TABLE OF CONTENTS September 2014

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Editorial Staff

Kerry WatsonDirector of Communications

Nichole GouldieCommunications Specialist

Management

Dave ChristiansenPresident and CEO

Danny PoschSenior Vice President and CFO

Dave SpearsSenior Vice President and CMO

Erik LangeVice President of Southern Area Operations

Steve PetersonVice President of Northern Area Operations

Darin MartiVice President of Eastern Area Operations

Dave SellDirector of Energy Operations

Kerry WatsonDirector of Communications

Brett MyersDirector of Human Resources and Development

MKCP.O. Box D

Moundridge, KS 67107620-345-6328

www.mkcoop.com

Our Vision: MKC will be a highly valued, customer–focused business engaged in profitable relationships with high businessethics and employee satisfaction.

FROM THE FIELDMerger Update .......................................................................................4Darin Marti, vice president of eastern operations for MKC, provides an update on the merger with Farmers Cooperative Association of Manhattan.

Renewing our Infrastructure.....................................................................5As MKC has continued to focus on renewing infrastructure this past year, the cooperative has invested more than $16 million dollars across its trade territory.

Increased Investment Opportunities Open to Members ................................6The board of directors recently voted to increase the amount of the investment opportunity for patrons of MKC. The program is currently open to MKC stockholders.

Fuel Sites to Undergo Upgrades................................................................7Equipment and software upgrades will result in a temporary shut down for a number of MKC fuel sites. As a result of the upgrades, new MKC Fuel 24 cards will be issued to all proprietary cardholders.

FEATUREIt’s More Than Just a Telephone ...............................................................8As technology continues to change how business is done, MKC launchesa customer notification system, the first of its kind, bringing a new level of communication to its customers.

EDUCATIONFinancial Convenience Through Your Co-op ...............................................10New financing options are available for the 2015 growing season.

Finding the Common Ground ...................................................................11Every day, consumers hear conflicting messages about American agriculture and wonder where their food is produced. A group of volunteer farm women, known as CommonGround Kansas, are doing their part to help tell the story of how U.S. farmers and families are producing the safest, healthiest and most affordable foodchoices in the world.

IN THE COMMUNITYFarm Safety for the Next Generation ........................................................12Statistics indicate 38 kids are injured daily in an agricultural related accident. To help keep youth safe and reduce accidents, the McPherson County Farm Bureau and K-State Research and Extension annually host a farm safety day camp. MKC has helped sponsor this event for the past seven years.

Participants Sought for New Leader Forum................................................13MKC is seeking young producers to participate in the CHS New Leader Forum where they will examine in-depth issues and challenges facing cooperatives, agriculture and rural America as well as learn ways to build their leadership skills.

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN By Dave Christiansen

Enhancing the Overall Customer ExperienceHow to enhance the overall

customer experience is one initia-tive that continues to rise to thetop in our strategic planning ses-sions now held twice a year.

Initially, the challenge with an initiative like this was creat-ing a clear definition that would be actionable. First itmeant we needed to make certain our company was easyfor our customers to do business with. Secondly, when thecustomer did do business with us, they would be left withthe feeling they selected the right partner.

One of the challenges to executing an initiative like thisis we have to be willing to challenge virtually everything weare doing today, regardless of how well we think we aredoing. We must go to our customers and ask the terrifyingquestion, “How well are we doing?” Only then, and only ifwe really listen, can we get the information that will lead usto start making the changes customers say will set us apartfrom everyone else who is wanting their business.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again say“thank you” to our customers. Many of you have sharedinformation with us and, by listening, our employees havecontinued to raise the bar for our industry. The followingare a few examples of what we do today that came aboutsimply by listening to you.

When I think about making it easier to do business withMKC, I first think about our efforts to bring the business toyou rather than you coming to us. Today we have over 40knowledgeable people in the country meeting with you atyour farm gate. This number doesn’t include the peoplewho play a vital support role in delivering or applying theproducts that make your jobs easier. These are only thepeople delivering the expertise necessary to help youmake decisions to maximize your profit on the farm. Wecertainly have experts strategically placed at our manylocations but for those producers who don’t have time tovisit our locations, we can deliver the expertise to you.

One area we have significant expertise is in forward con-tracting grain. (Just the mention of it can be intimidating!)Over the years we’ve continued to add contracts allowingour customers to fit them to their specific strategies andrisk tolerance level. Today we offer 28 different contractsspecifically designed to make it easy to meet your needsand offer you the flexibility you are looking for. We offerthe same opportunities in our agronomy and energydepartments. Forward contracting all or most of your

inputs at the same time is well advised when your intent isto manage risk and lock in profits.

