Checking Out the Cup

Thanks to GROWMARK FS's Jenny Zeszutek for sharing this story and photo.

A lucky location allowed two GROWMARK FS, LLC employees an opportunity to check out the Stanley Cup, hockey's top prize.

The GROWMARK FS facility in Eighty Four, Penn. sits next door to Eighty Four Lumber Company, who is a sponsor of the Cup. One day, drivers Gary Winkleblech and Donald Rush noticed a crowd of people in Pittsburgh Penguins clothing lined up at Eighty Four Lumber.

"I thought they must have either a player or the Cup inside, so we went over to check it out," Winkleblech said.

His hunch was right. The Stanley Cup was on display, and a photographer asked the men if they'd like their photo taken with it. They agreed.

"Later, we found out the event was supposed to be for Eighty Four Lumber's employees - we were 'Cup crashers!'" Winkleblech said. "But a friend of mine over there made sure we got a copy of the photo."

The Penguins are reigning Stanley Cup champions.

GROWMARK FS drivers Donald Rush (left) and Gary Winkleblech pose with hockey's Stanley Cup.

An Extremely Good Cause

When the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition rolled into Lena, Ill. this September, Stephenson Service Company had a hand in making the Stott family’s new home a reality.

After learning the popular show would be tearing down and rebuilding a local family’s home, Gordy Williams, energy marketing manager, contacted Hasken Construction to see what the cooperative could do to help.

“We offered to donate an LP-gas tank and fuel, and within an hour they had called back accepting the offer,” he said.

Williams, Larry Hanson, Certified Propane Specialist, and LP technicians Rodney Randecker and Eric Meyer installed a 500 gallon underground tank in several hours during the 106-hour round-the-clock building project. The family’s new home is heated with a geothermal system, but several appliances are propane-powered.

Stephenson Service Company played other roles during the project as well. FAST STOP manager Roxanne Schultz and product manager Sheila Tehaar delivered coffee, donuts, and cookies each morning to the thousands of volunteers and spectators at the site. Keith Beightol, building foreman, volunteered his construction skills.

The episode will air Sunday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m. central time on ABC.

“This helped a family in need in our community, and being part of this community we were glad to be able to help out,” Williams said. “It was a gift of kindness.”

Visit Hasken Construction’s website at http://www.extremehaskenconstruction.com/ for photos and more information about the build.

Pictured with the Stott family's new home are Stephenson Service Company employees (left to right): Larry Hanson, Certified Propane Specialist; Rodney Randecker, LP technician; Eric Meyer, LP technician; and Gordy Williams, energy marketing manager.

Ontario's School Buses Run Cleaner Thanks to FS PARTNERS

This article and photo are courtesy of Janice Johnson, GROWMARK Ontario Region marketing and communications specialist.


After 14 months of negotiation, FS PARTNERS closed a deal with Student Transportation of Canada (STC) to provide more than 1,200 school buses with cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel.

Student Transportation of Canada began its transition to biodiesel with FS PARTNERS in 2008 with Simcoe Coach Lines in Sutton and Parkview Transit in Caledon.

“Since then, we have been supplying the school bus fleets with high quality biodiesel blends through GROWMARK's distribution channels and expertise,” said Andrew Troyer, FS PARTNERS director of energy. “Biodiesel is a fairly new product to most, but to GROWMARK, biofuels have been a major component of the Energy Division for more than ten years. I guess you could say we are veterans of a new product!”

Over the past two years, STC has continued to expand its cleaner fuel program throughout Ontario. Tom O’Neill, FS PARTNERS energy sales manager, said that being involved with STC at the beginning of its push to convert to bio-blended fuels gave FS PARTNERS the opportunity to get in from the ground up.

“What put us ahead of the competition is that we not only provide a quality product, but we also offer flexible services and are available to fuel up anytime of the day or night,” he added.

Established in 1997, Student Transportation of Canada is the fourth largest provider of school bus transportation services in North America and currently operates 6,300 school vehicles in North America.

This new account with FS PARTNERS will amount to sales of approximately 5.8 million litres (1.5 million gallons) delivered each year, resulting in countless reduced emissions. It represents a changing mindset and commitment to renewable fuels.

