Manhattan, KS June 2023

Welcome To

When I look back at the entirety of my life, it’s easy to see the strong and positive male role models that helped guide me into the man I’ve become today. I was fortunate the influence started at home with my father, Kendall. From there, it branched out to my wonderful grandpas, uncles, and the dads of my closest friends. Mr. Woofter, Mr. Bunyan, and Mr. Johnson were my most influential elementary school teachers. Coaches Dennis Hamilton and Tim Brooks meant everything to me in high school. Adolf Khan, Chuck Schram, Brady Sauder, Eddie Miller, Rich Wartell, and Santiago Restrepo are a few great bosses that helped mold the way I do things today. I’ve also been fortunate to have kept a host of wonderful, positive and influential friends: Ryan Ross, Sam Stevens, Brett Lennon, Logan Morse, John Jobe, DJ Couch, Gavin Hargrave, Chris Kliewer, Tanner Rutschman, Tyler Ferguson, Jared Dakin, John Kurtz and James Studtmann, rest in peace.

Beyond family, friends, teachers, coaches, and bosses, was a world of great men always willing to help. Seemingly everyone around me has always looked after me as if it was their duty. The way I talk, act, and conduct myself in public stems from even the earliest influences.

I understand that I am God Blessed beyond belief, but it really hasn’t been by accident. Every person I’ve come across has been because of a divine interaction, and each person has helped lead me to untold growth. I am eternally grateful for them all.

Aristotle had a fantastic quote that makes more sense the older I get: “Give me the child until he is seven and I will show you the man.” Looking at the world today, there are a lot of lost children and people out there that have sorely lacked positive and influential male role models in their lives.

While influencing always starts at home, you have more influence on the world than you think. It is our individual duties to make the world a better place, one person at a time, every time we can. What you do and say matters to those around you, even if you don’t directly realize it.

This month’s issue is filled with the same positive and influential male role models. Each person in this magazine is certainly accomplished, but most importantly, a great man.

This is the Men of Impact Issue, Welcome To! Enjoy!

June 2023

PUBLISHER

Tyler Jackson | tyler.jackson@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Heather Hoffman | heather.hoffman@citylifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Tim Sigle | siglephoto@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kenny Whitis

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Whitney Lockhart

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kirstan Lanier

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

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Meet Dr. Jake Priddle D.C. at Alternative Healthcare Center

Dr. Jake Priddle at Alternative Healthcare Center is one of Manhattan’s most trusted chiropractic healthcare practitioners. Specializing in pain management and proper spinal motion & mechanics, Dr. Priddle takes pride in maintaining a ‘no interference approach’ to care, which helps maintain a high functioning nervous system. A Manhattan native, Dr. Priddle is an MHS, Kansas State, and Cleveland Univerisity-Kansas City graduate. Dr. Priddle is accepting new patients — schedule a consultation today!

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Energy Center-Manhattan Pool has been inducted to the prestigious AQUA 100

Congratulations to Energy Center-Manhattan Pool for being inducted into the AQUA 100. An exclusive honor bestowed to just 10 pool and spa retailers across North America each year, the AQUA 100 is an industry-leading competition designed to honor excellence in pool and spa retail. Judged by an independent panel of retail experts, entrants were required to provide detailed information on company history, customer service, store design, digital presence, marketing, and community involvement. 528 Pillsbury Dr.

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Remembering "Mr. K-State", Ernie Barrett (1929 - 2023)

We remember the life of the legendary “Mr. K-State,” Ernie Barrett. Ernie was a former Wildcat All-American basketball player, athletic director, and fundraiser who proved to be one of K-State’s most important ambassadors for over seven decades. Known for his smile, famously strong handshake, and larger than life personality, Ernie was a friend to everyone who met him. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Bonnie, son Mark, and grandson Ryan.

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Manhattan

local experiences

The best places and things to do in our area.

Gather your buddies and organize an outing filled with laid-back or high-energy activities, courtesy of these local experiences.

