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R e s e a r c h E d u c a t i o n C o n s e r v a t i o n
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YOUR 2018 FOKP CalendarFor sale at the annual meeting, Oct. 1, 2017, for $15
And after Oct. 1, available at Claflin Books & Copies, 103 N. 4th St., Manhattan
Upcoming FOKP & KEEP Events
Sept. 24, 2017 - Konquer The Konza Race, see page 8
Oct. 1, 2017 - Annual Meeting and Potluck 4:00 p.m. Meeting 5:00 p.m. Potluck & Bison BBQ 6:00 p.m. Bison Loop Tour
Oct. 6, 2017 - Visions of the Flint Hills Opening, see page 9
JoinusfortheannualFriendsofKonzaPrairieBoardMeetingonSunday,October1.You’llgetthelatestupdatesonthestateofKonzaPrairie,theKEEPeducationprogramachieve-mentsandplans. ThisisalsoanopportunitytomeetandvoteonthenewFOKPBoardmembersandhearaboutBoardactivities. ThemeetingwillbeheldintheKonzastonebarnCortelyouConferenceRoomat4:00pm,followedbytheannualpotluckandbisonbarbecue. AttendeesareinvitedtoparticipateinaguidedbustriparoundtheBisonLoop,ortohikeButterflyHillafterthemeal.Come,bringapotluckdishtoshare,andjointhefun.Intheinterestofenvironmentalconservation,youareencouragedtobringyourownreusableplates,cupsandeatingutensils.Seeyouontheprairie,October1.
pg. 2 Sept. 2017
KPBS DirectorDr. John Briggs
ItislateJulyandfinallywehavegottensomerainandsomecoolerweather.Inmostyears,Juneisoneofourwettestmonths(weusuallygetalmost5”ofrain),butthisyearitwasverydryuntilthe29thofJunewhenwegot2.5inchesofraininoneday,andsincethenwehaveonlygottenabout2inchesmore.Inaddition,thelastcoupleofweekswehavehadmanydaysclosetoorover100degreesandsomedaystheheatindexwasover110!Myyardis“toasty”brownincolor(Idon’twaterit!)butmostofKonzaPrairieandtheothernativegrasslandsintheareaarelooking
good.Therearesomebrownareasinsomeofthedryersoilsbutforthemostpart,theprairieislookinggood.Evenafterbeingaroundthetallgrassprairiesince1984,Iamstillamazedhowitisabletohandlethismid-continentalclimate;orassomeonetoldmetheotherday;“howcanthisplacegetsohotinsummerandyetgetsocoldinthewinter?” IampleasedtoleteveryoneknowthatinJune,JohnBlair(Lead-PIoftheKonzaLongTermEcologicalProgram(LTER)),RodManes(StateDirectoroftheKansasNatureConservancy)andmyselfgaveK-StatePresidentMyersandhiswife(MaryJo)atourofKonzaPrairie.Thiswasthefirsttimethattheywereon-siteanditwasawonderfulopportunityforustohighlightthemanyresearch,educationalandoutreachprogramsthatareongoingatKonza.Itwasabeautifuldaywithmanywildflowersinbloomandthebisoncooperatedbybeingclosetotheexteriorfence.ThoseprovidedmanyopportunitiesforustodescribeindetailtheimportanceofthebiologicalstationandhowK-Statewasveryfortunatetohavesuchauniqueresource.TheywereveryimpressedandimmediatelymadeplanstobringoutmembersoftheirfamilytowalktheNatureTrail.Inaddition,Presi-dentMyersrequestedthatJohnBlairandIgiveatourofKonzatotheKansasBoardofRegentswhentheymeetinManhattan,KS,inOctober.Inaddition,theywillhaveacatereddinnerintheKonzaPrairieMeetingHallafterthetour.ThePresidentmen-tionedmanytimesthathewantedeveryonetoknowmoreaboutKonzaPrairie! Asusual,thissummerhasbeenverybusywiththemanyresearchersworkingon-site.Eachyearwehavemanynewresearchers“discover”thewondersofworkingonthesiteandofcoursetherearethe“veterans”whohavebeenworkingformanyyearson-site,whocomebacktosampletheirpermanentplots.IamverygratefultotheKonzastaffofJimLarkins,(ProjectManager),PatrickO’Neal(BurnCoordinator)andBarbVanSlyke(AdministratorAssistant)whosomehowmanagetokeeptheplaceoperatingsmoothlyyethavetimetoaccommodateandtakecareofthemanyvisitorseachandeveryyear.Andofcourse,theKonzaEnvironmentalEducationalStaff(JillHaukos,EnvironmentalEducatorDirectorandherAssistantHallieHat-field),staybusymostofthesummernotonlytrainingareaschoolteachersbutalwaysworkingontheirprogramtogetreadyfortheupcomingschoolyear.KonzaPrairieisveryluckytohavesuchadedicatedstaffworkingon-site. InSeptember,theKonzaPrairieLTERwillhaveanon-sitereviewbytheNationalScienceFoundation(NSF).Asmanyofyoumightknow,thisisthemajorresearchprogramon-siteandNSFhasconsistentlyfundeditsince1981(oneofthefirstsixsitesfundedbyNSFin1981).TheNSFconductson-sitereviewsoftheprogressandstatusofallLTERprogramsatthemid-pointofeachfundingcycle.WearecurrentlyinYear3oftheKonzaLTERVIIgrant(fundedfromNov.1,2014,toOct.312020)andourmid-termsitereviewwillbeheldSeptember7-9,2017.Thereviewteam(consistingofNSFprogrammanagersandscientiststhatarepickedbyNSFasreviewers)willbeevaluatingallaspectsoftheprogramincluding1)site-basedresearch,2)informationmanagement,3)network-levelparticipationandsynthesis,4)education,outreachandtraining,and5)programmanagement.ThisisanopportunityforustohighlighttheLTERprogramatKonzaandweareworkinghardtogetreadyforthereview. IwishthatIcouldreportthatstatefundingandthusuniversitysupporthasgottenbetterbutactuallyKonzaPrairiehasreceivedanotherroundofbudgetcuts.Iamstillevaluatingthesituationtomakeaccommodationsthatwillsoftenthislat-estroundofcuts.ItgetstougherandtougherbutIamworkingwitheveryonetomakesurethatKPBScontinuestoserveasaresearchandeducationalplatform.Asalways,IwanttothankallthemembersofFOKPwhocontinuetoprovidemuchneededfinancialsupporttoKonza.Eachyear,privatesupporttoKonzabecomesmoreandmoreimportant.Toallofyou,averybigTHANKS!Pleasecontactme([email protected];785-532-0140)ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcernsaboutKPBSaswetrytocontinuetodevelopasoneofthefinestbiologicalfieldstationsintheworld.
Sept. 2017 pg. 3
FOKP PresidentDonna McCullum
Harvesting Edible Plants
Whenharvestingwildherbsandplants,besureyoucanidentifythem.Ifyouareunsure,donoteat.Becareful,eatingthewrongplantcouldbefatal.Thefollowingisapartiallistofplantsthatareavailableinourarea. Dandelion Theyoungunfoldinggreensinthecenteraregoodraw,theentireplantcanbesteamed.However,thefloweristhebestpart;pickitoffthestemandpinchoffthegreenbaseoftheflowersotheirisnosap.Thesapisbit-terandwhatisleftisasweetmeatywildfoodthatcanbefoundinhugeabundance.
Chickweed Thisplantcanbegatheredinthespringtimeandcookedasagreenvegetableorcanbefrozen.Thisisoneofthefirstplantsupinthespringandisveryabundant.Theentireplantcanbeeatenrawandhasasweetgrassyflavor;avoidthestemsandgatheritbeforewarmweather;oncetheweatherwarmstheplantturnsyellowanddies.
HenbitYouwillfindthisplantinmoist,richfieldsandlawns.AsearlyasJanuaryinthemidwestthisplanthasalreadygreened.Byearlyspringthetinypurpleflowerscovertheplant.Ittoodieswhenhotweatherbegins.Itisentirelyediblerawandhasaverymildmintflavor.Pluckoffthetopstoavoidthestems.
Morel Mushrooms (my favorite)Morelmushroomsareagiftfromtheeartheachspring.Morelscanappearovernightbutremainelusive.Mushroomhunterswillnevergiveawaytheirhuntinggroundsotherthan“downbytheriver”or“inthewoods”or“onahillside.”Certainconditionsmustbepresentformorelstopopup.Soiltemperaturesshouldbeinthe50’s,withanumberofnightswhenthetemperatureisabove50andrain.Oldtimershavecertainsignstheygoby.SomeIhaveheardinclude1.Whenthelilacsbloom2.Whentheredbudsbloom3.Ormyfavorite,whenoakleavesarethesizeofsquirrelears.Youhearstoriesabouthowpeoplehavefoundgunnysacksfullatatime.Thathappenedtousonce.Theconditionswerejustrightandwecouldsitinthewoodsandpickhundredsofmushroomswithouthardlymoving.Mysonand2grandchildrenwerewithus;theirfirstmushroomhunt.Nowtheyexpecttofindthemlikethefirsthunt.Thatwasaonceinalifetimeevent.How-ever,theystilllovetogomushroomhunting.Afterthehunt,checkforticksandtakeashower.Unfortunately,thepoisonivyisoutaswell.Isoakthemorelsinsaltwatertoremove(most)ofthebugs.Iliketolightlyflourandfryinoiluntilcrisp.TheyareyummyandIrarelysharewithanyonebutfamily.Icannotwaitforspringtocomeandtohuntmushroomsagain.
