Behind the Green Thumb: Meet Robin Whelchel, our Copeland Garden Coordinator

Colby, Kan. – [Tuesday, April 22, 2025] – The Thomas County Coalition is excited to introduce

Robin Whelchel as the Copeland Garden Coordinator. With a deep passion for gardening and

a commitment to community enrichment, Whelchel will lead efforts to host community

education workshops, garden socials, and enhance the Copeland Garden.

Copeland Garden volunteers and staff prepare raised beds for a new growing season on a cold April day in 2022. From left, current Garden Coordinator Robin Whelchel, Copeland Garden Founding Board Member and LiveWell Northwest Kansas staff Maureen Ostmeyer, volunteer Kyla Weigert, and former Garden Coordinator Nichole Olsen. Photo taken by Coalition Coordinator Christina Beringer

Whelchel has been a dedicated gardener at Copeland Garden since the program’s inception.

Over the years, she has volunteered her time assisting wherever needed, making her an integral part of the garden’s success. She has always loved to garden, a passion that began in childhood while helping her mother. Today, she and her husband, Donnie, are avid gardeners who especially enjoy growing tomatoes, green beans, green peppers, and jalapeños. They take pride in making homemade salsa from their fresh produce and sharing it with friends.

“Robin’s passion and efforts will ensure the Copeland Garden remains a space where people can gain confidence in learning how to garden or have the opportunity to show off their lifelong skills,” said Thomas County Coalition Coordinator Christina Beringer. “At the garden, families and strangers bond over growing their own food-- and there’s no better way to connect than through food.

“By promoting access to healthy, homegrown produce and fostering an environment of

education and support, Robin’s leadership will have a lasting, positive impact on both individual families and the community as a whole.”

This is only one of many baskets of produce that Robin grew in 2024 for donation to the Genesis-Thomas County food pantry. She said from July through October, she donated a basket of fresh vegetables and herbs almost every week.

Beringer explained the Copeland Garden is managed by the Thomas County Coalition, a

program of LiveWell Northwest Kansas. It first began at the K-State Research & Extension facility in Colby before relocating multiple times throughout Colby. In 2019, it found a permanent home at Copeland Park after land was donated by the City of Colby and a partnership with the Western Prairie, Food, Farm and Community Alliance was strengthened. Crucial funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant added much-needed support. And today, it continues to flourish as a vital community resource.

“The success of Copeland Garden is an example of what happens when communities come together with a common purpose—to create opportunities to address hunger and increase access to healthy food,” added Travis Rickford, director of LiveWell Northwest Kansas in Colby.

This growing season, members of Copeland Garden are offering raised beds to rent for just $10 per year, with the Thomas County Coalition providing everything a gardener needs to get

started, including high-quality soil, free water, seedlings, and access to gardening tools and a

greenhouse. Whelchel and other master gardeners are available to provide guidance and

support to novice gardeners, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to succeed in growing their own fresh produce.

Robin Whelchel, TCC's Garden Coordinator

“I’m so excited to step into this role and continue supporting the local community garden,” said Whelchel. “Gardening has always been a big part of my life—I grew up learning from my mom, and now my husband and I love growing fresh produce together. There’s something really special about sharing that experience with others, whether it’s swapping gardening tips, sharing our special salsa, or helping someone start their first garden. I can’t wait for this upcoming growing season at Copeland Garden, to meet new people and help them start growing.”

Beyond individual garden plots, the Thomas County Coalition maintains several plots specifically for community benefit. Produce from these plots is available for anyone in need, and any excess is donated to Genesis-Thomas County, the local food pantry. Last year, the Coalition donated fresh produce nearly every week from July through October, including carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, peas, squash, zucchini, cantaloupe, and chives.

Beringer emphasized that the Copeland Garden is a wonderful extension of the Coalition’s

mission, strengthening family bonds and encouraging healthy eating habits. She added that

Robin’s leadership will further these efforts, ensuring the garden remains a vibrant and inclusive space for the entire community.

To kick off the new growing season, a garden party celebration has been scheduled in

conjunction with Earth Day. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22nd.

Whelchel will host a presentation on a Healthy Patch Soil formula that will be utilized in the raised garden beds this year. Additionally, a special gardening project will be available for children, and attendees will have the opportunity to tour the garden, ask questions, and sign up to rent a plot.

We're in the process of getting Robin set up with a new email address. Until it's ready, please contact Thomas County Coalition Coordinator Christina Beringer at christina@beringerconsultations.com to learn more about Copeland Garden or the Thomas County Coalition. For more information about programs and services available through LiveWell Northwest Kansas, visit www.LiveWellNWK.org.