Our Picks for The Man Clan

GOOLSBY’S: Put your knowledge to the test at GOOLSBY'S trivia night, Tuesdays 7-9pm. The winning team receives a cash prize! $5 cover charge per player. 1212 Bluemont Avenue, Suite 130, Manhattan, KS

MIDWEST DREAM CAR COLLECTION: The first Saturday of each month at 9am, Midwest Dream Car Collection hosts "Cars and Coffee" in their front parking lot. Check out classic cars and enjoy free coffee and donuts!  3007 Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, KS

AGGIEVILLE BARBER & STYLE SHOP: Get a fresh cut or a straight razor shave from barbers who take pride in their work. Look and feel your best in time for a night out. 613 N 12th Street, Manhattan, KS

FINN'S NEIGHBORHOOD PUB: A beloved Manhattan institution for over 30 years, Finn's hosts karaoke Tuesdays and trivia Wednesdays, as well as open mic and live music events. 317 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS

FOXHOLE PAINTBALL AND AIRSOFT: Experience adrenaline-filled action at Foxhole Paintball & Airsoft with strategic obstacles, high-quality equipment, and skilled referees. Perfect for a day out with the guys! 2311 Uphamm Road, Junction City, KS

Want to recommend a local experience?

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Mark A Ewing 2505 Anderson Ave. Ste. 103 785-370-4120

Matt Paquette 1419 Westport Landing Pl. Ste. 111 785-539-6777

Doug Springer 335 S. Seth Child Rd. 785-587-1866

Gage Zierlein 530 S Third St. Ste. 110 785-537-0022

Sarah Pacheco, CRPC® 519 Lincoln Ave. 785-456-1980

D.C. Hackerott, CFP® 2021 Vanesta Pl. Ste. B2 785-776-5902

Joel R Phipps 530 S Third St. Ste. 110 785-537-0022

Emily L Surritt 1213 Hylton Heights Rd. Ste. 125 785-776-9234

Adam Greenwalt 1403 W Hwy 24 785-456-2322

Kerri L Spielman 701 4th Street 785-632-6811

Catherine E McKinley, CFP® 2012 Vanesta Pl. Ste. 230 785-539-5589

Emily L Surritt Financial Advisor 1213 Hylton Heights Rd Ste 125 Manhattan, KS 66502 785-776-9234

Allen L Reid 604 Humboldt 785-539-8203

Bill Wolf 555 Poyntz Ave. Ste. 100 785-537-3700

David D Nelson 1403 W Hwy 24 785-456-2322

Member SIPC

The Wizard of Oz

As the sun rises over Bill Snyder Family Stadium, this morning commences the same as any other for Kansas State’s Director of Athletics, Gene Taylor. Walking into his Vanier Football Complex office that overlooks the football field, he gazes out around in awe and appreciation. Amid an assembly of autographed helmets and footballs, there are photos of family, friends, and decades-past football teams. There are framed jerseys, assorted memorabilia, and a personal collection of commemorative Army vs. Navy ticket stubs. Above all, an abundance of gratitude fills the room. Each

morning, as Gene takes in his surroundings, he feels an ongoing sense of gratitude, thinking, “How cool is this to be here?”

Gene Forrest Taylor was born on July 22, 1957, in a small town near the Pinaleno Mountains of Southeastern Arizona. Raised in Safford, population some 10,000, the area is known as a copper mining, cattle & cotton region. The son of a high school basketball coach, Gene was around sports from the moment he was born. He has fond memories of going to every game, sweeping the floor at halftime, and getting to travel with the team.

K-STATE’S DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS GENE TAYLOR HAS FOUND THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME IN MANHATTAN

More importantly, he remembers the quality time spent with his father. “I won’t say that’s why I’m here today necessarily, but when I think back on everything I did — it was all about sports, and mainly because of my father,” he says.

A good athlete growing up, Gene played varsity football and basketball in high school. Winning state basketball championships three out of four years, he failed to make the basketball team his senior year due to an injury that led to a missing tryouts. Despite not playing, he had the respect of his teammates, and came aboard as team manager his senior year. This move would prove to have a lasting impact on his future.

Following high school, he attended a basketball camp at Arizona State University. After injuring his foot on the first day, Gene got to know the coaches while sidelined. Once enrolled at ASU, those same coaches asked if he wanted to be a team manager. Seizing the moment, he served the basketball team for two years. Before his junior year, the football team needed a manager, and that opportunity turned into a full scholarship. Even though he primarily served the football team, a self-proclaimed “equipment room rat, of sorts,” he would still help the basketball and baseball teams during their seasons. Gene just loved the process of being a sports manager.

