WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Kansas senator sent a little love to Humboldt as he sought to educate Congress about the good things happening in his home state.
Sen. Jerry Moran on Wednesday highlighted Humboldt while speaking on the Senate floor, responding to a joke made by New York City Mayor Eric Adams that “Kansas doesn’t have a brand.”
“I had planned to give this speech before the mayor of New York City used Kansas as a punchline, but now it seems a little more fitting,” Moran said.
In the five-minute speech, Moran called Humboldt “a model for rural towns across our state and our country.
“Like many small communities in rural America, Humboldt was facing declining population numbers as businesses moved away and buildings on Main Street were abandoned… However, in recent years, Humboldt has defied the odds.”
Downtown buildings now hold thriving businesses, and the city was named by the New York Times as one of the world’s top travel destinations.
Moran visited Humboldt on Aug. 23, where he toured many of those new businesses and met with several of the developers.
His speech to Congress named several of those responsible for the revitalization, including A Bolder Humboldt, Paul Cloutier, Josh and Joe Works, B&W Trailer Hitches, Walter Wulf and Monarch Cement, Murphy Tractor and City Administrator Cole Herder.
Moran also made note of Biblesta, the world’s largest Bible-themed parade, which takes place on Saturday.
He described how Herder gives each graduating senior a mailbox, with an invitation inside to go and see the world, then return to their hometown.
“The community of Humboldt is a success story and it’s a role model. It demonstrates how teamwork, creative thinking, hard work, treating others with respect and caring about the future of your community can make a positive difference for your city, our state and for our entire nation. That’s our brand in Kansas.”
