Advertise on podcast: Uncovering Kansas

In today’s episode, I’m talking with Conner Hampton, Executive Director of Flagship Kansas Tech, an organization who’s mission is to propel the tech sector within the state through continuous efforts in awareness, education, and the workforce.   Flagship Kansas website Ad Astra Summit website Episode: Goodland Tech Dare to do Dirt - podcast with Rolf Potts and Marci Penner   What You’ll Learn in this Episode About the mission of Flagship Kansas About the state of technology in the Kansas education system About the Ad Astra conference   How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal  Send us a recommendation for an episode  

In my day job, I’ve been working in the software industry for going on 10 years, and so when I hear business incubator, my mind immediately pictures a room full of developers in hoodies with headphones on typing away in the dark at a computer.  But today, you and I are going to learn about a different type of business incubator in Kansas - a business incubator for wineries. We also talk with a couple who have recently started their own vineyard and are working with the incubator to launch their first wines.  You are going to learn a lot about the Kansas Wine industry in this episode!   Show Notes: 456 Winery Valley Trails Winery Facebook Page Highland Community College Viticulture and Enology program   What You’ll Learn in this Episode About the emerging wine industry in Kansas About a business incubator that focuses on incubating wineries The types of grapes that grow well in Kansas The difference between viticulture and enology   How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal  Send us a recommendation for an episode  

We’ve interviewed several authors over the years on Uncovering Kansas. And, through that process I met my guests today, Tracy Million Simmons owner and publisher of Meadowlark books and Cheryl Unruh (un roo) a well known, prolific writer who is also the editor of the 105 Meadowlark Reader, a Kansas Journal of Creative Nonfiction.   When I first heard about Meadowlark Books, I was excited to hear that we have a publisher in Kansas focused on Kansas authors. As you know, my goal is to help Kansans learn more about our state, a great way to do that is to read books published by Kansas authors.  I’ve got to wrap up this introduction and get on with the show so that I can start working on my next submission for the 105 project….. Find Links to the show notes at Uncovering Kansas How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal  Send us a recommendation for an episode  

In this episode, I’m going to take you behind the scenes to see what it is like to be responsible for the travel and tourism bureau for a city in Kansas.  My guest is Julie Roller Weeks, the Director of  Abilene Convention and Visitor's Bureau. What You’ll Learn in this Episode   A behind the scenes look at the role of a Director of Tourism and Vistors Bureau That the Eisenhower Library is one of 14 Presidential Libraries  National Archives and Records Administration Eisenhower is the 34th president from the 34th state How Abilene became the home of the world’s largest belt buckle   How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal  Send us a recommendation for an episode  

There are 1,200 Master Gardeners in the State of Kansas. But in June, there will be Master Gardeners from across the country coming to Kansas for their conference. Ever wonder what the best tomatoes are to grow in Kansas? Or how to manage Japanese Beetles. Well all of these things have one thing in common: the K-State Extension office. One of the things we like to highlight on the podcast is events that bring in people from outside of Kansas. Whether drawing from other states across the US or pulling in people from other countries, these events are not only good for the Kansas economy, they are a chance for us to show off our state, teach people about who we are as Kansans, and hopefully do a little bit of stereotype busting. In June, Overland Park will be hosting the International Master Gardener Conference for 2023. My guest today is Dennis Patton, a Horticulturist with the Johnson County Extension office. Dennis is also one of the chairs for the Conference, along with 2 other dedicated gardeners who are volunteers.  Links from the Show Notes: International Master Gardener Conference website Events open to the public To learn more about becoming a Master Gardener: search for your county + extension office to see if your local county has a program. Episode 0504: Monarch Watch Episode 0209: Kaw Valley Farm Tour   What You’ll Learn in this Episode: What is a Master Gardener What training is needed to become a Master Gardener What is the International Gardener Conference? What are the events that are open to the public at the International Gardener Conference What is the Kansas Extension program How do you access Kansas Extension programs How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal  Send us a recommendation for an episode  

If you are a cyclist, you already know what Unbound Gravel is. If not, today, I’m going to take you into the world of cyclists and how Emporia Kansas has created an event that draws people from 45 different countries.  I love to highlight how Kansans make their visions come true. Today’s episode is a great example of a small group of people who came together around their passion for cycling in the flint hills.  Fast forward 17 years, and now Unbound Gravel brings in 4,000 riders the weekend after Labor Day. My guests today are Ben Sachs is the Race Director and Kristi Mohn is the Marketing Manager. You’ll hear how Kristi has been involved with the event from the beginning and Ben since early on and it is a great conversation to understand how the event got started, and what it has become today. I was really interested to hear what it takes to plan the event, and especially the routes for the races. The other thing that was so interesting to me is how the towns along the way participate.  As Ben says - hope to see you at the Finish Line! Show Notes: Unbound Gravel website Dynamic Discs Episode Volunteer with Unbound Gravel   What You’ll Learn in this Episode What is Unbound Gravel? How Unbound Gravel started How Unbound Gravel routes are planned How to volunteer for Unbound Gravel How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal  Send us a recommendation for an episode  

