The Post Podcast

School is out, but FHSU busy as ever

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason and Chief Communications Officer Scott Cason share information about campus over the summer.

Forward Ever: FHSU Police Chief Ed Howell

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Fort Hays State University Police Chief Ed Howell

Hays Chamber explores Blue Cross insurance option for members

On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger discusses Chamber Blue of Kansas, an BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas product, being evaluated for potential implementation for members.

Ellis Co. housing development construction continues

On this episode of the Post Podcast Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares updates on housing and other developments in Ellis County. 

Sternberg gun collection on display at the Ellis Co. Historical Society

On this episode of the Post Podcast Ellis County Historical Society curator Adam Conkey and intern Molly Banks share information about the George Sternberg gun collection, currently on display.
 

Ellis Co. Sheriff Braun shares UTV information for county riders

On this episode of the Post Podcast Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun shares information about riding UTV's on Ellis County roads.

Forward Ever: Kan. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam.

Quality of life services play important part of population recruitment and retainment

On this episode of the Post Podcast Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares information about the need to fund quality of life projects in Ellis County.

Hays Fire warns of summer fire dangers

Summer weather is here. Hays Fire Department deputy chief Shane Preston shares tips on how to stay safe on this episode of the Post Podcast.

USD 489 program helps ensure children have access to food over summer months

On this episode of the Post Podcast, USD 489 Nutrition Services director Jessica Younker shares information about the upcoming USD 489 summer lunch program.

Forward Ever: Hays USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Hays USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson.

Extension district prepares for Wheat Plot Field Day

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood Extension District agent Stacy Campbell shares information about the upcoming Wheat Plot Field Day.
 
Transcript:
EDITORS NOTE: Transcripts are provided by an automated service and are not verified for accuracy.
 
James Bell 
The Cottonwood Extension Districts'  Wheat Plot Field Day is coming up next week. Agent Stacy Campbell stops by to share all the details on this episode of the Post Podcast.
 
Stacy Campbell 
On June the first next Wednesday, we're having our annual wheat variety demo plot field day the location has changed. It's not in its place that it's been for over two decades north of Victoria. It's actually going to be a little south and west of Hayes. Neil got chalk is put out the variety plot helped us do that this year, which we very much appreciate. So yes, next Wednesday, to what the June first starting at 6pm. In the evening, like it's always started. The location of the plot is if you turn at the 183 Bypass right at the where the Experiment Station is on 240 a fuel go south to 3.3 miles to mangia road, and then hanger right go west two miles to 220th Avenue, and then just turn on to 20th and go south a half a mile and you cannot miss it.
 
James Bell 
Probably just follow where all the cars are right? Well, hopefully,
 
Stacy Campbell 
like I was just telling you now that it's rained, and that's great that it has, it's my lope it's getting to be Milo planting time. So there's probably gonna be a lot of planners roll in next week. So we'll see what kind of turnout we get at the at the field day. But if anybody's got the time and wants to come out, we've got several varieties, quite a few new varieties. They keep saying that anymore. It seems like the wheat breeders, both in universities and in the companies are cranking out quite a few new varieties each year. So we have several of them in our plot to talk about our wheat specialists will be there. And also our small grains cereal or small grains. Plant Pathologist Kelsey Anderson Onofre will be there and talk about diseases which this year with the dry weather, we haven't seen too many. But still she'll kind of give a a recap or a reminder of some of the diseases that that are out there. And so there's always you know, some some good discussion there and always time for questions for our producers. And so yeah, we invite in you know, and then that could be landlords, too that don't farm but have got ground and tenants They're welcome to come out to next Wednesday, June the first at 6pm. At mangia Road and 220th Avenue at that intersection, just go south a half a mile. We do ask that you I have never asked to do RSVP. But we do ask that we would appreciate it if you'd RSVPs. By this Friday, or even if you're not for sure yet. But come Tuesday morning you decide to come give us a call. So we kind of got an idea for numbers on on feeding. We have a four H club that's doing doing the mail. Oh, very
 
James Bell 
cool. And that's a free meal. Right?
 
Stacy Campbell 
It is a free meal.
 
James Bell 
So there's a good reason to go out just for that. Yeah, I
 
Stacy Campbell 
probably should have brought that my list of sponsors. But we've got quite a few sponsors, several of the banks and so forth here in the county that are always real good about donating to that. So we appreciate them. And so anyway, yeah, everybody's invited. So hopefully we'll see some folks next Wednesday at 6pm.
 
