by Mary Lou Peter

“Let’s blow up a giant bale of hay!” That comment might not be what one would expect to hear in a typical corporate brainstorming session, but it was the type of tongue-in-cheek idea which surfaced among the creative marketers at one rural Kansas company. The people in this company are not only having fun, they represent one of the nation’s leading producers of agricultural, turf, and hydraulic power equipment.

Tim Penner is president and CEO of Harper Industries in Harper, Kansas. Tim explained that the company began with a man named Dewey Hostetler. “He had a knack for seeing how a farmer could use equipment,” Tim said. In his farm shop near Harper, Dewey started designing equipment for handling hay. It worked so well that it spawned a company to make these products. The business was incorporated in 1974.

As a play on his first name, the products came to be called DewEze. The DewEze product line has grown and expanded over time.

The manufacturing company grew in Harper. Tim Penner came from Nebraska and joined the company as an administrator in 1991. The company was bought by out-of-state investors, but in 1998, they decided to divest themselves of the business.

Tim Penner and his staff in Harper stepped up to buy the business. It became Harper Industries and remains a locally-owned and operated business today, producing DewEze products and others.

The results are remarkable. The company has gone from a $5 million dollar business in 1998 to a $25 million business today. Employment has more than doubled and the product line has advanced.

The DewEze hay handling truck beds remain a staple of the company’s business, as these have been refined over time. “We make more of these (hay handling flatbeds) than any other company,” Tim Penner said. The product line now includes various types of bale beds, feeders and related equipment. The company is represented by some 200 dealers across the U.S. and Canada.

Another product line, Harper turf products, relates to turfgrass management. Harper Industries engineers designed a piece of self-propelled equipment that includes a self-leveling, tilting mower deck so that hillsides can be mowed safely. This product was recognized as one of the top 50 innovations by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

Harper Industries has continued to innovate. Company leaders point out that the hydraulic systems used for handling big round bales can have other applications too.  “We are now getting into the automotive wrecker market, aerial lifts, and snow removal,” Tim said.

“People are our greatest strength and our number one asset,” Tim said. He proudly notes that the average tenure of Harper Industries employees is 11 years – remarkable in the manufacturing industry.

Company employees also like to have fun. They came up with a creative idea as an April Fools’ Day project. They decided to stage a video which demonstrated a mock new product through which big round bales were blown up in the field.

I thought this was hilarious. The video includes a producer testimonial saying how easy it is to “distribute” the hay at the touch of a button. They also videoed Luke Thornton, Harper Industries vice president of operations. With a straight face, Luke talked about how blowing up the hay bale achieved “superior hay dispersal” for the cows. The crew even used an open field to, very carefully, explode a hay bale.

The video was released right before April 1, 2018. As one might guess, it became popular on YouTube. The video reached an estimated three million people on Facebook.  Wow. The video ends with the words, “DewEze – April Fools’.”

It’s just one example of the fun, creative approach followed by Harper Industries. For more information, see www.deweze.com or www.harperindustries.com.

“Let’s blow up a hay bale!” It’s probably not the typical corporate brainstorm, but it did make a fun idea for Harper Industries. We salute Tim Penner, Luke Thornton, and all the people of Harper Industries for making a difference with an innovative, successful, home-grown business in rural Kansas. I’m glad to see that their business has blown up.

The Argonne American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend started its charter in 1919 and will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this month.

Join the American Legion for steak night and the 100th birthday party at the Legion, 1011 Kansas Avenue in Great Bend from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. on March 23.

The steak dinner is $15 per person. Reservations are not required but are appreciated by calling the post at 620-793-5912. There will be a short program and recognition of past commanders and presidents as well.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — It’s time to spring forward again, as the country makes the switch to daylight-saving time.

Like those in almost all other states, residents in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri will trade an hour of sleep starting Sunday morning for an extra hour of sunlight in the evening.

The government expanded daylight-saving time in 2007 in an effort to save energy. It now begins on the second Sunday in March and continues until the first Sunday in November.