Setting Kansas up to succeed in the future means diversifying into industries that have not traditionally been associated with our state.  In today’s episode, you are going to learn about a Goodland company that is doing just that. I like to highlight Kansas companies that are having an impact outside of Kansas. Today’s guest is not only doing that, but they are also working to change some of the fundamental issues that we are currently facing in Kansas.  We are losing people to other states because of jobs. We are unable to fill all of the jobs we have in Kansas because of lack of the correct skills. We are in the process of transitioning into a state with a vibrant technology industry. GoodlandTech is a Kansas company that is addressing all of these huge challenges at once with their business model. My guest today is Ben Coumerilh, one of the founders of Goodland Tech. I met Ben at the Ad Astra Technology conference back in September in Wichita and was grateful that he agreed to be a guest. I always enjoy my conversations with our guests, but this one is really close to my heart because we talk about a topic I’m passionate about. I hope you enjoy it as well. Show Notes: Goodland Tech website Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center website Northwest Kansas Technical College Building a Bookshelf website Contact Geoff here    What You’ll Learn in this Episode About Kansas business Goodland Tech What a workforce development company does About Building a Bookshelf How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal  Send us a recommendation for an episode  

We are going to time travel in today’s episode. My guest, Ann Anderson is the author of Posts of a Mid-Century Kid, a memoir about 1950s and 60s Kansas. Today’s episode is as much about our ability to be present and appreciate what we have - in all aspects of life - as it is an episode about Kansas. There are so many quotes from Ann in this episode that I would love to pull out and put on a t-shirt. I am certain that one of them will make an impression on you - leave you with goosebumps.   Show Notes Ann’s Website Ann’s Facebook Page Posts of a Mid-Centry Kid - link to Bookshop.org where you can buy the book and support a Kansas bookshop at the same time Topeka Kansas Lake Shawnee   What You’ll Learn in this Episode About Author Ann Anderson and her book Posts of a Mid-Century Kid About Topeka Kansas circa 1950s and 1960s What to do outdoors in Topeka Popular 1950s recipes How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal  Send us a recommendation for an episode

I’m trying to help the Kansas Office of Broadband get the word out about the Federal Communications Commission broadband funding deadline that is January 13 2023. It requires that you take action by the 13th to help ensure that Kansas get the appropriate allocation of Federal funding to invest in high-speed internet.     The funding will be based on a map that determines what portion of each state has access to broadband. The issue is that the map is not always accurate. What the Kansas Broadband Office is asking all Kansans to do is to make sure you are accurately represented on the map.    The reason is that the FCC shows KS at ~5% unserved. We are more likely closer to 15% unserved, and that difference will have a direct negative impact on the dollars we receive … potentially 100’s of millions of dollars! We can challenge/change this map, but it will take a strategic concerted effort across the state and through our networks.    So - here is what you need to do: Go to https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/challenge/ It has all of the instructions. But, I got some information from Morgan Barnes with the Office of Broadband Development that may be helpful. When you get to the map, you are going to  check your location to make sure your house or location has the service location pin in the right space. Some places have shown outbuildings or barns as points of access.  When looking at your internet service provided. Review the list of broadband providers and services. If you are unable to access the speeds or services listed, click the Availability Challenge link.     If you find that either of these things is wrong on the map, you’ll want to click on the link for “Location Challenge” or  ‘Availability Challenge”  depending on what the issue is. The other way you can help is to get the word out. Please tell your family,  friends and neighbors  About this and ask them to take action. And, if you have older relatives who that may not feel comfortable using site you can help complete this challenge.    Again, the deadline for making challenges to the map is January 12th 2023 so time is of the essence here.    Websites:   https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/challenge/    Broadbandmap.fcc.gov   

We’ve reached the last episode of the year, and today I’m talking with Branden Dross, the City Manager for the city of Herington Kansas. I have been interested for a while in better understanding what the role of a city manager is, and so I took the opportunity to learn more for myself while sharing what I learn with you. That is the best part of having a podcast. When I want to know more about something, I can do that, record it, and share it with you.  So, I hope you walk away from this episode with a better understanding about what a city manager is, what its like to run a city, and more about Herington Kansas, a small town on Hwy 56 west of Council Grove and Hwy 77 south of Junction City.   Show Notes Herington Kansas Bookshop.org   What You’ll Learn in this Episode What the role of the city manager is About Herington Kansas About the Flint Hills Trails expansion That people fly into the Herington airport to eat at the restaurant there About the revitalization plans for the WPA era pool and bath house  How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal  Send us a recommendation for an episode