James Bell 
Very good, very good. Well, I know that, you know, you mentioned there's not a whole lot going on down through the extension district right now, this was kind of the big thing, but anything else you want to hit on before we go. Um,
 
Stacy Campbell 
you know, I had kind of mentioned in a newspaper article recently and stuff with this dry weather. If ponds continue to stay dry, you know, I hope they don't, but if they do, it's an opportunity where guys could clean out some of their farm ponds, you know, make them a little bit deeper through the years, you know, dirt sediment gets back into them. Great opportunity to do that if the ponds are dry this summer. Also, if you've got any that are leaking, you can do a just take zero to 60 inch course in the pond area where it normally is and you can bring that soil and we can send it off for soil texture test. If it comes back to having close to or 30% Clay, basically it should pack well enough to hold the water not leak he does probably need to do a better job of packing it's recommended to pack them with with the sheepsfoot roller. And not every farmer has one of those but I think there's some scattered around the country where a guy could get hold of them and you got to really really pack it well. To where basically it's called rolling off or when you take that sheepsfoot roller off of there you really can't see the imprints anymore that it makes.
 
James Bell 
Okay, you know, we talked about that. I think last time you were here that sheepsfoot roller and I'm sorry I was gonna look it up see what it looks like because I'm super curious what that tool actually looks
 
Stacy Campbell 
like the big roller Packer but it's got those the big metal knobs that stick up about I don't know probably
 
James Bell 
a teenager. Oh, yeah. Sure. Okay.
 
Stacy Campbell 
Yeah. So that really helps kind of pack that in. So that is one of the keys that we've had one person that just put up a pond and a couple of years ago and it wasn't holding water and they made the comment. Well we ran you know the scraper across a lot but they didn't do a sheep's foot roller so it was dry. We sent this Soil offer texture test, it came back at exactly 30%. So it's like if you will just pack that with the sheep's foot roller. You know, I'm pretty confident that it will hold water now. Okay, yeah, they did that. So it'll be interesting to see, I think they dug it out some more. That's the other thing if you dig them out then you start to put a little bit dirty and only put no more than six inches at a time and then pack pack pack pack pack and then if you got to put a little bit more in no more than six inches at a time and then pack pack pack again with that sheepsfoot rower. So and I'm not an engineer or contractor I've learned a lot because of this one person and, and trying to help them so you know, it does kind of just make sense that you you know, if you've got enough clay in your soil and our soils have, you know, definitely have some clay in them. So, if you've got a leaky pond, we can share sin, some soil offer soil texture test to see what percentage clay and if it's kind of low, maybe in the 20% area. A lot of people think let's add bentonite clay to it. Well that's the most expensive way to do it. There's rock salt can actually do that. And rock salt is pretty plentiful here in Kansas. You got the salt mines and Hutch and think won over by in Rice County, or yeah over and a lot Rice County Lyons, Kansas. So I think you know, you can get rock salt, rock salt, excuse me, shipped and probably to put that on and we've got information about how to do that. If you don't have enough clay in the soil and get it packed in there. Good. But definitely the cheaper option than the bentonite clay is to use rock salt. If if you don't have enough clay in the soil, for that toe for that soil to be able to hold that water and not leak in your farm ponds.
 
James Bell 
Interesting. Yeah, very cool. Okay. All right, sir. Well, it's good to
 
Stacy Campbell 
see if they Yes, thank you. Yeah. And also, I guess, call us if you're planning to come to the weight plot field day that's 62894306289430. If you're planning to come give us a call by Friday, if we'd appreciate that

As reorganization continues Ellis County Historical Society votes to save historic church

On this episode of the Post Podcas Ellis County Historical Society interim director Amanda Rupp shares the latest from the Ellis County Historical Society.

Hays Chamber to present Dale Carnegie training

On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger stops by to share information about their upcoming Dale Carnegie training.
Transcript:
EDITORS NOTE: Transcripts are provided by an automated service and are not verified for accuracy.
 
James Bell 
The Hays Chamber's, Dale Carnegie workshops are coming up in early June. President and CEO of the Hays Chamber, Sarah Wasinger stops by to share some of the details on this episode of the Post Podcast.
 
