Sunflower Journeys 2002 Season

Pgm. #1501 -- “Festivals & Celebrations” In honor of its 15^th Anniversary, the first episode of Sunflower Journeys features three Kansas celebrations. The show starts off with a trip to Prairiesta in Russell, a festival so big it only happens every ten years. Next, viewers can soak up some Swedish culture in Lindsborg at Svensk Hyllningsfest and finally, celebrate the 30^th anniversary of Riverfest in Wichita. More...

Pgm. #1502 -- “Small Towns & Rural Communities”
Sunflower Journeys takes viewers to Delphos to explore the continuing role of farming cooperatives then visits Leoti, where residents put on their own homegrown carnival. Finally, it’s the story of Nobel Prize winner Jack Kilby, a native of Great Bend who invented the microchip. More...

Pgm. #1503 -- “Rural Schools & Changing Times”
Sunflower Journeys explores the history of one-room schoolhouses with Emporia author Bill Samuelson. Next is a visit to the Greenbush Education Service Center to sample some high-tech learning. The final story is a glimpse into the culture and community of eight-man football near Norton. More...

Pgm. #1504 -- “Teaching Methods & Learning Styles”
Continuing its look at education, Sunflower Journeys examines Kansas’ new state curriculum standards, sees what it takes to be an effective principal or teacher and finally, learns why some Kansans choose to home school their children. More...

Pgm. #1505 -- “Maintaining Ecosystems”
Sunflower Journeys sees how attitudes and practices have changed regarding the McPherson Valley Wetlands, then learns why cattlemen and environmentalists are coming together to preserve the Tallgrass Prairie and explores the controversy surrounding the Ogallala Aquifer. More...

Pgm. #1506 -- “Houses & Homes”
Exploring three new ways Kansans are choosing to live, Sunflower Journeys looks at homes built from straw bales, downtown lofts in places like Salina and Emporia and a new form of suburban development in Lawrence and Lecompton. More...

Pgm. #1507 -- “Fast Food and Hometown Restaurants”
"Food" is the topic of the next Sunflower Journeys, as KTWU's locally produced TV series delves into three separate dining experiences in Kansas including the Harvey House, the Pizza Hut story, and Chicken Annie's/Chicken Mary's. More...

Pgm. #1508 -- “Social Welfare & Community Health”
Sunflower Journeys explores how local governments once dealt with poverty with a look at county poor farms in Kansas, learns about the history of the Security Benefit Association, and examines Cornerstone of Topeka, an organization that helps families move from the streets into affordable housing. More...

Pgm. #1509 -- “Plants & Potions”
Sunflower Journeys looks at three Kansas alternatives to traditional Western medicine. First we explore the history of the patent medicine industry and some of the concoctions that helped to build a fortune for the Seelye family, then we venture out onto the prairie to learn about native medicinal plants of Kansas and finally, look at ways homeopathy and herbal remedies are used today. More...

Pgm. #1510 -- “Preservation and Restoration”
Sunflower Journeys explores ways Kansans choose to preserve their roots with a look at the Ritchie House of Topeka, then we travel to McPherson, Kansas, where business owners are working to remove the metal storefronts, and finally, talk with retiring Kansas State Historical Society director Ramon Powers about the state of preservation in Kansas. More...

Pgm. #1511 -- “Celluloid & Canvas”
Oscar Micheaux is the subject of the first story. Micheaux was recently honored with a film festival in Great Bend, where he is buried. The second story features a look at young filmmakers in Kansas at the KAN Film Festival in Lawrence. In the final story, photographer James Nedresky and painter Louis Copt head for the prairie together to see how each artist captures the essence and the beauty of the Flint Hills region. More...

Pgm. #1512 -- “Culture & Traditions”
Sunflower Journeys explores cultures and traditions, first with a glimpse into Topeka's Irish-American community. Next, we go along on the Wheat State Whirlwind Tour which introduces new KU faculty to the diverse cultures and landscapes of Kansas. Then we head to Liberal, Kansas for the annual Pancake Races. More...

Pgm. #1513 -- “Cars & Drivers”
Sunflower Journeys looks at Kansan's love of the automobile In the first story, we visit McPherson College, home to the only automobile restoration academic program in the nation. Then, we visit Kansas' newest auto-attraction, the Kansas Speedway. The final story looks to the future of automobiles as we talk with engineering students at Kansas State University who are designing, building and racing solar cars. More...