Barry Flinchbaugh, Farm policy expert and longtime K-State professor, died Monday morning in Topeka.
Flinchbaugh joined the Kansas State University Agricultural Economics department in 1971 where he most recently served as a professor emeritus.
During his time at K-State, Flinchbaugh received three Outstanding Teacher Awards as well as several other agricultural-industry honors and taught about 4,000 undergraduate students.
“We are deeply saddened by the recent loss of Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh,” Rich Felts, Kansas Farm Bureau president, said. “For more than 50 years Dr. Flinchbaugh was a voice of reason and a counselor to agriculture and the leaders of our nation. His wisdom and insight on farm policy and international trade will not be easily replaced. His quick wit and abundance of humor made even the most mundane topics interesting. Dr. Flinchbaugh’s legacy also includes teaching thousands of students about agricultural policy in his 49-year tenure at Kansas State University. Kansas Farm Bureau sends its heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers to Cathy and the Flinchbaugh family.”
In addition to being a award-winning professor, Flinchbaugh was also a well-respected advisor in the agricultural-policy community.
He contributed to multiple federal farm bills, served as the Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture chairman and sat on several national task forces and boards of directors.
“We met when I called him more than 30 years ago to ask a question about Kansas tax policy,” U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran said. “Ever since, I’ve admired and respected (loved) him. He spoke his mind, told me what he thought and made me a better senator and person. His death is a huge loss to me and all of his many friends, and it is hard to find the words to capture a man revered by so many. There may be no Kansan whose company I enjoyed more.”
Flinchbaugh earned a doctoral degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Penn State.
Barry and his wife, Cathy Flinchbaugh, raised three children.