FS PARTNERS Energy Division works with Student Transportation of Canada in supplying biofuels to its school bus fleets in Ontario. From left to right: Ken Gill, Student Transportation of Canada Inc. (STC) regional maintenance manager, Chris Harwood, STC senior vice president – Canadian Operations, Andrew Troyer, FS PARTNERS director of energy, Tom O'Neill, FS PARTNERS energy sales manager.

Blast from the Past

Luis Roig worked for GROWMARK for several months in 2004, learning about our business after we became involved with maltaCleyton. Recently, Brigette Harlan, renewable fuels product manager, reconnected with Luis and recommended sharing some information about what he’s done since his time with us.

When did you leave GROWMARK?

I left GROWMARK in July of 2004. I spent 4 months with the marketing department so I could learn about the FS System and what GROWMARK does; also, I helped with some projects (Annual Meeting and Marketing Conference)

What did you do after you left?

After I left GROWMARK I joined maltaCleyton as a trainee in the marketing department. What are you doing today? After 3 years working at maltaCleyton Mexico, I have been transferred for 3 years to maltaCleyton Brazil as a brand manager, taking care of the marketing department, learning the Brazilian market, developing and researching new products to complete our portfolio, and creating a pet food line to generate value for our business in Brazil.

How did your time at GROWMARK help you in your career path?

It helped me a lot to learn about agribusiness, which has a straight relationship with animal nutrition. I also learned from the people at GROWMARK, who taught and explained how things work in each department. Everyone I met in GROWMARK helped me to be a better person.

Any personal (family) updates you’d like to share?

I was married to a beautiful Mexican girl. She is a doctor and we having a great experience, living in another country together.

Anything else GROWMARK employees would find interesting?

What I remember most about my time in GROWMARK was that everyone treated me very well and I am very happy to have had that experience. I want to give special thanks to Bill Davisson for letting me be part of GROWMARK for that great 4 months. I remember our tennis matches! I also remember when I invited the people to stop by the marketing department to eat some Mexican candies for the 5th of May.

Thanks to everyone who invited me to Biaggi’s, it was very good. I’m still a Cubs fan, and if you want to see me again, watch the movie Clear and Present Danger with Harrison Ford. I play the son of a drug dealer.

I would be very pleased to have another experience with GROWMARK in the future.

Living United

Congratulations to the GROWMARK second floor for raising the most money per person of all divisions in the Illinois Farm Bureau Family of Companies in the 2009 United Way campaign!

Committee members planned a variety of activities, including a "Who's that Baby" photo contest, bake sale, luncheon, and a raffle with other GROWMARK divisions.

Committee members were (left to right): Brian Gulso, business analyst; Dawn Garner, safety and environmental services administrative assistant; Lindsay Otten, safety and environmental services coordinator; and Angie Ciulla, fuel processing specialist II. Not pictured: Joella Bohannon, accounts receivable specialist.

AGRIS Co-operative Gets Their Sea Legs

This article was submitted by Janice Johnson, Ontario communication specialist and Terry Stevenson, AGRIS Co-operative communications manager.

On Friday, September 11, a group of 21 AGRIS Co-operative sales representatives and guests boarded the HMCS Ville de Quebec Canadian Navy frigate that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1993.

The experience was made possible by AGRIS Co-operative agronomy specialist Chuck Belanger who served as a Petty Officer (2nd Class) with the Canadian Forces.

It was through Belanger’s reconnection with an old navy buddy, Mario Couture, the ship’s underwater warfare director, that the AGRIS Co-operative sales team was able to have this unique experience.

“This is not your ordinary venue for a team-building exercise,” Belanger said. “But what better place to observe and learn first hand about exceptional leadership, teamwork and communication skills than on board the pride of the Canadian Navy?”

The day consisted of many informative tours throughout the ship, networking with the crew and a barbecue lunch on deck as the ship traveled from Sarnia to Windsor, Ontario.

Just after 11 a.m., a tribute to 9-11 was performed with a commemorative 11 round gun-fire salute to honor those who suffered or lost their lives.