Sarah Wasinger 
When I first started at the Chamber almost three years ago, mind you, back in June of 2019, I was able to go through the Dale Carnegie class on the front end, starting at the chamber. And it was quite frankly, one of the most wonderful professional development personal development opportunities that I have ever had. And looking at, you know, a unique job as the chamber presidents Oh, it was just really a good opportunity to really hone in on better communication skills, and really kind of understand how I can, you know, really stop and pause and listen, and really hear what other people are saying and understand what their needs are. And that's really been one of the biggest tools I've used in my day to day jobs.
 
James Bell 
That's awesome. Yeah, I'm looking at kind of the class notes here. Confidence, competence and enthusiasm is what they're practicing. I love that.
 
Sarah Wasinger 
Yes. So if you are the type of person that maybe you're not extroverted, you're introverted, but your job requires you to maybe push yourself outside of your comfort zone couldn't imagine what that's like, I don't know, do we have jobs like that?
 
James Bell 
We may, we may be a public faces of the community? Yeah, well, I
 
Sarah Wasinger 
would say that this is that opportunity to put yourself outside of your comfort zone, you know, it's not just a traditional sit in your chair, you know, from 830 to five o'clock training session, you're actually getting up, you're interacting, you're moving around, and you're going to have to prepare, you know, a couple of minutes speeches here and there. But the cool thing is, is that you're sitting in a room of people that are in that exact same place that you are, you know, they're testing their comfort levels. They're not, you know, probably speaking at the public level on a daily basis, either. People that were in my class ranged anywhere from people in the banking industry, we had folks in education, agriculture, you know, just essentially people that were in the marketing filled, business related, you know, competencies, it really had the gamut of people who, you know, would benefit from this class. So, we also had the opportunity to act out skits, which I'm not one that is very creative, but really, they put you at ease when you're in the class. I'm Amy Gross is actually the facilitator. And for people that listened a couple of months ago, we actually had her on to talk about the class that we had back in April. So she does a great job. And it's my understanding that Tasha Iseman from Nex tech wireless is going to be last year's guest, um, graduate facilitator this year. So she's going to come in and kind of help and keep the class engaged and keep everybody on their toes.
 
James Bell 
Very cool. Very cool. Yeah. And I was gonna say, I remember that interview. And for those out there listening, want to go back and listen to that you can find that over the post podcast, I'm sure that's there. Over at Hayes post.com. But the I love that. The exactly you you kind of alluded to this a little bit. But this really this class is not for just business professionals or Chamber members. It's for anybody you there's something that you can take from this, no matter what your job position or life experiences.
 
Sarah Wasinger 
It is absolutely so the thing I like about this course is when we started back in 2018, kudos to Tammy Walbrook, excuse me my predecessor, she's the one who brought this opportunity. And so this is just a really nice way for people to have amazing, you know, communication training, but you don't have to travel away from haze. That's the value of it, right? So where you as you would normally travel out of town for, you know, three to five days for a training like this. You get to have it right in your own back door. We're going to actually have it at the venue at Thursday's. And that will be on June 7 14th. And 21st classes will start from 8:30am and go until 5pm
 
James Bell 
Very cool. Very cool. Yeah. And, you know, first off the venue, what a neat little place. I I've had some meetings in there and I love it. I think that's one thing we still probably need more of venue spaces here. Nice. But anyway, the travel piece of that absolutely to get this world class training. I mean, normally you'd have to go to Wichita, Kansas City to do this but you guys bring it right here to the people in Hays. I love that.
 
Sarah Wasinger 
Absolutely. You're not paying gas prices, you're not paying costs to stay overnight in a hotel. You're staying right here in Hays. And, you know, you don't have to be paying us to take the class we have in the past have had people from other communities and counties travel into town to take it. So registration information can currently be found on the Chamber's website. We do have fliers, essentially, that will be coming out. While I guess if you go back as far as I think our February newsletter will have a Dale Carnegie flyer in each of the month's newsletter so definitely go check that out. If for any reason you can't see that. Feel free to call us at the Chamber office at 785-628-8201 and either ask for myself or for Rhonda and Mariah M, we're giving her that some of that information too. So, we will do our best to get you all the information you need. And more than anything, too, we would be happy to connect you with Amy gross, the facilitator from Dale Carnegie at the Kansas heartland.
 
