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A podcast focusing on the perspectives, lives, and stories of Kansans to provide greater insight into the state we all call home.
AAK_Ep40
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New Year Resolutions and Family Stories
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[00:00:00]
Gus Applequist: So I know like we've technically had two episodes in the new year already. Mm-hmm. But this is our first one actually recorded in 2026. And so I just had to ask like, do you guys have any like, new, um, resolutions or anything?
Sydney Collins: So it's funny because when you asked, when we brought this up prior, my resolution was to clean my office, which did get done.
but this weekend, so mad. We have, we have a split level house. We have three rooms for each of the kids. Obviously Kimberland has the biggest one, Maverick, who's our middle, child, poor, middle child, and then we forget who he is, gets the medium sized room and Madeline, who's the smallest, gets the, smallest room.
it has gotten to the point where Madeline had so much stuff, you couldn't see her floor anymore. And it was just so compact. And so this weekend. I was like, okay, Madeline, I need you to get rid of some stuff. Are you okay with that? She's [00:01:00] like, yeah, it was the most engaged I've ever seen her cleaning her room.
so she got rid of two trash bags full of stuff, two trash bags. Wow. So that's stuffed animals, that's toys. Um, and that does not count the three Barbie totes that I got out of her room. So she only has two little square toy boxes and then her big bucket of stuff that has like her tent and, and dress up clothes and stuff in it.
So, yeah. So those are, are, I can tell you guys are
Gus Applequist: related.
Sydney Collins: Yeah. Cleaning out all of our, our knickknacks.
Gus Applequist: Nice.
Sydney Collins: Nice. Very good. So yeah, it was very decisive. I was very proud of her for being five and being able to decisive was like, that is a baby toy. I do not need that anymore. she had a Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal, and she goes, I don't even watch that show anymore, and was able to get rid of it.
I was like, oh, okay.
Gus Applequist: Maybe she should have a podcast.
Sydney Collins: Maybe the thoughts of Madeleine that would be. That would be actually pretty funny. 'cause last week, um, we were on our way to Salina for a family dinner and she goes, what day at [00:02:00] Mel's mom and dad's name? I go, Roger and Peggy. And she goes, Peggy, I just, why That was funny to her.
I don't know, but she goes,
Gus Applequist: maybe should be a comedian someday.
Celebrating the Sestercentennial: Kansas 250 Commission
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Gus Applequist: Welcome to Ask a Kansan, a podcast
Sydney Collins: where we're amplifying, connecting and uncovering Kansas.
Gus Applequist: And today we are looking forward to, uh, celebrating all year the Squi centennial of the United States of America.
Sydney Collins: Which is 250 years for those of you at home.
Gus Applequist: Now you know, if you didn't already, now I know Squi. So our guest, SQUI, Centennial Squi.
Centennial [00:03:00] Squi.
Sydney Collins: Centennial. Okay, say that 10 times fast. Squi Centennial. So our guest
Gus Applequist: today is Rosa from the Kansas two 50 Commission.
Sydney Collins: Yes. And so she, um, came from Topeka today to be on, to tell us all the amazing things that, the Department of Commerce and Travel and Tourism and all the other, organizations that, um, she has helped band together to help celebrate 250 years of the us.
Gus Applequist: So,
without any further ado, here's
our conversation with Rosa.
Meet Rosa Cavasso: Special Projects Coordinator
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Gus Applequist: Hello.
Sydney Collins: Welcome, welcome. Have a seat. You're looking
Gus Applequist: very Kansas. I love it. I love it so much from the earrings and the shirt. I love it. Exactly. So feel free
Sydney Collins: to get comfy and then we can get your mic all settled there. There we go. Perfect. Perfect. Thank you. Well thanks for coming on. Appreciate. Absolutely.
I'm so excited. It's good to meet you. I'm obviously Sydnee and this is Gus. Hello. Can you introduce yourself for our audience?
Rosa Cavazos: My name is Rosa Cavasso. Um, and I am with, uh, the state of Kansas Travel and Tourism team. I am the special events [00:04:00] or special projects coordinator, with Kansas two 50 and a couple of other programs that the state does.
So,
Sydney Collins: yeah. Can you, elaborate a little bit more on your title of what, what special projects? Like what does that mean? I know someone's like, uh, okay.
Rosa Cavazos: Yes. So, um, so when I was hired, I, they said, you're gonna be the special projects coordinator and specifically for Kansas two 50. And then our other program that we have, which is Love Kansas.
So those are the two focuses that I really work on. obviously Kansas two 50 has been a big thing for the past couple of years. Meeting and doing all of those things that I need to do. But really it's, it's focusing on a couple of key events or projects that I work on.
Gus Applequist: what is two 50?
Yeah.
Rosa Cavazos: Okay. Big question. Question. so America turns 250 years, uh, in 2026. So we are in this beginning of the celebration and Kansas two 50 is the commission, that was put together by a state [00:05:00] statue for Kansas. Peace in celebrating America. Turning 250 years old.
