KANSAS! Magazine | Spring 2018 by Kansas Magazine

Literary issue

KANSAS BOOKS INSPIRE

Local Journeys and Grand Dreams

$5.00 / Display until May 2018

SPRING 2018

| VOL 74

ISSUE 1

KANSASMAG.COM

FREE TASTINGS AND TOURS Open Friday-Sunday, Noon-6 23622 Springhill Farm Dr. Winfield, KS 67156

620.229.9463 www.WheatStateWineCo.com

“FINE WINE FOR FINE FOLK”

contents features 42 |

A Whole New Storyboard

52 |

A Sunflower State Literary Pilgrimage

An accomplished Kansas artist turns her eye to sharks, jellyfish, birds and other heroes of children’s book illustrations

Three contemporary Kansas writers visit locations associated with historic Kansas authors

departments 04 |

In This Issue

06 |

From the Editor

08 |

This Season

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

SPRING 2018

26 |

Wide Open Spaces

26 | AT HOME WITH WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE A cozy porch, an expansive library and a table full of guests helped connect a legendary ‘homebody’ newspaperman with the nation’s biggest events and political players 30 | A JUNCTION CITY WEEKEND Outdoor enthusiasts and fans of interactive history should make this their travel destination 34 | TASTE OF KANSAS: DRINK UP How two Kansas business owners found health and professional success through cold-pressed juicing

58 |

KANSAS! Gallery: Spring

64 |

#KansasMag

An original illustration for the book The Fish’s Wishes. Art by Barbara Waterman-Peters. Photograph by Bill Stephens

KANSAS! MAGAZINE SPRING 2018

Literary issue

KANSAS BOOKS INSPIRE

Local Journeys and Grand Dreams SPRING 2018

| VOL 74

ISSUE 1

KANSASMAG.COM

ON THE COVER Monochrome version of Gordon Parks portrait by Gary Palmer, Captured Images (Fort Scott, KS) taken during Parksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; visit to Fort Scott in 2004. Copyright Gary Palmer, capturedimagesphotos.com

ELIZABETH BACON CUSTER

When writer Mary Gage explored the legacy of Elizabeth Bacon Custer for part of the feature story in this issue, she came across many Kansas locations connected to Elizabeth Custer’s famous husband, George Custer. They include:

KANSAS HISTORY MUSEUM 6545 SW 6th Ave. | Topeka | (785) 272-8681 Among the exhibits are George Custer’s boots.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

FT. LEAVENWORTH 881 McClellan Ave. | Ft. Leavenworth | (913) 684-4021 The Frontier Army Museum displays a sleigh built for the Custers when they lived at this fort. The Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery holds the grave of Thomas Custer, one of the three Custer brothers who died at the Battle of Little Bighorn/Battle of the Greasy Grass.

SPRING 2018

FT. HAYS HISTORIC SITE 1472 Hwy. 183 Alt. | Hays | (785) 625-6812 A dumbbell, believed to have been forged for George Custer by the fort’s blacksmith, is on display at the fort’s museum. CUSTER ELM PARK S. Neosho St. & W. Elm | Council Grove | (620) 767-5413 Custer camped here under a 300-year-old elm tree. He later purchased the adjacent 120 acres with the intention of retiring on the property. FT. WALLACE HISTORICAL SITE 2655 Hwy. 40 | Wallace | (785) 891-3564 Custer force-marched his army from here in 1867 to rejoin his wife at Ft. Riley. It was a major element leading to his court martial a few months later. See 7th Cavalry artifacts at the visitors’ center and a cenotaph dedicated to the 7th Cavalry at the cemetery.

issue PARKS HOMAGE Kansas-based photographer Katie Moore has developed 52 her distinct style after years of work in Kansas, across the nation and abroad. But for her feature story highlighting Gordon Parks’ hometown, Moore attempted to shoot her images in the style of Gordon Parks, a legendary photographer himself. Moore described the experience as equally intimidating and inspiring.

JUICY TASTE TEST Freelance writer Katy Schamberger didn’t need an excuse to delve into the delicious world of 34 cold-pressed juice, but she’ll do anything in the name of research! The Compound Juice from Simple Science Juices—a refreshingly invigorating blend of sweet potato, orange and pineapple—quickly became her go-to. Photographer Sarah Reeves isn’t a celery fan, but the green juice she tried from Simple Science made her a believer. Justin Lister photographed 86 Cold Press and swears by the orange carrot juices—just hold the cayenne.

PHOTOGRAPHS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Nicolette Sessin, Katie Moore, Sarah Reeves

IN THIS

SPRING2018

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Andrea Etzel EDITOR

Jeff Colyer, M.D. GOVERNOR

Robin Jennison

KDWPT SECRETARY

WWW.SUNFLOWERPUB.COM LAWRENCE, KANSAS

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Bill Uhler PUBLISHER

WWW.MCAPRINT.COM WICHITA, KANSAS

PRINTER

Cheryl Wells ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Bob Cucciniello DIRECTOR

Shelly Bryant DESIGNER/ART DIRECTOR

Kelly Gibson SECTION EDITOR

Nathan Pettengill SECTION EDITOR

Leslie Andres COPY EDITOR

Joanne Morgan

Periodical postage paid at Topeka, KS, and at additional mailing offices. Newsstand price $4.99 per issue; subscription price $18 per year; international subscription price $22 per year. All prices include all applicable sales tax. Please address subscription inquiries to: Toll-free: (800) 678-6424 KANSAS!, P.O. Box 146, Topeka, KS 66601-0146 e-mail: ksmagazine@sunflowerpub.com 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!, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612 e-mail: ksmagazine@sunflowerpub.com The articles and photographs that appear in KANSAS! magazine may not be broadcast, published or otherwise reproduced without the express written consent of Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism or the appropriate copyright owner. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Additional restrictions may apply.

05 SPRING 2018

KANSAS! (ISSN 0022-8435) is published quarterly by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612; (785) 296-3479; TTY Hearing Impaired: (785) 296-3487.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

MARKETING, (785) 832-7264

FROM THE

editor

SPRING 2018

It seems each year goes by faster than the last! I typically avoid making resolutions, but I do like to have goals. A goal I have each year is to explore new aspects of Kansas. This could be visiting a region, attending an event, reading a Kansas-themed book, or finally seeing where that old dirt road (the one I’ve passed hundreds of times) leads. Sometimes those jaunts lead to the best discoveries. Last year, for example, I went a little off the beaten path and watched the sun set over Texaco Hill in Chase County. This year is no different, and my list continues to grow. One experience I won’t pass up is the “Big Kansas Road Trip” this May (see page 12). I’m looking forward to spending a weekend exploring the counties of Barber, Comanche, and Kiowa—hearing stories and making friends. I also plan to check Red Rocks State Historic Site off my bucket list. The site, located in Emporia, is the former home of William Allen White, who would have been 150 this year. Exploring Kansas locations is central to this year’s readers’ choice theme—Favorite Weekend Getaway in Kansas. If you could spend just one weekend in Kansas, where would you go and what would you do? We will be accepting nominations through March 15. Top nominations will move on to a voting round that will conclude May 31. Entries can be submitted by letter, through our website kansasmag.com, or on our Facebook page. Winners will be announced in our winter issue this November. So, what Kansas adventures are you planning this year?

ANDREA ETZEL

EDITOR, KANSAS! MAGAZINE

facebook.com/KansasMagazine

@KANSASMag

KansasMagazine (get spotted; use #kansasmag to tag us)

PHOTOGRAPH Courtesy Andrea Etzel

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S ALREADY A NEW YEAR.

Clay County traVel & tourism

VISIT CLAY COUNTY! SpeCIAL eVeNTS: • Longford Rodeo • Pioneer Festival

• Annual Piotique Celebration • City Band Summer Event

Visit our website for details and event dates! www.claycokansas.com

10 Culture

12 Sampler 15 Outside 17 Shop 18 Eat 20 Behind the Lens 22 Reasons We Love Kansas 25 Spring 2018 Events

WIDE OPEN SPACES 26 At Home with William Allen White 30 A Junction City Weekend 34 Taste of Kansas: Drink Up

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Welcome to KANSAS! magazine’s “This Season.” Here we explore what’s new and buzzing throughout the state—from restaurants and shopping to cultural happenings and attractions.

09 SPRING 2018

PHOTOGRAPHS (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) Justin Lister, Courtesy Nancy Singleton, Dave Leiker, Katie Moore

SPRING2018

this season

culture.

By Cecilia Harris

On Stage

reat Plains Theatre executive director Elizabeth Weese says it is unusual for a town of 6,500 people in the middle of Kansas to have a theater that hires professional performers from throughout the country. Add a talented staff’s innovative directing, staging, costuming and set design to the intimate setting— the theater seats 150 people—and the productions rate standing ovations. Great Plains Theatre, located in Abilene, is one of the only professional live theaters between Kansas City and Denver. “We had a couple in the audience who told me they had seen Lost in Yonkers performed on Broadway and they liked our production better, which speaks volumes,”Weese says. Great Plains Theatre offers four main stage shows from June through December with additional public programming throughout the year. But the Great Plains Theatre is not the only place in Kansas to enjoy a high-quality show. New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park regularly welcomes Academy-, Emmy-, and Tony-Award winning performers such as Michael Learned, Charles Shaughnessy and Hal Linden. Recognized as “the best dinner theater in the country” by The Wall Street Journal, the New Theatre Restaurant features a five-star dining experience with an ever-changing buffet menu during the theater’s five productions featuring celebrities in stage, film or television throughout the year. Music Theatre Wichita brings applause by combining Hollywood and New York City professionals with Midwest talent in five Broadway-scale musical productions it self-produces from June through August at Century II Performing Arts Center in Wichita. (785) 263-4574 | greatplainstheatre.com (913) 649-7469 | newtheatre.com (316) 265-3107 | mtwichita.org

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

JOIN ‘EM

SPRING 2018

Where in

KANSAS?