pg. 4 Sept. 2017
From the Stone HouseDirector of EducationJill Haukos
In2013KEEPbeganaprogramtoassesstheeffectivenessofoureducationprogrambygivingkidspre-andpost-visittests.If
thereweredifferencesbetweenthetestswecouldreasonablyat-tributethosechangestowhatthekidsexperiencedatKonza.Aftertabulatingover2,300testswehavesomeresults. Theassessmenttesthasthreeparts:1)opinion,2)knowl-edge,3)application.Theopinionsectionasksquestionswiththeansweroptionsof“Always”,“Sometimes”,“NotReally”.Someofthequestionsandthepost-testresults(AlwaysandSometimescombined)are:
- Ithinkthegrassandhillsaroundmytownarepretty:85%- Ithinktouchinginsectsisgross:85%DON’Tmindtouchinginsects- WhenIgooutsideIseebirdsandotheranimals:93%- Iliketogooutside:96%
TheknowledgesectionaskedTrue/FalsequestionsthatwereKonzaPrairieandtallgrass-prairiespecificlike:
- Bisonarewildanimals(true)- Thetwomainkindsofplantsfoundinaprairiearetreesandshrubs(false)- Fireisalwaysbadforaprairie(false)- Thebestwaytopreserveahealthy,naturalprairieistoleaveitalone(false)- Prairiesareadaptedforsurvivingadrought(true)
TheanswerstoALLofthesequestionsshowedimprovedknowledgepost-visitthatwasstatisticallysignificant.Inotherwords,thekidsarelearningfromtheirvisittoKonza. Theapplicationportionofthetestwasequallyenlightening.Wegavestudentsatablewithdatashow-ingprecipitationatKonzaPrairieforthepast6years.Thestudentswereaskedtoreadthetableandanswerquestionsbasedonthedatapresented.Theresultsshowthatmostofthekids(>70%)wereabletoanswerthequestionsaccuratelybuttheirvisittoKonzaPrairiedidnotimprovetheircomprehensionofthedata.We,aseducators,mayhavesomewowrktodowithstudentcomprehensionofdata. Overall,theresultswereeye-openingandencouraging.Kidslovegoingoutside,theyareproudoftheirhome,theylikebugs!Iplanonwritingupthisentireprojectandsubmittingitforpublicationinanenviron-mentaleducationjournal.Theassessmentprogramwillcontinuewithonlineteststhatwillbeautomaticallytabulated. Iwouldliketoacknowledgetheassistanceofthefollowingindividualswhovolunteeredhundredsofhoursoftheirtimeintabulatingtheresultsofthesetests:BuzBruzina,JimCopeland,ShaunaDendy,ColleenHampton,HallieHatfield,KarenHummel,JuliaJilek,RettaKramer,andAllieLousch.Thisprojectwouldhavebeenmuchmoredifficultwithouttheirassistance.
What Kansas Kids Think about Nature Kidslovenature.Wehavethenumbersthatproveit.
Sept. 2017 pg. 5
Docent Profile:
WhatmotivatedyoutobecomeaKonzaPrairiedocent
PattiwasadocentattheWildernessCenterinWilmot,Ohio,andJeffworkedattheWildernessCenterastheNaturalBurialGroundStewardandledsomeactivities.WhenwemovedtoKansasfromOhioweimmediatelylookedforsomeopportunitytocontinuetovolunteerandworkinnatureandlearnmoreaboutKansas.KonzaPrairiewastheperfectopportunity.Whenwevisitedfamilyherebeforemovingwehikedthenaturetrailsoweknewaboutit.Wealwayshavehadaloveofnatureandhavingworkedwithkidsandadultsourwholelivesaseducators,wejumpedatthechancetobecomedocentsandcontinueinthiswonderfultask.
Whataresomeofyourhobbies&interests?
