Kansas Corn’s Young Farmer Program Class 4 Recognized

Nine Young Corn Growers Complete Kansas Corn’s Corn Corps Class 4

Jan. 27, 2022–Nine 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 fourth class to graduate from the program since its start in 2015. The participants were recognized at the 2022 Kansas Corn Symposium, held January 27 in Salina.
The Kansas Corn Corps participated in three sessions plus a domestic agriculture trip. Overall objectives for the program include; learning how participants fit into their farm and progress as an individual, how their farm fits into the industry, what opportunities and challenges they face in the industry and how they can progress in the corn industry.
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 and how the work Kansas Corn does in market demand and policy impacts their farm. The third session, held in the Kansas City Metro Area, focused on market development and agribusiness in our state such as ethanol and grain exports. The domestic trip in August 2021 consisted of visits to farms and ag businesses in Tennessee and Kentucky. During the trip, they gained a better understanding of how they fit into the larger production picture and learned how to effectively engage consumers.
“We are proud of the young farmers from Corn Corps Class 4 that have made the commitment to improve themselves and their farms through our program,” said Kansas Corn Director of Market and Leadership Development, Emily Koop. “We appreciate the time they have committed to learning and developing themselves in the areas of business and leadership. We look forward to seeing all the ways they will continue to grow their farms, our organization and the corn industry.”
To apply for Corn Corps, candidates 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 be either individuals or couples. For more information visit kscorn.com/corncorps/ or contact Emily Koop, director of market and leadership development at ekoop@ksgrains.com.
Corn Corps Class 4 Participants
  • Mathew Elliott, Elliott Farms Inc., Hiawatha, KS
  • Cate Wehkamp, Wehkamp Farms, Ingalls, KS
  • Jenny Goering, Goering Farms, Galva, KS
  • Brett Grauerholz, Grauerholz Farms LLC, Republic, KS
  • Madison Mackley, Mackley Farms, Oakley, KS
  • Evan Porter, Porter Family Ag, Fredonia, KS
  • Zach Vincent, Vincent Family Farms, Long Island, KS
  • Alex & Karlee Vosburgh, Vosburgh Farms, Macksville, KS