haddock (University Press of Kansas, 2024)

Apps • Seek by iNaturalist • PictureThis

poems W R I T T E N B Y K A N S A N S A N D C U R A T E D B Y P O E T L A U R E A T E T R A C I B R I M H A L L

1824 The swaying sideoats grama grass infused with Indian firewheel was opened for her.

She rests in a shallow Kiowa grave embraced by Mother Earth’s perfume, blue day flowers reseeding over her.

1874 Leaving the one-room soddy she walked a traveling courtship across the sand hills where sunflower and plum thorns caught on her rustling skirt, white wild onion umbels twining in her hair.

2024 Across contrails high in Kansas sky blackbirds fly in synchronizing waves above the grassy sea.

Slender greenthread makes her sneeze as she climbs to join the fleeting, eternal seasons on the sand hills.

JOAN WEAVER lives in a 1907 homesteader’s house built in the sand hills of rural

Edwards County. She describes herself as an “accidental poet” who draws inspiration from the life stories of Kansas folk, past and present, whom she’s met in the archives and at the circulation desk of the Kinsley Public Library, where she serves as director.

She is at work on a book that highlights Kinsley pioneers who provided a cultural oasis on the prairie from 1900 to 1925.

64 KANSAS! magazine

PHOTO COURTESY Kansas Tourism, Joan Weaver

Sand Hill Seasons

1774 After the sea receded sand sailed on wind and river from far western peaks to form undulating dunes moored by grass and wildflower where once she stood suckling her buffalo calf.

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