Nearly 600 guests attended MKC’s 47th Annual Stockholders’ meeting this past week in Salina.  Members elected directors and approved four changes to the cooperative’s articles of incorporation and by-laws.

Board of director incumbents Myron Voth, Dave Mills and Neal Beam were re-elected by the membership to serve another 3-year term.

Stockholders heard reports on the financial status of the cooperative from Danny Posch, Chief Financial Officer for MKC. Overall the fiscal year of 2012 was classified as a profitable year for the cooperative and its members with over $13 million in net earnings and $5.9 million returned to producers in the form of patronage.

“The financial results we are seeing are results of a good harvest coupled with a good group of employees who can perform when given the tools to work with,” said CJ Blew, Board Chairman, in his report to the members.

Growth and preparedness for the future were two topics heavily stressed at the meeting. Many stockholders have been concerned with the growth of MKC. Dave Christiansen, Chief Executive Officer of MKC, did acknowledge that bigger isn’t always better, however he said that “our growth has provided the co-op and its members with significant advantages in many areas.”

Jolene Brown, guest speaker for the evening, entertained those in attendance with her speech entitled “When Pigs Fly!”  Her message, accompanied with just the right amount of humor, centered on the main theme of looking for possibilities in turbulent times and helping those in agriculture realize that the pace, people, process and products have all changed; therefore those in the industry must adapt to change.

Brown’s message fit very well with the message, continuing the legacy, presented by Christiansen in his address to the audience.