MANAGER’S DESK
Jerald KemmererCEO/GM Pride Ag Resources
We’ve just wrapped up our 111th year at Pride Ag Resources. That’s something not many cooperatives or organizations can say, and it doesn’t happen without the support of our members and the work our employees put in every day.
A lot has changed over the years. The size, the scope, the number of locations but at the end of the day, the purpose hasn’t. We’re here to serve our members and earn your business. That’s something we talk about
often, and it is something we take seriously.
This past year had its share of challenges, like they all do, but we continue to focus on what we can control running a solid profitable operation, taking care of your assets, and making decisions that position us well for the future. Despite the challenges this past year brought, I believe you’ll be pleased with the shared outcome the employees were able to generate for the membership.
Our annual meeting is coming up on Tuesday May 26th at the Dodge City Civic Center. If you can make it, we encourage you to attend. You will be able to pick up
your patronage check, and hear from our speaker about the situation in Iran and what it’s doing to the markets and the farm economy. The reality is, the impact is already here. We’re seeing it in grain markets, fertilizer, and fuel costs. Fertilizer prices have jumped sharply, with some products up significantly since the conflict began, and fuel cost has followed energy markets higher. This will be a timely discussion at the annual meeting and one worth hearing.
As we are already into the new fiscal year, our focus doesn’t change. We want to keep improving by being more efficient, keep investing where it makes sense, and
make sure Pride Ag Resources is in a position to serve you not just today, but long term.
We appreciate your business. We know we have to earn it every day. Hope to see you on May 26th.
Safety Division
Corey Ratzlaff Safety Director
LIGHTNING SAFETY
In the United States each year an average of 20 to 30 people are killed and another 400 injured by lightning. More than a billion dollars of property damage is caused each year by lightning. Many wild fires are started by lightning. With these sobering statistics, we should take some time to look at this potentially dangerous, but fascinating, natural phenomenon.
What causes lightning?
Inside a thunderstorm cloud ice forms. Some of the ice is very small crystals, and some of the ice is larger pellets or even larger hail stones. When the air currents inside a thunderstorm cloud move the
smaller ice particles up to the top of the cloud they collide with the larger ice particles, and these collisions provide a charging mechanism of the thunderstorm. The smaller ice crystals charge the top of the cloud positively, and the middle to lower part of the cloud becomes negatively charged. At the same time the ground carries a charge that is opposite of the charge that is directly overhead. When the charge difference between the cloud and the ground becomes great enough, a conductive channel of air will develop between the cloud and the ground. When that happens a small amount of the electrical charge will move from the cloud to the ground, and at the same time a small amount of electrical charge will move from the ground toward the cloud. When the connection is made there is a powerful discharge between the cloud and the ground. We see this powerful discharge as a bright flash of lightning.
There is a lot of energy in lightning. The channel of air that the lightning passes through can be heated to 50,000 degree F., which is hotter than the surface of the sun. Some lightning flashes contain enough electricity to light a 100-watt light bulb for more than three months. The rapid heating and cooling of this channel of air creates a shock wave that causes a loud sound that we know as thunder. We can use the difference between when we see a flash of lightning and when we hear the thunder to
estimate how far away the lightning is. Simply divide the difference in seconds by five, and that will give you the distance in miles. The majority of lightning fatalities occur in summer afternoons and evenings. More than 80% of lightning fatalities are male, and most of those fatalities are between the ages of 20 and 45. The majority of lightning victims were going to a safe place but waited too long before seeking safe shelter. Because time is critical when seeking a safe place when lightning is a threat, it is a good idea to have a lightning safety plan. You should know where you will go for safety and how much time it will take to get there.
If you are outside and hear thunder, immediately go inside a substantial building or a metal roofed vehicle as fast as you can. By substantial building I mean fully enclosed buildings with wiring and plumbing. Sheds, picnic shelters, tents or covered porches do not protect you from lightning. If you hear thunder, even a distant rumble, immediately move to a safe place. A catchy little phrase that you can teach your children is “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors”. If you are caught outside during a thunderstorm, stay away from isolated tall trees, towers, or utility poles. Do not be the tallest object in the area, as lightning tends to strike the tallest object in the area. Stay away from metal conductors such as wires or
fences. Metal does not attract lightning, but lightning can travel long distances through it.
