Subscribe to our newsletter

Laura Crawley is the 16th president of Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, bringing more than two decades of experience in higher education to the role. Her journey to Kansas reflects a passion for student success, community connections, and discovering what makes a place feel like home. As president, she is focused on honoring Bethany College’s traditions while exploring new opportunities for the college and the Lindsborg community to grow together.

Take a trip through the Ask A Kansan archives as Gus, Sydney and Julie revisit memorable conversations with the people, places and stories that make Kansas special. From hidden gems and cultural traditions to community connections and unexpected adventures, this episode celebrates the people making a difference across the Sunflower State and reminds us there's always something new to discover close to home.

Simone Elder, Executive Director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, is working to preserve and sustain rural Kansas culture while helping communities recognize their strengths and build a future of their own. A lifelong advocate for rural communities, Simone brings years of experience in economic development, entrepreneurship, and community building to her work across the state.

For 50 years, The Land Institute has been imagining a different future for agriculture—one built around perennial crops, healthier soil and more sustainable ways of feeding a growing population. At this year’s Prairie Festival, researchers, farmers, artists and visitors gathered in Salina to celebrate five decades of work and explore what the next 50 years might look like.

From fiddle contests and barn dances to banjos and mandolin clubs, Kansas has a rich musical history that often goes undocumented. Musician and historian Derrick Doty, known as the Flint Hills Fiddler, is working to preserve those traditions while sharing the stories behind the sounds that helped shape Kansas.

A baton carrying a copy of the Declaration of Independence is making its way across the country, connecting communities and Americans along the American Discovery Trail. We caught part of its journey through Kansas, where local hikers, cyclists and community members helped carry the relay east.

From a difficult childhood in Miami to becoming a Kansas executive and community leader, Rafael Mendes’ journey is one of transformation, perseverance, and the power of relationships. Now based in Salina, Rafael uses his experiences to connect people, serve his community, and share the stories that make Kansas stronger.

Laura Avery is an author, educator, and executive director of the Kansas Book Festival. A Topeka native, Laura returned to Kansas in 2020 after more than a decade away and now combines her passion for writing and reading with her work celebrating Kansas authors, stories, and the importance of books.

A small Kansas town is making a big statement through public art. In Linn, a community-led effort raised more than $73,000 to create a massive mural celebrating the town’s history, heritage and the people who helped shape it.

Neriah Guerin entered Kansas expecting little more than the flat and boring landscape he remembered from trips along I-70. What he found instead was something he didn’t expect: Kansans willing to offer meals, a place to sleep, and plenty of encouragement along his journey.

Kansas State University President Richard Linton has spent more than four decades in higher education, beginning his career as a food microbiologist before moving into university administration. In this episode of Ask A Kansan, Linton discusses his journey to the presidency, the role of mentors in shaping his career, and what it means for K-State to serve as a next-generation land-grant university.

The 92nd NBC World Series brought nearly two weeks of high-level summer baseball to Wichita, featuring 18 teams, five Kansas squads, and the return of the legendary Baseball Around the Clock challenge. We look back at the tournament, its Kansas roots, and the teams that battled for the 2026 championship.

From Juneteenth's Red Drink and Swedish folk dancing to cowboy poetry and Mexican American fast-pitch softball, Humanities Kansas is bringing communities together to celebrate the traditions that have shaped our state. We traveled across Kansas to document five unique presentations that prove our history is best understood through the people who continue to live it.

Katie Woods is the Tournment Director of the National Baseball Congress (NBC) in Wichita, where she is helping preserve and reimagine one of America's most storied amateur baseball traditions.

Kristen Epps is a historian, author, and educator whose work explores the people and events that have shaped Kansas and the nation. A professor at Kansas State University, Epps also serves as editor of Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains, a peer-reviewed publication produced in partnership with the Kansas Historical Society. Although born in Colorado and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she considers herself an adopted Kansan after discovering a deep appreciation

Jeri Brungard is the co-founder of Women Hiking Kansas and Beyond, a community that has inspired thousands of women to discover the beauty of the outdoors while building lasting friendships. What began in 2019 as a way to organize hikes with a handful of friends has grown into a thriving Facebook community of more than 12,000 members. Through monthly hikes across Kansas and annual adventures beyond the state's borders, Jeri and Cindy have helped create an organization that we

Professional football is thriving in Kansas. When the Salina Liberty and Southwest Kansas Storm met in the National Arena League Championship, the game became more than a battle for a title—it was a showcase of two communities, passionate fan bases, and the growing impact of professional football across the state. From Salina to Dodge City, Kansas was the real winner.

Cowboy, historian and author Jim Gray joins Ask A Kansan to share stories from Kansas' cattle-driving era, reflect on the evolution of the cowboy way of life, and discuss his role in preserving the unique UFO history of Geneseo, Kansas. From cattle towns and trail drives to prairie horizons and unexplained encounters, Gray offers a fascinating look at the people, places and legends that continue to shape the Kansas story.

Shane Carter is the executive director of the Kansas African American Museum in Wichita, Kansas. Originally from Troy, Ohio, Carter earned a business degree from the University of Wisconsin while playing collegiate football and later completed a master's degree in educational administration. Before joining the museum, he spent 13 years leading the Lincoln Community Center in Ohio, where he expanded educational programs, community services, and capital projects that positively

Tanner Johnson is a professional wood carver, and passionate Kansan from Lindsborg. While studying anthropology at Kansas State University, he traveled to Ecuador as a student researcher and ultimately spent nearly two decades living in remote rural communities. There, he worked as an English teacher, translator, farmer, and cultural observer while immersing himself in local traditions and raising a family. His experiences abroad profoundly shaped both his worldview and his a