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THURSDAY, SEPT. 8, 2016 | VOLUME 132 ISSUE 06
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Sunflowers bloom at Grinter Farms near Lawrence. Every year, locals visit the field to enjoy the scenery and take pictures.
CHASING THE SUN
Grinter Farms' sunflowers provide annual photo opportunity for students
▶ HAILEY DIXON
@_hailey_dixon
or many students at the University, visiting the sunflower field is an annual tradition.
The blossoms at Grinter Farms, located about 15 minutes northeast of Lawrence, are currently in full bloom making them a popular attraction for pictures and picking.
Although the field receives large numbers of visitors each year—including an overwhelming amount this past
Labor Day - sunflower enthusiasts may not know the history of the well-photographed field.
It's a beautiful place and beautiful energy."
Lindsay Myers Alumna
"My granddad moved here in 1947," Ted Grinter, owner of Grinter Farms, said. "We have been farming ever since on this ground. My dad started growing sunflowers around 1976-1977."
The farm on 24154 Stillwell Road is still a popular attraction for students.
"I've been there twice, once this year, and I went last year," Kayle Riebel, a junior from Humboldt said. "Last year, I went with a friend from the dorm, and this year I went with her, my two other roommates and my boyfriend."
Visiting Grinter Farms is free, but the owners encourage visitors to donate money if they are taking professional photos on the farm. If visitors take a flower, a one dollar donation is encouraged. Additionally there are no restrooms on the farm.
"I did gasp in horror that people chop them down and take them home, since I believe we should leave beauty alone," Lindsay Myers, an alumna from Ulysses, said.
"When we were driving up to it, the first thing you see are these hills of yellow and the beauty of it, and then all of the people, and there are a ton." Riebel said.
One downside to the
sunflowers, Riebel said, might be the droves of people that crowd the field and make parking a hassle. However, she said she still thinks it's a worthwhile experience.
"I loved that it brought all of these different people together to experience nature and enjoy some precious time with family and friends."
According to the Grinter Farms Facebook page, they had to shut down on Labor Day due to too many accidents from so much traffic heading to the farm.
"Last year we were
pretty busy," Grinter said. "We had to close on Sept. 5 for safety. It was the busiest day ever."
Individuals that have gone out and seen the flowers have been very pleased with what they have seen.
"It's a beautiful place and beautiful energy. I'm having pictures taken there next year," Myers said.
Grinter advises visitors to relish their time when visiting the sunflowers.
"Have fun, enjoy the experience," he said.
Study says switching majors won't delay graduation
CHANDLER BOESE
@Chandler_Boese
It's commonly said that switching majors will set students back in their graduation. But a new study says taking a while to find the major that's "the one" doesn't hurt a student's chances of graduating on time.
The study by the Educational Advisory Board looked at thousands of students' final major declarations and their graduation
In fact, the graduation rate for those who pick their final major in the first semester of their freshman year was actually lower than those who picked their final major any time between their second and tenth semesters. Up through a stu-
rates to determine how the timing of these major choices affect a student's success in college.
The researchers found that later switches do not make students less likely to graduate or to graduate on time.
At the University's Undergraduate Advising Center, which works with students who haven't yet entered a program, students are encouraged to get into a major early for several reasons, director Abby Coffin said.
Coffin said she doesn't think
dent's junior year, a major change is also unlikely to affect the time it takes a student to graduate,the study said.
SEE MAJORS PAGE2
A study by the Educational Advisory Board says switching majors won't hurt your chances of graduating on time.
Missy Minear/KANSAN
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