By Glenn Brunkow, Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher
We are in the middle of what I call meeting season for Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB). The legislative process for both the state and federal governments are started. We have already had KFB Annual Meeting, the Young Farmers and Ranchers Leaders Conference, and by the time most of you read this, the County President’s Conference and Day at the Statehouse will also be in the books.
I know I sound like a broken record, but we all need to stay plugged into the legislative process and be ready to respond when the call goes out. You, the members, are what makes Kansas Farm Bureau the force it is, and it is the voice you have that matters to our elected officials. Watch for e-mails, texts and phone calls. However, that is not what I wanted to discuss today.
KFB’s issue surfacing meetings are coming around soon. Notice I did not say district issue surfacing. Yes, every district will have a meeting, but you are welcome to attend the meeting that works the best for you. If there is one that is closer or maybe a different date works better, then you are more than welcome to attend. The bottom line is that we want your ideas and feedback.
Issue surfacing kicks off the year for our policy process and ultimately what goes into our policy book. Yes, we are already writing policy for the 2026 legislative year when we have just started 2025. That is what I love about Farm Bureau, we always have one eye toward the future.
The future is what I am going to charge each one of you with. When it comes to our policy book, we need it to look beyond today and to tomorrow. We should start forming an opinion now on issues that will come up in 2026 and beyond. We need to be proactive when writing policy, and that is where you, the member, come in.
I would ask that each of you think about an issue or issues that you think should be on KFB’s radar. What are the things that keep you up at night? What is on the horizon for agriculture that we need policy on?
Our organization is as strong as it is because of our members. We represent agriculture of all kinds and farms and ranches of all sizes. Our policy represents everyone in agriculture, and that is why all of you need to participate in the issue surfacing meetings. I am taking this one step further by asking you to look into the future and spend some time discussing it.
Reach out to your County Coordinator for the date and location that works the best for you. If none of them work for you, you can also submit policy ideas and feedback at www.kfb.org/advocacy.. However you participate, I just ask that you make your voice known, your opinion is what makes this organization great.
“Insight” is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.
