Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), announced that he will bring Tom Willis—a southwest Kansas farmer, rancher, and biofuel producer—as his guest to President Trump’s State of the Union address.
Willis farms and ranches near Liberal, Kansas, and is the nation’s largest end-user of sorghum, converting the homegrown, resource-conserving crop into ethanol for domestic use and export around the world. His company, Conestoga Energy Partners LLC, has grown from a small startup into a national leader in biofuels innovation and production.
In addition to his work as a producer and business leader, Willis serves as Chairman of Growth Energy and as a member of the National Sorghum Producers Board of Directors. Alongside Senator Marshall, he has advocated for farmer-focused improvements to the 45Z tax credit and efforts to expand global ethanol markets—strengthening American agriculture and supporting rural economies.
“As we look ahead to the State of the Union, I’m proud to have Tom Willis representing Kansas agriculture and American energy leadership,” said Senator Marshall. “Tom’s work turning sustainable, Kansas-grown crops into clean-burning fuel showcases the strength and innovation of our farmers and biofuel producers. Expanding ethanol markets supports rural communities, boosts our economy, and helps reduce our dependence on foreign energy.”
Senator Marshall said he looks forward to hearing President Trump highlight the progress made over the past year, particularly for rural families, farmers, and energy producers. The President has prioritized unleashing American energy, reducing regulatory burdens, and strengthening agricultural markets, including efforts to make year-round E15 permanent nationwide.
“When rural America succeeds, the entire country succeeds,” Senator Marshall said. “I’ll continue working with President Trump to keep that momentum going for Kansas farmers and producers.”
