Submitted/Kelly Crane
Kelly Crane, coordinator for the marketing program at the Edwards Campus, plays guitar with her band, East of Eden.
Curious collections, unique hobbies abound on the hill
When she's not at work, Jen Humphrey is raising 85 kids.
Humphrey, communications officer at the Natural History Museum, recently became part-owner of a local farm, and the kids -- goats -- are a key part of the venture.
"Goat meat is eaten all over the world," she said. "We're trying to find a market for it here."
Raising goats for meat and creating an all-organic, self-sufficient farm is the ultimate goal for Humphrey and her partner, who have rented out their Lawrence home in favor of country living a la "Green Acres." Although they're just starting out, the couple have big plans for the land they eventually want to call Red Tractor Farm.
Humphrey is just one of many KU faculty and staff members who keep busy with fascinating and unusual projects and hobbies when they're away from their day jobs.
Kristin Bowman-James, a University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, spends long hours in the lab and the classroom during the work week. But when the weekend dawns, Bowman-James often is found at the race track, taking her block rear engine dragster out for a spin. Bowman-James says she's always been into cars and became hooked on drag racing when Heartland Park opened in nearby Topeka.
"The thrill of the burn-outs, the acceleration and the speed," she said when asked what she enjoys most about drag racing. "It is also a very friendly atmosphere, where everyone helps everyone else -- a great family sport."
Richard Crank, project manager for acquisitions and serials at KU Libraries, pursues his hobby at a slower pace, but with as much dedication. In the early 1990s, a friend gave him an AIDS awareness poster, and he's been collecting them ever since.
"I now have at least one from every continent except Antarctica," Crank said. "The variations in visual images and text are striking because of the cultural differences and the targeted population."
For Doug Riat, director of Facilities Operations, a hobby has turned into a profitable business. He had been a longtime antiques collector when he decided it was time to start auctioning his unique finds.
"I always look for something unusual and something with quality," said Riat. "To see what it will bring on auction day is what it's really all about."
Kelly Crane has been playing guitar since she was 12 years old, but only recently has she seen her longtime hobby blossom.
Crane, coordinator for the marketing communications program at the Edwards Campus, has teamed up with two other women to form a band, East of Eden. The acoustic trio plays churches and coffeehouses, mostly sticking to rock, country and folk songs.
"We've only been playing in public for a couple of months," said Crane. "But it's great. It's a chance to hang out with the girls and it's a wonderful creative outlet."
Among KU's diverse faculty and staff population, there are dozens and dozens of quilters, coin collectors, karaoke stars, bird watchers and green thumbs. Don't have a special hobby? Maybe it's time to find one.
But for right now, get back to work.
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