Alissa Kirchhoff’s Many Hats

Like many Kansans, Alissa Kirchhoff is what you might call ag-adjacent. She grew up in the suburbs of Wichita in a family a few generations removed from farming. But some part of her yearned for a more rural way of life.

“I think every kid dreams of this kind of lifestyle,” she said of the country community where she lives today.

Caring Veterinarian

Alissa knew early on she wanted to be a veterinarian and was drawn to large animals.

“I really wanted to be a cattle veterinarian,” she said. “I loved my science classes and how we solved problems in that world. We were able to dissect various animals, and I was fascinated by that.”

She studied animal science at Kansas State University. During an animal nutrition class, she met Colin. They hit it off, and Colin often asked her questions about the class tests.

“We weren’t cheating,” she clarified with a laugh. “We were preparing.”

That academic partnership set the groundwork for what has turned out to be a romantic partnership as well. The couple married in 2013 and spent four years in Manhattan. Alissa joined a mixed veterinary practice, where she cared for large animals for several years. The couple wanted to raise a family but had difficulty conceiving.

“Being a mom and parent was my No. 1 dream,” Alissa said. “I had to decide between having a family and being a large animal veterinarian.”

The couple chose parenthood and moved to Phillips County, population 5,000, where Colin’s family farmed. They grow row crops — grain sorghum, wheat, corn and soybeans — on their farm.

“Sorghum is our primary commodity,” Alissa said. “We also run some cow-calf pairs and operate a direct-to-consumer Wagyu-Angus cross meat business.”

When the young couple first arrived, Alissa was struck by how welcoming everyone was. She opened a small animal veterinary practice, a house-call practice for pets called Black Dog Veterinary Services. The community supported her.

“They opened their arms,” she said. “People wanted to help.”

Community Volunteer

Alissa was also approached to serve on community boards, including for the county Farm Bureau.

“It was one of the first boards who reached out to see if I would be willing to serve,” she said. “It was an excellent steppingstone to give back to our community and learning about the needs of agricultural communities like ours.”

Alissa embraced that opportunity and has come to value Farm Bureau’s role in shaping policy and promoting a rural way of life. Her participation has opened her eyes to the diversity of people and agriculture across the state. She has also served on her library and hospital boards and currently volunteers with Kansas Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers program with Colin, who works part time at a bank and on the farm.

“In agricultural and rural communities, we have to wear a lot of hats,” she said. “Even though we farm and ranch, have day jobs and are parents, there’s so much to be done in our community. There’s so much opportunity to wear those hats. Had I stayed in an urban environment, I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I’ve had. And I’m thankful we’ve been given these opportunities early on in life so we can help others.”

Agriculture Devotee

Alissa’s dream of becoming a mother certainly came true: She and Colin have four children.

“We’re very fortunate that we can raise our children in this lifestyle,” she said. “Our kids are very involved on the farm. Our youngest is just turning two. He’s very tractor-driven. From an early age he’s been enamored by anything that moves. Our girls — ages five and three — are more attuned to the animals and love doing soil samples with their dad.”

Alissa loves seeing agriculture expand horizons, not only for her children but also for her.

“I always joke that I’m a scientist at heart. My true love is research,” she said. “Agriculture is the best science classroom in the world. There’s always so much to learn. I’m still learning.”

Voracious Bookworm

When she’s not running her vet practice, parenting her kids, helping on the farm or volunteering, Alissa loves to read.

“I think that books open our world up,” she said. “I love living in rural Kansas. Where we are, there’s so much that I don't get to see on a daily basis. Reading makes my world a little bigger and my experience a little broader.”

Alissa has also written a children’s book. When her daughters were younger, a family dog died unexpectedly. Alissa was used to managing this type of grief through her veterinary work, but seeing it affect her children hit home.

“When it came to my own family, I was really struggling with what to say to my girls,” she said. They wanted to talk about the beloved pet, but Alissa said, “that’s not exactly how adults process grief.”

She wrote Good Girl, We've Loved You So, which another vet friend illustrated. The book opens a conversation for kids about the loss of a pet through stories of families saying hello and goodbye to animals. The main message is to be grateful for the time you have together.

“Both of us (Alissa and illustrator Jeanne Fox) in our practices felt like animals and people came into our lives and practices at just the right times and for just the right reasons,” Alissa said.

Eternal Optimist

Despite sometimes dealing with tough situations, Alissa’s disposition is as sunny as north central Kansas in summer. And if it sounds like she’s someone who’s always on the go, that’s a fair portrait.

“I do not like to sit still,” she said. “I talk fast, read fast and write fast. I look at every day as truly an opportunity to learn something new. It is a big world to explore. Life is our oyster.”

Sometimes exploring that big world starts right here in Kansas. From Cedar Bluff State Park in Trego County to Bowl Plaza in Lucas, Alissa marvels at the diversity in the state.

“The state is full of surprises. It’s such a hidden treasure,” she said. “And the people — hardworking, kind — I appreciate them so much. I love our state motto because I feel like that embodies Kansans. We shoot for the moon, but we know the path will be bumpy.”

When asked what she wishes people unfamiliar with agriculture and rural living knew about this lifestyle, her response was the care that goes into them.

“We care so much about the livestock and crops we raise and the communities we raise them in,” she said.

For a glimpse into Alissa’s rural life, follow her on Instagram or check out her store online.

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