On Kansas roads less traveled, reassuring glimpses of rural communities standing strong

Driving through small towns of rural Kansas brings both wistfulness and hope for our columnist. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)

Like many of us I use the interstate highways for trips, although as I have gotten older I often take the roads less traveled — personally and professionally.

In a recent instance, I could have taken the easy way and traveled via Interstate 70, leaving that road at Exit 209. But I chose the other way. These journeys usually bring to mind William Least Heat Moon’s classic from the 1980s — “Blue Highways.” For the past 23 years, I have, without fail, taken those blue highways every August for a journey that is intensely personal.

On that journey, all the distractions of modern life are set aside.

That journey is to my father’s grave. I typically go there on each anniversary of his passing, in August. It is in the cemetery where many members of his part of my family have their final resting place. And that place is Tipton, in northern Kansas. It has a population of fewer than 200 people.

Along the way, there are many small towns. In some, it would be fair to say that time seems to have stood still. That reflects the changing economics of farming, as well as the lure of the bright lights of the cities. Social media promises a life better than whatever a user may have today, and increasing numbers of young people have fallen into that trap.

But with age comes perspective. My heart, not some app on my phone, guides my journey.

It is difficult to watch the decline of some small towns through which I pass on this annual journey. Main streets that were once the center of activity in the town and in the county have become shadows of their former selves.

Schools have consolidated, and the evolution of grain marketing options has led to the closure of decades-old grain elevators, along with the rail lines that once served them. Broad economic trends have affected the ability of locally owned and operated stores to remain viable.

But all is not all doom and gloom. As the saying goes, where there is a will, there is a way. Tipton has shown that will.

The main street has a grocery store, a bank and several other businesses, along with a community center and a facility that is part of a large agricultural machinery manufacturer. The Catholic church and school are well-maintained buildings that have served as silent witnesses to many events over the decades. Many farms in the area around Tipton reflect the sense of pride evident in the town.

The cemetery has a few hundred graves. It brings to mind tales of the pioneers who came to this area from other regions and who endured hardships while they established farms and ranches. Those folks had a strong work ethic and a code of conduct that others — especially in this day and age — would do well to emulate.

As I said above, this journey is deeply personal. The nature of this trip causes me to reflect on my life, and to appreciate the values that were instilled in me at an early age. I have traveled the world, but those values have withstood the test of time and of events that are inevitable parts of life.

While there is a natural sadness from visiting the graves of one’s parents and other relatives, there is also a sense of inspiration that grows when visiting a small Kansas town such as Tipton ands others like it. Town leaders have held to a steady course through all the challenges that modern life poses.

No place could be called a utopia, but it is reassuring to find enclaves where folks have lived their lives just as they have plowed their furrows — straight and true.

Ben Palen is a Kansas native and a fifth-generation farmer and agriculture consultant in Colorado and Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.