Stacy and Chaston Hoeme are a father-son duo who are committed to feeding a hungry world while preserving their ranch in the Kansas prairie ecosystem for future generations. Their dedication to agriculture and stewardship of the land is why they are this month’s Ag Heroes.
As the global population continues to climb, producers like the Hoemes are caring for the land to ensure that it will remain productive for centuries to come. At the Hoeme Family Farm and Ranch, located in Gove County, Stacy and Chaston Hoeme adopt production methods that allow them to maintain thousands of acres of pristine Kansas prairie. They strategically rotate grazing lands to facilitate fertile soil, clean waters, and healthy cattle. Like so many Kansas producers before them, Stacy and Chaston have voluntarily chosen a standard of conservation that is the gold standard for producers across the country.
In 2018, the Hoeme Family Farm and Ranch received the Leopold Conservation award for their active commitment to voluntary conservation. Stacy and Chaston’s flourishing land gained the attention of researchers who have conducted numerous studies on the ecosystem, including the largest study on the lesser prairie-chicken. Data from these studies have influenced public policymakers, other landowners, conservation groups, and the next generation of producers.
The Hoeme family’s diligence, passion, and inspiring achievements deserve to be recognized, and I am proud to share their story with you.
