Shane Eck Graduates KARL Leadership Program

“The Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program helped the Class XII leaders find a way to change their world by building on their integrity, confidence, discipline, professionalism, self-development, global viewpoint & servant ethos. Our newest KARL Graduates now possess a sense to serve and follow, in order to LEAD” stated Al Davis, President of Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership, Inc.   Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership, Inc. during the Power of One Seminar, Manhattan.  “Rural Kansas, the agricultural industry, our state, nation and world need your leadership…now get to work!” 

Shane Eck, Senior Location Manager at MKC's Lindsborg location is among this year's alumni class. 

The KARL Inc board of directors, graduates and donors celebrated the commendation of the 30 newest alumni of the two-year advanced state-wide leadership training experience. The KARL Program is a two-year educational experience offering intensive study, training and travel for emerging leaders in agriculture and rural communities.

“Our new leaders participated in nine in-state seminars.  Study tours over the past two years included a national seminar entitled Blue Chip, which is an executive review of a Fortune 500 corporation’s strategic management processes,hosted by Burlington Northern Sante Fe in Ft Worth, Texas; a tour to Washington DC to study decision making on the federal level and an International Study Tour to South Africa, providing a capstone to the intensive 52 day experienced over a two year period.  

Jack Lindquist, KARL Graduate Program Director, welcomed the new alumni into the KARL GRADUATE PROGRAM, the next step in learning experiences for graduates of the KARL Program. “Now that you have completed the two-year program you are each full members of the KARL Graduate Program, a life-time appointment. As well, graduate spouses, or adult guests are able to participate with you.  The greatest benefits of the KARL Graduate Program are to: 1) support the two year KARL Program to help expand your network 2) provide life-long learning and professional improvement opportunities for your family 3) enhance quality of life experiences through cultural exchange travel opportunities and 4) to greatly enhance network development with other state and international agricultural leadership alumni and networks beyond the KARL family network”, Lindquist summarized. 

To view more information regarding the new class, alumni, the curriculum and program goals visit the web site at www.karlprogram.com.

Input Finance Program Creates Win-Win Situation for Producers

By Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

To help producers obtain the financing their operation needs, MKC in conjunction with the Cooperative Finance Association, Inc. (CFA), provide reliable financial products and services to its members for all of their fertilizer, chemical, seed and petroleum needs.

"CFA is a valuable tool for any cooperative member," said Keith Kincaid, co-owner of S&K Partners near Haven. "CFA is convenient, user-friendly and competitive to any financing program in the industry."

MKC Employees to Participate in National Wear Red Day

By Kerry Watson, Director of Communications

MKC employees will be adding a little color to their uniform on Friday as they

join others across the nation and wear red to help bring more awareness to heart disease. National Wear Red Day, held the first Friday of February each year, helps bring awareness to heart disease and its impact not only on women, but men as well.

MKC and Frontier Ag moving forward with merger discussions

The boards of directors for Frontier Ag and MKC have unanimously approved to move forward with the processes required to merge the two cooperatives. The cooperatives announced in September their plans to explore the potential of an alliance.

Board members from both cooperatives met earlier this week
to discuss the merits of a merger.

Frontier Ag President and CEO, Brad Cowan, commented the boards and management teams of both organizations spent the past sixty days completing the due diligence necessary to get to this point.

"We felt the time was right to pursue a merger," stated Cowan. "Combined we have the potential to position ourselves strategically for the future, creating tremendous opportunities for our members."

MKC President and CEO, Dave Christiansen, noted the cooperatives share a similar culture and vision, are comparable in product and service offerings, and are financially sound. "Both cooperatives focus on improving customer experience" stated Christiansen. "Together we have the potential to increase our relevance in the industry which will leverage our vendor relationships." The benefits this will deliver to our stockholders, employees, customers and communities are significant. "

Although the boards of both co-ops have endorsed the idea of a merger, each membership will be asked to approve it.

About Frontier Ag: With annual sales of $490 million, Frontier Ag, Inc. is a full-service cooperative, offering grain, feed, agronomy, energy, and transportation products and services to over 5,700 members in eleven (11) counties throughout northwest Kansas.

About MKC: With annual sales of $450 million, MKC is a full-service cooperative offering grain, feed, agronomy and energy products and services to over 6,400 members in eleven (11) counties throughout central Kansas.