Dale Rodman was honored with the Distinguished Service Award. Rodman is a former Secretary of Agriculture in Kansas. He served in this position beginning in 2011, following his appointment by Governor Sam Brownback. After leaving the secretary’s office, he retained his role as the elected chair of the Board of Directors of the Kansas Bioscience Authority.
The organization also recognized its Friends of Agriculture. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Kansas Farm Bureau and agriculture or rural Kansas. They included:
Matt and Stephanie Symns of Doniphan County received the Natural Resources Award. This award goes to the farm family who exemplifies good land stewardship. The Symns operate a diversified crop and livestock farm. They raise 775 acres of corn, 725 acres of soybeans and 200 acres of hay. The rest of their farm land is used for grazing for their beef cattle. The Symn’s use a host of practices to preserve their natural resources. They have many acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), utilize rotational grazing and prescribed burning to maintain forage health. They apply variable-rate fertilizer by carefully monitoring their soil through grid testing and plant tissue sampling.
· Congressman Mike Pompeo from Sedgwick County. Pompeo works effectively for Kansas farmers as Congressman for the 4th Congressional District of Kansas.
· Bob Grant, state representative for the 2nd District, has served in this role for 21 years where he has worked on the agriculture and natural resources committee.
· Greg Akagi is the farm editor at WIBW and co-host of the “Morning Agriculture Roundup.” He is also a reporter for the Kansas Ag Network. He covers commodity markets and mainstream production agriculture in Kansas.
· Steve Sears from Reno County has been a fulltime faculty member at Hutchinson Community College since 1979. During this time, he has taught hundreds of students in the field of agronomy.
· William Prescott from Osage County has been a strong supporter of agriculture. He served as the 59th District House Representative where he was part of the agriculture and natural resources committee and vice-chair of the transportation committee. Prescott currently serves as special assistant to the Kansas Attorney General.
· Mary Mertz from Riley County is an active advocate for agriculture. She frequently writes letters to the editor and shares what’s happening on the farm. In 2011, she started “Feast of the Fields” as an event to bring urban residents to the farm.
· Rhonda McCurry from Sedgwick County serves as the executive director for the Agribusiness Council of Wichita as well as the Kansas Ag Aviation Association.
· Dan Yunk from Riley County served as Executive Director and CEO for Kansas Farm Bureau. He retired in 2013. Prior to joining KFB in 2002, he served the Manhattan community for 20 years as the superintendent and principal for the USD 383 public school system. Dan is still very active in the agriculture community and Farm Bureau.
Matt and Stephanie Symns of Doniphan County received the Natural Resources Award. This award goes to the farm family who exemplifies good land stewardship. The Symns operate a diversified crop and livestock farm. They raise 775 acres of corn, 725 acres of soybeans and 200 acres of hay. The rest of their farm land is used for grazing for their beef cattle. The Symn’s use a host of practices to preserve their natural resources. They have many acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), utilize rotational grazing and prescribed burning to maintain forage health. They apply variable-rate fertilizer by carefully monitoring their soil through grid testing and plant tissue sampling.
Michelle Hubert, Agency Manager for Farm Bureau Financial Services, received KFB’s Partnership Award Winner. This award recognizes someone from Farm Bureau Financial Services who has gone above and beyond for the state’s largest farm organization. Hubert has been with Farm Bureau for 24 years and does a tremendous job serving Kansas Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Financial Services customers.