Today I had the opportunity to share my part of the world with four students from Kansas State. Three of them were from out of state. They were part of a team counting pollen in pond sludge. Yes, I said counting pollen in pond sludge, and you thought you had a bad summer job. But that is not what I want to tell you about.

The pond I took them to was on the land my family had homesteaded. I told them about how it had been in our family for five generations and I pointed out the ruts from the Oregon Trail. They were amazed that a single family would own a piece of property for over 100 years. They also marveled how well cared for the land was.

I explained to them that the land was part of my heritage and I was very proud of that heritage. My family had taken care of it and the land had provided a living for them since the 1880s. I shared that I know every part of that little piece of the Flint Hills like I know my family tree and it is just as big a part of who I am.

It is really hard for those of us in agriculture to explain to other people how deeply we care for our land. Just as the generations before us, we use the latest technology to not only produce more food but to also take better care of that land. I would guess it is the hope of every generation to preserve that land and that heritage for the next generation.

I suspect I am no different than any other farm kid. Too often a distorted view of agriculture is presented. We are portrayed to use science to squeeze every drop of production out of abused land to make money. I hope that these four students left with a better idea and more appreciation for agriculture. I wish more people would get the opportunity these college students had to learn about farmers and ranchers love of the land and the great care they take of it. I can’t speak for everyone in agriculture but I would like to extend the same opportunity to everyone reading this, just contact me and I would be happy to spend the day with you on my family’s farm.