Remembering Ray Gaesser

SfL Mourns the Passing of Ray Gaesser

~ Ernie Shea, President, Solutions from the Land

For those of us who had the privilege and honor of working with and knowing Ray Gaesser, there was something about his smile and infectious laugh that put everyone at ease and into a positive state of mind. A man of faith, his optimism flowed through his life work of being a steward of the land; a community to international leader; a visionary willing to do the hard work to manifest change and build lasting relationships. One of the founding thought leaders of Solutions From the Land, Ray was always willing to share his extensive on-farm experience as an innovator and collaborator, delivering clear-eyed counsel and hands-on advice to agricultural and policy audiences around the globe. His modest, humble way of telling you there might be a di erent way to understand our agricultural endeavors gained respect and transformation. We know this because he changed our lives and we will dearly miss his guidance, support and friendship. We are thankful but heart broken for our tooshort time together, with deep sympathy and condolences to the Gaesser Family. Rest in peace Ray…with love and respect,

~ A.G. Kawamura and the SfL Board of Directors

We lost a dear friend and mentor.  America lost one of its greatest servant leaders.

~ Don Villwock

The positive attitude, the working together, and revealing our “moral” responsibilities as farmers is the core of the message. Ray was a “fixer.” Yes, there are issues to be solved in this world, always will be. But, rather than complaining and/or being dismissive about the problem, roll up your sleeves along with others and work toward a solution. And, engage with those who bring the issues forward and have honest, open discussions about it. Bridge the gaps, because without doing that, the problems only multiply in their effect. Dividing us weakens us. Thank you Ray for your life. You encouraged all of us who came into your sphere! JM (Note: Ray was killed in a farm accident 3 weeks after this was produced. We lost a truly wonderful human, taken from us so unexpectedly. His positive spirit will be sorely missed!)

This might be the only place I get to share anything. And likely very few will see it. But, it simply made sense to respond because it was so classic Ray. It’s a stimulus to us to follow in his footsteps when we engage with others. You can’t help but feel better when you had the opportunity to engage with him. I fully understand why you would call him.

~ Jim Mosley

“Kevin and I lost a dear friend this morning. Ray Gaesser was like family to us and to so many Iowans. 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.

“I had the pleasure of working with him over the years, and I was proud to appoint him to the DOT Commission where he just completed his term as chair in July.

“He was bigger than life, and his loss is heartbreaking. Our family is deeply saddened by this tragic news, and our prayers are with Elaine and their family.”

~ Gov. Kim Reynolds 

Farmers, Conservationists Mourn the Loss of Iowa Corn, Soybean Farmer Ray Gaesser

~ Chris Clayton, DTN

Ag leaders, friends and family mourn loss of Ray Gaesser

~ Sara Wyant, AgriPulse

When I first met Ray, my husband AJ and I had just started farming. AJ was serving on the Iowa Soybean Association Board, and Ray was president at the time. I was invited to join them on many trips, and from the very beginning, Ray and Elaine made me feel welcome and included. That gift for bringing people together was simply part of who Ray was. They even came to our wedding almost 20 years ago!

Along the way, I became more involved in agriculture—and Ray noticed. Lucky for me, he called and asked me to be part of Iowa Smart Ag, giving me the opportunity to learn from the experiences and successes of him and others while contributing my own. If you have ever been called on by Ray, you know it is an honor—and very hard to say no!

I always knew Ray was one of a kind. As I got to know him better through this group, I came to appreciate even more his forward-thinking perspective, his willingness to ask, “Why?” and “How can we do better?”, and his determination to bring people together. Most of all, I will always remember his genuine humility.

That humility shaped not only how Ray led, but also how he made room for others. The Litany of Humility is a prayer that often reminds me of Ray. In a reflection on that prayer, Hallow describes humility this way: “Sometimes humility is being so comfortable with yourself, the person God created you to be, that you don’t spend time or energy worrying so much about what others think about you. Instead, you might spend that time and energy thinking about others, loving them, and supporting them.” Ray brought people together, valued what each person’s experiences and successes could contribute, and helped turn individual wins into progress everyone could share.

Ray showed us that true leadership is not about standing above others, but about standing beside them—listening, encouraging, and bringing people together so everyone can succeed. That is the legacy he leaves with me and with agriculture. His own words say it best: “When we work together, we all benefit.”

~ Kellie Blair

Iowa lost a giant of agriculture, stewardship, and character with the passing of Ray Gaesser. Ray was, first and foremost, a devoted family man and a person of deep Christian faith. His integrity, warmth, and steady guidance touched everyone fortunate enough to know him. Across southwest Iowa and far beyond, Ray was known not just as an innovative producer, but as a visionary leader who proved that productive farming and sound conservation go hand in hand.

On his farm, Ray led by example. Long before soil health and water quality became mainstream topics, Ray was pioneering cover crops, no-till, and common-sense conservation practices designed to leave the land better for future generations. His willingness to open his farm gates, share his knowledge, and mentor others helped shape modern agricultural conservation across the nation.

Governor Reynolds’ order to fly flags at half-staff reflects the immense respect Iowa holds for Ray. Yet his true legacy is etched into the fertile soils he nurtured, the agricultural community he tirelessly championed, and the loving family he cherished above all else.

Ray Gaesser will be deeply missed, but the seeds of faith, stewardship, and leadership he planted will continue to grow for generations to come.

Rest in peace, Ray.

~ Bryan Sievers

We have lost a great thought leader and advocate for agriculture. Ray was one of those generational people who understood how agriculture needed to change and was willing to demonstrate how that change could occur using his own farm as a showcase. I have to credit Ray for inciting some of the ideas that we were able to evaluate in research and demonstration trials and reveal the underlying principles and processes and how we could apply these at a larger scale. He was not afraid to ask the difficult questions about why we needed to have a deeper understanding of the processes that enhance both production and efficiency. We will all miss those quiet reminders of what potential agriculture has and how we can make a positive change.

~ Jerry L. Hatfield