Kansas Country Living August 2019

G E T T Y I M A G E S / M AT T _ D E L A

AUGUST F E AT U R E S

D E PA RT M E N T S

12 | Hands-On Lessons

4 | 6 |

Kansas’ Largest Classroom continues to grow, from 2,524 kids since its inception in 1991, to more than 12,000 last year participating in this multi-faceted field trip that celebrates all things Kansas.

14 | Calling All Shutterbugs The Rural Kansas Photography Contest kicks off on Sept. 1 and, once again, Kansas Country Living is sponsoring the $100 grand-prize winning photograph. Get snappin’!

20 | Grounds for Efficiency According to researchers at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, carefully positioned trees placed around a home can save as much as 25% of household energy consumption for heating and cooling.

22 | Life Hacks

8 | 10 |

E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

June’s tool contest winners A RO U N D K A N S A S

SausageFest and other foodie events CO M M E N TA RY

Electrical safety lessons E N E RGY W I S E

Balancing room temps

Solutions for hot and cold rooms.

18 |

YO U R P L AC E I N T H E G A R D E N

Seeds for the future

This time-honored practice saves money.

24 |

CO O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

Salad bowl of the world

Vinaigrette girl has roots in Salinas.

26 | 28 |

As the summer temperatures continue to rise, beat the August heat with these home and body cooling strategies using various plants and even pillows.

M A R K E T P L AC E

Barns, buildings, chicks SAFETY

Teens and distracted driving Parents must set example.

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T O M S O E TA E R T

“LIKE” Kansas Country Living on Facebook.

29 |

M O N T H LY R E C I P E S

Use August garden bounty Recipes using tomatoes, pears and zucchini.

ON THE COVER Kids discover the importance of pollinators to agriculture and consumer products at Kansas’ Largest Classroom at the Kansas State Fair. See story on Page 12.

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P H OTO BY B A I L E Y STIGGINS, BOWERCOMM

AUGUST 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

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E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

Winners Announced in ‘Identify Those Tools’ Contest

(ISSN 0091-9586) AUGUST 2019 VOL. 69, NO. 8 ©KANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, INC., 2019 WWW.KEC.COOP

Bruce Graham

Chief Executive Officer

Vicki Estes

Director of Communications, Editor

Carrie Kimberlin

Manager of Creative Solutions

Shaylee Arpin KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

readers know their tools. Of the nearly 70 entrants in June’s “Identify Those Tools” contest, the following 16 entrants representing 10 different electric cooperatives identified all 10 tools correctly: ffK. A., DS&O

Each name was then placed into a drawing handled by Kansas Electric Cooperative’s Director of Finance Bob Hall, who drew the four lucky winners of hardware store gift cards: John M., Harlan N., Curtis W. and Dennis W. Congratulations! The answers to June’s tool contest are on Page 26. We hope our readers enjoyed the contest. Look for more contest fun in the future. KCL

ffCarolyn A., Sedgwick ffRyan C., Western ffWilliam C., DS&O

VICKI ESTES, EDITOR

ffDonald H., Ninnescah ffJoseph and Kathleen H.,

Sedgwick

ffKev H., Sedgwick ffCraig L., DS&O ffJohn M., Butler ffBruce N., Prairie Land ffHarlan N., Prairie Land ffCharles R., Radiant ffJon S., Bluestem ffMarilyn S., FreeState ffCurtis W., Butler ffDennis W., Flinthills

KEC Director of Finance Bob Hall verifies entrants’ names before drawing the winners of the tool naming contest.

Multimedia Communications Specialist

Emma DeMaranville Communications Intern

Officers Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

Keith McNickle President

Terry Hobbs

Vice President

Craig Kostman

Secretary

Teresa Miller Treasurer

You receive Kansas C­ ountry Living as a service of the following electric co-ops as a cost-effective way to share important information about services, energy savings, electric safety, director elections, meetings and management decisions. It also contains legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost: Alfalfa, Cherokee, OK Bluestem, Wamego Brown-Atchison, Horton Butler, El Dorado CMS, Meade Caney Valley, Cedar Vale Doniphan, Troy DS&O, Solomon Flint Hills, Council Grove FreeState, McLouth & Topeka Lane-Scott, Dighton Lyon-Coffey, Lebo Ninnescah, Pratt Pioneer, Ulysses Prairie Land, Norton Radiant, Fredonia Rolling Hills, Beloit Sedgwick County, Cheney Sumner-Cowley, Wellington Tri-County, Hooker, OK Twin Valley, Altamont Victory, Dodge City Western, WaKeeney Wheatland, Scott City Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Kansas Country Living on behalf of the membership at a cost of $5.70 per year. Individual non-member subscriptions are $10 per year (tax included).

Co-op Members: Please report address changes to your local electric co-op. Postmaster: Send returns to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267. Kansas Country Living is published monthly by Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS, and additional entry offices. Editorial offices: P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267; 785-478-4554.

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Advertising: Kansas Country Living is a member of American MainStreet Publications (www.amp.coop), collectively reaching an audited circulation of 9,378,177 monthly. Advertisers call 512-441-5200. Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives. KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

AUGUST 2019

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More and more Americans are reaching the age where mobility is an everyday concern. Whether from an injury or from the aches and pains that come from getting older– getting around isn’t as easy as it used to be. You may have tried a power chair or a scooter. The Zinger is NOT a power chair or a scooter! The Zinger is quick and nimble, yet it is not prone to tipping like many scooters. Best of all, it weighs only 47.2 pounds and folds and unfolds with ease. You can take it almost anywhere, providing you with independence and freedom.

TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS IN AUGUST Fall Gardening Classes, Wichita. Sponsored by K-State Research and Extension Sedgwick County and the Wichita Public Library these timely gardening topics will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday through August. Tuesday classes will be held at Alford Branch Library, and Thursday classes held at Westlink Branch Library. Pre-registration required. Register and search class topics at www.wichitalibrary.org. TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS IN AUGUST Farmers

Market, Fredonia. Begins at 7:30 a.m. every Tuesday and 4:30 p.m. every Friday. Held at the First United Methodist Church. AUG. 9 Customer Appreciation Picnic,

Sedan. The SKIL Resource Center invites you to their annual free public picnic held at 124 E. Main from 5-7 p.m. Event includes food, drawings and prizes. 866-906-3990, www. skilonline.com. AUG. 10 Secrets of Energy Bus Tour,

Manhatttan. Tour two energy destinations: Jeffrey Energy Center and Kansas State University’s Triga Mark II Nuclear Reactor Facility. Pre-registration is required by Aug. 8 at 5 p.m. Visit www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/ tallgrasstourbus, 785-587-2726. AUG. 10 Grand O’ Opry, Ottawa. Join special guests Bart O’Neal and SuLin Boswell for a night at the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium. Tickets available at the door. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., pre-show at 6:30 and concert at 7. 301 S. Hickory, 785-214-0013, grandoopry@ gmail.com. AUG. 10 Cruisin’ the Center, Smith Center. Registration for the car, truck and motorcycle show and judging from 3:30-6 p.m. Cruising from 6-9 p.m. with 22 categories. A dance will also be held from 9 p.m.-midnight at VFW Post #1141. 785-282-3895, scchamber@ smithcenterks.com. AUG. 10 Blues Blast, Chanute. The blast will feature Donnie Miller and Rude Awakening

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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

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SEPT. 2 Let Freedom Ring

Labor Day Celebration, Natoma. On your mark! Get set! Go! 5K run/walk and children’s bike/turtle races; Heritage Seekers pancake breakfast; museum open house; children’s money scramble/games; Hachmeister’s Exotic Animals; library’s Clothesline Art Show; Lions Club noon cookout; “Let Freedom Ring” parade at 2 p.m.; American Legion Open House bingo; free evening barbecue and music. Nestled in Paradise Creek Valley, just off K-18 Highway. Search Natoma Labor Day 5K 2019 on Facebook. out of Nashville and the Joanna Connor Band from Chicago. Held at the Martin Johnson Airport. No outside food or drinks, vendors available. Bring your own seating. Seating area is on a concrete shaded area. 620-431-3350, search Chanute Blues Blast on eventbrite.com. AUG. 10 Historical Performance

Showcase Festival, Admire. Eight historical presentations by Kansas Alliance of Professional Historical Performers will be telling “their stories” in the Chautauqua style. Admission is free and open to the public. Food and Drink available. 785-221-8816, www. historicperformance.com. AUG. 13-SEPT. 13 Art Exhibit, Fredonia.