Graduating from ASU with a degree in business management he soon found himself in Texas, managing a high-end steak supper club. After four years, he began missing athletics. He called an ASU friend who had become an assistant athletic director at the University of Miami. That friend told him it wouldn’t be easy applying for athletics jobs, but encouraged him to come to Miami, and get a master’s degree from St. Thomas University. He did just that. His first post-graduate job would take him back to Texas, where he became an intern in the ticket office at Southern Methodist University.

It was a great job that he loved, but there was just one problem that SMU’s athletic department

was about to face, and it was called The Death Penalty: SMU’s football program was shut down for repeated NCAA violations. After having to leave Dallas, Gene went back to Arizona, where a friend from St. Thomas would soon call to tell him about an entry-level position that opened up at the Naval Academy. Gene applied, got hired, loaded his truck, drove across the country, and stayed in Annapolis, Maryland for 15 years.

After working for some time in the business and ticket offices, a new athletic director by the name of Jack Lengyel soon took over. Jack really took a shine to Gene, essentially taking him under his wing. Gene would climb the ladder to become the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations at Navy, and he credits the mentorship of Jack Lengyel as one of the biggest reasons for where he’s at in his career today.

Annapolis was also where he would meet his future wife, Cathy. Gene was roommates with her brother, Mike Schofield. Being from a family of eight, she was the only sibling Gene hadn’t met when they did. Meeting at one of Gene’s favorite annual parties, they started talking, and he liked her from the start. Cathy was living in Pennsylvania at the time, near her native hometown of Pittsburgh, but she would eventually relocate to Annapolis where the two would date for a few years, before getting married in 1994.

One day, Jack came down to Gene’s office and said, “Here’s a job description I think you should take a look at it.” It was for the Athletic Director’s position at North Dakota State in Fargo. With Jack’s encouragement, and despite Cathy’s nervousness, he applied. After going through the initial process, and garnering some interest, they agreed to a visit. On the first night, Cathy was distressed about the prospect of leaving Annapolis. On the second night, she was all in. The difference between the first and second day was the people. They loved the coaches and families, and they loved the Midwestern feel of Fargo.

“I feel blessed every day that I come to work, and walk into that office. I’ve got a tremendous family that let me do it right, and that’s been there with me every step of the way. I want to be here for a lot more years.”

With a big leap of faith, the family moved from the shores of Chesapeake Bay to the Red River Valley of North Dakota in 2001. “I tell people I’m the greatest salesman in the world because I convinced my wife to leave Annapolis, Maryland for Fargo, North Dakota,” he laughs. It ended up being a great move for the Taylor family.

In Fargo, Gene became the overseer of one of the greatest runs in North Dakota State athletics history.

Beginning in 2003, the Bison made the transition from a NCAA Division II school to an NCAA Division I FCS school, and thriving in the process. During Gene’s

tenure at NDSU, the football team won three straight national championships, and qualified for the NCAA tournament in basketball twice. Gene also oversaw a $41 million capital campaign, which raised money to renovate several of NDSU’s athletic facilities.

Gene had always dreamed of being an athletics director at a major college program. Yet, those opportunities always proved difficult to come by. No matter how much on the field success they had at NDSU, and no matter the fact that he tripled the athletic department’s budget, Gene was having a tough time getting

an interview at the next level. However, the next step needed was just around the corner.

When Gene first arrived in Fargo, he befriended Gary Barta, a North Dakota State graduate, and up-and-coming future athletic director. Gary would eventually become the AD at the University of Iowa, and around 2014, he had come calling with a custom-tailored opportunity for Gene. He needed a deputy AD, a clear number two in charge, and he badly wanted Gene to take the spot. Understanding how the college athletics world works, Gene knew this was what was needed to get to the next level of his career. It was his family he was most worried about.

