News Briefs

LEGISLATIVE ROUNDTABLE HOSTED AT BENTON LOCATION

The MKC Benton location welcomed Congressman Ron Estes on February 3 to participate in a round table discussion with area farmers. The meeting was a time for farmers to voice their concerns and raise questions to the Congressman. Conversation focused on the USMCA trade deal, grain storage and costs, and risk management.

“We appreciate Congressman Estes and his staff taking the time to engage with our member-owners and take note on the issues they see as important,” said Dave Spears, MKC executive vice president and CMO. “MKC’s focus is on making our farmers profitable and advocating on their behalf. Estes and his staff have been here to listen and take input back to D.C. to find solutions.” Participating in the discussion were Estes, Spears, MKC Senior Location Manager Spencer Reames, and farmers Aaron Lange, Sumner County; Austin Busenitz, Butler County; Andy Lee, Cowley County; Jeff Varner, Butler County; Tom Page, Butler County; and Walter Burress, Butler County. Dave Spears, MKC chief marketing officer and executive vice president, explains MKC’s sustainability efforts to Congressman Ron Estes.

MKC DONATES TO WALTON RURAL LIFE CENTER

A large portion of MKC’s donations go toward programs that promote ag education and leadership development; alleviate hunger in its communities; and improve or enhance community safety. As such, MKC donated $500 to the Walton Rural Life Center. MKC has donated to the charter school since August of 2014. Part of the USD 373 Newton Public Schools, the Walton Rural Life Center charter school was the first public elementary school in the nation to completely incorporate agriculture into its curriculum. Kindergarten through fourth-grade students learn math, reading, science and responsibility as they gather and sell eggs, grow vegetables and care for farm animals.

“It means so much to our school that our local partners care and support us,” said Jason Chalashtari, Walton Rural Life Center principal. “We are so appreciative of the donation from MKC. The money will go directly to supplies and resources for our classrooms so that our students have everything they need to enhance their learning experience.” Outside of the monetary donation, MKC supplies livestock feed for the farm animals and delivers the feed when needed to the school.

WHITE PICK-UP TRUCK DONATED TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

Cans 4 Kansas Honor Flights collects aluminum cans to support Kansas Honor Flights. On January 22, MKC donated a truck to the Cans 4 Kansas Honor Flights, which will be used in the collection of cans at more than 15 donation sites.

“The passion of our employees for helping their local communities runs deep. When an employee became aware of the Cans 4 Kansas Honor Flight’s desperate need for a new pick-up truck, they had an idea,” said Nathan Eck, vice president and director of central operations.

In large part to MKC team members Aaron Bailey and Brandon Siruta’s efforts, MKC donated a white pick-up truck from the fleet to Cans 4 Kansas Honor Flights to replace the previously used 1995 Ford Ranger with over 350,000 miles.

“The Ranger and I have hauled 150+ tons of cans since 2011 and funded 150 WWII, Korean and Vietnam Veterans on Kansas Honor Flights,” said Warren Vincent, founder of Cans 4 Kanas Honor Flights. “Thank you to MKC, the new MKC Cans 4 Kansas Honor Flight Can Mobile is at the McPherson can site. I held back the tears, but it is sinking in now. It is a reality!”

Kansas Honor Flight was formed in 2012 and is a non-profit that funds trips for veterans of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to visit and reflect at their respective memorials in Washingon D.C.

PRESIDENT AND CEO DAVE CHRISTIANSEN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

After a 46-year career in the cooperative system, Dave Christiansen, president and CEO of MKC, will retire effective April 3, 2020. Christiansen has served 16 years as CEO of MKC – one of the largest farmerowned cooperatives in the country.

“Since becoming CEO at MKC in 2004, I have been incredibly blessed to spend a career having the opportunity to make a difference daily,” Christiansen said. “When you get to wake up every day and work with amazingly talented people with the intent of helping farmers be more successful, it is exciting to hit the ground running every day.”

Christiansen started his career in the cooperative system at Great Bend Co-op in 1973 while searching for a part-time job between high school and college. From his beginnings in the seed cleaning plant to at some point in his career spending time in almost every role the co-op offers, Christiansen learned the business from the ground up. As his responsibilities changed and increased over the years, his commitment to the cooperative system grew too. His past positions include vice president of ag inputs for Panhandle Co-op in Scottsbluff, NE, and president and CEO of Ag Partners Co-op in Hiawatha, KS.

According to MKC Board Chairman Allan Wegner, Christiansen spent his tenure at MKC adapting the cooperative to meet the current and future needs of MKC members, assuring that the cooperative remained innovative, progressive and relevant for generations to come.

“Dave’s leadership of the co-op has been transformational. His impact on MKC and TMA, our employees, our members and the cooperative system as a whole has been truly noteworthy,” Wegner said. “It takes great leadership to run an organization like MKC, and Dave has displayed vision, confidence, inspiration and dedication in his role as CEO.”

“The MKC Board Members past and present have been terrific to work with, and I want to especially thank them for the support and direction they provided myself and the team over the years,” Christiansen said. “The time and energy they have committed to creating the vision of what success looks like is and has been invaluable to our organization.”

In the years since Christiansen joined MKC, the cooperative has expanded grain storage, upgraded grain handling facilities, added shuttle loading facilities, expanded its agronomy service centers, engaged in multiple mergers and acquisitions, and built a leading precision agricultural program. MKC also developed a strong, effective safety culture, strategic focus on intent and objectives of the business, and robust employee development that are models in the agriculture industry today.