Wehavealwaysenjoyedbeingintheoutdoorsandhikingandcampinghasbeenoneofourgreatestjoys.LivingherehasgivenusnewopportunitiestoexploreareastotallydifferentfromtheEast.Wealsoenjoytravelingnowthatweareretiredandhavevisitedsomanynewplaces.VisitingfriendsandfamilyintheSeattleareaissomethingwedofrequentlywhereenjoyingfamilytakesprecedence.Jeffenjoysfishingandwhenhefindsthetime,golfing,andwebothareenjoyingexerciseandyogaatFlintHillsFitnesswherewealsovolunteerourtime.PattiisinvolvedwiththeFriendsoftheLibraryinWamegoandvolunteeringwithbookstudyatSt.BernardCatholicChurchinWamego.Webothareenjoyingwatchingourgrandkidsgrowupandgotoalloftheiractivities.WealsoareenjoyingournewhomeinWamegoandspendlotsoftimeintheyardandgardenmakingitourspecialplace.Wearen’tsurehowwefoundthetimetoworknow.
WhathasbeenthebestpartofbeingavolunteeratKonzaPrairie?
Probablythebestpartofbeingavolunteerisbeingwiththechildrenandseeingthewonderintheireyesandontheirfacesastheyseethewondersoftheprarie.Itisarealjoytoworkwiththemandgettoknowthem.Itissoneatwhentheycomebackandsaytheyrememberusfromanothertripandaregladtoseeusagain.Also,meetingandgettingtoknowgreatfriendswhoarelike-mindedandsharingourexperienceswiththemhasbeenahighlight.Welookforwardtoeveryactivityandgettogetherwithotherdocentsandstaff.Itisreallyaspecialplacewithspecialpeople. Whatbringsyouthemostjoyinyourlife?
Whatatoughquestion.Probablybeingwitheachotherandfamilybringsusthemostjoy.Wearesoblessedtobeabletobeclosetoourkidsandgrandkids.Familyhasbeenimportanttousandcontinuestobesoaswewatchour6grandchildrengrowandmature.Wearefortunatetohavegoodhealthandtheabilitytostilldothethingswelove.Seeingeachnewsun-riseandtakinglifeonedayatatimeandlivingitfullyisourdailygoal.Lifeisgood.
Patty and Jeff Watson
pg. 6 Sept. 2017
Nominees for FOKP Board
Kenneth Stafford Iamretiredafter45yearsinhighereducation.Ibecameadocentin2011andhavemaintainedafairlyactiveinterestintheKonza.Ihavebeenontheboardforaboutthreeyears.IenjoyhikingtheKonzawithschoolgroupsorjustdoingtrailmaintenanceandenjoytheoutdoors.
Kelly Carmody KellyCarmody’slovefortheKonzaPrairiedatestohertimeattendingK-Stateduringthelate1990’s.Tothisday,theKonzarankshighlyamongstherfavoriteplacestovisit.AtypicalSaturdaymorningduringthesummermonthsusuallyinvolvesafamilyhikethroughtheKonzafollowedbyabreakfastatoneofthelocalearlymorninghotspots.Kelly’sfavoritefeaturesoftheKonzaincludetheseasonalvarietyintheplantsandflowers,watchingdeerandturkeysgrazingintheirnativehabitat,majesticviewsoftheFlintHills,andseeingherfavoritetree,adeadburoakwhosemagnificentgnarlybranchesspreadwidelyacrossthelandscape. Kellyisa6thgradeteacheratWoodrowWilsonElementarySchool,andisalsotheExecutiveDirectorofTandem,alocalnon-profitthatsupportsteensinfostercarewithintheManhattancommunity.Kellyhasbeenatherapeuticfosterparentfor11yearsandhasbrought25childrenintoherhomeinthattimeperiod.Thisresultsinanever-changinghouseholdofpeople.Currently,Kelly’shomeincludesatotalofninepeople,adog,twocats,andaturtle,whichmakesforanever-chaotichouse.ShehasbeenmarriedtoTroysinceNovember2016,andthesevenchildrenrangefrom5-20yearsold.
Sept. 2017 pg. 7
NoahBuschhasbeenteachingbiologyfor15years,andduringthattimehasmadeanindelibleimpressiononstudentsandhisfellowteachersalike.Noahbelievesthatthebestwaytolearnbiologyisbycollectingdatainschool-yards,fields,streams,theKonzaPrairieandotherlocalnaturalsites.Noah’sstu-dentshavetaggedmonarchbutterfliesandstudiedtheirmigrationhabitsandpatterns.Hisstudentshavewadedinstreamstocollectdataonwaterqualityandsurveymacroinvertabrates.Noah’sstudentsgoonnaturewalksandhonetheirobservationalskills,identifyingbirds,treesandotherwildlifealongtheway.Inshort,hisstudentsusetheworldaroundthemastheirlearninglabora-toryandthatisthekindoflearningthatstickswithstudents. Noah’scurrentpassionistobringtheprairietohisstudents.Withbudgetchallengesinschools,Noahrealizedthatinordertomakesurethathisstudentshaveopportunitiestostudytheprairieecosystem,itwouldbebeneficialtohaveaprairiepatchontheschoolgrounds.Thiswillhelpfacilitatelearningaboutpollinators,bio-diversity,nativespeciesandmore.AndNoah’spassionforenvironmentaleducationisoneheshareswithothers.NoahhasengagedstudentsfromhisownclassandthedistrictinEcoMeetandEnvirothon,twostatewidecom-petitionsontheenvironment,andhe’sworkingwithotherteachersacrossthedistricttobringmoreenvironmen-taleducationintoclassroomsthroughGreenGatherings.GreenGatheringsbringteachersfromdifferentgradelevelsandschoolstogethertotalkaboutteaching,collaborationandcommunityresourcesforeverythingfromrecyclingandcompostingtogardeningandmore.Noahwasalsoaleadteammemberonaprogramtoassessstudent’senvironmentalliteracyforthestateofKansas.
