MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas farmers are no strangers to difficulty. Bad weather, falling profits and rising costs have hurt many farmers in this area. Now, European farmers are facing a different but equally devastating hardship – an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease.

Chuck Smith, a professor of family studies and human service at Kansas State University, recognized Kansans’ familiarity with the hardships English farmers are enduring and decided to see what he could do to link the two groups. Through "Letters from Kansas", Smith and his wife will be delivering letters from Kansas farmers to farmers in Great Britain when they travel to that area in May.

"Last year, my wife and I went to the Cotswolds in England, and were very impressed with not only the land but also the people. When the hoof-and-mouth outbreak hit, we were sensitized to the problem," said Smith, who is with K-State Research and Extension. "Many of the farmers have lost their entire herd and have been quarantined; you can imagine the tremendous stress these farmers have been under."

Smith hopes Kansas farmers will use their own experiences to offer sympathy and compassion to the English farmers.

"We know that the stress European farmers are going through is tremendous. Our Kansas farmers have gone through similar stress and can relate," Smith said. "Why it started, how it started, who is to blame – that’s not important to me. I’m more concerned about the farm families going through this. The showing of support from as far away as Kansas may help them get through this hardship."

Smith asks farmers and their families to write a letter to the European farmers and say: "I’m from Kansas, I’m concerned about your situation. I know the pressure you are under right now must be extreme. I’m hoping for the best." And urban residents can help, too.

"We would love to get letters from Kansas, no matter where the author lives," Smith said. "Messages from people of goodwill who are concerned about this issue will be welcomed and appreciated, no matter where they live or their age."

Those interested in writing a letter can find instructions and links to web sites about the disease at http://www.ksu.edu/wwparent/letters.htm. Smith asks that letters be delivered to county Extension agents by April 27.