There are precautions to take when you are inside, also. Do not use a corded phone if you hear thunder, although it is safe to use a cell phone, cordless phone or other wireless handheld devices. Stay away from electrical equipment, wiring and water pipes. Sensitive electronics should be unplugged well in advance of thunderstorms. Don’t take a bath, shower or use other plumbing during a thunderstorm.
Remember the there is no safe place outside during a thunderstorm. When thunder roars, go indoors.
ACE Hardware
Dave McCollum,
ACE Manager
� � Prepare for Summer at Ace Hardware!
Summer is just around the corner! Whether you’re firing up the BBQ, finishing that exterior paint project, or repairing the pasture fence,
we have everything you need to get the job done.
���� Backyard BBQ Headquarters
Almost all grills are priced down for our Summer Sale!
• Top Brands: Traeger, Blackstone, and Halo (grills, griddles, and pizza ovens).
• Everything Else: Pellets, sauces, and essential BBQ accessories.
• Perfect gifts for the grill master in your family!
• Brands: Benjamin Moore, Clark+Kensington, and Royal.
���� Fencing & Lawn Care
• Fencing: Creosote posts (4 ½" to 8"), Tposts, and Red Brand 2-point wire.
• Mowers: Push mowers from STIHL, Milwaukee, EGO, Toro, and Craftsman. (Special order riders available!)
�
�
�
� Milwaukee Day Promo Event – June 18
Don’t miss our rock-bottom deals on professional-grade Milwaukee tools:
• Featured Items: Drivers, Impact Wrenches, and Sawzalls.
• Specialty Gear: Milwaukee PACKOUT™ modular storage systems.
• Bonus: All Milwaukee tools are backed by a terrific warranty.
���� Paint & Home Improvement
It’s the perfect time for exterior projects. Come see our selection of high-quality paints:
• Trimmers: New battery-operated weed eaters from STIHL, Milwaukee, and EGO—quiet and powerful.
• Lawn Health: A full line of Scott’s, Ace, and Ultimate brand fertilizers, weed killers, and bug sprays.
❄ Beat the Heat
Stay cool and comfortable with our selection of:
• Window Air Conditioners
• Box Fans
• Oscillating Fans
Thank you for making Ace the place for your summer needs!
Visit us today to see all our instore specials.
Grain Division
Brent Boyd Grain Division/ Operations Manager
Let me begin by introducing myself to those who may not know me. My name is Brent Boyd, and I assumed the role of Grain Division Manager for Pride Ag Resources at the beginning of 2026.
I have been with Pride Ag since late 2010, when I started as Location Manager at the Jetmore branch, a role I held for 12 years. I later moved to the main office, returning to the merchandising side of the business—where my career first began 25 years ago in Minneola. Over the past three years, I have worked closely with Mike Schmidt and Gaylene Friesen in preparation for this transition.
I am grateful that I can still reach out to them for guidance, and I sincerely thank them for their leadership, mentorship, and dedication to Pride Ag Resources. I wish them all the best in retirement.
Looking back, the volume of fall crops delivered to Pride Ag Resources was historic, reaching nearly 24 million bushels across all commodities. As expected, this brought its share of challenges. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our producers and employees, who worked diligently to navigate operational obstacles and uncharted territory while continuing to ship the nearrecord 2025 wheat crop, making room so producers could return to the field in a timely manner during fall harvest.
As for this year’s wheat crop, conditions looked promising from planting last fall through the early winter season. However, as conditions developed, the crop could have used more support from Mother Nature, and overall conditions have declined. At the time of writing, the Kansas City July 2027 board reached $7.39, which may present an opportunity to begin locking in well above-average cash prices for the 2027 wheat crop. We also continue to monitor the potential for a trade agreement that could help strengthen export demand and support improved pricing for milo currently in storage.
As always, we remain committed to supporting your marketing needs and to handling the upcoming harvest efficiently and successfully.
Thank you for your continued trust and partnership in the year ahead.
Agronomy Division
Adam Jefferis Agronomy Division Manager
I would like to take a minute and introduce myself as Pride Ag Resources new agronomy division manager. I have been in this new role for about 3 months now and I am very excited to bring my knowledge, experiences and vision to the Pride Ag organization.
