Bill House was a visionary figure in the world of agriculture in Kansas and across the country. When Mr. House passed in 2009, he chose to give back to the future of agriculture across Kansas. Following the sale of his land in 2024, the Bill House Legacy Funds were established at the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) to support agricultural initiatives and scholarships for students pursuing agricultural-related degrees.
“Bill House understood that the land is only as strong as the people who manage it. We are honored to carry on his legacy and lifelong commitment to education and leadership,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “These grants are an investment in the families and students who will keep the legacy of Kansas agriculture strong for future generations. We strive to carry out Mr. House’s vision of leaving the land better than he found it.”
In the inaugural grant cycle in 2025, 11 projects received grants totaling $100,000. In 2026, 21 projects through 9 organizations received a total of $200,100 in grant funds. These grants focus on supporting agricultural education opportunities across Kansas for all age groups.
The 2026 recipients of the Bill House Agricultural Grants are:
- Hereford Youth Foundation of America
- National Junior Hereford Association Fed Steer Shootout Program and Educational Field Day
- Kansas 4-H Foundation Inc.
- Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes
- Kansas State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest Enhancement
- Southeast Kansas 4-H Challenge Days
- Kansas Farm Bureau Foundation
- Agricultural Leadership Conference Scholarships
- Kansas FFA Foundation Inc.
- Supervised Agriculture Experience Grants
- Agricultural Educator Development & Retention Initiative
- Kansas Livestock Foundation
- Kansas Junior Livestock Show CFSEK Bill House Leadership Award
- Kansas State University
- Returning to the Farm Family Scholarship
- Transition Planning Coaching for Farm and Ranch Families
- K-State Junior Beef Producer Day
- Bovine reproductive practices workshop and reproductive efficiency conference
- Cow-Camp
- Enhancing training tools for cattle producers
- KOMA Cattle Conference
- Beef and Forage Field Days
- Pioneer Bluffs Foundation, Inc.
- Far Corners- A segment of Emil Redmon’s Cow Stories from the Farm and Ranch
- Southwind Extension Education Foundation Inc.
- Forage Testing Incentive – An Extension Effort to Improve Feed Quality & Profitability
- Soil Sampling Incentive – An Extension Effort to Improve Crop Production and Forage Quality
- Wildcat Extension Education Foundation
- Forage Probes
- Livestock Production Youth Programming Materials
In the spirit of Bill House’s dedication to the ranching community, the selection committee also allocated $20,000 to support Kansas livestock producers affected by recent wildfires in the state. This contribution to the Kansas Livestock Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund reflects a commitment to providing critical support for producers as they navigate the difficult path to recovery.
CFSEK would like to congratulate all the recipients and thank them for their work supporting the future of agriculture in Kansas and beyond.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2.8 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2025 and has facilitated over $28 million in total granting to Southeast Kansas since its inception in 2001. CFSEK serves the region by connecting donors with various charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving, which addresses present and future needs in our area. The Columbus Area, Fort Scott Area, and Girard Area Community Foundations are affiliates of CFSEK. More information about CFSEK and the Bill House funds is available at SoutheastKansas.org/BillHouse
