KFU Convention Speakers Highlight Wide Array of Issues Important to Kansas Family Farmers, Communities

MCPHERSON, Kan. – Keeping up with the shifting agricultural landscape can be difficult for even the most seasoned producers.

On Nov. 18–19, producers from across the state took matters into their own hands and attended the Kansas Farmers Union (KFU) State Convention to hear from a range of subject experts. Speakers explored how climate, policy, mental health, mentorship, and more are shaping the Kansas agricultural industry and its people.

POLICY

Kansas Appleseed and Harvesters Updates

In 2023, 14% of Kansans experienced food insecurity, according to Feeding America. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps alleviate that food insecurity for nearly 188,000 Kansans every month. With a constantly shifting state and federal landscape, Haley Kottler of Kansas Appleseed and Karen Siebert of Harvesters explored how changes to SNAP could affect Kansans.

For every single meal distributed by a food bank, SNAP delivers nine more. That means that if SNAP were to lose just 10% of funding, food banks would need to double their capacity to bridge the gaps.

While SNAP has secured funding for the next fiscal year, new caveats may affect the program’s viability. In Kansas, HR1 (the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) will shift roughly $40 million in costs onto the state and add $15–20 million in administrative expenses.

Kansas Legislative Update

On the legislative front, Sean Gatewood, KFU contract lobbyist, shared his predictions for the 2026 Kansas Legislative Session. Gatewood anticipates a fast-paced session with special attention paid to budget considerations, bills still in play from last year due to the biennium, and various health and food issues.

“I do not anticipate significant policy changes during this session, particularly in agriculture. However, food policy may see some interesting developments due to the current state of SNAP,” Gatewood said. “Although this session is expected to be brief, there is a goal to cut $200 million from the state budget. This, coupled with unresolved health and food issues, may slow down the proceedings due to the complexities involved.”

The federal government’s shifting of $50–60 million in SNAP expenses onto the state, as well as other funding issues, underscores the need for careful budget management. While Gatewood doesn’t foresee the Legislature cutting SNAP, substantial program costs will warrant extensive attention.

Other topics likely up for discussion include the Trump administration’s call for redistricting, the Kansas Supreme Court’s ruling allowing driver’s license gender marker changes for transgender individuals, and HR1 plans to reform rural healthcare. Gatewood also expects sports gambling contracts and contract nurse staffing at state hospitals to be discussed.

NFU Washington Update

Layla Soberanis, National Farmers Union (NFU) government relations representative, and Charlie Decker, NFU advocacy coordinator, updated attendees on the organization’s legislative successes and 2026 policy priorities.

NFU hosted its annual legislative fly-in under the theme “For Farmers’ Sake.” Key advocacy topics included Farm Bill 2.0, congressional oversight on tariffs and trade policy, a reformed agricultural workforce that supports farmers and H-2A workers, biofuel usage, and USDA funding.

While the existing farm bill now extends until Sept. 30, 2026, NFU remains steadfast in its advocacy for the passage of a modernized Farm Bill 2.0. Key desired reforms include a strengthened farm safety net, improved disaster protections, policies ensuring competitive markets, enhanced farmer-friendly conservation programs, and food and nutrition security for all Americans.

HEALTH & COMMUNITY

Weathering the Storm in Agriculture: Cultivating Resiliency and a Productive Mindset

According to the Rural Health Association, farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) agents Rachael Clews and Sharon Erickson-Fryback explored the effects of farm stress and ways individuals and communities can combat it.

Market performance, land payments, and generational succession— the list of stressors unique to farming is long. Often, signs of stress are overlooked or ignored, which can lead to poor mental and physical health. Isolation, perceived stigma, and a lack of mental health resources in many rural areas often mean these issues go unaddressed for farmers.

Clews and Erickson-Fryback emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant for signs that someone is struggling. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988.

Farmer Mentorship

For certified organic farmer Jack Geiger, mentorship has become a tool for shaping more resilient rural communities.

Geiger began mentoring through his farm’s YouTube channel in the 2010s. Now serving as a mentor through the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), he has built a system of networking opportunities and digital resources available to producers.

Geiger has worked with over 20 mentees, many of whom are veterans. His goal is to equip mentees with the tools and relationships they need to build profitable operations that align with their personal ethics and goals. The true value Geiger sees in farmer mentorship is the community it builds.

“Farmer mentorship is a key part of the solution to declining rural populations,” Geiger said. “We’re helping farmers build successful operations in rural areas by providing technical assistance, hands-on training, and most importantly, a community of supportive peers.”

Organic farmer Jake Koehn, one of Geiger’s mentees, has seen the value of farmer mentorship in his own operation. Learning from experienced producers has helped Koehn make informed decisions and think creatively.

