When April Coover attended a career fair through the University of Kansas’ School of Pharmacy, she began a new chapter in her life.
While attending the event, she discovered a career opportunity at the pharmacy in Lincoln.
“Sadly, I didn’t even know where Lincoln, KS. was,” said April, who is currently the pharmacist-in-charge and pharmacy manager at Patterson Health Mart Pharmacy. “I came out to visit, tour the pharmacy and area and felt like it was a great fit.”
April, who is from Canton, which, according to Google Maps, is about 90 miles southeast of Lincoln, relocated to the area after her graduation in 2010 and began work at the pharmacy. Not long after her move to Lincoln, she went on a “successful” blind date with her husband, Jason Coover.
Jason, April said, is a fifth-generation farmer on his family farm in Lincoln County, and works with his father, Joe, and brother, Brady.
“Jason grew up outside of Barnard, and returned to Lincoln County to farm after graduating in agricultural economics from [Kansas State University],” she said.
Together, Jason and April have two children, three-year-old Joy, and one-year-old Jed.
April said she loves “the atmosphere and sense of community you get in smaller towns.”
“We love that Lincoln County has great schools and is a safe community,” she said. “Opportunities [are] abound, from recreational sports, to swimming, to dance, the movie theatre, a community garden patch, churches, parks, a nearby lake, 4-H/FFA and any committee you could possibly want to be a part of.”
April said the “close-knit community” and “personal connections you make with people” are some of her favorite reasons about residing in Lincoln County.
“We can let the kids play outside and know that our neighbors look out for them, love them and treat them just as they do their own kids/grandkids,” she said.
As for living in a rural community, April said, it is like having an “extra extended family.”
“The community looks out for one another, pulls together in terms of trial and shares in your own joys and celebrations,” she said.
By Hailey Dixon for the 2018 Live Lincoln County magazine