Sydney Collins: Awesome. Yes.
Kansas 250 Events and Community Involvement
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Sydney Collins: So what, kind of events or what does the year look like for Kansas two 50?
Rosa Cavazos: it is crazy busy. Um, there's a lot of little things that are happening, um, but we have chosen to celebrate the Kansas two 50 throughout the entire year, which is really nice. So we have things happening every month. We're encouraging communities to put together events. But for the commission, what they have really focused on is the.
Perra of at Astra Pera. Mm-hmm. So they're wanting people to talk about the difficulties, um, that they have overcome as Kansans, which we most definitely have. we were in a state 250 years ago. Yeah. So we talked about how it is that we can really show what Kansans do. how Kansans push forward and how we have helped be like the main [00:06:00] piece of, um, the United States over the past 250 years.
So we've got a lot of things that are coming out. We have partnered with a lot of different state organizations 'cause I didn't wanna reinvent the wheel. Oh yeah. Um, and there's great. State organizations that was just like, how do we grow what you guys are doing and combine it with, what the commission is wanting to do.
So we have partnered with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and we have a 250 challenge. So it's getting people out in all of our, uh, state parks and. Fishing, hiking, biking trails. Mm-hmm. Camping, birdwatching, any of those things. And if you go onto their website, there's a way that you can calculate your 250 points and then there's special prizes.
Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah. So, huh. Challenge accepted. Oh, yes. I love it. I love it. we also partnered, uh, with From the Land of Kansas [00:07:00] and we have special Kansas two 50 boxes that will be going on sale and. Of course, we wanna highlight all of the people that grow things here in Kansas. So there's some special products in there that we will be kicking off the sale of that to very soon.
Um, and so we just wanna talk about our farmers and what our farmers bring to the table. So that was a great way to be able to partner with them. And they already do boxes, for Christmas and holidays. So we are doing it from January through July. Um, those boxes will be available for sale.
Sydney Collins: And what, what was that organization again?
Rosa Cavazos: From the Land of Kansas, from the Land of Kansas Uhhuh.
Sydney Collins: I've
Rosa Cavazos: never
Sydney Collins: heard of
Rosa Cavazos: that before. It's like
Gus Applequist: Made in America.
Rosa Cavazos: Yes. Brilliant. Yes. How have I not heard of it? Okay. That, and they have great products in there. There's so many, farmers that are part of that organization and they just really help promote and share each of those farmers stories.
So you can go on their website now and find all the things that you can buy from. Kansas [00:08:00] grown products. but there's a special box that will be for sale with part of the commission being a part of that. So that's really cool.
Sydney Collins: Brilliant.
Rosa Cavazos: Yes. I'm a big service and volunteer person. Mm-hmm. So, um, this year also marks the anniversary of nine 11.
Um, so on September. Gosh, there's a lot happening this year in there. I know, right? Mm-hmm.
Sydney Collins: It makes you feel old, almost.
Rosa Cavazos: Yes,
Sydney Collins: yes.
Rosa Cavazos: Everybody remembers where they were on that date. so what we've done is, again, we have partnered with the Kansas Volunteer Commission and we are doing a statewide service day on nine 11 of, of 2026 and asking people to volunteer in their own communities.
so we're hoping that people will go and read books to kids at School or at the library, maybe they might go and paint something at a, you know, battered women's shelter or help in a garden. so it can be, you know, something big, something little, and then of course maybe just donate [00:09:00] $25 to your favorite charity and nonprofit organization.
So that's really, I'm just looking forward to that day. 'cause I just love to give back to our community. And so I think that will be. A really good, good day to have people, you know, out and about in their own communities. again, we've partnered with the state library and we've done an excellent job of creating a monthly book series, and so you can go on our website or onto their website and see.
The, uh, monthly book series that they have. Um, of course this month is Kansas' Birthday Celebration, right? So there's books about how Kansas became a state. Um, these all feature, uh, you know, authors that are from Kansas or anything that talks about Kansas. So, um, we've got an agricultural month that we'll be talking about in one of the book series.
And so it's just a really neat series that, you know, ranges from young children all the way up to adults. Another [00:10:00] challenge for you to accept and try to read one or two books each month. You know how
Gus Applequist: Sydnee works?
Rosa Cavazos: Yeah. That's her
Sydney Collins: motivation.
Rosa Cavazos: Well, I
Sydney Collins: got a new book journal for Christmas there you So I gotta fill it up.
There you go.
Rosa Cavazos: Yeah. All right. So. So those are like big picture things that we are doing, um, and really working hard to get that word out. But you know, we are also pushing the celebrations that each of the communities are doing and each community is doing something different. Mm-hmm. And that's really neat because we don't want everyone to be the same.
We want everyone to come up with what works best for their own communities. So, Ottawa has done a 250 things that you can do in Ottawa. Oh my gosh. Wow. Right. For the entire year.