The official change occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday, local time, although people often change their clocks before going to bed Saturday night.

Daylight-saving time ends Nov. 3.

BUSINESS NEWS

The cost of education is more often than not a barrier to people hoping to improve their lives and advance their families’ situations. The Barton Community College Foundation makes it a point to help students transcend this barrier, and one of its biggest annual fundraising efforts is the Academic Enrichment Fund (AEF) Campaign, held throughout the month of March.

The AEF Campaign is unique in that it allows donors to specialize their gift by choosing which department or fund they would like to benefit from their donation. All the funds raised are used toward academic scholarships and program enhancements.

Lori Werth of Lacrosse is the 2019 AEF Campaign chair. She said the college offers a wide variety of opportunities, from traditional transfer degrees to terminal degrees and certificates that can put someone to work in a $50,000 job after one semester.

She said she also appreciates the efforts to provide college classes to high school students, saying her favorite such program is the College Advantage program.

“By introducing college at this level it opens the door for students who want to pursue their goals and dreams,” she said. “It helps to give them the confidence they can achieve anything. In addition, it gives area businesses and industry the opportunity to have trained and educated Barton graduates as a resource for future employees.

“Through its’ partnerships with business and industry Barton has been progressive in providing targeted education not only for those students who move on to four-year colleges, but for those who want to step directly into the work force. Skills learned at the college can provide an immediate impact on the success of a business and greatly benefits all the communities Barton serves.”

The mechanism for donation is designed to be simple and easy: potential donors receive a mailing with a return envelope and a simple form to donate. Contributions are also accepted online at BartonCCFoundation.org.

Foundation Director Coleen Cape said the chair for the AEF Campaign is crucial to its success and serve as a champion for people to contribute.

She said the beauty of the campaign is it reaches all levels of ability to give.

“From gifts of $10 to those of thousands, each gift is important and makes a difference,” she said. “It is the power of the sum of those gifts which make an impact on the lives of our students that we cannot begin to fathom.”

For more information or to donate visit BartonCCFoundation.org, call Cape at (620) 786-1136 or email her at capec@bartonccc.edu.

How do you determine if a town is eventful, has successful businesses, and is a good place to live? Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes was asked how she defines success in her role as a promoter of the City of Great Bend at the City Council meeting in February.

Hayes says from the Community Coordinator side of her job, she focuses on quality of life for residents.

Christina Hayes Audio

Hayes added that it is not always easy to tie the quality of life features to dollars and success. The City of Great Bend gives the Community Coordinator marketing funds to promote existing businesses in a variety of ways that the businesses can decided if they want to participate in.

Hayes also serves as the Convention & Visitors Bureau Director and says from that side, success is determined by getting visitors to come to Great Bend and stay in hotels. The Great Bend transient guest tax, the tax applied to people’s bills for staying in hotels, was its highest ever in 2017.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting, March 11, 2019, 9:00 a.m. Until Close

I. OPENING BUSINESS:
A. Call Meeting to Order.
B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Consider Approval of the Agenda.
D. Consider Minutes of the February 25, 2019, Regular Meeting. Minutes of the March 4, 2019, Regular Meeting are not available.
E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited to five minutes.
F. Cell phones and other electronic devices, other than those used by the media and law enforcement, should be shut off.

II. OLD BUSINESS – Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.

III. NEW BUSINESS – All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at this time.

A. COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE: Request for Approval – Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes:
-Donna Zimmerman, County Clerk, will present a listing of Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes. Orders for these actions are kept on file in the County Clerk’s Office. These are used to correct assessments and are requested by the County Appraiser’s Office or the County Clerk’s Office.

