2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award - Josh Roe

 

M.S. in Agricultural Economics, Iowa State University

B.S. in Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University

This year’s 2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award winner is Josh Roe. He graduated from K-State in 2003 with his bachelor’s in agricultural economics, and earned his master's degree at Iowa State University in 2005.

As the CEO of Kansas Corn, Roe covers policy, grower services and market development. In this role, he strengthens partnerships for the College of Agriculture by aiding internship placements, visiting classes and speaking to interested students on agricultural policy and agribusiness careers.

After graduating from K-State, Roe continued a strong relationship with the university. From 2005 to 2007, he was a USDA Research Fellow in Agricultural Economics, where he explored research related to rural development and agricultural policy. From 2007 to 2008, he served as a teaching assistant in the College of Agriculture. Beginning in 2008, Roe served as a water and natural resource economist for the Department of Agriculture, where he maintained relations with faculty through applied research and outreach projects. He remained in this role until 2014, when he transitioned to Kansas Corn as the vice president of market development and policy before moving to CEO in 2023.

Roe was recognized with the National Alpha Gamma Rho Grand President’s Award in 2020 and was selected for the Leadership Kansas program for his leadership and professionalism in agriculture. The culmination of his accolades and professional career shows his dedication to bettering the state of Kansas through agriculture.