There are more billboards going up alongside the biggest highways in Kansas saying “1 Kansas Farmer Feeds More than 155 People + YOU!”
The Kansas Agri-Women’s mission is behind the campaign which began with the Mertz family in 1977.
Harold and Jeanne Mertz were driving to San Angelo, Texas, to purchase livestock when she thought it was too bad that billboards sitting on farm fields said nothing about the farmers who own the land.
Kansas Agri-Women was founded in 1974 and Jeanne Mertz was a member when her campaign began with a hand-painted billboard erected by Thomas Signs of Manhattan, Kan., in 1977. It was on the Mertz farm.
“We lost a true visionary in 2017 on the passing of Jeanne Mertz. She helped show the impact our organization could have on spreading the message of agriculture,” said Lori Bammerlin, Kansas Agri-Women president.
The Mertz estate included a sign memorial fund to go toward replacing and installing signs.