Downs Overland Park Osawatomie Abilene Wichita

WOMEN WRITERS ON THE SANTA FE TRAIL March 3, Osawatomie As part of a Kansas Humanities Council program, Leo E. Oliva, an author and retired history professor, shares the letters, diaries and memoirs of four women who traveled the Santa Fe Trail across Kansas. This year’s program includes the tale of one woman who made five trips on the trail in 10 years. (785) 425-7312 | kansashumanities.org

PHOTOGRAPH Doug Stremel

KANSAS STORYTELLING FESTIVAL April 27–28, Downs Dubbed “The Town of Many Stories,” Downs celebrates homespun yarns, tall tales, anecdotes about everyday life, historical portrayals, poetry, toe-tapping music and more at this annual event. Each day, storytelling sessions and workshops occur simultaneously at several locations within walking distance. A Tall Tale Contest begins the Friday night program, and three internationally-known storytellers headline Saturday’s concert. (785) 454-6648 | kansasstorytelling.com

STATE PARKS YOUR NEXT OUTDOOR URE ADVENT ICKEN ! HAWAITS C IE IR A R

S/P AT RACE RSES/BO 2018/HO t of Wild Departmen Kansas

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and Touri

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For additional information about how your business can reach Kansans contact us at Sunflower Publishing.

sunpubads@sunflowerpub.com | 785.832.7264

this season

sampler.

By Sarah Kelly Shannon

Hit the Road

as up the car and get to know the state’s rural people and places with the Big Kansas Road Trip, set for May 3–6.The self-guided tour of Kiowa, Barber, and Comanche counties will have something for everyone: visits with buffalo in southern Barber County, green technology in Greensburg, fishbowl beers at Buster’s in Sun City, and a whole lot more. “We’re simply asking these towns to be good at being themselves,” says Marci Penner, head of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, which is facilitating the event. The road trip is an evolution of the Kansas Sampler Festival, which began as an effort to create an audience for rural communities in the state.The road trip format is designed to let visitors see rural Kansas for themselves. “It’s important because these towns are part of Kansas,” Penner says.“In a way they’re the essence of Kansas. So many people have never heard of Hardtner or Mullinville or Wilmore, and this is a chance to get to know why people choose to live in a small town and to understand some of the challenges and some of the benefits of living in a small town.” There’s no sign-up, no admission fee, no strict agenda—and it moves at whatever pace you’d like.Visitors can golf in all three counties or check out local attractions, such as Carrie Nation’s Home and Stockade Museum in Medicine Lodge or the World’s Largest Hand Dug Well in Greensburg. See cemeteries, monuments, restaurants and red dirt that make this region home.The people of south-central Kansas are ready to welcome you on the Big Kansas Road Trip. KansasSampler.org

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

GET GOING

SPRING 2018

Where in

KANSAS?

Hutchinson Garnett Greensburg Sun City Medicine Lodge

LAKE GARNETT KART RACES April 14, Garnett The best go-kart racers in the Midwest will descend upon the small town of Garnett to compete. The Lake Garnett Park Race Track is near a beautiful lake and golf courses and located within walking distance of camping grounds. Pit admission will be charged. (785) 304-9701 | simplygarnett.com

PHOTOGRAPH Doug Stremel

MINE RUN 5K February 17, Hutchinson This is no ordinary 5K! Strataca invites you to experience one of the deepest 5K races on earth as you traverse Hutchinson’s salt mines 650 feet below ground. The pros: no wind, no humidity, and a nice, flat surface. The cons: it’s a little dark down there. (620) 662-1425 | UnderKansas.org

The Woodward Inns on Fillmore

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

one GoThIc mansIon + Three sTaTely execuTIve Inns + Three FamIly Inns =

Topeka’s Luxury Lodging/Party Destination Block

Newly Renovated Extended Stay Hotel Apartments at The Woodward Wisteria and The Woodward Row Houses - Economical to Luxury

The WoodWard Inns on FIllmore Chosen Best of the Midwest Travel 2014, 2015 and 2016 by Midwest Living Magazine 1272 SW Fillmore Street, Topeka, KS 66604 • (785) 354-7111 • www.TheWoodward.com

Proud Past – Brilliant Future Smoke in the Spring State BBQ Championship April 6 & 7, 2018 785-528-3714 (Osage City Hall) www.OsageCity.com

SPRING 2018

14 KANSAS! MAGAZINE

By Dave Zumbaugh

this season

outside.

Roughing It

GET CAMPING

Here are a few options for primitive camping in Kansas: WILSON STATE PARK (785) 658-2465 MILFORD STATE PARK (785) 238-3014 CIMARRON NATIONAL GRASSLANDS (620) 697-4621 BUTLER STATE FISHING LAKE (near Wichita) (620) 876-5730

MINED LAND WILDLIFE AREA (Southeast Kansas) (620) 231-3173

PHOTOGRAPH Doug Stremel

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OUTDOOR LIVING AND LANDSCAPE SHOW March 2-4 Century II Expo Center, Wichita Sponsored by the K-State Research and Extension - Sedgwick County, this weekendlong event welcomes homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts to gather landscaping, gardening and outdoor project ideas by attending seminars and meeting with vendors. outdoorlivingandlandscapeshow.com

KEEP IT CLEAN, KANSAS! April 22, various locations In celebration of Earth Day, the Kansas Bureau of Waste Management sponsors a state park cleanup day in April. They welcome volunteers or interested groups to assist in picking up refuse at select properties throughout the state. kdheks.gov/waste/earthday

Where in

KANSAS?

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

PRAIRIE DOG STATE PARK (Northwest Kansas) (785) 877-2953

Junction City Wilson Wichita

SPRING 2018

pots for primitive camping—also called backpack or wild camping—can be found throughout the Sunflower State. Most state parks and wildlife areas allow primitive camping, but it is best to monitor current guidelines on the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism website at ksoutdoors.com or call the appropriate property manager for specific details. Primitive camping is a great opportunity for children to learn life lessons while experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of their natural surroundings.Telling stories around a campfire is certain to build lasting memories. A basic gear list should include a tent, sleeping bag and pad or cot, camp stove and cookware, water filter, sunscreen and bug repellent. Other good options are binoculars, camera, fishing or hunting gear and a hand-held global positioning system device for more adventurous souls. Favorite camping locations include Wilson Lake and State Park near Russell, complete with its majestic views of rolling hills and rocky outcrops. Hiking and mountain bike trails provide exercise possibilities, but don’t forget to bring a fishing rod for the abundant walleye, bass and crappie angling opportunities right from the shore. In the far southwest corner of the state, you can tread on ancient Native-American trade routes in the Cimarron National Grasslands.With luck, you might catch a glimpse of rare Kansas species such as scaled quail or the excessively prickly cholla cactus. Milford Lake and State Park offers outstanding prospects for birders in both spring and fall. Frequent avian visitors include bald eagles, gulls and waterfowl.

A great marketing tool for your business.

TO ADVERTISE, CONTACT

Joanne Morgan

(785) 832-7264 / jmorgan@sunflowerpub.com

this season

By Nancy Carver Singleton

shop.

Newton Bookstore Celebrates Kansas Culture

PHOTOGRAPH Courtesy Nancy Singleton

Anderson’s also carries almost every office supply imaginable—school items, greeting cards and fun merchandise such as adult coloring books and puzzles. The biggest sellers, though, are Melissa & Doug educational toys, high school letter jackets and patches, and collegiate and sports memorabilia. “We find the things people buy here are items people cannot find anywhere else,” Phil’s son Murray Anderson says. Murray started Anderson’s eBay business—1892store—selling niche items such as store bells, unusual colors of pens and markers, small lots of paper, holiday decorations and typewriter ribbons. The online store ships goods worldwide.

Where in

KANSAS?

Newton

17 SPRING 2018

MORE THAN BOOKS

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

nderson Book & Office Supply in downtown Newton has long been a book-selling staple proud of its Kansas roots. In fact, the fifthgeneration business celebrated its 125th anniversary last year. But as competition from large retailers accelerated, Anderson’s shifted its focus to Kansas, Kansans and children’s books. “They [customers] are always asking me if there is a new book about Kansas,” says store owner Phil Anderson III, 85.“I think it is just the desire to know more about Kansas history.” Anderson’s grandfather Philip Murray ANDERSON BOOK & OFFICE SUPPLY Anderson began selling newspapers to 627 N. Main St., Newton Santa Fe Railroad passengers in 1892 and eventually upgraded to a newsstand where (316) 283-3570 his mother, Clarissa, sold food. Philip Murray (800) 794-4587 andersons1892@outlook.com bought a storefront in 1900 and started Anderson’s on Facebook carrying books.Today’s store is housed in a limestone building little changed since Anderson’s grandfather and father, Phil E., moved there in 1938.Anderson Book & Office Supply’s charm lives in its balconies, wooden floor, ceiling fans, metal ceiling and radiators. Many of the books sold there today are from the University of Kansas Press. Several former University of Kansas basketball players had book signings at the store, to the delight of Anderson, an avid Jayhawk fan. “We had them lined up a block long for Mario Chalmers,”Anderson says. And children’s books do well here.“That is one of the things we’re heavy on,”Anderson says.“A lot are for preschoolers.The moms and grandmas like them and they are nicely priced.” Newton native, writer and illustrator Brad Sneed comes back for signings at Anderson Book & Office Supply when he releases a new book. “He’s become very popular,”Anderson says.Also popular are the children’s books written by Kansas State University football coach Bill Snyder and former Wichita State University basketball player Ron Baker. The store emphasizes personal service over sales numbers.“We are prepared to wait on them [customers],”Anderson says.“With the many thousands of items in here, customers appreciate that service.”

this season

eat.

By Cecilia Harris

Tea Time

rewing across Kansas are afternoon teas, the time-honored custom during which friends unwind over a spot of tea, served hot and accompanied by fancy sandwiches, pastries and desserts brought on tiered serving pieces to the lace-covered table. Each tearoom is as unique as the tea flavors and finger foods served. Teresa Gebbett, owner of the Clock Tower Bakery in Overland Park, offers an English Afternoon Tea steeped in British tradition. After all, she once resided in the United Kingdom where the practice of afternoon tea originated. “Everything on the menu for the English tea is actually of English heritage,” she says of the recipes for English scones, sandwiches and desserts like Millionaire’s Shortbread she offers along with a number of British teas from which to choose. Courses served on mismatched antique china at the First Lady Tea Room in a historic building in Abilene include a scone with Devonshire cream and a fruit kabob; a seasonal salad; three types of tea sandwiches such as cucumber and cream cheese; a fruit sorbet to “cleanse the palate,” and three different tea desserts like cheesecake along with hand-dipped strawberries, says owner Sara Talbert. At Three Sisters Tea and Treasures in Canton, a special theme highlights the monthly High Teas in the Victorian-era dining room. “For the Circus Valentine Tea in February we’ll have heartshaped sandwiches and a cotton candy dessert,” says owner Cheryl Everhart.“The point of the High Tea is to relax and enjoy, so we try to make it fun.” (913) 948-9559 | clocktowerbakery.com (785) 307-5309 | firstladytearoom.com (620) 628-4484 | Facebook@threesisters.tea

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

FOOD HAPPENINGS

SPRING 2018

Where in

KANSAS?

