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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.

Hurricane Polo began thousands of miles away in the Pacific, but its journey eventually brought tropical moisture, torrential rain and tornadoes to Kansas. On September 30, 15 tornadoes were reported across central Kansas as Polo’s remnants helped create an unusual and active day of severe weather.

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.

First responders and emergency response agencies from the Salina area, along with 10 Emergency Management Directors from across the region, came together at Salina Regional Airport on Tuesday, September 15, for a full-scale disaster exercise. David Sorel, Director of Operations with the Salina Airport Authority, told Ask A Kansan that the airport is required to conduct a full-scale exercise periodically as part of its FAA Part 139 certification. Planning for Tuesday’s exercis

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.

Curtis Wolf, director of the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, has spent more than 17 years helping Kansans discover the remarkable ecosystem of Cheyenne Bottoms and understand why wetlands matter.

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.

In early April, the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission set a new distance-from-Earth record, traveling 252,756 miles from our planet. After orbiting the Moon, the crew held a press conference during their voyage home aboard the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity. During the press conference, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran invited the crew to visit the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas. Prior to Moran’s invitation, Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman had told the senator that

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.

The world's largest operating steam locomotive, Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014, made a memorable journey across Kansas, drawing thousands of spectators eager to witness a living piece of railroad history. The legendary steam engine, built in 1941 and restored to service in 2019, is traveling the country as part of a nationwide tour celebrating America's 250th birthday.

From falconry to zoo leadership, Ryan VanZant has dedicated his life to wildlife conservation. As Executive Director of Rolling Hills Zoo, he discusses Kansas' disappearing prairies, endangered species, and how modern zoos inspire the next generation to protect the natural world. It's a fascinating conversation about conservation, education, and the wild side of Kansas.

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