|
|
Agribusiness leaders gather for meetings of KFSA, Kansas Cooperative CouncilKansas More than 250 people from across the state gathered at the Grand Prairie Hotel and Convention Center in Hutchinson March 9 and 10 for a trade show and the annual meetings of KFSA and the Kansas Cooperative Council. Headquartered in Hutchinson, KFSA is one of the largest insurance agencies in the state and specializes in agribusinesses. The Kansas Cooperative Council is a trade association that promotes and supports the interests, business success and understanding of agricultural, utility, credit and consumer cooperatives. Its offices are located in Topeka. The keynote speaker was Michael Broome from Clover, S.C. During the KFSA annual meeting, stockholders elected John McClelland, Garden City, as a new board member. The KFSA board elected Darin Marti, Manhattan, as board chairman and Dell Princ, Osborne, as vice chairman. During the Kansas Cooperative Council annual meeting, Charles Gabehart of Seneca, Ed Taylor of Rozel and Kevin Kelley of Arkansas City were elected as new board members. Steve Magette of Dodge City was named chairman and Dave Studebaker of Delphos was named vice chairman.
Two named to Kansas Cooperative Hall of Fame Dave Andra of Goddard and Kent Stamper of Plains were inducted into the Kansas Cooperative Hall of Fame during a special luncheon. Andra's wife, Jo Anne, accepted the award on behalf of her husband, who died in 2003. Andra began his career in 1961 as a bookkeeper at the Conway Springs cooperative and became the co-op manager six years later. In 1969, he joined the Wichita Bank for Cooperatives, working with regional cooperatives and then serving as vice president of the bank's Credit Division. He was named president of the Wichita Bank for Cooperatives in 1984. He served on national committees in the Farm Credit System and promoted legislative action for cooperatives. Andra also was involved in restructuring the Farm Credit System during the 1980s farm crisis. Andra returned to cooperative management in 1987 at Danville, and was serving as president of the Kansas Cooperative Council prior to his death. Stamper served on the local board of Midland Marketing in Hays for almost thirty years. During much of this time, he was vice president and president. He also has served on the national boards of Union Equity and Farmland Industries. He has spoken at annual statewide cooperative council meetings in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado. Stamper also has represented the state of Kansas, farmers and cooperatives in town-hall meetings, in the halls of Washington, D.C., and with dignitaries in foreign countries. He played a major role in helping to design the Kansas Cooperative Council's Director Development Program and currently serves on its education committee. The Kansas Cooperative Hall of Fame was formed in 1999 by the Kansas Cooperative Council to recognize Kansans who have been instrumental in developing and spreading the cooperative philosophy on the state and national level. The inductees are selected by a committee of cooperative leaders from across Kansas. Other inductees have included Sen. Arthur Capper, Henry L. Peterson, Gene W. Porter, Clayton "Rocky" Rock, Ivan Strickler, Dave Woolfolk Jr., James "Jimmie" Dean, Francis "Fritz" Gwin, James Williams, Nancy Kantola, Otis and Mary Lee Molz, Herbert W. Clutter, John Michener, Joe Lieber, Kenneth M. Lyon, M.K. Mathews, Clifford Lindburg, William May, Larry Mowry and Wilbur Klenke. All inductees are honored in a permanent display at the Kansas Cooperative Hall of Fame Exhibit, located in the Pride of Kansas Building on the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. 3/31/08 Date: 4/3/08
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
