Nominating Committee - Heartland

2025-2026 Nominating Committee Candidates

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

HEARTLAND

Cody Ayres – Garden Plain, KS

I raise Wagyu cattle and sell in a retail setting, farm to table. I’ve been involved in all aspects of a family farm in south central Kansas.

Cindy Baldwin – McPherson, KS

My husband and I own and operate a diversified grain farm with a mix of dry land and irrigated acres in McPherson County Kansas. We also own and operate Blaze Fork Enterprises LLC, through which we market our homegrown popcorn under the Papa Baldy’s label in Kansas retail outlets and nationally through our online store. While I have input in farm management decisions, my primary role with the farm is bookkeeping. I also do the accounting for the LLC and manage packaging and shipping of our product. In addition to the over 40 years of business experience with the farm, I also owned and managed a niche newspaper distributed throughout Kansas for 14 years, which I have recently sold. I also work as an editor and freelance writer.

Dennis Rau – Derby, KS

We have a diverse farming operation that is made up of three generations. My father, wife, two sons and daughter work together with me to manage and operate our farm. I am currently the primary manager of all business, crop production and day-to-day operations.

James Rundus – Munden, KS

I have a family run and operated farming operation, with my wife Janell and my daughter Holly Aldridge and her husband Robert and my grandsons Bobby and Wesley. We have about 2000 acres of wheat and 1000 acres each of corn and soybeans. We run a 200 head beef stock cow calf operation as well. I started farming grain and cattle and hogs, in the tough times of the early 80’s with my father Wesley.

Darrin Steinert – Otis, KS

As a 5^th generation owner and operator of our family farm, I bring a deep-rooted commitment to sustainable agriculture and community-based food systems. We manage a 100% dryland row crop and cereal grain operation, paired with a spring and fall calving cow/calf herd where we retain and develop all of our own heifers. In addition, we raise all of our own forage for cattle feed and operate a custom no-till drilling business, a turnkey custom haying operation, and maintain various forage sales. We are also committed to direct beef marketing through our farm-to-fork beef sales.