ABOUT US
Carrying on the work of Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh, The Barry Flinchbaugh Center for Ag and Food Policy is a national leader in policy analysis and education.
We navigate pressing, complex challenges in U.S. agriculture and food systems to improve performance, competitiveness, and sustainability through educating on policy alternatives and consequences.
Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh’s work in ag and food policy has left an indelible mark on the field.
Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh (1942-2020) began his career at Kansas State University in 1971, teaching a junior-senior level course in agricultural policy. He served as the Kansas Extension Leader for Agricultural Economics from 1984-2004 and has held various leadership positions across the industry, becoming THE go-to expert in all things ag policy.
OUR WHY
Our goal is to enable thriving, competitive, and sustainable U.S. agriculture and food systems. We aim to:
Improve understanding of policy alternatives and consequences.
Enable informed decisions by policymakers, agricultural leaders, food system stakeholders, and the public.
Ensure that agricultural policies and strategies are based on facts and rational consideration.
OUR APPROACH
Through non-partisan, transparent conversations, we focus on identifying, clarifying, exploring, and proposing solutions for issues that impact agriculture's competitiveness and rural sustainability.
We seek out “wickedly complex,” difficult issues that aren’t easily addressed with empirical models or analysis. We bridge academia, industry, consumers, and policymakers through establishing facts and destroying myths while respecting values.
Inspired by Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh's personal dedication to education, we strive to nurture the next generation of leaders by engaging students in meaningful ways. Our signature activities include policy education, identifying emerging policy challenges through surveys, and convening panels of diverse experts to frame issues and explore solutions.
We also host policy conferences, produce comprehensive policy reports, and update economic indicators quarterly. The Flinchbaugh Ag Policy Chair and Flinchbaugh Fellows Program further our commitment to education and leadership development, reflecting Dr. Flinchbaugh's values and legacy.
OUR TEAM
STAFF
Dana Woodbury
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dana Woodbury serves as the Executive Director of the Barry Flinchbaugh Center for Ag and Food Policy. From its inception, Woodbury has been a pivotal figure in the organization, guiding its transformation from a startup into a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to non-partisan policy education. Through this journey, she has rekindled her passion for agricultural policy and the impact it has on rural sustainability.
Woodbury's background includes 17 years as the owner and manager of a service-based business in Garden City, Kansas. Prior to that, she worked in the agribusiness division of FleishmanHillard. Her community involvement is extensive, having held leadership roles on the boards of the Garden City Community College Endowment Association and First United Methodist Church, in addition to her participation in local political campaigns and economic development initiatives.
Woodbury holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Journalism with a minor in Milling Science, both from Kansas State University. She is also a graduate of the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program.
Woodbury can be found on the tennis court, near the water or reading in her free time. She is married to Lance Woodbury and has three children.
BOARD
Jay Armstrong* | Armstrong Farms | Muscotah, KS |
Mark Edelman* | Professor Emeritus Iowa State University | Boone, IA |
Terry Holdren* | Kansas Farm Bureau instead of KFB | Manhattan, KS |
Brad Lubben | Extension Associate Professor, Policy Specialist, and Director, North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Lincoln, NE |
Dalton Henry | US Wheat Vice President of Trade Policy | Randolph, KS |
Gregg Doud | President & CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation | Lothian, MD |
Jackie Hartman Borck | Retired | Manhattan, KS |
Jill Zimmerman | President, KARL, Inc. | Manhattan, KS |
Josh Roe | Kansas Corn, CEO | Manhattan, KS |
Keith Miller | Miller Farms | Barton County, KS |
Reed Middleton | Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Climate Resilient Cereals, Program Coordinator | Manhattan, KS |
Sara Wyant | Agri-Pulse Communications | Missouri |
Terry Nelson | Nelson Ag Companies | Long Island, KS |
Thayne Larson | Bestifor Farms | Belleville, KS |
Will Moreland | Moreland Farms | Wellington, KS |
Pat Roberts | Former U.S. Senator – KS | Washington D.C. |
Dan Glickman | Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture | |
Mike Johanns | Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture | |
Tim Steffensmeier* | KSU, Assistant Vice President and Director of Engagement and Outreach; Professor | Manhattan, KS |
James Flinchbaugh** | Veterinarian | Oklahoma City, OK |
Jennifer Ifft** | KSU, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Agricultural Policy, Flinchbaugh Agricultural Policy Chair | Manhattan, KS |
Ernie Minton** | KSU, Dean, College of Agriculture | Manhattan, KS |
Exec Committee *
Ex Officio **
ALTERNATIVES & CONSEQUENCES
“The reason I survived and became a respected voice is, I didn’t tell them what to do; I discussed the alternatives with them, the consequences, and they decided what to do.” - Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh