Josh Roe: 2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award Recipient

Josh Roe, CEO of Kansas Corn, is the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.

Roe graduated with an agricultural economics degree in 2003, then went to Iowa State University for his master’s degree. For him, attending K-State was a “no-brainer.”

“I'm a farm kid, wanted to study agriculture and am a third-generation K-Stater,” Roe said. “My dad attended K-State, my grandfather attended K-State… My dad's side of the family [has] pretty purple roots. And then if you're studying agriculture, it's kind of the place to go.”

Growing up, Roe wanted to become a veterinarian, as he often worked with livestock. While in high school, he met some people that had gone the agricultural economics route, and the numbers intrigued him.

“[I] took my first ag econ class in fall of ‘99, and a lot of people kind of dread that class. Others just love it. I was in that latter category,” Roe said. “I had Dr. Bryan Schurle for it… The rest is history.”

After graduating from Iowa State, Roe came back to K-State. He entered into the Ph.D. program for three semesters, before transitioning to be a watershed economist in the agricultural economics department. Roe was recruited by the Kansas Department of Agriculture in 2014 to become their economist.

“In late 2018, I had an opportunity to move over to Kansas Corn and run their policy and market development,” Roe said. “In April of 2023, I moved into the CEO role.”

His career path has allowed him to stay in the Manhattan area, so staying connected with the university has been “really easy” for Roe.

“It’s pretty rare for a semester to go by, still to this day, where I don’t get asked to be a guest speaker in a couple of different classes,” he said. “Since I’ve been out of graduate school, I’ve served as either an advisor or on the alumni board of my fraternity. It’s just refreshing… to keep that involvement with the students.”

“Of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t say going to sporting events… It seems about every home football game, there’s a tailgate you’re invited to, it’s [Celebrate] Ag Day or ag econ is doing their own event… Staying involved through that is a big piece.”

Roe said that it was a “good surprise” to be named the 2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus.

“I’ve known over the years, had some great mentors and friends that have won this award. It’s been a great honor, and it was fun with the different media,” he said. “At the awards ceremony, [I] reconnected with some people I hadn’t seen in a while. It’s been great.”