Tourism entrepreneur wins award

Casey Cagle, who operates Prairie Earth Tours in Cottonwood Falls, is the winner of a tourism entrepreneur award from Huck Boyd Institute.

Cagle, who previously served as a tour guide in California, launched Prairie Earth Tours, which serves the Flint Hills. Besides custom tours, he offers wildflower tours and photography clinics in the spring, sunset horseback rides in summer, and a craft brewer’s tour in the winter.

Kansas State University’s Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development selects rural entrepreneurs and community advocates as Leaders of the Year.

“We salute these Kansans for their innovative ideas and service to rural communities,” said Dan Caffrey of Marysville, chairman of the institute’s board of directors.