These programs are exactly what led us to having a veryrobust input financing program with an interest rate cur-rently at 2.45 percent. By having access to credit facultiesthat allow you to contract inputs 12 months out is beneficialfor many reasons. While the primary benefit is the ease ofdoing business with MKC, the input finance program alsoallows you to take advantage of opportunities that comeavailable throughout the year.

Another example of ease of doing business with MKC isour customer online portal, providing you access to all ofyour grain or input activity 24 hours a day. You can searchfor specific grain tickets, do proof of yields and investigatecurrent balances. Online offers continue to gain popularitywith grain customers who are looking to capture more profitwhen available. You can export data from your customerportal to an Excel spreadsheet to create an analysis of yourfarm’s inputs for the past year. Direct deposits of grain set-tlements and the ability to pay your bill online are otherexamples of what we offer to make it easy to do businesswith us. These examples are a direct result of listening toour customers and responding to their needs.

All of our facility and equipment investments madeover the past number of years were driven by our desire toimprove the speed of our service and again, improve yourcustomer experience. These investments include dualscales and increased leg speed, reducing your wait time atour facilities and matching the speed of your harvestingequipment. The larger application and delivery equipmentutilizing precision technology allow us to get jobs done ona timelier basis and with improved accuracy. Our invest-ment in seed treatment plants has proven to gain muchimproved seedling vigor to get your crops off to the rightstart. Our mapping and precision ag services provide youthe guidance to place the right amount of the right prod-ucts, in exactly the right spot to minimize your input usageand expense while maximizing your production per acre.

The utilization of technology to improve the overall cus-tomer experience continues to be a driver for us. It startedwith the customer portal and led to text messages withgrain market updates three times a day. Again, by listeningto our customers we recently introduced a service that noti-fies you when our application rig driver finishes your job and leaves your field. Many customers had stated how nice

STRAIGHT TALK

Continued on page 14

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In December 2013, MKC and Farmers CooperativeAssociation of Manhattan announced merger plans. Afterseveral months of planning and preparation, the mergerwas completed on June 1, 2014.“Throughout the merger process, all employees have

demonstrated great dedication and have remained focusedon exceeding the needs of the customers we serve,” saysDarin Marti, vice president of eastern operations for MKC.“We were eager to join together to build a stronger compa-ny.”Marti commented the merger will improve the utiliza-

tion of our facilities and equipment. “We are in a betterposition for growth and have increased access to capital,”he says. “These advantages will strengthen our leadershipposition in the marketplace and help ensure the long-termsuccess of our co-op.”

Appointed Directors

Appointed to the MKC Board of Directors were HalMayer and Allan Wegner. Hal Mayer and his wife, Jill, oper-ate a stocker operation near Alta Vista and raise corn,wheat and sorghum silage in Wabaunsee, Morris and Gearycounties. Their primary MKC location is Alta Vista. Prior tomerging with MKC, Mayer served on the board of directorsfor Farmers Cooperative Association for more than 20 years. Mayer believes in the cooperative system and the ben-

efits it brings to patrons. While competition is stiff, hebelieves the future of the cooperative looks bright. In orderto be successful, he says MKC must continue to grow tomeet the needs of the patrons. Allan Wegner and his wife, Melissa, operate a dryland

corn and soybean operation near Onaga. Wegner’s fatherfarms with them. They also have a cow-calf operation. Their

main MKC location is Onaga. Prior to merging with MKC,Wegner served on the board of directors for FarmersCooperative Association for 12 years and was the secretaryfor the past 10 years. He believes the cooperative system is vital for the pro-

ducer to succeed. While the producer strives to remainindependent, the co-op offers access to products, programsand markets that would otherwise be unavailable to him orher. He believes MKC must continue to grow and adapt tobest serve our producers' needs as they evolve.Additionally, it’s important for MKC to be a financially sta-ble cooperative with a progressive board and managementteam.

Construction Update“The members in the new MKC area have already bene-

fited from the merger as new facilities and equipment arebeing put in place,” Marti says. Marti added the sharing ofequipment and labor has already been of a benefit tomembers all across the MKC territory.Prior to merging with MKC, Farmers Cooperative

Association broke ground on a grain storage project. The425,000 bushel steel bin is a standalone structure on thesame property as the main elevator. The Manhattan facilitywill also receive minor upgrades including speakers and anoutbound printer for the scale. These improvements willbe completed by the 2014 fall harvest. The MKC Board of Directors recently approved the

addition of storage at Alta Vista due to inadequate space.Construction of a 490,000 bushel bunker started in Augustand is expected to be in use for the fall harvest. Through the merger, MKC has 42 locations in 14 coun-

ties, and serves more than 9,000 members.“By combining efforts we are better equipped to keep

up with our customers’ growing needs and expectations,”Marti says. “Through this journey, better together is evident.”

