Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Karly Frederick, Kansas Sampler
At a glance: Karly Frederick grew up in rural Kansas and greatly appreciated the Kansas Sampler Foundation, which she now serves as program manager of the WeKan network. Among other things, she is helping with the foundation’s latest project -- an online guidebook of Kansas communities.
More information: Ron Wilson, rwilson@ksu.edu, 785-532-7690
Photos: Ron Wilson | Karly Frederick
Website: Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development
July 22, 2026
By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University
Can we preserve and sustain rural culture? Can we educate about Kansas and network with rural communities? Can our communities build on the elements of rural culture to be the best that they can be?
These are the goals of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, founded by rockstar rural champion Marci Penner in 1993 and continuing with new leadership in 2026.
Penner loves rural Kansas. As we have described before, she grew up in Inman. She and her father, Mil, published a Kansas guidebook in 1990, which led to the creation of the non-profit Kansas Sampler Foundation that provides people with a sample of things to see, do, hear, taste, buy and learn in Kansas.
Penner (and, since 2006, assistant foundation director Wendee Rowe) led the organization to new heights. They launched the Kansas Sampler Festival, the Kansas Explorers Club, the 8 Wonders of Kansas, the Big Kansas Road Trip, the Kansas Guidebook for Explorers, the Big Rural Brainstorm, the WeKan network, and more.
Along the way they initiated the PowerUp movement and the concept of Rural By Choice.
In preparation for a second edition book (Kansas Guidebook 2 which was published in 2017) Penner visited every single one of the 626 cities in Kansas. Every. Single. One.
In December 2025, Penner transitioned to become the foundation’s director emeritus. The new executive director is Simone Elder, who grew up in Atwood and now lives on a farm with her husband near Leoti.
Other new members of the Kansas Sampler Foundation leadership team include Monica Frye, the Explore Kansas program manager, and WeKan! program manager Karly Frederick, who provided this update.
At right: Karly Frederick | Download this photo
Frederick also has a deep commitment to rural life. She grew up on a farm near the rural community of Alden, population 122 people. Now, that’s rural.
Frederick went to high school at Sterling, college at Kansas State University, and worked in agribusiness before becoming director of the Rice County Community Foundation. She graduated from the KARL program. She also earned a master’s degree in Leadership for Rural Sustainable Development from the University of Belfast in northern Ireland. “It was a great experience,” Frederick said.
“I got involved with the Kansas Sampler Foundation because they do a really good job of recognizing the do-ers in rural communities,” she added. “Marci brought me into the organization’s support network and it was a great fit to move into this position. I love Marci and Wendee and Simone.”
The WeKan! conference is held every other year. Frederick also produces the WeKan! Tidbits newsletter, distributed by email.
In May 2026, the foundation launched a digital version of the guidebook. It is called the Online Kansas Guidebook and can be accessed at www.kansasguidebook.org. Those who join the Kansas Explorers Club have access to additional tools, such as a customized trip planner, which draws on content from more than 5,000 places and more than 18,000 photos.
“We are in the process of visiting every town and county in Kansas to get updates,” Frederick said. “I got to travel with Marci on one trip and see the Marci magic first-hand.”
Frederick was encouraged to visit the city clerks in these towns and found she really enjoyed that. “They have a wonderful pulse on the grassroots in their communities,” Frederick said.
Frederick sees the big picture of the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s commitment to rural life. “It’s not nostalgia about the old days of rural Kansas,” Frederick said. “We take a future-focused, positivity-focused approach to rural communities.”
“It’s like the concept of neighborism, of being a good neighbor. I encourage people to start small, like having a potluck with the neighbors, and build the positive vibe in their communities.”
For more information, see www.kansassampler.org.
Back to our original question: Can we preserve and sustain rural culture? The Kansas Sampler Foundation is working to do so.
We commend Marci Penner, Wendee Rowe, Simone Elder, Monica Frye, Karly Frederick, the board members and all those involved with the Foundation for making a difference in rural Kansas
Can we help rural communities help themselves? We Kan.
Audio and text files of Kansas Profiles are available at www.huckboydinstitute.org/kansas-profiles. For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit www.huckboydinstitute.org.
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K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the wellbeing of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.