Kansas Farm Bureau’s (KFB) Rural Kansas Apprenticeship Program (RKAP) received a $381,000 grant from the Kansas City-based Patterson Family Foundation to expand the trades workforce in rural Kansas.

“RKAP is committed to building a high-quality workforce in rural Kansas,” says Joel Leftwich, KFB chief strategy officer. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Patterson Family Foundation for this grant supporting RKAP’s work to help businesses train and retrain qualified labor.”

The Patterson Family Foundation is a family-led foundation that extends the legacy of Neal and Jeanne Patterson. The Foundation’s mission, “Working together to help rural communities thrive,” is carried forward through strategic grantmaking and other collaborative initiatives that serve rural counties across Kansas and western Missouri. 

The multiyear grant will allow RKAP to educate employers about how registered apprenticeships can build talent and increase retention to meet their workforce needs. The funding will also allow RKAP to provide mini grants to help employers pay for apprentice training costs.

Created in 2022, RKAP creates and manages apprenticeship programs focused on careers in agriculture and rural communities designed to provide career pathways for farmers, ranchers and small businesses in rural communities. Registered apprenticeships benefit employers by developing a skilled and loyal workforce. Meanwhile, apprentices enjoy a full-time job with a certified credential showing mastery of their craft.

Learn more about KFB’s RKAP at www.kfb.org/rkap.