Oil and gas production in Kansas is a $4.3 billion industry.   Ellis and Russell Counties play a key role in that as two of the state’s top-ten oil producing counties.

It’s one of the few industries that actually added jobs throughout the recession, according to Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association president Edward Cross.

Speaking at Russell’s annual Ag and Oil Expo Tuesday, Cross said it’s crucial the United States continues to lessen its dependence on foreign oil.  America imported48% of the oil it consumed during the first quarter of this year.

The Kansas oil and gas industry employs an annual average of  nearly 13,800 employees at an average salary of $60,000.