For Koehn, the lessons he’s learned from mentorship can be summed up succinctly: “The hardest ground to farm is the ground between your ears.”

Visioning the Heartland Food Hub and Strengthening the Kansas Food System

Led by the Kansas Wesleyan University Community Resilience Hub (KWU-CRH), the Heartland Food Hub Feasibility Study explored the viability of a Salina-based food hub that would connect local producers with nearby institutions interested in their products. Stephanie Pearl, owner of Adaptive Roots Consulting, and Sheila Kjellberg, KWU-CRH coordinator, shared preliminary findings from the study.

Preliminary findings indicate that a food hub of this scale would not be financially feasible. Rather than the end, Kjellberg and Pearl view the study as the beginning of a larger conversation about the value of regional food hubs in Kansas.

“Exploring the feasibility of a food hub was a very important part of informing the future food systems work of the Community Resilience Hub,” Kjellberg said. “Collecting farmer-led information and support allowed us to not only put numbers into valuable spreadsheets but make sure the heartbeat of this report was powered by the same folks who are growing our food.”

Kansas Rural Justice Initiative

In 99 of Kansas’ 100 rural counties, the attorney-to-resident ratio is two or fewer per 1,000 residents. This critical shortage means rural Kansans have extremely limited access to legal services, and accessing them often brings additional time, travel, and financial burdens.

Established in 2022 by the Kansas Supreme Court, the Kansas Rural Justice Initiative explored the causes of this crisis and made recommendations to help address it. Attorney Laurel Klein Searles, an initiative committee member, shared insight about the program’s December 2024 findings and the progress made since then.

The initiative developed several key recommendations for the rural attorney crisis, including the establishment of a rural attorney training program, a loan repayment program, and the formation of a professional rural attorney organization. Since the 2024 findings, the committee has worked to encourage current law students to consider practicing in rural areas and to build interest in rural practice among younger students.

CLIMATE

Kansas Climate

Chip Redmond, Kansas Mesonet manager for the K-State Department of Agronomy, shared about his work collecting weather data, sources for accurate weather information, and overall changes in the Kansas climate.

The Kansas Mesonet uses weather stations across the state to collect extensive weather and climate data. The team is careful to anticipate and quickly mitigate any factors that may inaccurately skew data, such as equipment failures or animal activity. This data is then used to inform open-access weather and climate reports.

While Redmond encourages producers to use climate and weather data to help inform their decision-making, he stressed the importance of using data from reliable sources. It’s easy to draw different conclusions from the same data, depending on how it’s portrayed and who is providing the information. As a general rule, Redmond says those with professional meteorology training are a good place to start.

To learn more about the Kansas Mesonet or access data, visit mesonet.k-state.edu.

HISTORY

Rooted in Resilience: The Story of the Kansas Farmers Union

For Tom and daughter Kate Giessel, navigating current challenges in agriculture starts with a deep understanding of the history that brought us to this moment. Their presentation explored how the Kansas Farmers Union (KFU) has grown as an organization while staying true to its core values.

Since 1907, KFU has operated at the crossroads of agriculture, advocacy, and community. Legislative fly-ins and farmer-led policy development have ensured farmer voices are heard in the highest offices. The grassroots activism and policy that defined KFU's early years are still active and thriving today.

Through the many challenges and changes American agriculture has faced over the last century, KFU has maintained a special sense of dedication and support among members. The community spirit and desire for positive change that drove farmers to join KFU in the early 1900s still encourage farmers to remain active in policy and in their communities today.

Moveable Monument: The Story of the Ladies’ Columbian Corn Fountain

Sarah Green, author of the zine Moveable Monument, shared the story of the Ladies’ Columbian Corn Fountain, which her publication explores. Initially built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the fountain has survived abandonment, severe disrepair, and fluctuating public approval. Today, the 10-foot-tall limestone ear of corn calls the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson home.

While designed to represent the very best of Kansas agriculture and community, the fountain has had a rocky journey to its current resting place. After the 1893 exposition, it was shipped back to Hutchinson, where it was displayed at a city park. Over time, the fountain and park fell into disrepair before both were eventually removed.

The fountain then disappeared, only to be found again in a trash heap years later. After being placed in a storage facility, State Fair administrators eventually repaired and installed it near the Administration Building, where it still sits.

For Sarah Green, the fountain tells not only the story of Kansas civic engagement, public art, and community pride, but also the story of Kansas agriculture.

“Moveable Monument has so many historic connections to Kansas agriculture that resonate today,” Green said. “It was an honor to share the story and gather feedback from Kansans who are engaged in related work in their own communities.”