Overland Park Topeka Abilene Wichita

OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET Wichita Now through mid-April on most Sundays, food producers fill booths inside Distillery 244 with microgreens from peas, red radish, arugula, watercress, and sunflower shoots. Farm fresh eggs, beef, lamb, pork and chicken are offered. Visitors can also purchase garlic, roasted coffee beans, flavored pasta, hummus, pesto, salsa, jam, jellies, fruit butters, fudge and honey. Visit the website for exact dates. (316) 337-5770 | oldtownfarmersmarket.com

PHOTOGRAPH Doug Stremel

ROAR AND POUR WINE FESTIVAL April 28, Topeka The Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center is the toast of the town during this festival featuring Kansas wine tastings paired with visits by some of the zoo animals. Hosted by the Friends of the Zoo, the event on zoo grounds also includes appetizers and desserts from area restaurants as well as live entertainment. (785) 272-7595 | topekazoo.org

this season

behind the lens.

Katie Moore

A conversation with KANSAS! photographers about their lives in photography

PHOTOGRAPHS Katie Moore

What was the moment you wanted to become a photographer? How old were you at the time? When I was 12 years old, I went to a weeklong photography summer camp. As I looked down at the contact sheet from a roll of film I had shot, I became hooked— the process and the outcome were so cool. Photography has given me a reason to peer into other people’s lives while also being a form of expression. If you had to describe your photography in terms of a color wheel, where would you fall on it? Dark burgundy.

If you had to describe your photographic style in terms of a family tree, who is your “mother”? Who is your “father”? Who is your “brother” or “sister”? Dorothea Lange. Edward Hopper. Dan Eldon. What are some uncommon objects that you like to photograph? I take a lot of photos of dead birds which some people find quite weird and morbid and others find beauty in. What is the hardest thing to photograph badly? What is the hardest thing to photograph well? Flowers. People. Tell us about the shot that got away. There’s so many. One in particular that sticks out was when I was a teenager and I would take the bus from Topeka to Pittsburg to visit my grandpa. It was dark and cold outside and the bus had stopped at a motel that was also a stop along the bus route. There was a glowing, neon “Vacancy” sign that I framed and shot from the bus. I imagined what it would look like when I got the film back, but it didn’t turn out. The scene was so atmospheric but perhaps better in real life than as a photograph. What is your favorite Kansas landmark to photograph? The sky.

Rank these Kansas icons (from favorite to least favorite) in terms of your choice of photography subject: Seldom-heard discouraging words - 1 Buffalo herds - 2 Open skies - 3 The ornate box turtle - 4 Prairie flowers - 5 Fields of sunflowers - 6 The Kansas River - 7 Cottonwood trees - 8 Tell us about your best chance photo taken in Kansas. Where was it? How did it come about? I really enjoyed shooting the Gordon Parks story in Fort Scott. I wasn’t sure what to expect and just drove around town, scoping out different scenes to get a feel for the town. While I was in the parking lot of the movie theater, which had an art-deco look to it, three people drove into the parking lot and walked in. It was so graphic. I also liked the man cleaning windows. I leapt out of my car when I saw him and waited to get the right second, with his body curving a certain way. Fill in the blanks: A good photographer knows when to talk and to never talk too much. Three things I’ll never tire of photographing are people, protests and cats. The motto of a good Kansas photographer should always be Ad Astra Per Aperture. People often think photography is about capturing a particular moment, but actually it is about the past and future.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Where do you live now? How many years have you been in Kansas? I grew up in Topeka and went to KU. After living on both coasts, I returned to Kansas in 2015 and now live in Lawrence.

What was your first camera? What did you like about it? My dad gave me a Canon AE1. I liked it because it was my dad’s and had recorded moments from my childhood. It also felt like my dad saw my potential in giving his camera to me to use.

21 SPRING 2018

atie has been taking photos since she was a kid growing up in Kansas. As a photojournalist, she particularly likes to develop long-form projects spanning weeks, months or even years that explore contemporary issues. Katie has been a participant with the Missouri Photo Workshop and the International Women’s Media Foundation, producing stories on subjects ranging from incarceration to the oil industry in Uganda. While living in New York City, she covered the Occupy Wall Street protests. Upon returning to Kansas, she documented her mother’s battle with ALS, a terminal neurological disease. Her work aims to evoke a sense of meaning, narration and place (though she enjoys taking the occasional food and cat photo too). Katie also shoots photos as a reporter with The Topeka Capital-Journal.

this season

reasons.

By Cecilia Harris

REASONS we love Kansas

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Breathtaking gardens that inspire us to get outdoors

SPRING 2018

22 BARTLETT ARBORETUM Belle Plaine Here, more than 30,000 brightly colored tulips and other flowers bloom underneath a canopy of century-old trees, ten of which are the tallest of their kind in Kansas.The arboretum, established in 1910, is open by appointment but throws its gates open each year for the “Art in the Arb” event.The 2018 festival, on April 14–15, includes tours of the formal gardens, tree walks, artists’ booths, food vendors, and regional musicians. bartlettarboretum.com

Having celebrated 30 years in 2017, Wichita’s expansive, 18-acre community garden welcomes visitors throughout the year to enjoy seasonal plantings and contemplative spaces such as the Butterfly/ Pansy House (open June–September), a Shakespeare garden (a meditative fountain surrounded by many of the plants mentioned in the plays of William Shakespeare), a sensory garden and a xeriscape garden. botanica.org

PARSONS ARBORETUM Parsons

INTERNATIONAL FOREST OF FRIENDSHIP Atchison

DYCK ARBORETUM OF THE PLAINS Hesston

An observation deck offers views of water plants, fish, frogs, birds and other wildlife found in the wetlands area of this 25-acre park. Over two miles of nature trails take visitors through a variety of wildflowers, plants, shrubs and some 95 specimens of trees. The visitors’ center, in a renovated 1936 pool house, is open May through October. parsonsks.com

“World Friendship through Flight” is the theme of this forest, a living memorial to individuals who contributed to the fields of aviation and aerospace. Nestled on a gentle slope overlooking Lake Warnock, the park holds trees from 50 states and 36 territories and countries that honor such notables as the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Chuck Yeager, Col. Eileen Collins, Sally Ride, and Atchison native Amelia Earhart. ifof.org

Hundreds of varieties of native prairie wildflowers, grasses and trees reveal the state’s natural beauty at this arboretum. Native species are sold at the biannual FloraKansas: The Great Plains Plant Bazaar on April 26– 30. The arboretum hosts research projects and public concerts throughout the year, as well as a special teachers’ education summer program. dyckarboretum.org

REASONS

we love Kansas

OVERLAND PARK ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDENS Overland Park A Monet Garden, featuring the flowers artist Claude Monet painted, and a Legacy Garden, showcasing vegetation most likely seen on early Kansas homesteads, are two of 13 gardens with more than 1,700 species of plants in this 300-acre park that also includes 30 permanent sculptures. Acres of open prairie and nearly six miles of hiking trails traversing bottomland and rocky bluffs offer views of Kansas flora and fauna. opkansas.org

Send your “Reasons We Love Kansas” to ksreasons@sunflowerpub.com or to Reasons, KANSAS!, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

BOTANICA Wichita

reasons.

23 SPRING 2018

PHOTOGRAPHS (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) John Morrison, Botanica, David Ediger, Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, International Forest of Friendship, Parsons Arboretum

this season

10-4pm Wed-Sat | 1-5pm Sun

(785) 887-6148 | www.lecomptonkansas.com

ABILENE

“Best Small Town to Visit” - Smithsonian Magazine

www.AbileneKansas.org

this season

events.

MARBLE CRAZY March 2–3 / Bonner Springs Marble and glass artists from around nation converge in Bonner Springs moonmarble.com JAZZ WALK March 23 / Lindsborg Jazz musicians present different varieties of jazz across Lindsborg lindsborgcity.org LA TRAVIATA April 7 / Wichita Verdi’s classic, on the plains / wichitagrandopera.org ANTIQUE BOTTLE AND POSTCARD SHOW April 8 / Hutchinson Kansas fairgrounds hosts grand antique show / visithutch.com TULIP FESTIVAL April 13–15 / Belle Plaine Tulip gardens with live music, car shows and more belleplainechamber.com KART RACES April 14 / Garnett Lake Garnett hosts some of the best Midwest cart racers simplygarnett.com KANSAS BOOK TOUR: THE SAINT OF WOLVES AND BUTCHERS April 17, 20 and 24 / Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita Best-selling Kansas mystery writer Alex Grecian reads from new Kansas-set novel / alexgrecian.com

PHOTOGRAPH Courtesy Moon Marble

ANTIQUE & BARBED WIRE FESTIVAL May 3–5 / LaCrosse The 52nd annual celebration of an invention that shaped the West rushcounty.org

EVENTS spring 2018

FRONTIER DAYS, RODEO AND BBQ May 18–19 / Abbyville Classic rodeo event in its fifth decade / abbyvillerodeo.weebly.com CARP DERBY May 26 / Scott City Carp fishing derby at Historic Lake Scott State Park allows you to fish, win prizes and help preserve the lake.

FIND MORE EVENTS AT TRAVELKS.COM Because all events are subject to change, please confirm with organizers before finalizing plans.

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COOL HAND LUKE GRAVEL GRINDER April 22 / Leavenworth 100-mile, 50-mile and 25-mile gravel bike race / santafebikes.com

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WHEAT STATE ANTIQUE TRUCK SHOW April 21 / Newton, Newell Truck Plaza Festival celebrating timeless beauty on wheels marks 15 years athskansas.org

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William Allen White At Home with

A cozy porch, an expansive library and a table full of guests helped connect a legendary ‘homebody’ newspaperman with the nation’s biggest events and political players

The library at the William Allen White home in Emporia.

