Kansas Wesleyan asks $2 million to fund regenerative farming certificate and student supports

Kansas Wesleyan University presenters asked the Kansas House Appropriations Committee for a one-time $2 million appropriation to launch a paid, accredited certificate program in regenerative agriculture.

Alex Herla, presenter from Kansas Wesleyan University, told the committee the Heartland farmer-training certificate will be an eight-month, 12-credit program and said the requested funding would allow students to attend at no cost, provide housing and a $300 weekly stipend, and remove financial barriers to entering agriculture. Dr. Alan Smith, strategic adviser for Kansas Wesleyan University, described the request as “an investment in Kansas” and urged the committee to support young people entering farm careers.

The presenters described program details: instruction in soil science, entomology, pest management and animal science; on-site livestock (beef cattle, meat sheep, meat chickens) and field crops (wheat, barley, sorghum) with a market garden component; and partnerships with existing Kansas farms to place graduates. Herla said the program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and that the first cohort is scheduled to begin in March.

They cited examples of regenerative operations elsewhere and summarized transition economics discussed during the presentation: an asserted 60 percent decline in profit during the first three years of transition and, for farms that persist past that period, potential long-term profit increases (presenters cited a range of 70–120 percent and a return on investment of 10–15 percent). Herla and Smith stressed the program would teach incremental transition techniques so farmers do not convert an entire operation at once.

Committee members asked for clarifications. Representative Carlin requested a definition of “armor the soil”; Herla explained it means keeping living plant cover to reduce erosion and preserve soil life. Representative Bloom raised concerns about labor intensity and program attrition; Herla and Smith said the program will use the established Rodale Institute farmer-training model and Kansas-based partnerships to support graduates, and noted their own cohort experience as evidence some graduates continue in agricultural careers.

No formal committee action or vote was taken during the presentation; the request was recorded as testimony for the committee’s budget deliberations.

The presenters provided examples and projections but did not supply a formal implementation timeline beyond naming the planned March cohort start.

Kansas Wesleyan and its witnesses: Alex Herla (presenter, Kansas Wesleyan University) and Dr. Alan Smith (strategic adviser, Kansas Wesleyan University) appeared before the Appropriations Committee to make the funding request and answer committee questions.