THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND
LEGENDS AND LEGACIES
I was mesmerized by his intelligence, personality, leadership and commitment to agriculture. When I started looking at graduate school programs, I picked Kansas State University because of their reputation and Dr. Flinchbaugh was an advisor to the program. He will always be larger than life in my memories.
Dana Brooks
CEO of the Pet Food Institute
Dr. Flinchbaugh was nothing short of a legend in his field. His expertise made him one of the most coveted and trusted advisors for agricultural policy for decades.
Pat Roberts
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman
He has been my mentor for decades and will be fondly remembered for his wit, his wisdom and irreverence. He was one of the most unforgettable characters I’ve ever met.
Dan Glickman
Secretary of Agriculture from 1995-2001
I respected and loved him, and his presence in my life made me a better person. It is hard to put into words the impact Dr. Flinchbaugh had on those he taught or the generations of people who will benefit from his presence in ag policy. During my time in Congress, many of his former students have come to work on my team – 15 staff members and numerous interns – to serve Kansans and make the best decisions for our great state and country. He didn’t just teach ag policy, he taught rural leaders, and he gave his students the ability to think critically about what was important to them.
Jerry Moran
Senator
EDUCATION
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B.S. in Animal Science (1964) Pennsylvania State University
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M.S. in Agricultural Economics (1967) Pennsylvania State University
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Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics (1971) Purdue University.
CAREER
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Dr. Flinchbaugh joined Kansas State University in 1971. He taught a junior-senior level course in agricultural policy
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Lectured throughout Kansas and the nation on agricultural and economic policy, receiving 100+ speaking invitations a year
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Served as the Kansas Extension Leader for Agricultural Economics from 1984- 2004
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Served four years as Special Assistant to the President of Kansas State University (coordinating the information and public affairs activities of the University)
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Served for five years as Chair of the prestigious Alfred M. Landon Lecture Series on Public Issues
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Participated in two Japanese Trade Missions
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Led Kansas Agricultural People-to-People tours to the Soviet Union and European countries, the South Pacific, the Peoples' Republic of China and Africa
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Member of Rotary International
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Member of the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership Inc.
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Served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Farm Foundation
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Served as Chairman of the Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture authorized in the 1996 Farm Bill
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Authored more than 100 publications and co-authored a textbook on agricultural policy
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
“I’ve gotten what I call old fart awards - you get so old they put plaques on the wall. But the highlight of my career was the passage of the ‘96 Farm Bill.”
- Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh
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(Three-time) Outstanding Teacher Award from KSU College of Agriculture students
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Hildreth Award for career achievement in public policy education
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Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award from the American Agricultural Editors Association
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Distinguished Service Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation
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Excellence in Extension Award from the National Association of Wheat Growers
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Distinguished Service Award to World Agriculture from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents
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Veritas Award from the American Association of Agri-Women
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Wildcat Pride Award from the K-State Alumni Association
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Farm Credit Council Fresh Perspectives - Top 10 Award
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Pennsylvania State University College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumnus
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American Bankers Association Blanchfield Award
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Inducted into The National Agricultural Hall of Fame in October 2023
PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA
Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh (1942-2020) is synonymous with all things ag policy related. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone working in the industry who hasn’t been impacted by him personally or his legacy of teaching “alternatives and consequences.”
In 1971 he began teaching a junior-senior level course in agricultural policy at Kansas State University, and since that time, has become an ag policy icon. He served as the Kansas Extension Leader for Agricultural Economics from 1984-2004, has held various leadership positions across the industry, and lectured throughout Kansas and the nation on agricultural and economic policy (receiving 100+ speaking invitations a year).
And while he loved to tell a tall tale, Dr. Flinchbaugh didn’t spin yarn when it came to separating ag fact from ag fiction—dispelling myths with rational, comprehensive, contextual information, delivered with wit and wisdom. His signature process brings clarity and comprehension to even the most complex of challenges.
But perhaps Dr. Flinchbaugh said it best himself, in an interview with Farm Progress less than a year before his passing:
“In the end, my legacy really is my former students and the young farmers that I helped. All I want on my headstone is, ‘He cared.’”
EDUCATION
B.S. in Animal Science (1964) Pennsylvania State University
M.S. in Agricultural Economics (1967) Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics (1971) Purdue University.
CAREER
Dr. Flinchbaugh joined Kansas State University in I 971. He taught a junior-senior level course in agricultural policy
Lectured throughout Kansas and the nation on agricultural and economic policy, receiving 100+ speaking invitations a year
Served as the Kansas Extension Leader for Agricultural Economics from 1984- 2004
Served four years as Special Assistant to the President of Kansas State University (coordinating the information and public affairs activities of the University)
Served for five years as Chair of the prestigious Alfred M. Landon Lecture Series on Public Issues.
Participated in two Japanese Trade Missions.
Led Kansas Agricultural People-to-People tours to the Soviet Union and European countries, the South Pacific, the Peoples' Republic of China and Africa.
Member of Rotary International, the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership Inc. and has served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Farm Foundation.
Served as Chairman of the Commission on 21'1 Century Production Agriculture authorized in the 1996 Farm Bill
Authored more than 100 publications and co-authored a textbook on agricultural policy.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
“I’ve gotten what I call old fart awards - you get so old they put plaques on the wall. But the highlight of my career was the passage of the ‘96 Farm Bill.” - Dr. Flinchbaugh
(Three-time) Outstanding Teacher Award from KSU College of Agriculture students
Hildreth Award for career achievement in public policy education
Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award from the American Agricultural Editors Association
Distinguished Service Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation
Excellence in Extension Award from the National Association of Wheat Growers
Distinguished Service Award to World Agriculture from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Veritas Award from the American Association of Agri-Women
Wildcat Pride Award from the K-State Alumni Association
Farm Credit Council Fresh Perspectives - Top 10 Award
Pennsylvania State University College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumnus
American Bankers Association Blanchfield Award
