Seed to Silo - Summer 2021 by Kansas Grain and Feed Association | Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association

KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | KANSAS GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

Summer 2021 Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association 816 SW Tyler Topeka, KS 66612 (785) 234-0463 ksagretailers.org

Summer 2021 Kansas Grain and Feed Association 816 SW Tyler Topeka, KS 66612 (785) 234-0461 ksgrainandfeed.org

ASSOCIATION STAFF Ron Seeber President & CEO

Randy Stookey Senior Vice President General Counsel

Staci Storey Senior Vice President Chief Financial Officer Shari Bennett Vice President Event Planning Lisa Anschutz Senior Director Internal Operations Sidney Storey Administrative Assistant Trae Green Associate Vice President External Affairs & Creative Services BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dustin Kuntz Chairman Kevin Dieckmann Vice Chairman Scott Morris Second Vice Chairman Lance Nelson Immediate Past Chairman

Gary Beachner Bryan Bucl Troy Coon Yance Farney Justin Foss Jim Grilliot Jeff Holling Rachel Hurley Nick Krehbiel Brian Laverentz

Jami Loecker Brent Martin Warren Mayberry Kevin Mears Justin Ochs O.J. Pearl Dave Spears Mark Vance Mark Wegner Toby Witthuhn

Editors: KARA & KGFA staff

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 03 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Join us at the Kansas Agri Business Expo

04 INDUSTRY NEWS Updates on issues affecting you

08 SHORTLINE RAIL FUNDING KARA and KGFA assist members in receiving shortline rail costshare funding

18 THE TWO-YEAR TAL CLASS After nearly two years apart, the TAL class completed their second and third sessions over the summer

20 KARA ANNUAL MEETING KARA members gathered in Manhattan in late-August to meet, network and golf

22 INDUSTRY ICONS We awarded four industry icons with our associations’ most prestigious awards at our annual meetings

Staci Storey Senior Vice President Chief Financial Officer Shari Bennett Vice President Event Planning Lisa Anschutz Senior Director Internal Operations Sidney Storey Administrative Assistant Trae Green Associate Vice President External Affairs & Creative Services BOARD OF DIRECTORS Brent Emch Chairman Mark Paul Vice Chairman Andrew Fullerton Second Vice Chairman Deb Miller Immediate Past Chairwoman

14 KGFA CELEBRATES 125th ANNUAL MEETING Kansas Grain and Feed Association members joined together in Topeka in early-August to celebrate 125 years of the association

Advertising does not influence editorial decisions or content. Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association and Kansas Grain and Feed Association reserve the right to refuse, reject, or cancel any ad for any reason at any time without liability.

SEED to SILO | Encompassing Agribusiness in Kansas

Gary Beachner Ted Behring Doug Biswell Blake Connelly David Helfrich James Jirak Dub Johnson TJ Mandl Matt Overturf Troy Presley Devin Schierling Allen Williams

SEED to SILO | Encompassing Agribusiness in Kansas

PRESIDENT’SMESSAGE RONALD SEEBER

President and CEO

Ron Seeber was hired as president and CEO of Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association and Kansas Grain and Feed Association in October 2017 after working for the associations since July 2008. An expert in state and federal legislative affairs, Seeber also worked for Senator Bob Dole in policy and political capacities, and has spent his entire career in the regulatory arena.

DEAR KARA and KGFA

MEMBERS I hope that this fall finds you well and that harvest is proceeding smoothly. Hopefully, mother nature will cooperate, yields will be good, and we can all gather in Wichita for the Kansas Agri Business Expo.