Chris Bailey
Noah Busch
Nominees for FOKP Board
ChrisBaileyisanattorneyinManhattan,KS.HeattendedpublicschoolsinManhattanandLawrencebeforegraduatingfromaprivatehighschoolinWichita.ChrisearnedaBAdegreeinpoliticalsciencefromtheUniversityofKansasin1988andaJDdegreein1993.HeworkedforthestateofKansasfor20years,andhasbeeninprivatepracticesince2013.ChriswasinspiredtojointheFriendsofKonzaPrairieboardbylearningofthelegacyofPhoebeSamelsonandhercontributionstotheEnvironmentalEducationprogramatKonza.
pg. 8 Sept. 2017
2017 KONQUER THE KONZA RACE
Date: Sunday,September24th,2017Address: 100KonzaPrairieLn,Manhattan,KS66502RaceTime: 10k–7:30am25k–7:30am
2017 New & Renewed FOKP members
Little Bluestem level $30(Individual)$50(family)upto$99ScottAllen&ShannonGreerMaryBarkleyAnnBerryTroyBrasherRichard&AdaleeBrennerForrestChumley&BarbaraValentPeggyColemanAnothonyR.CrawfordHeather&JackCwachClarkDDannerTrustHerbDillonRitaDoleMaryGalliganLisaGrossmanSteveHenryWendyJusticeMeganKennellyMargoKrenMaryMcInteerDonandJanetPhillippiJanePowell&JonaluJohnstoneTheSchmidFamilyMalcolmStromAdena&TimWeiserUrsulaJ.WeiserDavidWheaton
Big Bluestem level $100-$149AmirAlexanderBahadoriRichardBoydstonMaryClarkLonnieandBethClarkElizabethDoddMichaelDonnelly&JackieMacdonaldLindaDukeHowardandAnnEriksonHankandEileenErnstMartyandSharonGurtzGary&CarolynHadenMichaelHermanMikeHermanandLindaKroegerKathleenHoss-CruzSimonMalo&ValerieWrightDavidMayerKarenandJohnMcCullohJaneneMcNeilPalmerandMartiMeekJodyParsonsSusanReimerBarbaraLynneRobertsGeorginaR.SchwartzPhyllisandWarrenSlocombeKen&KrisStaffordBettySterlingStaceyandJimWarnerBarbaraWithee
Flint Hills level$150-$249JamesandSusanCopelandMaryHelenKorbelikDavid&BetsyWeigel
Prairie Chicken level $250-$499DanandBethBirdDuane&CindiDunnCharlie&PatriciaGrimwoodMarkHulbertJohn&IngelinLeslieAlanandJoanSmith
Student level $10PamBlackmoreDr.BrianT.HazlettStephenLauer
Visions Sponsors
Flint Hills$150-$249TheNatureConservancy
Prairie Chicken level $250-$499BriggsAutoGroupBurnettAutomotiveCommunity1stNationalBankLadybirdDiner
Bison level $500andupTheTrustCompany
Sept. 2017 pg. 9
Art Purchases Help Preserve the Vanishing Prairie ButtonwoodArtSpaceandtheVisionsoftheFlintHillsBenefitandShowhavebecomeimportantpartnersforFriendsofKonzaPrairie(FOKP)andtheKonzaEnvironmentalEducationProgram(KEEP).TomarkourfourthyearwithBut-tonwood,we’veaddedsomeexcitingnewelementstothestellarshowyou’vecometoexpect.