By Christine Steinkuehler Photography by Dave Leiker

The Red Rocks State Historic Site displays many artifacts from the life of William Allen White such as this press pass from the Treaty of Versailles talks.

Why did “Red Rocks” become the name for the White home? The Whites purchased their home on Exchange Street in 1899 and substantially remodeled it after an attic chimney fire in the 1920s. Following the fashion at the time for palatial homes to be given names, the Whites named their house for the roughhewn red sandstone brought in from the Garden of the Gods area in Colorado and used for the home’s reconstruction. The Whites had begun consulting with Frank Lloyd Wright before the fire, and even though they went with the Kansas City firm Wight and Wight, Frank Lloyd Wright’s influence can be felt throughout.

and the ideal of small-town life. For those reasons, White felt he could best be a part of the national debate by remaining rooted to Emporia, and particularly to “Red Rocks,” the Queen Anne house that he and his wife bought and renovated, and which now stands as a State Historic Site. “Red Rocks and Emporia were important to William Allen White because they were his home,” says Ken Wilk, administrator of Red Rocks State Historic Site. “He was very much a homebody and family man. Those two things were what kept him rooted in his beliefs and convictions. Even when he traveled, he always loved to come home.” One of White’s favorite places at Red Rocks was the porch, where there is almost always a breeze. During the summer, White could often be found lounging in one of his porch hammocks with stacks of books beside him. Here he would review books for the Book of the Month Club, write his editorials, talk on the phone or hold court with visitors. White was known for calling out to passersby and inviting them up to the porch for discussions. White and his wife, Sallie, would frequently host large dinner parties. “Food and guests are our only major vices. We love company,” said Sallie. When the Whites renovated the home, they created

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n impromptu street corner debate in his hometown of Emporia provoked newspaper editor William Allen White to write the editorial “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” The 1896 essay blasted the state’s Populist movement for what White believed were anti-business policies that caused the economy and the state’s population to stagnate. Reprinted across the country, the editorial caught the attention of the national Republican Party, which printed hundreds of thousands of copies of the editorial to be used in the tightly contested 1896 presidential race between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan. That reprinting also thrust White— who had been primarily focused on local politics and sometimes gossip—onto the national stage. “Suddenly, I—the Editor of the Emporia Gazette, a country paper with little more than 500 circulation—was a somebody. The dimensions of my world were enlarged,” wrote White. Capitalizing on his new prominence, White became a national political pundit and informal adviser to five U.S. presidents, beginning with Theodore Roosevelt. His commentary, however, continued to carry the accent and perspective of his daily life in Emporia. White saw Emporia as a metaphor for Middle-American values

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The home of William Allen White is a state historic site open to guests.

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Original artifacts attest to White’s curiosity about global and local affairs.

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a great room with a large fireplace and bookshelves that lined the walls. Here, White would entertain guests with his “3-finger” piano playing or their phonograph player. Better Homes and Gardens reported that the Whites were gracious hosts who loved to fill the house with guests “so thick that you have to fit them in with a knife” and that the couple’s monthly grocery bill was $100 (at a time when a loaf of bread was 5 cents). During the meals, William Allen would sit at the head of the table with his chair pushed up against the buffet while a red fountain pen that he used to edit editorials would secure a napkin to his vest. Sallie would preside at the other end of the table, and the room’s French doors would be open to provide guests with a view of the garden. The Whites lived in the home until William’s death in 1944 and Sallie’s death in 1950. Though it would be opened for occasional fundraisers, events and family visits, the house remained mostly shuttered until the state took control and began opening it for the public in 2001. Because of this series

Red Rocks State Historic Site 927 Exchange St. Emporia, KS 66801 (620) 342-2800 Open: April–October; 11 am–5 pm, Thursday– Saturday Admission: $6 with discounts for children, seniors, veterans and others

of events, Red Rocks is fairly unique among historical sites in that almost all artifacts are original to the home. “As you walk through the house and see how William Allen White lived and his possessions, you get a feel for who he really was,” says Wilk. The few furnishings that are not authentic to the home allow visitors a chance to experience the atmosphere of Red Rocks. Visitors can sit on reproduction furniture in William Allen White’s study and look at the editor’s traveling typewriter, photos of White and his son during a trip when they witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, and newspaper cartoons related to White’s battle to drive the Ku Klux Klan out of Kansas. Sitting in the thickly upholstered furniture by the glow of the fire and surrounded by books, a guest can imagine the after-dinner conversations that went long into the night and often carried into the national politics that William Allen White would shape with his perspective from the small Kansas town of Emporia.

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Junction City Weekend A

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Outdoor enthusiasts and fans of interactive history should make this their travel destination

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CL Hoover Opera House

By Karen Sarita Ingram

Photography Courtesy Geary County CVB

Take a handson approach to history at the Geary County Historical Society and Museum. Try your hand at fishing either out at Milford on your own or through Grandpa Boone’s Fishing Guides. The guides can help you find the best spots for walleye and wiper. Buffalo Soldier Memorial and Heritage Parks offers a reflective space for visitors to learn the history of the all-black military units when they were stationed at Ft. Riley in the early 20th century.

SATURDAY 8 A.M. Start your weekend off with a chartered fishing adventure, courtesy of Grandpa Boone’s Fishing Guides. The company offers rates by boat instead of by person, and it has several pontoon boats that seat up to six people each, so groups of any size can be accommodated. The tour company provides boats, tackle and poles, and they’ll even clean your fish for you if you decide to keep them. Brad Roether, a fishing guide with Grandpa Boone’s, says he and the other guides love first-timers and often work with children and the elderly. Their decades of experience ensure that seasoned fishermen will

When you plan your weekend trip to Junction City, be sure to check and see what events are going on at CL Hoover Opera House, pictured on the opposite page. This gorgeous historic venue hosts a variety of concerts, plays, musicals and more.

12:30 P.M. You’re sure to work up an appetite after a long morning on the lake, so head on over to Cynthia’s One Bite Delight for some soul food and Southern delicacies sure to stick to your ribs. Cynthia’s offers daily specials that include crawfish boils and oxtails as well as simple but delicious meals such as pork chop dinners. There is also a huge variety of sides to choose from and a kids’ menu to make sure everybody can find something they like. Just be sure to save room for the sweet potato pie cheesecake. 1 P.M. The Geary County Historical Society and Museums opens at 1 p.m. The museum offers many hands-on exhibits for children and adults to learn about the history of frontier life and of soldiers stationed at Fort Riley and surrounding areas from the Civil War onward. One of the exhibits even offers letter-writing stations where you can send a soldier stationed overseas a quick greeting to brighten his or her day. In April and May, the museum often hosts open house events for the Spring Valley Heritage Site, a restored 19th-century one-room schoolhouse located just

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CL Hoover Opera House

have a good time, too. “Milford Lake is unique because there are many different kinds of fish,” Roether says. “And we’re out on the lake almost every day, so we know what’s biting and where. Fishing is very seasonal.” The tour company is open April 1 to October 30. Roether says May, June and July are good months to fish for walleye, and later in the season is good for wipers.

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hen it comes to outdoor adventures, people typically fall into two categories: those who do, and those who say “some day.” No matter which category you fall into, your next weekend getaway should be Junction City. This small city of less than 25,000 is packed with walking trails, more than a dozen parks and countless fishing spots, thanks in part to its close proximity to Milford Reservoir. Visitors can also enjoy tours of historic frontier buildings to learn how Junction City—and Kansas as a whole—were shaped by the rivers and railroads that snake across the grassy landscape. There is something for everyone in Junction City; you need only change your “some day” to a solid date on your calendar.

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ABOVE Children enjoy live aquatic and educational exhibits at the Milford Nature Center. Visitors can take advantage of the outdoor educational opportunities, nature trails and butterfly exhibit open from May until October. OPPOSITE (TOP AND RIGHT) Milford Lake provides serene views and ample opportunity to explore the great outdoors just outside of Junction City. OPPOSITE (BOTTOM LEFT) Home to the Junction City Blue Jays, Rathert Stadium is the perfect spot to take in a baseball game.

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outside of the city was in operation until the 1950s, and Wetzel’s Log Cabin Church, which was built by an army dragoon in 1857. Tours of these buildings can be booked any time of year if you call ahead. Visitors can also tour the Starcke House, located next door to the museum. The house offers a glimpse of the everyday life of a prominent merchant family during the 1880s. 3 P.M. Milford Nature Center gives visitors a chance to learn about Kansas wildlife with exhibits and live animals, such as amphibians, turtles, snakes, eagles, prairie dogs and more. There is also a butterfly center open from May to October and walking trails to explore before you head over to the adjacent Milford Fish Hatchery to learn how fish populations are maintained in Milford Reservoir for sports fishermen and the environment alike. 5:30 P.M. It’s time to spice up your life at Negril Caribbean Restaurant. Negril offers jerked chicken that is so tender it falls off the bone, curried goat or shrimp, stews, and chilled ginger beer to wash it all down. Your soul will be as filled to bursting as your stomach when it’s all said and done.

Where to Stay If you own (or rent) an RV, there are numerous RV parks around Milford Lake, including Thunderbird Marina and RV Resort and Flagstop Resort and RV. You could also consider renting a cabin at Acorns Resort. It also accommodates RVs but offers many more creature comforts for people who prefer to be pampered. And you can’t beat the view.

6:30 P.M. Burn off calories or blow off steam by finishing the day at Spin City. The recreational and entertainment center features an indoor skating rink, outdoor miniature golf, basketball courts, pool tables and more. Spin City is open until 11 p.m. on Saturdays, so you can try everything and play for as long as you like. And if you find that you’ve worked up an appetite you can grab a snack at the Good Eats Cafe. SUNDAY 7:30 A.M. Enjoy the sunrise with a brisk walk or leisurely stroll down the 4.8-mile River Walk Trail. The trail is carefully maintained and offers gorgeous views of nature, so you’re sure to feel refreshed and invigorated. 8:30 A.M. If you’re looking for the perfect breakfast joint, head on over to Stacy’s. You’ll immediately be charmed by the 1940s Valentine Diner architecture, one of only a handful of buildings featuring this style of design left in the country. Enjoy this unique slice of history while you enjoy a pleasant meal. 9:30 A.M. There are more than a dozen parks in Junction City that offering snippets of history,

11 A.M. If you’re on the west side of town, consider swinging by the Kansas Landscape Arboretum to walk through the woodlands of more than 1,000 different species of native trees, shrubs and other woody plants, including the largest crab apple tree collection in the state. You can also check out Whispering Water Natural Springs Memorial here. It’s a great way to appreciate the natural beauty of Kansas and learn why it is important to preserve it. 12 P.M. Many of Junction City’s parks offer free barbecue grills to visitors, but if you’d rather let someone else do the cooking, you can enjoy the home-cooked taste and friendly service at Hot

Your soul will be as filled to bursting as your stomach when it’s all said and done.

