Frenching fries and farming wind in Kansas
Hello, everyone!
I may have told some of you that I was heading for the Flint Hills in Butler County, Kansas. I have a deep interest in alternative energy development programs. Even better for me than development are projects that put what we know into practice. It was with that in mind that I traveled to Beaumont, Kansas to take a first hand look at the one-hundred wind turbine installation on the Farrell Ranch, just five miles south of town. That installation is a model of what can be done with current technology (funky little play on words there) and points the way for future development.
My good buddy, Huddie Ledbetter, joined me in Beaumont. Huddie is one of those multi-talented people: he is an excellent musician - plays the twelve string guitar like a low-down angel; he is a photographer - his photo of the Farrell Ranch wind power installation is appended; he is a semi-professional motorcycle rider; he is a hot-rock pilot; he is a licensed Mississippi and Missouri river boat captain. He has a special nickname which fits him completely: "Leadbelly". I suppose that name was given him because of the fact that he can eat anything in copious quantities and never gain a pound. I've attached a photo of Huddie. I guess I've known him so long that I tend to call him by his first name because it just seems to fit the man.
One of Leadbelly's favorite foods is fresh cut French fries. When he is about to order a steak or a cheeseburger he always asks if the cafe cuts fresh French fries or if they use those horrible frozen sticks. He just does nip ups if the server says they have fresh fries. That's a pretty good trick for a sixty-year old, six feet tall, 230 pound man. But when Leadbelly is happy, he is ecstatic!
So Huddie and I stayed at The Beaumont Hotel and I have to say that the rooms are very comfortable and, best of all, the cafe serves fresh cut French fries. When the innkeeper answered in the affirmative to Huddie's ever hopeful question I doubt I've seen a happier man. He just looked at the innkeeper and said "My cup runneth over and sloppeth onto the ground."
The Beaumont Hotel is unique, not because it resides in a place that is nearly a ghost town, but because it caters to aircraft pilots from all over the country. Planes land on a strip on the east edge of town and then taxi along a street to the hotel. As many as eight aircraft can be seen at breakfast or lunch. Nice place to stay and eat. http://www.hotelbeaumontks.com/
I enjoyed this trip so much that I almost hate to move on. But I need to head north here to take a look at some of the rest of the Flint Hills. I think there are many financial opportunities here. I need to check further, though, because aside from some coffee acreage I own in my mother's native land of Costa Rica I've never really considered looking into agricultural investment. I suppose that may have to do with my distaste for taking advantage of some hard-working farmer or rancher. What I am looking for is something that will benefit the farmer as much as the investor - like I did in Costa Rica.
Ben, this post is taking too long and unless I stop now it could take the rest of the day. I'm closing with one of Huddie's photographs of the Beaumont wind farm.
Cheers!
M
I may have told some of you that I was heading for the Flint Hills in Butler County, Kansas. I have a deep interest in alternative energy development programs. Even better for me than development are projects that put what we know into practice. It was with that in mind that I traveled to Beaumont, Kansas to take a first hand look at the one-hundred wind turbine installation on the Farrell Ranch, just five miles south of town. That installation is a model of what can be done with current technology (funky little play on words there) and points the way for future development.
My good buddy, Huddie Ledbetter, joined me in Beaumont. Huddie is one of those multi-talented people: he is an excellent musician - plays the twelve string guitar like a low-down angel; he is a photographer - his photo of the Farrell Ranch wind power installation is appended; he is a semi-professional motorcycle rider; he is a hot-rock pilot; he is a licensed Mississippi and Missouri river boat captain. He has a special nickname which fits him completely: "Leadbelly". I suppose that name was given him because of the fact that he can eat anything in copious quantities and never gain a pound. I've attached a photo of Huddie. I guess I've known him so long that I tend to call him by his first name because it just seems to fit the man.
One of Leadbelly's favorite foods is fresh cut French fries. When he is about to order a steak or a cheeseburger he always asks if the cafe cuts fresh French fries or if they use those horrible frozen sticks. He just does nip ups if the server says they have fresh fries. That's a pretty good trick for a sixty-year old, six feet tall, 230 pound man. But when Leadbelly is happy, he is ecstatic!
So Huddie and I stayed at The Beaumont Hotel and I have to say that the rooms are very comfortable and, best of all, the cafe serves fresh cut French fries. When the innkeeper answered in the affirmative to Huddie's ever hopeful question I doubt I've seen a happier man. He just looked at the innkeeper and said "My cup runneth over and sloppeth onto the ground."
The Beaumont Hotel is unique, not because it resides in a place that is nearly a ghost town, but because it caters to aircraft pilots from all over the country. Planes land on a strip on the east edge of town and then taxi along a street to the hotel. As many as eight aircraft can be seen at breakfast or lunch. Nice place to stay and eat. http://www.hotelbeaumontks.com/
I enjoyed this trip so much that I almost hate to move on. But I need to head north here to take a look at some of the rest of the Flint Hills. I think there are many financial opportunities here. I need to check further, though, because aside from some coffee acreage I own in my mother's native land of Costa Rica I've never really considered looking into agricultural investment. I suppose that may have to do with my distaste for taking advantage of some hard-working farmer or rancher. What I am looking for is something that will benefit the farmer as much as the investor - like I did in Costa Rica.
Ben, this post is taking too long and unless I stop now it could take the rest of the day. I'm closing with one of Huddie's photographs of the Beaumont wind farm.
Cheers!
M
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