National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson today hailed the nation’s many and varied cooperatives, noting that they have brought both political and economic might to family farmers, ranchers and rural America for over a century. “Since the founding of our organization 113 years ago, Farmers Union members have demonstrated that they not only believe [...]
By Tom Parker When the High Plains Food Cooperative in Atwood opened for business in May of 2008, its first shipment of 21 orders totaling $785 in products fit in the trunk of a car. Since then the cooperative has grown at the rate of almost 40 percent per year and now consists of nearly [...]
Leon Atwell began coaching managers and executives in the early 90’s. His work has since evolved into helping business, community leaders and governing boards strengthen their capacity to lead. He has coached leaders of corporate, family, transition, high growth and startup enterprises through complex issues and brought leadership improvements to non-profit, healthcare and development entities. [...]
Chris Schimdt arms and ranches in far Northwest Kansas, near Atwood where they raise corn, wheat, cane and have a cow herd and stocker operation. Chris and his wife, Sherri, were instrumental in the formation of the High Plains Food Coop of which they are charter members. They market all natural beef, free range chickens [...]
Chris Sramek, Atwood, KS, is a meteorologist, farmer and business coach for aspiring rural entrepreneurs. Served as Rawlins County Economic Development Director from summer 2005 to early 2009, where countless programs and new initiatives were implemented to create a more entrepreneurial environment for HomeTown of Atwood, Kansas. One of these accomplishments included, in partnership with [...]
More than 135 students from the United States and Puerto Rico representing 35 colleges and universities participated in the National Farmers Union (NFU) College Conference on Cooperatives (CCoC) held February 13-16 in Minneapolis, MN., making it the largest CCoC in history. Three of the students hailed from Kansas, they were: Bart Karls and Roberto Chavez-Juarez, [...]
By Tom Parker MCPHERSON, KS – If someone told Billie Chesney or Rebecca Hall they needed to meet this guy or talk to that person they’d track them down no matter how far apart or the amount of time it took, their journeys across the state shot through the bug-spattered windshield with a small video [...]
Lawrence, KS – The second workshop in the Food Hubs and Co-ops: How local family farms can feed our communities series will be offered August 29, 2013, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Douglas County Fair’s Dreher Building, 2110 Harper St, Lawrence, KS. The workshop will provide farmers, community organizations, and local governmental entities [...]
Part one of Food Hubs and Co-ops: How local family farms can feed our communities, Establishing an Online Food Cooperative, was held April 6 in Hiawatha. The workshop provided a look at food co-ops and local food in general. Darryl Birkenfeld, with Ogallala Commons, explained how his community in the Texas panhandle created enthusiasm about [...]
