Senior Director of Advocacy at Kansas Farm Bureau—and sixth-generation producer—Ryan Flickner sits down with Aaron Harries to talk policy that actually touches the farm gate. From the Farm Bill stalemate and year-round E15 to trade philosophy and the real cost of inputs, Ryan shares how Kansas “punches above its weight” and why coalitions beat hot takes every time. He also lays out why protein’s a bright spot while row crops are tight, and how policy predictability drives long-term investment on the farm.
Then we get practical: rural apprenticeships that retain good hands, domestic well realities and water rights, and field-level innovation at Flickner Farms—from subsurface drip to 360 Rain and NASA’s FIAT project for identifying high-protein wheat zones. It’s a candid, Kansas-first look at risk, resilience, and the tools that help rural families keep farming.