Artist P.J. Fulghum’s work will be on exhibit at the Stone House Gallery. Reception will be held Aug. 16 from 5-7:30 p.m. 210 N. 7th St. 620-3782050, stonehouse2052@gmail.com. AUG. 16 “The Three Vintage Ladies” Art Exhibit, Ellsworth. Local Great Bend artists will be exhibiting their art from paintings to pottery and ceramic pieces. The Ellsworth Area Art Center will be open Monday-Friday from 12:30-4:30 p.m. 785-472-5658. AUG. 17 Street Dance, Lindsborg. Bring your family and lawn chair and get ready to

dance the night away for our annual street dance. 100 block of N. Main St., 888-227-2227, www.visitlindsborg.com. AUG. 17 Antique and Junque Fest, Barnes. Local shops, Hometown Café, community groups and vendors bring this unique day to Barnes. Find treasures galore with something for everyone. 785-763-4310, www. barnesks.net, . AUG. 22 Free Concert, Concordia. Jason Callahan Band free concert. Beginning at 7 p.m. at the Concordia Broadway Plaza. 785-243-2010, www.broadwayplazaconcordia.com. AUG. 22 Business Basics Free Seminar,

Fredonia. Held at the Fredonia Public Library. Register by emailing mindy.lee@pittstate.edu. AUG. 23-24 Artists on Exhibit, Ellsworth. Multiple local artists’ work will be on exhibit at the Ellsworth Area Art Center for Ellsworth Annual Cow Town Days. 785-472-5659. AUG. 23-25 Wakefield’s 150th Birthday

Bash, Wakefield. Spend the day enjoying one of the many activities including: a car show, parade, live bands, softball and corn hole tournaments, food and craft vendors and more. A free hog roast will take place at 6 p.m. Call

Jeff at 785-461-5211, visit the Facebook page by searching Wakefield Birthday Bash. For more information about the car show, call Chris Visser at 785-761-4554. For more information about the craft booths, call Crystal at 719-963-4272.

AUG. 30 Final Friday, Dodge City.

AUG. 23-25 Flint Hills Beef Fest,

the final Friday of every month, Dodge City’s downtown comes alive with performing and visual arts for fun, art and fellowship. Search Dodge City Final Friday on Facebook.

Emporia. Event includes a ranch feed, rodeo, steak dinner, dancing, music and more. Activities available for all ages. www. beeffest.com or search Flint Hills Beef Fest on Facebook. AUG. 23 Robert Turner Summer

Concert Series: Victor and Penny, Mankato. Music is free and open to all. There will be food vendors and a beer garden on-site at Mankato City Park. 7-10 p.m. AUG. 24-25 World Series of Team Roping, Dodge City. The World Series of Team Roping produces the richest, most prestigious roping in the world. Join us and the most elite group of ropers in the country. Held at Western State Bank Expo Center.

AUG. 24 Summer Jubilee, Alton. Parade,

car show, kid and adult games, tractor pull, barbecue and more. Parade and cake contest cash prizes. 785-984-2341, search Alton Jubilee on Facebook. AUG. 24 SausageFest, Fredonia. Wet your

whistle at the “Meat & Greet” Beer Garden while you watch the wiener dog races and hot dog eating contest. And back by popular demand is the arm wrestling tournament! Enjoy the fun while benefiting the Fredonia community! It’s going to be total Sausage Fest! Downtown Fredonia from 6 p.m.-midnight.

AUG. 31 Fun Run, Ness City. Attention all car enthusiasts: If it has wheels bring it along with your “good times” attitude. Dash plaques for first 100 entries. Preregistrations eligible for drawing for a set of tires. 785-798-0403.

AUG. 30 Final Friday, Dodge City. On

SEPT. 2 Blue Star Museums, Various

AUG. 31 Post Rock Festival, Lincoln.

Locations. The Kansas Historical Society Blue Star Museums in Emporia, Hays, Hanover, Lecompton, Kansas City, Pleasanton, Republic and Topeka welcome active duty military, guard and reserve personnel and up to five family members to visit for free admission to honor their service. www.kshs.org/event/statewideblue-star-program/20180.

Celebrate with Lincoln at the 80th Post Rock Festival. A variety of events will be available including a 5K, lawn mower poker run, cake eating contest, board games and more. Call Lisa Feldkamp at 785-384-0074, visit Post Rock Festival on Facebook. AUG. 31 All Wheels Super Saturday Car Show, Caldwell. Sponsored by the Border

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AUG. 24 Grand O’ Opry, Ottawa. Join

special guests Jim Winters and Lorena Prater for a night at the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium, 301 S. Hickory. Tickets available at the door. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., pre-show at 6:30 p.m. and concert at 7 p.m. Call Dale Reese at 785-2140013, email grandoopry@gmail.com.

Queen’s Cruiser’s. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at Caldwell City Park. Poker Cruise begins at 12:30 p.m. Call Kathy at 620-845-0279, vette@ kanokla.net, www.borderqueencruisers.com.

Featuring John and Connie Chavez at The Depot Theater Company from 7-9 p.m. 201 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., 620-225-1001, www. depottheaterco.com.

Continued on page 23

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AUGUST 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

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Life-Saving Resources Available for Teachers, Parents & First Responders  BY B R U C E G R A H A M

includes safety articles that educate our readers about the potential dangers of electricity, from “look up and live messages” when working with equipment near power lines to “know what’s below” by calling 811 before starting any digging project. Many of these messages are created through collaboration between Kansas Electric Cooperatives Inc., your local electric cooperative and a program called Safe Electricity. These valuable education resources, along with supporting materials, are available to our readers at kec.coop, click “community outreach” then “safe electricity,” or the public education link on SafeElectricity.org. The Safe Electricity website includes teacher resources, such as lesson plans, videos, labs and experiments, and parents will find fun, interactive games for children, electric safety lessons and reminders (best viewed on a computer or tablet). As we prepare for back to school, gather your driving-age kids around the computer to view Safe Electricity’s videos on what to do if you are in an auto accident involving a power line. There is also a video specific to school bus safety and power lines. Other issue-focused videos feature personal experiences with incidents that involve electric shock drowning, large equipment and overhead power lines, pad-mounted transformers and more. For those readers who are part of a volunteer fire department, there are resources for first responder safety training and many of our local electric cooperatives will also provide in-person education. When it comes to electricity, knowing what’s safe and unsafe can mean the difference between life and death—not just for the victims and onlookers at the scene, but for first responders as well. This work is inherently dangerous and electric utility equipment can add additional risks in some emergencies. Knowing critical information ahead of time could help save a life. The Safe Electricity program also teaches the symptoms of electric shock and knowing how to help someone who contacts high voltage. The most important thing to remember is to not touch the person with your bare hands if he or she is still in

EACH ISSUE OF THIS MAGAZINE

Bruce Graham

Because there are more than 3,500 electrical fires on college campuses every year, Safe Electricity created a checklist for those headed off to higher education.

