The Kansas Department of Agriculture announced the results of the elections held for the state’s five grain commodity commissions — corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat — in districts Seven, Eight and Nine in the eastern region of the state.

KDA provides oversight and administration to the annual election process for the five commodity commissions in Kansas.  Deputy Secretary Chad Bontrager serves as a representative on each.  “The commodity commissions play a valuable role in Kansas agriculture. Kansas farmers invest in future research and market development activities through check-off dollars,” Bontrager said.  “The KDA appreciates these Kansas farmers who give of their time and talents to serve the greater agriculture industry, and we congratulate them on being elected as a commodity commissioner.”

Kansas Corn Commission

District Seven: Kenneth McCauley is a corn farmer from Doniphan County. He is past chairman of the Kansas Corn Commission, as well as a current member of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and past president of the National Corn Growers Association. He is actively involved in community organizations, including Kansas Farm Bureau and the Iowa Township board. McCauley graduated with an associate degree from Highland Community College and attended Kansas State University.

District Eight: Patrick Ross is a corn and soybean farmer from Douglas County and currently serves on the Kansas Corn Commission. Currently, he is an active member of many state and local organizations, including Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Soybean Association, Ottawa Coop Association, and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. Ross is also a past director of the Douglas County 4-H Foundation and past president of the Ottawa Coop Association.

District Nine: Randall Small is a corn, soybean, grain sorghum, wheat, alfalfa and cattle farmer and rancher in Wilson County. He is a sixth generation Wilson County farmer and proud recipient of the Century Farm Award in 2015. Small is a current member of the Kansas Corn Commission, having previously served on the Kansas Sunflower Commission. He is a member of the National Corn Growers Association, Kansas Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, Kansas Soybean Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Kansas Livestock Association and Kansas Farm Bureau. Small graduated from Kansas State University with a B.S. in agronomy.

Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission

District Seven: Nathan Larson grows sorghum in Riley County. He is a lifelong Riley County farmer and a current member of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, Riley County Farm Bureau Board and Riley County Conservation District Board. Larson was a member of the second class of Leadership Sorghum, sponsored by the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, and graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy.

District Eight: No candidate ran for commissioner in District Eight. The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission will appoint this position.

District Nine: Gary Kilgore is a grain sorghum farmer from Neosho County. He is a current member of the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission and is an active member of several local and state organizations, including Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Grain Sorghum Association, Kansas Soybean Association and the Kansas Forage & Grassland Council. Kilgore graduated from Kansas State University with a B.S. in agronomy and a M.S. in crop physiology.

Kansas Soybean Commission

District Seven: James Zwonitzer grows soybeans in Atchison County. He is actively involved in several associations at the local and state level and has served in numerous leadership roles on several advisory boards. He is a current member of the Kansas Soybean Commission, Kansas Soybean Association, Atchison County Rural Water District #5 Board, Kansas Livestock Association and Kansas Wheat Association. He also has served as a member representative to the United States Meat Export Federation and USA Poultry Egg Export Council for the Kansas Soybean Commission. Zwonitzer is a graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education.

District Eight: No candidate ran for commissioner in District Eight. The Kansas Soybean Commission will appoint this position.

District Nine: Mike Bellar is a soybean, corn, wheat and hog farmer in Elk County. He is active in several associations, including the Kansas Soybean Association, Kansas Wheat Growers, Kansas Corn Association, Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association and Kansas Pork Association. He has also been involved with leadership roles on the local Farm Credit board, Farm Service Agency county committee, and county Farm Bureau board. Bellar is a graduate of Fort Hays State University with a B.S. in agricultural business.

Kansas Sunflower Commission

No candidates are running for commissioner in districts Seven, Eight, and Nine. The Kansas Sunflower Commission will appoint these positions.

Kansas Wheat Commission

District Seven/Eight/Nine: Jay Armstrong grows wheat, corn and soybeans in Atchison County. He is a fourth-generation farmer and a current member of the Kansas Wheat Commission. He is a current and past member of several commodity and community organizations, including Kansas Farm Bureau, the local watershed district and the state fair board. Armstrong graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Kansas State University.

Commissioners serve three-year terms and the terms will commence on April 1, 2016.