Sydney Collins: I was trying to
think. The population of Ottawa real quick.
Rosa Cavazos: It's not that big, but
there are a lot of things that you can do.
They have like square dancing one day and a picnic another day, and
Sydney Collins: I'm all for it. Square dancing you
had me in.
Rosa Cavazos: Yeah. There you go. So another challenge or do you know how to do it?
Sydney Collins: I actually, I had a friend shout out [00:11:00] to Kim, one of her birthdays in like fifth or sixth grade was. Learning how to square dance at her church and it was the funnest thing I've ever like.
There you go. Outside the box birthday idea for any parents out there. It
was a lot of fun.
Rosa Cavazos: That's awesome. I think that you have to really listen to the person you do that is doing the instructions.
Sydney Collins: It challenges
your listening skills.
Rosa Cavazos: Yeah. I don't, I, I mean, I like to think I'm a dancer. I don't know if I could.
Do. It's like rubbing your, yeah. You know, your tummy and patting your head your hair at the same time. Yeah. I don't know if I could do that. Um, I
Gus Applequist: know I'm not a dancer, so that,
Rosa Cavazos: that would be a really big challenge. Um, but that's really a cool thing that they put together for you to be able to do something in their community.
you know, junction City is doing a great parade that's happening, during the 4th of July. Uh, Atchison, Kansas is also doing a really cool event. Um, so we're just really hoping that people will get out and. Celebrate, you know? Mm-hmm. Kansans. And do what Kansans do best.
Gus Applequist: Will there be any events at the Capitol [00:12:00] itself?
Uh, for the 250th?
Rosa Cavazos: Yes. Um, so the commission is working on, putting. Something together. Um, and that will be really cool once we get that all done. Um, we have special Kansas, two 50 flags that will be on display and things like that. But the city of Topeka is also doing, a walking tour that will start with the Liberty Bell in front of the new docking building, and we'll go through downtown.
and the capital and the buildings there will also be a part of that. And, and of course, downtown, you know, we're asking communities to light up their buildings, red, white, and blue. Um, for the summer, that would be great. Mm-hmm. Um, we also partnered with, uh, the state of Utah that put together, uh.
Picnic, um, the Great American picnic for everyone on July 5th. So we'll be doing that and asking communities to do something in, on their block mm-hmm. Or at their park, um, or with their nis and, and get together with your friends and family [00:13:00] mm-hmm. And get to know your neighbors type of thing. Um, so that happens July 5th.
We also partnered with Hawaii. they are doing a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Oh, wow. Um, so we will be doing that across the state as well. Um, so there are so many things that you can do, um, just to be able to be a part of it and celebrate, and we're hoping that, you know, people share that with us so we can put it on our website, and that we can help, you know, help people with ideas and flesh things out and, and see what, you know, the commission can really do to help push everything out too.
Gus Applequist: I'm so encouraged that, that the work you guys are doing is going into like community building. here in Salina we have the benefit of of, I mean, we're still benefiting from the last, uh, national. Anniversary, I guess. Uh, 1976 we had the Bicentennial Center that was built in Salina. Mm-hmm. Yes. And then that was the origin of our Smokey Hill River Festival was out of a, a street [00:14:00] fair that mm-hmm.
That happened along those, those times. And so, um, that was really exciting, I think, at time to be in Salina. And, and I hope that, that, that happens again with this anniversary and birthday that, uh, that good things are created across the state and, and we can keep that energy rolling for another, yeah. 250 years.
Rosa Cavazos: Yeah. It's crazy to think that, but everybody does talk about the bicentennial. and so this has just been such a huge honor to be a part of this event and are, you know, they wanna do a time capsule, um, at the capitol and things like that. And, and that's great. And I'm like, ugh, I won't even be alive in 250 years.
So I don't even know what the world is gonna look like then when they. Dig this up, or it's, I don't know, I just keep thinking futuristic things. Mm-hmm. And what that's gonna look like. And they're gonna go, what is that? What, what is a bandana? And do, did people really wear this? And you know, just things like that.
I'm sure that's what people say. Oh goodness. Now for time, capsules that were done, you know, cell phone. What's a [00:15:00] cell phone? What's a cell phone? Yeah. What's a belt? What's. Clearly
Sydney Collins: we're all gonna wear jump seats in 250 years
Rosa Cavazos: and they'll be flying cars and everything and they're like, they had wheels. What is that?
Personal Insights and Volunteering
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Gus Applequist: So do you mind if, if we ask you some personal questions?
Rosa Cavazos: Absolutely.
Gus Applequist: So what, what brought you to this work? Working for the state?
Rosa Cavazos: Oh gosh. Um, so I came from a background of event planning and radio and all of those fun things, and really loved it. Um, I had the opportunity to work on, you know, some different campaigns and events in Topeka, and then this opportunity came open and, Bridget, our boss, she said, Rosa, I think you would be great for this.
