John O. Farmer III
Energy & Environment
Energy & Environment contains the interviews of individuals who were involved with the development and implementation of state energy and environmental policy from the 1970s through the early decades of the 2000s. The interviews elicit insights about the policy-making process, the assignment of priorities, and the give-and-take involved in reaching final policy decisions. Of special interest are instances in which Kansas developed singular solutions and means for implementing them. To explore this collection and others, visit the Kansas Oral History Project home page: https://ksoralhistory.org/
John O. Farmer III is the Chairman of the oil and gas production company, John O. Farmer, Inc., in Russell, KS. He is a 1963 graduate of the Missouri School of Mines, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering. In 1971, he became a registered professional engineer (by examination) in Kansas. He served on the Advisory Board of the Tertiary Oil Recovery Program at KU beginning in 1974. In 1995, Farmer was awarded a professional degree in Petroleum and Geological Engineering by the University of Missouri, Rolla. Farmer’s work as an engineer began with two years of active duty with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Germany after he graduated from college. Once back in the U.S., he went to work for Shell Oil Company where he held several positions. He left Shell in 1969 and joined his father’s oil and gas production company in Russell, KS. He served as President of the company from 1989 until 2015, when his son, John O. Farmer IV, became President. Farmer III was president of the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association in 1997-1999.
In this late 2023 interview, John O. Farmer III recalled his long career in the oil business with his family-owned company in Russell, Kansas. Farmer describes the evolution of the oil business over decades as technology changed and improved the possibilities for small- to medium-sized companies in the oil industry. He observes that federal policies and market price fluctuations have more to do with the success or failure of the business than state policies. However, he notes, the interplay of state tax policies can make or break companies that depend on low-production oil wells.
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