July 29, 2025
Master Farm Families Program Succeeds With Your Support
K-State Extension’s connection with Kansas farm and ranch families is manifested in a variety of ways. And one of the most enduring of those is the Kansas Master Farm Families program…the ongoing success of which rests with county and district extension agents.
Formerly known as the Kansas Master Farmer/Master Farm Homemaker program, this annual award is bestowed upon standout Kansas farm and ranch families for their contributions to production agriculture, to agricultural leadership and to community service.
The program is rapidly approaching its centennial year, and K-State Extension has been its principal sponsor since 1952. The all-time roster of awardees features hundreds of premier Kansas agricultural couples over the many years.
This is truly a prestigious honor, and is a way for extension to recognize farm and ranch families who, among other achievements, have been involved with and supportive of extension.
The program has undergone several changes over the past few years. The recognition is now known as the Kansas Master Farm Family award, which better adheres to the modern family dynamics of farm and ranch management.
The award application form has also been modernized. Instead of the overly detailed and cumbersome form of past years, it now allows the applicant to provide an essay-like description of their agricultural and community leadership accomplishments.
Most recently, the two awardee groups, the Kansas Master Farmers Association and the Kansas Master Farm Homemakers Guild, voted to merge into one organization, which tentatively will be known simply as Kansas Master Farm Families. This merger will facilitate more informational and educational opportunities for its members, via guest speakers, tours and other activities.
But back to your role as extension agents. The nomination process starts at the county and district level. Each local extension board is asked to identify and nominate a farm or ranch couple they believe to be worthy of the Master Farm Family recognition. Upon doing so, the board reaches out to that couple and invites them to complete the application form.
That form is then submitted to the extension administration office in early May for consideration by the award selection committee. That committee names the next class of Kansas Master Farm Families by late May or early June. The awardees are then recognized at a banquet in their honor the following March.
It's not too early to start thinking and talking about a potential awardee from your county or district. One nominee from each county, please…districts may forward multiple nominees, but again, only one per county.
A “call for nominees” will go out from Umberger Hall late this year, with all the information and instructions. We urge you to be proactive in encouraging your boards to identify candidates.
This program is riding the momentum of important changes and the opportunities that come with them. And we’d like to have a deserving farm or ranch couple from your corner of the state be part of all that. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me anytime with any questions you may have: agguy@ksu.edu or 785-587-7355.