Ron Brown is a farmer in Bourbon County near Fort Scott, Kansas. He has been producing for the Fort Scott Farmers Market for 15 years and has farmed his entire life. His production includes strawberries, blackberries, potatoes, tomatoes, and many other vegetables. His primary crop is pumpkins and fall decorations. He was appointed chairman of the Farm to Food Task force by Gov. Sam Brownback in August 2014. He has been on his local conservation district board for over 30 years and is past president and currently the vice-president. He also serves on the Kansas Assn. of Conservation Districts board and is past president. Also, served on the Executive Board of the National Assn. of Conservation District and is currently Chairman of the Stewardship & Education Foundation Committee. He is president of the Se-Kan RC & D which includes 11 counties in Southeast Kansas and recently elected President of Southwest States RC & D which includes Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana. For the past 14 years, he has chaired the Marais Des Cygnes Basin Advisory committee and is the past president of the Kansas Vegetables Growers Association. He represents KACD and RC & D on the Kansas Technical committee. He is presently experimenting with No Till and cover crops on his pumpkin patch which is approximately 5 acres and utilizes a 30′ x 84′ high tunnel for vegetables. Ron is married to Beverly and will celebrate 40 years of marriage this coming January. They have 5 children, Ron Jr., Ronnette, Melinda, Sheila, and Keith, all in which was raised on the farm where Ron and Beverly still currently live. They also have 10 grandchildren and will have their first great grandchild this next March.
Ron Brown will be presenting the following on Friday:
3:30 p.m. Kansas Local Food and Farm Task Force Ron Brown and Senator Tom Hawk
SB380 established a Local Food and Farm Task Force that has been meeting for the past year. This group was charged with the study of local food in our state and was tasked with making recommendations to the Kansas Legislature to enhance this area. Chairman Ron Brown and State Senator Tom Hawk will share the major information gained from the work of the Task Force and some potential recommendations that will be made to the Legislature.