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.

It's More than Just a Telephone - Technology Continues to Change How We Do Business

By Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

What quacks like a duck and tells you when MKC is leaving your field?

That would be an MKC customer’s cell phone.

While your phone may not quack like a duck, you can receive notification within minutes of when MKC completes your customer application order.

Last August MKC launched the customer notification system. The first of its kind, this system brings a new level of communication to MKC customers. Using an electronic tabloid in spray rigs, rig drivers use technology to notify customers via email or text message letting the producer know their field has been sprayed.

Recently, Ryan Patrick received a text message from MKC notifying him his milo field scheduled to be sprayed was complete. Patrick, who operates a diversified crop and cow-calf operation near Lindsborg, recalls working in their shop fixing equipment that was down when he received the text message.

“It’s convenient to receive these notifications,” Patrick says. “Especially when you aren’t around the day your field is being sprayed, you know the job got done. It is especially beneficial when I am trying to plan other jobs that need done on the farm instead of waiting and wondering exactly when my field got sprayed.”

According to Shane Eck, senior location manager for MKC, more than 500 producers are currently signed-up for the electronic notification. Eck commented the system eliminates the producer having the unknown of their spray order.

McPherson County producer Larry Dahlsten appreciates the promptness of the notification system. “I don’t have to wonder if my spraying got done today or tomorrow, or take the time to drive out to the field to look for tracks,” he says.

For Dahlsten and Patrick, a partner and source of expertise in technology is MKC. “The application notification system is one more way MKC is providing efficiencies and expertise using technology for its’ customers,” Eck says.

Patrick is the first to admit technology isn’t at the top of his list of priorities. “I still have a flip phone,” Patrick chuckled. “I leave being up-to-date in the area of technology up to the co-op.”

Today, the cell phone is more than just a telephone for Dahlsten. He uses it for markets, weather, communicating via text message and much more.

“It isn’t always easy to learn [technology] but it has a lot of benefits,” Dahlsten says. Dahlsten tries to keep up with the technology the younger generation uses and he laughed as he admitted it is difficult at times. Besides the application notification system through MKC, he uses precision ag and enjoys staying up-to-date through MKC’s Facebook page.

“Most producers, regardless of size, see the benefit in using technology,” Eck added. “The customer notification system is just one more way MKC is enhancing the customer service experience for our customers.”

The equipment has not yet been installed at MKC’s northern locations including Alta Vista, Onaga, Westmoreland and Manhattan. Customers in these areas can plan to see this technology offered from MKC in the near future. To sign-up for notifications, contact your field marketer or nearest MKC location.

Engaging youth in agriculture

By Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

Now that school is back in session, kids are being immersed in reading, science and math. Outside the classroom at the Kansas State Fair, children had the opportunity to experience first-hand the importance of agriculture.

Last Friday I had the chance to volunteer with the Kansas Beef Council (KBC) at Agriland. Agriland, an interactive exhibit in the Pride of Kansas building, provides youth and adults the opportunity to learn the importance of agriculture and the impact it has on their everyday lives.

Guests visiting Agriland traveled through learning areas for beef, dairy, soils, grains, stewardship and nutrition/dietary guidelines. In those areas we taught visitors about how crops and livestock provide us not only with food, but also with numerous products we use in our everyday lives—from basketballs to bubble gum. In the livestock area, fair goers took photos with the cutouts and weighed themselves on a scale, comparing themselves with the weights of a calf or a bushel of grain. In the grains area children immersed their hands in buckets of grain including corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, sunflowers and others. A favorite for the kids was the experience of "driving" a combine.

Educating producers for success

By Cassie Wandersee, Staff Writer

"To me the success of our producers is important."  This single line sums up the reason for Shane Eck, MKC's Location Manager at Lindsborg, to host and organize a sprayer clinic for producers in his area. "By educating our producers, we can help them to be more successful," commented Eck.

The spray clinic was broken down into a morning session where the importance of droplet size, styles/types of spray nozzles, adjuvants, drift control, and tank compatibility in mixing were covered.

“We came to the clinic to learn more and learn how to do it right,” said Cody Chase, a producer in the Talmage area. Cody went on to comment that the information on droplet size while spraying was very helpful and made him realize the importance of doing things the right way.

Joining forces for ag education

Educating today’s youth about agriculture has become a concern for many in recent years. Often children do not understand that many of the things they use every day are products of agriculture, nor do they realize the farm equipment and products they could encounter have potential to cause them harm.

Third graders across Dickinson County gathered earlier this fall in Abilene for “Ag Day” sponsored by the Dickinson County Farm Bureau, a day of farm education, safety, and fun.  Matt McCune, Talmage Location Manager, was on hand to assist Jeff Bathurst, an area producer, with a station on crop nutrient and crop protection safety.

Bathurst, who farms in the Abilene and Talmage area, has participated in the Farm Safety Day for the past eight years and places an emphasis in his farming practice on educating kids. McCune saw where Bathurst had been recognized in the community for his involvement in Ag Day in previous years and approached him about MKC getting involved in the education effort. This is now the second year the two have partnered to present for Farm Bureau.

 “It is important to educate the public about chemicals and what we use them for,” said Bathurst. “Part of MKC’s strength is they understand the farmer and we appreciate the help in educating the public.”

Students were shown the size of an acre of land, discussed safety practices when dealing with crop protection/nutrition products, and had a chance to view one of the Case Patriot sprayers, with 120 foot booms, MKC utilizes in agronomy services.

The students were amazed to learn from McCune that the spray rig could “drive itself” through the use of GPS technology and auto steer.

 “I feel that we need to educate kids in our cities and towns about farm safety, because there is a high likelihood that these kids will encounter farm equipment at some point in their life,” said McCune. 

Shane Eck, Lindsborg Location Manager, recently got involved in the effort to help educate area youth on agriculture by presenting a program on the process of how food and everyday products travel from the farm to their hands.

“I wanted to get involved in classroom education because I feel it is important to teach the next generation about the importance of agriculture.  There are a lot of individuals that do not truly realize the impact agriculture has on society and how much we rely on it,” said Eck.

Eck presented to the fourth grade class at Eisenhower Elementary School in McPherson, beginning his presentation by asking the students what kind of things they used every day. Responses ranged from vehicles to breakfast cereals.

Through an image based web map, students were shown how vehicles could be traced back to the farm by the use of ethanol fuels, a product of corn and milo, which are made locally in Kansas. Or how the cereal they had for breakfast was made from a wheat product.

“The class was very involved and receptive which helped the lesson progress as we hoped,” Eck commented.

Students then moved onto building a model pizza discussing how each ingredient in the pizza from the dough to the toppings came from agriculture. And as a treat for lunch, pizza was provided to solidify the idea that agriculture is truly what feeds them.

“The agriculture presentation by Mid Kansas Coop was a very engaging hands-on experience for my class,” said Tiffany Pacey, fourth grade teacher at Eisenhower Elementary.

“I felt the program went very well,” said Eck. “Since it was our first time presenting it I was unsure of how well it would be received.” 

Eck commented that he would like to further develop the program for middle and high school aged kids with a more advanced program that focuses on career opportunities in agriculture.

MKC places an emphasis on environmental and community stewardships as written in its Core Values. Involvement in safety and education programs is just one way this is demonstrated.

“They learned about where their food comes from through a wonderful visual display, and learned about the various crops grown in Kansas and their uses,” said Pacey. “My students loved looking at and touching all the grains that are grown in Kansas.”