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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

AUGUST 2019

contact with the electrical current. Do not get near a vehicle in contact with high-voltage wires until the power is turned off. Call 911 and the utility to have them come and de-energize the lines. And if you are in a vehicle that is in contact with those lines, unless there’s fire or imminent risk of fire, stay inside the vehicle until help arrives. If leaving the vehicle is necessary, there are videos that explain the safest method for jumping clear. One of those stories is told by four Indiana teenagers who were in an accident with a power pole. Fortunately, they had seen a demonstration about the dangers of electricity in car accidents earlier that week at their school. Not only did the teenagers know to stay in the car, they warned people who approached the car to stay far away. The lessons work for kids of all ages. Because there are more than 3,500 electrical fires on college campuses every year, Safe Electricity created a checklist for those headed off to higher education. That list contains tips which we may think are commonly understood, but many of those fires could have been prevented by following simple advice such as: ff Use lightbulbs with the correct wattage for lamps; ffNever tack or nail an electrical cord to any

surface or run cords across traffic paths, under rugs or furniture; and

ffHave working fire extinguishers, smoke and

carbon monoxide detectors, and know what to do if there is a fire, including escape and meeting plans.

These are just some of the life-saving safety measures we want you to discover on kec.coop, SafeElectricity.org and through your local electric cooperative. Whether for personal learning, training with co-workers or getting information to protect loved ones, I encourage you to use these resources and share them with others. KCL BRUCE GRAHAM

Inc. in Topeka.

is CEO of Kansas Electric Cooperatives,

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A Major Breakthrough in Aging: The active compound in AloeCure has been shown to trigger a phenomena in the body where it begins to repair itself.

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Anti-Aging Researchers Catch a Huge Break Dr. Liza Leal says her commitment to AloeCure came after experimenting with Aloe Vera Extract at her private practice. Although it was intended for her patients with indigestion, reflux, and other gastro issues, she began noticing other changes in their health other than digestive relief. “At first, I thought it was just coincidence. But then, patient after patient began raving about these phenomenal improvements in their health”, explains Leal. “I was astounded. They were in less pain, had more energy, and were sick less often. They have seemed to have a more youthful appearance, especially in regard to their hair and nails.” “I dug a little deeper into aloe vera extract and stumbled on something remarkable, what I consider our first big break in anti-aging research. “No other natural or lab developed compound can replicate the unique properties that work with the immune system like this.”

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E N E R GY W I S E

Simple and Cost-Saving Solutions to Balance Room Temps

BY J A M E S D U L L E Y

several rooms comfortable. These rooms are either chilly during winter or hot during summer. What are some simple efficient methods to balance out the temperatures in our home? – Beth G. D E AR B ETH : There are many reasons why various rooms in a house do not stay warm or cool enough even though they have similar sized ducts. The number and orientation of windows affects room temperatures. South-facing windows can transmit much heat into a room causing the room to overheat during summer. North-facing windows, especially old leaky ones, can make a room chilly during winter. Both of these problems can be somewhat mitigated by installing new windows or insulating shades, but there will still be some variations. If your HVAC blower has an efficient variablespeed ECM (electronically commutated motor), set the thermostat fan switch to continuous when problems arise. This will keep the air circulating to reduce room temperature differences. If your system has a less-efficient standard air conditioner blower motor, use this option sparingly. It can use a lot of extra electricity. During air conditioning season, this extra electricity usage turns into heat that makes the compressor run longer, which doubles your cost. Another problem is the walls of the ducts, especially on sheet metal ducts. They lose or gain heat as the air makes its way from the heat pump or central air conditioner to the rooms. To make this problem worse, heating ducts are often located under

FIELD CONTROLS

D E AR J I M : We have a problem keeping

This duct booster fan requires only a partial section of the duct to be removed for installation.

windows. This positions them on outside walls and takes space from the wall insulation thickness. Hold a thermometer in the register outlet air flow in each room. If there is a 5-degree temperature difference or more, wrap insulation around as much of the duct as you can reach. Not enough heated or cooled air getting to those problem rooms causes uneven room temperatures. As a rough evaluation, hold your hand over room outlet registers to compare the air flow rates. If a room is far from the indoor blower, the duct creates more air flow resistance. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that longer ducts also lose more heat through their walls. Longer ducts also have more joints that can leak heated or cooled air before it ever gets to the intended room. Check the baffles in the ducts near the heat pump or furnace to be sure the ones leading to the problem rooms are not partially closed and blocking air flow. There is usually a small handle on the side of THE FOLLOWING OFFER BOOSTER FANS OR the duct. The duct damper is REGISTER DEFLECTORS fully open when the handle is parallel to the duct. ffAERO-FLO INDUSTRIES , 219-393-3555, www.aero-flo.com Try partially closing ffFIELD CONTROLS , 252-522-3031, www.fieldcontrols.com the duct baffles leading to the other rooms. You will ffSUNCOURT MANUFACTURING , 800-999-3267, www.suncourt.com have to close them at least ffAMERIFLOW, 800-252-8467, www.ameriflowregisters.com 45 degrees (angle of the ffDEFLECTO CORPORATION , 800-428-4328, www.deflecto.com small handle) to notice the

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S U N CO U RT

effect. This forces more heated or cooled air to the problem rooms that need it. The settings of these duct dampers to each room will have to be changed from summer to winter because the heat gain/loss varies with the changing seasons. Hang a thread from a stick and hold it near all the joints in the ducts to locate air leaks. Seal these leaks with duct tape or duct joint sealing compound. Don’t just use cheap gray duct tape. It often comes loose in a year or two. Use either aluminum foil duct tape or black reinforced duct tape (Gorilla). Gorilla tape is easier to apply and holds up for many years. Make sure the room register baffles are fully opened. Closing those will just create more conditioned air leakage from the ducts. Use the duct baffles instead. Install a deflector over the register to help direct heated or cooled air out into the room. This is particularly effective for air conditioning because cool air tends to hang near the floor and not circulate throughout the room. Move furniture so it is not blocking the air flow. Installing a duct booster fan can help get more air flow to the problem rooms. Duct booster fans are designed to fit into the ducts (round or rectangular) near the furnace blower. Some sense when the blower starts and they come on automatically. Others have their own thermostat or can be connected to the main blower controls.

This register booster fan fits over a register on the floor or wall and plugs into a standard electrical outlet.

Register booster fans, which mount over the outlet register in a room, can also help. They are easier to install than a duct booster fan and provide more control over the room temperature. The register booster fan plugs into a standard wall electric outlet. It has its own thermostat so it comes on only when the main blower is running. The small fan motor uses only about 30 watts. KCL Send inquiries to JAMES DULLEY, Kansas Country Living magazine, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

SETTING FREEZER TEMPERATURE LOWER CAN INCREASE ELECTRICITY USAGE BY 20% D E AR J I M : I have a fairly large side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. I tend to buy a

lot of food on sale. To make the frozen foods last longer, I plan to set my freezer temperature lower. Will this use much more electricity? – Sandra N.