Merger Updateby Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

Hal Mayer Allan Wegner

FROM THE FIELD

The addition of a 490,000 bushel bunker in Alta Vista is expected to be ready by fall harvest.

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Recognizing the need for new loca-tions and making upgrades to currentfacilities allows MKC to keep pace withthe growing needs of the producer. AsMKC has continued to focus on renew-ing infrastructure this past year, thecooperative has invested more than$16 million dollars across its trade ter-ritory.Jon Brown, director of facility man-

agement for MKC, has overseen eachof the projects. “Meeting our cus-tomers’ needs and improving the cus-tomer experience has been the driverbehind these projects,” Brown says. MKC made improvements in

Talmage to the existing elevator in thefall of 2013 and added a newMcPherson Concrete jump-form stor-age tank. The most recent project com-pleted at Talmage was a new office andsecond scale and grain probe.In November of 2013, MKC broke

ground on the new 2.2 million bushelgrain facility in Rice County. Locatedfive miles south of Lyons, this projectconsists of 1.2 million bushels ofupright storage and a 1 million bushelground storage system. The RiceCounty facility was open for the 2014wheat harvest.Ground was broken on a new

steel bin facility in Butler County inDecember 2013. Located near Benton,this project consists of three bins each

with a capacity of 307,000 bushels. Thenew office and dual scale layout on theproperty allows plenty of staging fortrucks. Benton was also open for the2014 wheat harvest.In the spring of 2013, a second scale

was added at Moundridge and Walton,improving traffic flow and reducing waittime during peak harvest times.Groveland received a conveyor

upgrade in the winterof 2013. This upgradeallows the facility tomove grain anywherethrough the facility atthe same speed asthe fastest leg.Ground was also bro-ken on the 1.2 millionbushel LeMar groundstorage system. TheLeMar storage systemwas first used to storemilo in the fall of2013.In the summer of

2013, Marquetteadded a third groundbunker. With twobunkers already in place, the threebunkers are filled with a high speed15,000 bushel per hour drive over con-veyor. This is the third ground bunkerpad constructed in Marquette in thepast two and a half years.

In August 2013, MKC broke groundon the Canton Rail Terminal, a state-of-the-art high speed rail loader. Themain elevator holds 1.2 million bushelsof upright storage in a concrete slipform structure that was poured fromground level to a height of 131’ in lessthan seven days. The Canton site hastwo 1.2 million bushel ground bunkers.An overpass was constructed to allowtrucks to still enter while a train is on-site. The new office features dualscales with two lanes of inbound traffic.RFID card readers will be issued tocustomers making the experience asquick and simple as possible. Threecovered dump pits will allow grain tobe transferred in any kind of weather.Although the elevator is still underconstruction, the facility is open for fallharvest and using the ground bunkersfor storage.Ground was broken on a 425,000

bushel steel bin in Manhattan in May.The facility will also receive upgrades

including speakersand an outboundprinter scale by fallharvest.In Alta Vista, con-

struction began on a490,000 bushelbunker in August.Since February

2013, the addition of9.8 million bushels ofstorage has broughtMKC’s total storagecapacity to nearly 39million bushels.“Continued

investments in ourfacilities allow us tokeep pace with the

growing needs of our customers,” saidBrown. “By building state-of-the-artfacilities, MKC can provide not onlyspeed and space, but safety for ourcustomers, employees and the envi-ronment.”

Renewing our Infrastructure By Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

A LeMar storage system constructed last spring added 1.2 million bushels storage space at Groveland.

The new facility constructed in Rice County openedprior to the 2014 wheat harvest.

FROM THE FIELD

FROM THE FIELD

During the 49th annual MKCStockholders’ Meeting, nearly 700members, guest and employeesreflected on how MKC has found valuein collaboration in virtually all areas ofthe business. The meeting took placeon July 24 at the Salina BicentennialCenter. Danny Posch, MKC chief financial

officer, reported the cooperativeended the fiscal year with $9.2 millionin earnings, the fourth best year onrecord. MKC allocated $6.41 million inpatronage dividends to the membersand nearly $27 million over the pastfour years. The FY2014 patronage allo-cation marks the third highest level ofpatronage allocated back to the mem-bers of the cooperative. MKC Board Chairmen, CJ Blew,

spoke on the theme of this year’sannual meeting, “Better Together.”“Better together is at the core of whata co-op is,” Blew said. “Generationsbefore me had the foresight to knowfarmers would be better together.”Dave Christiansen, MKC president

