Farm-to-Fork Awareness Brings Bumper Crop of Support for Geary County Ag-Producers

While farming remains a way of life for many, at its core, it’s also a business.

Recent statistics from a 2024 Economic Contribution Report by the Kansas Department of Agriculture pegged 30 agricultural and agricultural-related sectors as contributing a whopping $266 million to our local economy, along with 800 jobs.

Tree nut farming, fruit and vegetable farming, dairy farming, grain farming, beef cattle ranching… Agricultural operations are richly diverse in Kansas. Especially in Geary County!  

It’s one of the reasons Junction City-Geary County Economic Development Commission (JCGCEDC) is tipping its hat to National Farmers Market Week, which celebrates its 26th anniversary in August.

Great Support

According to Kansas State Extension, Geary County is home to over 230 farms and ranches, many of which contribute to the Junction City Main Street Market and the Geary Community Farmers Market. Fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, meats, eggs, honey… you’ll find them all during these beloved community gatherings.

“In general, we have great support in Geary County when it comes to agriculture. This is felt
every year at the local county fair and within our USD 475’s FFA chapter,” said Jim Schmidt, Owner/Producer at Double KS Farms, Inc.

Both his and his wife’s families' involvement in agricultural production goes back five to six generations to the 1870s and 1880s, when their ancestors immigrated to the U.S.

“Both of our families have been involved in agriculture as far back as one can see, and good Lord willing, this will continue for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Farm to Fork Awareness

Originally declared by the Department of Agriculture to promote and advocate for American farmers, the annual recognition of Farmers’ Markets has expanded to acknowledge the vital role they play in our local and national economies. Not to mention, our food supply.

“When less than two percent of our nation’s population raises the food for the remaining overall
majority, a lot of folks go about their daily lives without any concern for how their food gets
to their table. We saw some of that change with COVID when we all found out just how
fragile the nation’s food supply was. Largely because of that, the greatest positive
outcome that we have seen recently is a resurgence in the desire to have a better feel for
‘farm to fork’ awareness,” he said.

That includes a greater interest in farmers’ markets in Geary County and those that supply their irresistible products. 

“Our friends out at Hildebrand Farms Dairy are a great example of putting this into practice every day, along with our neighbors that have Piccalilli Farm out on Lower McDowell Creek Road and, of course, Lyons Creek Local down on Lyons Creek Road,” he said. “It has been fun to watch this renaissance in locally produced 'farm to fork' products take place, thanks to great folks like this.”

Growing in Understanding

In addition to the support that Geary County residents gladly provide to its local farming and ranching community, Schmidt hopes that folks recognize the significant challenges facing those in the agricultural industry, too.

“I would be remiss if I did not mention the challenges faced with mental health and its importance in rural America, especially those directly involved in agriculture,” he said. “My family was hit personally by this very recently, completely out of the blue. It was a sad reminder that quality mental health is crucial when it comes to living a rewarding and fulfilling life. Like cancers and other diseases, mental health does not discriminate, and those fighting it the most are often the best at hiding it from the ones they love until it’s too late.”