Barton County Farm Bureau hosted its 104th Annual Meeting at the Parish Center in Claflin on Aug. 27. Besides conducting the business of the Association, the 100 members and guests in attendance were entertained by Jadynce Schroeder and were inspired by the guest speaker Amy Fergueson.
Sharon and Rick Hiss were honored as the 2022 Barton County Farm Family. The Hiss family’s application was submitted to Kansas Farm Bureau, and it has been announced that they have been named a Kansas Farm Bureau Farm Family and will be recognized at the KFB Annual Meeting in December in Manhattan.
Rick and Sharon Hiss
Rick is a fourth-generation Farm Bureau member and Sharon is a second-generation Farm Bureau member.
They have served on numerous Boards, committees, and assisted at many, many Farm Bureau events. Wherever and whenever you see the Farm Bureau banner displayed you know that Sharon and/or Rick were instrumental in organizing the event. Rick and Sharon have attended 16 Barton County Farm Bureau Annual Meetings and have served as voting delegates to 10 KFB Annual Meetings. They have represented BCFB at many national meetings as well. Rick and Sharon represented BCFB at the AFBF Conference in Atlanta, Ga., with the National Award winning “Pasture Labeling Program,” which they were instrumental in developing.
Rick and Sharon both grew up with the joys and rewards of being a member of a farm family. Rick grew up in Lyons, attended Barton County Community College and moved to Barton County in 1975. Sharon helped on her family’s farm from tending to the bucket calves from the dairy operation, along with operating tractors, baler and other equipment.
In 2000, Sharon and Rick married and together they maintain their farming operation. Sharon continues to go home to assist her family with farming responsibilities on weekends and during the busy harvest.
The Hiss family owns about 800 acres and rents about 1,700 acres. Their operation includes wheat, milo, corn, oats, and sorghum. They know the importance of being good stewards of the land and practice conservation of water and soil. They also have a cow/calf operation of 55 pair of Black Angus, Red Angus, and Hereford.
In the Farm Family award application Sharon and Rick wrote, “Our hearts have always been dedicated to the farm and we are proud to be farmers and members of the Farm Bureau organization.”