And I was like, okay, let's try it. So, um, it's. So fun to work on a state level and to be able to travel across the state and see cities that I probably have never been to. and I love [00:16:00] them, like I love Fort Scott and I love Kingman, and I just love all of the small cities, Concordia, and just being able.
Of course I love Salina. I mean, when you said I was like, cozy Burger, I am in. Um, but you know, it's just so much fun to be able to be part of promoting the state of Kansas and the people in Kansas and letting people know that Kansas is a great hidden gem. So it's, it's just amazing.
Gus Applequist: When you were a kid, did you ever think you would, well, first of all, were you born in Kansas?
Uh, and, and then did you imagine that you would be doing this kind of work?
Rosa Cavazos: No. Uh, yes. I was born in Kansas. I was born and raised in Topeka and I left for college and thought, there's nothing to do here. I'm gonna go, you know, I'm gonna go do my own thing. Um, and so I went to the University of Colorado and loved it.
Moved to California. but family. Always brings you back. Mm-hmm. Um, and I just thought, you know what? I can. [00:17:00] I can raise my kids here. I know they're gonna get a good education. And that's exactly what, you know, I wanted a cost of living is always something that people talk about in Kansas, um, how affordable it is.
it turned out to be great. And then when I had the opportunity to like really create, um, festivals and events mm-hmm. And tell people all the great things that they could see and do, in Topeka and in Kansas, I was like. Why didn't I know this as a kid, you know? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Like how come I didn't pick up more books or something to read what was really happening and all the great things that our state has to offer?
And, so I think about that, but now I have the opportunity to share that with my children and let them really see what. They can do. So they know about shopping local and mm-hmm. You know, what we can do in small cities. And they'll call and go, you know what, mom, what's happening here? And I'm like, oh, let me find out for you.
You know? And so their, their friends all go around kids just Kuhn. [00:18:00] Yes, exactly. Um, I've taken so many of their friends up to the Capitol Dome. Nice. And they love that. They're like, we've never been, and I've lived in Wichita all my life. For, um, you know, I came from California to go to K State and this is so cool and so, so no, it's not anything I ever thought I would do, but telling people like, you can really make Kansas your own and no matter what city you are in.
And so I'm trying to convince, you know, like my nieces and nephews to move out here too, because I think they would love it.
Gus Applequist: There's like a rediscovery that happens as an adult in Kansas. Where like you as a kid, you kind of naively think you know the state really well. Mm-hmm. And you judge it. Right?
Right. And then as an adult you can rediscover it and there's, that's kind of a special process.
Sydney Collins: You mentioned, that you love volunteering and, giving back. What, um, organizations are you involved in?
Rosa Cavazos: Oh gosh. Okay. here's my list. No, I'm just kidding. so I am currently the chair of a national Latino [00:19:00] organization, based outta DC and I've been involved in that for several years now.
love it. I also just got off of the school board for USD 450 in Shawnee Heights. Oh wow. So I served eight years on there and yeah, well, Friday was actually like my last official meeting. Oh wow. Congrats. So crazy. Um, but I love that. Um, I'm also on the ASRA Foundation, um, which is the Vallejo.
Joined together with, another organization and they created the ASRA Foundation. so I'm a board member on there. Um, I volunteer at our, uh, Tensley Gardens. I've been on the board there for, gosh, 10 years, if not longer. I used to be on the community, um, action board as well. Um, but my daughter took a job at the Head Start, so I had to step down so that she could explore her job opportunities.
Um, so there's, that's just a few that I can mm-hmm. Think of. but I love, love to give back in any sort of way that I can. Boy [00:20:00] Scouts, I've done carnival committees, soccer, swim team, all of those things that my kids have been involved in.
Sydney Collins: Can you gimme a little bit more background about the, national organization you're a part of outta dc?
Rosa Cavazos: it's called the mana, um, national Organization for Women. Um, but we have men in there as well, and it's just really promoting, Latina issues, um, at a national level. So I had the wonderful opportunity to, um, go to the United Nations in New York. Oh, wow, wow. Um, while they were convening, it was.
Crazy busy, and security all over. Um, but we were able to receive an award for our work that we did with Latina Equal Payday, and that was amazing to see and to be a part of. Um, so we talk about, you know, women's healthcare and, um, Latinas, specifically women's healthcare. we also, you know, talk about equal payday.
Um, so it's just a really great. Organization to belong to, especially as a Latina, [00:21:00] to know that there's someone else that, um, understands and hears our voices. especially with the farm workers and, you know, immigration issues. Mm-hmm. And so we're really just talking about high level, you know, everyday things that are happening in our world right now and how we can support, you know, our friends and our family and beyond.
Well, how
Gus Applequist: awesome that a kansan is, is bleeding. That's what, that's what's gonna be
Sydney Collins: my next thing is how, how did you find that organization and, and kind of how cool is it that you are part of this national organization and we have a Kansan in there.
Rosa Cavazos: Yeah. it's been around for. 50 years. We just celebrated 50 years last year, which was amazing.
