Kansas agriculture secretary speaking at K-State Oct. 25 about the future of agriculture in state

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Source: Charles W. Rice, 785-532-7217, cwrice@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Monday, October 16, 2006

KANSAS AGRICULTURE SECRETARY SPEAKING AT K-STATE OCT. 25 ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE IN STATE

MANHATTAN -- The state's top agriculture leader will speak at Kansas State University about the industry's future.

Adrian Polansky, secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, will present "Changes, Challenges and Opportunity is the Future of Kansas Agriculture" at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, in 1018 Throckmorton Hall. The lecture, sponsored by K-State's department of agronomy, is open to the public.

Polansky will speak about how agriculture is changing and evolving. He will discuss how change is inevitable, and how those in the industry can resist change or embrace it as an opportunity. He will suggest finding a way to accept, and even embrace, those changes to be better prepared to deal with what the future brings.

Polansky also will be awarded the College of Agriculture's Distinguished Service Award at a reception at 3 p.m. in lobby of Throckmorton Hall. The award goes to individuals who have made a significant contribution to Kansas agriculture. Don Boggs, associate dean of the College of Agriculture, said K-State is honoring Polansky for his visionary leadership in agriculture, his dedication to developing value-added opportunities and his promotion of Kansas agriculture to an international clientele.

A lifelong Kansan, Polansky graduated from K-State in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in agronomy.

Polansky was appointed agriculture secretary in 2003 by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. He serves on the Governor's Rural Life Task Force, the Kansas Energy Council, the Governor's Council on Homeland Security, and he is vice chair of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture's working groups on biotechnology and bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Polansky also has served on the governing boards of various agricultural groups. Among his awards is the 1994 outstanding young alumnus award from the K-State Ag Alumni Association. He owns Polansky Farms and Polansky Seed, both of Belleville.