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Men of Impact
There’s a conversation happening right now about masculinity, and in many ways, it feels like we are overcomplicating it.
Being a man is not toxic. Masculinity is not the problem. In fact, strong, dependable, grounded men are essential to healthy families, businesses, friendships, and communities. The world needs men who show up. Men who work hard. Men who protect and provide. Men who keep their word, even when nobody is watching.
Thankfully, here in Manhattan, we are surrounded by those kinds of men every single day.
At the same time, many men have been taught to bury whatever weighs on them. Stress. Fear. Anxiety. Hurt. Disappointment. Just push it down, keep moving, and never talk about it. The problem is that those emotions do not simply disappear. Eventually, they surface somewhere else. In anger. In isolation. In addiction. In burnout. In strained relationships. That is where real toxicity can begin to take root.
The work of David Hawkins and his Letting Go technique has resonated deeply with me lately. The idea is simple, yet powerful: instead of resisting emotions, we allow ourselves to fully feel them without judgment or suppression. Ironically, when we stop fighting emotions, they begin to lose their grip on us.
Because at the end of the day, the healthiest version of masculinity is a man who can be both dependable and emotionally aware. Tough, yet compassionate. Strong enough to lead others, yet self-aware enough to continue working on himself.
Whether we realize it or not, people are always watching us. Our kids are watching. Our community is watching. They are learning what manhood looks like through the way we handle stress, relationships, success, setbacks, and responsibility. The way we lead our families, treat our neighbors, show up for our friends, and carry ourselves through adversity helps shape the culture of this community for the next generation.
In this issue, we are proud to celebrate the “Men of Impact” throughout Manhattan. Men from different backgrounds, careers, and walks of life who are striving to make a real difference in the people and places around them.
As you read through, we hope the men featured in this issue remind you that becoming the best version of yourself is not about perfection. It is about continuing to grow, serve, and positively impact the people around you.
At the end of the day, that’s why we’re here.
Enjoy your summer!
Warm Regards,
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Tyler Jackson | tyler.jackson@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Heather Hoffman | heather.hoffman@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Tim Sigle | siglephoto@gmail.com
MARKET SUPPORT ASSISTANT
Cooper Deters | cdet112@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Kenny Whitis
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad
LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell
Learn
TYLER JACKSON, PUBLISHER
business monthly
4th Annual Little Apple Slash, June 12 - 14
Little Apple Splash 2026 returns to Manhattan June 12-14 at Blue Earth Plaza. This DockDogs event — a canine aquatics competition — will feature dogs competing in Big Air, Extreme Vertical, and Speed Retrieve events. Both new and experienced competitors are welcome to participate, while spectators can enjoy the high-flying action free of charge. With family-friendly entertainment and incredible canine athletes, this is one of the summer’s most entertaining events in downtown Manhattan.
19th Annual Wine in the Wild at Sunset Zoo
Wine in the Wild returns to Sunset Zoo on June 6 for its 19th annual evening of wine, wildlife, and fun. Hosted by the Friends of Sunset Zoo, the fundraiser invites guests to stroll the zoo’s scenic trails while sampling wines, hors d’oeuvres, and live music alongside the zoo’s animal residents. The event features both an exclusive VIP reception and general admission experience, making it one of Manhattan’s premier summer social events. Get tickets at friendsofsunsetzoo. ticketspice.com/wine-in-the-wild-2026
Wing Wars 2026 - June 13
Wing Wars 2026 returns to Manhattan on June 13 from 5 to 10 p.m., bringing the city’s top chicken wing showdown to 4th Street for the first time. Presented by Addair Law, the annual event will feature 15 restaurants battling for chicken wing supremacy as attendees sample flavors from across the Little Apple. Wing Wars is one of Manhattan’s most popular summer food events! Get your tickets now before they sell out at mhkbeer.com/wing-wars!
AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST
Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short
Creative Director: Jen Birn
Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill
Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX
MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.
After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.
Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When in all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”
THE QUIET STANDARD:
MIKE JOHNSON
“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”
— Mike Johnson
Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?
A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”
Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?
A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”
This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.
MIKE JOHNSON
We’re more than just a local manufacturer. Our passion lies in crafting high-quality hoses that redefine industry standards. We take pride in producing hoses that elevate performance, boost productivity, and ensure unparalleled safety. Our commitment to innovation extends beyond the ordinary, as we cater to both the industrial and hydraulic hose markets. At Parker, your work becomes a legacy, influencing and setting new benchmarks for quality and innovations. Where excellence is not just a goal but a daily commitment to revolutionize how hoses shape industries. Join us at Parker to help build the future of
hoses, making a global impact, one connection at a time.
