The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2025 #29: 5-14-25
VOLUME 2025 MAY 14 NUMBER 29
Second Vice President Steve Beckmann welcomed the membership, guests, and Rachel Veenstra-Cott, KSU Department of Agronomy, her colleague, and students . Bruce McMillam shared a reflection. The flag salute followed.
Mike Fincham introduced Rachel Venstra and the Kansas State University crop judging team. They had recently won their 33rd National Championship. They appeared last year after their 32nd National Championship. Rachel is now Rachael Veenstra-Cott and recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary. In November of 2024, the team competed in Kansas City and Chicago and added a 33rd National Championship to their dynasty. Accompanying Rachel was Karlie Albright, a Junior from Delia, KS; Roan Hoskin, a sophomore from Pike County, IL, Quinten Bina, a Senior from Pilsen, KS (10 miles north of Marion, KS), and Dr. Kevin Donnelly, who is retired and coached the team prior to Rachel and has stayed on as an assistant coach.
Rachel Graduated from Kansas State with a PhD in Agronomy in 2022 and joined the Agronomy Department faculty in 2022. Her duties include the Introductory Crop Science Course as well as a Plant & Seed Identification Course. Rachel also coaches the Collegiate Crops and NACTA Judging teams and serves as an advisor for the Wheat State Agronomy Club. Rachel enjoys engaging with students and offering them development opportunities, both in the classroom and beyond.
Dr. Donnelly explained the first Crops Contest was in 1923 in Chicago and was affiliated with the International Livestock Exposition and International Hay and Grain Show in Chicago. KSU's first team was also in 1923. In 1929 the American Royal Contest Began in Kansas City and there were two sites for National Contests due to the two Board of Trade locations in Kansas City and Chicago. KSU has been participating for 84 years, followed by Oklahoma State at 78 years. KSU has won both the Kansas City and Chicago Contest in the same year 19 times. In the individual category, KSU has had 19 winners in both Kansas City and Chicago the same year since 1923. The 2024 Fall National Champions from KSU were Molly Kane, Lakin Giager, and Carissa Sohm; alternates were Karlie Albright, Ella Pachta, and Faith Winkelmann. The 2025 Spring National Team Champions were Jenson Schoenfeld, Quinten Bina, Carissa Sohm, and Benton Kerr; the alternates are Faith Winkelmann, Ashlynn Hartmen, and Ella Pachta. In 1996 KSU began competing in crops contests organized by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA).
During the competitions, the students identify the seeds, both crop and weed seeds and grade the sample for quality. The NACTA Crops Contest season is January to April and events include a written exam, a math exam, practical applications and problem solving, and plant and seed identification. Crops Team students have a list of over 200 species to learn from seeds, pressed plants, and/or live plants). They have an entire semester-long course on identification at KSU. Identification is a great example of a very practical skill that students take from competing on the Crops Teams. The team has a number of sponsors who make it possible for the team to travel to competitions.
Rachel provided a score sheet for the membership to identify plants or seeds from five slides, a fun activity for the group.
Steve Boeckman introduced and welcomed our newest member, Tyler Traxson. He was sponsored by his wife Becca. So thank you Becca for recruiting a new member.
Interesting fact: we now have five husband and wife membership couples- Lisa and Jeff Brummett, Tom and Vera Hintz, Sharon and Mike Fincham, Jean and Marlo Klassen, and now the Traxsons.
Tyler has hit the ground running as he joined the committee for our new Music Instrument Drive and is handling the marketing of that project. I know Gary Lloyd is thrilled. Tyler grew up in Cheney, Kansas down by Wichita. He came to Manhattan to attend K-State and never left. He graduated with a degree in Digital Media from the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication and has worked in the K-State Division of Communication and Marketing since 2007. He also has been part of the K-State Athletic Department's HD TV crew since 2004. He and Becca have been married for 13 years and have two daughters: Peyton, 10, and Harley, 7. His favorite things to do are to be involved in his daughter’s sports, go to K-State sports when he’s not working at the games, woodworking, watching terrible movies with Becca, and cartoons with the kids, and annoying the family with awesome Dad jokes. Tyler, welcome to the Optimist Club.
Jim Franke shared information on Roger Brannon's wife's funeral services. Doris Brannon's visitation will be Friday May 30th at 6:00 pm at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue. The funeral service will be Saturday May 31st at 10:00 am at the First United Methodist Church, 612 Poyntz Avenue. Her final resting place is Sunset Cemetery, 330 Sunset Avenue.
Jim also thanked everyone who helped with the second fast pitch softball tournament field preparation and field maintenance and parking for the games.
Field Preparation Crew: Bruce Bidwell, Steve Boeckman, Jack Carlson, Mike Fincham, Jim Franke, Brad Horchem, Hunter, Hunt, Doug Jardine, Bryan Joy, Gary Lloyd, Mark Locke, Dan O'Neill, Bob Seymour, and Steve Springer.
Field Maintenance and Parking: Jerry Banaka, Bruce Bidwell, Steve Boeckman, Mike Fincham, Jim Franke, Gerit Garman, Steve Havenstein, Gary Lloyd, Mark Locke, Steve McKinzie, Terry Morrand, Dan O'Neill, Clyde Scott, and Bob Seymour.
There were ten teams and associated players, coaches, and parents.
Gary Lloyd announced the Optimist Musical Instrument Drive will be June 2nd through 7th. Advertisements will be out and several banks will serve as drop off points. Some posters are available for members to put into businesses and other locations.
Help is still needed on May 24th for the Bill Snyder Marathon to guide runners on the course. This not only helps the race be successful, but also earns money for the Optimist Club. Workers will be assigned an area and need to be on site at 6:30 am until around 10:30 am.
GUESTS: Rachel Veenstra, KSU Department of Agronomy, her colleague, and students. Jerry Banaka introduced Ricardo Gutierrez, Junction City Optimist Club. Doug Jardine introduced Cherie Hoffpauir, originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, who is considering joining the Optimist Club Cherie works at KSU in Recruiting and Admissions.
Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed.
MAY 21: MORNING MEETING: Danielle Dulin – Manhattan City Manager: “Manhattan City Management”
MAY 28: NOON MEETING: Phil Anderson & Tracey Anderson – Anderson- Knight Architects: “Manhattan Riverfront Project”
