The boys usually are frantically practicing speeches to compete in a few weeks at the National Maine Anjou show. This year thanks to COVID-19, the speeches are to be video uploaded by June 15. Here is Maddix's speech. I thought some of you might find it helpful.

PRATT – Have you been working on your outdoor photography skills recently? If you’ve taken a photo highlighting Kansas wildlife, outdoor recreation, hunting, fishing, or local landscapes consider submitting your work in the 2020 “Wild About Kansas” 8th annual photo contest hosted by Kansas Wildlife and Parks Magazine! Deadline for participating in the contest is Oct. 18 by 11:59 p.m.

MANHATTAN — For the week ending June 14, there were 6 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 17% very short, 36% short, 46% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 10% very short, 31% short, 58% adequate and 1% surplus.

While aquatic plants are a natural part of the aquatic ecosystem, it is common for them to become too prevalent and control efforts may need to be implemented. Although aquatic plants can be a problem if they are too abundant, not all aquatic plants are bad. In fact, vegetation in and around ponds is valuable for fish and wildlife habitat and can also help reduce stream bank erosion. When aquatic plants become too prevalent and start to overtake a pond they are referred to as aquatic weeds and some control is necessary. When considering aquatic weed control, remember these two points; prevention is always better than treatment and you must identify the weeds to determine the best option for control.

MANHATTAN — Kansas feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.43 million cattle on feed on June 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 2% from last year.

PHOTO FINISH (left photo) — Brother tandem Jake (left) and Mickey (right) Carpenter captured the crown during Saturday evening’s Horse Race event at the 2020 Swinging Bridge held at the Independence Country Club.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Right-handed pitcher Chase Wallace serves as an example of how the Kansas City Royals’ past and present have converged during this unprecedented period in Major League Baseball’s history amid the COVID-19 pandemic.