I hope that this fall finds you well and that harvest is proceeding smoothly. Hopefully, mother nature will cooperate, yields will be good and we can all gather in Wichita for the 2021 Kansas Agri Business Expo. Activities will start Tuesday, Nov. 16 and wrap up Thursday, Nov. 18. This year’s expo stands out for a multitude of reasons, but most notably it marks the 35th anniversary of the largest indoor agribusiness trade show in the Midwest. After a COVID-19 hiatus in 2020, we’re excited to return bigger and better than ever. This year’s activities will commence Tuesday morning (Nov. 16), with a Sporting Clay Shoot to support the Kansas Agribusiness Council (KABC) at STC Sporting Clays in Augusta. The event will raise funds for the KABC, the joint KARA/KGFA political action committee charged with electing pro-agribusiness office holders. Later that evening, a kickoff party will be held at the Hyatt Hotel for all expo exhibitors and attendees. This event is a great way to start the week of festivities, see some old friends and meet new ones. Wednesday morning (Nov. 17), will start with a ribbon cutting on the Century II Convention Center’s trade show floor officially opening the 2021 Kansas Agri Business Expo. The day will entail exhibits showing off the latest and greatest in agribusiness goods and services. We also are serving a hot, home-cooked lunch. Later in the afternoon, beer and drinks will be served to help lubricate the bidding for the annual KARA and KGFA scholarship auction being held on the trade show floor. I promise you lots of bargains will be found while still raising money for an important cause. We’ll cap Wednesday evening with a lavish chairmen’s reception celebrating the 35th anniversary of this historic event. Thursday morning (Nov. 18), will start with a hearty breakfast and awards ceremony at which

the Tomorrow’s Agribusiness Leaders class will be honored for their two-year, COVID-riddled, journey through the premier agribusiness leadership program in the nation. The audience will then be treated to our keynote speaker, Delaney Howell. With vast experience in agriculture broadcast reporting, Ms. Howell will entertain, inform and share with us timely insights relevant to the industry. The trade show will continue immediately after the breakfast agenda and wrap up with evening entertainment of Extreme Trivia. While all of these activities are going on, your associations will again be providing both in-person and virtual 7B/4 and 1A recertification trainings on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. A virtual training option was continued this year as many member companies still have travel restrictions in place and this is a vital service our associations provide to our members. For more details about expo activities and to register, log on to https://www.ksabe.org/ registration or call the association office at (785) 234-0461. Thank you in advance for your support of the Kansas Agri Business Expo! SUMMER 2021

KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | KANSAS GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

INDUSTRYnews Missouri Grain Facility Cited Following Dust Explosion

OSHA has completed an investigation at a grain handling facility in Missouri following an explosion in 2021. Source: Asmark Institute

OSHA has completed an investigation at a grain handling facility in Missouri following an explosion in 2021. OSHA cited the location for one willful and six serious safety violations with proposed penalties of over $215,000. It was determined that the company failed to equip bucket elevators with monitoring devices that notify workers when a belt is slipping and potentially causing friction that could ignite grain dust. OSHA standards require these devices at grain handling facilities that have a storage capacity of over one million bushels. The agency also found that the company had

not updated its dust collection system since its installation in 1974. Additionally, OSHA found the company exposed workers to falls by willfully allowing them to walk on top of railcars to open and close hatches without fall protection. The company also failed to repair an overhead trolley system used for connecting fall protection devices. Had the company addressed potential dust ignition sources, an explosion that seriously injured an employee and caused the destruction of the main elevator might not have happened.

EPA Analyzes SPCC Deficiencies EPA conducted an internal quality and consistency review of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans for 120 SPCC-regulated facilities. Of those reviewed, EPA identified that 8 percent did not have a SPCC Plan at the time of inspection. Of the facilities that had a SPCC Plan, EPA identified an average of four deficiencies for

each plan. The five most common types of SPCC Plan deficiencies were: 1. Plan content, certification and reviews 2. Secondary containment 3. Storage container integrity testing 4. Sized secondary containment 5. Drainage

EPA conducted an internal quality and consistency review of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans for 120 SPCC-regulated facilities. Source: Asmark Institute

EXPAND YOUR AUDIENCE Advertise with KGFA Would you like to reach more than 900 businesses involved in the Kansas grain industry? Call the association office 785.234.0461 or email membership@kansasag.org to learn more about our advertising opportunities.

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INDUSTRYnews EPA Bans Chlorpyrifos Use on Food

EPA announced it will stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food.

