Mid-Kansas Cooperative (MKC), a member-owned agriculture cooperative based in Moundridge, celebrated on Tuesday the graduation of five apprentices who trained through Kansas Farm Bureau’s (KFB) Rural Kansas Apprenticeship Program (RKAP). The graduates fill management positions at MKC locations across the state.

Tristen Burger, Matt Pauly, Mark Perry, Anthony Redar and Kyle Sherwood recently completed their apprenticeships in leadership development where they rotated through multiple MKC locations to learn from division experts about agronomy, grain, risk management, feed, energy, information technology, human resources, accounting and safety.

Burger will serve as the location manager at MKC’s facility in Benton. Pauly will be a rail terminal operations manager in Sumner County. Perry will work out of the Manhattan location. Redar will serve as the Canton Terminal’s grain operations manager. Sherwood will be the assistant grain manager for Lindsborg and Marquette.

All five spoke highly of the apprenticeship process, especially  the opportunity for development and deep connections they learned by interacting with multiple leaders at MKC.

“The ability and opportunity to not only visit the other locations and departments, but also to meet, speak and learn about the company from senior leadership is something I've never experienced with any other job,” Redar says. “This shows not only the commitment they have to building future leaders, but also the value our producers, customers and team members have invested in our futures.”

“Some of the biggest growth happened during the fall harvest where I had to solve problems, assist in managing operations and work to provide exceptional service for our growers,” Sherwood says. “These have all attributed to me becoming much more confident in my skills and have made me a more rounded person.”

“Every other job I've had sprinted through training and left me to figure everything else out on the fly,” Perry says. “This program has given me a well-rounded idea of the operations of the company.”

“I think one big thing I now understand as a manager/leader is the ability to lead all different types of people is a crucial skill to have,” Burger says. “The ability to acknowledge individuals as an important part of your team will make you a much better leader and person outside of work.”

“Not many other companies allow you to see the entire company to find your fit within it,” Pauly says.  “If you stay open-minded about all the experiences you are in during the apprenticeship, you will learn more than you could have ever imagined.”

After becoming Kansas' first agricultural apprenticeship program in 2023, MKC has hired seven apprentices through RKAP to enhance its labor force.

MKC senior location manager Josh Crosby says he enjoyed watching the latest group of apprentices get out of their comfort zones and grow professionally.

“This program has been extremely successful in attracting new employees to MKC that want to be leaders but lack the necessary experience to hop right into a leadership role,” Crosby says. “It’s the perfect program to gain experience and learn the ropes of the organization and ensure proper job placement.”

Currently, MKC has apprentice openings for CDL drivers, operations specialists and agriculture equipment operators.

To learn more about RKAP, contact Kylee Stout at stoutk@kfb.org or visit www.kfb.org/rkap.