GETTYIMAGES/KEITHPIX

D E AR SAN D R A: Lowering the freezer temperature by 5 degrees can increase the

electricity usage by about 20%. This can amount to more than 130 extra kilowatt-hours of electricity used each year. You should set your freezer temperature to the manufacturer’s or your local health department’s recommendation. First, check it with a good outdoor thermometer. The refrigerator temperature dial may not be accurate. KCL

AUGUST 2019

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Dr. Goddard’s Lab

Interactive Topographical Map

High Voltage Safety Demo

ADMIT ONE Scholastic Press Corps 12

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

AUGUST 2019

Butterfly Experience

Arts and Crafts

Largest KANSAS’

From Hickok Elementary School in Ulysses, Kansas, to Doniphan West Junior/ Senior High, schools will once again be in session, including Moo U in Hutchinson.

CLASSROOM BY V I C K I E S T E S

YES, MOO U. It’s a guided barn tour through the world of poultry, beef, dairy, sheep, swine and rabbits and just one of the activities offered through Kansas’ Largest Classroom at the Kansas State Fair, which attracts thousands of kids of all ages to engage in hands-on experiences that define Kansas. “It’s a great way to learn all about the animals, especially for the urban kids who don’t get up close to anything like that,” said Jacki Eckert, education manager. Students, many from non-farming communities, come to learn about and experience agriculture activities including the popular Birthing Center where newborn calves, chicks, goats, lambs and piglets help them understand the animals’ life cycles and food production. The Birthing Center, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, shares the birthing process, insights about animal agriculture, veterinary medicine and what goes into being a responsible pet owner. Originally debuting as “One Big Day” at the fair in 1925 and then re-configured and officially renamed Kansas’ Largest Classroom in 1991, this educational extension of the Kansas classroom has grown exponentially in those nearly 30 years from 2,524 kids participating in 1991, to more than 12,425 registered for the educational programs in 2018. And they come from every corner of the state. “Last year students came from 146 different school districts and from 71 counties in the state,” Eckert said.

The educational offerings are diverse and mostly hands-on to engage, entertain and educate students and adults alike and they touch on a variety of subjects from animal and plant agriculture to math and science experiments. The crowd-pleasing butter sculpture and Kansas’ largest pumpkin remain popular destinations in the Pride of Kansas Building where students can also view different varieties of produce and floriculture and a live bee hive. The Wonder of Sheep explains the workings of the sheep and wool industry with demonstrations that include sheep shearing, spinning and weaving. The Milking Parlor, another live exhibit, shows students how milk makes its way from the farm to their home and is narrated by a dairy professional from Midwest Dairy Association. “It really gives kids an idea of how milk gets from the cow to the carton at lunch,” Eckert said. “They understand it more and learn that chocolate milk doesn’t come from a brown cow—they talk about a lot of myths.” Busting myths about the ag industry as a whole is something Eckert says is in the works for this year’s fair. “It seems like there’s not a lot of positive things being said about ag in the news so we are trying to get those positives out there, and the real-life facts, and do some myth busting about topics that are pretty popular right now.” Eckert said myth buster information will be located in the Education and Continued on page 16 AUGUST 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

13

Wildlife and Critters

“Braylee,” photographed by Kiersten Dirks of Wichita County. This photo received first place in the category in 2018.

Get Snappin’

Shutterbugs Kansas Country Living is again partnering with Rural Health Education and Services, a department at The University of Kansas Medical Center, in sponsoring the 14th Annual Rural Kansas Photography Contest. Kansas Country Living’s editorial team will choose one $100 grand-prize winning photograph from all of the entries to be featured on the January 2020 cover of the magazine. “We started this contest to allow amateur and professional photographers to help showcase the beauty found in rural Kansas communities,” said Joyce Grayson, director of Rural Health Education and Services (RHES). RHES was established in 1990 to improve the availability and number of health care providers in rural Kansas. The photos submitted through the years have helped RHES promote the rich history

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and beauty of Kansas to the state’s future healthcare providers. “Kansas Country Living supports Kansas electric cooperatives in helping improve rural communities and the lives of their consumer-members, so sponsoring this photography contest fits perfectly with our mission,” said Vicki Estes, editor, Kansas Country Living. “We’re excited to help showcase the photography skills of Kansans along with the stunning scenes and settings that make Kansas unique.” Online entries can be uploaded beginning Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. Deadline for submitting entries is noon CST, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. Entries

Kansas Landscapes must be submitted in digital format. The contest is open to Kansas residents and individuals who work in Kansas, ages 18 and older.

“Wild Blooms at Sunset,” photographed by Amy Smith of Chase County. This photo received first place in the category in 2018.

Six Categories for Shutterbugs to Enter: ffSTATE OF THE STORM – Capture Kansas weather

in all its glory (e.g., storms, rain, wind, snow, ice, clouds).

ffKANSAS LANDSCAPES – Wow us with a beauti-

ful Kansas landscape of any season (e.g., spring blooms, sunflower fields, bridges, sunsets, trees, storms, lakes, burning fields).

ffHEALTHCARE HEROES – Focus on a healthcare

hero in your community. Grab your camera and shoot a portrait or casual shot and provide a few sentences on why this healthcare hero has earned his/her cape (individuals or a group of any healthcare providers or first responders). This category will also be shared through Rural Health Education and Services’ social media channels, and organization will be tagged in the post.

ffFRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS & WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

– People in action! Give us a glimpse into the perks of what life as a Kansan is like during the downtimes (e.g., road trips, memorial runs/ walks, athletic events, parades, festivals, rodeos, pep rallies, ice cream socials, carnivals, cookouts, ceremonies, cooking, hiking, biking, water skiing, camping, farming, fishing, hunting).

ffWILDLIFE AND CRITTERS – Fuzzy, furry, creepy

or crawly, we love seeing them all (e.g., beloved pets, birds, insects, butterflies, cattle, horses, deer, reptiles).

ffANNUAL WINTER HOLIDAY VIDEO CARD – Have

your winter scenes showcased in RHES’s annual winter holiday video card. Each year, the RHES team looks forward to selecting their favorite winter photos for the annual winter holiday video card. Share your winter scenes with us from any category (no limit). Our winter holiday video card is emailed to more than 1,000 individuals throughout Kansas and posted on our social media sites.

Complete contest rules, prizes and a link to the online entry form for submissions are available at www.kumc.edu/community-engagement/ruralhealth/rural-kansas-photography-contest. KCL

Friday Night Lights and Weekend Highlights

“Castle Rock Explorations” photographed by Collin Forrest of Gove County. This photo received second place in the category in 2018.

Friday Night Lights and Weekend Highlights “Leap of Joy” photographed by Amanda Franklin of Saline County. This photo received first place in the category in 2018.