Gene admits it was a rough time leaving Fargo, most especially for his son, Jared. The heir-apparent quarterback of his high school football team, he had recently just completed his freshman year. “We still talk about it, and being here now, he obviously gets it,” says Gene. “He’s a kid that just really gets it, as does [his daughter] Casey, because they grew up around it. But, that was probably the hardest decision we’ve had to make. He’ll probably tell you that it was the best experience because it made him better, and he had to grow up a lot more, but it was still tough.”

After three years in Iowa City, Gene had interviewed for the jobs at Purdue and Illinois before landing another promising one with

the University of Pittsburgh. Beforehand, he had told Cathy, “If I don’t get Pitt, I’m out.” Shortly after being informed he would not be getting that job, she reminded him to not give up and mentioned, “Have you seen that Kansas State’s open?”

While doing research about Kansas State, he saw Amy ButtonRenz’ name listed. He remembered her from when he applied for the K-State job back when John Currie had gotten the job in 2009. Amy, the President of the K-State Alumni Association, is close friends with Sherri Schmidt, who was then at the Alumni Association at North Dakota State. So, he reached out to Sherri and asked her to reach out to Amy. She spoke to Amy, who then emailed Gene a link to apply for the job.

While Gene and Cathy were preparing to travel to Phoenix for the Final Four, he received a call from Amy, and an interview was set for the following Wednesday in Manhattan. While in Arizona, he was reading about K-State’s then-President General Richard Myers, who was a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gene thought, “I worked at the Naval Academy for 15 years. I bet I can figure out a link.” He realized that link was through Admiral Mike Mullen, another former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Mullen was a roommate of Carl Tamulevich, the guy who officed next to Gene at the Academy. Gene called Carl,

and asked if he could put in a good word about him to Admiral Mullen.

While in Phoenix, Gene had met with his now-retired former boss, Jack Lengyel. As they were having dinner, Gene mentioned he would be interviewing the next week for the K-State job. Talking about his conversation with Carl, Jack said, “Gene, do you know that I talk to Mike Mullen every day? He and I are working on something for the Naval Academy, and I talk to him literally every day. I’ll be happy to visit with him.” This now meant Gene had two good buddies who knew Admiral Mullen, who would put in a good word to him, despite not knowing him himself.

After the first interview, Gene was invited back to Manhattan to meet with General Myers himself. Once that concluded, and just as soon as he landed in Fargo for a visit, he got another phone call. This time, it was Coach Bill Snyder, who wanted to visit with the new AD prospects. After talking for 15 minutes about his background and why he would want to come to K-State, the call concluded as Gene and Casey arrived at a country club to have dinner with old friends. He soon got another call from a 785 number.

“Hey Gene, Dick Myers here. We just wanted to let you know that we’ve made our decision.” Gene’s heart was racing. He had been here before. Here it goes again, another rejection was coming. President Myers concluded his thought to say, “We just want you to know that we’d like you to be our next director of athletics.”

Elated, Gene immediately accepted the job, ended the call and headed back inside. He and Casey then wildly celebrated in the parking lot of the country club. He then called Cathy, and Jared, and the Taylors were soon Manhattan bound.

When talking to General Myers, Gene says the former University President said, “One of the final straws for me

was you were the only candidate that had two Former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff talking about you. The fact that Mike Mullen called me about you, and he doesn’t know you, but he knows a couple of people that know you very well - that put me over the edge. Nobody has ever done that. How did you put that together? That really impressed me.”

Once hired, Gene didn’t waste any time before elevating Kansas State’s athletic department to new heights. One of his first tasks was finding the successor to follow Coach Snyder’s legendary career, which history had shown wouldn’t be an easy feat. He would find that success with another North Dakota State connection: Chris Klieman. He also brought Jerome Tang to Kansas State from Baylor, who won the Naismith National Coach of the Year award and made a trip to the Elite Eight in a storybook first season as basketball coach. His hires of Pete Hughes as baseball coach and Jordan Smith in Tennis are starting to pay dividends, and the anticipated future of the volleyball program under Jason Mansfield is almost here. It’s apparent K-State’s athletic programs are in a great place, just as the facilities continue to be. In a lot of ways, the Gene Era has become a Golden Era in athletics at Kansas State.