And we had the opportunity to meet the original founders of Oh, that's cool. Monzy. Um, last year in DC and we held this amazing event, at the National Mall. And I got to speak, uh, you know, like right in front of the Washington Monument talking about all of our great issues and about women's healthcare.
Um, and so there's [00:22:00] different chapters throughout the United States. Um, Topeka has a chapter I'm actually working on, uh, founding another chapter, chapter, um, Northeast Kansas, where it will pull together Kansas City, Kansas, and Lawrence and portions of Topeka Oh yeah. To be able to grow it. and so I found it.
Um, it's been great. And then to be able to be part of the national organization is like beyond my dreams and just hearing women's stories from Detroit and San Diego and, you know, Texas and, uh, New Mexico and, and knowing that we all are together, but we're also different and we have different issues in each of our states and how can we support, um, everyone.
And so it's, it's amazing. I've grown so much.
Event Planning Tips and Teamwork
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Rosa Cavazos: That's really cool.
[00:23:00]
Gus Applequist: I enjoy events. I enjoy going to events. I do not enjoy planning events.
Yes. And, so, so what, what is some advice that you can give me?
Rosa Cavazos: Okay. Uh, what
Gus Applequist: can I do better to. Deify, the, the event planning process.
Rosa Cavazos: Make sure that you have a really good team. oh, hey,
Gus Applequist: she's the event planner here. Yes, teamwork is
Rosa Cavazos: definitely the dream work. I was very fortunate to have really good team members, and make sure you have a lot of volunteers.
That's always key. Um, I think those two are great. Look at all the details. And I sometimes am not as detail oriented as I should be, but if you have a really good team and somebody on there is, they can go, Hey, don't forget about this. And I'm like, oh yes, we met her. You know, work on this.
Challenges of Organizing a Large Festival
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Rosa Cavazos: so I created the chocolate festival in Topeka.
Never did I think that we were gonna have 50,000 people [00:24:00] in downtown Topeka. Oh my gosh. in September. And it was very hot. And chocolate. Mel Chocolate melts. Chocolate melted. We had bees. oh my gosh. We had so many people though. We had people flying in from Texas to do like a, a reunion, like an M&M's chocolate reunion.
It was very cool. So it was. Really amazing. but we had a lot of volunteers making sure they were helping with the trash. That's always number one. and helping people understand that. There's it's chocolate, it is gonna melt. People are gonna run out of chocolate. Like you have to be there early because by noon I had so many people run out of chocolate 'cause it just sold.
And so I was like, gosh, I'm so sorry. You know? But we did, we didn't know there was gonna be that many people. Mm-hmm. but. Great volunteers drink lots of water. Um, I think I had, you know, like a mini heat stroke that day. And so make sure that you're taking [00:25:00] care of yourself. That's very important too. but some things you just don't know until you're like in there.
Um, what I thought we were gonna have, you know, 12, maybe 20, chocolate, we were doing ACEC chocolate contest. We had a hundred, we had a hundred chocolate. Things to sample,
Sydney Collins: and that's a lot of c chocolatier in one place. That was a lot.
Rosa Cavazos: I needed to go out into the streets to try to get more judges because I couldn't ask the eight judges to try a hundred things.
Uh, definitely learned something there to be a little bit more prepared with having more judges just in case. Um, but it was amazing. It was an amazing, event and, you know, you just kind of learn and grow, so. Mm-hmm. Good team. Lots of water. and great volunteers are always key.
Sydney Collins: Is there a milk booth at this?
I feel like there needs to be like a dairy vault because I feel like the one thing that I always want with chocolate is a big glass of milk. Yeah. But maybe that just is me. There
Rosa Cavazos: you go.
Chocolate milk. Yeah. Oh yeah. Chocolate milk. There you go.
Sydney Collins: And [00:26:00] then that just goes and. To the, shoot. Sorry. I am going off the rails here.
These are the intrusive, intrusive thoughts that Sydnee has. What's that scene from, Napoleon Dynamite where he is testing the milk?
Gus Applequist: I kind of remember
Sydney Collins: that. You remember that? Anyway, he's like, ah, goats milk, or This got, this one. Tastes like mm-hmm. He ate raw grass or something. Anyway,
Unique Challenges of Planning for the 250th Anniversary
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Gus Applequist: What makes planning for the 250th a unique challenge for you all? Mm
Rosa Cavazos: there are so many things happening [00:27:00] across the nation. being able to go to DC and meet with all of the delegates, from.
Across the country has been incredible and so many people have. Great ideas that you wanna incorporate all of these things. but what works for Alaska is not gonna work for Kansas. And, uh, us fishing, you know, salmon Gragg, yes. What works for Boston definitely does not always work for us. Um, so being able to tweak those events, but just listening to everyone's passion about what they are doing, is An incredible experience and you know, just saying, oh, I'm gonna call up, you know, the person who's in charge of America two 50 and saying, Hey, I need some help, or some advice, is like crazy. Like I'm just this little Kansas girl who's doing these things and it's. It's amazing, you know, like you've just met some amazing people who love their states, [00:28:00] who are doing incredible things and you have this great connection with them.