and CEO, reflected on the growth ofthe co-op this past year and througheveryone working together, the pro-ducer and the cooperative will be

more successful in this next year. “Finding ways to work with others,

and most importantly, those who shareour core values drives many of ourbusiness strategies today. Just as it didwhen our co-op began,” Christiansensaid.During the business meeting, three

incumbents were elected to serve onthe board of directors for MKC. Thosere-elected were Duane Johnson,District 1; CJ Blew, District 2; and KeithBecker, At-large. No new business was

brought before the membership. Third-generation logger Bruce

Vincent from Libby, Montana was theevening’s speaker with an animatedpresentation that extolled the pure joyfolks get from living in rural America.He shared how environmental

activists have cut into his livelihoodand way of life with different issues.Through his experience, Vincentencouraged the crowd to be proactivein defending agriculture. He urgedthose in agriculture to remind Americawho it is that feeds the world and whocares about the environment. “Ruralpeople and rural industries need tostand up together for their way of lifeand get politically involved,” Vincentsaid.Vincent, whose annual meeting

address resulted in a standing ovation,said the rules are made by those whoshow up. “Add a (budget) line item foractivism just like we do for equipmentmaintenance, and get involved,” hesaid.Looking over the producers in the

audience, he concluded, “Americawants a new movement and I think I’mlooking at it at the MKC AnnualMeeting.”

Members Re-elect Incumbents at 49th Annual Stockholders’ Meetingby Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

Montana logger and rural lifestyle advocate Bruce Vincentspoke during the 49th annual meeting.

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Based on the success of the MKCinvestment program, the board ofdirectors has voted to increase theamount of the investment opportunityfor patrons of MKC. The program iscurrently open for investments.“The financial strength and stability

of MKC remains extremely strong andwe are continually looking for ways toposition ourselves well into thefuture,” said Danny Posch, MKC chieffinancial officer. “We believe the

investment program truly provides awin-win opportunity for investors andMKC alike. By working together, wewill continue to ensure we are in aposition to take advantage of opportu-nities in the marketplace together withlessening the reliance on externalfunding sources to meet the workingcapital needs of the cooperative.”There are two separate types of

programs offered. The Certificate ofIndebtedness program is a certificate

written for a specified period of time.This program offers a 3.5 percent fixedinterest rate on a three-year note, 4.0percent fixed interest rate on a four-year note and a 4.5 percent rate on afive-year note. The Demand Note program works

much like a standard short-terminvestment account. Money can betransferred in and out of the account ina certificate that will each earn a rate

Increased Investment Opportunities Open to Membersby Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

Continued on page 14

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Fuel Sites to Undergo UpgradesNew Fuel 24 Cards Issued as a ResultBy Kerry Watson, Director of Communications

A software upgrade to a number ofMKC fuel sites that started the firstweek of September will add increasedsecurity systems to reduce identitytheft and fraud for customers using acredit, debit or MKC Fuel 24 card. Inaddition to the software upgrade, fuelpump equipment at several sites willbe replaced with state-of-the-artpumps allowing customers to now payat the pump rather than at a card read-er pedestal. According to Dave Sell, director of

energy operations for MKC, fuel siteswill be temporarily out of service dur-ing the upgrades. “Depending on thetype of upgrade to be made, thechanges may take as few as three daysor as much as two weeks at the various

locations,” states Sell. “There will besome inconvenience caused by themaintenance, but we’ll do our verybest to keep it at a minimum.”The upgrades to be completed in

September include the fuel sites inGalva, Walton, McPherson andMoundridge. Starting in October,upgrades will be completed at Inman,Lindsborg, Goessel and ManhattanAmpride. Sell noted all other fuel siteswill be scheduled for upgrades at alater date.As a result of the upgrades, new pro-

prietary (MKC Fuel 24) cards will beissued to all account holders. The newcards will be black in color and willwork at any MKC fuel site. “The goldcards will be deactivated once the new

cards have been issued,” Sell says. “We encourage customers to destroythe old cards once they have verifiedtheir new cards.”Customers who have questions

regarding their MKC Fuel 24 cardshould contact Tindy Graber at 620-345-4111 or Tony Hieger at 785-776-9467.

Legislative Staff Members Spend Day at MKCBy Kerry Watson, Director of Communications

In its inaugural LegislativeStaff Day in mid-August, MKChosted five staff members fromKansas House and Senateoffices providing a firsthandlook at the breadth of servicesprovided by MKC. The full-dayevent included discussions withMKC employees and a tour offacilities at Groveland andCanton. “We know it’s critically impor-

tant to host congressional staffso they can see up close thefacilities and services we pro-vide to our members and theirconstituents,” said Dave Spears,chief marketing officer for MKC.“Staff members are often thefirst point of contact for the con-stituents of their members of Congress.This visit was a great opportunity forthe staff to gain a better understandingof MKC and the cooperative system.”