EPA is pursuing a final rule to remove all approved tolerances for the insecticide chlorpyrifos, which is applied to corn and soybeans for the control of pests, including roundworms. EPA was asked how this decision will impact current crops where chlorpyrifos was used that will be harvested this fall. EPA indicates that it is the timing of application that determines whether food treated with chlorpyrifos is adulterated. Until the date the tolerances expire (potentially February of 2022), chlorpyrifos may be used on food commodities in accordance with label directions and the existing tolerances. These conditions are described in section 408(l)(5) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). For crops treated with chlorpyrifos before the tolerances

expire, residues of chlorpyrifos in or on food after the date the tolerances expire would not render the food adulterated as long as certain conditions are met. However, after the date the tolerances are revoked, new applications of chlorpyrifos will render any food so treated adulterated and unable to be distributed in interstate commerce. Food in channels of trade that was treated prior to the expiration of the tolerances would be governed by section 408(l)(5) of the FFDCA. EPA has been working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on guidance for treated commodities in the channels of trade. Look for further guidance on treated crop commodities.

Increased Safety Measures for Paraquat As part of the registration review for the pesticide paraquat dichloride, EPA is finalizing new, stronger safety measures to reduce exposure. These measures include: • Limiting aerial applications and requiring residential buffers. • Prohibiting pressurized handgun and backpack sprayer applications. • Requiring enclosed cabs or respirators for ground boom applications. • Increasing the Restricted Entry Interval

(REI) for several crops. In addition, EPA is updating the Restricted Use Pesticide statement on paraquat labels to allow truck drivers who are not certified applicators to transport paraquat when certain conditions are met.

As part of the registration review for the pesticide paraquat dichloride, EPA is finalizing new, stronger safety measures to reduce exposure. Source: Asmark Institute

Illinois Grain Coop Fined Following Engulfment

A central Illinois grain-handling cooperative faces over $300K in OSHA fines for 4 citations following a worker engulfment in a soybean silo. Source: Asmark Institute

A central Illinois grain-handling cooperative faces over $300K in OSHA fines for four citations following a worker engulfment in a soybean silo. Soybeans inside the bin collapsed and engulfed an employee up to their waist in February when two workers were clearing the bin of crops and debris. The agency issued willful citations for allowing workers to enter the bin without first locking out or de-energizing hazardous equipment, failing to post an attendant outside the bin to respond in case of emergency and allowing employees to enter a grain bin when there was 10-15 feet of grain build-up on the sides of the bin.

OSHA also issued a serious citation for directing employees to work on top of railcars without fall protection and one other-than-serious citation for failing to test oxygen levels in a grain bin before directing employees to work inside the bin.

SUMMER 2021

KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | KANSAS GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

INDUSTRYnews New FMCSA Entry Level Training Requirements

Beginning February 7, 2022, these drivers will be subjected to these regulations.

Beginning February 7, 2022, entry-level drivers will be subjected to these regulations: • Obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time. • Upgrade an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL; or • Obtain a school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time. However, ELDT regulations are not retroactive; the entry-level driver training requirements do not apply to individuals holding a valid CDL or an S, P, or H

endorsement issued prior to February 7, 2022. If an applicant who obtains a CLP prior to February 7, 2022, obtains a CDL before the CLP or renewed CLP expires, the applicant is not subject to the ELDT requirements. Any individual who meets one of the exceptions for taking a skills test in 49 CFR Part 383 is also exempt from the ELDT requirements. To find the Training Provider Registry, follow this link. https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/.

Kansas Applicator Institute Weed Identification Winners Each year Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association hosts its Kansas Applicator Institute in Hutchinson. Attendees have the opportunity to experience the latest and greatest in precision agriculture technology up close and personal. One of the courses included at the annual Kansas Applicator Institute is a weed

identification course hosted by Dr. Kevin Donnelly of Kansas State University. The winners of this year’s weed identification were: Brett Jennison (Scott Coop, not pictured), Ryan Kinsler (Double K Farms) and Norman Schmelzle (Helena AgriEnterprises).

Brett Jennison (Scott Coop, not pictured), Ryan Kinsler (Double K Farms) and Norman Schmelzle (Helena AgriEnterprises).

