By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Six years removed from graduating from Larned High School, Landon Erway
is emerging as a leader in the community that he always knew he wanted to come
home to.
Erway was named the Emerging Leader of the Year at the Larned Area Chamber of
Commerce’s banquet last month.
“All the candidates for the award were told to stand up at the ceremony,” said
Erway. “I looked around and it was a pretty impressive group of people
standing. I was honored to receive the award.”
After graduating from LHS in 2016, Erway went to Fort Hays State University and
played baseball for the Tigers. Erway graduated from Fort Hays in three years
and timed things out to take over his grandfather’s State Farm Agency in Larned
as an insurance agent.
“My grandpa retired from State Farm, and I ended up getting selected at the age
of 22 to run the local agency,” said Erway. “They took a chance on me, being
that young, but since then we’ve been growing with three awesome team members.”
Erway said it was always in his heart to come back to Larned, but he didn’t
know the move would come so quickly.
“It was always my intention to come back,” said Erway. “I love this town. I
have a heart for the town. My wife was able to find a teaching job and here we
are.”
Erway now sits on the Larned Chamber & Economic Development board and is making a push to
revitalize downtown.
“I started the Downtown Larned Podcast,” said Erway. “I’ve been interviewing
business owners and community members in hopes to lighting a match under us and
see some good change.”
Erway added his future plans focus on growing State Farm and helping more
people.
“I just want to make Larned a better place to live for more people,” added
Erway.