Kansas Farmer magazine and Kansas State University Research and Extension are calling on the Kansas agriculture community to nominate families now for the Kansas Master Farm Family Class of 2023.

The Kansas Master Farm Family award, formerly the Kansas Master Farmer and Master Farm Homemaker award, recognizes outstanding farm and ranch families who have provided leadership in their communities, volunteer efforts with Extension, and have achieved in their chosen field of agriculture on the local, state or national stage.

To expand participation across the state, the organizers encourage nominations from the community at large. These names should be directed to the local Extension county district where the nominee resides. You can find a map and contacts for Extension county and district offices at ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html. Nominators can also simply call the local Extension agent of the community where the nominee resides and provide their name.

From those lists of potential nominees, local Extension boards will then choose which family from their county or district they will forward on to the state selection committee for final consideration. These county or district nominees will then fill out the online Kansas Master Farm Family nomination form with more detailed information about their family and business activities. The final deadline for those nominations is May 8.

Selection criteria includes the growth of the farm or ranch business and operation through sound planning, with a demonstrated effort for stewardship, sound decision-making and planned growth over the years. Involvement in the community through leadership roles at the local, county, state or national level is also considered. That can include leadership in school, church, community, Extension, farm organizations and other charitable efforts over their lifetime.

“I’m sure you have many successful farm and ranch families who are great local community leaders,” says Daryl Buchholz, associate director emeritus-Cooperative Extension, and secretary of the Kansas Master Farmers Association and Kansas Master Farm Homemakers Guild. The Kansas Master Farm Family award shows the value of Extension at the local level to inspire farm and ranch families to lead in their communities and across the state, he adds.

“Don’t miss this chance to recognize and honor your local farm and ranch families who have that long record of being great farmers and ranchers, Extension supporters, and have been and continue to be a positive influence in your community and beyond,” Buchholz says.

Additional support for the Kansas Master Farm Family award is provided by the Kansas Farm Bureau, Frontier Farm Credit/American AgCredit and the Kansas State Fair Board.

If you have questions, contact Buchholz at [email protected], or at 785-587-4913; or Sue Robinson at [email protected] or 785-532-5820.