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SUMMER 2021

KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | KANSAS GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

Associations proudly assists members in receiving short line rail funding for second-straight year Gavilon Grain hosted Governor Laura Kelly, Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz and Association President and CEO Ron Seeber for a celebratory event at its location in Wichita on August 17 announcing recipients of short line rail improvement funding from the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Plan. “The infrastructure in the United States is second to none, however our competitors in other countries are making great strides in their infrastructure allowing them to compete at a much more competitive level,” Gavilon Grain’s Vice President and General Manager of the North America Grain Division Matt

SEED to SILO | Encompassing Agribusiness in Kansas

Gibson said. “Partnerships between industry and government like the Kansas short line rail improvement program help us keep these advantages we currently have in place.” The cost-share grant program is a threeyear, $15 million program that provides 70 percent state money to 30 percent investment by the eligible entity for improvements. The geographically dispersed organizations awarded projects for funding of rail sidings, rehabilitation and track extensions were: Bartlett Grain (Barton County), Central Valley Ag Coop (Mitchell County), Gavilon Grain (Sedgwick County), Hutchinson Transportation (Reno County), Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (Sedgwick County) Kirk Grain (Scott County), KYLE Railroad (Mitchell County), Midland Marketing Cooperative (Rush County), The Scoular Company (Osborne County), South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (Crawford County). “Through mutual commitment, and by emphasizing right size, practical improvements we can address critical infrastructure needs like short line rail improvements,” Kelly said. “By modernizing short line rail roads we enable the shippers they serve to keep

our economy moving in the right direction, improving our rail operations, economic competitiveness and safety.” Six projects were awarded to shippers and four projects were awarded to short line railroads in nine counties across Kansas. State funding for the individual projects ranges from $56,000 for the installation of new scales to nearly $2 million for siding expansion to increase railcar capacity and carloading capabilities. When completed, the improved rail infrastructure will allow shippers to nearly double railcar loads annually, up to 4,200 cars a year, decreasing the amount of heavy truck traffic on Kansas highways by nearly 14,000 per year. “When we successfully helped pass this legislation in 2020, we knew everyone would benefit from this program for many years to come,” Seeber said. “Farmers will see improved rail service to ship their crops and receive inputs to grow them. Rail and shipper employees receive improved safety. Our underserved Kansas communities welcome the economic development of bringing new business and construction to their towns and we experience a decreased need for over-the-road transportation.”

SEED to SILO | Encompassing Agribusiness in Kansas

SUMMER 2021

KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | KANSAS GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

THANK YOU, SPONSORS “We know our sponsorship of Kansas Grain and Feed Association goes directly toward the seminars, networking events and communication products the association provides to its membership and we take pride in supporting those efforts year after year.” ANDREW FULLERTON BARTLETT GRAIN

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UNDERWRITER SPONSOR

COMMODITY PARTNERS

$20,000+

K A N S A S

C RN C O M M I S S I O N

ProValue Insurance is an independent agency providing comprehensive insurance products and business services to organizations in need of risk protection. Delivering unparalleled knowledge and experience, ProValue helps protect against more than organizational risk, offering coverages for personal assets to individuals throughout MidAmerica.

KANSAS W H E A T

Rediscover Wheat

FOUNDER SPONSOR

BENEFACTOR SPONSORS

$7,500

$5,000

PATRON SPONSORS $3,500

BUILDER SPONSORS $2,000 Bartlett Grain Company Beachner Grain Inc. Farmers Cooperative Equity Co. First National Bank of Hutchinson Gavilon Grain, LLC Grain Craft INTRUST Bank N.A. Irsik & Doll Feed Service Morrill Elevator, Inc. Offerle Coop Grain & Supply Co. The Cooperative Finance Assn. The Scoular Company

DONOR SPONSORS $1,250 Ag Partners Cooperative Inc. Agri Trails Coop B-R-C Bearing Company, Inc. CHS Inc. Conestoga Energy Partners LLC Cornerstone Ag LLC D.E. Bondurant Grain Co. Frisbie Construction Co., Inc. Frontier Ag Inc. Korol Financial Group LLC Midland Marketing Coop Inc. Midway Coop Assn. WindRiver Grain LLC

GIVER SPONSORS $750 BarnesCo Inc. Central States Fumigation & Services Central Valley Ag Cooperative Cline Wood A Marsh and McLennan Agency LLC Company Cloud Co. Coop Elev. Assn. Concordia Terminal LLC Drake Inc. Farmers Union Mercantile & Shipping Assoc. HABCO Inc. Kansas Coop Council Kanza Coop Assn. KC Supply Co. Inc. MFA/AgChoice Pride Ag Resources Rolfes @ Boone TSGC, Inc. Valley Coop, Inc. Wildcat Feeds LLC

UNDERWRITER SPONSOR $20,000+ ProValue Insurance is an independent agency providing comprehensive insurance products and business services to organizations in need of risk protection. Delivering unparalleled knowledge and experience, ProValue helps protect against more than organizational risk, offering coverages for personal assets to individuals throughout Mid-America.

