Now That's Rural

One of the state’s leading vendors of sweet corn is helping to fill the void of a lack of fresh produce for those in need. Over the past 12 years, this company has donated 454,000 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks for distribution. This generosity caused the company to be recognized as an Ag Hero by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Wheat flour sales, which were in a five year slump, surged in early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. A rural Kansas flour milling company responded to the increased demand by doubling its flour production capacity in just one week. This achievement was so remarkable the company has been recognized as an Ag Hero by the Kansas Department of Agriculture

A “food fight” – while fun – also creates a mess. However, a recent food fight in a rural Kansas community turned into a competition that generated much-needed food for local pantries hit hard by an increased demand for food because of the pandemic.

A long-time, award-winning Kansas broadcaster is reaching his community through a new channel of communication – producing programs for the My Phillips County Online Facebook page. Learn about his remarkable career and how he’s using that talent to provide special reports during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are many types of engineers, but probably not many spacesuit engineers. Learn about a woman from rural Kansas who is living her childhood dream of exploring the universe.

Frying pork rinds started as a hobby and then became a way to fund a cruise. Now, it’s a successful business in rural Kansas that is shipping pork rinds across America and beyond. In fact, these pork rinds have been requested by a former U.S. President.

How about a cup of coffee while you have your motorcycle or ATV serviced? A couple in rural northwest Kansas are making that possible. They own Fresh Seven Coffee and the business next door – a motorcycle shop where track-day and road-race machines can be serviced and equipped.

A lot of people love coffee. But would they open a roastery and coffee shop in rural Kansas? That’s exactly what a married couple with a shared love of coffee decided to do after having a “cup of joe” at a community coffee shop in India. They also offer food and beverages and ship their hand-roasted, small-batch coffee across the nation.

It sounds like a script for a romantic comedy. But it’s not. A couple meets and fall in love. They get married, sell everything and travel the globe. Along the way, they see marvelous sights, create memories, and help others. Then, they return to Kansas to pursue another love: coffee.

It turns out that working in peach orchards as a kid is a lot more fun than working behind a desk as an adult. So, Gabe Spurgeon seized the opportunity to put in an apple and peach orchard with his father-in-law. His innovative practices have made them one of the largest tree fruit producers in Kansas – on a limited amount of acreage