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Largest KANSAS’

CLASSROOM

Marching Bands

Milking Demonstration

explained. She also noted that eight different species of milkweed were planted in the pollinator gardens and shared “some of it is just beautiful.” Birthing centers and with the different commodities Also on display in the new Education Center in Agriland located in the Pride of Kansas Building. (formally the Do Art Building) will be the fruits and “‘They’ talk about feeding the world. If you raise veggies people consume every day that rely on polbeef correctly, you can get a lot of protein byprodlination, some we may not realize need butterflies, ucts from it a lot safer and quicker than you can bees, flies and even mosquitoes to produce. “Even other ways, so it’s important for everyone to learn alfalfa is a pollinated plant so the cows rely on polwhy we do what we do,” Eckert said. linators too,” Eckert said. Another way Kansas’ Largest Classroom works The math and science program offerings cover to bring rural and urban ideologies together is rocketry presentations that teach force and propulthrough its pollinator gardens where students learn sion, electrical safety with a high-voltage demonhow important pollinators, such as bees and butstration by Kansas electric cooperatives (see more terflies, are to agriculture and the products coninformation on Page 17), and students will discover sumers use every day. With one pollinator garden through the Math-On-A-Stick program that food is established two years ago, two additional gardens not the only thing that comes on a stick at the fair. have been planted, one solely with Kansas native Kansas’ Largest Classroom isn’t just for formal Flint Hills flowers and grasses. The gardens not only school classrooms and professional teachers. While demonstrate the importance of pollinators to our attending the Kansas State Fair, parents are encourfood sources but also the importance of milkweed aged to take a break from the Midway to discover to the Monarchs for survival. the education opportunities and demonstrations at “Milkweed was always thought of as an invathe Education Center, Pride of Kansas Building and sive plant but it’s the only thing Monarchs will lay additional locations on the fair grounds. their eggs on that their caterpillars will eat,” Eckert “It’s a great way for families to connect,” Eckert said. “A lot of people, and not only chilREGISTRATION INFORMATION dren, don’t realize where their food � VISIT KANSASSTATEFAIR.COM to get more details and registration comes from or how it gets to the grocery store. They don’t realize what it information and to download the 2019 Educator’s Guide. Official takes to get there or the heart and soul registration will ensure teachers make the most of their students’ day plus of our farming families, their passion you will receive discounted admission, reserved parking and rapid check-in. for what they do, and the care that goes � CONTACT JACKI ECKERT at 620-669-3607 or jacki.eckert@ks.gov for field into taking care of animals,” Eckert said. trip planning and questions about the activities. Kansas’ Largest Classroom hopes to change that. KCL � SEPTEMBER 6 is the last day for classrooms to register for field trips. Continued from page 13

ADMIT ONE

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SEPTEMBER 9-13

High-Voltage

SAFET Y Demonstration Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ad Astra Pavilion | 2000 N. Poplar St., Hutchinson, KS 67502 The Kansas electric cooperatives and the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives of Kansas are co-sponsoring a high-voltage line safety demonstration as part of Kansas’ Largest Classroom at the Kansas State Fair. Join us for a 30-minute safety demonstration repeated between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Ad Astra Pavilion building.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Alfalfa Electric Co-op Ark Valley Electric Co-op Bluestem Electric Co-op Brown-Atchison Electric Co-op Butler Electric Co-op

Caney Valley Electric Co-op CMS Electric Co-op Doniphan Electric Co-op DS&O Electric Co-op Flint Hills RECA

FreeState Electric Co-op Heartland Rural Electric Co-op KAMO KEPCo Lane-Scott Electric Lyon-Coffey Electric Co-op Midwest Energy

KANSAS STATE FAIR

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YO U R P L A C E I N T H E G A R D E N

Seeds for the Future: A Time-Honored Practice that Saves Money

BY C Y N T H I A D O M E N G H I N I , P H . D .

of lovely flowers, fresh vegetables and homegrown fruit it can be bittersweet to see the growing season approaching an end. Seasoned gardeners know that while the work may lessen in intensity, it never truly ends. Now is a perfect opportunity to collect seeds from the plants you would like to grow again in the future. This practice allows each gardener to select the top performers from the garden to grow again next year creating a healthier and more productive crop each year. Plants produce seeds for reproduction. Seeds develop on plants that have been pollinated. Selfpollinators such as beans, peas, peppers and tomatoes, have both male and female parts within the same flower. The resulting seeds are more likely to produce plants that reflect the parent plant. Crosspollinators, including carrots, broccoli, cabbage and cucumbers, have separate male and female flowers on each plant. These plants require wind, insects or some other form of ‘manual’ pollination. Seeds from cross-pollinated plants may not resemble the parent plant depending on which plants are crossed to create the offspring. Gardeners who are serious about seed-saving may choose to hand-pollinate flowers to minimize the variance in the next generation. Hand pollinated flowers have to be protected from interaction with insects or wind. Peas, beans, peppers and tomatoes are among the easier plants for seed saving and a good choice for beginners. These annuals are self-pollinating and typically produce reliable seeds. The seeds don’t require much extra care prior to storage. Fruit that is fleshy and wet such as cucumbers, tomato and squash, should be left on the plant longer than typical to allow the seeds to mature. Tomatoes and peppers will begin to wrinkle when they are fully ripe. Remove the seeds and fleshy surrounding and put them in a glass jar. Add some water and mix the contents twice daily. This fermentation process should be repeated for five days or until the seeds sink to the bottom of the jar. At that time, remove the contents and allow the seeds to dry on paper towels. Peppers do not require fermentation. The seeds should be removed from the fruit and allowed to dry in preparation for storage.

AFTER ENJOYING MONTHS

Cynthia Domenghini, Ph.D.

Peas, beans, peppers and tomatoes are among the easier plants for seed saving and a good choice for beginners.

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Dry fruits, such as peas and beans, are ready for collecting when the pods are dried and turning brown. Keep the seeds inside the pods for at least two weeks to continue drying. After this time, the seeds can either be stored inside the pods or removed. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark and dry location in an airtight container. If you’re planning to participate in a seed swap you can package seeds in small envelopes and store all the envelopes in a larger airtight container. Silica gel or a couple tablespoons of powdered milk will help absorb any additional moisture that collects in the container. Label the containers with the varieties and the dates the seeds were collected. Seed saving is a time-honored practice that can save gardeners money. Of equal value is the opportunity to share your successes in the garden with fellow gardeners. Just as family heirlooms are passed down among the generations with the memories embedded, seeds contain our experiences and time treasured in the garden. KCL CYNTHIA DOMENGHINI is an instructor and coordinator for K-State’s horticultural therapy online certificate program.

Tomatoes and peppers are a great place to begin your seed saving adventure. Heirlooms, such as these black cherry tomatoes, are popular among seed savers who wish to protect plants that may otherwise disappear.

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LANDSCAPING for

Efficiency BY D E R R I L L H O L LY

the best time of year to plant new trees and shrubs, and if your goal is energy efficiency, landscaping is an approach that can beautify your home and help you control future energy costs for years to come. According to researchers at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, carefully positioned trees placed around a home can save as much as 25% of household energy consumption for heating and cooling. Foundation shrub plantings can also help control costs by diffusing wind or solar heating to moderate thermal temperature transfers.

FALL IS OFTEN CONSIDERED

Meet Your Microclimate

For years, gardeners have used the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Hardiness Zones as guidelines for plant stock selection, seasonal cultivation and projected harvesting. But understanding the impact of nearby vegetation, topography and soil science will help you know your yard better, providing more flexibility for landscape planning and potentially more options for using plants to control energy costs. Other factors influencing microclimate are the duration and intensity of sunlight over areas

GETTYIMAGES/BEVERETT

Native species are best, as they require little maintenance once established and avoid the dangers of invasive species

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considered for planting, proximity to topographic or vegetative wind breaks or nearby wooded areas, which might regulate local temperatures by several degrees.

Trees at the Top

No matter how much you love trees, you will want to plant them at a distance. Planting too close to foundations, pavement, plumbing and root systems or maturing branches can damage foundations or roofs. But planted in the right place, within five to 10 years, a fast-growing shade tree can reduce outside air temperatures near walls and roofs by as much as 6 degrees on sunny days. Surface temperatures immediately under the canopy of a mature shade tree can be up to 25 degrees cooler than surrounding shingles or siding exposed to direct sunlight. According to the Department of Energy, deciduous trees—those that lose their leaves in autumn—are great options for seasonal summer shade. Tall varieties planted to the south of a home can help diffuse sunlight, providing roof shading. Shorter varieties of deciduous trees can be planted near exposed west-facing windows to help shade homes on sultry summer afternoons. Mass plantings of evergreens selected for their adaptability to regional growing conditions can be planted further away on a north or northwestern section of a yard to form a windbreak, shielding the home from frigid winter winds. Deciduous trees with high, spreading crowns (i.e., leaves and branches) can be planted to the south of your home to provide maximum summertime roof shading. Trees with crowns lower to the ground are more appropriate to the west, where shade is needed from lower afternoon sun angles. Trees should not

Properly selected, placed and maintained landscaping can provide wind protection and reduce heating costs.