Which takes us back to that office at the Vanier Football Complex, as Gene stands, soaking it all in. Kansas State was a long time coming for this former equipment manager from Arizona turned newly named 2023 NACAD Athletic Director of the Year. The mementos and awards are reminders of how far he has come, and the smiles in the family photos prove he was right all along. He hopes to never leave, and K-State wishes the same. They know with Gene Taylor at the helm, the future will always be bright because of the Wizard of Oz.

They know with Gene Taylor at the helm, the future will always be bright because of the Wizard of Oz.

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MEN OF IMPACT

MALE LEADERS

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Tejaswin “TJ” Shankar

Two-Time NCAA High Jump Champion

Like many who grow up in India, TJ fell in love with cricket, the country’s most popular sport. When he was in middle school, his cricket coach recommended training in track and field events to improve his athleticism. TJ saw early success in high jump, setting the national high jump record at 2.18m (7.15 ft) in 2016.

Since arriving at K-State, TJ’s list of accomplishments has continued to grow: he has won the NCAA high jump championship twice, bested his own national record at 2.29m (7.51 ft), and won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

TJ credits his firm belief in himself and the mentorship of his coaches for his success in high jump. ”It may sound cliche, but you have to have faith in yourself. Mentors bring out what’s already inside you. You cannot start a fire without a spark.” He continues, “Coach [Rovelto] has been a guiding light for me.”

Looking to the future, Tejaswin is hoping to represent India at the 2024 Olympic Games. However, his vision for the future is not limited to athletics. “I always strive to think about, how can I contribute to the world outside sports and build a professional life?”

In 2022, TJ received his Master’s degree in Accounting, and now splits his time between working at Deloitte, one of the world’s largest accounting firms, and training at K-State.

WHO ARE PURSUING THEIR PASSIONS, SERVING THE COMMUNITY, AND SEEKING

Dr. Walter Dodds is a world renowned freshwater ecologist and biologist. As a K-State University Distinguished Professor, his research focuses on the ecological processes that shape freshwater ecosystems. He has worked with scientists from New Zealand, Brazil, and Switzerland, but much of his work has been concentrated on the Flint Hills.

In collaboration with Dr. Alice Boyle, K-State Associate Professor of Biology, and Tony Capizzo of The Nature Conservancy, Dr. Dodds is evaluating how virtual fencing of cattle impacts the land along the edges of streams in tallgrass prairie watersheds. The ultimate goal of this project is to protect the vulnerable ecosystem of the tallgrass prairie.

When I ask about the accomplishment of which he’s most proud, he says, without skipping a beat, “Our children [Joey and Hannah] have to be at the top of the list.” It’s clear he’s also extremely proud of his wife, Dolly Gudder, who gives back to the Manhattan community in many ways, including as a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Looking to the future, Dr. Dodds hopes to keep making a positive impact through his work. “A lot of my career has been at the interface of research and transmitting that information to people to help preserve and manage the environment. Through my textbook, my popular books, and my classes, the big goal is to make the world a better place.”

Learn more about Dr. Dodd’s research and his books here: k-state.edu/doddslab

Dr. Wayne E. Goins is one of the leading jazz educators in the United States. In addition to serving as the University Distinguished Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at K-State, he is the Founder of Little Apple Records, a prolific and award-winning writer, a voracious reader, and an accomplished musician.

Dr. Goins developed his love of jazz early in life. During a visit to a high school in Chicago, he was captivated by the sound of their jazz ensemble. He proactively approached their band director, George Page, since his own school lacked a jazz ensemble, and asked to join.

Just two years later, Dr. Goins was offered a full music scholarship to University of Arkansas, making him the first in his family to attend college. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Music Education from Florida State University. From there, he was recruited to join the faculty of K-State.

Dr. Goins’ career has brought him great fulfillment, but his family life is the source of his utmost joy. “The greatest moment of my life was meeting and marrying my wife and meeting my two daughters.” He continues, “The greatest joy of my life is my grandson. His name is Mason — and I got to name him!”

Looking ahead, Dr. Goins has a lot on his plate. He is currently writing an exclusive biography on legendary blues musician, Taj Mahal, whom he met backstage at McCain Auditorium. He is working on his next album, which will be released on Little Apple Records. Each Sunday, he performs live at Bluestem Bistro 10am-12pm.

