Email from Rep. Mann During his post-war victory tour, President Eisenhower famously said, “The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.” Message from Rep. Tracey Mann. Having Trouble Viewing? Click Here. 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,   Mann.House.Gov Kansas Ag Hero of the Month: Kevin Harris Kevin Harris and his wife, Rosemary During his post-war victory tour, President Eisenhower famously said, “The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.” Kansas’ favorite son’s words rang true with many Kansans then and now. Just ask Kevin Harris, a native of Abilene who has shared the magic of his small town with people across the world. Kevin Harris is the fourth generation to farm the land his great grandfather purchased in the 1800s. Today, he grows wheat, sorghum, corn, and soybeans on the family farm with his son, who manages cattle on their pasture ground. Kevin also grows cover crops and has had his hand in many different spheres of the agricultural ecosystem over the years. Growing up in Abilene, he was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA. When he graduated high school, there was no question about what he’d do—he wanted to farm. With the backdrop of the farm crisis of the 1980s, his mother encouraged him to go to school. During that time, she opened a family crop insurance business, Harris Crop Insurance. Kevin attended community college and graduated with a degree in agricultural education. For 14 years, Kevin taught agriculture at local high schools in Mankato and Chapman. There, he helped mold the next generation of agricultural leaders in his community. Teaching was special, but as his parents retired, another opportunity came knocking on his door. The crop insurance business needed a new leader, and Kevin purchased the business from his family in 1998. The pivot to the insurance business did not change his involvement in agricultural education. Kevin would go on to raise show lambs for 18 years and serve as the superintendent for the sheep department at the Abilene Fair. He remained involved with the local FFA, serving on the Kansas FFA Foundation Board and Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission. His involvement opened even more doors to educate a bigger audience on the opportunity and beauty of Kansas agriculture, especially in Abilene. Kevin’s years of teaching and serving on the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission fostered relationships all over the world. Those relationships gave Kevin the opportunity to host international groups from Mexico, India, and the Middle East on his family farm just south of Abilene to learn more about agriculture. While some may be amazed by the distances traveled, Kevin just sees it as helping people learn more about what he loves. He has utilized the visits to help American agricultural producers overcome barriers, and access new markets that further equip Kansas farmers to remain competitive on the world stage. Much of world history in the 1940s and early 1950s were defined by a young man from Abilene restoring peace and prosperity to the world. Some 80 years later, that legacy lives on in Kansans like Kevin. Thank you, Kevin, for answering the noble call of feeding the world. It is an honor to serve you in Congress and on the House Agriculture Committee. Do you know someone who is a Kansas Ag hero? Let me know by clicking the button below. Share Ag Heroes with me here. Follow Me on Social Media: CONSTITUENT SERVICES     OFFICE LOCATIONS Manhattan Office 317 Houston Street Suite A Manhattan, KS 66502 Phone: (785) 370-7277 Dodge City Office 100 Military Avenue Suite 203 Dodge City, KS 37801 Phone: (620) 682-7340 Washington D.C. Office 344 Cannon HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-2715 If I can do anything to help you, please reach out to my office. Sincerely,   Rep. Mann | 344 Cannon House Office Bldg. | Washington, DC 20515 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice