MKC, Advocating for you

As the general population becomes further removed from the agriculture industry, agriculture advocacy is becoming more critical than ever. Agriculture advocacy is an important way that MKC supports their member- owners, employees and industry. Through the dedication of our member-owners and employees, MKC has been on the forefront of agriculture advocacy at the state and national levels for years. 

MKC had the opportunity to attend the Legislative Action Day again in Topeka this past January. The annual event is hosted by the Kansas Cooperative Council, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association. Legislative Action Day is a great way for cooperative employees, members and directors to learn more about the legislative process and help lawmakers understand how their actions influence daily operations on the farm and at the co-op. 

During the event, Chief Marketing Officer Dave Spears, setup meetings with key Committee Chairs and Leadership. The MKC team spent time talking with them about current legislative topics, including legislative issues, appraisals on taxes and water issues. The Kansas Cooperative Council has created informational sheets with key points on the current issues facing agriculture today, which were given to Committee Chairs and Leadership. 

To wrap up the Legislative Action Day, attendees joined State Senate and House members at a dinner reception, which gives additional opportunities for MKC representatives to connect with key leadership about important topics in agriculture. 

In addition to attending this event each year and holding membership in the three host organizations, the leadership team at MKC is actively involved in advocacy at the National level. MKC is a member of Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), National Council of Farmers Cooperative (NCFC), and National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA). The MKC Executive team actively participates on the board and committees of these organizations to ensure the voice of our member-owners is heard and considered as policies are passed. Several other team members also participate in various advocacy organization committees. 

Thank you to team members Dave Spears (Chief Marketing Officer), Spencer Reames (Senior Location Manager), Mike Zacharias (Strategic Account Manager), Adam Butler (Senior Location Manager), Scotty Yerges (Producer Ag Crop Insurance Manager) and Shane Slief (Grain Operations Manager) who represented MKC at this year’s event.

MKC Leadership Advocacy Involvement

Brad Stedman, Chief Executive Officer
NCFC, Executive Committee
 
Dave Spears, Chief Marketing Officer
NCFC, Government Relations
ARA, Board Director
ARA, Executive Committee 
ARA, Policy Committee Chair
 
Danny Posch, Chief Financial Officer
NCFC, Legal Audit and Tax Committee
 
Ted Schultz, Chief Operating Officer, Producer Ag
NGFA, Board Director
 
Devin Schierling, Sales and Marketing Manager, Producer Ag
NGFA, Risk Management Committee
KARA, Board Director

Wrriten by: Toni Jakes, director of communications and marketing