FOUNDER SPONSORS $7,500

BENEFACTOR SPONSORS $5,000

PATRON SPONSORS $3,500

BUILDER SPONSORS $2,000

ADM Fertilizer Beachner Grain Inc. EGE Products Gavilon Fertilizer, LLC Interchem J.B. Pearl Sales and Services J.R. Simplot Co. Morrill Elevator, Inc. Nutrien Offerle Coop Grain & Supply Co.

DONOR SPONSORS $1,250

Ag Partners Cooperative Inc. CHS Inc. Fairbank Equipment, Inc. Farmers Cooperative Equity Co. MFA/AGChoice Novus Ag Skyland Grain LLC

GIVER SPONSORS $750

Agrilead Inc. Alliance Ag & Grain LLC American Implement, Inc. Central Valley Ag Cooperative Helm Fertilizer Corp. Kansas Coop Council Kanza Coop Assn.

Kiser Ag Service LLC Midwest Laboratories Inc. Pride Ag Resources Progressive Ag Coop Purple Wave, Inc. Servi-Tech Inc.

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THANK YOU, SPONSORS “Sponsoring KARA provides Syngenta an opportunity to support KARA’s initiatives to deliver expertise on critical industry issues and assist in training efforts for members. As a sponsor we are able to provide our own employees an additional opportunity to remain involved in making improvements locally and nationally for the agriculture industry.” JAMI LOECKER SYNGENTA

SUMMER 2021

KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | KANSAS GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

During its 125th annual meeting August 9 – 10, Kansas Grain and Feed Association’s (KGFA) 16-member board of directors formally selected Brent Emch of Cargill Incorporated to serve as the association’s 91st chairman since its founding in 1896. Emch’s two-year term begins immediately and will be in effect through April 2023.

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“It is a privilege and honor to be selected by the KGFA Board of Directors and membership to be the next Chairman of this accomplished association,” Emch said. “The Kansas Grain and Feed Association is one of the most successful Grain and Feed Associations across this great country and I’m excited to continue to lead it to even greater heights and accomplishments. The continued success comes from the value it creates for the member-owners and I intend to ensure that the staff continues to deliver for its members.” Native to Kansas, Emch grew up working at a private grain elevator, feed and crop input retail business in Madison, Kansas. He is a 1994 graduate of Kansas State University and has spent his entire 27-year career with Cargill Incorporated, spanning five states in the Midwest. Emch is currently based in the organization’s regional office

in Olathe, Kansas where he has overseen various regional merchandising teams for grain and soy processing in the Western United States. KGFA members also selected Mark Paul (Cloud County Cooperative, Concordia) as vice chairman, Andrew Fullerton (Bartlett Grain, Kansas City) as second vice chairman and Blake Connelly (Alliance Ag and Grain LLC, Spearville), TJ Mandl (The Scoular Company, Pratt) and Matt Overturf (Skyland Grain LLC, Johnson City) as new board members. Members heard a keynote address from current Kansas attorney general and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Derek Schmidt. Economist Dr. Matt Roberts provided an update on the outlook of the agricultural economy prior to the group dispersing for a golf tournament at Topeka Country Club.

