5 Oct 2026
Reimagining Rural with Kansas Sampler Foundation’s Simone Elder | Choosing Rural Kansas
Ever wonder what keeps a small town alive when the world seems to be pulling people toward the cities? Simone Elder grew up on a family farm in Atwood, started doing economic development work in high school, and now leads an organization devoted to making sure rural Kansas doesn't just survive — it thrives.
As the new executive director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, she stepped into the role once held by the legendary Marci Penner and is bringing her own western Kansas perspective, entrepreneurial background, and a whole lot of what she calls "Kansas rizz" to the job. We talk about the Power Up movement — a network of 21-to-39-year-olds choosing rural by choice — what communities need to keep young families around (it turns out sidewalks and salads matter a lot), the eight rural cultural elements that help towns see themselves differently, and why Simone believes the best thing you can do when the doom and gloom gets heavy is walk out your front door and get involved in the community right there around you. Plus, Sydney's Halloween costume saga and a new dart throw that lands us in Rooks County.
Highlights
Sydney's mom made every Halloween costume growing up — including a monster suit built from dyed green mop heads — and Sydney is keeping the tradition alive with an increasingly specific vampire bat queen costume for daughter Madeline
Thrift stores in McPherson delivered $35 worth of Gothic vampire jewelry that would have cost $75 on Amazon
Simone got her start in economic development through a youth board program called YCIP (Youth Community Improvement Program) in Rawlins County, which invited high schoolers to answer "What do you want to see in our community?"
The Power Up and Go report surveyed nearly 500 Kansans aged 21–39 and found they want basics: fresh food, sidewalks to push strollers on, and a place at the table where their ideas aren't dismissed with "we tried that before"
Simone's mailbox initiative in Wichita County gave graduating seniors a literal mailbox with their name on it as an invitation to come home — and some of them did, starting businesses in Leoti
The eight rural cultural elements — art, architecture, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history, and people — give communities a framework to see what they already have
Kansas has 625 incorporated cities, and about 75% of them have populations of 1,500 or less
Elkhart, Kansas (Morton County) is closer to three other state capitals than it is to Topeka
A young man in LeRoy, Kansas bought an old downtown building, repointed the brickwork himself, turned it into an Airbnb, and has a vision for a walking trail tied to local history
Simone's car wouldn't restart at Point of Rocks in the Cimarron National Grassland — no cell service, just her and the pioneer spirit
A new term for the movement: "Rural Curious" — urban dwellers who show up to rural programming because they want to understand and connect
Dartography lands in Rooks County for next time — home of Stockton and some of Gus and his wife's favorite people
Chapters
0:00 — Homemade Halloween Roots
1:59 — Thrifting Gothic Jewelry
3:54 — Guest Intro
5:02 — Simone's Career Path
7:45 — Why Western Kansas Matters
10:36 — Choosing Rural Power Ups
16:05 — Taking Over After Marci
20:08 — Bridging Statewide Networks
22:19 — Gumption and Cultural Elements
24:23 — Programs Kansas Sampler Offers
27:20 — Power Ups Future
28:31 — Team On The Road
29:52 — Message To Rural Expatriates
31:46 — Rural Curious And Coming Home
32:58 — LeRoy Main Street Revival
34:34 — Point Of Rocks Adventure
36:12 — Support Kansas Sampler
37:13 — Host Reflections And Hope
38:54 — Dartography
43:16 — New Dart Throw: Rooks County
44:18 — Stories From A Hat
49:10 — Wrap Up And Credits
Resources Mentioned
Kansas Sampler Foundation (https://kansassampler.org/)
Kansas Guidebook (https://www.kansasguidebook.org/)
Network Kansas (https://www.networkkansas.com/)
Fili Creative (https://filicreative.com/)
Forge Podcast (https://www.forgepodcast.co/)
Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com (https://www.askakansan.com/)!
This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
(http://ictpod.net)