Firstofall,wewillnowhaveanHonoraryChairforeachshow.JimandCathyHoy,expertsontheFlintHillsandlead-ersintheranchingcommunity,areinauguratingthisimportantchange.JimshareshisknowledgeofandpassionforfolklifeandtheFlintHillsthroughfrequentlecturesandeducationalprograms.Hehaspublishedover100articlesonGreatPlainsfolkloreandauthored17books.ThelatestistitledFlintHillsCowboys:TalesoftheTallgrassPrairie.CathyservedontheboardoftheSymphonyintheFlintHills.AsEducationChairforsixyears,shesolicitedandeditedarticlesonvariousaspectsoftheFlintHillsfortheeducationtentsandtheFieldJournal.TheHoyswerehonoredwiththe“FriendoftheFlintHills”awardin2015fortheirmodelstewardshipoftheFlintHillsandtheirpassionforpreservingthetallgrassprairie.In2007,theyplacedthefamilyranch,theFlyingH,inaperpetualconservationeasementwithRanchlandTrustofKansas,therebyhelpingtopreserveKansas’ranch-ingheritageandtoconserveopenspacesforfuturegenerations. Thesecondnewelementtothisyear’sexhibitionisaneducationalcomponenttitled“PeeringintothePrairie.”QRcodeswillbeplacednexttoartworktoexplorevariouseducationalaspectsoftheFlintHillssuchascrabspiderslivingonmilk-weed,macroinvertebratesinstreams,orhabitsofgroundnestingbirds.Thisyear’sjuror,LisaGrossman,isawell-knownFlintHillsartistwhohashad26showsaroundtheMidwestandoneithercoast.SheearnedanAssociate’sdegreefromtheArtInstituteofPittsburghandmovedtoKansasCity,MO,in1988toworkasanillustratorforHallmarkCards.Afterdiscoveringthetallgrassprairiesofeast-centralKansasin1995,GrossmanleftHallmarktopursueherpassionforpainting. We’reexcitedtohavethesponsorshipofAnnieWilson’sTallgrassExpressStringBandandtohavethemperformattheopening.Formedin2004,TallgrassExpressisaregionalband,stayingclosetotheirrootsandperformingmainlyatcommunityeventsintheFlintHills.Theirmissionistoprovidelocalentertainment,andthroughtheirrecordings,sharewithabroaderaudi-encetheircelebrationofthebeautyandwonderoftheKansasFlintHillsanditsranchingculture.InadditiontotheiroriginalsongsaboutthelandandlifeoftheFlintHills,theyperformfast-drivingoldtimeyandbluegrassfavorites,folkballads,westernswingtunes,beautifulCelticmelodies,earlyAmericangospelhymns,andbelovedcowboyandwesternstandards. Artistscompetefor$900inawardsforcategoriesincluding:painting,photography,3D,andother.Purchasesofartdur-ingthisexhibitwillfurthertheresearch,educationandpreservationofthetallgrassecosystem.Half(50%)ofsalepricescom-pensateartistsfortheirbeautifulartworkwiththeremainder(50%)goingtoFOKPtobenefittheireffortstosupport(KEEP). Sponsorsoftheshowinclude:AnnieWilson’sTallgrassExpressStringBand,BurnettAutomotive,BluevilleNursery,CivicPlus,LadybirdDiner,LittleAppleBrewingCo,LittleAppleToyota/Honda,MeadowlarkHills,MainCor/MSCID,TallgrassBrewingCo,TheNatureConservancyKansas,andTheTrustCompany.Endorsersoftheshowinclude:AudubonofKansas,ClaflinBooks,FlintHillsDiscoveryCenter,andtheMariannaKistlerBeachMuseumofArt. MeetHonoraryChairs,Jim&CathyHoy,participatingartists,sponsorsandendorsers,enjoyFlintHillsthemedfood,beverages,andaliveperformancebyAnnieWilson’sTallgrassExpressStringBandattheOpeningReceptiononFriday,Octo-ber6,2017,from6:00p.m.to9:00p.m.atButtonwoodArtSpace,3013Main,KansasCity,Missouri,64108.GalleryhoursareMondaythroughFridayfrom9:00a.m.to5:00p.m.,orbyappointment,816-285-9040.
ForadditionalinformationpleasecontactJonMcGraworMacyLayne,ButtonwoodArtSpace,[email protected].
