Best Places to Raise Farm Kids: Mcpherson County, Kansas

If you're looking for enthusiasm about McPherson County, Kan., look no further than Jana McKinney, a Kansas State Extension agent for Family and Consumer Services. "The tradition of family is alive and well in McPherson County," she says.

McKinney will tell you that 4-H is very active and that FFA is important in the schools. As proof that the programs work, last year two McPherson students won national FFA scholarships totalling $4,000.

The community works to be sure that kids can be as active as they want in McPherson County around the farm, in town and on the athletic fields. The county's three local colleges are symbols to the kids that education is important and available to them.

Economically, McPherson County relies on agriculture. In nearby Salina, huge grain elevators dominate the horizon and railroads carry wheat to all parts of the world.

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In 2007, McPherson County planted more than 240,000 acres in wheat, 23,000 acres in corn and 43,000 acres in soybeans. Farmers and ranchers raised about 56,000 head of cattle, mostly in cow/calf operations in 2007.

But McPherson County is also home to facilities of three Fortune 500 companies. So there are jobs to keep the county's kids close to home.

"The people here have worked hard to keep things alive for the next generation," says McKinney.

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