ARMA, Kan. — On Friday morning, the Tri-State Sign Association (TSSA) Elite Class transformed the SEK Animal Advocates with vibrant new signage for the local animal shelter.

Each year, the TSSA Elite Class is tasked with helping a non-profit with signage. Two years ago, the class assisted the SEK Humane Society with its look. This year, the group stayed with the theme of helping animals in the community by helping freshen up the organization’s low-cost spay and neuter clinic. 

“They (elite class) are tasked with a project every year for them to figure out who to give back to in their community and we are here out in Arma, Kansas, forever away,” said TSAA Elite Class mentor Justin Hoon. “… It’s awesome because there’s a lot of less fortunate companies that don’t have the ability to go out and get these great signage packets and we have a group of people that just really wanted to give back one way or another.” 

Those associated with the TSSA Elite Class are young professionals in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Some traveled up to six hours to get to Arma. Together, members of the elite program are provided with hands-on mentorship, professional development, and networking, which ultimately prepares them for success on state or executive boards. 

“We’ve got six individuals from six different sign companies, and they are a part of our (Tri-State) Sign Association, they are a part of our elite program,” added Hoon. “(The goal is) to make them into tomorrow’s leaders as well as fill board positions in the future.” 

Members of the 2025 to 2026 TSSA Elite were Josh Young (CDL Electric, Pittsburg), Tori Dial (Heartland Sign, Lenexa), Chrissy Smith (Sunfola Creative, Lawrence), Marissa Costello (UFB Fabrication, Berkeley, Mo.), Jordyn Wisinger (Commercial Sign Company, Hays), and Lyle Roberts (Impact Signs Awnings Wraps Inc., Sedalia, Mo.). 

Throughout the morning, the group installed window graphics, signage for the front and sides of the business, along with signage on the facility’s storage shed, which is visible for all who travel through Arma to see.  

The cost of installing the signage? Absolutely free, as signage was produced and donated by member companies of the TSSA.  

“This is a fantastic day,” said SEKAA Director Susan Bastion. “We do have issues with people trying to find our building, but we also have the constraints of ‘Do you spend money on signage, or do you keep your cost of spay and neuters low?’ So it’s fabulous that this group has decided we are worthy of the amount of signage that they are providing. Not only are they providing building signage, but they will also have some yard signage as well that we can use at other events.” 

Located in the building to the south of the former Arma Supermarket, across the street from Arma Wash House & Storage, the SEKAA spay and neuter clinic is open every Tuesday, averaging around 30 surgeries per week through its nearly two years of serving the local area at a low cost. 

“Like always, we are busy,” said Bastion. “We haven’t had to advertise a lot, and we still have full days. We are averaging about 30 spay and neuters every Tuesday. We do have the mobile clinic that we are working on getting online. We got big things coming.” 

SEKAA, based in Arma, was established in December 2020 by a group of animal enthusiasts. The all-volunteer foster-based rescue organization works with regional vets, foster families, rescue transporters, and rescues across the country. 

For more information, visit facebook.com/sekanimaladvocates or email sekaaemail@gmail.com.

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.