K-State Extension - Meade County

08/31/2026

‼️ Last call ‼️

Entries for the 2026 Kansas Junior Livestock Show close TONIGHT at 11:59 p.m. Don’t miss your chance to join us in Hutchinson, October 2-4!

🔗 Enter here: https://www.kjls.net/

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

OK-FIRE is pleased to announce its fall workshop schedule, which will consist of three in-person options in Guymon, Durant, and Mustang and one virtual option.

The FREE workshops will be led by Dr. Monica Mattox and guest speakers. Content will include a combination of presentations, case studies, and interactive lab exercises. Topics will cover the OK-FIRE website, components of fire danger, forecast and monitoring products, real-life emergency management scenarios, and prescribed burning.

The intended audience includes landowners, wildland managers, firefighters, prescribed burn associations, and public safety officials.

Register here: https://www.mesonet.org/news/ok-fire-fall-2026-winter-2027-workshops

08/28/2026

08/25/2026

Mulch rings help to promote healthy trees
K-State horticulture expert suggests organic mulch around diameter of the tree
Homeowners who are looking for ways to promote healthy, growing trees in their yard are well-advised to remember this axiom: A ring is a tree’s best friend.
Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini said a mulch ring is a circular border surrounding the base of a tree. When planting a new tree, she recommends including a mulch ring that covers the soil beneath the tree canopy.
“One benefit of using a mulch ring around trees in a lawn area is to prevent maintenance equipment from coming too close and damaging the trunk,” she said. “Also, plants grown directly beneath the tree canopy compete for water and nutrients, so a mulch ring keeps that soil covered without creating competition for the tree.”
Domenghini suggests using organic mulch, “for the same reasons it is selected for planter beds,” she said. Those reasons include conserving and extending available water, protecting from soil erosion, and reducing competition by suppressing weeds.
“The mulch ring around trees in a lawn should be at least 3-6 feet in diameter depending on the overall size of the tree,” Domenghini said. “Ideally, the mulch ring should extend to the drip line of the tree, which means the ground beneath the entire canopy of the tree should be covered.”
The mulch ring should include a 4-6 inch diameter circle of bare soil at the center so that mulch is not right up next to the trunk, to prevent rotting. The mulch should be 2-4 inches deep and re-applied annually.
“If mulch is applied too deep (more than four inches), the mulch can actually restrict oxygen from the soil and negatively affect the tree’s root development,” Domenghini said.
Domenghini and her colleagues in K-State's Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.
Interested persons can subscribe to the weekly newsletter, or submit their garden and yard-related questions, by sending email to [email protected]. More information also is available at your local K-State Extension office.

Applying mulch around a tree helps to protect the soil from drying ...

08/18/2026

Announcing: Foodpreneur Lunch & Learn workshop scheduled for Thursday September 10, 2026, from 12:00pm to 1:30pm!

Building on the success of the Food Business Start-Up Summit, the Community Food Systems team, in partnership with Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation, is hosting the Lunch & Learn in Dodge City, KS. This event will explore licensing, regulations, and shared kitchen access—all critical steps to launching or expanding a food business venture. Plus, discover free resources to support your journey every step of the way.

Whether you're a restaurant owner, food truck operator, home-based producer, value-added producer, or just getting started, this event is for you! Enjoy a complimentary lunch while attendees connect with experts and peers and leave ready to turn their food entrepreneurship dreams into reality.

Space is limited. Reserve your spot today at https://www.raisingthewest.org/training-events/foodpreneur

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Community Foods System: https://extension.k-state.edu/kansaslocalfoods/

Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation: https://www.dodgedev.org/

08/18/2026

Kansas 4-H Cyber Security Team
We are recruiting 12 youth to form Kansas 4-H cybersecurity teams to participate in Heartland Harvest: Cyber at the Station! This opportunity is open to youth who participated in Discovery Day and/or are enrolled in the Computer Science project area. Participants will have the opportunity to experience a live Capture the Flag (CTF) competition, competing against middle school and high school teams from across Kansas and Missouri.
Heartland Harvest: Cyber at the Station will serve as the kickoff event for the 2026 Cybersecurity Awareness Month series of activities, in partnership with Enterprise KC. More information will be shared soon.
Please share this opportunity with youth in your counties/districts who may be interested in cybersecurity, computer science, and hands-on technology experiences. Please encourage interested youth to respond ASAP. Space is limited, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration link https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1UqfxPqcsokgAOW
Details for Heartland Harvest: Cyber at the Station
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Schedule: 9:30 a.m. – Registration opens
11:00 a.m. – Capture the Flag (CTF) competition begins
3:00 p.m. – Competition concludes
3:15 p.m. – Awards Ceremony (attendance is strongly encouraged)
Cost: Free! Registration includes snacks, beverages, and lunch.
Location: Union Station Kansas City, 30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108
Transportation: Families are responsible for transportation to and from the event
Deadline: September 12, 2026, at 11:59 pm, or when all 12 spots are filled, whichever comes first.

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08/13/2026

Come join the fun in Garden City! Learn about all the research happening local to Southwest Kansas!

Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by a welcome at 9 a.m. Participants will rotate through two 90-minute field tours featuring current research and management strategies for crop production in southwest Kansas. Lunch, indoor presentations, and opportunities to visit exhibitor booths will follow. To register or to learn more, go to https://www.wkrec.org/events/field_days/2026/swrec_field_day_plus.html

08/10/2026

K-State sheep and goat specialist says tags and biosecurity help to protect flocks
A recent case of scrapie detected in an Oregon sheep has reset the nation's timeline for eradicating the fatal livestock disease. Kansas State University sheep and goat specialist Kelsey Bentley reminds producers of the importance of animal identification tags.

Read the full article from K-State here: https://extension.k-state.edu/news-and-publications/news/stories/2026/08/agriculture-scrapie-animal-identification.html

More information: Kelsey Bentley, 785-532-6537, [email protected]

A recent case of scrapie detected in an Oregon sheep has reset the nation's timeline for eradicating the fatal livestock disease. Kansas State University sheep and goat specialist Kelsey Bentley reminds producers of the importance of animal identification tags.

08/07/2026

The office will be closed the rest of the day for training. See you on Monday! 🍀