Kansas Wheat Commission / Kansas Assn. of Wheat Growers Supplement to the High Plains Journal March 2013
Inside: Tour the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center
A New Era for Kansas Wheat
In November, the offices
of the Kansas Wheat Commission and Kansas Association of Wheat Growers moved into the new Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, officially entering a new era of wheat research and technology discovery unique to the state of Kansas. Kansas wheat farmers, through the penny-anda-half per bushel Kansas wheat assessment, are funding most of the $10.3 million, 35,000 squarefoot structure, which includes 15,000 square feet of laboratories, a 10,000 square-foot greenhouse complex and 10,000 square feet of office space. In addition to the staff of the KAWG and KWC, the Innovation Center houses the offices of Heartland Plant Innovations, “This facility fulfills a vision Kansas held by generations of wheat the Wheat leaders: that Kansas will always Alliance and the Kansas be the Wheat State.” - Justin Foundation Gilpin, Kansas Wheat CEO for Agriculture in the Classroom. The KWIC sits on three acres of land leased from Kansas State University, adjacent to the Grain Science and Industry Complex in Manhattan. Research space at the facility is occupied by Heartland Plant Innovations, a KAWG/ KWC initiative that is focused on developing new traits, varieties and solutions for Hard Red and Hard White winter wheat farmers.
Among the features of the Center’s research facilities are several growth chambers and freezers, plus laboratory pods in which researchers control the environment of wheat plants from emergence to maturity. Four greenhouses were built on the north side of the laboratory, including an airconditioned unit to enable research during the summer. The office wing includes a well-appointed test kitchen in order for KWC to continue to focus on nutrition education; a large conference/meeting room is adjacent to the kitchen for baking demonstrations and other meetings. A boardroom completes the office portion of the building. Several businesses and families have acquired naming rights of many of the rooms; funds from those naming opportunities have been placed into the new Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation, which will be used exclusively for funding wheat research at Kansas State University.
Follow Kansas Wheat:
Justin Gilpin, chief executive officer of Kansas Wheat, says the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center represents the realization of a Join Us April 26 for dream held by the kwic open house many Kansas wheat leaders. The KAWG and KWC will host an Open House April “Through 26 for the Kansas Wheat the Kansas Innovation Center. wheat checkoff, Kansas wheat farmers have joined Kansas State University, the State of Kansas and Heartland Plant Innovations to deliver improved wheat genetics to farmers faster,” Gilpin says.
The dedication begins at 1:30 p.m., followed by tours and refreshments from 2 to 4 p.m.
The KWIC’s tenants, the Kansas Wheat Alliance, Kansas Foundation for Ag in the Classroom and Heartland Plant Innovations, also will participate in the Open House. Reservations are not required, but if you would like to RSVP, call the Kansas Wheat office at 785-539-0255, or e-mail kswheat@kswheat. com.
“Kansas’ wheat leaders have prioritized wheat research The KWIC’s address is 1990 for years. This Kimball Ave. in Manhattan. facility ensures that Kansas will always be the Wheat State.” To learn more, visit www. kansaswheatresearch.org.
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Kansas Wheat innovation Wheat farmers investing in their future.
The Kansas Wheat Innovation Center represents the state’s single-largest, farmer investment in wheat research. The office space is anchored by the Wheat Growers Board Room, pictured in the top left corner. When a sliding wall is opened, the Kansas Wheat Spokesperson test kitchen (bottom left) turns the board room into a classroom. Additional meeting space includes the Polansky Family Board Room (top, second from left). The Center also includes 15,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory
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space, where Heartland Plant Innovations will conduct research dedicated to new genetic traits and technologies for wheat. Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin and HPI CEO Forrest Chumley (top, second from right) place the first wheat plants in the growth chambers in December. Pictured to the right is the 10,000 square foot greenhouse facility. One of the four greenhouses is air conditioned, allowing for year-round development of wheat varieties.
Kansas Wheat
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Kansas Wheat
March 2013
Reunion Brings Wheat Leaders to KWIC As Del Wiedeman toured the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan with his wife, Pat, his enthusiasm could scarcely be contained. From the Innovation Center’s molecular breeding laboratories, to row-after-row of environmental growth chambers to the custombuilt greenhouse complex, the complex symbolizes a brilliant future for the nation’s wheat industry. Wiedeman was one of nearly 30 past Kansas Association of Wheat Growers directors and Kansas Wheat Commissioners who visited the KWIC on Feb. 9. The mission of the first-ever “Wheat Leaders Reunion” was to re-engage those whose leadership shaped the current Kansas wheat industry.
“With this facility, built by farmers for wheat farmers, it’s like coming home again.” Aaron Harries, director of marketing for Kansas Wheat, said the gathering was a unique opportunity for past leaders to get reacquainted.
“These are the folks who laid the groundwork “This has been an for this Innovation emotional experience,” said Center. While the two Wiedeman of the event. organizations have evolved over the Make Your Mark with a Patio Paver years, strong Make a lasting impression in the BNSF Railways Patio at the Kansas leadership has been a Wheat Innovation Center by buying a patio paver - engraved with constant. A your special message - for a tax-deductible, $500 gift to the Kansas vision of a Wheat Commission Research Foundation. Each patio paver features three lines of text, 17 characters per line. Pavers ordered and paid in- home for full will be placed in the terrace each year. the Kansas wheat farmer Paver purchases will support the KWCRF, which was created to is something increase wheat research funding beyond the wheat checkoff. that these For more information, contact marketing director Aaron Harries at leaders have aharries@kswheat.com or log onto www.kansaswheatresearch.org shared and
KWC Commissioners Rich Randall, Scott City, Chair Ron Suppes, Dighton, Vice-Chair Jay Armstrong, Muscotah, Secretary/Treasurer Doug Keesling, Chase, Past Chair Brian Linin, Goodland, District 1 Mike McClellan, Palco, District 4 Jason Ochs, Syracuse, District 3 David Radenberg, Claflin, District 5 Scott Van Allen, Clearwater, District 6
it’s nice to see their dreams realized,” Harries said. Cooperation between KAWG and the KWC was vital to the past strength of the Kansas wheat industry. By their investments “With this facility, built by in the wheat farmers for farmers, it’s like checkoff, coming home again.” - Del and through grassroots Wiedeman, Wakeeney leadership in Topeka and Washington, D.C., Kansas wheat producers have paved the way for the next era in wheat innovation. “We need to conduct research in a modern way, and be able to position, adjust and innovate what’s coming down the road,” Wiedeman said. “This facility will help keep the U.S. wheat industry competitive for a long time.”
KAWG Directors
Kansas Wheat Staff
Gary Millershaski, Lakin, President Mike Jordan, Beloit, Vice-President Ken Wood, Chapman, Secretary/Treasurer David Schemm, Sharon Springs Past President, Randy Fritzemeier, Stafford, District 6 Theron Haresnape, Lebanon, At-Large Justin Knopf, Salina, District 5 Richard Kvasnicka, Winona, District 2 Roger May, Oberlin, District 1 Jim Michael, McCune, District 7 Marvin Schlatter, Hutchinson, Associate Eric Sperber, Colby, Associate
Justin Gilpin, Chief Executive Officer Cindy Falk, Nutrition Educator Aaron Harries, Director of Marketing Dalton Henry, Director of Government Affairs Julie Owens, Office Manager Bill Spiegel, Director of Communications Julie Winsor, Director of Finance/Human Resources
Contact Us
Kansas Wheat 1990 Kimball Ave. Manhattan, KS 66502 1-866-75-WHEAT kswheat@kswheat.com