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June 17, 2026
The Kansas Sampler Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Our mission is to preserve and sustain rural culture. We do this by educating Kansans about Kansas and networking and support rural communities.
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The Class of 2028
One of my favorite parts of traveling Kansas is noticing the little details. In Strong City, Marci and I stopped at a community park with a fence recognizing the people and groups who helped make it happen. Most of the names were what you'd expect. Then one caught my eye: Class of 2028.The park was built in 2023. That means a class of seventh graders pitched in to help create a quality place in their community. Now that is creating the choir! When communities invite young people to be part of something real, they're sending a message that their ideas, time, and contributions matter now, not someday. - Karly Frederick
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Congrats to the Downtown Revive & Thrive Grant Recipients! Congratulations to the nine Kansas communities with fewer than 5,000 people that received Downtown Revive & Thrive grants to transform underused buildings into business incubators, shared kitchens, maker spaces, and pop-up retail hubs. These projects prove that even the smallest towns can create places where entrepreneurs, makers, and dreamers get their start.
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Tourism Marketing Grants:
Kansas Tourism's Marketing Grant program is now accepting applications through August 31 to support new marketing campaigns that attract visitors to your community. If you've got a fresh idea to tell your town's story, this could help bring it to life.
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What Makes a Hometown Grocery Special?: Satanta Grocery is featured in the latest Rural Grocery Spotlight, highlighting how great customer service, community involvement, and a commitment to neighbors help a local grocery become so much more than a place to shop. It's a good rural success story worth reading.
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Got Community Doers? The Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) program is now accepting applications. If your town has people with gumption and ideas they're ready to put into action, KCE provides training, connections, and resources to help communities help themselves. Apply now until August 31st!
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Could Your Next Entrepreneur be a Child Care Provider?
If someone in your community has ever thought about opening an in-home child care business, now is a great time. Child Care Aware of Kansas is offering coaching and business support to help new providers get started. Know someone who'd be great at it? Connect them with providersupport@ks.childcareaware.org.
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A Custom Worth Celebrating For 40 years, St. Francis has celebrated milestones with fire truck rides for kindergartners, fifth graders, and seniors. This year's graduating class was the first to complete the tradition all three times. That's rural culture in action.
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Great Communities Ask Good Questions: The free Community Assessment Toolkit from the Kansas Department of Commerce helps local leaders identify assets, engage residents, and build an action plan rooted in what makes their community unique
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A Community Win: Congratulations to the Lane County Community Foundation and the many local partners who celebrated the opening of the Lane County Community Grocery. Community philanthropy helped turn a local need of a grocery store after a fire, into a lasting asset.
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Good Ideas & Good Conversations:
Elevate Kansas is hosting five community development forums to hear from residents and build momentum around local priorities. Find a forum near you and join the conversation.
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Civic Information Index:
The Civic Information Index is an interactive map that lets you explore your county's civic health through measures like volunteering, library use, local news, housing, education, and more. It's a fascinating tool to explore!
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Small Grants. Big Impact. The Kansas Museums Association's Institutional Project Grants are now open, offering up to $500 to help museums improve exhibits, collections, programming, and operations. If your local museum has a project waiting to happen, this could be the nudge it needs. Applications are due September 30.
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Book Inspiration: Sullivan Book Arts is a beautiful creative space in Pittsburg where bookbinding, poetry, writing, and community come together. Whether you're looking to take a workshop or simply be inspired, it's a reminder that rural Kansas is full of unexpected places worth discovering.
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2026 We Kan Awardees: Congratulations to Julia Rabe of Beloit and Sam Moon of Osawatomie, recipients of 2026 We Kan Awards. Julia was recognized as a Catalyst for Rural Investment and Sam as a Master of Making It Happen. Both embody what it means to roll up your sleeves, invest in your community, and inspire others to do the same. Watch Julia's surprise here and Sam's surprise here!
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Building Maintenance Tips: If you've noticed concrete that's flaking, cracking, or chipping, it could be concrete spalling. This helpful article explains what causes it, what signs to look for, and why fixing the problem early can save time and money down the road. Learn more here.
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Rural Kansas and our Courts: How could the August 4 ballot amendment affect rural Kansas? Join Kansas Appleseed for a free lunchtime webinar on July 20 from noon to 1 p.m. featuring former Kansas Supreme Court Justice Lee Johnson of Caldwell. The session will explore how Kansas selects Supreme Court justices and what the proposed changes could mean for rural communities, giving participants more context before heading to the ballot box. Learn more here.
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See Kansas With New Eyes: Have you used the new Online Kansas Guidebook for your summer adventures yet? As the Kansas Sampler Foundation staff is on the road, new attractions are added each week, so keep coming back to find something fresh. It's designed to help more people know and appreciate Kansas communities of every size. Explore at kansasguidebook.org
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Kansas Micro-Internship Program & Parker Dewey Project Builder
Have you considered a micro-intern but you're not sure how to break down your organization's needs into a small project? Parker Dewey, the platform used by KMI, recently introduced the Project Builder tool that takes existing work and job descriptions and helps you create meaningful micro-internships quickly.
The Kansas Micro-Internship program connects Kansas organizations with college students ready to tackle short term projects in marketing, communications, research, technology, and more. Did you know that eligible organizations can access their first three projects at no cost? Employers, be sure to tell them Kansas Sampler Foundation sent you! We've been through the process and are glad to help you too.
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Big Kansas Road Trip Pop Up: The next Big Kansas Road Trip Pop Up is heading to Concordia on October 3, 2026. From the Salina Symphony and ghost "hunts" at the Brown Grand Theatre to chili and cinnamon rolls and behind the scenes tour at the Sisters of St. Joseph Nazareth Motherhouse, you won't want to miss the chance to get to know Concordia and all the stories they have to tell. Read more here.
| | See previous Tidbits: The June We Kan! Tidbits was full of excellent information. | | |
Sign up for We Kan! Tidbits: If this Tidbits is forwarded to you, sign up here for this monthly blast. Find the KSF Facebook page here.
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Become a KSF Supporter: Whether it's finding out about a grant, a conference, or a story, we believe that this monthly e-blast helps move individuals and communities in rural Kansas forward. We would love if your organization would consider supporting us annually as a KSF Supporter.
We are working to restructure sponsorship opportunities and packages. Contact Simone Elder today if interested in opportunities to support our work!
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Kansas Sampler Foundation Board of Directors: Lea Ann Seiler, Hanston, president; Stacy Barnes, Greensburg; Luke Mahin, Courtland; Dave Procter, Manhattan; and Lissa Sexson, Weskan.
Staff: Simone Elder, Leoti, Director; Karly Frederick, Lyons, We Kan Program Manager; Monica Frye, McPherson, Explore Kansas Program Manager; Marci Penner and WenDee Rowe, Inman, special assignments; Amy Sallee, Hutchinson, Bookkeeper.
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