He was a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives representing the 115th District which includes a southern section of Dodge City, Ashland, Fowler, Meade, Plains, Copeland, Montezuma, Ensign, Ingalls and Cimarron in southwestern Kansas from 2011 to 2017.
[2][3] Ryckman's first term began in January 2011 when he was elected by precinct people to replace Garrett Love who was elected to the State Senate after defeating former Speaker Melvin Neufeld.
[4] Ryckman served in the United States Army from 1970-72 before beginning his twenty-nine-year career as a public school teacher.
He served on the Meade School Board from 2009 until elected to the Kansas House.
[5] On March 4, 2021, Ryckman was appointed to the Senate after the death of Bud Estes.