Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow: Meet Delaney Galaviz-Chavez

In the High Plains, where harvest seasons are measured in long days, dusty sunsets and generations of hard work, Delaney Galaviz-Chavez is exactly where she belongs. Whether she's helping manage records in the farm office, climbing into the combine during harvest or sharing the realities of farm life with thousands of people online, Delaney represents a new generation of agricultural leaders who are deeply rooted in tradition while embracing the opportunities of the future.

For the Galaviz-Chavez family, agriculture has never been just an industry; it has always been family. Raised on her family's fourth-generation farm in Scott City, Delaney grew up surrounded by the daily rhythms of production agriculture. Today, she works alongside her parents and older brother as part of a diversified family operation that produces grain sorghum, wheat, corn, grain sorghum and Angus cattle.

"Our story in agriculture goes all the way back to my great grandpa," Delaney said. "He worked for a farmer outside of the family. Through hard work, he had the opportunity to start renting land and building something of their own."

That legacy of perseverance eventually brought together two farming families, creating the operation that exists today — France Family Farms.

"Now we get to carry both the legacies, and I am proud to be the fourth generation," Delaney said. “Faith, family and farming are truly the foundation of everything we do and live by."

One crop that carries that legacy into the future is grain sorghum.

"Sorghum plays a really important role in helping us protect both our land and our water resources," she explained.

Farming in western Kansas means water conservation is not simply a goal; it is a necessity. With unpredictable rainfall, Delaney says choosing which crops to grow is one of the most important decisions a farmer can make. Sorghum is often called the "water-sipping crop" for good reason: It requires significantly less water than other crops.

Her family farms above the Ogallala Aquifer, where declining water levels have become an important concern for many farmers across the region.

"Being mindful of our water use is a huge priority for us," she said.

In addition to its drought tolerance, sorghum can also contribute to healthier soils and stronger long-term sustainability.

"It has strong roots, which helps with soil health, retaining water as the crop grows and preventing erosion. It is not just about using less water; it is about improving the land for future generations," she said. "One of the biggest things that excites me about sorghum is how dependable it is, especially during tough times."

Delaney recalls hearing stories from her grandfather about the farm economy of the 1980s and how sorghum helped keep their family operation afloat.

"My grandpa always said sorghum was the only crop he could afford to plant and trust to yield," she said.

Today, with rising farming costs and uncertainty surrounding exports, these lessons still carry weight. But for Delaney, the sorghum story extends beyond economics.

"It is not just something we grow; it is something that can genuinely benefit people," she said.

As consumer interest grows around nutrition, gluten-free products and food sourced directly from farms, Delaney believes sorghum is an important part of the story of agriculture. She is helping connect that story directly with consumers through social media.

Over the past few years, she has built an audience by sharing "day in the life" harvest videos, sunrise starts, equipment breakdowns, late nights in the fields and the teamwork that helps keep a family operation moving. For her, telling agriculture's story is about authenticity.

"My harvest videos consistently get more views and engagement than anything else I post," she said. "That tells me people really do want to know where their food comes from. I want people to see the real side of farming — the good, the bad and the messy parts."

As she looks toward the future, Delaney hopes to continue building both her family's operation and the connection with consumers.

"I want my future kids to grow up the same way I did riding in combines, being in trucks, being in the field and understanding the value of hard work," she said.

For Delaney, returning to the farm as a young grower was never simply about preserving the past; it was about honoring a legacy while building something strong enough to carry into the future. And on the Kansas plains, where faith, family and farming continue to guide each new season, that future looks bright for this fourth-generation farmer.