GREAT BEND–Thanks to the dedication and support of more than 65 woodworking students at Great Bend High School, Wheatland Electric has successfully commissioned 150 one-of-a kind handmade cutting boards for our cooperative members.

These cutting boards were commissioned for distribution to our members in attendance at our 73rd Annual Meeting, held on April 14, 2021, at the Great Bend Events Center, and at seven other remote locations across our service territory.

Each handmade cutting board took approximately two hours to complete by the 67 students who participated in this project, under the direction of Great Bend High School instructor Travis Straub.

Straub worked directly with students from across three levels of his woodworking classes to create two or three handmade boards per pupil, he said.

These one-of-a-kind pieces were made using several types of wood, including red oak, soft maple, and cherry wood, Straub said.

And each features an iconic Kansas emblem or symbol in the corner, such as a sunflower, windmill or buffalo, engraved using a laser engraving machine, according to Straub.

“We’ve got some farm scenes, oil derricks, hunting scenes, but most are in one corner of the board,” Straub said. “We have one design that depicts the rivers of Kansas and encompasses the entire board.”

These uniquely crafted gifts were well-received by members across our service territory, and we thank the students and their instructors for creating such beautiful pieces for our members.

Visit our YouTube channel to watch a video produced by GBHS students featuring how these one-of-a-kind gifts were created visit.