Learn more about Dr. Goins’ music and books here: k-state.edu/mtd/about/faculty-staff/music/goins/

“The greatest joy of my life is my grandson. His name is Mason — and I got to name him!”

Ben Duell

Duell Construction

Ten years ago, Ben Duell made the leap of faith to start his own construction business. At the time, when Ben was mulling over the decision to set off on his own venture, Amanda Purdom at Aster Design Studio reached out about converting the old Keats schoolhouse gym into their design studio, which would provide three solid months of work. “God made it very evident that it was what I was supposed to do,” says Ben.

Since then, there has been no shortage of work for Ben and his company, which has been tremendous growth over the past decade. From our conversation, it’s clear that a key to Ben’s success is his relentless passion for his work and the genuine care he shows his customers. “My favorite thing about what I get to do is getting to know [my customers’] stories and their families.” He continues, “People deserve to be treated like they are valuable, not like commodities.”

As Ben looks to the future, he’s excited about the company’s growth because it will provide greater opportunities for philanthropy.

“Fostering a mindset of generosity is important to me. One thing my wife and I have prioritized since the very beginning of our marriage has been giving back to the community.”

Tim Fitzgerald is living every K-State sports lovers’ dream. He is the President and Publisher of  GoPowercat.com , a website that has emerged as a premier destination for news and analysis related to K-State athletics. The site features the Powercat Podcast, which Tim hosts, and tons of video content, hosted on the company’s YouTube page, youtube. com/@GoPowercat .

When Tim graduated from K-State with a degree in Journalism in 1986, podcasting and YouTube did not exist, and print dominated digital media. Throughout his career as a journalist, Tim has learned to roll with the punches, staying current with media trends. Consistent through all the changes has been Tim’s passion for his work. “This is something I truly love. I never feel like I’m working,” he says.

Although K-State may not have the largest fanbase, Tim feels that now is a great time to be a K-State fan. “Everything going on with K-state sports right now is a convergence of good. The coaches, the athletes, and the Athletic Director [Gene Taylor] are all good people.”

On the day of our interview, Tim received his 21st radiation treatment for prostate cancer. Despite the difficulty of his experience, he has a positive mindset. “I’ve always been one who can take a negative and find the positive in it. I’m an advocate and I’m very open about my experience.”

“Everything going on with K-state sports right now is a convergence of good. The coaches, the athletes, and the Athletic Director [Gene Taylor] are all good people.”

Nineteen eighty-one was a pivotal year for Kevin Ingram. On a trip to the Christian holy lands with his church youth group, Kevin felt the call to join the ministry. Within days, he was enrolled at Manhattan Christian College. In his first semester, he met his future-wife Lisa. Just 25 years later, Kevin was named the 7th President of Manhattan Christian College.

Under Kevin’s leadership, Manhattan Christian College has renovated the historic Jollife Hall and expanded its academic offerings, receiving accreditation for its online degree programs. In 2016, he oversaw the completion of Howie’s Activity Center, a hub for physical activity and community events. Throughout all the changes, he has remained a steadfast advocate for the college’s mission to educate and equip students to serve in Christian ministry and leadership roles. “My heart for MCC is our students who go out to be leaders, who make an impact for Christ — regardless of their profession,” he says.

During our conversation, Kevin shares photos of his grandchildren and his children, the latter of whom have chosen to serve in the ministry. “I’m very proud of them,” he shares. “God and my wife deserve the credit.”

Looking ahead, Kevin hopes to reach 50 years in the ministry, and shares a quote by the writer George MacDonald that informs his approach to the future: “Real Christian leaders are people who are moved at God’s pace and in God’s time to God’s place, not because they fancy themselves there, but because they are drawn.”

MAKE AN IMPACT FOR DAD

What do you buy for the man who has everything? Perhaps an experience oriented around what dads value most – time together – is just what he needs. Fathers and father figures are invaluable in our lives. They help shape and mold us. They’re there for us and support us. If you haven’t already planned something special, take a look at our list of ideas and circle your favorites. If you have kids, let them join in the fun too!