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GOLF RESULTS August 10, 2021 | Topeka Country Club

FINISH FOURSOME SCORE 1 Clayton Good, Justin Jenkins, Todd Schultz, Scotty Yerges 57 2 Jared Burch, Jeremy Girard, EG Herl, Tyler Scifers 57 3 Jerald Kemmerer, Russ Ronnebaum, Mike Schmidt, Chris Stucky 62 4 Brice Elnicki, Doug Graber, Wes Spohr, Ben Zimmerman 63 5 Mike Beying, Lance Studer, Calvin Wenger, Clark Wenger 63 6 Brent Emch, Troy Presley, Michael Walton 66 CLOSEST TO THE PIN #13 LONGEST PUTT #9 LONGEST PUTT #18 Jason Baker EG Herl Ben Zimmerman

SUMMER 2021

KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | KANSAS GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

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SEED to SILO | Encompassing Agribusiness in Kansas

SUMMER 2021

KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | KANSAS GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

SEED to SILO | Encompassing Agribusiness in Kansas

OUR FIRST

TWO-YEAR TAL CLASS After not attending a session of Tomorrow’s Agribusiness Leaders (TAL) since January of 2020 due to the pandemic, the 2020-21 TAL class reconvened twice in just more than a month this summer to complete the course’s second and third sessions. SESSION II - WASHINGTON, D.C. The typical late-July heat and humidity greeted the class as they exited the baggage claim area at Reagan International Airport. In the aftermath of the pandemic, the big-city experience was dramatically different for this iteration of the TAL class. Traffic was minimal, the sidewalks were relatively empty and the tourist attractions had small lines allowing for immediate access. Following a full day of touring on Monday, the group met with national affiliate agribusiness associations before hosting a well-attended legislative reception. For the first time in a few years, the class was fortunate enough to meet, and have productive conversations with, all six members of Kansas’ congressional delegation before returning home. “Having never been to DC before, I expected it to be an eye opening experience, but I was blown away,” Brice Elnicki of Producers Cooperative Association of Girard said. “I enjoyed the sightseeing on Monday and the great lineup of meetings Tuesday and Wednesday. That was the most inspirational and educational work trip I’ve ever been on.”

Kuntz (Harveyville Seed Company) spent an hour discussing the importance of volunteer leadership and maintaining involvement in the associations after graduation. GRADUATION - WICHITA The first two-year class in the associations’ history will graduate on November 18 in conjunction with the Kansas Agri Business Expo in Wichita. Do you know anyone interested in participating in the TAL program? The associations are accepting applications through November 29, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Anyone interested in applying can receive more information and fill out an application through either website: ksgrainandfeed.org/tomorrowsagribusiness-leaders/ or ksagretailers.org/ tomorrows-agribusiness-leaders/. For questions or deeper discussion about the program, please contact Trae Green by phone 785.234.0461 or by email trae@kansasag.org.

SESSION III - WICHITA As part of its third and final formal session, the TAL class gathered at CoBank in Wichita on August 27 to receive a day-long politics 101 course and a leadership development seminar. Dr. Emily Lehning of Roots and Legacies provided a morning of strategies for effectively managing an intergenerational workforce, while Kansas Senator Dan Kerschen (R-Garden Plain) spoke over lunch regarding running a political campaign in a statewide or local election. Newly-elected chairmen of Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA) and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) Brent Emch (Cargill Inc.) and Dustin SUMMER 2021

KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | KANSAS GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

2021 KARA

ANNUAL MEETING

Amidst the excitement of returning to an in-person annual meeting, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association’s 20plus member board of directors selected Dustin Kuntz of Harveyville Seed Company, Inc., to serve a two-year term as chairman through August of 2023 August 23 - 24, 2021 in Manhattan. “I am humbled and honored to carry this baton of leadership for our industry,” Kuntz, whose father also served as the association’s chairman in 1987, said. “I intend to continue building on the rich legacy of the many volunteer leaders who have served before me.” Kuntz is the 55th industry leader since 1960 to be picked into KARA’s pinnacle role 20

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after serving as a devoted volunteer-leader within the association most of his life. “Dustin, and Harveyville Seed as a whole, have always been tremendous assets to our association,” KARA president and CEO Ron Seeber said. “We are excited to embrace Dustin’s guidance and thoughtful insight as we continue to evolve our association to enhance our value to our membership.”

