Ron Wilson
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Articles by Ron Wilson
Kansas Profile: Sharon Springs couple cooks up lots of food, lots of ideas
What’s cookin’? In Sharon Springs, it might be delicious barbecue or savory smoked meats produced by this rural Kansas family. Or it might be that this entrepreneurial couple is cooking up an idea for a community food hub that could help other local food producers bring products to market. Patrick and Amber Brown are the owners of Smoky Hill Market and Smoky Hill BBQ of Sharon Springs. They are also the entrepreneurs who envision a food hub in northwest Kansas. Patrick is from Phoenix.
Kansas Profile: Farm and home store in Elkhart transitions to new ownership
Transition can be one of the most challenging factors for rural businesses as generations and markets change. Today we will meet a young rural-preneur who is helping another rural business to adapt, change and succeed.
Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Trent Stimpert, Pickle Cottage
By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University How do you find a solution when you are in a pickle? Today we’ll meet a rural Kansas family which found that pickles themselves could be part of a solution to a problem. These rural-preneurs are using family recipes and gourmet flavoring to advance their rural business. Trent and Rebecca Stimpert are the owners of The Pickle Cottage near Bucklin, Kansas.
Kansas Profile: Rural Onaga woman earns 'A' for family-friendly western novels
On the first day of classes, a college professor told his students: “In this class, C is for average work, a B is for excellent work, and the only way to get an A is to write something that merits publishing.” Uh oh, that is setting a high bar. Many students in the class were so scared that they tried to change teachers but all other classes were full. One of those students worked so hard on her writing that she did earn an A in the class, and it had a significant impact upon her life.
Kansas Profile: Sabetha's Apostolic Christian Home 'critical' to community
“Living to serve.” That phrase is part of the FFA motto taught to high school agricultural students. It has been taken to heart by a rural Kansan who has applied his service to developing the best possible residential living and care for senior citizens in his community. Rick Aberle is executive director of the Apostolic Christian Retirement Village in Sabetha. He grew up on a farm where he was active in FFA near the rural community of Morrill, population 218 people. Now, that’s rural.
Kansas Profile: Yes, we 'Kan' help rural communities help themselves
Can we preserve and sustain rural culture? Can we educate about Kansas and network with rural communities? Can our communities build on the elements of rural culture to be the best that they can be? These are the goals of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, founded by rockstar rural champion Marci Penner in 1993 and continuing with new leadership in 2026. Penner loves rural Kansas. As we have described before, she grew up in Inman.
Kansas Profile: Find a carousel and more at Dickinson County Heritage Center
Where is the oldest operating C. W. Parker carousel in the world? Where can a person view a collection of more than a thousand farm toys? Where can one see Wild Bill Hickok’s pistol and learn the history of independent telephone companies? These are all part of the Dickinson County Heritage Center in Abilene, Kansas. Austin Anders is director of the Dickinson County Historical Society. He grew up in Dickinson County, six miles south of the rural community of Chapman, population 1,377 people.
Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Austin Anders, Dickinson County Heritage Center
Austin Anders (Courtesy Photo) Where is the oldest operating C. W. Parker carousel in the world? Where can a person view a collection of more than a thousand farm toys? Where can one see Wild Bill Hickok’s pistol and learn the history of independent telephone companies? These are all part of the Dickinson County Heritage Center in Abilene, Kansas. Austin Anders is director of the Dickinson County Historical Society.
Kansas Profile: Ellsworth's MaiCo Industries is a leading manufacturer of poles, skids
A Canadian film crew is shooting footage of a manufacturing plant where specialized steel products are being fabricated. Their topic involves remarkable tubular steel and building products, and to do this story, they had to come to this company in rural Kansas. Last week we met the late Paul Mai, founder of several companies including MaiCo Industries — the subject of the Canadian film. The plant manager of MaiCo Industries is Dave Cox. Cox grew up in southern Kansas and Oklahoma.
Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Paul Mai
He arrived in the U.S. with $26 in his pocket, yet he lived to experience the American dream. The late Paul Mai immigrated from Germany in 1958, moved to Kansas, and became globally recognized in the steel fabrication business. It’s a remarkable story in rural entrepreneurship. Paul Karl Mai was born in Germany in 1931. The eldest of four sons, he worked as a steel laborer in post-war Germany. Some older friends encouraged him to go the U.S. and he began to dream of doing so.
