History
Kansas Vocational Agriculture Association (KVAA) was chartered in 1933. In 1961, the organization changed its name to the Kansas Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association (KVATA). In 1998, the KVATA changed its name to the Kansas Association of Agriculture Educators (KAAE).
One noteworthy fact is that up until the 1980’s, there was an organization of wives of agriculture instructors known as the Kansas Vocational Agriculture Association Auxiliary (KVAAA) and the Kansas Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association Auxiliary (KVATAA). The group elected officers (typically the wives of the KVATA officers) and met annually during the summer conference.
Presidents
1933-34 – J.D. Adams
1934-50 – Unknown
1950-51 – Glenn Shulthess, Haven
1951-52 – Clem Young, Cherryvale
1952-53 – Kenneth Henderson, Garden City
1953-54 – Charles O. Carter, Chanute
1954-55 – Charles Mantz, Smith Center
1955-56 – Emory Groves, Emporia
1956-57 – William D. Smith, Salina
1957-58 – Edwin B. Zahn. Iola
1958-59 – Harold Walker, Arkansas City
1959-60 – Lester Crandall, Ellsworth
1960-61- Sam Stenzel, Russell
1961-62- Virgil Lake, Kingman
1962-63- Julian Johnson, Buhler
1963-64 – Don Brock, Topeka
1964-65 – Don Hall, St. Francis
1965-66 – Fred Shultis, Great Bend
1966-67 – Ralph Field, Caney
1967-68 – Kenneth Pfaff, Hugoton
1968-69 – Jack McClaskey, Girard
1969-70 – Jim Macy, Minneapolis
1970-71 – Gary Jones, Peabody
1971-72 – Les Olsen, Riley
1972-73 – Joe Farrell, Hill City
1973-74 – Howard Wallace, Ellinwood
1974-75 – Ron Hollandworth, Wamego
1975-76 – James Housman, Columbus
1976-77 – Jerry M. Gee, Stafford
1977-78 – Oran Nunemaker, Morland
1978-79 – J.M. Frey, Abilene
1979-80 – Lloyd Barnett, Hiawatha
1980-81- James Hundley, Seaman
1981-82 – Stan Larson, Lawrence
1982-83 – Phil Kingston, Washington
1983-84 – Gale Seibert. Garden City CC
1984-85 – Allen Konicek, Rossville
1985-86 – Mike Womochil, Concordia
1986-87 – Aurthur White, SW Heights
1987-88 – Gary Jantz, Inman
1988-89 – Dennis Will, Chapman
1989-90 – Larry Hoobler, Alma
1990-91 – Kevin Harris, Chapman
1991-92 – Stan Newby, Winfield
1992-93 – Harmon Bliss, Jetmore
1993-94 – Lee Weis, Williamsburg
1994-95 – Kurt Dillon, Atwood
1995-96 – Russell Plaschka, Tonganoxie
1996-97 – Mark Harter, Mankato
1997-98 – Larry Gossen, Neodesha
1998-99 – Merlyn Spare, Stafford
1999-2000 – Dr. Bill Hunter, Pratt CC
2000-01 – Vernon Schweer, Blue Valley
2001-02 – Cary Granzow, Centre
2002-03 – Jason M. Larison, Holton
2003-04 – Gary Seiler, Cimmaron
2004-05 – Doug Zillinger, Northern Valley
2005-06 – Rex Boley, Elsworth,
2006-07 – Steve Buss, Jefferson West
2007-08 – Kevin Gleason, Uniontown
2008-09 – Larry Lyder, Hill City
2009-10 – Dan Stehlik, Republic Co.