Mel Thompson, state agriculturerepresentative for Senator Pat Roberts,noted having contacts in the industry isinvaluable. “MKC is a class act. You’ve

succeeded in the peaks andvalleys,” said Thompson.“Thanks for being a partner toserve your members and ourconstituents and representingagriculture.” Staff members attending

the event included JohnSachse and Judd Gardner withSenator Jerry Moran, StevenHowe with Congressman TimHuelskamp, Rachel DeGarmowith Congressman MikePompeo and Mel Thompsonwith Senator Pat Roberts.During the site tours, con-

gressional staff gained a betterunderstanding of how technol-ogy is used in the grain andagronomy industry.

Back row (left to right): Ted Schultz with TMA, Devin Schierling with TMA,

John Sachse with Senator Moran, Judd Gardner with Senator Moran,

Steven Howe with Congressman Huelskamp and Dave Spears with MKC.

Front row (left to right): Kerry Watson with MKC, Rachel DeGarmo with

Congressman Pompeo, Mel Thompson with Senator Roberts and Danny

Posch with MKC.

FROM THE FIELD

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What quacks like a duck and tells you when MKC isleaving 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 com-pletes your customer application order.

Starting in August, MKC launched the customer notifi-cation system. The first of its kind, this system brings anew level of communication to MKC customers. Using anelectronic tabloid in spray rigs, rig drivers use technologyto notify customers via email or text message letting theproducer know their field has been sprayed.

Recently, Ryan Patrick received a text message fromMKC notifying him his milo field scheduled to be sprayedwas complete. Patrick, who operates a diversified cropand cow-calf operation near Lindsborg, recalls working intheir shop fixing equipment that was down when hereceived the text message.

“It’s convenient toreceive these notifica-tions,” Patrick says.“Especially when youaren’t around the dayyour field is beingsprayed, you knowthe job got done. It isespecially beneficialwhen I am trying toplan other jobs that

need done on the farm instead of waiting and wonderingexactly when my field got sprayed.”

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

MKC spray rig operators use tablet devices right in the field to send an email or text message notifying customers their custom application order was complete.

It’s More Than Just a TelephoneTechnology Continues to Change How We Do BusinessBy Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

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

For Dahlsten and Patrick, apartner and source of expertise intechnology is MKC. “The applica-tion notification system is onemore way MKC is providing effi-ciencies and expertise using tech-nology for its’ customers,” Ecksays.

Patrick is the first to admittechnology 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 forDahlsten. He uses it for markets, weather, communicatingvia 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 withthe technology the younger generation uses and helaughed as he admitted it is difficult at times. Besides theapplication notification system through MKC, he uses preci-

sion ag and enjoys staying up-to-date through MKC’s Facebookpage.“Most producers, regardless of

size, see the benefit in using tech-nology,” Eck added. “The customernotification system is just onemore way MKC is enhancing thecustomer service experience forour customers.”The equipment has not yet

been installed at MKC’s northernlocations including Alta Vista, Onaga, Westmoreland andManhattan. Customers in these areas can plan to see thistechnology offered from MKC in the near future. To sign-upfor notifications, contact your field marketer or nearest MKC location.

“The application notification

system is one more way MKC

is providing efficiencies and

expertise using technology

for its’ customers”

Shane EckSenior Location Manager for MKC

Ryan Patrick learns his milo field wassprayed after receiving a text messagefrom MKC’s application notification sys-tem while prepping his swather for theday.

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When it comes to your farming operation, every seed, every ounce,every acre and every dollar counts.Now there is more help to maximizeyour profits with two new financingoptions through MKC and theCooperative Finance Association, Inc.(CFA).“We are proud to offer growers this

competitive and convenient financingprogram to help maximize their poten-tial on the farm,” says Dave Spears,chief marketing officer for MKC. “Theprogram compliments our three-leggedstool approach to help producers takecontrol of their crop production risks.”Partnering with CFA, MKC customers

who lock in their input needs early canget zero percent interest fixed on fertil-izer, seed and chemicals. Each ofthese input products has a specificpromotional period. “If we can takecare of the producers input needs andarrange the financing for payment inthe same process, that makes sense,”Spears says.