And, you know, the first year I went to DC to hear everything that was going on was very different than the second year. Different administration. It's nonpartisan. Um, so hearing everybody's voices. but like I was almost like girl fanning out when I'm, and I'm like, I talk to these people on a regular basis, but like, I'm actually seeing you in person and you're alive and uh, and I get to pick your brain and we can collaborate on things.
Um, so it's really cool just to do that and then to be able to come up with ideas and how we can. Celebrate in Kansas. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, we're working with Boot Hill Distillery, I didn't even tell you this, um, to come up with a collection, of, you know, bourbon that they are doing. Right. And, you know, that's really cool.
And, you know, telling Kentucky like, Hey, we're also doing a bourbon. And he's like, you guys make bourbon. And I'm like, I am darn proud that we do. [00:29:00] You are right. We can. Um, and so it's really neat to see how many of us. Are just really doing the same thing. Mm-hmm. Just in different ways, but then tweaking what they had, what some of the states have, do you know what they're doing?
And as their celebration, and especially the first 13 colonies compared to California, right. We have to be different. Um, and we're right in the middle and how do we celebrate? Um, so it's been, it's been great, creative and challenging all at once. Did I answer that correctly? I think I kind of went off on this tangent for a little bit, so I apologize.
This is what we're about. Yeah.
Sydney Collins: Tangents how, how we get our best content. you've been planning this for, what, two years? Probably more than that. how does it feel to finally be. In it.
Rosa Cavazos: January hit, it's now two 50. I know. Um, we had a countdown, you know, our group had a countdown and we were like, all right, it's, it's 24 hours away.
it [00:30:00] feels amazing. Like it feels so good to be able to have. Things that are happening instead of just talking about, well, this is coming up, this is coming up. And it's like, no, we're here. You can go do this and this and buy this. And, and so it feels really cool to like be in the moment and, know that this is gonna be a whole year of events that are happening.
It's not just July 4th, which is what a lot of people thought. We were only gonna celebrate. But you know, as Kansans, we're gonna be strong and we're gonna celebrate all year long. And, Do multiple things throughout the year, and I'm just excited to see what happens. So where people go from here.
Gus Applequist: Is there a resource, a website or something that people can see all the different things that are gonna happen?
Rosa Cavazos: Yes, of course. America, two 50 ks.com. Okay. Yep. So you can buy a merchandise. Um, yeah. I'm loving
Sydney Collins: that shirt. I
Rosa Cavazos: know, isn't it the cutest? We also have a little semi quin bison that you can take on the road with you. He has his own little Instagram hashtag. [00:31:00] Okay. That's cute. And um, you can take him around.
Take photos of him throughout Kansas. Even if you're going somewhere else, take a photo, post it on our Instagram. Uh, the Watkins Museum in Lawrence, they're actually doing hide the semi quins, so they're doing a whole scavenger hunt, uh, with him, which is so cute. What is, what is semi, semi, semi Quin? It's
Sydney Collins: the 250.
It's like semi uh, Quinn. Tenal. Yes,
Rosa Cavazos: that's it.
Sydney Collins: So they, so they
Rosa Cavazos: named the, okay.
Gus Applequist: Sorry. I'm Buffalo Quin driver here. No, you're good. It's okay.
Rosa Cavazos: No, probably nobody knows that. Um, but yeah, semi Quinn, the bison. Um, and so we had an artist from Wichita who actually drew little semi Quinn and then we took that and, um, ran with it to get the bison and the little neckerchief that has our Kansas two 50 logo on it.
We have to get
Sydney Collins: Tanner, a semi Quin to take with him. This, he's, he's, he's already on the website. [00:32:00] Tanner travels around, um, the state and does photojournalism. So we're like, well, that's kind of perfect. Yes, absolutely.
Rosa Cavazos: Take photos with him everywhere you go, like through the Flint tills and any of the museums and things.
Absolutely. And then post.
Gus Applequist: I don't let anyone escape without asking at least one kind of deep question. Okay. So here comes my deep question.
Celebrating Kansas' Heritage and Diversity
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Gus Applequist: Okay. so as a, um, event planner, as a Latina, as a, um, a Kansan, how, how are you thinking personally about 250 years of America?
Rosa Cavazos: That's a great question. Um, when I first came into it.
I felt a little challenged, because of just what's happening in the world. And so I felt a little challenged. and I have to remind myself that this is a nonpartisan and that we are here to celebrate everything that has been accomplished. Um, everything that. Has made Kansas, [00:33:00] Kansas and how resilient our people have been.
I think of my grandfather, you know, working at Frito-Lay and coming home and making sure there was food on the table and how resilient he was. how. The Latinos in our community really set their roots down. we celebrated, you know, 92 years of our Mexican Fiesta, so Fiesta Topeka, which is amazing.
and something that the Latino community did in Topeka. I know there are other communities that also have a fiesta as well. so really celebrating what. My family has done, what the Latinos have done for Kansas and, how strong they are to be able to be working, being farmers, helping produce our food.
