Jason followed a fifth-generation Kansan to Newton — where he fell in love with her and with the state of Kansas. He plans to live here the rest of his life, and he hopes to help make Kansas a place that more people want to call home. Jason is the director of Mennonite Abuse Prevention, a nonprofit aiding survivors of sexual violence in Amish, Brethren, and Mennonite communities. He also works at Grazing Plains Farm, a fifth-generation dairy farm east of Newton. Running a nonprofit and working on a small farm require frugality, creativity, careful planning, and hard work. Each day brings new challenges as well as opportunities to advocate for the marginalized, to speak the truth, and to improve our world.

Jason is married to Melanie Krehbiel, a 20-year public school teacher, and together they fostered and adopted two children Jason had learned to know as their Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Jason personally navigated many of Kansas's systems of care in addition to serving two years on the Kansas Mental Health Task Force. His experiences supporting traumatized children, losing a son to suicide, and working alongside survivors of sexual violence drive his belief in the possibilities for Kansas systems to promote resilience and healing.

Despite personal loss and amidst current local and national challenges, Jason remains optimistic about the future and aims to advocate for others at the Capitol, inspired by the Kansas state motto — Ad Astra per Aspera — to the stars through difficulties.

Work

Director of Mennonite Abuse Prevention and farmhand at Grazing Plains Farm east of Newton

Church

Melanie and Jason have attended Shalom Mennonite Church in Newton for 22 years.

Home

Newton, Kansas — on the banks of Sand Creek

Birth

1979 — in the same Reading, Pennsylvania hospital as Taylor Swift and Sen. John Fetterman!

Marriage

2002 — to Melanie Krehbiel, a fifth-generation Kansan from Moundridge, Kansas

Children

David (1996–2017), adopted 2011
Nadia (1998), adopted 2012

Volunteer and work experience

Work

  • Mennonite Abuse Prevention — volunteer and now director, 2018–present

  • Grazing Plains Farmfarmhand, 2020–present

  • Zimmerdale Carpentry & Design — self-employed construction and remodeling

  • Stone Creek Nursery — El Dorado nursery manager, 2006–2007

  • Flinthills USD 492 — maintenance and groundskeeping, 2005

  • Prairie View Mental Health Center — mental health worker, 2001–2003

Community engagement

  • Kansas Mental Health Task Forcemember, 2017–2018

  • Newton Police Department Citizen's Academyparticipant, 2017

  • Newton Nitros Swim Club — board secretary, 2014–2016

  • Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) — Butler and Harvey Counties, 2007–2010

  • Butler County Extension — board member, 2005–2009

  • Kansas Master Gardener — certification and advanced training, 2005