Honoring the Meaning
of Memorial Day
Soldier reflects on family, fuel, and freedom
From Josh Willis’ vantage point on his family’s ranch
near the tiny southwest Kansas town of Kismet
(population 459), a quiet, country life suits him just
fine. It’s a welcome transition for the Bronze Star
recipient, whose eight years of active duty with the
U.S. Army took him from Iraq to El Salvador.
His time in the Middle East left an indelible impres-
sion on Captain Willis, 32. Not only did it influence
his views on the value of homegrown fuel and ener-
gy independence, but also it shaped his perspective
of Memorial Day.
“There’s a day to honor veterans in November, but
Memorial Day is for the fallen,” said Willis, who con-
tinues to serve as a captain in the Kansas National
Guard. “I had close friends I lost, and so do many
others who have served. Memorial Day is about
honoring them.”
Reducing our dependence on foreign oil
Military service has always been meaningful to
Willis, who grew up in the western United States
and developed a love of agriculture and the
outdoors on a small ranch in northern Utah.
“My grandpa was in the Air Force, and I always
wanted to serve in the military,” said Willis, whose
Army training has taken him from Fort Bragg,
North Carolina, to Fort Riley, Kansas.
Now that he and his
wife, Katie, are rais-
ing their three chil-
dren on his family’s
Kansas ranch, Willis
relies daily on skills
he developed in
the military, from
discipline to
problem solving.
All this comes
in handy as he
raises cattle, corn,
wheat, soybeans, sorghum, and alfalfa
with his father, Tom, and cousin, Dallin Willis.
Some of the family’s crops go into the production of
renewable fuels. “Ethanol reduces America’s reli-
ance on foreign oil,” said Willis, whose father serves
as CEO of Conestoga Energy Partners, LLC, which
operates ethanol plants in Kansas and Texas.
Willis gained a new appreciation for energy inde-
pendence during his service in Iraq in 2011 — a
pivotal time when he earned the Bronze Star. Willis
will never forget those days or his fellow soldiers,
especially those who didn’t return home. “So many
Americans have given their lives for our freedom.
Memorial Day is a time to honor their sacrifice.”
According to
the USDA, ethanol
reduces greenhouse gas
emission by 43%
compared to conventional
gasoline.
Top: Bronze Star recipient, Willis, on
duty in Middle East. Bottom: Back
home in Kismet, Kansas.
SPRING 2017
25