B. BARTON COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN: Reviewed and Approved:
-The Kansas Planning Standards provide the requirements for Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) approval of county emergency operations plans. Pursuant to KSA 48-928(c and d) and KSA 48-929(d), KDEM has set approval requirements for the Basic Plan, all emergency support functions (ESFs), Appendixes, and Specific Annexes be reviewed and reapproved by KDEM every five years. Barton County Emergency Management submitted an updated Emergency Operations Plan to KDEM in December 2018, and received approval, pending formal adoption by the Barton County Commissioners. At this time, the Commission will be asked to adopt the plan and forward a Promulgation to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. Amy Miller, Emergency Management Director, will provide details.

C. NOXIOUS WEED: County Agreement to Treat Noxious Weeds:
-The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Secretary has submitted an agreement to
treat noxious weeds on KDOT rights-of-way. Included in the contract is a price of $24.00 per
hour for operator and $51.00 per hour for the spray vehicles. Also detailed is how work shall be
recorded and what chemicals may be used. Darren Williams, County Works Director, will
provide details.

D. NOXIOUS WEED: Annual Noxious Weed Eradication Progress Report:
-Noxious weeds are one of the greatest threats to the Kansas environment. They displace native
plant species, interfere with the production of agricultural crops, increase erosion, destroy
wildlife habitat and decrease property values. The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) is
responsible for laws aiding in the control and management of noxious and invasive weeds in
Kansas. The KDA requires Kansas counties to submit an Annual Noxious Weed Eradication
Progress Report. Mr. Williams will present the annual report to the Commission.

E. COURTHOUSE EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE: Mid Continental Restoration:
-The exterior of the Courthouse was last repainted in 1993. Since that time, very little additional
maintenance has been done to the exterior. During the architectural study by WDM Architects,
it was noted that the exterior is in need of repair and moisture is infiltrating the building in
certain areas. It is recommended that Mid Continental Restoration be hired to power wash,
replace caulking, repair failed mortar joints and trim work and apply sealant coating. Phil
Hathcock, Administrator, will discuss details.

F. COUNTY SERVICES: Informational Update:
-Mr. Hathcock will provide the informational report of work completed during the last period.
The report, which will be made available to the media, will serve as a public reminder of the
services provided by the County on a regular basis.

IV. ENDING BUSINESS – After new items are heard by the Commission, the following items,
including announcements, will be heard.

A. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-Following the close of the Agenda Meeting, the Commission will consider the authorization of
personnel changes for classified positions, sign any documentation approved during the agenda
meeting or sign any other documentation required for regular County business. Similar action
may take place throughout the day.
-A webinar subscription is offered to member Counties by the Kansas Association of Counties.
The March webinar is entitled Special Events Sales Tax, presented by Mary Ardrey, Special
Events and ACE Team Manager, Kansas Department of Revenue. The webinar is available to
County officials at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2019, in the Courthouse Conference
Room, 1400 Main – Room 101, Great Bend, Kansas.

B. APPOINTMENTS:
Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
MARCH 11, 2019
10:00 a.m. – End of Year Transfers and Current Operations – Doug Hubbard, Fire District #1
10:30 a.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, and Donna
Zimmerman, County Clerk
THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Phil Hathcock, County
Administrator, is scheduled for March 14, 2019.

V. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Discussion Items.
B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration.
C. The Commissioners are available to the Public on Mondays during regular business
hours.
D. The Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County
business at their discretion.
E. The next Regular Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Monday, March 18, 2019.

VI. ADJOURN.

It’s a two-minute recap of some of the headlines that broke this past week in the Golden Belt.

BUSINESS NEWS

Story and photo by Brandon Steinert

Six students from Barton Community College in the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society were recognized as members of the PTK All-Kansas Academic Team during an award luncheon Thursday at the Ramada Inn in Topeka. Prior to the luncheon, inductees toured the state capital building with Barton administrators and instructors and were honored in front of the Kansas House of Representatives. Judith Gutierrez and Delaney Smith from the Barton County campus, Vera Gaer and Kendra Norkett from the Fort Riley campus and Bianca McSwiggan and Tye Sanders from the Fort Leavenworth campus all attended the award ceremony.

