Bis

on

& B

lue

ste

m

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

S e p t . 2 0 1 7

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(jbriggs1@ksu.edu;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,at816-285-9040orMacy@ButtonwoodArtSpace.com.

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,KS66520oremailcinraney@ksu.edu

CutondottedlineandgivetoaFriend

ForNEWMEMBERS