“Dave has championed the cooperative system by promoting partnerships with other local and regional cooperatives to form successful organizations today including Team Marketing Alliance, LLC., Countryside Feed, LLC, and Producer Ag, LLC,” Wegner said. “His innovation and leadership have followed him through his tenure on boards and councils like the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center and United Benefit Group, and through the numerous presentations and panels he has served on across the country.”

Under Christiansen’s leadership, MKC has grown in every aspect of the business since 2004. Membership has grown from nearly 3,000 members to over 10,000 members across the country. MKC now spans over 27 counties and has 375 employees serving farmers from 34 locations. A commitment to renew the cooperative’s infrastructure has led net fixed assets to grow from $9 million in 2004 to over $150 million and total assets to $538 million today.

Sought for his counsel and creative insight, Christiansen will continue to serve on boards and councils and stay active in the industry. In retirement, he plans to spend time working with organizations to help build plans, provide executive coaching, facilitate retreats and provide farm management.

Dave and his wife, Cindy, have three children and seven grandchildren. Christiansen noted spending more time with his grandkids will rank high up on his priorities.

A retirement celebration will be held in his honor on Wednesday, April 1 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the J.O. Sundstrom Conference Center in Lindsborg, Kansas.

GRAIN BIN SAFETY WEEK TRAINING

To commemorate Grain Bin Safety Week, an initiative proclaimed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue as the week of February 16-22, MKC hosted a grain bin safety training in partnership with ProValue Insurance and Nationwide at the Groveland location. The initiative raises awareness of the lifethreatening dangers of the grain handling industry and provides first responders with the necessary equipment and training needed to save lives from grain bin entrapments.

Attendees learned how to effectively manage the bin entry process from ProValue Safety and Compliance Area Manager David Klahr. Klahr covered the importance of using Lockout/Tagout systems, checking equipment for wear, and following standard operating procedures.

Nationwide’s Occupational Health and Safety Consultant Lauren Bear discussed housekeeping and preventative maintenance and demonstrated the explosive effects of dust. She explained the significance of removing dust from operational areas, as just a little accumulation can cause devastating explosions.

Mark Thomas, safety trainer, demonstrated the KU Grain Engulfment Rescue Training trailer. The trailer contains a grain entrapment simulator and is used to train emergency crews and industry professionals how to react to accidents and properly work to save the entrapped person. “The grain handling industry is full of risks and workers might be exposed to numerous lifethreatening hazards on a daily basis,” said Scott Biel, safety director for MKC. “It is important that we provide these trainings to help eliminate accidents and fatalities both on the farm and at grain handling businesses.”

BRAD STEDMAN NAMED MKC PRESIDENT AND CEO

After completing a thorough executive selection process, the MKC Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Brad Stedman as the next president and chief executive officer of MKC. Stedman comes to MKC after having served multiple leadership roles in the cooperative industry over the past 28 years. Most recently, he led the western business unit for WinField® United. Prior to his most recent role, Stedman served in many sales, marketing, strategic account and leadership positions within Land O’Lakes, Agriliance and Farmland Industries. In addition, he has served in the local cooperative system in South Dakota and Nebraska.

“We are excited to announce Brad as the next President and CEO of MKC, said Allan Wegner, Chairman. “He brings a unique perspective to our company with his experience in the cooperative industry that has spanned multiple states and roles. Brad also knows MKC well through his involvement in many of our board and leadership planning sessions over the past several years. We believe he will build on the successful culture of MKC, and also best position the company to meet the needs of our member-owners now and in the future.”

“I’m honored to be selected as MKC’s next CEO,” Stedman said. “It is a privilege to be part of a team that has consistently delivered results, while focusing on the success of the customer, our farmer-owners.” Through multiple opportunities to work with the MKC team for a number of years on many aspects of the business, Stedman is very familiar with MKC as an organization, its leadership team and strategy.

“I understand the culture that has been developed, and I am confident the transition will be a smooth one for all of us,” Stedman said. “Change is continuous, and MKC’s ability to adapt and expand is a driving force behind their success to date. I look forward to being part of an organization that is focused on evolving our value proposition to meet the needs of farmers in the future.”

Stedman will transition to MKC in April 2020. He and his wife, Kerry, and their two daughters, Adleigh and Sadie, will be relocating from the Kansas City area later this summer.

Stedman is succeeding Dave Christiansen, who has served as president and CEO since 2004 and will retire from MKC effective April 3, 2020.

GRAIN RESCUE EQUIPMENT DONATED TO SUMNER COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT

In a proactive approach to potential grain entrapment rescues, MKC donated a ‘Great Wall of Rescue’ to the City of Argonia Fire Department. This donation will provide area volunteer first responders with the equipment necessary to make a safe grain entrapment rescue.

“We hope this equipment never has to be used, but it provides peace of mind knowing in the case of an emergency it is available” said Lawson Hemberger, MKC rail terminal manager at Sumner County. ”It is a great day when safety and community stewardship collide and we have the opportunity to support the communities we live and work in.”

The Great Wall of Rescue was designed to adapt to a multitude of grain entrapment rescue scenarios and is one of several pieces of grain rescue equipment that MKC has donated to local emergency departments across its footprint.

Representatives from the Argonia Fire Department Volunteer team accepted the donation at the Sumner County Terminal from representatives of MKC.