Kansas Profile: Dry Creek Buffalo Ranch in Delphos provides quality meat
“Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam.” That’s part of the Kansas state song, and it’s still true that bison — the American buffalo — can be found here in Kansas. Today we’ll meet a rural Kansas family that is raising buffalo and providing high quality buffalo meat to the public. Jo and Shawn Rolph are the founders and owners of Dry Creek Buffalo Ranch near the north central Kansas town of Delphos. Shawn is from Delphos and Jo is from Wamego. They met in college at Concordia.
Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Jo Rolph, Dry Creek Buffalo
“Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam.” That’s part of the Kansas state song, and it’s still true that bison – the American buffalo – can be found here in Kansas. Today we’ll meet a rural Kansas family that is raising buffalo and providing high quality buffalo meat to the public. Jo and Shawn Rolph are the founders and owners of Dry Creek Buffalo Ranch near the north central Kansas town of Delphos. Shawn is from Delphos and Jo is from Wamego. They met in college at Concordia.
Kansas Profile: Entrepreneurs, communities to connect at conference in Courtland
A big-city newspaper carried an ad recruiting people to come to a small town in Kansas. Placing such an ad seems like quite an entrepreneurial connection for that rural Kansas town — especially when we consider that this ad was placed more than a century ago. The entrepreneurial spirit still lives in Courtland, Kansas, which will soon host a conference for entrepreneurs and community leaders across the state.
Kansas Profile: Rural Louisburg mill spins yarn from various fibers
This is quite a yarn. In fact, it is all about yarn. This is the story of a fiber mill that spins various kinds of natural fibers into yarn, and ships it across the nation. Roger and Penny Minniear are the founders, owners and operators of MM Fiber Mill near Louisburg. Roger grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. Penny grew up in Bucyrus. They met at a friend’s wedding. Roger and Penny married, lived in Bucyrus and then moved to Louisburg. “I happily followed her out here,” Minniear said.
Kansas Profile: Hoyt woman uses alpaca fiber for multiple purposes
A package is arriving in Japan. It is an item made from alpaca fiber, crafted by an artisan and alpaca producer halfway around the globe in rural Kansas. Marcia Fish and her husband are the owners of Alpacas at Orchard Hill Farm in northeast Kansas. She is the person who created the fiber item that went to Japan. Marcia grew up in Topeka but always wanted to live in the country and eventually moved to Jackson County.
Kansas Profile: New owners continue legacy of Kanopolis drive-in movie theater
“Let’s fire up your Thunderbird, put in $2 worth of gas, and drive over to the drive-in and see a movie.” If that sounds like I’m in a time warp or having flashbacks to the 1950s, hold on. Other than buying cheap gas, it is still possible to enjoy the experience of going to a drive-in movie, right here in rural Kansas. Jessica Eagle Moyer and Tyson Moyer are the owners of the Kanopolis Drive-In in Kanopolis, Kansas. Jessica grew up in Leavenworth County.
Kansas Profile: Agiliti deepens commitment to state with Hays investment
In order to respond to the changing conditions of modern times, a business needs several things — including agility. Today we’ll meet a company that has demonstrated agility in the health care products market — even in the name itself. Agiliti is a leading provider of medical device solutions to the U.S. healthcare industry. The company recently made a significant investment in rural Kansas. Doug Williams is executive director of Grow Hays, the economic development organization in Ellis County.
Kansas Profile: Local company is flying high in the aerospace and defense field
“Hey, it’s not rocket science,” the saying goes. But what if it is about rocket science? Today we’ll meet a Kansas company that produces advanced electronics for various systems, including rockets. Devi Rathod is configuration control manager and sustainability program manager, and Bryce Buchanan is a senior process engineer and program managing engineer for Ultra PCS, recently acquired by Eaton.
Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Devi Rathod, Bryce Buchanan – Ultra/Eaton
Mar. 25, 2026 (extension.k-state.edu) — “Hey, it’s not rocket science,” the saying goes. But what if it is about rocket science? Today we’ll meet a Kansas company that produces advanced electronics for various systems, including rockets. Devi Rathod is configuration control manager and sustainability program manager, and Bryce Buchanan is a senior process engineer and program managing engineer for Ultra PCS, recently acquired by Eaton.
Kansas Profile: Manhattan contemporary Christian band Cloverton travels the nation
Let’s go to Pennsylvania. A band is setting up for their show, as part of a tour that has taken them halfway across the continent from Kansas. Last week we learned about Layne Stafford. In addition to being a muralist, he also plays in a band. That band is led by his twin brother, Lance Stafford. The Stafford twins grew up in Hill City where their father was a music teacher and their mother an elementary school teacher.