KARA members also picked an officer succession consisting of vice chairman, Kevin Dieckmann of Brandt Inc., and second vice chairman Scott Morris of ProValue Insurance. Other members elected to new, or renewed terms on the board of directors were: Bryan Bucl (Nutrien), Justin Foss (Simplot Grower Solutions), Jim Grilliot (Midwest Laboratories), O.J. Pearl (J.B. Pearl Sales

SEED to SILO | Encompassing Agribusiness in Kansas

GOLF RESULTS

August 24, 2021 | Manhattan Country Club

SPECIAL EVENTS LONG PUTT #18 - Tim Spector LONGEST DRIVE #9 - Lee Gleason CLOSEST TO THE PIN #10 - Stan Stark

FINISH FOURSOME +/- TOTAL 1 Jerrod Fink, Chase Mareth, Tom Watkins, Mark Wegner -8 62 Scott Morris, Stan Stark, Mitch Williams -6 64 2 Scott Anderson, Lee Gleason, Tim Spector, Dave Wilcox -6 64 Daniel Ablard, Brett Courson, Justin Judy, Phillip Kirchoff -5 65 Kevin Dieckmann, Jami Loecker, Bob Nutt, Michael Spade -5 65 Bryan Bucl, Nick Krehbiel, Dustin Kuntz, Ron Seeber -5 65 Chris Droge, Jeff Ellis, Tyler Johnson, Clark Pearson -5 65 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Roger Brummel, Zach Davies, Gabe Goetzmann, Jon Ingebretson -4 66 2 Rick Vrbas, Kent Nichols, Nathan Larson, Colton Holtgrew -2 68 Michael Keiser, Andy Pinkley, Toby Witthuhn, Ed Zahn +1 71

and Service), Mark Wegner (ADM Fertilizer) and Toby Witthuhn (Bondurant Crop Service). The members also bestowed two Distinguished Service Awards, the association’s most prestigious honor given annually to recognize someone who has made a significant and notable contribution to the industry. Due to a modified annual meeting in 2020 and the desire to present the plaques in person, the two recipients were Gary Cless and Dave Wilcox. Prior to their recent retirements, Cless was a fixture at KARA’s annual anhydrous ammonia safety trainings for many years, while Wilcox was a precision-agriculture expert and a mainstay on the

association’s board and Kansas Agri Business Expo committee. During the two-day event at the Hilton Garden Inn, nearly 100 KARA members enjoyed networking and educational activities. The association hosted a special panel concerning EPA updates and opportunities with acting EPA Region 7 administrator Edward Chu partaking in a discussion with Daren Coppock of Ag Retailers Association and Tucker Stewart of Senator Roger Marshall’s office. Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam closed out the meeting’s formal sessions prior to a hot afternoon of golf at the Manhattan Country Club.

SUMMER 2021

INDUSTRY ICONS

DUANE BOYD

JOHN PETZ

GARY CLESS

DAVE WILCOX

Kansas Grain and Feed Association’s Sunflower Award and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association’s Distinguished Service Award are the two most prestigious awards bestowed annually on those who have made a significant impact to our associations and our industry as a whole. Due to the pandemic, both awards were presented to two individuals in 2021. DUANE BOYD Duane was born in 1946, to farmers and stockmen who also had a certified seed and seed cleaning business, as well as a concrete business. He graduated from high school in Ford, Kansas, went to Dodge City junior college and then St. Mary’s where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology. In 1967 he married his wife, Virginia, prior to being drafted into our armed forces in 1968. Duane was stationed at Fort Dix and served in the Headquarters Office four doors down from the general. Duane was in active duty from 1968-69, but did not deploy to Vietnam. Upon discharge in 1974 as an E-7 Sergeant First Class he went to graduate school at Fort Hays State University while still being enlisted in the reserves. After teaching science in Windhorst and Spearville for five years, Duane went to work for Farmland as part of management. A two-year job at Bird City Equity, where he learned the grain trade from Kenny Will, set up the remainder of his career. Following a three-year stint at Quinter Coop as its grain

