Wheat People

Business or Way of Life

Conrardy farm, Kingman, 1998.

Farming isn't always profitable, and it's certainly hard work, but it offers rewards beyond economics.

Definitely a business, farming is a major player in the Kansas economy. In a depressed wheat market farmers go bankrupt, local businesses close, and the whole community suffers.

Farming also is a way of life. Steeped in tradition, it reflects values passed from generation to generation.

Technology and techniques change, but a sense of community remains.

"It just so happens that farmers compete in a world community. They don't compete in a Rice County community, or a Kansas community. That's a business aspect of it. On a friendship aspect of it, our family has been lucky enough to have a lot of foreign guests, and so that has extended the boundaries of our community. We spent three weeks in Tokyo-- that's part of our community." Don Keesling, Lyons, 1998.

"I told somebody awhile back, I said, 'I hope when I get to Heaven, the good Lord puts me in charge of the wheat fields.' He says, 'Well, you better get there first!'" Paul Conrardy, Kingman, 1998.