Kansas Profile: Hill City native Layne Stafford sees the big picture
This artist needs to think big. That’s because his proverbial canvas isn’t just a small square on an easel, it might be the side of a building. Today we’ll meet a rural Kansas man who is creating murals for communities across Kansas and beyond. Layne Stafford is the artist who has created murals around the state. He grew up in Hill City where his father was a music teacher. “Creativity was encouraged at our house growing up,” Stafford said.
Kansas Profile: Little River shines with winning attitude, community spirit
“A winning attitude.” That’s how one Kansan describes the attitude in his community, which is fitting for a town with the No. 1 ranked high school girls basketball team in the state. But this goes beyond athletics: He was describing the spirit that has enabled this community to invest in housing, education, senior care and more. John Tietjens, John Wempe and Lucas Raleigh are part of the leadership of the Little River Development Group.
Kansas Profile: Western US native chooses to do his remote work in Kingman
Is Kansas the middle of nowhere? A place with nothing to attract people to come, live, work and play? Today we’ll meet a man who was born and raised in the western United States. As he transitioned to work remotely in his career, he has found he can do his work from virtually anywhere — and has chosen to live in rural Kansas. Mike Ball is a software developer working remotely from Kingman, Kansas. He grew up in Oregon, studied economics at Oregon State, and took training on software programming.
Kansas Profile: David Fairchild's world travels 'transformed what America eats'
“He transformed what America eats.” That’s a significant accomplishment that one author ascribes to a man who came from rural Kansas and traveled the globe a century ago, bringing new foods to American diets. David Fairchild is the world explorer who brought these exotic products to America. His story was chronicled in a best-selling book by author Daniel Stone.
Kansas Profile: Elkhart native Thane Baker's Olympic journey chronicled in book
“The Dream Discovered.” That’s the title of chapter one of a book describing how a young boy in small-town Kansas began to dream of becoming an Olympic runner. The book was written by his daughter to chronicle his journey from far western Kansas to the heights of the Olympics. Thane Baker is the man from rural Kansas who made this remarkable journey. His daughter, Catherine Baker Nicholson, authored the book “Running in Borrowed Shoes,” which is the primary source for this profile.
Kansas Profile: Hill City's 2C Farmstore combines convenience, homemade quality
“What’s for supper?” That perennial question may be a challenge, since families enjoy home-cooked meals, but often there’s no time to prepare them. Today we’ll meet a Kansas family that found a solution to that problem as they served their rural community. They continue to offer this service with meals and treats that are available anytime, day or night. Claire and Cody Roberts are founders and owners of 2C Farmstore in Hill City.
Kansas Profile: Manhattan's Blueville Nursery is in the 'people' business
“We’re not really in the plant business, we’re in the people business.” That may seem an unusual statement for the owner of a nursery and landscape company, but it describes the philosophy that has helped this business to succeed. Darrell Westervelt is the retired owner of Blueville Nursery near Manhattan. On April 28, 2025, he turned 90 years old and is still sharp as a tack. His granddaughter Sidney put together a book about the history of Blueville Nursery.
Dan and Jan Smootns Named Leaders of the Year
Editor's Note: The Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development recently presented Dan and Jan Smoots, owners of Fanestil Meats, with the Leader of the Year Award. “Party time.” That sounds like fun. It’s also the name of a specialty ham that one rural Kansas meat company has been producing for more than 60 years. Dan and Jan Smoots are the owners of Fanestil Meats, the company that produces the Party Time Ham.
Kansas Profile: Pumpkin Pants Ranch strives to make holiday magic
“Make Christmas magic.” That’s the goal of one family that is using their rural Kansas facility to create special holiday memories for kids and families. As we have previously described, John and Shelley Gardner are the founders of Pumpkin Pants Ranch. Since 2023, they have operated their pumpkin patch in the fall on their 80 acres near Arkansas City. “After that first year of the pumpkin patch, things had quieted down,” John Gardner said.
Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: John and Shelley Gardner, Christmas at Pumpkin Pants Ranch - Ad Astra Radio | Your Hometown Radio Stations & Local News Source
“Make Christmas magic.” That’s the goal of one family that is using their rural Kansas facility to create special holiday memories for kids and families. As we have previously described, John and Shelley Gardner are the founders of Pumpkin Pants Ranch. Since 2023, they have operated their pumpkin patch in the fall on their 80 acres near Arkansas City.