James Bell 
Okay. Now I'm curious, do you have to be a chamber member to get in on this?
 
Sarah Wasinger 
Absolutely not. Now, there is a cool benefit to being a chamber member. However, we will give you a 15% discount for being a chamber member. When you register through the course, there is a code on the flyer at the Chamber's website. And of course, they'll Carnegie will verify that all those who register with that code are true Chamber members. One thing that we haven't talked about is there are three books that come with this training. And I actually, I feel like I use one of the three on a weekly basis, if not more. So the quick and easy way to effective public speaking, I actually read that one, before going on stage at the Chamber banquet my first year. And I think had I not done that I might have just, you know, maybe gotten really red faced and paused and not knowing what to say. But that book really helped me with some personal competence. Just being able to speak in front of you know, 400 of my peers across town, and then how to win friends and influence people and how to stop Worrying and start letting. I think that even though we look at Dale Carnegie as the concept for professional development, and they've been doing this for over 100 years now, the principles still really do remain true. I think the thing I love the most about the books is it gives you a lot of different stories that kind of illuminate some of these different principles that we talked about, to where it's easy for you to internalize as your own self within your own experiences. And you can kind of really pull from a variety of examples for those.
 
James Bell 
Absolutely, yeah, I highly recommend those books. I've never done this class, but I've read those books, or at least a couple of them. Yeah, I don't remember exactly which ones. But yeah, well, I gotta pulled up here, just aside the titles in front of me on the on the web. And they're like, they're $5. I mean, what a what an investment your future, if you don't want to take the time at this, at this point in your career to do a class like this, please read those books,
 
Sarah Wasinger 
at least read the books, they're amazing. Um, so a few of the other things that you will learn in this class are creating a safe and caring environment, managing stress and minimizing worry, obviously, everybody is doing a lot more, with a lot fewer staff right now. So, um, who could benefit from that one, and then energizing and engaging listeners, that's sometimes very difficult, because we consume so much information on a daily basis. And so just making sure that the message that you're sharing is really being taken in by your audience. And then I think the thing that I love the most is building trust and persuading people to take action. So a lot of times, maybe we have that fear point that, oh, maybe I shouldn't act, maybe I shouldn't do this. Because I'm worried about what the possible outcome might be. I think this class really helps you guide your own internal thought process, and really helps you feel comfortable maybe pushing the envelope in certain instances when you wouldn't, you know, not in a bad way. But you know, if you see something that could yield from some positive change, it gives you the courage to act on it.
 
James Bell 
Very cool. Yeah. And that's one of the things that I see that, I don't know, it kind of digs at me a little bit is the lack of action. And, and especially, and not not anyone here locally, but around the state in other locations I've been in, I see these towns, and I'm thinking like, goodness gracious, what we've got all these cool things going on in Ellis County, why aren't they doing it here?
 
Sarah Wasinger 
Right. So I think you have to ask yourself that question, you know, are you okay with the status quo. And I think part of what Dale Carnegie teaches you is that, you know, we can be proud of the foundation and the roots that we have, that have built us to be where we are today. But we also have to owe it to ourselves to look forward to, you know, what our futures really need. And one of the questions that I love the most that people will learn about in this course, are, what's the worst thing that can happen? A lot of times, that's the thing that makes us worry the most is we're worried about the worst thing that can happen. Well, if you can identify that elephant in the room, what's the worst thing that can happen? A lot of times, it's just doing nothing. And so doing something is always better than doing nothing. And it takes courage to try different things. And I feel that our county, as you've pointed to James has been very successful as of late because we've been willing to try some different things. And we know that in order to grow, we need to shift a little bit of the way that we've done things in the past. And I'm very proud of our community for doing that.
 
James Bell 
Absolutely. lots lots to be proud of here in Ellis County, and Hayes specifically. We've got just a few minutes left, I want to make sure we were telling people again, how do you get registered for
 
Sarah Wasinger 
this thing, so they can go to Hayes chamber.com and access that flyer, so they can go to the news and announcements tab and under our newsletter, link there. They can just click on that. There's an actual link in the flyer itself they can go to and then if they have any issues, registering there or getting that access discount code to work, they can call us at the office and we'll be happy to put that in there and want to make sure folks do now may 31. So next week Tuesday is the deadline to register for the class. And so if you have any questions beforehand, you know, we'd be happy to connect you with other graduates of the class. I know that many of them are always willing to share their experience with others.
 
