Energy programs provide convenience, value and peace of mind

By Cassie Wandersee, MKC Staff Writer
MKC operates one of the top professional energy departments in the state of Kansas and their Certified Energy Specialists (CES) are a crucial aspect of the energy department.

Certified Energy Specialists Chris Chandler, Brian
Huxman and Donne Holtzinger play a critical
role in the success of MKC's energy division.

Certified Energy Specialists are highly trained in petroleum products and petroleum applications in order to provide the best service for customers and producers. Overall the goal of a CES is to provide convenient service and help the producer manage risk. MKC employs three Certified Energy Specialists to best serve customers.

“I think the most valuable skill a CES can have is the understanding that relationships drive this business,” said Chris Chandler. Chandler joined MKC in 2009 as a CES and was recognized in 2010 as a top lubricant salesman by Cenex.

Each CES working for MKC realizes the importance of building a relationship with the customer and understanding the customer’s need. Their purpose is to assist the producer in their farming practice, not simply sell them a product.

MKC to sponsor coloring contest in celebration of Co-op Month

Mid Kansas Cooperative is sponsoring a coloring contest for Kindergarten through 4^th grade students within its trade territory as part of  Co-op Month (held each year during the month of October).  Co-op Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the ways in which cooperatives strengthen the economy, support communities and provide much-needed services to co-op members.

47 elementary schools received a packet from MKC containing a supply of coloring sheets and information on the cooperative system to use in their classrooms as education tools. 

Students in Kindergarten to fourth grade are invited to participate in the contest. Entries will be split into three divisions: Kindergarten, 1^st – 2^nd, and 3^rd – 4^th. Prizes will be awarded to 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners in each contestant group.

The contest will run until September 28, with entries to be featured on MKC’s social media sites during the month of October.

Additional coloring sheets are available at any MKC location.  Entries can be submitted through participating schools or  your nearest MKC location.

Why focus on growth?

By Dave Christiansen,
President & CEO

 

I always find it interesting when I run into someone who asks the question, why focus on growth?  Somehow the vision the founders had for growth, from the day this company began, went from being an expectation to being assumed. Today, active growth is at times thought of with negative connotations.

At the time the coop was organized, the passion for meeting the constantly changing needs of the farmers’ expectations may not have been referred to as growth.  However, I’m sure our  founders had certain expectations of the coop’s ability to meet the changing needs of the growers.  At that time, they built elevators and purchased equipment that satisfied the needs of the day and new assets were surely designed with the future in mind. I assure you our founders didn’t or couldn’t dream big enough to anticipate the speed at which we operate today.  Nor could they grasp the complexity of the challenges and the volatility the future would bring with markets, supply, technology, communication, regulations, labor, finance, or the myriad of issues faced by growers or their coops today.  We face the same challenges today that our founders did. It is difficult to conceptualize or anticipate the speed at which we will operate in the future. I don’t believe the founders would expect us to be satisfied with mediocre performance or allow us to be content with leaving things alone.