Rodz BBQ. This cozy barbecue joint is sure to put your grandmother’s cooking to shame. Save some room for dessert because after lunch, you’ll want to check out Hildebrand Dairy Farms for soft-serve ice cream and see how modern dairy farms operate. Hildebrand Farms was established in 1930 and opened a micro-creamery in 2008. They sell milk, butter and other products across the state, so chances are you’ve seen their iconic glass milk jugs in your local grocery store. Agrotourism sites like this one are a great way to learn where your food comes from and appreciate the hard work of farmers. Don’t forget to visit the gift shop! EVENING If you’re not heading home to prepare for the Monday grind, Junction City is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset. Head to The Wetlands to watch the sun set over the water as you reflect on your weekend adventures. Maybe you’ve finally learned a little bit about fishing. Maybe you’ve gained a new appreciation for Kansas history. Maybe you just enjoyed being in touch with nature and letting the fresh air soak into your pores. Whatever your take-away from this weekend, we hope it stays with you and you look back on it fondly.

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such as the Buffalo Soldier Memorial and Heritage Park, which is home to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Rathert Stadium is a unique baseball stadium made out of native limestone, built during the 1930s as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal projects to revitalize the economy during the Great Depression. Or, if you find that you’ve been bitten by the fishing bug, you can check out Homer’s Pond. Many of these parks offer amenities, such as gazebos, barbecue pits, playgrounds and more. Information for each is available on the city’s parks and recreation website.

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PHOTOGRAPHS (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) KDWPT (4), Courtesy Geary County CVB

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taste of Kansas

TASTE OF KANSAS

Drink Up How two Kansas business owners found health and professional success through cold-pressed juicing

Former professional soccer player Steve Spangler, the man behind Simple Science in Overland Park, has personally benefited from his fresh juices and supplements. The shop is one Kansas example of a growing health trend across the country.

By Katy Schamberger Photography by Justin Lister and Sarah Reeves

LEARN THE LINGO

COLD-PRESSED JUICER Also known as masticating juicers, these machines crush and then press the fruit and vegetables. Austin Dugan, owner of 86 Cold Press in Wichita, says they use small machines that use different-sized grates depending on the type of produce, all to “avoid heat as much as possible,” which preserves the fruit or vegetable’s nutrients. COMMERCIAL JUICES You’ll typically see two types of commercial juices: from concentrate and not from concentrate. “Not from concentrate” refers to juice that’s been pasteurized without being concentrated. “From concentrate,” on the other hand, refers to juice that is filtered through a processor to remove water (in this form, it requires less space to transport). Then, before the concentrate is sold, water is added to it and it’s pasteurized.

medicine wasn’t helping—I was still just as tired, just as sick.” Like Spangler, Wichita native Austin Dugan had struggled with his own health issues. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 8, Dugan says he had two options. “I could change my diet or rely on medication,” he says. Dugan says his mom was leery of management through medication because of the possible side effects of prednisone, the most commonly prescribed corticosteroid used to treat Crohn’s disease. Luckily, Spangler and Dugan both made the right decision: they listened to their moms. The Road to Recovery Dugan switched to a healthy diet (taking an approach similar to the paleo diet, which eliminates dairy, grains, sugar, legumes and processed oils) and, in subsequent years, began researching how the body heals itself. “Through the years, just in research, I found that cold-pressed juice helps with a lot of different illnesses, and it’s all based on nutrition and the amount of nutrients our bodies actually get,” he says. Spangler’s mom had long been a proponent of a gluten-free, dairy-free diet, but didn’t have success getting Spangler to adopt a similar approach to eating. “I thought that to be a high-functioning athlete, I needed dairy in my life,” he says. “It turns out that’s absolutely not true.”

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mong the things that professional soccer player Steve Spangler was most excited about when he signed a 2011 contract with Sporting Kansas City was access to the team doctors. Spangler had battled regular ailments since childhood, including recurring sinus infections. “All through high school I was taking shots for allergies that never cleared up,” he says. “I got sinus surgery, but I was still on antibiotics all the time. When you’re going through a sinus infection, your energy is low—your body is fighting systemic inflammation, and you have a brain fog. That was basically my life.” He was fighting yet another sinus infection when he joined Sporting Kansas City, but figured he’d finally get help. “I was excited to see the doctors,” he says. “I thought, ‘This is it! I’m finally going to clear this up!’” He saw both doctors and immunologists throughout 2012 with little success. By 2013, he was on a number of medications. “I played soccer in Denmark and England, and the first places I’d figure out how to get to were the pharmacies,” he says. “I had to get the medicine I needed just to function.” Finally, Spangler says he reached a breaking point. “The severity of the situation hit me,” he says. “Every doctor told me these were the cards I was dealt and here’s a pill. But the

CENTRIFUGAL JUICE EXTRACTORS This is the most common type of juicer. A rapidly spinning metal blade spins produce against a mesh filter, which, by centrifugal force, separates the juice from the fruit or vegetable flesh. Because centrifugal juicers generate heat, the resulting juice has fewer nutrients than its coldpressed counterpart.

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Cold-pressed juice is a lot different from the conventional juices you’re used to seeing in the grocery store. Use this glossary of common juicing terms to navigate the market.

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taste of Kansas

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Spangler returned to the doctor, this time with a different mission—to explore possible food allergies. The results were eye opening. “I found out I was allergic to dairy and gluten and that I have a condition called leaky gut, which led to chronic inflammation and a weakened immune system,” he says. Even with those findings, Spangler admits he wasn’t fully convinced of the benefits of a gluten-free, dairy-free diet, but he “had hit rock bottom.” He eliminated dairy and yeast from his diet and not only noticed weight loss, but also a lack of sinus infections. He continued to research functional foods, which led him to a documentary called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. And that’s when he learned about juicing. Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is the story of Joe Cross, who, at 100 pounds overweight, “loaded up on steroids” and, suffering from an autoimmune disease, was “at the end of his rope and the end of his hope,” according to the film’s synopsis. After failing to find a longterm solution with conventional medicine, Cross instead turned to juice. Spangler watched the documentary and immediately connected with Cross and his story. “At the time, I was thinking of all of the reasons not to juice,” he says. “The documentary helped make it more mainstream. You can juice in a clean, controlled environment, and there’s a science behind it. I dove into that all the way.” Dugan and Spangler not only discovered improved health and wellness as a direct result of juicing, but also new career paths: entrepreneurs and business owners. More than a fad There’s no doubt the popularity of cold-pressed juice is skyrocketing. Once a niche dietary practice followed by only the most steadfast of health-minded individuals, juicing has more recently become a widely followed—and lucrative—practice. The increasing awareness of cold-pressed juice has brought with it a flurry of new businesses, including Spangler’s Simple Science Juices (with locations in Kansas City, Overland Park and Omaha, Neb.) and Dugan’s 86 Cold Press in downtown Wichita. A market report published by Persistence Market Research found that 2016 global sales of cold-pressed juice brought in around $492 million in revenue. The firm predicts that the market will hit a whopping $845 million by 2024.

Why the seemingly sudden clamor for cold-pressed juice, especially when it often carries a higher price tag than typical juice you find in a grocery store? Proponents tout the myriad health benefits, a by-product of the process itself. To make cold-pressed juice, “a hydraulic press crushes and then presses the fruit and vegetables,” wrote Amanda Scriver in a 2015 article for Paste magazine. “Then the juice is bottled, sealed and put in a large chamber, which fills with water and applies a crushing amount of pressure to inactivate pathogens. Just as the name suggests, the pressed fruits and vegetables extract the maximum amount of nectar from the pulp and fiber, leaving the rawest form of juice available.” Adds Dugan, “Cold-pressed juice is just a dense form of those vitamins and nutrients and live enzymes, and that’s what inspired me to open up the juice shop.” The key to unlocking the full health potential of cold-pressed juice isn’t simply consuming it—it’s finding the right blend of produce (and sometimes herbs and spices) to target a specific ailment or benefit. “When we develop juices, we sit down and figure out how we can juice a particular type of produce; then we go into test mode,” Dugan says. “We create 10 different juices with the same ingredients, or add some or eliminate some, then we go down the line and determine which blend is best. You want it to be flavorful but also impact your health.” In a nod to his company’s name, Simple Science Juices, Spangler has embraced the science of juicing and uses that research to create his recipes. “We don’t just have a particular taste we’re looking for—we have an ailment we’re trying to solve,” he says. For example, Simple Science’s Detox juice combines cucumber, apple, broccoli stem, romaine, mint and lemon for a detoxifying effect. Another popular blend is Iso, which provides digestive support with pineapple, orange, turmeric, ginger and red cabbage. The menu at 86 Cold Press is similarly focused on a particular health benefit or ailment. Doctor’s Orders, a vibrant blend of carrot, orange, apple, lemon, ginger and cayenne, helps boost the immune system. RePear, a soothing blend of pear, pineapple and fennel, is ideal for easing indigestion. ‘They Just Want to Feel Better’ Considering the number of cold-pressed juice shops that have opened throughout Kansas, including the Kansas City metro area, it’s clear that both Kansas residents and visitors are eager to explore what cold-pressed juicing can do for their health.

taste of Kansas

Austin Dugan prepares fresh fruit at 86 Cold Press, a juice shop in Wichita.

taste of Kansas

Austin Duganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blend of cold-pressed juices have helped him overcome a number of health concerns related to Crohnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease.

taste of Kansas

The Journey Continues Running their own businesses also gives both Spangler and Dugan a chance to introduce new products and recipes that they’ve found to be effective additions to their own diets. The menu at 86 Cold Press, for example, includes a yogurt bowl, an integral part of Dugan’s diet. “I make my own yogurt that goes through a 24-hour incubation process that breaks down the lactose,” Dugan says.

