CommonGround Kansas

She lives and farms in Grantville, Kansas, with her husband, Andy, and their two sons. Lavell and Andy grow soybeans and corn on their farm with Andy’s parents and brother, who also raise hay and cattle.

LaVell’s responsibilities include merchandising and management of their grain sales and farm financial records, which works out well because she is also employed by a consulting service that provides farmers with business recommendations and risk-management tools. Prior to that, LaVell worked with farmers in succession and estate planning. Because of her off-the-farm job, LaVell’s day-to-day routines are limited. On nights and weekends, she helps to complete projects with the greatest need. When she isn’t working, LaVell likes to volunteer, read, cook and garden.

LaVell was excited to join the CommonGround™ Kansas program in the summer of 2011 because she was raised on a farm and is confident that the way we produce food today is safe with better science behind it than ever before.

Twitter: @growing4tomorro
Blog: growing for tomorrow

Farming is Lori’s heritage from several generations back on both sides of her family, and her work has always reflected that. She is a farmer’s daughter, the wife of a cattleman and mom to two children. Even her education, a degree in agricultural economics with minors in animal science and women’s studies from Kansas State University, is rooted in agriculture. Before Lori and her husband started a family, she worked as the assistant grain manager at an elevator in town. And currently, Lori coordinates logistics for their small beef feed yard in Ulysses, Kansas; handles the accounting; and writes on their blog about agriculture. No need to say it – this woman is all about farming.

When she isn’t working, Lori enjoys watching her kids do anything from gymnastics to just playing around and being silly. She also loves to read, referees junior high girls and boys basketball games and has started to pick up running for fun.

Lori was excited to join the CommonGround™ Kansas program in the summer of 2011 in order to start conversations with consumers about their food and the truth about how it’s raised.

Twitter: @lorideyoe
Facebook: Grain Girl
Blog: Grain Girl

Teresa was the 2006 American Honey Princess, crown and all.  But that hardly serves as her only contribution to agriculture. Starting out, Teresa grew up in a small town in Iowa where her dad drove a truck hauling farm commodities. Teresa started raising livestock with her family when she was 10.  Now, she and her husband, Luke, are the fourth generation on his family’s farm in Alton, Kansas. Their son, Jacob, represents the fifth generation. They currently work with Luke’s parents to manage 2,500 acres of crops and pasture, including soybeans, wheat and milo in addition to raising 85 head of cow/calf pairs.

Teresa and Luke work very hard as a team to keep up between taking care of Jacob, managing their off-farm jobs and farming. But they make time to play with Jacob, watch movies and sometimes just drive around looking at crops. They love riding their all-terrain vehicles together. Teresa is passionate about her faith, and meeting new people, and enjoys traveling, reading and working in the garden.

Teresa enthusiastically joined the CommonGround™ Kansas program in the summer of 2011 because it provides her with a bigger platform to share the facts about food and farming with more women. She also very much enjoys the fellowship with other volunteers who demonstrate passion about agriculture.

Twitter: @teresa_brand 
Blog: Love and Life on a Kansas Farm
YouTube: Life on a Kansas Farm