Image courtesy KSF

The Kansas Sampler Foundation (KSF) has named Simone Elder as its new Executive Director, effective January 1, 2026. A Kansas native living near Tribune, Elder has been part of KSF since 2023, serving as PowerUp & Engagement Manager. She has worked closely with rural communities and businesses, building connections and advancing initiatives that strengthen rural Kansas.

Since 2011, Elder has been involved in KSF programs, including the PowerUp movement for young adults choosing rural life, the We Kan! Network, and the Kansas Explorers Club. Her experience offers valuable insight into KSF’s mission to preserve and promote rural culture—a mission it has championed for more than 30 years.

KSF Director Emeritus Marci Penner and longtime project manager WenDee Rowe will remain as special project advisors, helping launch a new online Kansas Guidebook in 2026. Board President Stacy Barnes praised Elder’s leadership, saying she will “carry KSF’s legacy forward with passion and purpose.”