Ron Suppes

Suppes has been a Kansas Wheat Commissioner since 2003, serving as Chairman in 2013-2014 and is currently the Chairman of the newly formed Wheat Innovation Center Research Foundation.  He was Chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates from 2007-2008 and Wheat Foods Council from 2023-2024. He has traveled overseas extensively to promote Kansas and U.S. wheat farmer interests.

“It is my belief that I can make a difference and with wheat being a part of my livelihood, I should do my part to do just that,” said Suppes.

Suppes is a member of Kansas Agricultural Rural Leadership Class IV, serving as a KARL board member for six years. He is also a member of the Wheat Seminar Group, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, National Association of Wheat Growers, Farmer Direct Foods, Farm Bureau, National Corn Growers Association and National Grain Sorghum Producers Association. Suppes is a past board member of his local co-op and currently serves on The Kansas Ag Advisory Board for International Marketing as well as currently serving on a National Advisory Board for USTR representing Wheat, Oil Seeds and Small Grains.

Ron’s experience includes two years as an art instructor at Pratt High School and a high school principal at Fowler and Scott Community High Schools in Kansas.

Ron and his wife Shirley, farm about 12,000 acres. Their main crops are wheat and sorghum. Their daughter and son-in-law Shandi and Chris Westergard and granddaughter live in West Central Kansas. Their nephew, Jace Gibbs, and son, Shayne Suppes, farm with Ron and Shirley. Shane has two daughters.