The ceremonial blasts were heard for miles as the HMCS Ville de Quebec traveled down the St. Clair River and approached the Bluewater Bridge that links Michigan and Ontario. Hundreds of supporters gathered along the shores of the riverbank to cheer and share a moment of silence.

“The captain and crew on board the Ville de Quebec were outstanding,” Belanger said. “They spoke about the day-to-day operations with an open and honest approach. Their sense of pride and fulfillment was apparent throughout the day making me feel like I was right back at sea and it gave the group an intimate perspective of what navy life is like.”

The Ville de Quebec departed from Halifax on August 26 on the 2009 Great Lakes Deployment for a month-long, 11-city tour along Quebec and Ontario shorelines to raise the Canadian Force’s profile and highlight the ship’s national and international contributions, with a focus on bolstering Navy recruitment. A Halifax-class frigate, the Ville de Quebec, measuring 134.2 metres in length, a range of 9,500 nautical miles and a regular crew of 228, she is heavily-armed with sophisticated radar controlled weapon systems, equipment and technology. Her most recent mission involved protecting food supply ships from pirates off the coast of Somalia.

From left to right: Larry Pajot, AGRIS Co-operative vice president; David Malott, AGRIS Co-operative president; Chief Petty Office 1st Class Keith Davidson; Ville de Quebec Captain Luc Cassava; and Chuck Belanger, AGRIS Co-operative agronomy specialist.

Rollin' on the River

Last Friday I attended the 9th annual Showcase of the Kaskaskia Watershed Association (KWA), hosted by the Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholders (LKSI). Nearly 300 guests boarded a barge on the Kaskaskia River near Modoc, Ill. and set off on a three hour tour (cue Gilligan's Island theme song here).

One of the highlights for me was locking through the dam where the Kaskaskia meets the Mississippi. What an experience to witness the change in depth in just a matter of minutes! The Kaskaskia was about 19 feet higher than the Mississippi, so we were lowered on the way through and raised on the way back. The pumps that move the water are amazing!

This was the water level when we started.



You'll see by the water line on the wall that within a matter of minutes, we'd dropped considerably!

The rest of the tour was full of beautiful scenery, informative presentations, and even a few jumping fish. As we returned to the dock, a huge flag was unfurled over the dam as America the Beautiful played in memory of September 11, 2001.

Gateway FS, Inc. is very involved with the LKSI group because they use the Kaskaskia River to send and receive many barge shipments each year. Gateway employees were involved with publicity, registration, food, and technical support during the cruise.

A Firm Foundation

Here are the captions for the photo collage which appeared in the July/August 2009 issue of Spirit.

1. (Left to Right): Jordan Klosterman, Tiffany Ochs, and Andrew Spray, all of Wabash Valley Service Company, assess the growth stage of a stalk of corn.

2. Kate Graves, GROWMARK FS, LLC, examines soybean cyst nematodes under a microscope.

3. Howard Brown, GROWMARK manager, agronomy services, explains the soil profile and how it affects growing crops.

4. Brendan Bachman, Lincoln Land FS, Inc., tries to determine what damaged this soybean plant.

5. Russell Larson, GROWMARK FS, LLC, looks at soybean cyst nematodes through a loupe.

6. (Left to Right): Bill Emmert, AgVantage FS, Inc., Matt Casey, AGRILAND FS, INC., and Richard Halsne, AgVantage FS, Inc., examine soybeans for possible herbicide damage.

7. Bill Emmert (left) and Richard Halsne, both of AgVantage FS, Inc., use a portable GPS unit to mark the location of a soil sample in a field.

8. Ben Sherod (left) and Dustin Ellis, both of AGRILAND FS, INC., discuss features of a handheld GPS unit.

9. Participants count corn plants to determine planting population.

10. Kevin Black, GROWMARK insect and plant disease technical manager (right) removes a soybean plant from the soil to look for soybean cyst nematode.

11. Brendan Bachman, Lincoln Land FS, Inc., (left) and Brian Sisson, Conserv FS, Inc. collaborate during the "goof plot" exercise where plants were intentionally damaged so participants could diagnose common problems.

