Nominating Committee - Great Plains

2023-2024 Nomination Committee Candidates

Candidate information includes a brief description of their farming operation, role in that operation, and/or business experience.

GREAT PLAINS

Chandler Cupp – Scott City, KS

The farm consists of dryland wheat, milo and corn, along with irrigated triticale silage, and corn silage. The ranch is between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. I have also had the opportunity to own part of a Sale Barn in the past and half of a crop insurance agency.

Stacey Foos – Dighton, KS

Our farming operation is ran under Foos Farms Inc. We own 1,002 acres of farmland/cropland and operate5,538 acres of farmland/cropland, all located in Lane County, Kansas. Our son graduated from college in May and has returned home to farm with us. I am the secretary/treasurer of Foos Farms Inc.

Chad Gerber – Scott City, KS

As the president of LPR, Inc, I manage the day to day operations of the family corporation. In addition, I also independently maintain a personal operation of cattle. Our family goal, as well as my own, is to ensure the livelihood of our farming and cattle business to the next generation.

Don Hineman – Dighton, KS

I farm in partnership with my son in a dryland grain farming operation of 16,000 acres. We practice extensive no-till and precision agriculture to maximize profitability and sustainability. Currently developing increased on farm storage and utilizing enhanced post-harvest marketing opportunities. Basic farm income is supplemented with other revenue streams, including the Playa Lakes Program, and most recently hauling and applying manure for ourselves and others.

Michele Irsik-Flax – Hays, KS

I currently serve as the President of Irsik Farms Inc., a fourth-generation diversified agriculture producing company started by my Grandparents in 1941. We currently farm and ranch in Kansas and Nebraska where I work closely with management who oversee the daily operations. Additionally, I serve as the Chairman of the Board for both Irsik Farms Inc. and Royal Farms Dairy, where we milk just under 10,000 Holstein cows. My grandfather is one of the founders of Irsik and Doll Cattle Company and Feed Services, serving customers across the globe who trust their cattle and grain storage among 7 feed lots and 11 elevators in Kansas. My daily tasks involve communication with shareholders, management and employees; including but not limited
to financial planning, budgetary planning, marketing, strategic planning and overall decision making for the operations.

David Rodriguez – Ulysses, KS

We own our farm ground and my father and brother-in-law farm our ground. I make decisions business decisions on the following: inputs, planting, marketing, and financial. I have business experience from my time in working in banking industry as installment/commercial loan officer, & as a bank center president spanning 11 years. My experience as a senior leader with a local grain company for the past 12 years as Director of Financing & Public Relations, and CEO.

Gwen Wells – Marienthal, KS

I was raised on a farm and ranch in Wichita County, Kansas. After high school, I pursued a career in education and loved teaching for many years in several school districts in Western Kansas. My husband, Jason, and I also farmed and ranched on a small scale for the first few years. Life changed, and my husband and I transitioned into full-time farming and ranching in 2009. We currently farm and ranch in Wichita, Logan, Lane, and Ness Counties in far Western Kansas. I play an active role in both the farm and ranch sides of our operation. We have a commercial Red Angus herd, as well as a small feedlot. We do some custom work, as well as our own farming and harvesting. I strive to continue to educate myself in all aspects of production agriculture, and the best way to do that is to be involved every single day. I am out sorting and working cattle, helping with harvest, or in the office catching up on the financial side of the operation.