Released: March 02, 2007

Belpre Couple Earns Master Farmer-Master Farm Homemaker Award

BELPRE, Kan. – More than 40 years ago, Clinton and Bonnie Russell moved to Belpre, Kan. when they started farming with Clinton’s father and began their own operation. Today, the Russells own about 3,500 acres and rent about 1,000, growing wheat, corn and soybeans.

For their agricultural leadership, environmental stewardship and service to their community, Clinton and Bonnie are one of six Kansas couples that were selected as members of the 2006 Class of Master Farmers and Master Farm Homemakers. The award program is sponsored by Kansas State University Research and Extension and the Kansas Farmer magazine.

Bonnie, who is originally from Larned, and Clinton, who is from Trousdale, met in 1958 when mutual friends introduced them at a movie theater. Clinton graduated from Trousdale High School in 1954 and Bonnie graduated from Larned High School in 1959.

After high school, Clinton attended Oklahoma A&M University, now Oklahoma State University, where he graduated from a Diesel Technician course. Upon graduation, he moved back to Kansas. Soon after, he met Bonnie.

The couple married in 1959 and moved to Belpre in 1960 to farm with Clinton’s father.

“I think the biggest challenge we’ve had to go through was switching from dryland to irrigation,” Bonnie said. “But we just have to learn to adjust to the changes as they come. For example, since there is an increase in the demand for ethanol, at some point we may have to put more of our acres into corn production rather than soybeans.”

Clinton and Bonnie have used technology to help them adjust to the many changes that their farm has faced in the past. They purchased their first computer in 1999 and their first Global Positioning System (GPS) in 2004, Clinton said. They’ve also added 23 irrigation systems with fertilizer tanks and pumps and purchased a 140,000 bushel grain bin complex and dryer.

Although farm obligations keep them busy, Clinton and Bonnie find time to stay involved with community activities and organizations. When their three children were growing up, the couple tried to teach them the importance of good leadership skills, Bonnie said.

“My daughter and sons have all said that being involved in 4-H and other school organizations gave them better leadership and public speaking skills, which have helped them as adults and in their jobs,” Bonnie said. As adults with children of their own, Bonnie says that her children are now involved within their own communities and churches.

“We feel that if you belong to an organization, the best way to contribute is to become involved,” she said. “We have served on numerous boards and held offices in most organizations that we belong to. Being active in our church has built a strong support network that we can rely on.”

Clinton and Bonnie have held offices in their church such as treasurer and financial chairman and have served on committees including the pastor-parish relations and parsonage committees. Bonnie also taught Sunday School for six years and Bible School for 10 years.

Clinton’s been involved in and held offices such as Edwards County Farm Bureau board member, president, secretary-treasurer and voting delegate; Lewis Coop board member; water advisory committee member; and Lincoln township volunteer fireman.

Bonnie too, has volunteered for leadership positions with many organizations including: the United Methodist Women group; Macksville High School PTA president; the Family and Community Education state board member and the Education Program secretary; Edwards County 4-H Foundation president; and the Edwards County Farm Bureau president, board member, state membership committee member and voting delegate.

She has also served on the local election board for 26 years, is the past Belpre Library president, was a Southwest Kansas Library Association representative and helped organize the Macksville Recreation Commission.

In their free time, Clinton and Bonnie enjoy square dancing and traveling. They are members of a square dance club and Clinton was the club president for two years. “When we travel we like to visit museums and learn about different cultures,” Clinton said. “In 1992, we also hosted a foreign exchange student who was from the Netherlands.”

“We have always taken vacations with our children also and have gone to places like Disneyland, Disney World, Yellowstone National Park, Colorado Springs and Branson, Mo.,” Bonnie said. “We are a close family and never miss a chance to all be together to celebrate a birthday or holiday.”

Their oldest child, Craig, graduated valedictorian from Macksville High School and earned a degree in agriculture mechanization from K-State in 1983. He was also a member of the K-State football team from 1980-1982. Craig is married to Michele (Graham) Russell. The couple have two children; Robyn, 18 and Drew, 15.

Diane (Russell) Winter graduated from Macksville High School and earned an accounting degree at K-State. She works for Winter Feed Yard, Inc. in Dodge City and is married to Ken Winter. Diane and Ken have three children; Luke, 8, Adam, 6 and Ashton, 3.

Clinton’s and Bonnie’s youngest child, Ryan Russell graduated from Macksville High School where he was a member of the track team that earned the 1994 State 1A title. Ryan currently works in partnership with his father on the family farm and is married to Julie (Meyers) Russell. Ryan and Julie have three children; Brigdon, 7, Jenna, 5 and Mayce, 1.

The Russells also enjoy coming to K-State football games together since their daughter, Diane, has a box with Winter Feedyard. “It is so much fun to be able to have all of the grandchildren there now, too,” Bonnie said.

Clinton and Bonnie attribute the success of their farm to their use of available resources and keeping up-to-date on market trends.

“Using the advice of our crop advisor, accountant and banker has helped us to be successful in our operation,” Clinton said. “We study market trends to be able to market our crops in a beneficial manner and have set up a trust fund to make the transition from parents to children easier when that time comes.”

Clinton and Bonnie think that it’s important for farmers to take care of the land so that it’s available for future generations to use and try to contribute by using their own land in a responsible way. “The fourth generation Russell is living on the farm now and we hope many more generations will farm the land too,” Bonnie said.

-30-

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Leah Bond,
lbond@ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News