PTK is the international honor society for two-year colleges and symbolizes excellence in higher education.  Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher are invited to join PTK. The PTK group at Barton spends significant time sponsoring local events as well as volunteering to support others’ events.

The students had to go through an application process and their applications were reviewed by an anonymous selection panel on their respective campuses. All six students will have a chance at being named to PTK’s All-USA Academic Team, which will be announced in March.

Gaer graduated from Barton and transferred to Southwestern University. She hopes to teach middle or high school.

“I was a single parent for a long time and worked in retail management, which was great for paying the bills, but I want something more now,” she said. “I want to set a good example for my girls, and I love working with kids.”

She coaches the sports teams for her five daughters, which she said was part of her inspiration for choosing the path of teaching.

“I love seeing things click,” she said. “And when you give someone knowledge, it’s something they get to keep forever. It’s like giving people something that can empower them, and that’s fun.”

Gaer said she never got involved in organizations when she was in high school, but now in her 40s she has found it surreal to be the leader of her own PTK chapter.

“It’s overwhelming to be on the All-Kansas Academic Team,” she said. “It’s like, wow, this is an amazing place to be. I don’t take these opportunities for granted. I’m kind of in awe. It’s pretty awesome.”

Sanders graduated from Barton and has went on to pursue a business management degree from Upper Iowa University, after which she hopes to start a non-profit to address food insecurity and nutrition for juveniles.

“It’s an honor,” she said. “It’s exciting to be amongst so many people with so many different interests. It’s exciting to see so many people here changed their paths or continued their paths thanks to their community colleges. I’m also so overwhelmingly grateful to be able to be amongst our leadership and administrators too; to see how much they really do support this. It’s great to see that everyone came out. I’m just overwhelmed.”

Smith said she felt honored and grateful for the recognition and said PTK played a big role in her success at Barton and sparked a renewed social life.

“It’s brought me out of my shell,” she said. “I used to be really shy but now I feel comfortable meeting new people and I’m more willing to go out in the community.”

They heard from keynote speaker Dr. Brian Black of Spirit AeroSystems during the awards lunceon. He told the crowd as a recruiter for his company how much he loved the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees’ slogan of “Education that goes to work.” He said the PTK members should beat the drum of their organization and call others to appreciate the value of community colleges.

“When you get a job, let them know, that when you hire a Kansas community college graduate, you’re only getting the best,” he said. “Beat your drum, Phi Theta Kappa.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) today led 23 of their Senate colleagues in reintroducing a bipartisan resolution opposing privatization of the United States Postal Service (USPS). The resolution notes that the USPS is a self-sustaining establishment and that potential privatization would result in higher prices and reduced services for USPS customers, especially in rural communities.

“The U.S. Postal Service has a significant history in Kansas dating back to the Pony Express, and it continues to play a vital role in the American economy – especially in Kansas’ rural communities,” said Sen. Moran. “In order to provide certainty for rural America and to protect taxpayers, Congress must continue to assert itself and push back on any proposals to privatize the USPS, which threaten its future and the well-being of the communities the Postal Service serves. I will continue working with my colleagues to fight for our rural communities and the future of the USPS.”

“Since 1775, the United States Postal Service and its dedicated employees – including over 100,000 of our nation’s veterans – have performed an essential government service, maintaining an affordable and universal network that connects households and businesses in rural, suburban and urban communities,” said Sen. Peters. “Congress should take all appropriate measures to prevent privatization and ensure the Postal Service remains a strong institution that will serve the American people for generations to come.”

The USPS is a self-supporting, independent entity that relies on revenue derived from the sale of postal products and services, not on taxpayer dollars. The USPS employs over half a million Americans, including over 105,000 military veterans, who provide postal services to more than 157 million residential and business customers. The USPS serves as the center of the $1.4 trillion mailing industry, which employs 7.5 million people in the United States.

This resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Angus King (I-Maine), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).

The measure is also supported by the National Association of Letter Carriers, the American Postal Workers Union, the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, the National Association of Postal Supervisors, the United Postmasters and Managers of America, and the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service.