Kansas Profile: Anna Martin isn't just lifting weights. She's uplifting people
Let’s go to Copenhagen, Denmark for the Master’s World Weightlifting Championships. The competitors have completed their lifts, the judges have totaled the weights, and the winner is: Anna Martin, whose weightlifting career began in Onaga, Kansas. Last week we met Cindy and Phil Martin, whose daughter Anna became a weightlifter. After a remarkable collegiate career as a weightlifter, Anna now operates her own training facility in Mission, Kansas. Anna grew up in Onaga.
Kansas Profile: Leonardville man's annual ride supports his fellow veterans
The motorcycle rider is arriving at the Arctic Circle. He made this grueling trip to raise awareness of the tragic epidemic of veteran suicide. It’s estimated that 22 veterans take their own lives every day in the U.S. Now this rural Kansas rider is raising funds in support of veterans. James Greer is the founder and CEO of Ride for Veterans. Greer grew up in Arkansas and joined the Army.
Kansas Profile: Great energy is put into passive house project
“I want to heat my house with a candle and cool it with an ice cube,” the man said with a smile. While that may not be achievable, it is possible to significantly reduce energy use in our homes and buildings. Today we’ll learn about a rural Kansas homeowner who is working with a team of professionals to achieve great progress in energy efficiency. Last week we learned about passive houses and a western Kansas craftsman who is manufacturing special energy-conserving windows for such homes.
Kansas Profile: Etzanoa Conservancy preserves history of lost city
Imagine traveling across Kansas and coming unexpectedly on a bustling city of 20,000 people. That would be larger than 604 towns in Kansas today. Such a city is believed to have existed hundreds of years ago at what is now Arkansas City, Kansas. Modern anthropologists and archeologists have discovered artifacts from this site, sometimes called Etzanoa, or the Great Settlement. Georgia Zavala is director of the Etzanoa Conservancy in Arkansas City.
Kansas Profile: New wheat milling, baking facility coming to Goodland
Kansas is the wheat state. Our state has outstanding wheat farmers, world-class wheat research programs, excellent climate for growing wheat, and fields filled with golden waves of grain at harvest time. What we don’t have is an integrated flour mill and bakery within the borders of our state. Now a team of Kansas leaders is working to change that situation with a new facility in rural Kansas. Tony Adams is chairman and president of Golden Waves Grain.
Kansas Profile: Ark City's Pumpkin Pants Ranch offering autumn activities
Fall fun. That’s the goal of a remarkable rural family enterprise that offers autumn activities such as a pumpkin patch and much, much more. John and Shelley Gardner are the founders of Pumpkin Pants Ranch near Arkansas City. John was born in Ark City and worked in construction in Wichita. Shelley grew up in the Wichita area and worked in the insurance and risk management industry. They married and lived in the rural community of Rose Hill, population 4,185 people. Now, that’s rural.
Kansas Profile: J-Six Enterprises is family farm with worldwide reach
“Thirty Pigs and a Plan.” That phrase describes one man’s modest agricultural beginning that would ultimately lead to the creation of a multi-million dollar family agribusiness based in rural Kansas. John and Janie Kramer and their family members are the owners of J-Six Enterprises, a diversified agribusiness in northeast Kansas.
Kansas Profile: Council Grove to host multi-day Santa Fe Trail symposium
People are gathered for church in the swales of the Santa Fe Trail. A circuit-riding preacher rides up on his horse, dismounts, and prepares to deliver his sermon. Is this a scene from 200 years ago? No, it is happening in 2025, as part of a remarkable symposium about the history of the Santa Fe Trail. The symposium includes tours, historical presentations, Native American activities, food, entertainment, special events and more.
Kansas Profile: Rural Wamego furniture store is uniquely qualified
The furniture is beautiful. The construction is excellent. The design is unique — or maybe, Uneak. That is the eye-catching and creative name for this handmade furniture store in rural Kansas. Kevin and Christina Miller are the owners of Uneak Wood. They grew up in Kentucky where they met and were married. Kevin’s father was a respiratory therapist and a trim carpenter on the side. Kevin found he enjoyed working with wood as well. He worked with his brother who had a wood products store in Kentucky.
Kansas Profile: REWA initiative helps youth explore, expand vocational pathways
What do you want to be when you grow up? Once I got past “cowboy,” “fireman,” and “NBA star” as possibilities, it was time to think more seriously about career options. Today we will learn about a regional initiative that is helping youth explore and expand vocational pathways, leading to rewarding careers in rural Kansas. Kyla Keller is the Rural Education and Workforce Alliance coordinator for the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation. She grew up in Colorado.
