The Folks Behind Your Food
Here in Kansas, you probably don’t have to shake your family tree too hard before a farmer falls out. Today’s farmers mesh traditional values with college degrees and high-tech tools. Meet the soccer moms and mini-van-driving dads of 21st century Kansas ag, and find out what “locally grown” really means, from the people who know best. Get the scoop on why they farm, why they farm the way they do, and why they’re so proud of it!
The Story of an Athlete-Turned-Farmer
Jacquelyne Leffler loves telling the story of agriculture. The first time she shared her experience farming with others, she was the one who had several aha moments.
Life at Ohlde Dairy Is About Cows, Family and Feed
The silos at Ohlde Dairy stand empty, replaced with covered piles of silage. Silage is a food for cattle that is made from crop plants — every part from stalk to stem — then fermented. It’s a key part of the feed for the nearly 1,300 cows currently milked at the dairy.
A Dream Takes Shape at Kansas Fiber Farm
Have you ever fantasized about living on a small hobby farm — someplace to settle down where you could grow your own food and live self-sufficiently? The McGees did, and they’re making that dream come true. Both Collen (pronounced KAW-leen) and her husband Mike are veterans who currently...
Growing Up on a Farm
We’ve loved getting to know so many wonderful farmers and ranchers across Kansas. Many of them talk about the importance of family, of being raised on a farm or raising their own children on a farm. We couldn’t help but wonder what kids would say about the experience. So, we asked, “What...
Raising Cattle by the Seasons
Kelsey Pagel used to joke she didn’t want to marry a farmer. While Kelsey was growing up, her parents started a farm together from scratch — no small feat! She saw firsthand the hard work and dedication farming required. “I learned a lot about work ethic on the farm with two parents...
Meet a Local Goat Cheese Maker in Kansas
For 30 years, Suzanne Bennett worked as an OB/GYN delivering children. She always had an interest in making her own cheese. After retiring, she attended a cheesemaking workshop and loved it. She decided to take the plunge and make goat cheese at home. That’s when her pet project took on a...
Winery Brings Slice of Heaven to Western Kansas
How did a self-proclaimed Bud Light drinker start a vineyard in Western Kansas? It was a leap of faith. “We had no clue what we were doing,” said Kirk Johnston, who runs Shiloh Vineyard with his wife Treva. “We had absolutely no experience in vineyards or winemaking.”
At Kohman Meats, Ranching Is About Family
Kelli and Todd grew up around the corner from each other in Abilene. Their families did business together — Kelli’s family leased some of their farmland to Todd’s family — but that was it. They knew each other, but they weren’t close. It wasn’t until they were grown that the two became a...
How Feeding Pigs Is Helping This Kansas Farm
After graduating from Kansas State University, Caitlyn Horton moved home to help on her family’s farm north of Kendall, in southwest Kansas. The farm includes 5,000 acres of corn, wheat and sorghum, along with cattle and pigs. Caitlyn started Horton Show Pigs as a branch of the operation...
These Kansas Cattle Ranchers May Surprise You
Did you know 91 percent of ranches are family owned? Kansas alone is home to more than 27,000 cattle farmers and ranchers. While we’d like you to meet all of them, let’s start with three families who are making Kansas proud with their ranch operations.
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