GETTYIMAGES/IRINA88W

be planted on the southern sides of solar-heated homes in cold climates, because the branches of these deciduous trees will block some winter sun. Using shade effectively requires you to know the size, shape and location of the moving shadow that your shading device casts. Also, homes in cool regions may never overheat and may not require shading. Therefore, you need to know what landscape shade strategies will work best in your regional climate and your microclimate. Trees are available in the appropriate sizes, densities and shapes for almost any shade application. To block solar heat in the summer but let much of it in during the winter, use deciduous trees. To provide continuous shade or to block heavy winds, use dense evergreen trees or shrubs. Although a slow-growing tree may require many years of growth before it shades your roof, it will generally live longer than a fast-growing tree. Also, because slow-growing trees often have deeper roots and stronger branches, they are less prone to breakage by windstorms or heavy snow. Trees, shrubs and groundcover plants can also shade the ground and pavement around the home. This reduces heat radiation and cools the air before it reaches your home’s walls and windows. Use a large bush or row of shrubs to shade a patio or driveway. Plant a hedge to shade a sidewalk. Build a trellis for climbing vines to shade a patio area. To ensure lasting performance of energy-saving landscaping, use plant species that are adapted to the local climate. Native species are best, as they

require little maintenance once established and avoid the dangers of invasive species. Properly selected, placed and maintained landscaping can provide excellent wind protection, or windbreaks, which will reduce heating costs considerably. Furthermore, the benefits from these windbreaks will increase as the trees and shrubs mature.

Climate Strategies

The energy-conserving landscape strategies you use depends on where you live. The United States can be divided roughly into four climate regions: temperate, hot-arid, hot-humid and cool. Below are suggested landscaping strategies listed by region and in order of importance below. With a little research and planning, you’ll be well on your way to a beautiful, energy-efficient lawn. KCL writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives.

DERRILL HOLLY

LANDSCAPING STRATEGIES BY REGION COOL

HOT-HUMID

ffUse dense windbreaks to protect the home from

ffChannel summer breezes toward the home. cold winter winds. ffMaximize summer shade with trees that still allow penetration of low-angle winter sun. ffAllow the winter sun to reach south-facing windows. ffShade south and west windows and walls from the ffAvoid locating planting beds close to the home if direct summer sun if summer overheating is they require frequent watering. a problem. TEMPERATE HOT-ARID ffMaximize warming effects of the sun in the winter. ffProvide shade to cool roofs, walls and windows. ffMaximize shade during the summer. ffAllow summer winds to access naturally ffDeflect winter winds away from buildings with cooled homes. windbreaks of trees and shrubs on the north and northwest side of the house. ffBlock or deflect winds away from air-conditioned homes. ffTunnel summer breezes toward the home.

AUGUST 2019

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Life Hacks

B Y A B B Y B E R RY

to Beat the August Heat AS SUMMER TEMPERATURES continue to go up, there’s no need to let the heat get you down. There are several ways you can keep cool this summer— without wreaking havoc on your home’s air conditioner! Use these four simple life hacks to beat the summer heat. MAKE ALOE VERA CUBES. Whether you’re nursing a sunburn or just wanting to cool off, aloe vera cubes will offer some relief. Simply fill an ice tray with aloe vera gel, freeze it, then place the cubes on your body’s pulse points, like the neck and wrists, for a quick cooling sensation. TRY A COOLING PILLOW. If you’re willing to spend a little, a cooling pillow can help you feel more comfortable on those muggy summer nights. Prices range from $27 (like Plixio Pillows) to $180 (like the Technogel Pillow), so you can determine how much you’re willing to spend. JUST ADD MINT. Menthol makes our bodies feel cool, so by adding spearmint essential oil to products like body wash and lotion, you can get an instant cooling effect. Essential oils can be purchased at most drugstores or online.

1

2 3

RIGHT TREE RIGHT PLACE 22

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4

SPEND A FEW BUCKS ON A HANDHELD FAN MISTER. Sure, you may feel a little silly carry-

ing around a tiny fan, but you’ll be more comfortable than everyone else—and they’ll probably ask to borrow it. You can typically find these at big box stores like Walmart or Target, or order one online. There are additional ways to keep you and your home cool this summer: � Close blinds and curtains during the day, and open them during the evening when the temperatures are cooler. � Use ceiling fans and portable fans to stay

comfortable. But remember, fans cool people, not rooms.

� Use appliances that put out heat, like clothes

dryers and dishwashers, during the evening to minimize indoor heat during the day when temperatures are higher.

Don’t let the heat get in the way of summer fun. Use these tips to keep your cool and enjoy the rest of the season! KCL

Where you plant trees can leave a lasting effect on the people and utilities in your neighborhood. TREE TOPS Pay attention to the mature height of the trees you’re planting to avoid contact with power lines in the future. TREE LIMBS Climbing trees allows children time to explore, but if the limbs are too close to power lines the play ends in danger. TREE ROOTS We don’t often think about tree roots, but they can easily damage buried utility pipes, cables and wires.

Continued from page 7

SEPT. 3-OCT. 31 Shoe Drive, Dodge City. T he Depot Theater Company is collecting gently worn and new shoes for young entrepreneurs across the world to help them develop a business and learn about living for themselves. 620-225-1001. SEPT. 6 First Friday Food Trucks, Garden

City. Food Trucks in Stevens Park from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Call Garden City Downtown Vision at 620-276-0891. SEPT. 7-8 Explore Kansas Festival at the

Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson. Explore Kansas culture, history, events and attractions. email amybickel@ks.gov. SEPT. 7 All Wheels Car Show, Kingman. The show benefits Kingman County’s historic 1888 City Building and Fire Station Museum and will take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Registration

from 9 a.m.-noon; awards presented at 2 p.m. 400 N. Main, 620-532-5274, 620-314-5006, kcomuseum@gmail.com. www.kcomuseum. blogspot.com. SEPT. 7 Beverly-Westfall Firefighter’s Antique Tractor Pull & Kids Pedal Pull, Beverly. Kids pedal pull begins at 1:30 p.m., Tractor pull at 3 p.m. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks available. All proceeds benefit the Beverly-Westfall Fire Department. Call Jon Ahlquist at 785-488-6770. SEPT. 7 Boardwalk Cigar and Cocktail

Party, Dodge City E ach attendee gets to pick two hand-rolled cigars and a couple of drinks. Hor d’oeuvres and cocktails served. Ticket prices vary. Reservations necessary by Aug. 25. Held at the Depot Theater Company. 620-225-1001.

SEPT. 7 Miss Southwest Kansas Scholarship Pageant, Ulysses. Watch young ladies compte for Miss Southwest and Miss Santa Fe Trail and Outstanding Teens. Entertainment begins at 7 p.m. at the Kepley Middle School Auditorium. Tickets available at the door. 620-356-4700. KCL

Kansas Country Living publishes events free as space allows. Send event information by the fifth of the month prior to publication to events@kansascountryliving.com. Include name and date(s) of the event, a brief description, city and address of the event, and additional contact information for readers, like a website address, Facebook page, phone number or email address.