James Bell 
Absolutely. And I have never heard anyone that has taken this class have a bad thing to say about it. Not a single person. That's incredible to me. And I've known quite a few that have been through that. Absolutely. All right. Well, Sara, before we run out of time, we got to talk about this. You got a lot going on this week. Well, we always do. It's always busy down the chamber.
 
Sarah Wasinger 
So Wednesday, we have Gracies corner at fhsu Memorial Union, that'll be at 4pm. I'm Grace these corner is actually their new pet line of fhsu Tiger gear that you can purchase for your four legged friends. Oh, that will be kind of exciting.
 
James Bell 
The first dog gracious. Took me a second but yeah, the Masons dogs.
 
Sarah Wasinger 
And then Wednesday as well, we're going to have our H yp MDC meeting that will be held at defiance at 4:30pm. And then Thursday, we're going to have a lunch and learn with the Wild West festival. And it'll be at the press at noon, and lunches available for $12. Such a great opportunity to learn how you can get involved, and an event that really hits almost every corner of Hayes, that we have a lot of people that come visit us that week. So I know that they are definitely high in demand for getting some volunteers and help for that. So if you have an inkling to learn more, as well, as you know, hear some music while you're there, and volunteering. That's a great opportunity. And then Friday, we're excited to have our chamber chat with cathedral roast, and they are going to be at the downtown Pavilion at 9am. We're going to learn about what Jeff Broll has been doing with his new coffee business, as well as talking about the downtown market that will be kicking off that weekend. And then finally, we're going to have our monthly membership lunch at Smoky Hill Country Club that will actually be this Friday at noon. And leadership Hayes will actually be our topic that they can use as a response. So if you're curious to see what our leadership Hainsworth has been doing for their class project, it's a great chance to get involved

FHSU’s Hispanic College Institute helps Hispanic first-generation college students succeed

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Fort Hays State University assistant director of admissions Hugo Perez and Fort Hays State University Alumni Association engagement strategist Carolyn Tatro share information about the upcoming Hispanic College Institute.

Hays Arts Council summer classes return for 2022

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Arts Council executive director Brenda Meder shares information about summer events at the council.

Forward Ever: Gardener’s Supply president and CEO Cindy Turcot.

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Gardener's Supply president and CEO Cindy Turcot.

Grow Hays hires director of business development

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares information about the hiring of a director of business development.
 
Transcript:
EDITORS NOTE: Transcripts are provided by an automated service and are not verified for accuracy.
 
James Bell 
Grow Hays has recently expanded by one more team member in order to help continue on in their mission. Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams stops by to talk to us about that and more on this episode of the Post Podcast.
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
An interesting year with adding people.
 
James Bell 
Yeah, maybe we should talk about that first before we talk about the new new hire because you do have a new hire from a wider No, it was it about six months ago or so you brought on David King and
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Queen joined us January 3, this year, director of business recruitment and retention and spend a great job has jumped right in. And he wrote the grant for the microfactory that we got. He's got all kinds of I say all kinds, but he's got a lot of prospects he's working on in terms of organizations, companies that may be looking to expand and Hayes and so we're in Ellis County. And so he's doing great, but we still had some additional needs. And that leads us to where we are today.
 
James Bell 
Very cool. Very cool. Yeah, I gotta say this about David, before we move on to the new guy. Immediately, they have seen him around, I see him everywhere. He says like, it's like, I think he may be sometimes he's following me because it seems like every event I'm at, he's also there, and participating, communicating and, and just being I think it really good representative of the organization.
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well, actually is following you, James. So you bear watching. But now, he has been very active, he's getting out into community. And he's, he's he's doing what needs to be done. And as I say, we've got we've got more prospects in the pipeline now than we've ever had. And, you know, recruitment of businesses, it's a numbers game, the more you have in the pipeline, some will fall through, you know, most will fall through. It's it's a, it's a rejection game, but you'll get your fair share of them. And that's what we're working hard to do is get our fair share of them.
 
