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.

Duane believes key issues facing MKC today are keeping the cooperative profitable and protecting the equity of all our members while meeting the challenge of upgrading grain handling facilities. While Duane has been on the board, updates to several facilities have been made. He sees this as a vital role in meeting the needs of our members not only today, but in the future. Another key issue is evaluating the opportunities to expand MKC’s business through mergers with other co-ops. Duane feels it is important to make decisions that make our co-op stronger.

Duane believes strategic planning for short and long-term goals is very important in order to adapt to change and new challenges that face the co-op. MKC serves a variety of producers, from small to very large. We need a co-op that can meet the needs of all its patrons.

Duane believes the primary responsibility of the board of directors is to hire the CEO, establish operating policies and set objectives for the cooperative. He feels attending education courses is an excellent source for directors to not only learn strategies other organizations are implementing, but also to share ideas and gain insight from other cooperative board members from organizations around the country. Another key responsibility of board members is having an open line of communication with the producers. 

Before farming Duane worked as an accountant for both a feed and grain company. He feels this experience, plus his previous board experience, can be an asset to the MKC board. Duane believes the advantages of buying supplies, selling grain and being a long-time member of the co-op has been key in his farming and ranching operation. He sees the co-op as an opportunity for members to pool their resources together, allowing them to own equipment and grain storage they could not afford on their own.