Kansas Corn Leaders Bring Grower Voices to DC

Kansas Corn Leaders Bring Grower Voices to DC

7-18-25: Kansas Corn leaders and staff had a busy week in Washington DC participating in Corn Congress, NCGA Action Team meetings and more. It was a productive week that included meetings with members of the Kansas congressional delegation, White House staff, as well as top USDA, HHS and EPA officials.

Kansas Corn leaders participating were: KCGA President J.D. Hanna, Silver Lake; KCGA Secretary Brett Grauerholz, Republic; KCGA board members Tanner McNinch, Ness City and Kylee Geffert, Humboldt; Kansas Corn Commissioners Paige Clawson, Satanta and Chad Epler, Columbus.

Kansas Corn leaders participated in several high level meetings while in DC. J.D. Hanna joined other state association presidents for a meeting at the White House where they met with the President Trump's staff and talked about corn grower priorities. Brett Grauerholz participated in a MAHA (Make America Health Again) Soil Health Roundtable hosted by Senator Roger Marshall with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Grauerholz spoke about the proactive efforts corn farmers are already taking to benefit soil health as well as pesticide use. Grauerholz also participated in NCGA's MAHA briefing that was attended by several congressional staffers. Tanner McNinch, Kylee Geffert, Paige Clawson and staff attended meetings with key USDA officials.

Several Kansas Corn leaders and staff participated in two days of meetings of the NCGA action teams, grower-led teams that help guide NCGA's efforts. Kansas representatives on NCGA Action teams are: Production and Stewardship Action Team- Brett Grauerholz and Tanner McNinch; Market Development Action Team-Chad Epler, Chair; Connie Fischer, state staff; Communications and Education Action Team-Sharon Thielen, state staff.

The Kansas growers participated in NCGA's Corn Congress and then visited the offices of our Kansas congressional delegation, visiting with them about KCGA's priorities, including passage of a bill that would include year-round E15. Trade, farm policy and other issues were also discussed.