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C O O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

How the ‘Salad Bowl of the World’ Holds My Heart  BY R E B E C C A H O WA R D

This magic comes, in part, from the fact that I have family history there. My mother was born in Salinas, in a little ranch house set within a lettuce field (jokes about cabbage leaves aside). After my grandfather, stationed at Fort Ord, was discharged from the Army, my grandparents decided to stay in California, working as lettuce pickers for a few years. My mom was just three when the family moved back to Kansas, from Salinas to Salina (in a trajecRebecca Howard tory between such similarly named places that must have occurred only that once in time). She doesn’t remember much of her early life in California, even though her beginnings in the abundant fields of what is known as “The Salad Bowl of the World,” may have destined her to become the greenest thumb I’ve ever known, instilling in her the belief in growing your own vegetables, among many things. But my grandfather, ever grieving the loss of my grandmother, who died in 1967 at the young age of 49, would get misty eyed in his recollection of their time there, remembering working in the fields, as well as gathering abalone to fry from Monterey Bay. Growing up, it was an alluring mystery for me, this California family history, and as if some genetic memory wasn’t enough to have me dreaming of an original homeplace, my love for the works of Salinasborn John Steinbeck, the great author of This simple dressing from lettuce country, with its perfect balance of “The Grapes of Wrath,” “Cannery Row,” flavors, may have you eating more salad—and buying less dressing! “Of Mice and Men,” and “East of Eden,” ff 1 cup salad oil (mild vegetable or olive oil) ff 1 tsp. dried summer savory (may called me even further. substitute dried thyme or a ff 1/3 cup red wine vinegar I was in my early twenties when I mix of thyme and oregano) ff 1 Tbs. water first visited Salinas and Monterey (the f f Salad greens such as iceberg lettuce, ff 1 tsp. garlic salt two cities are yoked, and you really red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, ff 1 tsp. coarse ground pepper should not visit one without seeing the romaine, endive and escarole ff 1 tsp. dry mustard other), hushed with wide-eyed reverff 1/4 tsp. sugar (you can add a little ence, as if exploring a sacred place. I more if you like it sweeter) was. And I’ve made regular pilgrim1. Put oil, vinegar, water and seasonings in a quart jar. ages ever since, usually in August to celebrate my own birthday or attend the 2. Shake well for 30 seconds. Steinbeck Festival, a weekend of events 3. Pour over tender salad greens and toss lightly. honoring the great author. ADAPTED FROM “THE STEINBECK HOUSE COOKBOOK” BY THE VALLEY GUILD OF SALINAS, As if to follow familial footsteps, I CALIF. (S.C. TOOF & CO.; 1984) wander downtown Salinas—still as reccan mean different things to different people, usually one’s actual home or former home, or the spot where they grew up. I’ve come to also see some homeplaces as those that inspire an uncanny affinity even though I’ve never lived there, a place to which I feel connected and compelled to return, again and again, to feed the soul. For me, these places have been as varied and far-flung as my old rural school in Upland, Kansas, to Jack London’s cottage in Glen Ellen, California. Another is the Salinas Valley, just a few hours south of where I currently live in Northern California. It’s a place that feels like no other to me. The Gabilan and Santa Lucia mountain ranges border it on the east and west, and its north end opens to the Pacific Ocean, creating an ideal climate for its wide rich, fertile fields of row after row of lettuce and other produce grown yearround. The region is known for its agricultural bounty. But there are other reasons that, whenever I enter its fold, my heart quivers under a spell, as if I’ve wandered into the mists of Brigadoon.

THE TERM “HOMEPLACE”

Salad Dressing for Leaf Lettuce

24

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

AUGUST 2019

ognizable as my grandmother’s keepsake picture postcards—and imagine her window shopping. I visit the Steinbeck Museum and lunch in the yellow Victorian house where the author grew up. I course the winding road past shuttered Fort Ord, through golden, rolling hills dotted with old-growth oak trees that leads to Monterey, where I walk in the salty sea breeze around the legendary and historic Cannery Row. I’ve stood at the edge of the clear waters of Monterey Bay and conjured images of Kansas grandparents, somewhat fish out of water in their own time of wonder, wading in to pull large shelled creatures from the low tides. But I always end up back in the same place on the Salinas-Monterey Highway, once known as Monterey Road, which was the return address of a lettuce farm on the letters my grandpar-

ents sent from California. I walk out into the low, clinging morning mist of quiet fields, amid the even green rows of leaf lettuce, and look for a little ranch house, trying to pinpoint the place where, on a night shaken by an earthquake, my mother came into this world. I’ve seen some houses that could be it, looking much like the one in old photos. I can’t be sure, but something in me tells me I’ve come close. Much has changed, but enough of it stays the same that I’ll call it home. KCL REBECCA HOWARD grew up in Kansas and has written for the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and LA Parent Magazine, and currently writes the food blog, “A Woman Sconed.”

LETTUCE NOW PRAISE VINAIGRETTE: BASIC TIPS FOR A FAVORITE SALAD DRESSING

Ranch and creamy salad dressings are popular, but I’m a vinaigrette girl. Vinaigrettes are light, easy-to-make and flavorful, with room to create a varied range of dressings. Check out the recipe I’ve shared for one version of the dressing, and try these basic tips for making vinaigrettes of your own. ff RATIO: Vinaigrettes are usually one part acid (vinegar or citrus

juice) to three parts oil. ff VINEGAR: Choose from a wide array of vinegars—apple cider,

red or white wine, sherry, champagne or balsamic (for a sweeter dressing). ff OIL: Use light vegetable oil or olive oil, or you can try

grapeseed, avocado or walnut oils. ff FLAVOR: Incorporate Dijon mustard for creamy tang; honey

or a bit of sugar for sweetness. Use chopped fresh or dried herbs, shallots or garlic to flavor vinaigrettes. ff DON’T FORGET: Salt and pepper—your vinaigrette will sink

without them. ff MIX: Whisk all the ingredients or, easier yet, put all the ingredients in a

jar and shake. AUGUST 2019

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SAFETY

Teens and Distracted Driving: Adults Must be Role Models for Young Drivers

B Y D O N N A B AY L E S S A N D S H A R O N W I N T E R

that was weaving all over the road and thought, “I bet that person has been drinking.” Maybe you pulled up next to them at a red light and realized they were instead on their phone. We know we shouldn’t drive when drinking. Why do we think it’s OK to drive when we’re on our phone? Maybe because our phones are our lifeline to the outside world. They are a movie theater, mailbox, library, sports arena, newspaper, GPS, weather guy, calendar and a huge party with our friends—rolled into one tiny box. Many of us experience FOMO, the “fear of missing out.” We must know what is happening when our phone rings or pings. Even when we’re driving. It’s one thing to miss some dialogue from an episode of This is Us because you’re texting your best friend about weekend plans. You can always rewind the DVR, right? But what if you take that need to look at your phone every five minutes into the car with you and you miss a stop sign or the car in front of you that stopped suddenly to avoid hitting a dog? You can’t hit rewind on a car crash.

feel if I were responsible for a crash that hurt someone else? Or my parents? What would my life be like if I killed my best friend? How could I live with that? By helping teenagers get in touch with these emotions, we can help them make better decisions when they drive. Teenagers also like facts. They need to experience what it’s like to drive with distractions. They need to understand why their brain is not designed to concentrate on two thinking things at once. Driving is not like walking. Driving takes concentration and decision-making skills, as well as focus. Driving conditions are always changing and are not simply muscle memory—a puppy darts out in front of you, the road is slick due to a light rain. And we are afraid now that we, as adults, have unknowingly taught our children that you start the ignition, buckle the seat belt, put the car in gear, and pick up the phone, in that order. Because it’s not just teens on their phones. Adults are addicted to their phones too. Is this the behavior we want our young teen drivers to imitate?