BUTTONWOODARTSPACE3013MainStreetKansasCity,MO64108Phone(816)285-9000Fax(816)285-9001
pg. 10 Sept. 2017
In MemoriamPhoebe Samelson
A TRIBUTE TO PHOEBE SAMELSON from Valerie Wright IwantyoualltoknowsomebackgroundofPhoebe’sroleindevelopinganeducationprogramforKonzaPrairie.ItwassomethingtheManhattancommunitygreatlyneeded.OnlyPhoebehadtheforesighttostepfor-wardandmakeithappen.Manyofuswhojoinedherintheeffortdidn’tknowwhata“docent”wasatthestart.Webecametheeducatorsandtheliaisonbetweenresearchandpublicconcerningthetallgrassprairie. WhenIfirstmetPhoebeshewasinrecruitingmode.Sheheardtherewasabiologist,whohadjustmovedbackintotown,andwasagoodfitforherfledgingprogramonKonzaPrairie.TheDocentprogramwasonlyayearold.PhoebehadtakenherideatothoseinchargeatKonzaandconvincedthemoftheneedforapublicinterfaceforKonza.Shehadthevisionattherighttimewhentheresearchfacultywasreadytohandoverresponsibilityofeducatingschoolgroupsandtheinterestedpublicintallgrassprairieecology.Herpartnership
withJohnZimmermanwasworkingwell.Hetooktherecruitsoutonthetrailsandtaughtthemsomebasicprairiefactsandcurrentscience.Sheorganizedmosteverythingelse. SoIdecidedtojoinandseewhatIcouldlearn.Phoebeliterallytookmebytheearandpulledmein.Wheneversheneededatourguideshewasonthephonetousall.Irememberthoseearlycallswithdates,timesandtypeofeventallclearlydescribed.HowcouldIsayno?AnywayIwantedtobewiththisgroupofnewfriendswhoobviouslylovednatureasmuchasIdid.Phoebe,AnnFeyerharm,MarilynTilghman,CharlieGiven,JanetThroneandmanyotherswantedtosharetheirloveoftheprairiewithall. WelearnedanddiscussedandplottedandplanneduntilaftertwoyearsandourideasputonpaperbyJoeGelroth,wefinallycouldseetherewasapossibilityofanofficialeducationprogram.PhoebeandAnnhadbeenworkingthroughthenewFriendsofKonzaPrairieor-ganizationtokeeptheideaafloat.Manypeoplewerenowonthebandwagon.Phoebemusthavefeltherdreamcomingtrue.Shehadneverletgoofhervision. WhentheKonzaEnvironmentalEducationProgrambecamearealityin1996,IwashiredandPhoebebecamemyrighthand.Shesteppedrightintothevolunteercoordinatorposition.EveryweekatleasttwiceshecameouttomyKonzaofficesowecouldcoordinategroupsandtourguides.Shecontinuedtospendhoursonthephonetomakesurewehadpeopletotakecareoftheincreasingnumberofvisitors,especiallyschoolgroups.Shecontinuedtorecruitforthedocentprogram,putforwardideasfortrainingandmentorednewdo-cents.Shepulledtogetheragroupofdocentstopublishanewsletter,whichbecameanimportantcommunicationtool.Shewasinvolvedineveryaspectoftheprogram. ShetookschoolgroupsontheNatureTrailandbusloadsofkidsontheBisonloop.Icanattesttothehundreds,nothousandsofvolunteerhoursPhoebegavetoKonzaPrairie.Evenafteralltheworktime,shestilllovedtowalkthetrailorgowithmeforarideinthebisonlooptoseewhatwasbloomingorperchancefindaninterestingbird.EvenaftersheandFranzmovedtoMeadowlarkHillsretirementcommunity,shewasorganizingtripsfortheresidentstovisitKonzaPrairie.ManhattanwasluckytohavePhoebeSamelson. Wealloweheragreatthankyouforhervisionandherpersistencetocarryitout.
GaylewasperhapsbestknownasanEnglishteacheratManhattanHighSchool,whereshesharedherloveofBritishliteratureandmentoredadvancedsophomores.ShewasabigsupporterofMHS’sfineartsprogramandspearheadedseveralyouthinitiatives,includingtheLittleAppleTaskForceonAlcoholandDrugAbuse,whichorganizedafter-Prompartiesandotheractivitiesaimedatprovidingalternativestounderagedrinking. Uponretirement,Gaylewentontovolunteerthroughoutthecommunity.She
servedasaCourtAppointedSpecialAdvocateandwasthe2002CASAoftheYear.SheservedontheboardoftheManhattanArtsCenterforeightyears,twoasPresident.SheespeciallylovedherworkasadocentontheKonzaPrairie,whereshewasactivefornearly10years.Shewasanorgan-istandfoodpantryworkeratOgdenFriendshipHouseUnitedMethodistChurch.Sheregularly
volunteeredatShepherd’sCrossing.AndshewasamemberofCollegeAvenueUnitedMethodistChurchformorethan40years,alongwithherhusband,Tom.
