No matter how challenging the previous 12 months have been, facing a new year with positivity can only create goodwill and hope for the future. Thus, it seems appropriate to begin 2020 on a pleasing note by announcing the winners of two contests sponsored by Kansas Country Living and the associated electric cooperatives that bring you this magazine each month to stay connected with their consumer-members.
For the second consecutive year, the magazine cosponsored the Rural Kansas Photography Contest and chose a grand-prize winning photograph to run on this month’s cover. “Bison and Kansas Wind” was captured by Eric Dyck at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in Canton. Eric is a semi-retired physician, and he and his wife are members of the Prairie PastTimes artists cooperative in Cottonwood Falls. As in the previous year, magazine staff found it difficult to choose a winner from all of the quality entries this year. On Pages 20-21, we’ve included the photos that were very close runners-up. Visit www.kumc.edu/community-engagement/rural-health/rural-kansas-photography-contest to view the winning photos in each category. Get ready to enter your photograph next year. You just might make the cover and win $100!
A reader contest in the December issue closed out 2019, with collectible Willie Wiredhand Christmas ornaments at stake. Once again, our readers did not disappoint in participating. In fact, 18 of the entrants answered all 12 questions correctly so, to add more positivity to 2020, we awarded ornaments to all of those 18 co-op members instead of the original 15 we advertised.
Look for more contests in 2020 and the launch of the Kansas Country Living website to add an interactive experience for our readers.
Our staff wishes you a prosperous new year brimming with joy and hope.