Men of Impact 2026
Meet six remarkable men whose influence, leadership, and heart continue to leave a lasting mark on Manhattan in 2026.
ARTICLE BY HEATHER HOFFMAN & TYLER JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM SIGLE | SIGLE PHOTOGRAPHY
ROB WILD
AGENT, WILD & ASSOCIATES LLC. AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE
Born and raised in Essex, England, Rob Wild once dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player for his beloved team, Tottenham Hotspur. Instead, life led him on a journey centered around something even greater: helping people.
After earning a degree in Sports & Exercise Psychology from the University of Chichester, Rob traveled the world before coming to America to work at a summer camp for children with disabilities. It was there he met his wife Sarah, whose Kansas roots eventually brought the couple to the Midwest. Along the way, Rob worked at Bethesda Place in Hays, where he discovered the power of community, purpose, and serving others.
Following the loss of his mother to a brain tumor in 2019, Rob channeled his grief into growth, pursuing his insurance accreditation and eventually becoming the American Family Insurance agent on Poyntz Avenue in Manhattan in 2021. Today, he especially enjoys helping families through insurance, especially life insurance, viewing it as one of the most meaningful ways he can protect people during life’s most difficult moments.
Alongside his wife and two sons, Rob continues making a lasting impact throughout the Manhattan community through mentoring, leadership, and a genuine desire to serve others.
For more than four decades, Dennis Cook has quietly helped shape the heartbeat of Manhattan. Whether through his leadership in Aggieville, his decades in the beer distribution business, or his deep involvement in community events, Dennis has created a legacy built on relationships.
As director of the Aggieville Business Association, Dennis serves as a bridge between nearly 100 businesses and the countless organizations that impact them, including the City of Manhattan, Kansas State University, Fort Riley, law enforcement, and local developers. He describes his role simply as being “the district’s liaison to everybody who impacts them,” a responsibility he has embraced with unmatched consistency.
Before stepping into his current role, Dennis spent 36 years in the beer business, where he became known for building authentic relationships rather than simply making sales. That philosophy helped transform the region’s Budweiser market share and led to partnerships that still benefit Manhattan today, from golf tournaments to community events and local sponsorships.
DENNIS COOK
DIRECTOR, AGGIEVILLE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
— Dennis Cook “
“I like doing things that help people. I like being involved, building relationships, and staying connected to the community. Manhattan has always felt like home to me, and I’ve always believed if you can help others succeed, then everybody wins.”
Dennis’ impact stretches far beyond business. He has directed Manhattan’s major college soccer tournament for 44 years, helped strengthen ties between Aggieville and Fort Riley, and remained a steady presence through years of construction and change.
Above all, Dennis represents the kind of leadership that makes Manhattan special: humble, dependable, relationship-driven, and deeply committed to the people around him.
Even Dennis still believes the best is yet to come for Aggieville and the community he loves. His story is proof that impact is often built not through headlines or attention, but through years of showing up, helping others, and staying invested in people
DR. JOSEPH AWIKA
DIRECTOR OF K-STATE FOOD SCIENCE INSTITUTE
Dr. Joseph Awika is an internationally-renowned food scientist, Director of K-State Food Science Institute, and the Head of Kansas State University’s Grain and Food Science Department. Born in rural Kenya, Dr. Awika left home for boarding school at just 12 years old, an endeavor made possible by his father’s sacrifice. In high school, he chose food science from a list of potential college majors, because of the potential to “eat and learn at the same time,” he laughs.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Dr. Awika found a stable, well-paying job but quickly realized he wanted more. Seeking out new opportunities, he contacted the American Embassy in Kenya, who helped him identify relevant graduate programs in the United States. Despite the financial barriers posed as an international student, he was admitted to Texas A&M University with an assistantship, which then allowed him to pursue both a master’s degree and PhD in food science.
His academic journey led to faculty roles at the University of Missouri and later at Texas A&M, where he built a reputation as a leader in the field. In 2024, Kansas State University recruited him to help lead a new vision for its Food Science Institute. Although hesitant at first, Dr. Awika saw an opportunity to lead meaningful change, so he took the role. “I thought, it’s a risk, but it’s really worthwhile,” he shares.
At K-State, Dr. Awika focuses on three core priorities: health and well-being, sustainability, and innovation. He emphasizes the role of food as a driver of human health, calling it both the first and last line of defense against disease. His work also addresses global challenges such as food waste, noting that a significant portion of food produced never gets consumed.
