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New Kansas Master Farmers, Master Farm Homemakers namedKansas Six couples have been named Kansas Master Farmers and Master Farm Homemakers for 2007 in recognition of their leadership in agriculture, environmental stewardship and service to their communities. The award program dates to 1927 and is sponsored by Kansas State University Research and Extension and the Kansas Farmer Magazine. The couples will be honored at a 6 p.m., banquet March 21 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Junction City. More information about the Master Farmer program or the banquet is available by calling 785-532-5820. The 2007 Master Farmers and Master Farm Homemakers, in alphabetical order by last name, are: --Ann and Mark Baus, Alexander (Rush County) When Mark Baus was willing to drive six hours from his rural Rush County, Kan., home to take Ann (Dirksen) Baus on their first date, she thought this fellow might just kind of like her--a lot. Twenty-four years and three children later, the couple has built a successful farming operation that has earned them the title: Kansas Master Farmer and Master Farm Homemaker. Mark grew up near Alexander, in west central Kansas. He represents the fifth generation of his family to farm the land on which his parents still live. Ann grew up in Wichita, a city girl with a passion for science and language, which she parlayed into a career as an educator. The couple met at McPherson College where both earned bachelor's degrees. Ann went on to earn a master's degree at Oklahoma State University. The couple farms about 4,000 acres--almost all of which is planted to wheat and grain sorghum. In addition, Mark and his dad, Bill, have a beef cow herd. The couple has three daughters--Veronica, a sophomore at K-State, majoring in international business and marketing, but currently studying in Spain, Leah, a sophomore at LaCrosse High School and Olivia, a third grader at LaCrosse Elementary School. --Darrell and Deb Brobst, Stockton (Rooks County) Darrell and Deb Brobst of rural Stockton run a farm operation that includes 10,000 acres of crop and pasture land and 1,500 head of cattle--quite a bit larger than the business had in 1976 when Darrell graduated from high school and joined his dad in the operation. Back then the family farmed 1,360 acres and had 100 head of cattle. Deb and Darrell were among six Kansas farm couples named to the 2007 Class of Master Farmers and Master Farm Homemakers. The couple met in 1987 on a blind date arranged by Darrell's sister. They were married in the summer of 1988, and Deb, a town girl, was thrown straight into the role of farm wife. "We were married on a Saturday and I was in the harvest field Monday," said Deb, who grew up in Knob Noster, Mo. She had earned a bachelor's degree from Central Missouri State University and later a master's degree at Fort Hays State University. In addition to handling payroll for the farming operation, Deb teaches in an early childhood special education classroom in Phillipsburg. The Brobsts have two children who keep themselves--and Mom and Dad--busy. Daughter, Nikki, is a senior and son, Adam, is a sophomore--both at Phillipsburg High School. --Darrel and Laura George, Uniontown (Bourbon County) In terms of geography, Darrel and Laura George haven't made it very far since marrying in 1977. But in terms of service to their community and agricultural leadership, the rural Bourbon County couple has come a very long way. The Georges live on the same 40 acres where Darrel grew up, near Uniontown, Kan. Laura--born a Koester--reached adulthood just 18 miles away in Fort Scott. The couple became acquainted while in their teens, but reconnected--this time for good, as young adults. "I met the love of my life in 4-H," Darrel said with a smile. Darrel earned a bachelor's degree at K-State and Laura, an associate's degree from Fort Scott Community College. As a young man, Darrel started in the G-Three farm partnership with his dad and brother, Gale. The operation now owns more than 1,500 acres and rents thousands more. It maintains a 300-head cow herd, feeds about 3,000 stocker calves yearly and finishes about 500 feeders. "There's nothing like waking up in the morning to go to a job that you love to do," Darrel said. "When you're out on your horse, checking the cattle and doing any doctoring that's needed and it's one of those beautiful Kansas days, you realize people would pay money to have such an amazing job." Darrel and Laura have four children. Lindsey teaches agriculture education for the Wilson and Quivera Heights high schools. Lacey, is a K-State sophomore in agricultural education and twins Drew and Cole are active teenagers involved in numerous school and community activities. --Lester and Delores Goyen, Cunningham (Pratt County) Lester and Delores Goyen make their home in Pratt County on land originally farmed by Lester's parents and grandparents. His grandfather was attracted to the land because it had a shallow water table that would allow trees to grow--trees that "give our place a peaceful, sheltered appearance," Lester said. Lester met Delores (Knoche), a farm girl from nearby Stafford County, at a church social, and faith and concern for others have been important in the couple's marriage, family and community life. After high school, Lester entered a partnership with his father, even while earning a degree at K-State, and when he became an assistant manager at Pratt Feeders, Inc. Delores earned bachelor's and master's degrees to prepare for a 26-year teaching career. In 1985, the couple's oldest son, Kent, joined the operation. The business now includes 2,700 acres of owned and rented land. Wheat is its main crop, but grain sorghum, alfalfa, corn and alfalfa are also grown. The family also sells 2,000 finished feeder cattle each year. Kent now handles the bulk of farm responsibilities; he is married to the former Debra Barker, and