That's really been what my pride has been about. So, not thinking of it as all, as any single party, but really just thinking about [00:34:00] what my family has done. And we're encouraging people to share those stories on our website. We want people to tell us. Hey, my grandfather was the first African American to graduate from law school in, you know, in Topeka or in Lawrence, or, you know, my family was the first African American to have owned land here, or something like that.
Tell us your history and let's celebrate those struggles that you and your family for generations have gone through, and let's lift them up. So that's really what I have been thinking about is. Just how Kansans have come together and have made it such an incredible place to live.
Sydney Collins: Wow. What a great answer.
That was a great answer.
Gus Applequist: There's a phrase that comes to mind and I'm, I'm probably not getting it quite right, but we are the dreams of our ancestors. You know, that like, like we stand on the backs of everyone who came before us. Absolutely. And so, yeah, what a great time to think about [00:35:00] that and reflect on it and take that energy into the next quarter millennia.
Rosa Cavazos: That's amazing. That is a great thing to think about. Absolutely.
Sydney Collins: Well, thank you for joining us today. Thanks for making the trip. That's awesome.
Rosa Cavazos: Thank you. I appreciate it. Appreciate it. Absolutely. I'm ready to go get a burger. So
Gus Applequist: thanks for joining us for
Sydney Collins: that conversation with Rosa.
Gus Applequist: Yeah, it was a great, great time. There's, I, I found with every one of our guests there's surprises. Oh yeah. Things. Oh yeah. We didn't know about them going in. Mm-hmm. And, uh, yeah, it was great to to know we've got a [00:36:00] Kansan, uh, working in a national organization like that.
Sydney Collins: Mm-hmm.
Gus Applequist: Um, and yeah, I had no idea the chocolate thing in Topeka was so big,
Sydney Collins: which. I really wanna go to now. Oh yeah. And just bring my own thing of milk.
Gus Applequist: Like a milk back. You could fill up one of those camel packs with milk.
Sydney Collins: I feel like it would get hot really fast.
Gus Applequist: I mean, it's a selling point.
Sydney Collins: Just thinking of all the bacteria growing in that camel camelback now.
Yeah. Yeah. And how to clean that out.
Gus Applequist: Yeah. Milk's probably not the way with Rosa Wine. Yes. Rosa was really great and, and I appreciate her. She, she kind of came in and filled a slot for us, which was really Yeah. Appreciated and I thought she did a great job of just covering what was happening. Mm-hmm. And, um, hope you have a chance to check out some of those events coming up.
Sydney Collins: Yep. Okay,
Exploring Waldo, Kansas
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Gus Applequist: so I have a segment for you today.
Sydney Collins: Love it. We're in the, I see it. Where's Waldo? Down there. In the corner there. Yeah. It's
Gus Applequist: uh, it's time for wearing in the rectangle and today's town comes with a name that immediately puts pressure on us. this is a town that has been practically begging for us to find it [00:37:00] on wearing the rectangle.
Welcome to Waldo, Kansas. I'm gonna start with, uh, the towns newspaper. Could you go to the next slide there? Waldo
Sydney Collins: Kansas. Waldo Kansas.
Gus Applequist: That's a place that is a place. I thought this was pretty great. This is from the newspaper entitled Waldo New Era. Uh, and this is from like 1906, I think, super long time ago.
Was there New Year's you really dug for this one paper? Okay. So, um, yeah. So Waldo, uh, you know, had had actually several newspapers, uh, over its lifetime. Uh, the Waldo Advocate, the Waldo Enterprise, and the Waldo New era, uh, which new era I just think is such a great name. Um, and so yeah, Waldo Waldo was a town of about 300 people.
Now it's, it's dwindled some. Okay. But, um, we're gonna go into the next slide there, Melin. So, so this image, I think, tells you a lot about the kind of place that Waldo is. Um, uh, when they started buying cars in Waldo, there [00:38:00] weren't garages yet. And so this one guy basically just tore out the inside of a house and, and then let everybody store their cars there.
So. Okay, I'm kind of meandering today. Walter was founded in 1888 during the wall, sorry, during the railroad era of Kansas settlement where, uh, the railroad would actually buy land and then set up towns every 10 or 11 miles right, all the way across the state. Um, and that way they could, you know, establish farm steads there and then ship wheat, cattle and crops across the country.
Um, it grew quickly. Uh, they had a depot and they had elevators, a few businesses, farms all around, and like I said, three newspapers. But, um, over time, you know, rail faded, agriculture consolidated and the population declined. Um, but it never vanished. It's still there. Uh, let's go to the next slide there, please.
Oh, yeah. Uh, sorry I had to point this out. Kind of in the town's heyday, they even had a chatauqua, which my family is big [00:39:00] into chatauqua as a thing. Um, this is like the adult education movement.
