News Briefs

MKC ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF MID-WEST FERTILIZER

MKC finalized the acquisition of Mid-West Fertilizer Inc., a full-service agricultural retailer headquartered in Paola, Kansas, effective May 12. The company will operate as Mid-West Fertilizer LLC.

MKC President and CEO Brad Stedman said, “Together, the acquisition strengthens our position in the marketplace and will allow us to expand our services to create additional value for our owners and customers. We see growth of our footprint as a key part of our strategy. Mid-West Fertilizer is a strong ag retail organization with a great team. The synergies gained through this acquisition will allow both companies to continue to achieve greater success.”

The acquisition included grain, wholesale and retail agronomy, energy, feed and trucking. MKC and Mid-West Fertilizer have worked beside one another for three years through their relationship with Team Marketing Alliance LLC, a majority-owned subsidiary of MKC.

“We chose to partner with an organization that will continue to bring value to producers, provide employees’ career development opportunities and allow our organization to be successful well into the future,” said Rod Silver, former president and CEO of Mid-West Fertilizer. “I look forward to the longterm value and new opportunities for our producers, employees and communities.”

Mid-West Fertilizer LLC will be operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of MKC. Silver will continue to provide leadership to Mid-West Fertilizer LLC after the acquisition.

ABOUT MID-WEST FERTILIZER, INC.

Mid-West Fertilizer Inc. of Paola, Kansas, was started in 1980 as a regional fertilizer distributor selling and delivering fertilizer to local fertilizer dealers throughout the region stretching between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. Along with the wholesale fertilizer business, Mid-West Fertilizer now services farmers with grain handling, custom application, crop nutrients, crop protection products, seed, feed, fuels, lubricants, propane, trucking and tire sales through 155 employees and 25 locations in Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. To learn more, visit midwestfertilizerinc.com.

MKC AWARDS 20 STUDENTS WITH $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP

MKC is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020 MKC Scholarship Program. Ten high school seniors and ten college students have been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship for the 2020-2021 academic year. Since 2008, a total of $144,000 has been awarded through the MKC Scholarship Program.

“The MKC Scholarship Program is one way the cooperative can help support exceptional students who someday soon will enter the workforce to make a difference in the industry and communities where their career paths take them,” said Brad Stedman, MKC president and CEO. “The number of talented young men and women applying for our scholarship program increases each year making the selection process more difficult each year. We are honored to help these young students financially.”

Students who received the scholarship provided information on their community involvement, extracurricular activities and employment. They also addressed college and career goals along with key aspects of the cooperative system such as how coops create a community environment among the local producers and employees.

High school students awarded scholarships are: Kady Figge, Onaga High School; Erin Fox, homeschooled; Carissa Klatt, Canton-Galva High School; Lauren Maurer, Inman High School; Kevin Mills, Chapman High School; Jay Nightingale, CantonGalva High School; Gabrielle Posch, Hutchinson High School; Lauren Regier, Berean Academy; Hope Schriner, Inman High School; and Rachel Yenni, Smoky Valley High School. College students awarded scholarships are: Garrett Craig, Kansas State University; Nathan Enns, Kansas State University; Tess Fairbanks, Kansas State University; Cassidy Finley, Kansas State University; Emily Headrick, Kansas State University; Stephanie Hiebert, Kansas State University; Joshua Peterson, Kansas State University; Laura Peterson, Kansas State University; Mackenzie Porter, Kansas State University; and Thomas Smith, Kansas State University.

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS STEP UP TO SERVE

Together with organizations like National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Agricultural Retailers Association and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association, MKC lobbied to ensure the White House administration as well as Congress understood the need to designate agriculture as “critical infrastructure and essential”, to make sure crop inputs transportation and logistical concerns were addressed and allowed to continue.

Dave Spears, MKC executive vice president and chief marketing officer, represented the co-op and our member-owners on numerous calls with the White House administration and trade associations, providing input and stressing the importance of maintaining a safe and sustainable food supply not only for the immediate future but long term as well.

“Our message was being heard and we saw action from the administrations,” Spears said. “It is in times like the COVID-19 pandemic when our member trade associations provide unmeasurable value to our member-owners and all of agriculture. MKC is well positioned to contribute by being in key leadership positions within our member trade associations.”

EIGHTEEN STUDENTS JOIN SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM

MKC and TMA welcomed eighteen interns to the team for the summer. The students will have opportunities to learn from professionals within their area of interest to gain a well-rounded experience in the agricultural industry during their 10-week internship.

The 2020 summer interns are: Katlin Allton, Lindsborg; Branden Bearden, Fenton, MO; Clay Browand, Owasso, OK; Austin Campbell, Harrisonville, MO; Landon Dimitt, Hutchinson; Seth Hemberger, Argonia; Heath Hier, Maple Hill; Chelsey Knight, Moundridge; Cassidy Kriegh, Sharon Springs; Olivia Logan, Lee’s Summit, MO; Trisha Mathewson, McPherson; Jonas McLeod, Shawnee; Emma Meyer, Valley Center; Whitney Pelz, Clearwater; Joshua Peterson, Lindsborg; Cole Reed, Ottawa; Jordyn Sanford, White City; and Jackson Wells, Hutchinson.

STUDENTS STUMPED BY IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM

In partnership with Winfield United, MKC produced “The Impossible Problem,” a video revealing the challenges and triumphs farmers face every day through a collegiate business class project.

Students were presented with a case study of challenges and were instructed to make a business plan that solved the situation. After a time of collaboration and confusion, a panel of MKC member-owners explained to the students they had been stumped by everyday farming challenges.

“The goal of the video was to elevate farmers and bring to light the troubles they face each day,” said Nichole Gouldie, MKC communications and brand manager. “While it may seem impossible to achieve profitability as a farmer, our member-owners and customers constantly find innovative solutions to address the many challenges they face to continue their legacy for future generations.”

Member-owners on the panel were Ben Schrag, Moundridge; Janice Stevens, Belvue; and James Mosiman, Newton. The video was released on Earth Day and has since reached over 7,000 people through MKC’s social media platforms and been viewed over 1,000 times on YouTube.

View the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqSpVkjPwHY&t=82s