OTTAWA, Kan. — Banners celebrating National Agriculture Week—March 16 – 22— have been hung along streets in Garnett and Ottawa to bring awareness to the impact of the local agricultural industry in each community.
The ag awareness banner project is in its second year in both communities. Last year, 10 banners were hung in each community; this year, additional banners have been added. The banners highlight different aspects of the agricultural industry.
Banner sponsors are Anderson County Conservation District; Anderson County Farm Bureau Association; Appanoose Trailblazers 4-H Club; Beachner Grain; Brummel Farm Service; East Kansas Agri-Energy; Easy Realty; Farmers State Bank; Franklin County Conservation District; Franklin County Development Council; Franklin County Farm Bureau Association; Goppert State Service Bank; Kansas Association of Conservation Districts; Kansas State Bank; K-State Research & Extension, Frontier District; Ottawa COOP; Ryan Disbrow – State Farm Insurance; and Valley R Agri-Service, Inc.
Numbers released by the Kansas Department of Agriculture confirm that agriculture continues to be a major contributor to the economies of Anderson and Franklin counties.
Agriculture and agriculture-related sectors directly contributed $210 million in output and 740 jobs to the Anderson County economy in 2024. Including indirect and induced effects, agriculture and agriculture-related sectors had a total impact of $261 million in output, 1,003 jobs, and 28% of the total Gross Regional Product. Anderson County has 611 farms accounting for 364,522 acres.
Regarding the Franklin County economy in 2024, agriculture and agriculture-related sectors directly contributed $358 million in output and 1,382 jobs. Including indirect and induced effects, agriculture and agriculture-related sectors had a total impact of $431 million in output, 1,794 jobs, and 11% of the total Gross Regional Product. There are 1,020 farms in the county, accounting for 355,436 acres.
Per the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the model that generated these figures does not include ethanol production nor wholesale and retail sales of final products.
According to local producers, a strong agricultural economy is bolstered by the cooperation of the whole community. Franklin County producer Jake Sylvester appreciates that support. “We are fortunate to have several local suppliers of agricultural inputs that provide great customer service to farmers and ranchers in our community,” he said.
Anderson County producer Connie Thompson agrees. “We live in a part of the county where we could easily do business in three surrounding counties but choose to support Anderson County ag businesses because they do a great job of supporting us. Little things like supporting the local 4-H kids at the county fair and donating to local festivals outside the city of Garnett do not go unnoticed,” Thompson said.
Another eastern Kansas producer, Doug Shoup, has similar thoughts. “People in our community understand the busy times of agriculture. They are sensitive to planting and harvesting, and, when the weather is tough, they are sensitive to the cattlemen about caring for their animals in brutal weather,” Shoup said.
Sylvester said the local communities could also contribute to the growth of agriculture. “There is a constant demand for workers in our agricultural industry on farms and at local ag retailers. The community could increase support by helping to promote interest in these jobs with young adults entering the workforce,” he said.
Shoup and Sylvester have ideas on how agricultural and non-agricultural sectors can work together to strengthen the local economy. The producers agree that promoting locally grown products is a good place to start. “Find ways to process products grown here, thus creating jobs and keeping revenue in our local communities,” Shoup said.
“There are goods and services that agricultural and non-agricultural sectors can provide to the local economy,” Sylvester said. “Finding ways to showcase those goods and services together to the public would help to strengthen the local economy.”
Creating an understanding of today’s agricultural industry is also important.
“Agriculture is a very diverse and rapidly evolving space in our community,” Sylvester said. “Those of us in the ag industry welcome questions and involvement by others. Understanding who we are, what we do, and what we value strengthens our place in the community.”
Introducing the banners to the communities is one way to highlight the many facets of agriculture. “We are excited to bring awareness to the importance of agriculture in our communities through the banner project,” said Lisa Rivers of the Franklin County Farm Bureau Association. “The banners will return in March 2026, and we are hopeful they will increase as additional sponsors step forward.”
