Mike Becker Seeks Election to MKC Board of Directors

Three positions on the MKC Board of Directors will be decided by a vote of the membership at the 49th Annual Stockholders' Meeting on July 24. Mike Becker is seeking election to represent District 2.

 

Becker is honored to be a candidate for the MKC Board of Directors. He and his wife, Sarah, own a diversified crop and livestock operation southwest of Lindsborg along the Smoky Hill River where the majority of their farm ground is located. They raise corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum, with over half the acres irrigated. Their livestock operation includes 250 commercial cows and half-interest annually in 200 bred heifers which they develop, AI, calve and sell as pairs. Their grass is located in six counties so they travel long and hard.

Duane Johnson Seeks Re-election to MKC Board of Directors

Three positions on the MKC Board of Directors will be decided by a vote of the membership at the 49th Annual Stockholders' Meeting on July 24. Incumbent, Duane Johnson is seeking re-election to District 2.



Johnson operates a diversified dry land and irrigated farm located between Lindsborg and Marquette. The main crops raised are wheat, milo, soybeans and feed for livestock. He also has a cow-calf operation. Duane previously served as chairman of the Farmers Union Elevator board at Lindsborg, and on the MKC Board of Directors from 2000 to 2009. He was re-elected to the MKC Board of Directors in 2011. Other activities have included Farm Bureau board, township board, church board and 4-H activities.  He served as secretary on MKC's board of directors in 2006 and 2007, vice-chairman in 2008 and 2009 and served on several committees.

MKC Hosts Dignitaries

By Melissa Woeppel, Communications Intern

MKC’s Manhattan location recently hosted Congressman Tim Huelskamp and Mr. Jack J.C. Yang, director general of the Taiwan Consulate for a round table discussion with members from the Kansas Grain and Feed Association, the Kansas Pork Association, Seaboard Foods and the Kansas Cooperative Council. Discussion centered on trade between Taiwan and Kansas and opportunities for improvement.

Following the roundtable discussion, MKC’s Vice President of Eastern Operations Darin Marti led a tour of the facility, explaining the benefits of the cooperative system. "We can’t offer our customers anything different except service, so our goal is to provide exceptional service," Marti stated.

The use of genetically modified organisms, GMOs, was also a topic of discussion on the tour. According to Congressman Huelskamp, "the approval process for GMOs in the United States is the most stringent in the world, ensuring the safest products."

Utilizing modern technology allows for safer and cheaper agricultural practices.

"We can’t continue to use technology from 30 years ago," Marti added. "With improvements in corn hybrids, we’ve learned how to grow corn better, which results in larger yields, safer products and a profit for the producer."

Congressman Huelskamp serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the Small Business Committee, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy & Trade, the Subcommittee on Health & Technology, and the Subcommittee on Contracting & Workforce. As an ambassador for Kansas agriculture, Congressman Huelskamp is excited about the prospects for growing the markets for Kansas products in other parts of Asia, including in Vietnam and Japan.

Service You Depend On

By Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

All businesses, regardless of type, have one primary and common goal -- to serve and satisfy their customers. Satisfied customers are the number one indicator of business success. Likewise, a cooperative has one compelling purpose -- to meet the needs of its members and potential members. Without a focus on serving members and customers, why should a cooperative exist?

"After safety, our number one priority at MKC is customer service," said Jeff Jones, senior location manager at Haven. "No matter the size of the operation, each producer is important to our daily operations and deserves the same level of customer service as anyone."

Cheney area farmer Tarry Zerger is willing to put some miles on the truck to use

Jeff Jones, senior location manager at Haven, and
Cheney area farmer, Tarry Zerger, discuss Zerger's
needs for application and services.

the services at MKC, although he notes most times his services are delivered to his home when needed. "You can’t beat the customer service," he said. "My location’s knowledge and helpful attitude is always appreciated."

Zerger, a cattleman, row-crop grower and wheat grower, depends on the agronomy and energy services at MKC’s Haven and Castleton locations, as well as utilizing the CFA Input Finance Program and working with TMA for grain marketing. Zerger commented he isn’t the farmer in the area with the most acres but the employees at his local MKC location always take the time to go out of their way to help him.

Food Drive Nets More than 9,000 lbs

By Kerry Watson, Director of Communications

MKC employees Jeff Jones and Spencer Reames deliver food
items to the Reno County Food Bank.

The statistics for food insecure homes in Kansas are staggering. According to a study released March 31, 2014 by the Kansas Food Bank and Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, the food budget needed by families struggling with hunger in Kansas each year is an estimated $164,968,840.

MKC employees joined together this past April to help fill the shelves of area food banks through their third annual food drive.  The drive netted more than 9,000 pounds of non-perishable food items.

"We know supplies for area food banks can be stressed during the summer," said Adam McDaniel member of the MKC Community Involvement Committee. "Through a collective effort, we can make a meaningful difference for so many families in our area."