Email from Rep. Mann 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 c 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: Charles Atkinson For Charles Atkinson, agriculture isn’t just a livelihood—it’s a legacy, a mission, and an act of stewardship rooted in faith and family. A sixth-generation farmer from Great Bend, Charles has spent over four decades working the land, raising cattle, and advocating for Kansas farmers at the highest levels of national agricultural policy.  Charles grew up in Columbus, Kansas, where his family raises soybeans, wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and runs a Brangus and Brahman cow-calf operation. Surrounded by hard-working family members on both sides, Charles learned from an early age the discipline and determination that farming demands. Today, he operates many of those same crops with the support of his wife, Inga, and his father Marion, along with native hay, Bermuda grass, and cover crops. A longtime believer in conservation, Charles and his father have been no-tilling the land for almost 30 years and continue to focus on sustainable practices that improve soil structure, manage fertility, and protect water quality. Charles decided to transition into no-till farming to protect the natural resources he cares so deeply about. By minimizing passes across the field and incorporating diverse crop rotations, he has seen firsthand how healthy soils lead to stronger yields and long-term sustainability. Throughout his career, Charles has combined experience in the field with a passion for resource stewardship. After earning a degree in natural resource management, he spent 38 years with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, helping producers across Kansas with cost-share programs, watershed protection, and conservation planning. Because of this strong belief in No-Till farming, he, with a group of other farmers and conservationists, organized the No-Till on the Plains organization to educate agricultural producers about the benefits of sustainable farming practices. His hands-on knowledge and commitment to sustainability eventually led him to leadership roles with the American Soybean Association and the EPA’s Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee. In 2023, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the United Soybean Board, where he represents Kansas and helps direct national soybean checkoff dollars toward innovation, research, and global market development. Charles brings to these leadership roles a deep respect for listening, learning, and elevating the voice of the farmer. He understands that good stewardship means balancing productivity and sustainability, and that agriculture is strongest when farmers have a seat at the table. Whether he’s discussing soil health, pesticide policy, or biofuel market development, Charles represents Kansas agriculture with thoughtfulness and authenticity. During the 2023 harvest, Charles and Inga lost their son Matthew in a tragic accident. Matthew was in the process of taking over the family operation, and the loss was devastating. In the midst of heartbreak, neighbors arrived with combines and trucks to bring in the crop. Charles leaned on his family, his faith, and the notes Matthew had left behind to get through it. That well-organized notebook he found in his son’s truck held detailed insights on field management, crop plans, and the future of the farm. It gave Charles a starting point and a way forward. He continues to farm with Matthew’s memory in mind and his wife and children, Charles’ daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren by his side, hoping one day one of them will carry the farming legacy into the next generation. Community has always been at the center of Charles’ life. With the vision and cooperation of other leaders in the community, he helped revive the Barton County Fair more than three decades ago and has worked ever since to make it a place where people come together across generations. As president of the Barton County Fair and former Executive Director of the Kansas Fairs & Festivals Association, and a former 4-H and FFA member himself, Charles sees the fair as a place where communities come together, young people grow, and agriculture stays at the center of Kansas life. Today, Charles is focused on preparing the next generation. Teaching the grandkids who live on the farm and those who don’t, he and his father hope that one day one of them will choose to carry the operation forward. From rebuilding soil to rebuilding communities, Charles Atkinson leads by example in everything he does. That is what makes him this month’s Kansas Ag Hero Through conservation, stewardship, and tireless service, he represents the very best of Kansas agriculture. Thank you, Charles, for your years of stewardship, your leadership in agriculture, and your continued work to protect the land, grow the rural economy, and inspire the next generation. It is an honor to represent 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