Beyond his research, Dr. Awika believes in prioritizing the student experience. “We want to make sure [our students] graduate with the best experience at the university and in the country,” he shares. He encourages young people interested in making an impact to consider food science, noting that the field is highly in-demand, well-paid, and, of course, fun. “Is there anything more important, more impactful to human health than food?”
DAN MICHAELS
RADIO DJ & MARKET MANAGER, EAGLE COMMUNICATIONS
More commonly known around town as DJ Dan, Dan Michaels has spent decades becoming one of the most recognizable and energetic voices in the Manhattan community. But beyond the microphone, the longtime radio personality has built a reputation for showing up for people.
Originally from Blue Rapids, Dan graduated from Valley Heights High School before serving in the Navy. After receiving a medical discharge, he eventually found his way to Kansas State University, where his path toward broadcasting slowly began to take shape. After starting as DJ work at weddings and clubs, he built a new career after a chance encounter at Country Stampede encouraged him to audition for a local radio station. He was hired almost instantly.
Not long after, Dan was unexpectedly handed a microphone to emcee a live event for the first time. From the moment he walked on stage, he knew he had found what he was meant to do. Over the years, that passion evolved into a career that eventually brought him back to Manhattan to help launch Q Country 103.5 under Eagle Communications in 2013.
Today, Dan serves as Market Manager for Eagle Communications’ Manhattan, Junction City, and Salina markets, while also acting as Corporate Production Director. Yet despite his professional success, his greatest impact may come through his constant involvement in the community itself.
Dan serves on numerous boards and committees throughout Manhattan, including the Aggieville Business Association, Downtown Business Association, Downtown Business Development Board, Purple Power Play, Rock The Plains, and the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors.
He is also heavily involved with local festivals, fundraisers, charity events, and organizations like the Boys & Girls Club and Praise Fest.
“I just like being involved,” Dan said.
That simple philosophy has made him far more than a radio voice. In many ways, Dan Michaels has become part of the soundtrack of Manhattan itself.
DR. JESSE PEREZ MENDEZ
PROVOST, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Growing up in Wichita Falls, Texas, Dr. Jesse Perez Mendez imagined a variety of futures for himself. At different points in his childhood and early adulthood, he considered becoming a stand-up comedian, a priest, a lawyer, and even a politician. But no matter the dream, there was always a deeper motivation underneath it all: a desire to give back.
Today, that passion for service guides his work as Provost and Executive Vice President at Kansas State University, where he oversees the university’s academic vision across campuses in Manhattan, Salina, and Olathe. His role focuses on creating the best possible educational experience for students while helping prepare K-State for the rapidly changing future of higher education.
Dr. Mendez’s journey into higher education leadership was shaped during his time in law school at Indiana University. While serving as a guardian ad litem advocating for children in custody cases, he witnessed firsthand how poverty and circumstance could place young people at a disadvantage long before adulthood. The experience changed the direction of his life. Instead of pursuing a political career, he earned a PhD in higher education and dedicated himself to expanding educational opportunity, believing strongly that education remains one of society’s greatest social mobilizers.
After serving in leadership roles at institutions including Oklahoma State University, University of Central Florida, Indiana University Indianapolis, and Texas Tech University, Dr. Mendez found a home in Manhattan. He describes K-State as having “the most authentic college culture” he has ever experienced and says the warmth of the community immediately stood out to him.
Whether helping lead AI initiatives, expanding innovative degree programs, or guiding the future of K-State, Dr. Mendez continues to focus on one core mission: creating opportunities that can positively change lives for generations to come.
RONNIE GRICE
CHIEF
OF
POLICE, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY (RET.)
After more than three decades leading the Kansas State University Police Department, Ronnie Grice has officially retired, closing the chapter on a remarkable 46-year law enforcement career. But ask Ronnie what mattered most during his time in Manhattan, and his answer is simple: the people.
Originally from a small rural farming community in Arkansas, Ronnie attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he earned a political science degree with plans to attend law school. That path changed after participating in sheriff’s department ride-alongs, an experience that ignited a passion for law enforcement and public service. He officially took the oath as a deputy on April 1, 1980, beginning a career that would eventually bring him to Kansas State University in 1994.
At the time, Ronnie thought Manhattan would simply be a short stop along the way.
“My original plan was to only spend two years at Kansas State University and move on,” he said. “And 31 years later, Manhattan and the university are still home.”
Throughout his career, Ronnie became known not only for his professionalism, but for his belief in collaboration. Under his leadership, K-State Police developed strong partnerships with the Riley County Police Department, emergency management agencies, fire departments, and regional law enforcement partners. He consistently emphasized teamwork over ego, helping strengthen communication and emergency response efforts throughout the community.
