Fellow Kansan,

Agriculture is the heartbeat of the Big First District. Each month, I highlight the life and work of Kansas ag heroes – the people who make our state the pilot light of America and who inspire me to continue fighting for Kansas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. 

Yours in service,

Kansas Ag Hero of the Month:

Lance Rezac

Lance Rezac’s life is a testament that agriculture is not just a business; it's a rich heritage and a lifestyle.

The agricultural depression of the 1980s, or the farm crisis, was a challenging time for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers in Kansas and across the country. The value of farmland plummeted, the price of commodities were nearly zeroed, agricultural exports declined by more than 20%, and farm debt doubled in less than a ten-year period.

Farm foreclosures became a terrifying reality for many family operations, sending a rippling effect across agricultural supply chains, banks, and rural communities. For many college graduates looking to begin their careers, farming seemed to be off the table. Lance Rezac saw things differently.

After graduating from Kansas State University in 1983, Lance had the chance to pursue other careers. The more he explored those options, the more he heard the family farm calling his name. When asked why he would go into farming during such a tumultuous period, his answer was simple - the timing was perfect. With the cost of farmland relatively low, Lance seized the opportunity and purchased a 1,500-acre ranch for just $500, becoming the fifth generation to farm. Today, Lance has been farming that land in Onaga, Kansas for more than 35 years.

"Farming is kind of in your blood," Rezac said.

Lance farms with his wife and children, his brother, and his brother’s children. The small farm they purchased has grown tremendously from those early days in 1988 with the family diversifying their capabilities greatly. The multigenerational farm grows soybeans, corn, wheat, alfalfa, native hay, brome, and hay. Additionally, they run a farrow-to-finish swine operation and raise beef cattle.

It's safe to say that the bet Lance made as young graduate in 1983 paid off.

Lance's leadership in Kansas agriculture led to his election to serve as the 2024-2025 U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) Chairman, serving more than 500,000 soybean farmers across the country. As USSEC Chairman, he is championing the growth of high-quality soybeans for people around the world and advocating on behalf of American soybean farmers. Most importantly, Lance is representing the best of what Kansas agriculture has to offer.

With more than three decades of farming under his belt, Lance has seen his share of hard times. He often reflects on how far he has come and remains optimistic because he knows that he is growing food for his neighbors and for the world. Lance demonstrates what it looks like to carry on the Kansas agriculture tradition, and that is why he is this month's Kansas Ag Hero.

Thank you, Lance, for answering the noble call of feeding the world. It is an honor to serve you in Congress and on the House Agriculture Committee.