In Valley Center, Kansas, Steve Kempke passionately advocates for inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community within the agriculture community. As a dedicated professional, Kempke travels to work with cattle feeders through feed mill automation technology. When not on the road, he loves adding on to an expansive home garden and spending time with his husband, Brian. His experiences have shown him the significance of diversity and acceptance in the agricultural community.
“I’ve been in agriculture all of my life,” says Steve, who participated in 4-H and FFA and now works for Micro Technologies, where he installs, services, and supports feed mill batching systems.
“I’m proud to be involved in feeding a growing hungry world and love all that agriculture is doing to be more sustainable through technology and innovation.”
Despite the progress made in other sectors, Steve recognizes that the agriculture community still has work to do in terms of supporting LGBTQ+ individuals.
“While a majority of society has grown inclusive and supportive of folks like me, we in agriculture have work to do. We run the risk of losing valuable talent within all aspects of agriculture without a diverse and inclusive environment.”
Inclusion of LGBTQ+ in the Agriculture Workplace
Understanding the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people in the agriculture community, Steve shares his story to inspire others to live their true, authentic lives. “If my story spares someone the pain and heartache I’ve been through, then I’ve done my part,” he explains.
“I know and work with folks that have deeply held religious beliefs. I get that, and I respect that. We are just like everyone else. Our families may look different than yours, but we have many of the same values. We cherish the ones we love, and we work hard to support our families and do it with a great passion for agriculture. Open your minds and hearts and see that we aren’t that different.”
Steve recounts the exceptional support he received from coworkers after coming out. It began with an email to his operations manager, who promptly called him to express his support. His openness snowballed, and within days, he was out and proud to everyone. Today, he feels included and supported, and his coworkers often ask about his husband.
“If I could have one wish, it would have been to have the courage to come out earlier in my career. I could have saved myself so much heartache. I wish we had more organizations promoting diversity and, in particular, LGBTQ+ conversations.”
Inclusivity from LGBTQ+ People and Allies
Steve offers advice to LGBTQ+ agriculture community members: “My best advice is to share your story and take time to have conversations with other people. It may be difficult at first, but you’ll find folks are way more supportive than you ever imagined.”
He also shares advice for allies who want to contribute to conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
“For those reading this that want to be an ally, I would encourage you always to make those in the LGBTQ+ feel included. Include us in those conversations if you’re talking about family and life outside of work. Recognize that we are just like everyone else and have families and activities we love to do outside of work. Remember, it’s not about special treatment, just equal treatment.”
Steve stresses the importance of actions, not just words. He believes that demonstrating the benefits and strengths of a diverse and inclusive community is essential for fostering a sense of belonging and support for LGBTQ+ individuals in agriculture.
As we improve visibility and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in agriculture, Steve shares his hopes for the future. “My hope is that one day, young people don’t have to be afraid to be who they are, that they find happiness in this great big world, and that we finally learn to value and embrace our differences. At the end of the day, love is love.”
You can connect with Steve on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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