MKC customers who lock in theirinput needs early can get zero percentinterest fixed on fertilizer to October31, 2014, seed to December 31, 2014and chemical to March 31, 2015. Afterthe promotional period end dates, the interest rate will move up to a discounted rate of 2.45% variable for customers who apply for an InputAdvantage loan with a February 15,2016 maturity date. The InputAdvantage Loan is also the most com-prehensive for the customers inputneeds, and can provide up to $2 mil-lion in financing. Spears added MKC is also offering a

CFA Express Credit Loan. The ExpressCredit Loans offer financing up to$100,000 which can be used to lock inyour fertilizer, chemical and seedneeds. MKC is also offering zero per-cent interest fixed to October 31, 2014on fertilizer only. After the zero per-cent promotional end date, the inter-est rate will move up to a discountedrate of 3.45% variable to maturity of the

loan. “The Express Credit Loan appli-cation form is one page and is a quickquantification process,” Spears says.“This streamlined application and

approval process allows growers to putin place $100,000 of financing with aDecember 15, 2015 maturity date,”Spears says. “We don’t want financingto hold producers back from makingthose decisions early. This loan pro-vides an even more simple and flexi-ble financing option for growers.”CFA is a regional agricultural finan-

cial services cooperative that is basedin Kansas City, MO and has been pro-viding reliable financial products andservices to the agriculture sector forover 70 years. CFA has recognized MKCas its number one input financing part-ner four years running. For more details about financing

your inputs or information aboutinputs, growers should contact theirnearest MKC location or field marketer.

Financial Convenience Through Your Co-opMKC Announces New Financing Options for 2015 Growing Seasonby Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

EDUCATION

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EDUCATION

There are fields to be plowed and cattle to be moved.There are kids to pick up from school and meals to becooked. There are no fixed hours and never enough time in the day on the farm or ranch. But on top of that manymen and women involved in agriculture take the time todefend the industry that is their livelihood.

Every day, consumers hear conflicting messages aboutAmerican agriculture and wonder where their food is pro-duced. This is why volunteers like Kim Baldwin, a teacher,farm wife and mother, serves as the connection to con-sumers about agriculture.

“Farmers and ranchers are producing safe, affordableand nutritious food,” Baldwin says. “I want to help con-sumers make their food decisions not based on fear butfacts.”

CommonGround, a partnership between the UnitedSoybean Board and the National Corn Growers Association,is a national program aimed at creating a unified voice formodern agriculture. This group was formed in an effort totell the story of how U.S. farmers and families are produc-ing the safest, healthiest and most affordable food choicesin the world.

“We’re a group of volunteer farm women and we are allabout starting a conversation between the women who buyfood and the women who grow food,” Baldwin says. “It is aconversation based on personal experience as farmers but

we also have information based on science and research toback our stories.”

Baldwin added CommonGround Kansas speaks atmeetings, visits with the media and interacts directly withconsumers at an array of events across the state. “Manywomen, including myself, blog and use Facebook, Twitter

and other social media outlets totell our story,” she says. She saysthe group speaks often andanswers many questions on thetopics of factory farms, organicverses conventional production,GMOs, hormones and animal wel-fare.In July, Kansas volunteers

Baldwin and Katie Sawyer openedup their McPherson county farmsand ranches for the first-everCommonGround Kansas Farm Tour.Guests including bloggers, media,dietitians and consumers saw howtheir families raise crops and cat-tle. Guests also visited MKC’sGroveland facility learning aboutgrain handling and marketing, andagronomy services. “Educating anyone and every-

one about food production isimportant to MKC,” states Kerry

Watson, director of communications for MKC. As stewardsof the land, we want consumers to understand the productsand processes farmers and ranchers, and us as a coopera-tive use are safe. We appreciate the efforts by the mem-bers of CommonGround Kansas and others who help edu-cate consumers.”

Baldwin says the most rewarding part of volunteeringwith CommonGround Kansas is when consumers have a“light bulb moment”. “In that light bulb moment, thoseconsumers are confident about what they are feeding theirfamilies.” she says.

At the end of the day, Baldwin and all CommonGroundvolunteers want consumers to know that farmers and ranch-ers are not only working hard to produce their food butthey are doing it in a way that provides a safe, wholesomeand affordable product for their families to enjoy at eachand every meal.

Finding the Common Ground by Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

MKC Precision Ag Specialist Ross Benisch explains MKC’s agronomy services at Groveland with CommonGround Kansas Farm tourguests.

Photo by CommonGround Kansas.