After graduating from Kansas State University with my degree in Agronomy, I spent the first ten years of my career in Ag retail, Farm Management consulting and cooperative management. During this time, I was able to gain experience supporting the entire Ag retail production cycle, including seed sales, fertility recommendations, precision agriculture, seasonal cropping inputs, energy sales and grain handling.
In 2012, I moved to the
wholesale production industry, serving careers with the Mosaic Company, Verdesian and HELM Agro. As a technical sales account manager, I supported retailers and sales agronomists in the southwest United States with their performance phosphate and potash portfolios as well as nutrient-use efficiency products. I have been fortunate enough to launch a variety of newly developed input products with respective strategies for bio stimulants, soil health and plant microbiome technologies for key markets.
In 2023, I transitioned back into ag retail with leadership roles in the cooperative system leading various teams in operations, product procurement, sales leadership, marketing and precision. The last 25 years has been a great background for what is next.
Today, as I meet our employee team, supply partners and our member owners, you might hear me refer to words like strategy and vision. I lead with a “13-5” mindset. What is Pride Ag’s goals and objectives in the current year? This current fiscal year’s goals needs to align with a 3 year strategy that will ultimately align with a 5 year vision. Yes things will change. Weather patterns, global affairs, politics are all examples of variables that might alter the outcomes but the path forward needs to be clear and concise.
I have several ideas for sales tactics, product marketing, and operational efficiencies that I feel will be a great competitive edge for our member owners as we continue to move forward together.
As I said earlier, I am excited to be a part of the Pride Ag team and look forward to serving our customers for years to come!
Feed Division
John O’Leary Dodge City Feed Division Manager
Managing
Through Dry
Conditions: Strategic Summer Nutrition for Western Kansas Cattle Producers
By Pride Ag Resources Animal Nutrition Division
Across western Kansas, persistent drought conditions and limited forage growth are creating challenges for cattle producers heading into summer grazing. Native grass pastures are slower to recover, wheat pasture turnout has been shorter in many areas, and forage
quality is already beginning to decline earlier than normal. In years like this, strategic supplementation becomes one of the most important tools producers can use to maintain body condition, support breeding performance, and protect overall herd productivity.
As grass matures or drought stress increases, crude protein and digestible energy levels decline rapidly. Cattle may appear to have adequate forage available, but performance can still suffer if rumen microbes are not receiving enough protein to efficiently digest lowerquality forage. Supplemental protein improves forage utilization and allows cattle to extract more value from every pound of grass or hay available.
One option producers are utilizing this year is our new PAR 25% Range Supplement. This meal-form supplement is designed to provide concentrated protein support for cows grazing dry native pasture, crop residue, or lower-quality hay. The product helps stimulate forage intake and digestion while offering a flexible feeding option for operations that prefer hand-fed supplementation.
Protein cubes also remain an excellent tool for western Kansas operations dealing with pasture stress or reduced forage quality. Protein cubes are easy to handle, reduce waste, and allow producers to strategically supplement cattle on larger pasture
settings where daily feeding may not be practical. Strategic cube feeding can help maintain cow body condition scores, support reproductive performance, and reduce excessive weight loss during extended dry periods.
Self-fed supplementation options continue to be popular as well. Purina® Rangeland protein tubs provide convenient intakecontrolled nutrition for cattle on pasture while reducing labor demands. Products such as the Purina® Rangeland 30-13, 24-12, and 25% protein tubs offer dependable supplementation programs for a wide range of grazing conditions. These tubs help provide consistent protein intake, added minerals, and supplemental energy to support cattle performance during periods of declining forage quality.
During drought conditions, maintaining adequate protein intake becomes even more important because cattle consuming lower-quality forage often reduce intake and lose body condition more rapidly. Proper supplementation programs can help stretch limited forage resources while maintaining herd performance and reproductive efficiency heading into breeding season. Producers should also consider the long-term value of strategic creep feeding programs during dry years. Purina® Rangeland Calf
Creep 14 B68 helps support calf growth when pasture quality and milk production begin to decline. Early nutritional support can improve weaning weights, maintain calf bloom, and reduce stress during challenging forage conditions. Creep feeding can also help reduce pressure on cows by decreasing nursing demands, helping maintain body condition heading into late summer and fall.
