Twelve Young Farmers Complete Kansas Corn Corps Program

Jan. 23, 2020–Twelve young Kansas farmers completed Kansas Corn’s Corn Corps young farmer program that expanded their network, knowledge of the corn industry and pushed them to grow in their business expertise. This is the third class to graduate from the program since its start in 2015. The participants were recognized at the 2020 Kansas Corn Symposium on Jan. 23.

Kansas Corn Corps was created with the goal of helping young individuals and couples develop themselves personally, as a farmer, their business, their community and the world outside of their farm. Participants committed to three weekend sessions over 14 months and a trip to a visit a different region of agriculture production in the US. This year’s domestic trip where they experienced a wide variety of agriculture production and industry in the Mid-South Delta.

The first session focused on the idea of growing as an individual and as a farm. The second session focused on learning how participants can grow and improve their farming operations from employee engagement to differentiating their farm brand. In the third session, Corn Corps focused on communications and marketing, becoming more informed about how they can tell their story and how Kansas Corn is communicating with consumers.

“We are proud of the graduates in the Corn Corps Class 3,” said Kansas Corn Director of Industry Relations Stacy Mayo-Martinez. “We appreciate their time and commitment to the program and look forward to seeing how they continue to build their families farms and the Kansas Corn community. We are excited to see all the ways they will affect the future of the farming operations and the corn industry.” The members of Corn Corps Class 3 are:

  • Kelby Adams, Macksville
  • Nicole Adams, Macksville
  • Derek Belton, Tampa
  • Kylee Geffert, Humboldt
  • Shawn Geffert, Humboldt
  • Jay Ostmeyer, Manhattan
  • Hayes Kelman, Dodge City
  • Shelby Kelman, Dodge City
  • Jessica Simshauser, Lakin
  • Nathan Simshauser, Lakin
  • Matt Symns, Atchison
  • Stephanie Symns, Atchison

Corn Corps applicants must be actively involved in a Kansas corn farming operation and be a member of the Kansas Corn Growers Association. Participants must be 45 or younger and can participate either as individuals or couples. For more information visit kscorn.com/corncorps/ or contact Stacy Mayo-Martinez, director of industry relations at 785-448-6922 or smartinez@ksgrains.com.