Kansas State University

K-State returns to central Kansas for another successful community visit

Submitted by Office of Engagement

Stacie Edgett-Minson, K-State Research and Extension watershed specialist, center, highlights water resiliency during the Know Your Water event as part of the K-State community visit.

Nearly 200 community members engaged with Kansas State University during the recent community visit to several central Kansas counties: Saline, Lincoln, Mitchell, Ellis and Barton counties.

The visits are a continuation of the presidential regional community visits, which show the university's commitment to prioritizing engagement and driving partnerships that address real-world challenges — whether through educational outreach, innovative research or service programs that benefit the people and industries of Kansas.

The K-State team of faculty, staff and extension professionals hosted events in the central region from Nov. 13-20.

The weeklong community visit series kicked off at K-State Salina with a facilitated conversation alongside industry partners around current and emerging workforce development needs, specifically in smart manufacturing, robotics and autonomous systems.

The K-State 105 team, through its commitment to economic prosperity, provided a demonstration of the All Things Kansas data mapping platform in Salina. Another K-State 105 event at the Agricultural Research Center in Hays highlighted the water resiliency project called Know Your Water, which the Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment, or KCARE, is leading in partnership with the city of Hays.

Other community visit events involved Engineering Extension expertise focused on issues of pollution prevention, environmental compliance, radon and energy. The Lincoln event showcased the technical assistance and opportunities available through the Kansas Radon Program, the Pollution Prevention Institute and the Kansas Energy Program.

While in Beloit, the K-State team made a stop at the elementary school where K-State mathematics graduate students and the Post Rock Extension District led the local Math Squad lesson in an engaging collaborative learning and exciting math challenge. 

The community visit wrapped up with the Cottonwood Extension District in Great Bend as the team hosted Nourishing the Brain, a K-State Research and Extension's annual lesson series program. Together, they discussed how neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, affect the brain and how various foods can play a role in preventing brain health decline.

K-State will continue to visit multiple communities throughout the year to celebrate innovation and outreach opportunities. If you or your department are interested in participating in future visits, contact the Office of Engagement at ooengage@k-state.edu. 

The K-State community visit initiative focuses on the people of Kansas and their communities. K-State has visited multiple communities throughout the state to listen to and learn from the Kansans who live there. See all the locations where K-State has visited.

Watch a video that showcases K-State's engagement in Kansas communities.

The K-State 105 team leads a demonstration of the All Things Kansas data mapping platform in Salina.