Sydney Collins: Oh. And so they
Gus Applequist: had a, basically like an intellectual fair, um, where uh, they had speakers and performers and all sorts of stuff.
Sydney Collins: It was Ted talk before Ted Talk.
Gus Applequist: Yeah, yeah, exactly. Okay, got it. Um, and this was in an era where adults. Many of them didn't graduate high school and stuff. So yeah. So this is like the coolest thing I could find in the newspapers.com relating to Walder.
Sydney Collins: This was the coolest thing.
Gus Applequist: Okay. I didn't have that much time to look.
There's probably cool of them. Um, but uh, so yeah, go on to the next slide please. So Tanner was actually in Waldo not that long ago and he took some pictures for us. Um, it is pretty quiet these days. There's only about 30 residents, um, but it's still, still around and still part of Kansas' rural fabric. Um, are those hay.
I believe so. Hay bills. Okay.
Sydney Collins: Green of black. Okay,
Where's Waldo?
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Gus Applequist: so now the question stands While Waldo Kansas was named after a [00:40:00] railroad executive, are they aware of the famous book series and the similarity between their pro, between its protagonist's name and the name of their town? Before we get to that, let's do just a little bit of background on where's Waldo a next slide please.
So the beloved red and white striped Bess Spectacle, Bess spectacle character was created by English Illustrator Martin Hanford in 1978. As of 2007, which is admittedly a long time ago, more than 73 million wears Waldo books have been sold around the world. Uh, the series has now been translated into 26 languages, which I don't, which is hilarious
Sydney Collins: because it's literally find Waldo.
Gus Applequist: Right, right, I agree. Um, and it's, it's been sold in over 50 countries. And did you know that in England, he's not called Waldo? He's called Wally.
Sydney Collins: Makes sense. It's more English.
Gus Applequist: Yeah. Yeah. So are the good Well then
Sydney Collins: if he is Wally in England, if he's been [00:41:00] translated into how many different. Languages.
Gus Applequist: Uh, 26.
Sydney Collins: What's he in other countries then? Is he Waldorf and Germany? Is he.
Gus Applequist: That's presumably, that's a good question. Okay. I didn't do that research, so I apologies.
Sydney Collins: I'm assuming that's a German name. I just threw that out there.
Gus Applequist: Anyway, so are the good people of Waldo aware of this connection with Where's Waldo?
Of course. They're next picture please. Uh, Waldo is, is right there, there in the city park. Um. So he's
Sydney Collins: not responsible for any accidents or injuries, so according to that picture.
Gus Applequist: Alright, Sydnee, we've looked closely, we still haven't said where this town is, so now I have to ask, oh goodness. Where's Waldo?
Where's
Sydney Collins: Waldo? Um, can I get the map again?
Because part of me is like, we have Wyndham, Wyndham's, and McPherson.
Gus Applequist: We all know that that's how we choose the town names is whether they rhyme with other or iterate
Sydney Collins: with they. They do. Wallace, I'm gonna go [00:42:00] Wallace County 'cause Wallace and Waldo makes sense to me.
Gus Applequist: That's not a bad guess, but it is unfortunately incorrect.
It is in Russell County. Oh
Sydney Collins: wow. It's right next door. Yeah,
Gus Applequist: yeah, right there. So now I'm gonna test your perception, Sydnee.
Sydney Collins: Oh no. Did
Gus Applequist: you notice that there was a Waldo in every single slide in this presentation?
Sydney Collins: Obviously one there.
Gus Applequist: Uhhuh,
Sydney Collins: obviously there's one there. I did notice that guy by the, all the way in the background.
Gus Applequist: On the right.
Sydney Collins: On the right. Yeah. Uhhuh. I did notice that guy. Okay. Is there a Waldo?
Gus Applequist: There sure is a Waldo.
Sydney Collins: Where is he? I know this is
Gus Applequist: riveting. Podcasting. Watching. If you would like to check out, uh, this, this presentation? Yeah. We'll, we'll post these slides. You can go find Waldo in each of these. Yeah. Look. Look by the harp. Sydnee Oh, that's just, and go back one more. He was just standing there. Oh, there he is.
He's right there. I had [00:43:00] way too much fun creating this guys.
Conclusion and Farewell
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Gus Applequist: Um, okay, well that brings us to the end of another episode of Ask A Kansan.
Sydney Collins: Oh, okay. Yeah, I did see him up there. I did see that one.
Gus Applequist: Thank you for turning into another episode of Ask a Kansan. Hope you enjoyed today's episode.
Sydney Collins: Yep. Uh, as usual, please make sure to like and subscribe.
Um, list, uh, if you're listening, leave us a review on whatever platform, um, you are listening from.
Gus Applequist: Check out Curious Kansan Newsletter on our website.
Sydney Collins: Ask a kansan.com. Yeah.
Gus Applequist: And uh, thanks for tuning in.