Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh, whose remarkable career in agricultural policy at Kansas State University spanned nearly a half-century, died Nov. 2 in Topeka. He was 78 years old.

The charismatic Flinchbaugh was well known as one of the United States’ leading experts on agricultural policy and agricultural economics. For more than four decades, he was a top adviser to politicians of both major political parties, including secretaries of agriculture, chairs of the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture committees, and numerous senators and state governors.

Flinchbaugh was involved to some degree in every U.S. farm bill written since 1968, and served on many national boards, advisory groups and task forces, providing input on domestic food and agricultural policy.

Flinchbaugh was also a big supporter of the Farm Foundation and served as chair of that organization in 2009. His Great Debates with former Texas Congressman Charlie Stenholm were a feature at Ag Media Summit for a couple of years.

Listen to Dr. Flinchbaugh here during a Farm Foundation Forum last year on implementing the 2018 Farm Bill.

Barry Flinchbaugh at 2019 Farm Foundation Forum