Driving = Freedom

Parents must set the precedent for safe driving. If a dad thinks nothing of going 90 mph on the interstate, then his daughter will think that’s OK, too. If a mom decides to send a quick text from the car, then the son won’t see a problem with using his phone when he drives. Parents must be the first ones to draw the line on distracted driving and put their phones on Do Not Disturb. Only then, will they be able to encourage their kids to hang up and drive. Critically important, parents must not expect their teenagers to answer their phone when they’re driving. This is the No. 1 complaint we hear from teens

HAVE YOU EVER FOLLOWED A CAR

For most teens, getting their driver’s licenses equates to freedom. Jackson, a junior at our local high school, said he loves having a car and a license because it means he can drive to visit his girlfriend, friends, and even to see his grandparents across town. All the teenagers we talk to never want to be responsible for hurting someone, either physically or emotionally. When we’ve talked about the aftermath of a potential crash, where they would be at fault, teenagers consistently go back to the emotion of the event. How would that make my grandmother

28

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

Parents Must Set Example

AUGUST 2019

about their parents: “My mom gets mad at me if I don’t pick up the phone or if I don’t immediately respond to a text. Even when I’m driving.” We suggest you develop a family agreement that there is never an expectation that teens answer a phone call or text when they’re driving. Lastly, when we learned to drive, our biggest obstacle was learning how to use the clutch when starting from a stop— especially on a hill. We never had to worry about missing a phone call from parents or because we were driving our cool cars. Oh, the freedom! Which brings us to a lost skill set and an opportunity for parents. Get your teens a standard transmission vehicle. Both hands are busy driving allowing for more focus on the road. Research shows it takes around 21 days to make a habit. Your family could make a conscious decision to put the phone out of reach for three weeks when driving. The pull of the ping of a notification or the ring of a phone is powerful, and it takes strong willpower not to give in. So, turn on the Do Not Disturb and use the phone only for GPS, letting the verbal directions guide you. And when you get to where you’re going, call back those people who love you and want you home tonight. In other words, call back when you can focus on them and not when you are focused on driving. KCL SHARON WINTER and DONNA BAYLESS are founders of RightLane, a training company based in Nashville, Tennessee, that offers seminars on safe driving to company employees nationwide. RightLane also operates a defensive driving school in Franklin, Tennessee. Visit rightlane.org.

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Beef and Egg Breakfast Mugs

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Bruschetta

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A perfect addition to your Sunday brunch, these savory sliders are easy to make.

Fresh Pear Dumplings with Raspberry Sauce Bring fresh pears and raspberries together

Mini Ham and Avocado Biscuit Sliders

peeled and mashed

ff 1 medium sweet potato, boiled,

ff 1 cup buttermilk, divided

Mini Ham and Avocado Biscuit Sliders ff 2 cups, plus 1 Tbs. all-purpose flour, divided ff spinach leaves

ff 1 Tbs. baking powder ff 1 tsp. salt ff deli ham ff 1 avocado

ff 3/4 tsp. sage ff 1/4 tsp. smoked paprika ff 1/2 cup cold butter, cut into 1/2 inch slices

Heat oven to 425 F. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper. In large bowl, whisk 2 cups flour, baking powder, salt, sage and paprika. With pastry blender, cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In medium bowl, whisk 3/4 cup buttermilk and mashed sweet potato. Stir into flour mixture until dough forms. Using remaining flour to prepare surface, knead until dough forms. Roll dough to 3/4-inch thickness. Using 2-inch round cutter, cut dough into 18 biscuits. Re-roll and cut out dough until all is used. Place biscuits on prepared baking sheet. Brush each biscuit with remaining buttermilk.

COURTESY CULINARY.NET

Bake 11-13 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely. Split biscuits in half. Top bottom half of biscuit with spinach leaves, deli ham and an avocado slice. Replace biscuit top and serve immediately.

ff 3 Tbs. sugar

ff 1 tsp. cornstarch

ff 1 Tbs. milk ff 1 Tbs. sugar Raspberry Sauce ff 1 package (10 ounces) frozen raspberries

Fresh Pear Dumplings with Raspberry Sauce Pear Dumplings ff 2 firm, ripe pears, cored and chopped ff 1/4 cup golden raisins

ff 1/4 cup brown sugar ff 1 pie crust ff water

In medium bowl, combine pears, raisins and brown sugar. Mix well. Lay out pie crust. Cut into quarters. Spoon pear filling on top of dough. Brush edges with water. Fold up sides to form three seams. Place dumpling, seam-side up, on baking sheet. Brush tops of dough with milk. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake 18 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on rack. In blender, blend raspberries until smooth. Pour blended raspberries into saucepan. Add cornstarch and sugar. Bring to boil, stirring often. Place in freezer 10 minutes. Drizzle raspberry sauce on plate. Place dumpling over sauce. Top dumpling with additional raspberry sauce.

COURTESY CULINARY.NET

Bacon, Tomato and Lettuce Bruschetta

cheese, crumbled (optional)

ff 1/3 cup blue cheese or feta

loaves cut in 1/4-inch slices

ff 1/2 16-oz. package twin French bread

Bruschetta Topping ff 10 slices bacon crispy cooked and crumbled ff About 1/3 cup olive oil and chopped, about 1 1/3 cup

ff 3-4 roma tomatoes (plum), seeded ff 1 cup green lettuce chopped ff 2 Tbs. fresh basil leaves chopped ff 1 clove garlic minced ff 1/4 tsp. salt

ff 1/4 tsp. ground pepper

In medium bowl, stir together all topping ingredients; set aside. Brush olive oil on both sides of bread slices; place on baking sheet. Bake at 400 F, turning once, for 7 minutes per side or until crisp and golden brown; cool. Spoon about 1 Tbs. topping on each toast round.* Top with crumbled cheese. Makes about 24 appetizers.

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COURTESY K ANS AS P OR K ASSOCI ATIO N

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Beef and Egg Breakfast Mugs

CO URTESY BEEF. IT ’S WHAT ’S FOR DI NNER

Vegetable Mixture Basic Country Beef Breakfast Sausage ff 1 pound ground beef (93% or leaner) ff 1 cup chopped fresh vegetables such as tomato, spinach, bell ff 2 tsp. chopped fresh sage or pepper, zucchini or green onion 1/2 tsp. rubbed sage ff 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheese ff 1 tsp. garlic powder (Cheddar, Monterey Jack or American) ff 1 tsp. onion powder ff 8 large eggs ff 1/2 tsp. salt ff Salt and pepper (optional) ff 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper ff Toppings (optional): dairy sour cream, salsa, sriracha, ketchup Combine sausage ingredients in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Heat large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add sausage mixture; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 1/2-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove skillet from heat; let cool 10 minutes. Evenly divide beef and vegetables into eight food-safe quart-size plastic bags. Close securely and refrigerate up to 4 days. For each serving, spray one 6 to 12-ounce microwave-safe mug or bowl with non-stick cooking spray. Add 1 egg and 1 Tbs. water; whisk with fork. Stir in 1 bag refrigerated sausage-vegetable mixture. Microwave, uncovered, on high 30 seconds. Remove from oven; stir. Continue to microwave on high 30 to 60 seconds or until egg is just set. Stir. Top with cheese. Let stand 30 seconds or until cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve with toppings, if desired.

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