Donita Garner has been at Hope Unlimited for almost 30 years. She’s been the Child Advocacy Center Coordinator there since 2009.

April is a busy time at Hope Unlimited. It’s both Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. As part of their efforts to commemorate these causes, Garner has been visiting with cities and counties across Hope Unlimited’s service area.

Talking about child abuse and sexual assault is difficult. It’s uncomfortable. And these issues are ones many would prefer to sweep under the rug and ignore.

Not Garner. She sees education and advocacy as key to her work. She believes we can’t make progress if we’re not willing to be open to learning more, challenging stereotypes, and believing those who speak up.

In this week’s episode of “Registered,” we talk with Garner about all Hope Unlimited does—all year round, every single day— to help survivors of sexual assault and child abuse and build a society where violence isn’t tolerated.

Shawn Geffert is a fifth-generation farmer based in Humboldt. He’s the first to admit he didn’t always think he’d go into farming, but now that he’s found his footing, his innovative approach to the industry is notable: strip-tilling, pesticide reduction, and autonomous robots, just to name a few.

But with high fertilizer and fuel costs, depressed markets, and trade uncertainty, now is a very challenging time to be a farmer, especially in the midst of spring planting.

In this week’s episode of Registered, we spoke with Geffert to understand how he sees farming now—and in the future. Here’s our conversation.

Today is International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women around the world. In this week’s episode of “Registered,” we speak with one of Iola’s most esteemed women leaders, Mary Kay Heard.

Heard has served Iola in a variety of roles. A former business owner, she currently is chairwoman of Iola Industries and on the hospital’s community board. In the past, she has also served on Allen Community College’s board of trustees, the Iola Public Library board, and was a key member of the fundraising group for Allen County Regional Hospital.

In a wide-ranking conversation, Tim Stauffer talks with Heard about her own experiences, the progress women have made and what work remains to be done, and how we all benefit from a variety of voices at the table.

Here’s our conversation.

Amanda Holman has been the advisor of Iola High School’s FFA chapter for the last nine years. She’s watched how the organization has helped develop leaders and challenge young people to grow in new and exciting ways.

This week is National FFA Week, a chance to celebrate the nation’s largest student-led organization and reflect on its impact. In this week’s episode of “Registered,” we do just that, talking with Holman about just what makes her so passionate about FFA.

Kyle Kessler is the executive director of the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, an organization that advocates for the 25 community mental health centers across the state. In this week’s episode of “Registered,” we speak with Kessler about what he calls an “unwavering mission” to improve mental health outcomes for Kansans.

Two years ago, Kansas was ranked dead last for mental health care and access to services. What changed, and what work does Kessler feel is still needed? What role do community mental health centers play in our community now, and what does their future look like?

Here’s our conversation. Thanks for listening!

Whether it’s the district’s Humboldt Promise program, the new Cubs Community Care Center, limiting cell phone use in schools, or improvements from a $17.5 million bond issue voters passed in 2022, Humboldt schools are rapidly retooling to meet students’ needs and prepare them for a changing world.

At the heart of it is Superintendent Dr. Amber Wheeler, now in her fifth year at the district. The changes, insists Wheeler, are because of an unrelenting focus on “doing what’s right for kids.”

In this week’s episode of “Registered,” we speak with Wheeler about how the district is transforming to meet the moment.

Seth Bolling practically grew up in Moran Locker, the town’s family-owned butcher shop and meat processing facility.

Bolling is the fourth generation of his family to work in the business, so he understands intimately the beef industry and local agriculture. He has most of his customers’ phone numbers memorized.

In this week’s episode of Registered, we talk with Bolling about the state of today’s beef industry, what’s behind the recent high prices, and what producers need to continue to thrive in a changing world.

Iola USD 257 Superintendent Stacey Fager has been in education his whole career. He came to Iola 19 years ago and has led the school district since 2017.

Fager believes in public education and its importance to young people, communities and our society. He’s also clear-eyed about the challenges public schools face today.

In this episode of “Registered,” we talk with Fager about a bill to ban cell phones in Kansas schools, the dangers he sees in a statewide voucher program, and what the future may bring.

Callee Kaufman is a health and wellness coach at Humboldt Fitness. Her approach to health is very different from what you’d expect from a personal trainer. In fact, she urges her clients to rethink everything they’d ever heard about health, exercise, their bodies, nutrition and more.

In this week’s episode of “Registered,” Tim Stauffer speaks with Kaufman about her approach to wellness, her problems with societal pressures on body image, and why she no longer makes New Year’s resolutions.

Mayor Lee Roberts is Moran’s new mayor. Brand new, in fact; he was sworn in as mayor on January 5.

In this week’s episode of Registered, Tim Stauffer speaks with Mayor Roberts about how he plans to move Moran forward. What does the town need to grow? How can it prepare for the future? Here’s our conversation.