Whether you decide to spend a day at home or enjoy a day on the town, these innovative celebration ideas will include fun for the whole family and make Dad feel loved. Whatever activity or surprise you land on to show your dad, husband, brother or father figure your appreciation for all they do, the most important thing is that you all get to spend some quality time together.

Memorable Ways to Celebrate The Father Figure in Your Life

LEARN ABOUT HIS FAMILY TREE

Family heritage websites can offer insight into dad’s past and be an interesting way to study the history of your family. Present Dad with a report on his ancestors or dig in together!

PLAN A STAYCATION

You don’t need to go very far to have a great time with Dad! Explore a new neck of your own woods with a family staycation. You can go out on the town, stay at a fancy hotel and maybe even enjoy some room service!

GO BIRD WATCHING

Lay out a blanket in your backyard and grab your binoculars for a peaceful, naturefilled day. Make a list of how many different kinds of birds you see and guess if you can identify them.

GO BOWLING

Bowling is a timeless classic Dad is sure to enjoy. Bonus if the bowling alley has an arcade, chicken wings and Dad’s favorite beverage of choice.

PLAY FRISBEE GOLF AS A FAMILY

Find a local frisbee golf course and grab a slot for the family to play. This activity is fun for both young and old and helps you take advantage of being in the beautiful outdoors together.

events

A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

JUNE 7TH

Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches Senior All Star Game

TOINTON BASEBALL STADIUM, 1700 COLLEGE AVE, MANHATTAN, KS | 12:00 PM

The KABC All-Star Game features the 1st team all-state senior players in Kansas. Awards for Coaches of the Year will be presented before the National Anthem, and the Player and Pitcher of the Year awards will be presented between innings.

JUNE 10TH

Movie Night at Blue Earth Plaza

BLUE EARTH PLAZA, MANHATTAN, KS | 5:30 PM

Gather for a free night of family fun under the stars at Blue Earth Plaza! Enjoy an evening of activities, including the big screen showing of a family-friendly movie! Bring your blankets and chairs, enjoy some food truck eats, and once night falls, the movie will begin.

JUNE 10TH

Purple

Power

Animal Welfare Society Adoption Event

MANHATTAN BREWING COMPANY, 406 POYNTZ AVE, MANHATTAN, KS | 12:00 PM

Join us on the patio of our local brewery for a dog adoption event! Meet adorable pups from local shelters and rescues, enjoy a cold beer, and maybe even find your new best friend. Come out and support a great cause while enjoying a fun-filled day with man's best friend.

JUNE 10TH

2023 Garden Tour

MANHATTAN, KS | 8:00 AM

The 2023 Garden Tour will feature the Kansas State University Gardens and five private gardens of Manhattan homeowners. Tickets are not required, but a suggested $10 donation benefits the K-State Gardens. Experience the Letterman's "cottage garden," designed to emulates the color palette of Monet's paintings, the Tolley's shady sanctuary, featuring many tropical plants, and more!

JUNE 14TH - 19TH

Juneteenth Celebrations

MANHATTAN, KS

Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. The Manhattan Juneteenth Committee has an incredible slate of events planned this year. On June 16th, head to City Park to try the best barbecue in Manhattan and listen to Grammy-nominated vocalist, Keith Washington. To see each day’s events, see  manhattanjuneteenth.org

JUNE 17TH

Tour De Taco

BLUE EARTH PLAZA, MANHATTAN, KS | 3:00 PM

Join BikeWalkMHK for Tour De Taco, a family-friendly event that combines biking and tacos. The event is open to all ages and abilities! Participants will stop at three taco shops on a flat, five-mile course. Bring your own bike, helmet, and appetite and join the celebration! Register at bikewalkmhk.com/tour-de-taco

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

KevinLockettisaco-foundingpartnerofFulcrumGlobalCapital.

Fulcrum Global Capital makes investments in early stage, innovative & disruptive companies, specifically in the Agricultural & Animal Health sectors. Kevin represents Fulcrum Global Capital on the board of directors of WeedOUT, Farmtrace, P&P Optica, and Precision AI. He is also very active civically, and currently serves on the board of directors for Intrust Bank, Kansas City University, and The University of Kansas Hospital System. He currently lives in Kansas City with his wife Cheryl, and twin 14 year old boys.