Kansas

Karin Rasmussen and other KAP staff have found the shared materials and strategies from recent webinars on coping with stress, anxiety, and depression, have been in high demand during phone conversations, texts, and video chats with farmers and ranchers and their families. The combination of ag economic stress and anxiety about Corona virus has impacted KAP clients, families, and other members of rural communities who serve as referral sources and rural service providers.

KAP staff are working on "Welcome to KAP" folders to give to all new clients. KAP is refining materials shared with clients. The packets will include a staff business card, KAP brochure, rural mental health resource list, KS Ag Mediation brochure, and tip sheets selected to reflect the client's identified concerns.

Lesa Clubine, AT ag specialist and quilter, took advantage of her quilting skills and lots of scrap fabric to provide home-made masks with filter inserts for the local nursing facility staff. She enlisted her teen-age boys to cut fabric. Knowledge of her skills quickly spread, and she has provided masks to a variety of groups including co-workers around the state.

KAP AT Ag Specialist Cassie Ramon brought gardening to a new level. Cassie constructed raised beds along with an arch to grow vines and a bench for her family to share when working her plants. Ramon constructed and planted strawberries in vertical PVC pipe with holes for easy access and an innovative space saver. Ramon's creations have not only created access to fresh fruits and vegetables but also encouraged her toddler son and 93-year-old grandmother to participate in gardening. KAP can utilize Ramon's experience at home when educating Kansans about vertical farming techniques.

KAP recently released two new publications: a new KAP trifold brochure and a bulletin board card. The bulletin card is 4 1/4" x 11" cardstock and features a plastic sleeve over a printed business card. Loose business cards can slide into the sleeve for potential customers to take while leaving the primary card in place for others.

Submitted by Tawnie Larson