Stockholders to vote on proposed by-law changes

MKC’s board of directors will ask for stockholder’s approval to adopt four changes to the Cooperative’s Articles of Incorporation and By-laws at the annual meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 19, at the Bicentennial Center in Salina.

If approved, the proposed changes would allow members the option to vote by means of electronic and mail ballots; provide for the nomination of directors via petition (in addition to the normal nominating committee process) and vote for directors by mail or electronic ballot; allow the coop the option to utilize and/or to pass through to patrons the federal income tax benefits of Section 199; and establish the distribution of net assets (in the unlikely event of liquidation or dissolution) based upon total allocated stock and equity then outstanding.

Camp teaches kids about farm safety

McPherson County area youth ranging in ages 9 to 12 learned about staying safe on the farm at the annual McPherson Co. Farm Safety Day Camp held last week in McPherson.

Co-sponsored by McPherson Co. Farm Bureau and MKC, the camp included presentations on electrical safety, fire safety in the home, staying hydrated in hot weather, food safety, lawn mower and ATV safety as well as PTO and pinch point safety.

Dale Ladd, McPherson County Extension Agent presented the pinch point and PTO safety demonstrations. During the pinch point safety course, kids ran hot dogs, celery, and carrots through a pinch point device to see what would happen to their fingers, hands or feet should they become caught in a belt, chain or gear.  A dummy stuffed with newspaper was used for the PTO safety demonstration.  As the tractor was started, the dummy’s clothing became wrapped around the PTO leaving an impression on the participants as to the power and destructiveness of a PTO.

According to Ladd, the McPherson County Extension office has offered the safety camp for the past 15 years and MKC has helped co-sponsor the camp for most of those years.

 “Most everyone involved in agriculture knows someone whose life has been affected by a farm-related injury,” states Kerry Watson, Communications Specialist for MKC.  “We want to make sure the youth in our communities have the opportunities to learn about farm safety.  Co-sponsoring the McPherson Co. Farm Safety Day Camp is just one more way in which we can do that.”

Grandma’s Whole Wheat Bread

MKC customer, John Murphy (Lindsborg area) treated the Lindsborg employees to his delicous homemade rye bread during harvest.  He has graciously offered to shared his reciped with us.  Enjoy!

Mix the following ingredients in a small bowl and let rise for 15 minutes:

½ c. warm water
2 T. yeast
1 T. honey

In a large bowl, mix the following:

5 c. warm water
7 c. whole wheat flour
2 T. salt
2/3 c. oil
2/3 c. honey
Yeast mixture from above

Mix in about 6 more cups of wheat flour until dough starts to pull away from side of bowl.  Dough should be tacky but not sticky.  Knead for ten minutes.  Form dough into a ball and place in lightly oiled bowl, turning dough once to oil the top.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and leave in warm place to rise until double (1 to 1½ hours).

Knead dough for 30 seconds; form into 3 or 4 loaves and place in greased loaf pans to rise until double. Slit top of loaves with a sharp knife and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  Remove loaves from pans.  Bread is done when a rap on the bottom of the loaf makes a hollow sound or when internal termperature is 190 degrees.  Cool on rack in draft-free location before cutting.

First responder training contributes to safety

MKC employee, Murl Garver, shows first responders the
electrical panel in one of the grain elevators.

Thorough training about what to expect is a firefighter or first responder’s best friend when it comes to grain elevator fires, explosions or other accidents. Along with these types of trainings, a familiarity of the facility in which such events might occur is the responder’s next best friend.

Members of the Abilene and Grant Township fire departments recently spent an evening touring the facilities at MKC’s location in Abilene. The tour was organized by Matt McCune, the location manager at Talmage and a member of the Grant Township Fire Department. Matt said he volunteers, “because I feel it is important to give back.”

Cromwell retires after 18 years of service

Cromwell (far right) shares memories and
laughter with fellow employees.

After many years of loyal valuable service, Wayne “Sparky” Cromwell celebrated his last day of work with friends and family on May 31 at the Talmage senior and community center.

Wayne was called to Talmage under the impression that the elevator needed a major repair; instead he was greeted by a surprise luncheon party. Wayne’s wife Linda and two of his daughters Tara and Heather, along with four of his eight grandchildren, made the trip from Kansas City to be there for the surprise. (Wayne and Linda also have another daughter, Heidi, living in Springfield, Missouri, and a son, Scott, in Texas.)