FEELING THIRSTY? Head out and grab a freshly made cold-pressed juice at one of these Kansas juice shops: 86 COLD PRESS 612 E. Douglas Ave. Wichita (316) 347-3390 86ColdPress.com LUCKYBERRY JUICE CAFÉ 845 Massachusetts St. Lawrence (785) 331-4220 Luckyberry.com SIMPLE SCIENCE JUICES 8126 Floyd St, Overland Park (913) 808-5509 SimpleScienceJuices.com (Simple Science also offers online ordering and free delivery.) SONGBIRD JUICE COMPANY 1142 Bitting St. Wichita (316) 866-2473 SongBirdJuiceCo.com THE FIT FLAVOR BY OPTIMAL LIVING 1410 Kasold, Suite A17 Lawrence (785) 331-5290 OLMeals.com THE MIXX 11942 Roe Ave. Overland Park (913) 338-4000 MixxingItUp.com T.LOFT 5225 W. 116th Place Leawood (913) 912-7211 4801 Bauer Farm Dr. Lawrence (785) 505-0770 TLoft.net

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Soon after opening 86 Cold Press, Dugan formed a partnership with Kansas City-based Evolve Paleo Chef, a meal delivery service that also stocks ready-made meals, snacks and pantry items in retail locations throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Arkansas. “We do all of the recipes for juice, and Evolve does the food,” Dugan says. “Paleo is so close to my Crohn’s diet, so it fits in with the concept I was creating. Once you set foot in the store, you’ll get everything that made me as healthy as I am today.” Spangler says his relentless drive to discover and create new products can sometimes drive his staff crazy, but he’s passionate about incorporating information from his research or other sources of inspiration into the business. One example? On a recent trip to California, Spangler visited a business that offers a dairy-free soft-serve ice cream. Simple Science already makes nut milks, including almond milk and a nutmeg cashew milk. Now, the plan is to install a machine and use those milks to make soft-serve. It’s clear that Spangler’s and Dugan’s businesses are thriving, but what about their health? Is there something to be said for the transformative benefits of cold-pressed juice? The answer from both is a resounding yes. “My health is good—I don’t use most of my medications anymore,” Spangler says. “The main thing I’m figuring out now is the stress component, so I’ve started to incorporate meditation and more mindfulness practices. Now that I have the energy and cognitive function, how can I maintain my wellness? Juicing and dietary changes gave me the road map and the tools to get there.” Adds Dugan, “I haven’t taken any medication for Crohn’s disease since my mom put me on this diet. Health and nutrition are very important to me, and if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be healthy today.”

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“Juice awareness is definitely growing—we’ve educated a lot of people,” Dugan says. “Cold-pressed juicing is trendy. We’re seeing Whole Foods with a cold-pressed juice line.” A benefit to smaller cold-pressed juice operations such as 86 Cold Press and Simple Science Juices is awareness and knowledge—of not only the juicing process itself but also the reasoning and benefits behind each product. “When we first started telling people about the benefits of coldpressed juice and what we were trying to start in Kansas City, people looked at us like we were crazy,” Spangler says. “A lot of our marketing was spent on educating the public on what cold-pressed juice is and what we’re trying to do—why it’s so beneficial and why people should avoid a standard meat-and-potatoes diet. Now, more people know about juicing, and we’re starting to tap more into your everyday individuals who don’t feel good and are at a breaking point like I was. They just want to feel better.” Dugan says it’s important to educate people both on the benefits of cold-pressed juicing and on why they should seek out organic juices (a central focus at both Simple Science and 86 Cold Press). “We want people to understand what’s on conventional produce that’s going directly into the pure juice they’re drinking,” Dugan says. “We’re an all-organic juice bar, and we don’t skimp on any of the produce that comes through our doors.”

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40 KANSAS! MAGAZINE

42 | A Whole New Storyboard

52 | A Sunflower State

Literary Pilgrimage Three contemporary Kansas writers visit locations associated with historic Kansas authors

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An accomplished Kansas artist turns her eye to sharks, jellyfish, birds and other heroes of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book illustrations

ILLUSTRATION Lindsey Yankey lindseyyankey.com

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w ho le

n ew

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An accomplished Kansas artist turns her eye to sharks, jellyfish, birds and other heroes of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book illustrations

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By Kim Gronniger

Photography by Bill Stephens

rom her home in Topeka, surrounded by recycled plastic containers holding paint-blotched water and retired coffee mugs sprouting bouquets of colored pencils, Barbara Waterman-Peters is converting a series of photographs into a sketched and painted storyboard for her latest project. One of the region’s most accomplished commercial artists,Waterman-Peters has established a reputation for an eclectic portfolio encompassing everything from Flint Hills panoramas to highly symbolic series of group portraits that evolve over the years. She’s taught art to undergraduate students in fully equipped classrooms at her college alma maters and art appreciation to California prisoners through correspondence courses at Lassen Community College. She’s given private lessons, illustrated book covers, created a coloring book for the Kansas Dental Association, written magazine articles about artists and led workshops on how to craft books and integrate art into retirement communities. Her paintings are represented in prestigious galleries throughout the Midwest as well as at Studio 831, a NOTO Arts District gallery where she and eight other Topeka artists paint, work with clay and collectively sell their work. But recently, she has turned to another genre of art with a rich tradition among Kansas artists—children’s storybook illustrations. The roots of this project began in 1980 through happenstance.Waterman-Peters was displaying a series of pond-themed pieces at an art fair in Topeka’s Gage Park.The

work showed, as she recalls,“cattails and willow branches on top and fish and rocks and reeds and things you’d find on the bottom.”A woman came up to look at this work and quickly told Waterman-Peters,“That’s what I want for my story.” It would take, however, more than 30 years for this collaboration to become a reality. In 2013, Glendyn Buckley, the same woman who had admired Waterman-Peters’ work in 1980, moved into a home just down the street from Waterman-Peters. “Is that a hint or what?” thought Waterman-Peters. Soon Buckley, who had worked as an educator and administrator, was sharing the reignited project with Waterman-Peters. “Once I started, I had a ball with this and everything worked like a charm.” Their work led to the 2015 publication of The Fish’s Wishes, which was placed on the “Recommended Reading List” by the Kansas National Education Association and was followed in 2017 by another Buckley/Waterman-Peters project, Bird. Waterman-Peters says illustrating children’s books connects her to her early years when she first realized her affinity and aptitude for art. “I jumped rope and played hopscotch and built forts and all of that, but my happiest days were spent drawing, coloring and designing clothes for paper dolls,” she says. “I was fortunate that throughout my life I had people who supported my talent, including my parents, teachers, university professors and other artists.” The art for children’s books requires the same amount of effort and skill as her other projects, but with considerable thought for the audience.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Creativity is magical and marvelous, the most gratifying thing.

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Barbara Waterman Peters

(Continued on page 50)

KANSAS! MAGAZINE SPRING 2018

Kansas

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Book illustrators to know By Amber Fraley

Lindsey Yankey grew up painting and drawing in Leon, south of El Dorado. She studied illustration at the University of Kansas and now lives in Lawrence.“For the longest time I wanted to be a teacher,” says Yankey. “When I got to KU, I really got into art education and children’s art. Creating children’s books takes all of those things and kind of wraps them up in a bow.” Yankey is the author and illustrator of the children’s book Bluebird, which was named a Kansas Notable Book by the State Library of Kansas in 2015, and Sun and Moon, which was named a Kansas Notable Book in 2016. She also sells her illustrations as art prints and greeting cards.Yankey creates her illustrations using a variety of media and methods, including oil paints, watercolor, pencil-and-pen and linoleum blocks. She is currently working on illustrating a nonfiction children’s picture book that will be released in 2019.

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47 SPRING 2018

Lindsey Yankey

Beth Snider

Doug Bowles

Beth Snider is a self-taught freelance artist from Leavenworth.Though she considers herself primarily a mural artist who creates custom murals for businesses and individuals, Snider also sells whimsical, digitally created art prints. Four years ago, she began illustrating children’s books, including Anxious Abby and the Camp Trust Challenge: Bible Truths for Kids Who Worry, by Alyssa Cathers, and recently, Rainbow Garden by Britt Schavey. Snider also wrote and illustrated My Sister Is My Hero for her nieces. Currently, she has partnered with the Whole Family Care, a nonprofit that provides childcare and mentoring for single parents. Snider created a collection of illustrated prints with coordinating paper dolls, stickers and buttons called Spirited Paper to raise money for the organization.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Doug Bowles lives in Leawood and is a graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio. After college, he moved to the Kansas City area to work for Hallmark before becoming a freelancer. As the years progressed, Bowles switched from working in pastel on paper to digital illustration.Though Bowles considers himself semi-retired now, he was a successful illustrator for more than 30 years, producing a wide range of advertising and corporate illustrations, as well as children’s books. He is the illustrator of such Kansas-themed kids’ books as One Kansas Farmer: A Kansas Number Book and S is for Sunflower: A Kansas Alphabet, both written by husband and wife team Devin and Corey Scillian. Bowles is currently working on a gallery series using acrylic paint and collage.

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Stephen T. Johnson was born and continues to live in Lawrence, but on his journey to becoming an illustrator and installation artist, he studied art in New York and France, as well as at the University of Kansas.These days he boasts a robust art career as a professional painter, sculptor, and mosaics artist with public sculptures that can be seen all around the world.While Johnson has illustrated children’s books for other authors, he’s also written and illustrated several of his own, including A is for Art,Alphabet School, My Little Blue Robot, My Little Red Toolbox and many more.

Stephen T. Johnson

Michael Kline

A lifetime resident of Wichita, Michael Kline started his art career as a child, drawing illustrations in his mother’s books because they lacked pictures. “My mom still shows those books to people,” he laughs. Kline earned a graphic design degree from Wichita State University and began illustrating for children’s magazines such as Kids Discover and Family Fun. Twenty-five years later, he is still illustrating with an old-school approach.“I always start off with pencil and paper,” says Kline. “There’s something tactile about it.” He then scans his sketches and paints them digitally. Kline has also illustrated several children’s books, including several educational books for Williamson Publishing, such as In the Days of Dinosaurs: A Rhyming Romp through Dino History by Howard Temperley, and the Doodles of Sam Dibble series by J. Press.