In Memoriam Gayle Bennett
Sept. 2017 pg. 11
Director Administrative Asst. Director of Education KPBS Project Manager JohnBriggs,Ph.D. BarbVanSlyke JillHaukos JimLarkins
Assistant Director KPBS Burn Coordinator Assistant Environmental Educator EvaHorne,Ph.D. PatrickO’Neal HallieHatfield
Ex officio and Honorary membersTheNatureConservancy RobertManesKPBSDirector JohnBriggsDirectorofEducation JillHaukosKSUFacultyRep. TonyJoern
TheFriendsofKonzaPrairie(FOKP)promotetheinterestsofKonzaPrairieBiologicalStationastheypertaintoitsmissionofResearch,EducationandConservation.MembershipinFOKPisopentoallindividuals,groupsandbusinessesthatshareaninterestinthecommongoalofsupportingtheKonzaPrairieBiologicalStation.ForFOKPmembershipandgeneralinformation,call785-587-0441,orvisittheKonzaEnvironmentalEducationProgram(KEEP)websiteat:http://keep.konza.ksu.eduAlso,seethebackofthisissueforamembershipform.
KSUFoundation ShelleyCarverHistorian CharlieGivenHonoraryBoardMembers StormyKennedy ValerieWright
2017 FOKP Board and Committees
FOKP Standing Committees
Executive/Finance Committee DonnaMcCallum~PresidentJohnHarrington~President-electDianeBarker~SecretaryShellyGunderson~TreasurerJohnBriggs~ex-officio,KPBSDirector
Nominating CommitteeJohnHarrington~ChairLucasShivers~BoardmemberCydneyAlexis~BoardmemberChuckBussing~FOKPmemberAnnMurphy~FOKPmemberJohnBriggs~ex-officio,KPBSDirectorDonnaMcCallum~ex-officio,FOKPPresident
Membership CommitteeJoeGelroth~ChairJohnReese~BoardmemberJohnHarrington~BoardmemberJillHaukos~KPBSDirectorofeducationDonnaMcCallum~ex-officio,Boardpresident
Volunteer Engagement CommitteeKenStafford~ChairJoeGelroth~BoardmemberJillHaukos~KPBSDirectorofEducationCindyQuinlan~BoardmemberJohnBriggs~ex-officio,KPBSDirectorDonnaMcCallum~ex-officio,Boardpresident
Development CommitteeLucasShrivers~ChairShellyGunderson~TreasurerDianeBarker~BoardMemberJohnReese~BoardmemberShellyCarver~FoundationrepresentativeJohnBriggs~ex-officio,KPBSDirectorDonnaMcCallum~ex-officio,Boardpresident
Sales & MarketingShellyGunderson~ChairAllieLousch~BoardmemberKarenHummel~BoardmemberStormyKennedy~HonoraryJohnBriggs~ex-officio,KPBSDirectorDonnaMcCallum~ex-officio,BoardPresident
Program CommitteeDonnaMcCallum~ChairCindyQuinlan~BoardmemberJillHaukos~FOKPDirectorofEducationJohnBriggs~ex-officio,KPBSDirector
Publications & Publicity CommitteeKarenHummel~ChairDianeBarker~BoardmemberAllieLousch~BoardmemberCindyJeffrey~EditorofBison&BluestemJillHaukos~KPBSDirectorofEducationGregZolnerowich~FOKPmemberValerieWright~HonoraryCydneyAlexis~BoardmemberJohnBriggs~ex-officio,KPBSDirectorDonnaMcCallum~,FOKPPresident
FriendsoftheKonzaPrairieMEMBERSHIPAnnualMembership:
$_____Student$10$_____LittleBluestem$30(Individual)$50(family)upto$99$_____BigBluestem$100-$149$_____FlintHills$150-$249$_____PrairieChicken$250-$499$_____Bison$500andup Enclose this information with your tax-deductible check payable to Friends of Konza Prairie and mail to: Friends of Konza Prairie KSU, Div. of Biology, 116 Ackert Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-4901
Pleaselistyourname(s)asyouwouldlikeittoappearonourmembershiplist:Name:_______________________________________Address:______________________________________ ______________________________________DayPhone:(____)_______________
Membershipsmakegreatgifts!Iwanttogivethismembershipasagiftto:Name:_______________________________________Address:___________________________________________________________________________________Message:
Friends of Konza PrairieKansasStateUniversityDivisionofBiology,116AckertHallManhattan,KS66506-4901785-587-0441#308
THANK YOU!We enjoy being able to publicly recognize and thank our members for their support. However, if you do NOT wish to be recognized, please indicate by checking here. I do not wish to be publicly recognized for my contribution.
Bison&BluestemispublishedquarterlybytheFriendsofKonzaPrairie,editedbyCindyJeffrey,15850GalileeRd.Olsburg,[email protected]
CutondottedlineandgivetoaFriend
ForNEWMEMBERS