James Bell 
Very cool. All right. So let's talk about this, this a new position. First off, I'm coming into this with absolutely no information. So what is the position
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
where the position is director of business development, and special projects, we like long, complicated titles that grow haze. But essentially it will be his focus will be primarily in the areas of entrepreneurship, business creation, which is the first item in our mission of business creation, business, retention, and expansion and retainment. And then business recruitment, and James Robin, will be joining us in June, the first or whatever day that is, that's the first Monday of June. And he will be in that position of business development and special projects, in part because of this microfactory. That's a big project. And we need somebody looking after that and making sure that the construction phase goes well, but then we also, you know, we have to fill that building when we get to that point. Once it's complete, we want it full of serving its purpose as an incubator for manufacturers. And so he will be involved in that as well as some of our housing initiatives and, and have a lot of areas that he'll be focused on.
 
James Bell 
Very cool. Very cool. And you know, if that name sounds familiar, it sounded familiar to me too. But I had to look it up. It didn't immediately strike a strike my memory, but he was a long term, longtime office staffer with Senator Moran, right. He has
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
been he's he's been a district representative for Senator Moran covering I believe it's the Northwest 18 counties in Northwest Kansas. And that has given him I believe, a really good feel for small communities, rural communities like we are and like, our county is in terms of the struggles that they have, and some of the programs that might be available that federal programs as well as even state programs for small communities like ours, that we can take advantage of. So I think he I think his background number one is as the district representative for Senator Moran will serve him well. Number two, he born and raised in western Kansas in the Sharon Springs area. So he has a good understanding of, of what's going on and has that western Kansas work ethic that we like to see and it's so good to have. And so a lot of positives with James I'm very confident he'll he'll hit the ground running and do a lot of good for us.
 
James Bell 
Yeah, that's awesome. You know, you talk about those the extreme western Kansas of communities and they think about the struggles they have and how they compare to some of the things we're dealing with. And oh, my goodness, like, if you can come up with some helpful ideas out there. That's going to be just a easy implement implementation here. I would say
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well, that's one of the other areas that I hope to focus on in the future is that even though we are, you know, our, our coverage is Ellis County, we can't be insensitive to what goes on around us and other counties and the struggles that they have. Because those people come to hate they shop and Hayes, they buy cars and Hayes, they go to Fort Hays State, they go to events, and they do have a lot of struggles, you know, depopulation is a real struggle for them. aging populations is a struggle, you know, they have, they have all the same challenges that we have with workforce with housing with childcare. So, if we can help in those areas, I think in the long run, it benefits our community as well. So more and more we look at the region versus just Ellis County, you know, obviously, our focus is Ellis County, we want to do as much as we can here. But we we can't be insensitive to what goes on around us either. Yeah, and
 
James Bell 
you know, in in recent months, years, maybe even I've been hearing a lot more about that collaborative nature. You know, it's, it's, it seems like even professionals, businessmen that have been doing their industry or in their industry for a long time, are kind of coming to that realization that it's no longer that competitive nature out here in western Kansas got to be collaborative one. And I wonder if you want to talk a little bit about how a position like this helps build that. And especially with the entrepreneurship piece, because, you know, again, a lot of conversations I'm hearing is the things that we want out here in western Kansas, they're not going to come to us, we have to build them.
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well, that's right, you know, creation is a big part of what we are focused on and what we need to be doing. And that's going to be a big part of what James is going to be responsible for. And, yeah, I mean, we we have to help are, we do have to look at it regionally. And we do. And that's, that's one of the reasons why James was such a good fit is because he has such a good familiarity with these 18 counties out here, as to what goes on and what their challenges are. So and, and he knows, and, you know, hopefully he understands the federal programs that might be available, as well as how the system works, you know, government in general, if you if you get into the middle of it, it can be overwhelming, as to okay, we've got this program and this program, and this program will What's that mean to me, and you need that person that understands that that can kind of guide you through that. And that's, that's what we're for. That's why when a prospective business is coming to town, we're kind of their first stop, because as they look for, okay, what programs might be available to us what, what infrastructure needs are we going to have, we're the ones that can guide them through that and, and as we expand and look at Western Kansas as a whole same kind of thing could be the case, a lot of these small communities. They can't afford full time economic development people. I mean, they just can't. So if we can help in some areas with some of the smaller communities, that that's great. And, you know, we can't be so proprietary and so focused on Oh, it's only what's good for hazer it's only what's good for Ellis County. You know, I always I say all the time. What's good for Hays is good for Ellis, Victoria Manjaro Chinchin. By the same token, what's good for Alice or Victoria or Manjaro? is good for AES. Because we need people. And so if attracting them any way we can, it's what we need to be doing.
 