Jessie Pohl

Tim Raglin was born and raised in Independence. He began taking private art instruction as a child and went on to earn a degree from Washington University’s School of Fine Arts in St. Louis. He then became a successful freelance illustrator, working for a time in St. Louis and New York City before eventually returning to Independence. Over his career, Raglin has illustrated a plethora of children’s books through major publishing houses and independently. His biggest sellers have been the Deputy Dan series with Random House and The Five Funny Frights series with Scholastic. Other titles include The Thirteen Days of Halloween by Carol Greene and Go Track a Yak! by Tony Johnson. He is currently working on expanding stories for his dog detective characters, Scott and West, the heroes of previous adventures The Curse of Catunkhamun and Footsteps in Katmandudu.

Christine Schneider grew up in Colorado where she learned the trade of letterpress printing from her grandfather and discovered an affinity for drawing.“I’ve been drawing since I remember,” Schneider says.“My mother is an artist and I’ve always emulated her.” She graduated with a degree in Illustration from the University of Kansas and has lived in Lawrence for the last 16 years. Schneider has illustrated some of her own children’s books, such as Picky Mrs. Pickle and Saxophone Sam and His Snazzy Jazz Band, under her Yellow Pencil Studio brand. She has also illustrated books for other authors, including Look for Ladybugs by Dana Meachen Rau and My Learn to Read Bible by Tracy Harrast. Currently, she runs Inkello Letterpress in Lawrence, making custom stationery, greeting cards and calendars on three antique presses.

Brad Sneed

Brad Sneed has loved to draw since he was a kid growing up in Newton. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in visual communications and illustration from the University of Kansas and currently lives in Prairie Village. Sneed has illustrated more than twenty-five children’s picture books including I Heard Said the Bird by Polly Berrien Berends and Johnny Kaw—A Tall Tale by Devin Scillian. He has also written and illustrated some of his own books, including a retelling of Thumbelina. For his traditional children’s picture books, Sneed illustrates primarily in watercolor but has also been known to use, oils, acrylics and mixed media. Recently, Sneed and two partners formed MarbleSpark stories, which produces personalized picture books for kids. Parents are able to plug in their child’s name to the story and even choose the physical characteristics of the main character.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Christine Schneider

Tim Raglin

49 SPRING 2018

Jessie Pohl was tapped to illustrate Big Brutus, the Kansas Coal Shovel, by Brenda Eck and Marilyn Kuhlman, even before she had graduated from Bethel College in 2015. Her professor, David Long, recommended Pohl for the illustration gig, and Pohl says she’s glad she went out on a limb to try children’s book illustration. Pohl works mostly in black ink and watercolor, having done black ink illustrations for a couple of her father Dan Pohl’s poetry books.“For personal artwork, I do sort of a creepy imagery,” Pohl says,“but I can also do cute and fluffy.” Pohl grew up in Moundridge but recently moved to Mission. Pohl and author Casie Wiens released the children’s book Mimic Me Muskrat, and the duo is currently working on a second book starring Jay Muskrat.

KANSAS! MAGAZINE SPRING 2018

Waterman-Peters says she created“naturalistic,sophisticated images that would be appealing to children and adults both.I had to consider how a child would interpret an image and make sure that it got to the heart of what was being said.” Although she used photos of her granddaughter, Shaeden, and Buckley’s grandson, Ryan, for reference in drawing Bird,Waterman-Peters’ imagination also informed the images.The animals have to convey character, intent and emotions to complement and support the narration. Being receptive to a new type of audience and the art it requires has led to numerous adventures throughout Waterman-Peters’ career. As a former staff artist for Washburn University’s theater department, she created playbills and newspaper promotions for productions and the set design for The Year of Magical Thinking. To highlight The Turn of the Screw, she placed a large screw in the center of a boat, which ultimately provided inspiration for her new series,“Ship of Fools,” a present-day political, environmental and cultural representation of men and women’s relationships. Even seemingly unrelated stints working in the kitchen at McFarland’s Restaurant (the family business) and as a bank teller and air-brush artist for a printing company honed her keen sense of observation and confidence in acquiring new skills. “You can’t get lost in your own shell,” says WatermanPeters, who didn’t obtain her MFA until she was in her fifties. “You have to be open and willing to try something new and keep working.” In conducting workshops or visiting with people who come to Studio 831 to peruse or purchase paintings, Waterman-Peters says,“My heart breaks when people say they have no talent, and I always encourage them to try making something, anything. Once they do, they’ll have so much fun they won’t want to quit.”

Waterman-Peters commits to creating something every day.Whether she makes progress on a picture or writes paragraphs in her journal, the goal is to engage in mindful play, a lesson she believes her new audience of young readers will appreciate. “Creativity,”Waterman-Peters says,“is magical and marvelous, the most gratifying thing.”

The Kansas Factor

For artist Barbara Waterman-Peters, being a Kansan is part of her creative identity. “Living in Kansas, I’ve always been influenced by the landscape, but I also like the people here,” she says.“I had a middle-class, Great Plains upbringing that instilled a strong work ethic and discipline that stands me in good stead when I’m working on projects, all of which require time, energy, creativity and thought.” The veteran artist says she appreciates the splendor of the Flint Hills and the diversity of the terrain along the routes to Wichita and Manhattan. The Smoky Hill River, the Kansas River, area reservoirs and the state’s expansive skies also influence her work. One particular evening as Waterman-Peters headed home from her Studio 831 gallery in Topeka’s NOTO Arts District, she drove over the Topeka Boulevard Bridge and was struck by the splendor of the capital city’s lights shimmering in the river. “The scene was so beautiful I actually cried,” says Waterman-Peters.“I thought,‘Oh, God, my beautiful city.’ And I wouldn’t have been on that bridge at that moment if I hadn’t had my studio. I would have missed all that.” Reflecting on her career, Waterman-Peters says,“Art brings everything together for me—the people I’ve crossed paths with and the interesting experiences and conversations I’ve had that have brought me to this moment.”

Living in Kansas, I’ve always been influenced by the landscape, but I also like the people here. Barbara Waterman Peters

sunfl ower

state

LITERARY PILGRIMAGE Three contemporary Kansas writers visit locations associated with historic Kansas authors

A Sunflower State Literary Pilgrimage Annette Hope Billings

PHOTOGRAPHS Katie Moore

GORDON PARKS MUSEUM 2108 S Horton St, Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott | (800) 874-3722

GORDON PARKS GRAVESITE 914 215th St, Evergreen Cemetery Fort Scott | (620) 223-2879

Iconic photographs, personal artifacts and exhibits in this museum focus on the life and work of this internationally known, self-taught photographer, filmmaker, author and composer. The museum hosts a Gordon Parks Celebration each fall.

A formerly segregated cemetery that held the graves of Parks’ parents, Evergreen was revitalized in part because of communication between Parks and the city’s then-mayor before Parks died in 2004. A monument with a poem by Parks was added in 2007.

Two Essential

Gordon Parks

Destinations in Fort Scott

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53 SPRING 2018

having listened to everything the expert curator had to say about uring a recent visit to Fort Scott, Kansas, I learned the Parks.The museum itself does an excellent job of presenting both multi-talented, award-winning Kansan whom I thought the breadth and depth of his life, and much of what is displayed was named Gordon Parks was actually named Gordon speaks to Parks’ commitment to documenting racism and poverty. Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks. It seems fitting that a It was clear his fame never diminished his passion for social justice. man of many talents would have many names, and nothing but an impressive name suited such an impressive person. (And speaking of The museum experience reminded me of the power of arts and impressive, I smile to think that his mother—who had already named artists to effect change.There is no shortage of poems about the pretty aspects of life, but the presentation of Parks’ life affirmed my his 14 older siblings—still had such a stock of names left.) desire to write about the hard truths—those truths that remind us Parks was born into that large family in Fort Scott in 1912. social justice is not just desirable, but mandatory. Given the era, I wonder if his mother gave him extra names to After leaving the museum, I drove through parts of Fort Scott, offset the things she knew the world would attempt to deny him. including neighborhoods, Main Street, historic Fort Scott and, He was a black boy born less than five decades after the Civil War. finally, the cemetery that holds Parks’ One biographer wrote that Parks “faced grave. I found his headstone, distinct but aggressive discrimination as a child,” not monumental. A person unfamiliar which seems to be a polite way of saying ANNETTE HOPE BILLINGS is an award-winning writer and actress who with Parks wouldn’t know an important “as a black child he feared for his wellhas called Topeka home since early person was buried there. being every minute of every day.” childhood. Prior to becoming a full-time I left Fort Scott feeling more deeply It was Parks’ photography for Life writer in 2015, she was a registered connected and committed to writing. I magazine I recall first learning about in nurse for decades. She considers writing a way to continue to care for Kansans. reveled in knowing the people, the air and school. I later discovered he was also a the buildings were not unlike what Gordon writer, composer, poet, photojournalist, film Parks knew. Certainly there were different director, producer, and screenwriter.The 1969 film, The Learning Tree (based on his 1963 semi-autobiographical people and buildings that had come after him, but my sense was the feel of the town that Parks had described and conveyed in his work novel), remains a favorite. Parks wrote, directed, and produced had not changed. the film, which was shot in Fort Scott. Equally memorable was the I loved that Parks was a self-taught artist who did not allow debut of his 1971 film, Shaft. It was released my freshman year of difficult circumstances to stifle him. He was fearless in his high school. Seeing the movie was a non-negotiable prerequisite for willingness to head toward new horizons. In his words,“There’s being considered cool in my circle. Both The Learning Tree and Shaft another horizon out there, one more horizon that you have to make bolstered my determination to be a writer. for yourself and let other people discover it, and someone else will My recent trip to Fort Scott was my first visit, and I wondered take it further on, you know.” how experiencing Parks’ hometown would affect me as a fellow Leaving Fort Scott on an unusually warm winter day, I felt writer and Kansan. I was not disappointed. My first stop was the hopeful as I headed toward my next horizon. Gordon Parks Museum, and it should be on every Kansan’s “must --Annette Hope Billings see” list. I left the museum richer just for having been there and

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Visiting the

Custers

FORT RILEY Henry Dr | Junction City | (785) 239-2982 The “Custer House” from 1855 is the only remaining officer’s quarters dating from the establishment of the fort. It is open daily, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Also at the base is the U.S. Cavalry Museum that includes artifacts such as Custer’s rain hat.

