Dear Editor,Kansas is deservedly recognized as a powerhouse in production agriculture. From the first settlers like notable Kansan C.B. Schmidt, who led the immigration of Russian Mennonites to Kansas in the late 1800s, to today’s farmers Kansans have always recognized the challenge and reward of agriculture.Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to travel throughout south-central Kansas talking with and hearing from leaders in agriculture, including Jim Schmidt, a descendant of those original Russian Mennonite immigrants, who still farms in Kansas. The challenges he and others face today are different than those faced by their ancestors.