Farm leader speaks from experience

By MARK SCOTT

The Manhattan Mercury

MANHATTAN --- Stan Ahlerich has experienced the ups and downs of the agricultural industry from both sides of the fence. He has sat in a boardroom shaping ag economic policy, and he has sat atop a tractor.

Ahlerich plans to use that experience as the 12th president of the Kansas Farm Bureau. Ahlerich, a fourth-generation Cowley County farmer, was elected to a two-year term during the organization's recent annual meeting in Wichita.

"I'm a farmer, and I'm proud to be a farmer," Ahlerich said. "I intend to be a farmer during this, and I have no aspirations but to go home and be a farmer after my tenure. I think that's important for the president of the state's largest farm organization to be grounded that way."

Ahlerich replaces Steve Baccus, who had been serving as interim president since mid-August. Baccus was re-elected vice president.

Ahlerich says he doesn't want to come into the organization and shake things up.

"I'm not here to change anything, but to maintain continuity and build on our strong background, making sure we're a viable organization in this state and in this community," Ahlerich said.

Ahlerich said he wasn't surprised by the highly volatile atmosphere at the World Trade Organization meetings in Seattle.

Ahlerich stressed that agriculture has a huge stake in the WTO negotiations and that the industry must get a higher priority than it did from the GATT agreement a few years ago.

Baccus represented the Kansas Farm Bureau at the WTO meetings.

Agriculture is paramount with these (WTO) countries," Ahlerich said. "They've been hungry before, and they understand these issues. They are going to make sure they can trade. We have to go to the table with the same desires. We're going to do it early and do it often. We want to make sure agriculture is not put behind TVs and computers and other things."

Ahlerich, who graduated from Kansas State University with an agriculture economics degree, has served as president and vice president of the Cowley County Farm Bureau board. He also has served in various capacities for the Young Farmers and Ranchers organization.

After graduating from KSU in 1973, Ahlerich headed back home to the farm in Cowley County.

"We were farming before Custer's Last Stand," Ahlerich said. His farm operation covers 1,800 acres, where he raises wheat, corn, milo, soybeans and cotton.

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