“One Kansas Farmer Feeds More than 155 People + You!” It’s a billboard message that resonated back in 1978 and continues to spread today’s farm-to-table story.

A longtime advocacy project of the Kansas Agri-Women organization, these big, bold billboards feature an overflowing grocery sack with an easy-to-read, memorable message. The group recently bolstered its billboard project, adding several new signs and updating others along Kansas highways.

Location

Two billboards are near Carbondale, Kan., on land owned by Darrel and Wanda Kinney. Wanda, a longtime member of KAW, proudly explains that these signs mark the sesquicentennial celebration of her family’s stewardship of their land.

“Kinneys have owned it since 1861; and with the seventh generation now operating the ranch, it seems fitting that we share the message that Kansas farmers efficiently feed America and the world,” she says.

Wanda Kinney, as treasure of KAW, leads the sign project. With the bulk of the signs in the eastern third of the state, she is hoping to expand coverage.

“We are trying to set one up in Montgomery County and would like to get some out West in high-visibility areas,” she says. Obstacles include the expenses associated with billboards, and locating farmers who are willing to post billboards on their land.

Sponsorships and funding

Wanda Kinney is excited about a recent partnership with Shawnee County Farm Bureau, which sponsored three new signs that have been installed on a Farm Bureau member’s land, she explains. That relationship has her thinking about the possibility of other backers, supporters, and sponsorships.

“Possibly machinery dealerships, fuel providers, vehicle dealers, veterinary services,” she speculates.

Funding for some of these billboards comes from the Mertz Memorial Grocery Sack Sign Fund that was established in memory of Jeannie Mertz.

Mertz, an original member of KAW, was instrumental in the sign project. The first billboard, hand-painted by Thomas Sign Co. in 1978, was placed on Mertz farmland on Zendale Road, south and east of Manhattan, Kan.

Over the years, Manhattan-based Thomas Sign has continued to maintain, replace and install new signs. The billboard message essentially stayed the same, but according to Bart Thomas, “As the number of people farmers fed increased, we added decal updates to some of those early signs.” He also explains that the signs are now custom-printed on vinyl.

Shop local

The “One Kansas Farmer Feeds” message took on new significance as consumers traversed their way through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

In an effort to fill empty grocery sacks, a Facebook group, Shop Kansas Farms, began connecting consumers with farmers. The idea caught fire immediately, as people began buying flour from local mills and milk from family dairies. When they began purchasing cows and pigs, there was a need for local butchers and meat processors, creating yet another boon to the economy.

According to Rick McNary, creator of Shop Kansas Farms, this digital hub for local and regional food systems now has 150,000 members: about 800 of those are producers, the rest consumers.

As the holiday season approaches, there are innovative ways to continue supporting farms and farmers including:

• Kansas flour. Use Kansas milled flour to make one of the award-winning recipes from the National Festival of Breads, nationalfestivalofbreads.com; or the Kansas Wheat Commission, kswheat.com.

• Food gifts. Purchase food items or gift certificates from local farmers, or from shops and websites such as the Kansas Originals Market and Gallery in Wilson, kansasoriginals.com; From the Land of Kansas, the state trademark program shop.fromthelandofkansas.com; or Shop Kansas Farms’ website, shopkansasfarms.com.

• Kansas dining. When company comes to town, be sure to make reservations at area restaurants or cafes that feature Kansas-produced foods.

While that grocery bag on billboards represents the variety of foods produced in the state, it also reminds us of the significant contributions of agriculture. A statement from the Kansas Department of Agriculture sums up that impact: “Agriculture is a critical part of Kansas’ past, and it is a key economic driver in our present, but it also holds great potential for our future.”

Join Kansas Agri-Women

Any woman interested in agriculture is welcome to join KAW. The mission — “From producer to consumer with understanding” — reflects KAW’s focus on ag education.

Besides the billboard project, the organization supports endeavors such as the National Festival of Breads, and hopes to again provide interactive educational projects for grade-school children.

Wanda Kinney fondly remembers the group’s last field trip to a flour mill in Ellsworth, Kan., and is confident that members will be able to again participate in those types of events. For online information about KAW, or to donate to the KAW billboard project, check out the KAW Facebook page, listed as Kansas Agri-Women; or visit kansasagriwomen.wordpress.com.

Newell West lives in Abilene, Kan., but grew up on a farm in Stafford County, Kan. A career educator, she taught home economics and family and consumer sciences at the secondary and adult levels. She continues to pursue educational endeavors as a freelance writer.