Kansas WIFE History

The first national convention of the Women Involved in Farm Economics organization was held in Sidney, Nebraska in 1977. Gloria Crane from Larned, Kansas attended that first national convention and was appointed to the committee that wrote the first constitution for the national WIFE organization.

Kansas WIFE was organized as a state association at Larned, Kansas on April 22, 1978. Gloria Crane was elected to serve as the first president of Kansas WIFE. Others who have served as president are: Peggy Arensman, Kinsley; Nancy Spiegel, Formoso; Shirley Roe, Courtland; Naomi King, Jetmore; Deanna Hobelmann, Republic; Jenny Hey, Jetmore; Ina Selfridge, Burdett; Ila Nelson, Formoso;and Nancy Spiegel, Formoso. Melinda Sorem, Jetmore is the current president of Kansas WIFE.

At the present time, there are 2 WIFE chapters in the state of Kansas. They are: Golden Waves Chapter #76, located in central and southwest Kansas;and Jewell County Chapter #91, located in north central Kansas.

Kansas WIFE members have responded to calls for action on agricultural and rural issues with letters, phone calls, pubic opinion messages, faxes, and personal visits to local, state, and national leaders. WIFE members have been involved in meetings and discussions leading to input on farm bills, transportation, energy, taxation, property rights, and trade issues.

Kansas WIFE members were present at the reception for Boris Yeltsin, President of Russia, when he visited Kansas. Members have also participated in conferences on issues affecting rural women at the invitation of the White House.

Kansas WIFE chapters and individual members have worked through the Ag in the Classroom program, National Agriculture Day's emphasis, extension programs, and in other ways to educate about agriculture in the schools and local communities. In fact, Kansas WIFE members represented Kansas at one of the first regional meetings about the Ag in the Classroom program and returned to the state to assist in planning the organization of the Kansas Ag in the Classroom program. A Kansas WIFE member served on the first state board for Kansas Ag in the Classroom.

Kansas WIFE members have testified at hearings about each farm bill since 1980, including the Full Agriculture Committee's Field Hearings on the 1995 bill in Dodge City, Kansas and the House Agriculture Committee's Field Hearing during the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, Kansas. Kansas WIFE supported the lawsuit urging the United States Department of Agriculture to strike out discriminatory phrasing which refused to let a wife be considered as a separate person and Kansas WIFE supported the legislative process to pass the "Farm Spouse Fairness and Equity Act of 1989" when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

On the state level, Kansas WIFE was an active participant in the 43-member Kansas Private Property Rights Coalition, which was instrumental in passage of the Private Property Protection Act for Kansas. Kansas WIFE also cooperated with the Chicago Board of Trade, Kansas Wheat Commission, Pratt Community College, and Kansas State University Extension Service to hold basic and advanced Marketing Seminars for Kansas Women in Agriculture.

Kansas WIFE hosts a weekly radio spot on KFRM Radio, 550 AM. In addition to developing and coordinating the CyberSpace Farm educational web site about agriculture, Kansas WIFE members are involved in a number of educational projects - for women in agriculture, students, consumers, legislators, and members of the public.

Kansas WIFE members have been active in the national Women Involved in Farm Economics organization. Several Kansas WIFE members have served as national officers, including Ila Nelson, who is the current National Cereal Grains Chairman. Kansas WIFE members have attended all the past national WIFE conventions and continue to be well-represented at the annual board meetings held in Washington, D.C..

Kansas WIFE continues to be a voice for Kansas agriculture and women involved in agriculture.