On April 28, 2020, as COVID-19 was becoming a global pandemic, Rick and Christine McNary of Potwin had settled in for the evening after they ate beef purchased from a Kansas rancher. Christine mentioned she had been at the store earlier that day and the meat counter was empty. Rick, knowing some farmers and ranchers who sell meat directly to consumers, grabbed his laptop and began the Facebook group, Shop Kansas Farms.
His mission was, “To connect you to the wonderful farm and ranch families of Kansas so you can purchase the food they grow.”
He made the group public and invited farms he knew to list their goods, then invited his friends to join who were looking to purchase food. The Shop Kansas Farms group grew to 5,000 members in the first 24 hours, 50,000 members in the first seven days, and more than 130,000 in the first six weeks. Through that growth, Rick added additional team members to help monitor the Facebook group, including staff members of Kansas Farm Bureau.
Today, Shop Kansas Farms has become a trusted brand with a website independent of Facebook where farms could list their products and consumers could find them.
In 2022, the McNarys went to Kansas Farm Bureau and asked if the organization would purchase Shop Kansas Farms to help foster its growth and impact. Although Rick went with no expectation nor request that he would be retained in any capacity, he was delighted when KFB said they would purchase it only if Rick would agree to stay on for five years as a consultant.
The Shop Kansas Farms and Kansas Farm Bureau partnership has helped continue to provide the direct-to-consumer market benefitting both farmers and grocery buyers.
Looking for a speaker?
Email skf@shopkansasfarms.com to book any of our speakers.
Stephanie Eckroat
Stephanie Eckroat serves as the 4th District Field Services Manager for Kansas Farm
Bureau, where she supports county leaders, strengthens local programming, and advances
member engagement across the region. She joined Kansas Farm Bureau in 2016, beginning
her career at the county level working directly with boards and volunteers.
Before her time with KFB, Stephanie worked for the Kansas Dairy Association and the
Kansas Dairy Commission, gaining hands-on experience in producer relations and
agricultural advocacy. She is a graduate of Fort Hays State University, earning a Bachelor’s
degree in Animal Science.
Stephanie is passionate about helping people understand where their food comes from and
building connections between Kansas agriculture and local communities.
Kylee Stout
Kylee Stout is the Business Development Manager for Kansas Farm Bureau. Originally from Salina, having earned a degree in Psychology from Bethany College, she also has a background of seven years as an insurance sales associate at Farm Bureau Financial Services. Kylee has honed her skills in understanding clients' needs and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.
Her commitment to supporting local farmers and ranchers is unwavering, as she believes in the importance of helping rural communities thrive. Whether she's helping businesses with workforce needs through the Rural Kansas Apprenticeship Program, or advocating for local growers through Shop Kansas Farms, Kylee excels in creating meaningful connections that drive business growth.