James Bell 
You mentioned, many of these smaller counties out here in western Kansas don't have that elk economic development staff. And I wonder if you want to talk a little bit about that as well how important organizations like grow Hayes in especially with the recent growth that you guys have accomplished down there, how important it is for groups like yours to continue to stimulate economic development?
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well, it is important and and we fortunately, in Ellis County, we have the resources to engage full time professional economic development people, a lot of counties don't. I've been watching here recently and it's it's there's just a procession of people in different positions out in western Kansas communities that they have an economic development director for a while, but then they move on to something else or they retire, or they're just part time or you know, they're they're part time they work for maybe a a local utility, but they also do economic development on the side, you know, the organization allows them to do that. But the problem with that is they just don't have the opportunity to focus enough time and energy towards what the whole process is. And I particularly see that with housing in some of these rural areas. I mean, they have real challenges, and we do too, but we're able to make some strides and and solve some of these problems, but they they really have an uphill battle. And so I think long term, that's something we want to explore is how we can help Additionally, in some of these smaller communities where they can maybe have some sort of a consulting arrangement with the Ellis, our organization, and we could maybe provide some of those kinds of services, we do have the creda organization, the western Kansas, Rural Economic Development Alliance. And that's a group of Eiken of counties and cities and economic development professionals, all through the western half of the state, that participate in this organization. And they're a resource for each other. And it's a great organization. But sometimes it takes a little bit more than that takes actually boots on the ground to do some of that. And over time, I think we'll we'll be doing some of those kinds of things just out of necessity.
 
James Bell 
You know, on the flip side of this, I wonder if you want to speak to folks out here, I know there's there's there's I think everyone would agree a pretty independent streak and the folks that live in western Kansas, and I think some of them feel that maybe organizations like this that grow it's it's it's I know, it's not a government organization, but it's quasi governmental, you do get government funds. I wonder if you want to speak to that, you know, why? Or how the growth of organizations like this aren't necessarily government more a local effort?
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
Well, certainly, one could argue that as organizations like ours grow, and we do get some government funding that, you know, we're, we're one more thing that is on that list of things, it get funded by governments. And, and as I like to think, you know, it needs to be a good investment by the local governments in what they're spending and what their return is, you know, that's why every year we go before them and tell them what we've done, and tell them what our ask is for the coming year, and what our plans are. And, you know, it's up to them to decide if it's been a good investment or not, I certainly think it has locally for all the communities in our in our county, but that's what the elected officials are there to do and make that assessment. But if, if, if we're not there to do it, it simply doesn't get done. You know, that, that company that wants to locate here that wants to go through the process of asking for some economic incentives, or knowing what programs that might be available for him. The reality is that if there's no if we're not there, either the city or the county, somebody's gonna have to hire it done. And they still won't be looking at things as broadly as what we are and the number of services and things that we offer. So but yeah, I hear you on the growth thing. And, you know, part of this, the adding of these two people is, anybody that knows me knows I'm not a spring chicken. And there will come a day where I'm not going to be doing this anymore. And norburn Our organization needs succession planning. Well, when this when James is in place, and David's in place, you know, we'll have a much more secure succession plan, whatever that is, I don't know that it even be either one of them. But whatever that plan is, will be much more solid than it would have been if it was just me doing everything. And if I go out and get hit by a bus or something like that, that would have been problematic. Absolutely.
 
James Bell 
We've got just about a minute or so left. I wonder if we want to share details. When is Jim Seaton started down there,
 
Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams 
He started June 1, or whatever day that is the first Monday in June. He's, he's I'm, I'm confident that had a little bit of a conversation with Senator Moran. And he's, while he hates to lose James, he feels like it's a positive move for James. You know, I think James James is failing is what he's indicated to me as he'd like to make a difference on a local level versus what he was doing on a federal level. I think you can see the results a little easier on a local level and, and I think he's excited about that. So he starts on June the first and we'll get him going and we'll get some getting acclimated to some projects and some he'll have some definite things he's on his to do list and relate star to partnership, whether it be our youth entrepreneurship challenge, pitch it events, try spec, the Speaker Series, whatever.

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