MKC grows team with KFB apprentices

By Scout Nelson

Mid-Kansas Cooperative (MKC), a member-owned agriculture cooperative based in Moundridge, is expanding its workforce with the addition of five new apprentices through the Kansas Farm Bureau’s (KFB) Rural Kansas Apprenticeship Program (RKAP).

These new hires will work full-time and receive on-the-job training for leadership roles within the company.

Tristen Burger, Matt Pauly, Mark Perry, Anthony Redar, and Kyle Sherwood have recently started their yearlong apprenticeships in leadership development.

The program will rotate the apprentices through multiple MKC locations across the state, where they will gain insights from division experts in agronomy, grain, risk management, feed, energy, information technology, human resources, accounting, and safety.

"The Rural Kansas Apprenticeship Program is a crucial part of our people strategy to build a robust and skilled workforce," says Anne Warren, chief talent officer at MKC.

"By investing in these apprentices, we're not only strengthening our company but also contributing to the economic vitality of rural Kansas. Our apprentices gain invaluable hands-on experience and leadership training, positioning them for successful careers with MKC."

These full-time roles include technical instruction designed to prepare the apprentices for leadership positions at MKC and ensure their success through all seasons of the business.

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

The company previously hired two operations specialists through the program and currently has apprentice openings for CDL drivers.

“The goal is to create trained and skilled workers for companies operating in rural Kansas,” says Kylee Stout, KFB’s business development manager. “RKAP gives employers the ability to create pathways for workers to acquire practical skills that lead to well-paying jobs in any role where a company has a need.”

Apprenticeships benefit employers by developing a skilled and loyal workforce. Employees benefit from having a full-time job while earning a certified credential demonstrating their mastery of the craft.

By participating in the RKAP, MKC continues to invest in the future of rural Kansas, ensuring a strong, skilled workforce to meet the demands of the agricultural industry.

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