SEED to SILO | Encompassing Agribusiness in Kansas

department manager, Duane became the manager of Offerle Coop in 1979. For the next 39 years until his retirement in 2018, Duane was instrumental in the Kansas grain industry. He was elected to the KGFA board of directors in 1989, served eight years on the board and then was the president presiding over KGFA’s centennial anniversary in 1996. Duane also helped finance the futures of countless Kansas high school students by sitting on the scholarship committee for more than 20 years. Duane also served on the Midwest Management Solutions board of directors, Kansas LP Gas Association, and was on the advisory board for Offerle National Bank. A few years after accomplishing the hardest thing he has done … retire … Duane enjoys golfing, fishing, time with his family and of course, K-State sports. JOHN PETZ Following a long and successful career, John announced his retirement as President & CEO of Irsik & Doll in July of 2020. He was the company’s Chief Executive Officer

since July of 1999. John spent the first half of his career with Continental Grain Company in several key executive positions. He was a leader among his peers in the industry for many years. Being from Spearville, Kansas he was always proud of his rural background. John served as Chairman of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association from 1998 – 99 and was widely regarded as a tremendous mentor who provided visionary direction around the turn of the century. In addition to serving on the KGFA board for nine years, he served on the Governor’s Agricultural Board, other agriculture company boards and many industry committees and task forces. At the time of his retirement, Mike Doll, the Chairman of the Board for Irsik & Doll said John’s strategic leadership resulted in highly favorable, progressive growth for the company. He always conducted execution with utmost integrity and never sought the limelight, even though his accomplishments were noteworthy. He continues to serve on the Irsik & Doll board. GARY CLESS Gary attended and graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in agriculture economics in 1978. After a brief hiatus in Europe, he settled down with a job at a local fertilizer, grain and feed dealer in Farley, Missouri. His real education began in Missouri as he did everything associated with fertilizer including application, mixing dry fertilizer and filling ammonia tanks. After four years he had an opportunity to work for Farmland Industries, a regional cooperative located in Kansas

SEED to SILO | Encompassing Agribusiness in Kansas

DUANE BOYD

GARY CLESS

DAVE WILCOX

JOHN PETZ

City. He helped in the fertilizer equipment department in inside sales. Gary had a wonderful opportunity to learn from his supervisors who were the ones who helped design the original equipment used in anhydrous storage and application. His education led him to conduct ammonia schools as part of his job in a seven-state area. He still feels he learned from the best. In 1987, he advanced his career by beginning with Fairbank Equipment based in Wichita, Kansas. After a few years he began again helping with ammonia schools in Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas as well as helping Fairbank with inside sales and purchasing. In total, Gary estimates he taught around 15,000 students – many having heard his jokes several times over the years. He is proud to be part of the team who put together the new Compressed Gas Association’s national standard on handling Anhydrous Ammonia in 2014. Gary is now retired, but still helps in

giving ammonia schools, planning new ammonia facilities and troubleshooting problems that occur out in the field. DAVE WILCOX Dave retired at the end of 2018 after 42 years in agribusiness. He began his career in March of 1978 at an Evans Grain location, working at Jewell AgriServices in Jewell as a floater operator and maintenance man. Dave moved to Thurston Agri-Services, in Nebraska in January of 1986 – his first location serving as a manager, where he also became a Certified Crop Adviser in 1996, passing one of the first tests offered in the program. A career stop in Owensborough, Kentucky introduced him to, in its infancy stages, precision agriculture. With a newfound knowledge of precision ag and the desire to stop moving so frequently, Wilcox contacted his old boss and friend, Frank Shelton, who was then Agronomy

Manager at Farmway Coop in Beloit. Dave was hired to develop a precision ag consulting program. Upon the industry’s growth, Wilcox, a few growers, Randy Taylor and Scott Staggenborg formed the Kansas Ag Research Association. Dave was on the original board of directors and was president in 2003. At Farmway, he became distribution center manager, seed manager, chemical manager, then returned back to distribution center manager combined with ordering, pricing and program management of chemicals. He also oversaw all seed programs for the coop prior to its merger with Central Valley Ag. His role grew even larger upon the merger and he tirelessly worked until his retirement in 2018. Wilcox proudly served on the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association board of directors and was a key member of the Kansas Agri Business Expo committee for many years.

SUMMER 2021

KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | KANSAS GRAIN AND FEED ASSOCIATION

Kansas Grain and Feed Association 816 SW Tyler, Suite 100 Topeka, Kansas 66612

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association 816 SW Tyler, Suite 100 Topeka, Kansas 66612

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