More than 70 attended the 98th Annual Allen County Kansas Farm Bureau meeting at Iola High School on Thursday night. Attendees were treated with a special presentation from Iola High School graduate Chase Regehr, who spoke about his time in Taiwan. Several farmers were also recognized for their achievements with awards later in the evening.
The local Farm Bureau helped fund Regehr’s trip last December. Regehr, who will be a freshman at Kansas State University, said his trip was eye-opening.
He explored different parts of Taiwan, experiencing different methods of teaching and cooking, to seeing the street food scene and nightlife, as well as a different blend of people.
What stood out the most to him was the lack of farms in comparison to Kansas. In Taiwan, a typical farm would be five acres where Kansas farmers have hundreds of acres.
“There’s no room for farming,” Regehr said. “Everything is built out and straight up. I was just shocked how different the farming is from us here. I can understand why they have to import so much from us. They just can’t grow it.”
AWARDS:
– Area 2017 high school graduates Kyla Drake, Kira McReynolds and Chase Regehr were recognized for their involvement in agriculture. They were each awarded a $150 scholarship with several contributions to their Future Farm Association (FFA) affiliates.
-Craig and Denise Mentzer were recipients of the 2017 Farm Family of the Year Award. The Mentzers have run a dryland operation with corn, soybeans and small commercial black Angus cows with the help of purchasing and renting land in northwest Allen County.
-Jeff and Laura Johnson and sons Trent and Tyler were the winners of the 2017 Natural Resources Award. Through the last 10 years, the Johnson family has sown 650 acres of cropland to cool season novel endophyte fescue incorporating clover and lespedeza to enhance livestock and expand grazing opportunities. This has also eliminated soil erosion and improved wildlife habitat.
-Charles Kerr was recognized as Farm Bureau’s 2017 Friend of Agriculture. Kerr is a retired voluntary agricultural teacher and has served for 45 years as an FFA adviser. In total, Kerr has advised 80 state FFA degree recipients, eight district presidents and one state FFA officer.
-Steve Strickler won the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. He is the owner of Strickler Holstein Farm and serves on the Central Area Council of Dairy Farmers of America. Strickler has been a large proponent of recycling and has incorporated solar panels at his dairy.
-The Century Farm Awards went to two recipients: Tracy and Teresa Smith as well as Nancy, William and Carolyn Toland. The Smiths own 90 acres of land which the family has been in charge of for 152 years, dating back to the Civil War. They raise grass and will have beef cattle on it soon. The Smiths also grow meat and chickens.
The Toland’s farm dates back to 1892, where it was purchased from Francis B. Powers by Clyde W. Toland (not pictured). The farm today is helped through hired labor and sports soybeans and corn.
-The 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award went to Dr. Darrell Monfort. Monfort has 298 acres around his home and 160 acres northeast which are managed for hunting and wildlife. He and his wife, Kathy, have planted more than 26,000 tree seedlings to support the riparian barrier along Deer Creek and 200 acres of native grasses. The Monforts have continued to help with wildlife, harvesting and more, where they’ve been active for the last 20 years. Dr. Monfort currently serves on the K-State Market Advisory Board and is a member of the Kansas Volunteer Vet Corp.
