Don Lundquist, a long-time corn leader and Barry Flinchbaugh, an ag policy influencer were the first recipients of the Kansas Corn Impact Award, presented at the Kansas Corn Symposium recently in Manhattan. The Kansas Corn Impact Award was created to recognize Kansas leaders who embody the mission of Kansas Corn and have had an extraordinary impact on our state’s corn industry. 2018 is the inaugural year for the award.
Don Lundquist, Marquette, was the first recipient of the Corn Impact Award. Roger Pine, Lawrence, presented the award. Lundquist served many years as a leader for the Kansas Corn Growers Association and National Corn Growers Association. He was president of KCGA from 1987 to 1989. He served on the National Corn Growers Association board from 1984 to 1993. He was on NCGA’s farm bill committee in 1990 and was vice chair of NCGA’s government relations committee. He received the Field Service Meritorious Service Award from the National Corn Growers Association in 1996. He worked to build demand for corn by advocating for the livestock and ethanol industries and new uses for corn. He retired from the board in 1996.
“Through the years, Don has remained involved in Kansas agriculture. He continues to attend meetings and he also advocates for agriculture through social media,” Pine said. “He keeps in touch with his network of corn grower friends across the nation through his work with NCGA. If asked how we would define the word “leader,” our answer would be Don Lundquist.”
Kansas State University Professor Emeritus Barry Flinchbaugh was the second recipient of the Kansas Corn Impact award. KCGA President Ken McCauley, White Cloud, presented the award. McCauley noted that Flinchbaugh has received many awards over the years.
“This honor tonight is not a result of those awards but a result of your efforts in education and farm policy and the impact your efforts have on agriculture,” McCauley said. “You have influenced and put a Kansas touch on every farm bill since 1996. You have shared your insights with all of us at meetings, conferences, dinners, lunches and breakfasts for years. We all have become more knowledgeable about farm policy each time we listen to you speak. Foremost, you are an educator. You have taught many of the people in this room and many recognize you as one of their most memorable and impactful teachers.”
