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MANAGER’S DESK
Jerald Kemmerer-CEO/GM Pride Ag Resources Your cooperative just completed its fiscal year. The auditors have completed their duties of confirming what our accurate accounting department already knew, and that is we finished with a decent year despite all the challenges and lack of moisture. This year will mark the 99th annual meeting of your cooperative. You should be receiving your notice in the mail along with a copy of last year’s annual meeting notes soon. The meeting is set for Tuesday, May 20th at the Knights of Columbus in Dodge City starting with registration from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Dinner will start at 6:30 followed by the annual meeting. I hope you will have an opportunity to attend. This year’s guest speaker will be Kevin Ochsner, who is a Senior Consultant for Adayana Agribusiness Group. Kevin has worked with several large agriculture companies as a business consultant for the last 23 years. You will enjoy his expertise and
SECOND QUARTER 2014
knowledge of what is going on in today’s world of agriculture. Look for his bio on our website. We will continue to pay out 50% in cash while also paying out deferred equity that you have accumulated over the years that was earned by just doing business with your cooperative. We have gained on deferred equity in the last seven years and will be paid up within 8 years thru 2005. The payout on patronage and deferred equity is at the highest level we can pass back and still operate an effective cooperative. You should be proud that your cooperative is the only one in the state or Midwest that I know of that is that current on it deferred equity program while paying back 50% cash of the nearby patronage. This year will mark our 6th year of giving away five $1000 scholarships, making a total over $25,000 going out to area senior students whose parents are members of Pride Ag Resources. This has been a great way for your cooperative to give back to our members who have outstanding students that are well deserving of a
scholarship. Selection process is done by random business people throughout our trade territory, and the selection of five candidates gets more difficult each year. It was a good year for all of the Pride Ag Resources business units. Even with half of a wheat crop, less than expected fall harvest, and other challenges that we have dealt with. Three years of drought situations are starting to catch up though. The agronomy department had a good year with application acres and adequate tons of fertilizer handled through our facilities. Our central dispatch has made our agronomy team more efficient and effective to better serve your application needs. Because of the lack of moisture received, it did effect the amount of fertilizer tons that was applied. Additional Farm Supply stores have also assisted to the bottom line. Fuel also had a good year to help produce a solid bottom line enabling us to continue to upgrade our fuel pumps at almost all locations. Thanks to all the dedicated employees who make your cooperative work each day. Being little over two months
Inside This Issue 2 Safety Ace Hardware - Grain 3 Feed 4 Agronomy 5 AV Energy 6 Board of Directors