My first real taste of politics came when I was about 13 years old. A friend’s mom was running for a state legislative seat and asked if I could help staff a fundraiser. I don’t remember much about the event itself, but I do still have the autographed photo of me with the former governor. ...
We are well past the midpoint of fall and closing in on winter. It is not an official thing but to me the defining point on the calendar between fall and winter is Thanksgiving. Generally, it is the time of the year when harvest is at least winding down, if not done, and the livestock are all ...
jam-packed for my family, and this year is no exception. Attending my son’s football games, finishing up our calving season, celebrating birthdays, continuing fall harvest and preparing to sow wheat have taken up the majority of my family’s attention and effort this month. My ...
It stands tall and triumphant. It gleams in the morning dew. Its massive frame etches itself into the golden skyline — unmistakable, impenetrable and undeniable. This larger-than-life structure stretches wider than it is tall. At times, it feels almost impossible to get around. And ...
As a prosecutor, the No. 1 question I get asked isn’t about crime, justice, or courtroom drama — it’s this: “How do I get out of jury duty?” The second-most common question? “How do I get called for jury duty?” Funny how that works. First things first — I have no control ...
Agriculture needs you. Maybe I should give you a little more background. There are people and groups who attack agriculture, and we need you to be an advocate to help our consumers better understand what we do. I admit it is scary when you start looking into who we are up against. The money ...
“Why me?” I asked myself as I knelt on the grass at Washburn University, picking up a fortune’s worth of law books that had just spilled from a torn plastic bag. It was orientation day at law school — and it felt like everything in my life was unraveling. My dad had just been told ...
A milestone birthday earlier this month got me thinking about my parents and what their lives looked like at my age, which is vastly different from my life. In reflecting on the differences, it was easy to see how my parents’ choices in their 20s and 30s have had a foundational impact on who ...
I love a good road trip, especially one around Kansas. That is why I am so excited about the listening tour Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) President Joe Newland and I will be embarking on July 21-23 and 30-31. Tour stops are listed at www.kfb.org, and you can register there also. Joe and I along with ...
I took my young son to a ballgame. After buying way more snacks than we needed, we found our seats just in time for the National Anthem. I reminded him to remove his hat and place it over his heart. As the anthem ended and the crowd cheered, he turned to me and asked, “Why do we say ...