2010-11 – Linda Chase, Wellington
2011-12 – Blake Lasley, Ottawa
2012-13 – Alan Boultinghouse, Girard
2013-14 – Jim Morgan, Louisburg
2014-15 – Danny Rice, Marias de Cygnes Valley
2015-16 – Bill Johnston, Jayhawk-Linn
2016-17- Ryan Miller, Cimarron
2017-18 – Jeff Gillespie, Anderson County
2019 – Mark Meyer, Marion
2020 – Jacob Larison, Riverton
2021 – KaCee James, Jayhawk-Linn
2022 – Bo Downing, Riley County
2022 – Jacob Larison, Riverton
2023 – Kelly Hoelting, Mission Valley
Executive Secretaries
1950-58 – J W Taylor, Manhattan
1958-67 – Mervin Stearns, Manhattan
1967-70 – Dean Prochaska, Manhattan
1970-72 – James Hundley
1972-83 – Jack McClaskey, Girard
1983-95 – J M Frey, Abilene
1995-2005 – Bob Whearty, Riley County
2005-2011 – Mike Stroschien
2012 – Doug Zillinger
2013 – Bob Kohman
2014 – Chad Epler
2022 – Carmelita Goossen
Executive Treasurers
2012-2014 – Doug Zillinger
2015-present – Jed Strnad
Membership Director
2014- 2015 – Rex Boley
2015-present – Laura Klenda-Bina
NVATA President
1964-65 – Sam Stenzel. Russell
NVATA Executive Secretary
1978-90 – Sam Stenzel. Russell
Region II Vice President
1956-57 – Kenneth Henderson, Garden City
1960-63 – Sam Stenzel, Russell
2003-04 – Dr. Bill Hunter, Pratt CC
Region II Alternate VP
2001-03 – Dr. Bill Hunter, Pratt CC
National FFA Board of Directors
Les Olsen, KSDE
2003-06 – Dr. Steve Harbstreit, Kansas State University
2005-08 – Jason M. Larison, Holton
Kurt Dillon, KSDE
Dr. Jon Ulmer, Kansas State University
Kansas FFA Advisors
1929 – W.E. Grimes
1930-1954 – Lester Pollom
1954-1971 – C.C. Eustace
1972-1977 – Dean Prochaska
Les Olsen
Vernon Schweer
Larry Gossen
Kurt Dillon
Kansas FFA Executive Secretaries
1929 – L.B. Pollom
1930-1941 – A.P.Davidson
1941-1956 – L.F.Hall
1956-1962 – Dr. Frank Carpenter
1962-1964 – John Lacy
1964-1971 – Harold Shoaf
1972-1977 – Dan Marrs
1978-1981 – Bob Broeckelman
Greg Shaffer
Earl Wineinger
Mary Kane
National Teaching Award Winners
1984 – Mike Womochil, Mankato
1987 – Lynn Rundle, Jackson Heights
1989 – Kevin Harris, Mankato
1990 – Harmon Bliss, Jetmore
1992 – Bob Whearty, Riley County
1998 – Jason M. Larison, Holton
2001 – Matt Schweer, Arkansas City
2008 – Kendra Linnebur, Fredonia
2009 – Gaea Wimmer, Centre
2013 – Tonya Brown, Coffeyville
2017 – Kim Clark, Royal Valley
2019 – Anthony Meals, Blue Valley-Randolph
NAAE Region 2 Outstanding Program
2000 – Arkansas City Ag Ed Department – Matt Schweer and Jacob Larison
2005 – Centre Ag Ed Department – Cary Granzow and Gaea Wimmer
2008 – Riverton Ag Ed Department – Jacob Larison
2016 – Mission Valley Ag Ed Department- Kelly Hoelting and John Bergin
2018 – Royal Valley Ag Ed Department- Kim Clark
NAAE Region 2 Outstanding Postsecondary Program
2019 – Kansas State University
NAAE Region 2 Ideas Unlimited
1988 – Harmon Bliss, Jetmore
1989 – Jerry Schmidt, Minneapolis (National Winner)
1991 – Jay Bohnenblust, Clay Center
1997 – Jason M. Larison, Holton
2003 – Jason M. Larison, Holton
2004 – Jerry Schmidt, Minneapolis
2013 – Daniel Stehlik, Republic County
2019 – Jerry Schmidt, Minneapolis
National FFA Agriscience Teacher of the Year Finalists
1988 – Jay Bohnenblust, Clay Center (National Winner)
1989 – Lynn Rundle, Jackson Heights
1990 – Joe Farrell, Hill City
1999 – Larry Gossen, Neodesha
2002 – Jason M. Larison, Holton
NAAE Region 2 Outstanding Teacher
2003 – Kurt Dillon, Atwood
2013 – Jason M. Larison, Holton
2016 – Jacob Larison, Riverton
ACTE Region 5 New Teacher of the Year (National Finalists)
199? – Russell Plashka, Tonganoxie
1999 – Jason M. Larison, Holton
2002 – Darrin Holle, Chapman
2021 – Laura Miller, Junction City
ACTE Region 5 Teacher of the Year (National Finalists)
19?? – Kevin Harris, Chapman
Jaycee’s TOYA Award – Ten Outstanding Young Americans
2003 – Matt Schweer – Arkansas City
Disney Teaching Awards – National Honorees (Top 40 Educators in America)
2004 – Jason M. Larison, Holton
2006 – Jacob M. Larison, Riverton