the couple has one son, Weston. Another son, Michael, is based in Iowa as a mechanical engineer for John Deere; he is married to the former Denise Lawton, and the couple has two daughters: Karen and Kathy. Son Phillip lives near Eagle, Colo., and manages a condominium complex; he is married to the former Lauren Harrison. --Bob and Mary Mertz, Manhattan (Riley County) Bob and Mary Mertz met in 1981 in her hometown of Chicago. Both were in the same department of the National Livestock and Meat Board. They soon became known as the coworkers who were always butting heads ... for years. In one of those stranger-than-fiction developments, however, they became friends. And, that opened the way to a life together--a life full of children, family, friends and international visitors. Once married, the couple decided to leave the skyscrapers of the city for the silos of rural life. They headed to Bob's old stomping grounds, Manhattan, Kan.--where he grew up and graduated from K-State--to farm and rear kids. Rock Creek Farms is a diversified family corporation, now managed by Bob and his brother Joe--although "Dad doesn't hesitate to offer opinions." It includes thousands of rented acres between Manhattan and Wamego and specializes in crops, sheep, hay and cattle production. Mary, who had graduated from Robert Morris Business College in Chicago, is the president of Project Rescue of Amazon Youth (PRAY), which got its start in Wamego and now supports a multifaceted mission in Brazil. The mission shelters and cares for orphaned, abandoned and abused youngsters. Daughter Lisa is a junior in German and international studies at K-State. She's on her second long-term trip to Germany, this time studying abroad on a scholarship. Son David is a K-State freshman, studying engineering. Bob has advised both children to get a degree and work for someone else for a while before deciding whether they want to join the family corporation. --Bob and Vangie Wendelburg, Stafford (Stafford County) Bob and Vangie Wendelburg both grew up on farms in Stafford County, Kan. and were high school sweethearts. Bob studied science in college, but returned after one year when his father became ill. In his career as a farmer-stockman, he has, however, retained a lifetime interest in science and, particularly, in water quality and conservation. The couple initially partnered with Bob's brother, Albert, in Wendelburg Herefords. Bob started his own farming operation in 1956 with 160 acres, and added 30 Hereford cows in 1957. When Albert retired and the couple's son, Vance, returned home from college, Bob and Vangie developed the Sunrise W brand, under which the family operates. Today, their operation encompasses 4,000 acres--a combination of land they own, rent or work for a crop share. They grow wheat, corn, alfalfa, and soybeans as well as beef cattle. Son Vance is a farm partner with his parents. He and his wife, the former Tiana Mueller, have three children: daughters, Janna and Alisa, and son, Jared. Daughter, Marca Fritzemeier and her husband, Ron, have four children--Ron, Robert, Lyndee and Russell. They live in the Washington, D.C. area. Youngest son, Jarel, is married to the former Valerie Lundy. They have two children, Emma and Cole and live in Iowa. Vangie works 22 hours a week as the Calvary Baptist Church secretary, and for 26 years has been involved in a children's educational ministry called AWANA. Bob collects farm toys and has bought and restored a full-size 1937 Massey Harris Tractor because, he said, "it was made the same year I was." -Sidebar -- What is the Kansas Master Farmer and Master Farm Homemaker program? It's a growing, but select group--more than 360 Kansans who have been recognized for successes in their agricultural operations and service to their communities. They're members of the Kansas Master Farmer Association and the Master Farm Homemakers Guild. The two groups were formed in the late 1920s to publicly recognize excellence in farming, homemaking, farm living, and rural citizenship. Initially, the two organizations were sponsored by Kansas Farmer magazine, and recognition was given to individuals rather than couples. In 1953, Kansas State University, through the Cooperative Extension Service, assumed responsibility for the selection process and setting up the annual banquet. From 1957 to 2003, the program was sponsored by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and K-State Research and Extension. In 2004, however, Kansas Farmer magazine again joined with Extension to co-sponsor the program. Farm couples are nominated by county Extension councils and Extension districts. The associate director of Extension appoints a committee to choose one couple from each of the four Extension areas in the state, plus two additional couples at large. Both groups--the Master Farmers and the Master Farm Homemakers hold an annual meeting and a joint recognition banquet in the spring, where members discuss agricultural and rural issues and share individual experiences with other members. This year, the meetingsand banquet will be held March 21 in Junction City at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. Master Farmer/Master Farm Homemaker couples are chosen for their contributions to agriculture and their communities, but the giving doesn't stop there. The group awards a $500 Master Farmer-Farm Homemaker 4-H scholarship each year to a high school senior or college undergraduate. In addition, numerous donations to the Rock Springs 4-H Center by Master Farmer individuals and the organization as a whole, are reflected in various facilities and improvements made at the sprawling center's campus near Junction City, Kan. More information about the Kansas Master Farmer/Master Farm Homemaker organizations is available through the K-State Research and Extension administrative office at 785-532-5820.
Date: 3/27/08 Advertisement
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