Iowa Flags Will Fly at Half-Staff to Remember Ray Gaesser
After remembering the victims of 9/11 earlier this month, our flags return to half-staff as the state honors an agriculture stalwart. Ray Gaesser is a man who spent nearly five decades working the land and serving Iowa agriculture.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered flags across the state to be flown at half-staff in honor and remembrance of Mr. Gaesser, a longtime Corning-area farmer and nationally recognized agricultural leader who died September 5th following a farm accident. Gaesser was 73.
“He will long be remembered as one of our greatest farmers, innovators, and advocates. Known for his work in biofuels and conservation practices, he set high standards and led by example. He was ready and willing to serve whenever asked, giving so much of himself to so many causes, and always with purpose and intention.”
-Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds
The flags will be lowered from sunrise Friday, September 18th, through sunset Sunday, September 20th. The order covers the State Capitol, Capitol Complex and public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout Iowa. Individuals, businesses, schools and local governments are also encouraged to participate.
Gaesser's story in agriculture started long before he became a familiar name in farm organizations. Born in Mariah Hill, Indiana, on September 14th, 1952, Gaesser took over the daily activities of his family's farm when he was just 15 years old after his father died. He married Elaine Meny in 1977, and that same year the couple began Gaesser Farms near Corning, IA. What started with a few acres eventually grew into an operation of roughly 6,000 acres of owned, rented, and custom-farmed ground.
Along the way, Gaesser became involved in agricultural organizations at both the state and national levels. He served as president of the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board, president of the Iowa Soybean Association and president of the American Soybean Association. He also served in a number of other leadership and board positions involving conservation, renewable energy, agriculture and transportation
His work was recognized with several awards, including the 1999 Lenox Rotary Rural/Urban Good Citizen Award, the 2012 Master Farmer Award and the 2018 Distinguished Leader Award from the American Soybean Association.
Gaesser was described as someone known for taking on difficult issues while maintaining a positive and practical approach. Gaesser believed farmers could accomplish more by working together and was often quoted saying, "When we all work together, we all benefit." People That idea appears to have followed him throughout his career, from his work with Iowa soybean farmers to his efforts involving conservation and renewable energy.
Gaesser's funeral arrangements will also bring together family, friends, and members of the agricultural community. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 AM Saturday, September 19th, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Lenox. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 2 PM on Sunday, September 20th, at the World Food Prize in Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund or the Ray Gaesser Scholarship Fund.
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