PHOTOGRAPHS Nicolette Sessin

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

often dresses in period clothing to set the scene. For our tour, she hen Elizabeth “Libbie” Bacon Custer wore a silky dark taupe hoop-skirt dress with a train, and spoke accompanied her husband, George Armstrong about the day-to-day life the Custers would have experienced at Custer, to his new quarters on the perimeter of the fort. Clark says,“I think this was actually the nicest place” the the Fort Riley parade grounds in October 1866, Custers ever lived during their time together. she was still very much a 24-year-old privileged daughter from a Indeed, the type of spacious officer’s quarters assigned to well-established East Coast family who had several misconceptions the Custers, with its gracious front porch, charming formal parlor, about her new life in the West. dining room and upstairs bedrooms, was a big step up from the “There’s a great story about when she came here,” says Robert postings and tent camps Elizabeth had eagerly followed her Smith, director of the Fort Riley Museum Complex.“She wrote husband to during and after the war. In a December 1866 letter, about how she imagined that a frontier fort would have massive she states,“We are living almost in luxury … Our large kitchen masonry walls around it like Fortress Monroe in Virginia that she was and dining room are quite the pride of my life.”The historic house acquainted with, and she sees that it’s four sets of officers’ quarters set around a parade field with barracks on either side, a hospital and has large windows, high ceilings, servant’s quarters, and a second bedroom as well as an informal family parlor. stables behind that and no walls.You can almost imagine her saying, That parlor, with formal silver and china added, frequently ‘George, what have you done to me?’ But a big stockade fence was hosted the Custers’ guests. never a part of this, and really most posts were built like this.” “There was lots of social life here,” Smith adds,“especially In the years to come, this sprawling, fenceless land, on what when patrols wound down during the winter months.The Custers was then the edge of the frontier, would host the beginning of the loved to entertain, and they were really big on theatrics. So they young couple’s life of adventure, hardship, merriment, tragedy, and would create plays and perform them for the other officers.They notoriety in the West. And this same land—and events around had charades and musical instruments and the stereoscope.” it—would shape Custer into a national figure as an author and A stereoscope displayed on a side table in the formal parlor promoter of her husband’s legacy. is an original from the mid-19th century.A stately grandfather clock Elizabeth Custer chronicled her life in Kansas and on the gracing one wall of the parlor has original Western frontier accompanying her wooden gears and is from the 1830s, husband’s army in a series of personal A frequent contributor to KANSAS! but most of the other furnishings in the letters that have since been published and magazine, MARY GAGE has written home date from the 1870s to around 1910, in three books: Boots and Saddles (1885), extensively about the history and including the full size grand piano that, with Tenting on the Plains (1887), and Following modern attractions of the state. She is currently working on a travelogue legs removed, would have fit nicely into a the Guidon (1890).Writing was a natural about Kansas parks. wagon. outlet for Custer, who had grown up in an But there is an additional, unseen educated family and graduated first in her story behind the Custer house. It’s a historical revision that perhaps class. But Custer began publishing only after her husband’s death, characterizes the home and the career of Elizabeth Custer as fighting against a united force of four Native nations in the 1876 clearly as any artifact in the museum complex. Battle of the Greasy Grass/Battle of Little Bighorn. Her books had The charming native limestone house built in 1855 gained a dual purpose, in part to defend her husband’s legacy, and also as stature as the Custer home when a letter written by George was a means of desperately needed income. Proving to be immensely found there.“And that,” Smith says,“started the mythology that he popular, her writing and subsequent lecture tours not only helped lived here.” Later, Smith explains,“deep-dive research” uncovered create and glorify the legend of Custer and his “last stand” but also that the precise location of the house where George and Elizabeth afforded her financial security and prosperity, comforts that had lived was in fact a few doors down, but unfortunately it had been been sorely lacking in the years after her husband’s death. destroyed in a kitchen fire in the 1930s. Thanks to these books and letters, Custer’s impressions and Although the Custers didn’t live in the particular house memories of her life on the frontier provide a detailed perspective now open to tours, the close proximity of it to the original of the post-Civil War era in the West, including her time in Kansas, an location allows visitors to easily imagine the couple’s daily area she seemed to feel was both surprisingly comfortable, but still life. And this layering of historical myth upon historical reality quite rough.When the Custers first came to Fort Riley, for example, is particularly appropriate for the legacy of Elizabeth Custer, they traveled by wagon (the Union Pacific Railroad would not reach an original “image-maker” of the Wild West if you will, a writer Junction City until later that year), yet arrived in an area that Custer who shaped a nation’s understanding of one particular goldendescribed as being filled with multiple buildings and amenities haired general. that “give the post the appearance of a little city.”And yet, despite “She burnished her husband’s image, and she would approve the comforts of her sturdy living quarters built of native limestone, of the Custer legacy and lessons that we curate through the home,” Elizabeth Custer wasn’t convinced it was entirely safe. says Smith. Today, at Fort Riley, Smith and museum specialist Debbie Clark --Mary Gage conduct tours for the public at the historic Custer house. Clark

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Where to Find the Ghost of

Rex Stout

There are neither memorials nor museums to Rex Stout in Kansas. But, as Alex Grecian suggests, the best tributes to Rex Stout can be found in your local library, bookstore or electronic reading device. You can also celebrate good reads and Kansas authors at the annual Kansas Book Festival, held each fall in Topeka. Go online at kansasbookfestival.com for the latest event dates and information.

PHOTOGRAPH Michael C. Snell

KANSAS! MAGAZINE

Nero Wolfe digs into Fritz’s pork cutlets and onion soup.They are ex Stout was at one time the most widely read author in comfort food. America, which is something every author aspires to, but At some point I discovered Rex Stout had grown up near me for me, the accomplishments of this fellow Kansan hit a in Topeka, Kansas, and my career goals snapped into focus with little closer to home. sudden clarity. I had thought I might like to be an author someday, A staggeringly prolific writer, Stout produced hundreds of but since I didn’t (and don’t) live in New York, where so many of short stories and novels at a rate that makes other writers blanch. my favorite authors worked, that seemed an unlikely prospect. He rarely spent much more than a month working on a book, and It must have seemed unlikely for Stout, too. His family bought he never revised his manuscripts. (By contrast, I’ve sometimes a farm in Wakarusa when he was two years old and he grew up spent as much as a year on a novel and gone through three or four there, showing signs of his prodigious talent at an early age. Stout drafts.) He effortlessly churned out as many as four books a year, claimed to have read the Bible from cover to cover twice before then spent the other half of his year traveling, dining with the likes he was four, and his mother caught him making marginal notes in of Mark Twain, and working to benefit his favorite causes. Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire before he was old His greatest achievement came relatively late in his life, with enough to attend school. Eventually, Stout would graduate from the creation of his most famous characters: Nero Wolfe and Archie Topeka High School, attend the University of Kansas and move to Goodwin.They are arguably the most important pair of literary the East Coast, leaving Wakarusa behind. detectives since Sherlock Holmes and Dr.Watson. There isn’t much left to connect young Rex with his childhood Wolfe (in case you haven’t yet read one of the 72 stories that home. In preparing for this essay, I visited Wakarusa to scout the site feature him or seen any of the numerous TV series based on his of the old Stout farm, hoping to catch some character) famously weighs a seventh of glimpse of literary history. But it was late in a ton, favors the color yellow, and spends the season. Crops had been harvested, fields most of his time cultivating orchids in Kansas-based ALEX GRECIAN is the New York Times best-selling author were barren, and the Stout family’s home was the rooftop greenhouse of his New York of the Scotland Yard Murder Squad long gone, including his father’s vast personal brownstone. Archie is his right-hand series. His latest book, The Saint of library and the warm kitchen, where Rex man, a wisecracking, steadfast, top-notch Wolves and Butchers, releases this spring spent most of his days reading. investigator in his own right.Wolfe rarely and follows the dangerous path of a rookie Kansas Highway Patrol officer As I walked through Wakarusa, brown leaves his home, so most of the legwork confronting a neo-Nazi cult. husks crunched underfoot and I was is left to Archie, who also narrates the reminded of Wolfe’s famous lecture on the mysteries.They are aided—not in their versatility of sweet corn, ending with “No detective work, but in their daily lives— chef’s ingenuity and imagination have ever created a finer dish.” by Theodore Horstmann, who tends the orchids, and Fritz Brenner, There are traces of Stout’s Kansas upbringing sprinkled throughout the master chef who tends Wolfe’s prominent stomach. his work. I can clearly see his parents’ devotion to education and I first encountered Nero Wolfe at the Topeka Bookmobile, books and family—and his desire to pass those values along to which parked at the curb outside my elementary school every millions of readers around the world. Friday afternoon, just before the last bell. As I recall, there was a Back home, I’ve just picked up one of my favorite Wolfe novels shelf of children’s books on one wall of the converted bus, but (The Doorbell Rang.Wolfe tangles with J. Edgar Hoover himself!), they never interested me. My tastes ran more toward the horror and it’s whet my appetite for more. I’m pulling other books off my anthologies, with their lurid jacket art, and the many volumes of shelf, setting them aside to read next, the stack growing as I thumb Alfred Hitchcock’s mystery series. But when I exhausted Sir Alfred’s through them and remember. (Here’s And Be a Villain, in which series and ventured farther along the shelf, just beyond works by Wolfe first encounters his nemesis Albert Zeck, and here’s Some Ed McBain and Ellery Queen, I eventually found Rex Stout’s books Buried Caesar, in which Archie has a close encounter with a bull waiting for me. and meets his longtime girlfriend, Lily Rowan.They go on the pile.) I don’t remember which of Stout’s novels I read first. It might Rex Stout’s word choices are precise and witty, and his plots have been the Nero Wolfe series debut, Fer-de-Lance, but I doubt are clever.Yet I don’t read his books for the plot or for the language. it. It’s more likely I picked up one of the many collections. (The Not really. I read them so I can spend a little more time with two of books were endlessly repackaged and reissued.) I only know that I my all-time favorite characters. was hooked from the start. I kept reading until I had read them all, There’s no “finer dish” than comfort food. then I went back and began again. Even now I start the series over --Alex Grecian again every few years, devouring Rex Stout’s confections the way

Alex Grecian

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