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:

Will Stutterheim

Growing up around agriculture teaches you at an early age the strength it takes to weather hard times. Will Stutterheim learned that firsthand on Christmas Eve during third grade, when law enforcement officers showed up at his family’s farmhouse to deliver an eviction notice. Interest rates had climbed to nearly 20 percent, and land prices were cratering. Like many families who lived through the farm crisis of the 1980s, the Stutterheims were forced to leave their farm and move into town. That day, Will began to understand the sacrifice and stress working in agriculture can bring at times. It was a moment that shaped him for the rest of his life. 

Will grew up in Prairie View, where his family farmed wheat, milo, soybeans, and ran cattle. After earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology from Fort Hays State University, he left for Kansas City. However, it didn’t take long for Will to feel the call to come back home. A job opened just 20 miles from the family farm, and Will began working as a therapist in the rural communities he grew up in. The move went on to fuel Will’s life mission.  

As historic drought conditions settled in across western Kansas, Will found himself sitting across from more and more people in agriculture who were struggling with stress, uncertainty, and exhaustion. He realized waiting for people to come to therapy wasn’t enough and began meeting people where they were to give presentations on mental health in agriculture. Despite only a few folks showing up at the first meeting, Will persisted. After a few adjustments, people slowly started coming to see what Will had to say.  

The ripple effect began from there, and farmers who never would have walked into a presentation were being supported by spouses and neighbors who attended on their behalf. Communities were being reached through those who loved them. Driven by a love for community and humanity, Will built trust in some of the most rural corners of Kansas. What began as a presentation to three people eventually grew to regular meetings with crowds of over 300. 

After years of counseling and advocacy work, Will felt called to a new chapter. He returned to Fort Hays State University, where he teaches courses in psychology and leads high-impact learning experiences for students preparing to serve Kansas communities. He teaches graduate-level courses year-round on agricultural stress awareness, emphasizing the need for a larger focus on rural community mental health practices. He regularly works with students from across the state, many of whom go on to serve rural areas just like the one he came from.  

Will is not only teaching therapy, he’s teaching advocacy. He is breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and reshaping the way we talk about well-being in a high-pressure calling. He hopes that eventually more people will understand that asking for help is not a weakness, but a sign of strength. 

As the country recognized Mental Health Awareness Month, Will brings that awareness to his community and surrounding areas daily. That is why he is this month’s Ag Hero.   

While Will would tell you his superpower is resiliency, many would say it’s his commitment to the Big First, to rural America, and to helping the people who feed, fuel, and clothe the world carry that load a little easier. 

Thank you, Will, for the work you do. 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?

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