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Tag: Harold Mertz

Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: River Creek Farms, Mertz family – Part 2

Posted on by Mary Lou Peter

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and two U.S. senators enter the room. That sounds like a description of a Washington, D.C. hearing room, but in this case, it refers to what happened recently in the stone barn of a leading farm family in rural Kansas.

(L to R) Mary and Bob Mertz, Joe and Kim Mertz

Last week we learned about longtime agricultural leaders Jeanne and Harold Mertz of River Creek Farms near Manhattan. Today, River Creek Farms is owned by two of their sons, Joe and Bob, and their wives Kim and Mary, respectively. The Mertz farm recently hosted the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for a meeting with Kansas farm leaders.

Continue reading “Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: River Creek Farms, Mertz family – Part 2” →

Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Harold and Jeanne Mertz, agriculture advocates

Posted on by Mary Lou Peter

“1 Kansas farmer feeds more than 155 people + You!” Signs proclaiming this message are frequently seen along the highways and byways of Kansas. These signs demonstrate the passionate advocacy for agriculture which is found in an innovative farm family in rural Kansas.

Jeanne Mertz posed near one of the original signs paying tribute to Kansas farmers.

Jeanne and Harold Mertz were the farm couple who initiated this farm sign project and other projects to benefit agriculture. Harold grew up on a farm southeast of Manhattan.  He was a charter member of the Zeandale 4-H Club. During his last year in 4-H, he showed the grand champion steer at the American Royal.

Harold attended K-State where he met Jeanne, who was born in Kansas City, Kansas and had grown up in Oskaloosa. They married and moved back to his family farm, which was named River Creek Farms because it was situated in the Kaw River valley between the Kansas River and Deep Creek.

The Mertzs were grain farmers and producers of cattle and sheep. Harold would feed thousands of lambs in a typical winter. The Mertzs also raised five children: Joe, Tom, Bob, Jane, and Jon.

Continue reading “Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Harold and Jeanne Mertz, agriculture advocates” →