He also speaks proudly about the officers and staff he mentored over the years, many of whom went on to leadership roles of their own.
For Ronnie, impact was never about titles or recognition. It was about building relationships, serving others, and helping create a safer, stronger community. And after more than 31 years in Manhattan, it is clear his impact will continue to be felt long after retirement.
SHAPING IDENTITY
INSIDE OUTPOST WESTERN STORE, COWBOY HAT SHAPING HAS BECOME EQUAL PARTS CRAFTSMANSHIP, PERSONAL EXPRESSION, WESTERN TRADITION, AND COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE.
ARTICLE BY TYLER JACKSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM SIGLE | SIGLE PHOTOGRAPHY
It all starts with a straight pin. Next, comes the steam.
Vapor mist rolls upward from a jewelry steamer in soft bursts as a cowboy hat passes through practiced hands at the shaping station. A brim is curved slightly downward. A crown is pinched and reshaped. Someone studies the silhouette from across the room before making another adjustment measured in fractions of an inch.
Kind of like hand rolling a cigar, nothing about this process feels rushed.
Customers lean against the counter watching the process unfold while conversations drift between rodeos, football, weather,
“Every hat tells a different story. The shaping process is less about following rules and more about creating something personal for the person wearing it.”
ranch work, and the eternal debate over “is it felt versus straw season.” The atmosphere surrounding the shaping station only adds to the experience. Here, it feels less like a store display, and more like a barber shop.
This experience has become one of the defining elements of Outpost Western Store, the western retailer located just northwest of Manhattan on Highway 24. While the business has established a national reputation for high-end, store-exclusive cowboy boots and online western wear sales, the hat shaping process has quietly become one of its greatest attractions.
What separates the shaping process from a simple retail transaction is the amount of
intuition involved. Every customer’s head shape is slightly different. Every hat material reacts differently to steam and pressure. A skilled shaper — Noah Schultz, Blade Winter, or Logan Graber — learns to read both the customer, and the hat itself.
The shaping process starts with fit. Before style is ever discussed, the hat has to sit correctly. That’s where the straight pin comes into play, helping line up the dead center of the hat with the wearer’s eyes. From there, comfort becomes the priority. Too loose, and it blows away in the Kansas wind. Too tight, and it becomes miserable to wear for an entire day. Once the fit feels right, the shaping begins gradually, using steam to
soften the material before curves and structure are carefully worked into place by hand.
Straw hats require a particularly delicate touch. Too much pressure in one spot can create hard creases that eventually crack the lacquer finish and shorten the lifespan of the hat. Felt hats respond differently, especially high-end beaver and mink blends that mold smoothly and hold their structure for years.
There is a surprising amount of engineering hidden beneath the style.
Some customers want a classic look, while others arrive with photos pulled from TikTok or rodeo social media accounts. Crown heights, brim widths, and crease patterns all change the personality of the
“Outpost found its niche by focusing on craftsmanship, western culture, and experience, turning a small Flint Hills store into a destination for customers nationwide.”
hat. Traditional Cattleman crowns remain timeless, but modern styles like the West Texas Punch or Cool Hand Luke, with wider brims and softer rounded shaping, have steadily grown more popular in recent years. The result is certainly always something deeply personal.
Long before Outpost became known for premium hats and custom boots, the building housed a family trucking operation. The structure was originally built in the late 1980s for Robert C. Buchanan Incorporated, a family-operated trucking company. Over time, the family business evolved into something different.
In 2001, the original R.B. Outpost opened as a combination western store, feed operation, and tack shop. The retail business expanded throughout the building as the trucking side slowly began to fade away. Saddles, feed, western clothing, tack, and horse supplies gradually filled more of the former truck facility.
At the time, western retail in the area looked different than it does today. Tractor Supply had not yet entered the market, and there was an opportunity to create a true destination for horse owners and rural customers around the Flint Hills.
Pam Laird, Robert Buchanan’s daughter, and current co-owner of the store, helped guide much of the original operation despite having little background in retail. Rather than hiring consultants, she taught herself the business through retail textbooks and
firsthand experience. The family learned as they went, building the store piece by piece while adapting to changing customer needs.
R.B. Outpost eventually became known for its western wear, horse tack, and feed products, and even organized trail rides hosted on the family’s property. For a time, the business became deeply woven into the local horse and ranching community.
But as years passed, the operation became increasingly difficult to manage. Family responsibilities shifted. Leadership structures became complicated. The western retail industry itself was changing rapidly as online commerce began reshaping how customers shopped.