There are so many adventures to behad when you’re a kid on the farm. But those adventures can come with

risks. According to Farm Safety for Just

Kids, “one child dies every three dayson a farm. Every day 38 kids areinjured in an agricultural related acci-dent.” In 2012, over 7,700 kids wereinjured on a farm.To help keep youth safe and reduce

these statistics, the McPherson CountyFarm Bureau and K-State Research andExtension McPherson County joinedforces more than 15 years ago to host afarm safety day camp. The annual pro-gram raises awareness of safety haz-ards for youth ages 8 to 11 to learnmore about rural dangers, specificallyon the farm. MKC has helped sponsorthis event for the past seven years.While many youth are taught safe

farm practices at home, farm safetyprograming reinforces the importanceof safety. “As producers, we know wework in a hazardous environment. Even

though we try and teach our youth tobe safe, hearing it again from anotherperson in their community may bewhat is needed for the message to sinkin and help keep them safe,” said JonieJames, agriculture and naturalresources agent for McPherson County. Eighty-three youth attended the

2014 day camp on June 12 at theMcPherson County Fairgrounds. Theprogram began with an accidentdemonstration and mock helicopterrescue. Following the demonstration,participants were able to look at thehelicopter up close, which was thehighlight of the camp for many. Campers do not have to be children

who live on a farm to benefit from the

educational sessions, said James.The seven, hands-on safety sessions

included lessons on harvest, pesti-cides, electrical, PTOs and hydraulics,ATV and utility vehicles, fire, emer-gency and lawn equipment. “Promoting safe practices for all

ages on the farm is important to us,”states Kerry Watson, director of com-munications for MKC. “The McPhersonCounty Day Camp is just one exampleof the programs we support. Mostrecently we teamed up withNationwide Agribusiness and theNational Education Center forAgricultural Safety to provide a grainbin safety program for producers,employees, and first responders.”

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Farm Safety for the Next GenerationBy Melissa Woeppel, Communications Intern

IN THE COMMUNITY

MKC is proud to award the recipi-ents of the 2014 Scholarship Program.Ten area high school seniors and eightcollege students were selected toreceive a $1,000 scholarship for the2014-2015 academic year. More than 100 high school students

and nearly 40 college students submit-ted applications. “The number ofapplications made the selectionprocess difficult,” said NicholeGouldie, communications specialist forMKC. “By helping our local studentspursue their educational goals, we areinvesting in their future, as well as thefuture of our local communities.”Since 2008, a total of $45,000 has

been awarded through MKC’s scholar-ship program. This year’s scholarship

program was the first year to include acollege-level age group. In addition,the dollar amount to high school sen-iors was increased from $500 to $1,000.Scholarship recipients were select-

ed based on academic achievements,honors, leadership, and school andcommunity activities. Along with theapplication, students were asked tosubmit an essay addressing the valueof the cooperative system.High school students awarded

scholarships are: Jacob Dailey, Canton-Galva High School; Justin Schmutz, Ell-Saline High School; Reece Hiebert,Goessel High School; KristenKnackstedt, Inman High School; TrevorSmyres, Little River High School;Nicholas Meyer, Marion High School;

Greg Schlickau, Pretty Prairie HighSchool; Anneliese Reinert, SmokyValley High School; Taylor Green,Southeast of Saline High School; andSavannah Sherwood, Southeast ofSaline High School.College students awarded scholar-

ships are: Nick Wineinger, Kansas StateUniversity; Austin Hiebert, McPhersonCollege; Luke Snider, Kansas StateUniversity; Kristine Larson, KansasState University; Spencer Yenni,Hutchinson Community College;Melissa Woeppel, Bethany College;McKayla Brubaker, Kansas StateUniversity; and Ashley Murrell,Washburn University.

Investing in the Future MKC Awards 2014 Scholarship RecipientsBy Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

13

MKC has provided $17,750 to area4-H counties to support leadershipprograms taught to the county’s youngpeople. This year marks the ninthconsecutive year for donations madeto the 4-H programs within MKC’strade territory.“We believe the leadership pro-

grams available through 4-H are out-standing and do an excellent job ofhelping develop the leadership skillsof today’s youth,” said Kerry Watson,MKC director of communications. “It

is exciting to think those same youthwill be the future leaders of our com-munities.” Funds totaling more than $72,000

have been donated since 2006. Land O’ Lakes, Inc. Foundation matchedthe contributions made by MKC. In 2014, MKC made donations to

the following counties: Reno,McPherson, Harvey, Saline, Butler,Marion, Dickinson, Ottawa, Clay, Rice,Riley, Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, Lyons and Shawnee.

Harvey County 4-H was one of 15 organizations to benefit from MKC’s donation.Caption copy line here.

