"In various forms, each of these Kansas leaders has demonstrated outstanding qualities," said Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at K-State. "Whether building a business or promoting a region, developing leadership or
helping a community recover from a tornado, they are deserving of this recognition."
The winners are:
oTourism Development - Emily Hunter, Symphony in the Flint Hills;
oLeadership Development - Glenn Brunkow, K-State Research and Extension;
oFood and Agriculture - Matt Jonas, Balls Food Stores;
oCraftsmanship and Entrepreneurship - Kevin Kaster, Kaster Masonry;
oBusiness Development - Ed McKechnie, Watco Companies; and
oCommunity Journalism - Mark Anderson, Kiowa County Signal.
Symphony in the Flint Hills annually attracts some 5,000 visitors to a Kansas City Symphony performance, nestled in a scenic outdoor location in the Flint Hills of Kansas. In only three years, the event has grown so that tickets sell out within 24 hours and visitors come from coast to coast. Emily Hunter of Matfield Green is the event coordinator and Cathy Hoy of Emporia is the board chair. Symphony in the Flint Hills is based in Strong City. The 2008 performance will be June 14 in Morris County. More information is available by accessing the Web site www.symphonyintheflinthills.org.
Glenn Brunkow of Westmoreland is one of ten individuals in the nation to be selected as part of the Partners in Agricultural Leadership program in 2007. This program, offered by the American Farm Bureau Federation, provides leadership development and training focused on agricultural issues. Glenn is the agricultural Extension agent for K-State Research and Extension in Pottowatomie County, where he and his wife Jennifer farm with his father Darold. For more information, contact Glenn at 785-457-3319.
Balls Food Stores began when Sidney and Mollie Ball opened a neighborhood grocery store in Kansas City back in 1923. Today, Balls Food Stores are still family-owned, now operating 29 Hen House Markets and Price Chopper stores in the Kansas City area. Balls Food Stores has been a leader in implementing Community-Supported Agriculture and the Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign to support local growers and bring healthy, fresh products into their stores. Matt Jonas is vice-president and David Ball is President and Chief Operating Officer of the company. More information is available on
the Web at www.henhouse.com.
Kevin Kaster´s award-winning work on historic stone barns in rural Kansas has received recognition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Kevin is an independent masonry craftsman based at Havensville. His family-owned business, Kaster Masonry, works with brick and native stone in residential and business construction in
northeast Kansas. More information is available by contacting Kaster at 785-256-3391.
Watco Companies of Pittsburg began with a single railroad locomotive in 1983. Today, the company operates 16 short-line railroads serving fifteen states and employs 1,800 people. K-State president Jon Wefald says of Watco, "This is a rags-to-riches story. It is an impressive example of how people in small towns can work hard and make their
dreams come true." Ed McKechnie is executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Watco. More information is available on the Web at www.watcocompanies.com.
When the devastating tornado hit Greensburg on May 4, 2007, it destroyed most of the town, including the office of the county´s only newspaper, the Kiowa County Signal. But within 24 hours, a special edition of the newspaper was on the street. Mark Anderson, editor of the Kiowa County Signal, has led the effort to report on the community´s rebuilding process. Gloria Freeland, director of the Huck Boyd National Center for Community Media in the K-State School of Journalism, says, "The Kiowa County Signal and Mark's work have been a big piece of the puzzle to help put Greensburg back together again. I greatly admire his work and the work of publisher Keith Lippoldt."
More information is available at www.kiowacountysignal.com.
Each year the Huck Boyd Institute selects the Leaders of the Year from among those featured on its weekly Kansas Profile radio program and column during the previous 12 months. Kansas Profile is distributed by the K-State Radio Network and K-State Research and Extension News to radio stations and newspapers state-wide.
The Huck Boyd Institute is a public-private partnership between K-State Research and Extension and the Huck Boyd Foundation. The foundation office is at the Huck Boyd Community Center in Phillipsburg. The institute office is at Kansas State University in
Manhattan.
More information about the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development is available at its Web site:
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/huckboyd/.
©Salina Journal