09/01/2026
š2026 Gray County Friend of Agriculture Award š
Connie Yost
Connie was born, raised, and educated in Gray County, Kansas, and she is proud to have grown up in agriculture. Her strong work ethic was shaped by her parents, who believed firmly that āhard work never killed anyone.ā From an early age, Connie learned the value of hard work and responsibility. She spent early mornings roguing fields and worked alongside her father, who never hired outside help. Connie and her sister were his hired help. They moved machinery, milked cows, and drove trucksāsometimes until they had blisters on their hands from trucks without power steering. It was a hardworking way of life, and one that Connie is incredibly proud to have been born into.
Connie attended Colby Community College in the Veterinary Technology Program, but her education was interrupted by the birth of her first son in 1979. Although she did not complete her associate degree, her love of animals continued to be an important part of her life. Working as an assistant to veterinarian Dr. Gibson became a calling and allowed her to combine her love of animals with her agricultural roots.
Throughout her life, Connie has been committed to serving her community. She has served her church as a Sunday school teacher and Awana leader and served as president of the Bluelight FCE Unit for more than 15 years. She served 13 years on the Gray County Fair Board and continues to be involved with the local fair by promoting and volunteering with 4-H. She also served a term on the Gray County Executive Board, four years on the local USD 371 school board, and three years on the High Plains Educational Cooperative Board.
Agriculture has remained at the heart of Connieās life and community involvement. When her son, Robbie, operated Montezuma Mills, a flour mill that turned locally grown white wheat into flour, Connie was proud to help represent both the white wheat industry and the flour mill. She gave tours to local school groups and community members, helping them understand how a flour mill worked and how agricultural products make their way from the farm to the finished product.
Connie has also opened the doors of her own farm to local students and groups, providing tours and hands-on opportunities to learn about agriculture and animals. She has enjoyed mentoring children, teaching them the importance of a strong work ethic, sharing her knowledge of agriculture, and serving as a positive role model. She believes in passing along not only agricultural knowledge but also the life lessons that come from hard work, perseverance, and responsibility. Those same lessons have been shared with the employees who have worked alongside her through the years.
In 2013, Connie was honored with the Friend of Gray County Extension award, recognizing her dedication and service to her community.
Although her role during harvest has changed over the years, Connie still proudly helps during harvest season. She may no longer be driving tractors or trucks, but she continues to play an important role by making sure the harvest crew has a healthy, homemade meal waiting for them.
Connie considers herself incredibly blessed to have been born into agriculture and to have spent her life surrounded by farming, animals, family, and community. She is grateful for the opportunities she has had to serve others, share her love of agriculture, and pass along the values she learned growing up.
For Connie, agriculture has been more than a way of lifeāit has been a beautiful life, and one she is deeply thankful to have lived.
Please join us in congratulating Connie Yost for being our 2026 Gray County Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture!
