An active mind . . .
Pennie Alexander has experimented with many different art forms over the years, from weaving to sculpting to gourd carving. The carved gourd she is holding, called Cron, took some 70 hours to carve. Pennie has been carving gourds for about 30 years.Pennie Alexander has had an interest in art all of her life. She has been drawing and sculpting since she was a little girl.
"I had to keep my hands busy all of the time," she said.
The ancient sport of falconry
Photo by Pat Sunderland Justin Lilly works with both abatement birds and hunting birds, like Wilson, the 3-year-old gyr peregrine pictured with Justin above.At the age of 25, Justin Lilly is one of the youngest master falconers in the country. From a young age, Justin was captivated by the sight of hawks soaring effortlessly overhead and eagles swooping down into the Gunnison River to catch fish.
Roots run deep
Photos courtesy the Fairlamb family This family portrait was taken in the 1930s while the Fairlamb family rented a house in warm California for a vacation from the winter cold of Colorado. Pictured are, top row, Millard and Charles Fairlamb with Stella Fairlamb in front of Millard, and Ethel Fairlamb in front of Stella. In front are Lale Fairlamb, an unidentified Schuyler relative, Charlotte Fairlamb, and another unidentified Schuyler relative.The Fairlamb generations have held forth in the United States for 313 years. The first record of a Fairlamb in the U. S. indicates Nicholas Fairlamb came to the U.S. in 1700 from Farlam, England.
Grinding towards success
Photos by Hank Lohmeyer A conveyor piles up mountains of ground aspen bark used and marketed as quality cattle feed by brothers Kirt and Keith Mautz of Olathe.Kirt and Keith Mautz are brothers and graduates of Olathe High School who have harnessed the American free enterprise spirit to build their Olathe feedlot operation into a busy hub of local resource use and innovation.
The brothers, who are in partnership in the Banner Road operation with their mom, Penney, have branched out from the feedlot into composting, custom grinding and feed mixing, and another experimental enterprise – biochar.
A renaissance girl looks at life at age 12
Photos by Tamie Meck Ayla Bristow, who started painting at age 11, shows off a recent painting. Bristow isn’t afraid to try anything new. She writes and sings and recently started playing clarinet. The first time Ayla Bristow tried her hand at painting, she uncovered a hidden talent. With her first strokes she created a series of snow-capped peaks under an early-morning sky.
