Kansas Commodity Commissions

KDA remains involved with the commodity commissions through a number of different avenues. KDA assists in the reporting and record-keeping functions of the commissions. All phases of the election process for the commodities will be developed and conducted through KDA, including public outreach for potential candidates and voters, ballot formation, and follow-through with tallying the ballots and announcing new commission members.

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Commodity Commission History

The passage of HB 2674 (K.S.A. 2-3001) by the 2000 Kansas Legislature changed the structure of the commodity commissions (corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat and sunflowers) effective July 1, 2000. Under this new structure, each commission is considered an "instrumentality of the state." The commissions manage their operations in the private sector, and conduct elections for producers to vote on the commissioners they want to manage their crop's research, promotion and education programs funded with check-off funds.
Election Procedure

Upon registering to vote by Dec. 31, either by filling out the Commodity Voter Registration form that can be obtained from your county extension office, your county conservation district office, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, or any of the five grain commodity commission offices (corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat or sunflowers), or by signing a valid candidate petition form; you will receive a ballot by mail by Jan. 15 of that election year. You have until March 1 of that election to submit your ballot to the Kansas Department of Agriculture. The candidate winners will take office April 1. Any challenge of voter eligibility, the petition process or any other election procedure, must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of Agriculture between Feb. 20 and one week after ballots are officially counted and winners announced. The Secretary of Agriculture or designee shall serve as the final arbiter in any disputes that may arise out of the election procedure.
Who can participate?

Any grower who appropriately registers to vote may vote in an election for any commissioner representing that commodity and district where the grower maintains an official residence. Anyone who is a resident of the state of Kansas, has reached the age of eighteen (18) years before the next election and has been actively engaged in growing corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat or sunflowers within the preceding three (3) years will qualify as a grower. The 2023 election cycle will involve Districts 4, 5, and 6.
Commodity Voter Registration Form
2022 Petition Process (2023 Election Cycle)

Currently, candidates are seeking petitions to register in the 2023 election (Districts 4, 5, and 6). Eligible growers who wish to run for a position on any of the five grain commodities must collect signatures from eligible growers in their respective districts using an online petition, a paper petition, or a combination of both.
The 2022 Petition Process closes on November 30, 2022; paper petitions must be postmarked and online petitions completed as of this date.
Requirements to run can be found on the checklist below.
Candidate Petition Checklist
Statement of Substantial Interest
2023 Elections Brochure

Online Candidate Petitions
Candidates may now create a petition using a Kansas Department of Agriculture online portal. Once an eligible grower creates an account and fills out the necessary information for the petition, the grower will be given a public URL. Candidates can share this link with other eligible growers in their respective districts to sign their petition.
*THE ONLINE PETITION IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH MICROSOFT EXPLORER
Click Here to Create an Account (NOT COMPATIBLE WITH MICROSOFT EXPLORER)
Instructions to Create a Petition
Frequently Asked Questions

Paper Candidate Petitions
Candidates may also use the following paper petition form to collect signatures from other eligible growers in their respective districts.
2023 Petition Manual Petition Form
Commodity Contact Information

Kansas Corn Commission
1680 Charles PL, Suite 200
Manhattan, KS 66502
785-410-5009
Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission
P.O. Box 618
Colwich, KS 67030
785-477-9474
Kansas Soybean Commission
1000 SW Red Oaks Place
Topeka, KS 66615
785-271-1030
Kansas Sunflower Commission
Karl Esping, President
785-452-1519
Kansas Wheat Commission
1990 Kimball Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66502
785-539-0255

2022 Commodity Commission Elections

New members for the state's five grain commodity commissions were elected in early 2022. These members will represent Districts 7, 8, and 9 in the eastern region of the state. Commissioners serve three-year terms, and the terms will commence on April 1, 2022.

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Kansas Corn Commission

District Seven: Griffith Howard, Brown County
District Eight: Krystale Neitzel, Douglas County
District Nine: Randall L. Small, Wilson County

Find out more about the Kansas Corn Commission.
Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission

District Seven: Nathan Larson, Riley County
No candidates ran for commissioner in districts eight and nine. The Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission will appoint these positions.

Find out more about the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission.
Kansas Soybean Commission

District Seven: Gary D. Robbins, Pottawatomie County
District Eight: No candidates ran for commissioner in district eight. The Kansas Soybean Commission will appoint this position.
District Nine: Michael Froebe, Labette County

Find out more about the Kansas Soybean Commission.
Kansas Sunflower Commission

No candidates ran for commissioner in districts seven, eight, or nine. The Kansas Sunflower Commission will appoint these positions.
Kansas Wheat Commission

District Seven: Nathan Larson, Riley County
No candidates ran for commissioner in districts eight and nine. The Kansas Wheat Commission will appoint these positions.

Find out more about the Kansas Wheat Commission.

Kansas Department of Agriculture

Kansas Commodity Commissions