MKC to award nine scholarships

Mid Kansas Cooperative Association will award a total of nine scholarships valued at $500 each to high school seniors within the MKC trade territory.  Any high school senior who plans to attend an accredited university or college including junior, community, vocational or technical school is eligible to apply.

"We are pleased to offer the scholarships," states Kerry Watson Communications/Administrative Specialist for MKC.  "This is our opportunity to recognize outstanding students in our communities who have demonstrated a balance of academics, school activities and community activities."

Applications are available online at www.mkcoop.com and are also available through area high school guidance counselors' offices.  Application deadline is March 15, 2013.

Camp teaches kids about farm safety

McPherson County area youth ranging in ages 9 to 12 learned about staying safe on the farm at the annual McPherson Co. Farm Safety Day Camp held last week in McPherson.

Co-sponsored by McPherson Co. Farm Bureau and MKC, the camp included presentations on electrical safety, fire safety in the home, staying hydrated in hot weather, food safety, lawn mower and ATV safety as well as PTO and pinch point safety.

Dale Ladd, McPherson County Extension Agent presented the pinch point and PTO safety demonstrations. During the pinch point safety course, kids ran hot dogs, celery, and carrots through a pinch point device to see what would happen to their fingers, hands or feet should they become caught in a belt, chain or gear.  A dummy stuffed with newspaper was used for the PTO safety demonstration.  As the tractor was started, the dummy’s clothing became wrapped around the PTO leaving an impression on the participants as to the power and destructiveness of a PTO.

According to Ladd, the McPherson County Extension office has offered the safety camp for the past 15 years and MKC has helped co-sponsor the camp for most of those years.

 “Most everyone involved in agriculture knows someone whose life has been affected by a farm-related injury,” states Kerry Watson, Communications Specialist for MKC.  “We want to make sure the youth in our communities have the opportunities to learn about farm safety.  Co-sponsoring the McPherson Co. Farm Safety Day Camp is just one more way in which we can do that.”

Scholarship recipients announced

Nine area high school seniors have been selected to receive MKC’s scholarship in the amount of $500 each.

“The selection process was difficult as we received more than 90 outstanding applications,” stated Kerry Watson, MKC Communications/Administrative Specialist. “We are proud to support today’s student leaders on their path to becoming tomorrow’s business and community leaders.”

Applications were reviewed by a committee of five people including two board members. The recipients were selected based on academic achievements, honors, leadership, and school and community activities. Along with the application, students were asked to submit an essay about the value of the cooperative system.

 
Recipients of the 2012 scholarship are: Nicholas Vogts, Canton-Galva High School; Taylor Harms, Marion High School; Lori James, Smoky Valley High School; Emily Harris, Abilene High School; Nathan Peterson, Southeast of Saline Senior High School; Lauren Barlow and Lance Schroder, Inman High School; Grace Heidebrecht and Kassidy Glazner, McPherson High School. MKC began offering the scholarships in 2008 and has awarded a total of $22,500 to date.