Speakers and Panelists Congressman Ron Estes was sworn

Speakers and Panelists Congressman Ron Estes was sworn into Congress on April 25, 2017, to fill the vacant seat held by Mike Pompeo. In addition to serving on the House Ways and Means Committee, he serves on the subcommittee on Worker and Family Support and the subcommittee on Social Security. He is a proven Kansas leader who has dedicated his life to bold innovations in efficiency, reform and problem-solving in both the private and public sector. Congressman Estes is a fifth-generation Kansan. While serving in Congress, he, Susan, and their three children continue to live in Wichita where he returns home each weekend. Congressman Roger Marshall When elected to Congress for the first time in 2016, Dr. Marshall made three specific promises: Get Kansas a seat back on the Agriculture Committee, help write a Farm Bill that protects crop insurance, and jumpstart the economy by rolling back regulation and passing a tax cuts bill. Congressman Marshall was able to deliver on all three promises and the American economy is the strongest it’s ever been. Congressman Marshall grew up on a family farm in Butler County and is still involved in the agriculture industry. Before coming to Congress, Dr. Marshall worked as an OB/GYN, delivering more than 5, 000 babies. He and his wife, Laina, are parents to four children and two grandchildren. Shelley Hansel, Mayor, City of Wellington. Shelley Hansel grew up in Wellington, KS, graduated from Wellington High School and went on to earn a Journalism Degree from the University of Kansas. She spent more than 20 years in television news and radio broadcasting working in Wichita, Topeka and Phoenix, AZ. Shelley moved back to her hometown to become the Executive Director of the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB, a position she held for more than 12 years until deciding to run for Mayor. In May of 2015, Shelley was sworn into office as the first female to be elected mayor of Wellington. Her term will last until January of 2020. Shelley also serves as chairperson for the Regional Economic Area Partnership. (REAP) Shelley has worked and continues to do consulting for the Kansas Leadership Center and is currently the Senior Director of Foundation and Mission Services for Envision. Shelley is an active member of the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Wellington and has three children, Carson, 19, Elise, 17, and Vohn, 9. 9 George “Chip” Westfall, Harvey County Commissioner and Vice-Chair of REAP. Chip Westfall is in his 13 th year serving as the District 1 Commissioner for Harvey County. He also serves as vice-chair of REAP and vice- chair of the Kansas Association of Counties. Chip grew up in Halstead and has lived most of his life in Harvey County. He has 32 years of experience in law enforcement, working for the Halstead Police Dept. , Mc. Pherson County and the Kansas Highway Patrol, which he worked at for more than 28 years before retiring in 2004. He and his wife, Theresa, own farm ground in both Harper and Saline counties.

Speakers and Panelists John Niemann, President, Cargill Protein Ingredients & International. John Niemann currently serves as President of Protein Ingredients & International for Cargill’s North American protein business. He joined Cargill in 2001 and has served in multiple roles including vice the Chair of the National FFA Sponsors Board, and sits on the National president of sales and marketing, general manager of Cargill’s Fresno, California beef processing facility, and president of Cargill’s food distribution and turkey businesses. John is a graduate of Kansas State University and holds lifetime memberships for the K-State Alumni Association and National FFA. He currently serves as FFA’s Board of Trustees. John and his wife, Jennifer, have three children, Peyton, Trace and Hilary. Mike Matson, Industry Affairs & Development Director, Kansas Farm Bureau. Mike is Director of Industry Affairs & Development for Kansas Farm Bureau, a non-profit farm organization that works to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service. Matson has more than 30 years of professional communication and systems experience. His career has spanned three somewhat similar, but distinct fields – journalism, politics and advocacy. As a reporter, he covered politics and government for a Topeka TV station and later served as Communications Director and Press Secretary for Governor Bill Graves. Mike also managed marketing and outreach for the Kansas Leadership Center, a Wichita-based philanthropy which enhances the capacity of individuals and teams within organizations. An expert in systems behavior, in Kansas Farm Bureau, Mike manages relationships and partnerships. He’s currently managing the farm organization’s 2019 strategic planning. Mike and his wife reside in Manhattan, Kansas. Mike Ginal, Plant Manager, Ardent Mills, Newton, KS. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Mike has been in the milling industry for 40 years, following the path of his father and brother. Together, they have over 120 years in the milling industry. His career has taken him to four states and where he has processed five different grains for five different companies. Mike and his wife, Missy, have two sons living in Nebraska and Wisconsin. David Wendling and his family are fifth generation farm/livestock producers in Southwest Harvey County. They manage a 3, 000 acre crop operation and 300 head cow/calf feeder livestock herd.