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.