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:

Kelly Sipes

From left to right: Bailey, Jim, Kelly, Caleb, and Kylee Sipes

Kelly Sipes has dedicated her entire career to educating youth about the importance of food and agriculture.

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, less than 9% of the nation’s agricultural producers are under the age of 35. As older generations of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers retire, agricultural education leaders like Kelly are helping ensure the nation has the manpower to feed, fuel, and clothe the world.

Kelly grew up on her family farm where they grew wheat, soybeans, cotton, and corn. As a child, some of her fondest memories included exhibiting livestock and being an active member of the National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America. She continued her involvement at the University of Tennessee at Martin and served as a state FFA officer. After her undergraduate career, Kelly pursued a master’s degree at Kansas State University. There, she met her husband, Jim, a fifth-generation farmer from Manter, Kansas.

After their stint in Manhattan, Kelly and Jim returned to Manter to help on the family farm, growing wheat and grain sorghum. Kelly also taught school in the local school district, and they eventually started a family of their own – making it a sixth-generation family farm. It wasn’t long before Jim and Kelly noticed something missing for their school-aged children – a strong agricultural education program at the local school.

For Kelly, agricultural education programs instilled strong values in her as a child. She wanted the students in her community to have the same. She, along with other advocates in the community, made it their mission to establish an agricultural education program and FFA chapter at their local high school.



After the school board approved the agricultural education program, Kelly transitioned from teaching science at the junior high school to teaching agricultural education and advising the newly chartered FFA chapter at Stanton County High School. Even more special, her daughter, Bailey, who was a chartering member, served two terms as a district officer, and served as the 2020-2021 State Secretary on Kansas FFA’s first all-female state officer team.

While Kelly’s son, Caleb – older than Bailey, was never able to participate in the program, he returned to the family farm and wheat seed business, Sipes’ Seed Sales, that serves much of southwest Kansas, southeast Colorado, and the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles.

For Kelly, helping charter the program was bigger than her family. She wanted all students, even those without an agricultural background, to get outside of their comfort zones and learn something new. She wanted to give students hands-on experiences that allow them to see the value of food and agriculture. Whether it’s teaching public speaking, helping someone manage an agricultural operation, or developing a student’s confidence, Kelly says it’s special to build relationships with students and watch them learn the values she also developed through FFA.

Additionally, Kelly also serves as a mentor to other agricultural education teachers across the state and currently serves as the Southwest District Vice President of the Kansas Association of Agricultural Educators (KAAE).



Her own life experiences have shown her that agricultural education and FFA aren’t just for four years. They are for life. Now, she sees it as her duty and responsibility to carry that torch and to help develop the next generation of leaders who will change the world.

For the Sipeses, agriculture is a family affair, and it isn't just Kelly who is making a difference. Both of their children chose to pursue careers in agriculture while Jim has remained active in Kansas Farm Bureau.



Thank you, Kelly, for your dedication and commitment to teaching the next generation the values of feeding, clothing, and fueling the world. It is an honor to serve you in Congress, on the House Agriculture Committee, and as the co-chair of the Congressional FFA Caucus.