IN THE COMMUNITY

MKC is entering its tenth year ofsponsoring participants to attend theNew Leader Forum, held in conjunc-tion with the CHS Annual Meeting.This year’s event will be heldDecember 3-5 in Minneapolis,Minnesota.Over the course of the forum, par-

ticipants examine in-depth issues andchallenges facing cooperatives, agri-cultural and rural America, as well aslearn ways to build their leadershipskills to benefit their cooperativesand communities. Sessions featuretop-notch professional speakers andagribusiness experts. The conferenceis geared towards individuals and/orcouples, ages 25 to 45 years.Since 2004, MKC has sponsored 89

participants. Ben and Tina Schrag ofCanton attended the event in 2013. “For me it was a great educationalexperience,” said Ben. “I learned howMKC fits in with larger cooperatives’grain distribution, not only in theUnited States, but internationally aswell.” Schrag also commented on thevalue of networking with other MKCcustomers who attended the event. “I didn’t know them before attendingthe Forum and still keep in touch withthem today.”Anyone interested in being consid-

ered for participation in the 2014 NewLeader Forum should contact theirfield marketer or Nichole Gouldie at 620-345-4119.

Participants Sought for New Leader ForumBy Kerry Watson, Director of Communications

Committed to 4-H Leadership Development By Melissa Woeppel, Communications Intern

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Nearly 10 years ago themember cooperatives of TMAembarked on a journey to rejuvenatetheir grain handling assets. At thatpoint in time, we could see our cus-tomers’ ability to harvest and delivergrain was increasing rapidly and wouldsoon out pace our elevators unloadingcapacities. This realization hasfocused TMA’s quest to provide anextraordinary customer experience andremain relevant for the next generation.

The rate of change each of us expe-rience on a daily basis is astonishing.When we started this journey, the aver-age load of grain delivered to the ele-vator was around 325 bushels. Today ithas more than doubled to 775 bushelsper load. Examples similar to this typeof growth can be found in every aspectof production agriculture and puts anextreme strain on the infrastructures ofthe entire industry, including yourcooperative’s grain elevators. Thisstrain leaves your co-op with thechoice to use the existing assets untilthey are obsolete or do what our cooperative forefathers did-bandtogether and create infrastructures tosupport the next generation.

The member cooperatives of TMAhave approached the asset renewalplan with one thing in mind, the cus-tomer. In addition to new grain stor-age, legs and green field sites, numer-

ous other projects have been complet-ed improving the customer experi-ence. In several locations, dual scaleshave been added to eliminate harvestbottle necks and return our producersto the field in a timely manner. Theconstruction of the rail terminal inCanton is also an investment in ourcooperatives’ future. This terminal will allow TMA access to new markets,improving harvest time logistics. It will also allow us to capture additionalmarket opportunities which can bepassed back to our owners in the form of patronage.

The future of our cooperative andasset renewal plan lies in each owner’shands. Regardless of the growth of ourcooperatives, the decisions are gov-erned by the farmers who use our serv-ices on a daily basis, not some facelessinvestor group. The competition willtry to keep us from gaining strength by offering deals that appear to be too good to be true. These offers areintended to convince you to drive bythe facilities you own and not do business with yourself.

It is our responsibility to educateand tell the story of the value of thecooperative system. When you look at the annual patronage allocations,section 199 deductions and freight savings, doing business with yourselfjust makes sense.

Business with Yourself Just Makes SenseBy Devin Schierling, TMA Grain Marketing Manager

Groveland Location Hutchinson Terminal$5.86 Cash Price $6.06

-$0.15 Freight Cost -$0.20

+$0.12 Patronage N/A

+$0.12 Section 199 Deduction N/A$5.95 Delivered Price $5.86

The following is an example of the true delivered value between the terminal and local cooperative:

Note: These figures are estimates and are subject to change at any time.

Increased Investment Opportunities(continued from page 6)

of return that is very competitive in today’s marketplace. For theDemand Note program, the vari-able interest rate is currently at 2.5percent and can be transferred orconverted to a Certificate ofIndebtedness.Investors must be Kansas

residents and an MKC stockholder.The limit of investment per investoris $300,000. Interest is paid annuallyon July 1 for both investment pro-grams. Interested participants of the

investment program are encour-aged to contact Laurie Thiesen,MKC accounts payable manager, at lthiesen@mkcoop.com or620-345-4116.

it would be to know this informa-tion and I am proud our peopledeveloped a solution to yourrequest.

While we take our planningprocess very seriously, we take execution of our plan even moreseriously. By listening to our cus-tomers and staying in tune with theadvancements in technology, wecan maintain our efforts to makeMKC a company that is easy to dobusiness with. Our intent, as statedearlier, is to continue to enhanceyour overall customer experience.

We hope we are hitting the markfor you and when we don’t, pleasemake certain to let us know how wecan raise the bar. I also expect youto continue to hear us ask, “How arewe doing?”.

President’s Column(continued from page 3)

To learn about the opportunities awaiting you, visit our website at www.mkcoop.com/employment.