In 2014, the original R.B. Outpost closed its doors.
For Pam’s son and current co-owner, Ty Mosier, the closure felt unfinished.
Ty had started working at the original store while attending Kansas State University, where he studied public relations and marketing. During those years, he developed a growing fascination with premium cowboy boots, western branding, and the culture surrounding the industry. Even after the store closed and he moved into insurance sales, the vision for what the business could become never completely disappeared.
Friends and former customers continued bringing up the store years after it closed. People remembered the inventory. They remembered the atmosphere. They
remembered the sense that Manhattan had something unique.
At the same time, western culture itself was beginning to evolve nationally. Social media expanded the reach of niche western brands. Premium bootmakers developed devoted followings online. Western aesthetics began crossing into mainstream fashion and music culture.
Ty recognized that the future of the business would look completely different than the original R.B. Outpost.
When Outpost Western Store reopened in 2017, the new version of the business focused heavily on curated inventory, premium boot brands, custom products, and online sales.
The website became a priority immediately. Rather than trying to be a massive general western retailer, the new Outpost concentrated on developing a stronger identity.
That focus changed everything.
The store gradually phased out much of its tack inventory and leaned further into premium boots, custom western style, and a wide array of hats. Online sales exploded during the pandemic era as western fashion surged in popularity nationwide, helped in part by the rise of shows like Yellowstone and renewed interest in cowboy culture.
Today, Outpost ships products across the United States and many countries
internationally yet still maintains the personality of a locally rooted western store tied closely to Manhattan and the Flint Hills.
Despite all the growth, the heart of the store still feels remarkably hands-on.
Steam still rises from the shaping station. Customers still gather around mirrors debating brim widths and crown styles. People still stop by to browse their large selection of boots.
And somewhere between tradition and reinvention, Outpost Western Store continues shaping something that just feels authentically Kansas.
And it’s the perfect fit. Every time.
Dr. Hamler
Dr. Priddle
Dr. Zabel
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JUNE 5TH – 7TH & 12TH – 14TH
Urinetown: The Musical
Manhattan Arts Center, 1520 Poyntz Ave
Urinetown hilariously skewers politics, greed, and musical theatre itself, all while delivering toe-tapping tunes and tongue-in-cheek humor. Don’t hold it in—come see Urinetown!
JUNE 5TH
Red, White, and Bloom
K-State Gardens, 1500 Denison Ave | 6:30 PM
Join this star-spangled celebration of America’s 250th anniversary at the K-State Gardens! This memorable evening will feature American cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, patriotic music, a silent auction, student-designed planters, and a festive fireworks finale! Tickets: $150
JUNE 6TH
National Prairie Day
Flint Hills Discovery Center, 315 S 3rd St, Manhattan, KS
Celebrate the beauty of the world’s rarest and most endangered ecosystem in the world: the tall grass prairie. Enjoy activities and educational programs including animal meet and greets with Flint Hills animal ambassadors, prairie coloring pages, a book nook, and more!
JUNE 6TH
Taste of the ‘Ville
Aggieville Historic Business District | 4:00 PM
The Manhattan P.E.O. Chapter will host the 13th Annual Taste of the ‘Ville to support Aggieville businesses and fund local scholarships and P.E.O. philanthropies. Tickets are $20 and available at 1125 Moro Street in Aggieville.
JUNE 7TH
Riley County Fliers 33rd Annual Spring Fly-in
Tuttle Creek Reservoir, State Park and Wildlife Area
Grab a lawn chair and look to the skies! Watch an exciting mix of radio-controlled planes, helicopters, and drones in action. Enjoy food, raffles, and pilot prizes, with free admission for spectators. Those wanting to learn to fly can stop by to meet the Riley County Fliers club and see if you’d like to get involved.
JUNE 28TH
Audubon Society Monthly Bird Walk
Anneberg Park Perimeter Trail, 3801 Anderson Ave | 1:00 PM
Join members of the Northern Flints Hills Audubon Society for a birding walk around Anneberg Park! Participants will walk around the perimeter trail and lake looking and listening for birds. Beginning birders and children are especially welcome. Binoculars are helpful but not essential. No dogs other than service animals are allowed.
ERIC WOLTJE
When great projects start with great people
From intern to leading operations across Kansas, Eric’s career has grown alongside the communities he helps build. With nearly two decades at McCownGordon, he’s shaped projects across the region—bringing steady leadership and accountability to every phase. It’s that consistency that makes him a go-to partner for clients and colleagues alike.
