Kansas Department of Ag concludes Commission elections

No candidates submitted official applications through KDA for the joint District I-II-III position comprising the western third of the state. Myers, who grows soybeans, corn, wheat and grain sorghum, expressed interest in joining the soybean checkoff board and earned an appointment. Myers employs irrigation and crop rotation on his Thomas County operation and is in the process of transitioning the farm to his son. Community involvement is nothing new for Myers, who has served in roles on the state and national grain sorghum boards, as well as his local school board, co-op board, and Farm Service Agency board.

To maintain a nine-member Commission, Kansas Soybean appoints two at-large roles. Phelon and Rezac retained those roles.

Phelon grows soybeans, corn, wheat, hay and raises cattle with his son and wife. He has long been a leader in the soybean industry, first joining the Kansas Soybean Association board of directors as the Young Leader in 2004 and served as KSA president from 2015 to 2016. Following that service, Phelon became a commissioner in 2018. Phelon serves as KSC treasurer and is the Kansas liaison to the Soy Transportation Coalition.

Rezac grows soybeans, corn, wheat, hay; runs a farrow-to-finish hog operation and raises cattle. He farms with his son, daughter, brother and two nephews. Rezac first became a leader in the soybean industry in 1998. He began in the Young Leader program and served on the KSA board of directors, including as president, for many years before joining KSC in 2012. Rezac represents Kansas soybean growers on the United Soybean Board and U.S. Export Council. USSEC elected Rezac as Chair of the Board in March. He is involved locally in the Onaga Lions Club and serves as a member in the Congregational Church in Onaga.

Grain commodity commissions serve the Kansas agriculture industry by managing their crop’s research promotion and education programs funded by the checkoff. Commissioners serve three-year terms.

The KSC annual meeting is scheduled for August 14 in Manhattan.