The Kansas Sampler Foundation helped connect Simone to like-minded Kansans who were proud to be from rural communities. KSF helps these people and communities recognize and celebrate the qualities that make them unique and vital to not only our state, but also the nation.
Most recently, Simone worked as a loan officer at Western State Bank in Leoti. Simone graduated from the University of Kansas School of Business in 2011 with a degree in Business Management and an emphasis in Entrepreneurship. Early experiences with Ogallala Commons through community-based internships across the High Plains first introduced her to a grassroots approach of community development. Her travels with the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership (KARL) Program as part of Class XIV also opened her eyes to the beauty and opportunity in the state of Kansas. Simone lives with her husband, Levi, on a farm between Leoti and Tribune. Together they are raising their daughter and caring for dogs, cats, and cattle.