Discovering De Soto
Organizations continued from page 26 De Soto Resident Randi Cole Crowned 2021 National Elite Ms. United States Agriculture Queen
A huge “Thank You” to the Rotary Club of De Soto and the De Soto Boy Scout Troop 54 for volunteering for the De Soto Native Plant Restoration Project Workday that was held on Monday, July 19. The volunteers removed plant debris and installed tarps over much of the area. The tarps will be left in place over the summer to kill the invasive and non-native plants underneath. Native plant species will be replanted in the fall. This project is part of The Rain Garden Project that will help slow and filter stormwater runoff from the boat ramp parking lot and Riverfest Park areas. Grant funding was received from the City of De Soto
Friends of the Kaw 30-Year Anniversary
Friends of the Kaw (FOK) celebrates its 30-year anniversary with an accomplished legacy that continues to grow each day. The organization strives to educate the public about the importance of protecting the Kansas River, as well as create a connection to the river. “We believe that when people get connected to the river by immersing themselves in it, that they’ll want to help protect it and keep it clean,” Kansas Riverkeeper and Executive Director Dawn Buehler described. Advocacy and education remain important aspects for Friends of the Kaw. It also works to further develop the Kansas River Water Trail. Friends of the Kaw was started 30 years ago by a group of people that lived in North Lawrence concerned about drudging on the Kansas River and how it would impact the river itself. De Soto is unique, as it has access to two boat ramps (Riverfest Park and Cedar Creek) along the Kaw that are five miles apart, unlike most ramps at 10 miles apart. Through the years, FOK has worked closely with the City of De Soto, USD 232 School District, Great American Bank and the De Soto Rotary Club. Resources are provided to residents about safety and precautions while on the river and FOK hosts various educational events to local schools and the community. To learn more about Friends of the Kaw, upcoming events and educational resources, visit www.kansasriver.org 30th Anniversary Sandblast September 18 See “Fall Events” on pages 22 & 23 for locally held events.
–Katherine Diaz, Contributing Writer 28
Randi Cole of De Soto, Kansas was awarded the title of Elite Ms. United States Agriculture on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Contestants traveled from all over the United States to Orlando, Florida the weekend of June 18, 2021 to compete for the honor to reign as a National Miss United States Agriculture Queen. The contestants competed in Interview, On-Stage Introduction, Evening Wear, OnStage Question, State Fun Fashion and Photogenic. National Director Ciera Ingram, says “The idea behind the Miss United States Agriculture Pageant Program celebrates the agriculture industry and our local farmers, while promoting self-esteem, building strong leaders and awarding scholarships to encourage a continuous pursuit of education. Throughout the program, we incorporate our motto: “Teach. Inspire. Advocate.” For Randi, this is the first time she has won at the national level during her pageant career. Starting at the county level, which began in 2019 for Johnson County, she later won the state title as Mrs. Kansas United States. At the end of her reign in 2020, Randi wanted to continue to advocate her platform and work with Hearing Charities of America, based in Kansas City, Missouri. “I was trying to find a way to keep promoting this work,” Randi said. “So I started brainstorming.” Her love for agriculture and her experience growing up on a chicken farm in Southern Iowa set Randi on a new path of discovery in the pageant world. “I just happened to do a Google search and there was a Mrs. United States Agriculture pageant,” Randi shared. “I began talking with the director of that system and decided to give it a go, and it has worked out very well!” For the continuation of her work, Randi is targeting farmers and helping raise awareness about hearing loss and how to protect their hearing. Continuing work with the Hearing Aid Project, youth hearing aids are refurbished and given to individuals in need. “I’m able to reach the people that basically raised me, so that means a lot to me,” Randi said. Another objective is recruiting more participants from the midwest. “The cool thing about this pageant is the focus is on agriculture,” Randi stated. –Katherine Diaz, Contributing Writer
Celebrations & Congratulations
