Managing Groundwater Challenges and Solutions

Groundwater challenges are increasing for farmers and ranchers across the country, both in terms of access to groundwater and groundwater quality. Hear firsthand accounts from farmers in two different parts of the country about groundwater challenges in their area and how they have approached these challenges. The discussion may cover utilization of state and federal funds, on farm practice changes, or other advice that may help fellow farmers.

Speakers:

Ray Flickner

Flickner Farms, Kansas

Ray Flickner is a 5th-generation farmer from Moundridge, Kansas. A Kansas State University graduate in Agricultural Education, he went on to earn a Master's in Education and taught various agriculture-related courses at different Kansas colleges, including Bethel College, Hesston College, and Salina Vo-Tech. During the 1980s, Ray began working in agricultural finance and banking, first with the Federal Land Bank during the peak of the farm crisis, then working for the Wichita Farm Credit Bank and the Western Farm Credit Bank, before transitioning to commercial agricultural finance in the 1990s and 2000s with Zions Bank. This diverse background not only allowed Ray to observe multi-generational family farms from a family legacy perspective, but also taught him that production agriculture must be sustainable – both in terms of financial strength and natural resource conservation. 

 Ray owns and operates Flickner Farm and created the Flickner Innovation Farm project, a partnership between his farm, university researchers and industry leaders to identify and test conservation practices in an on-farm setting. Ray served on the Groundwater Management District (GMD2) board of directors and was also a member of the Kansas Water Authority. Currently, Ray is an active member of the Little Ark Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) stakeholder leadership team. Ray’s work has been recognized state-wide: the Flickner Farm received the 2021 State Natural Resources Award from the Kansas Farm Bureau and the Kansas Bankers Association Award for Water Conservation. The Flickners were presented with the Leopold Conservation Award in 2023.

Jenny Holdermann

H&H Family Farms, California

Jenny Holtermann is a fourth generation California farmer. She grew up in Chico, Ca where her family farms almonds and walnuts. She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in Agribusiness Marketing and Fruit Science. She is the Executive Director of the Water Association of Kern County. Jenny and her husband, Tim, farm almonds with her husband’s family in the Wasco and Shafter area. Jenny and Tim have two small kids and live on their homestead in Shafter, Ca. She direct markets her almonds under her brand, Almond Girl Jenny and is a social media advocate.

Jenny is an active advocate for agriculture. She currently serves as President of Kern County Farm Bureau and a board member of the California Farm Bureau Board of Directors. She is past chair of California Young Farmers & Ranchers and is a graduate of the American Farm Bureau Partners in Advocacy Leadership Class 10. Jenny also serves on the Technical & Regulatory Affairs Committee of the Almond Board of California.