Kansas Profile: Award-winning St. Francis truck stop's service record 'majestic'
Let’s go to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress. Thousands of people from 200 countries will gather at this event. Among those attending is a woman representing an award-winning truck stop and restaurant in rural Kansas. Bud Erskin is the owner of Majestic Service Truck Stop and Restaurant in St. Francis. His daughter, Kary Meyer, represented the business at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress. When Erskin got out of school in Colorado, he purchased a local Sinclair station.
Kansas Profile: Kendall Hodgson and family look ahead on long-term farm operations
“We are leaning forward in our operation, not leaning back,” said one Kansas farmer. That forward-looking perspective and multigenerational willingness to serve agriculture has made a difference for this ag producer through the years. Kendall Hodgson and family are the owners of Lark Valley Farms near Little River. He grew up on the family farm and studied agronomy at K-State.
Kansas Profile: Sabetha conveyor company honored with state award
The Kansas Exporter of the Year award is being presented and the Governor of Kansas has made the trip to present the award in person. It’s not a trip to Kansas City or Wichita. This innovative company is based in rural northeast Kansas. The company developed an automated seed conveyor system that transformed the industry. Paul Kaeb is president and CEO of KSi, the 2024 Kansas Exporter of the Year. An Illinois farmboy, he was trained as an electrician.
Kansas Profile: Harry Whitney has experienced a lot in life, from flying planes to riding cattle
“If I told you all the jobs I’ve had in my life, you’d think I was 155 years old,” said Harry Whitney of rural Manhattan. Actually, he has made a good start on that. As of May 2025, he turned 93 years old. Harry Whitney was born in 1932 in a cabin west of Manhattan in what is now known as Colbert Hills. The Whitney family had deep roots here. When he went to grade school at College Hill Elementary School, it attracted the attention of reporters.
Kansas Profile: Documentary film depicts the founding of Nicodemus
“A tale of trial and triumph.” That is one way of describing the true story of a group of African-Americans who traveled to Kansas seeking new opportunities in the post-Civil War era. Today we’ll meet a woman who is preserving and sharing that history in various ways, including a new documentary film about that journey. Her name is Angela Bates, and she knows the story well — because those brave travelers were her ancestors.
Kansas Profile - Now That's Rural
The results are in: Beer Connoisseur magazine has announced that the world’s top beers of 2024 come from Germany, Belgium, California, Rhode Island, Maine, a few others, and….Courtland, Kansas. Today we’ll learn about this remarkable brewing company in rural Kansas. Luke and Jennifer Mahin are the founders and owners of Irrigation Ales, which produced this award-winning beer. Luke grew up in Courtland where his father was a ditch rider and maintenance foreman for the Bostwick Irrigation District.
Kansas Profile: Courtland brewery produces internationally-renowned beer
The results are in: Beer Connoisseur magazine has announced that the world’s top beers of 2024 come from Germany, Belgium, California, Rhode Island, Maine, a few others, and…Courtland, Kansas. Today we’ll meet this remarkable brewing company in rural Kansas. Luke and Jennifer Mahin are the founders and owners of Irrigation Ales, which produced this award-winning beer. Luke grew up in Courtland where his father was a ditch rider and maintenance foreman for the Bostwick Irrigation District.
Kansas Profile: 'All these things happened at Mount Mitchell,' stated one historian
Indians. Cowboys. Settlers. Bleeding Kansas. The Underground Railroad. Mount Mitchell in Wabaunsee County was witness to all those elements of early Kansas history. Today we’ll learn about this historic landmark in the Flint Hills of rural Kansas. Michael Stubbs is founder and active member of the group that cares for the historic Mount Mitchell Heritage Prairie Park. Stubbs grew up in Topeka. His grandfather took him fishing in the Flint Hills and he dreamed of having a place in the country.
Kansas Profile: Statues, railroad car in Concordia keep orphan train history alive
School must be out. There are children all over town. Some are reading, some are talking, some are playing. But these children aren’t actual schoolkids. They are statues of young boys and girls doing those things. These statues help share the remarkable story of orphans who came west more than a century ago. Last week we learned about the National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia.
Kansas Profile: Concordia museum preserves the Orphan Train Movement
What is more heart wrenching than the story of a child who suddenly becomes an orphan due to abandonment or the loss of a parent’s life? How does our society care for such children? In the late 1800s, before the existence of the modern social service support system as we know it today, there was a movement of orphaned children from the big cities in the east to rural communities in the west.
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