Many western Kansas producers have seen creep feeding programs provide additional value during dry years because calves continue gaining efficiently even when pasture quality declines. Supporting calves earlier can help producers capture more pounds at weaning while helping cows maintain condition for future reproductive success.
Summer also brings increasing fly pressure across the region. Horn flies and face flies can significantly impact cattle performance by reducing grazing time, increasing stress, and lowering gains. Feed-through fly control products containing Altosid® IGR help break the fly lifecycle by preventing larvae from developing in manure. When used consistently and according to label directions, Altosid® products can be an effective part of an integrated summer fly control program.
As conditions remain challenging across western Kansas, now is the time to evaluate forage resources,
body condition scores, and supplementation plans before cattle begin losing performance. The team at Pride Ag Resources is available to help producers evaluate feeding programs and develop practical supplementation strategies that fit both pasture conditions and operation goals.
Stop by your local Pride Ag Resources location to discuss protein supplementation, mineral programs, creep feeds, fly control products, and summer nutrition strategies for your herd.
Chris Klein AV Energy Manager
I hope everyone is having a great spring! As we move into the busy season, we’re continuing to see higher fuel prices across the board. With that in mind, now is a good time to look at contracting your fuel needs. Locking in pricing can help protect your operation from further volatility and give you more
AV Energy
certainty heading into summer and fall.
AV Energy is currently running our Spring/Summer Bulk Oil and DEF sale now through the end of August. Below are the products we have on sale:
Bulk Oil
Diesel Engine Oil (15W-40): Reliable protection for your engines, especially under heavy use
Tractor Hydraulic Oil: Keeps equipment running smooth and extends equipment life
Drip Oil: A practical, costeffective option for irrigation systems
DEF
330 gallon tote-$800.00
265 gallon tote-$675.00
55 gallon drum-$130.00
2.5 gallon jugs-$10.00/jug
There is no delivery charge for bulk oil products. DEF can be picked up at our warehouse, or we can deliver it for an additional delivery fee.
This sale runs through the end of August, so be sure to give Jordan (620-338-6652) or myself (620-682-5088) a call to get on the schedule.
500 Gallon Propane Tanks
We currently have new 500 gallon propane tanks on sale. Cost of the tank is $3500.00 and delivery is free if it’s
within 50 miles of Dodge City.
Thanks again and we appreciate the opportunity to be your fuel, propane, and oil supplier.
Chris Klein
Information Technology Department
Richard Broz
Pride Ag Resources IT Director
Pride Ag Resources would like to invite you to browse our website www.prideag.com This site is updated daily with local and national news. We try to inform you what is happening at our local branch locations. The website will provide you information on our departments, coop news, and employment opportunities. Use it to look at your local Grain and Overnight cash bids. (These prices reflect a 10 minute delay).
Our feature this month will be Pride Ag Ace Portal Features:
Pride Ag Resources Ace Hardware is excited to announce that we now have our Ace Customer portal available for use. With this new portal, customers will be able to sign up to have access
to view account history on their Pride Ag Ace house accounts. Once account is setup, customers will have options to view, Balances (Which will be total amount charged to account since we do not apply AR in Eagle.), Account Information, Documents, History (which is where customers can view and either download or email sales invoices).
Please follow the link or scan QR code to sign up for account access. You will have to click on the Sign up to access your existing AR account on-line. Then fill out the request and click on red button to Send Request. Once sent and approved, you will receive an email back stating you are ready to login. https://prideagace.epicorinet.com/
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Tony Bleumer ................................Chairman
Toby Whipple………..... Vice-Chairman
Levi Salmans Secretary-Treasurer
Butch Irsik Director
Curtis Ellis Director
Garrett Love Director
Weston Vogel Director
David Self ….….........Associate Director
Calvin Williamson..........Associate Director
Jerald Kemmerer………………CEO/GM
Adiana Morales…Newsletter Editor
2nd Quarter 2026 Published Quarterly By
908 W Frontview, Dodge City, KS 67801
(620) 225-4193