12. Jacob Bonnell, FS Seed intern, puts the knowledge he gained to the test in deciding an appropriate course of action to remedy this soybean plant.

Goin' to Kansas City...

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the EMS Seminar in Kansas City, Mo. Despite a late arrival due to airplane problems (thankfully while the plane was on the ground), it was an interesting and enjoyable two days.

The seminar began with an afternoon of presentations by GROWMARK Energy staff and other industry leaders on fuels, lubricants, and the renewable industry. Newly-certified EMS's were recognized as well as significant anniversaries.

The next morning we boarded buses for the 3 hour drive west to McPherson, Kan., home of the National Cooperative Refinery Association (NCRA). We heard several informative presentations from NCRA personnel, then drove around the refinery and visited with chemists in the lab. I never realized how many different products can be extracted from crude oil.

After the journey back, the group relaxed at a Kansas City Royals baseball game. The stadium has been recently renovated and we had great seats along the third base line. The highlight of the game for me was seeing one of our own scramble for a home run ball hit in the first inning - pretty cool souvenir!

I enjoyed meeting and visiting with many of the EMS's at the seminar and I'd like to thank them for all they do for the GROWMARK System!

Investing in the Future

Photo and information courtesy of The Morrisonville Times.

The Morrisonville High School ag department received a donation of a 20-foot gas-powered sprayer with foamer from the Christian County Farmers Supply Company's Morrisonville, Ill. facility.

The ag students will use the sprayer to learn the basic functions of a sprayer, how to properly calibrate it, and how to use it in the field.

Front, left to right: Burr Ginger and Trenton Tiemann, Christian County Farmers Supply Company.

Back, left to right: Lynn Beard, Mark Grundy, Jeff Miller, Joseph Bloome, and Brian Borgic, Morrisonville High School agriculture students.

Expecting the Unexpected

The Waterloo Tank and Truck Center in Waterloo, Iowa recently hosted confined space rescue training for the Waterloo fire department. The firefighters practiced removing a person from inside a propane bottle in the event of an emergency. Nearly 25 firefighters participated in the simulation.

"When the fire department came out to do our fire inspection, Lester (Zmolek, GROWMARK senior safety specialist) and Nikki (Riley, GROWMARK environmental, health, and safety associate) suggested we offer our facility for this training," said Joan Hennings, administrative coordinator. "We wanted them to be familiar with our facility and the situations they may face in the event we needed to call on them."

The firefighters developed their own method for rescuing a person, using two ladders in an A-frame configuration. They determined that a chain hoist in the workshop could also be used if the truck was indoors.

Heritage Tractor Adventure

The eighth annual Heritage Tractor Adventure was held June 6-10, 2009 through the Heritage Corridor, along the I & M Canal. Participants drove their antique tractors nearly 150 miles over the course of the event.















This year, 217 tractors took part in the drive. The gasoline and diesel fuel was donated by GRAINCO FS, Inc. and tractors were fueled on site by GRAINCO employees Brent Ericson, Mark Hansen, Rich Henry, Larry Mattison, Lisa McDonnell, Cornel Recknor, Robert Rosengren, Jim Snyder, Jim Thomson, Mark Tuttle, and Tom Wallace.






















"In other tractor drives, the fuel is not supplied, and it makes for some logistical challenges," said Mary Beth DeGrush, Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau vice president and event coordinator. "We greatly appreciate GRAINCO's involvement, and I know our drivers do, too."



Brad Eike, Heritage FS, Inc. Energy Management Specialist, drove his 1966 Minneapolis Moline M670.


"This tractor has been in my family since it was new, and it's never used anything but FS fuels and lubricants," he said.



More information about the Heritage Tractor Adventure is available at http://www.heritagetractoradventure.com/.

The Intern Experience

The 48 GROWMARK interns convened for their mid-summer meeting in June. They enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect and learn from each other's summer experiences throughout the GROWMARK System.

The meeting began with a fun night in Bloomington, Ill., where the group enjoyed a meal together and took advantage of bowling, miniature golf, and sand volleyball facilities at Pheasant Lanes.

(Left to Right): Kathryn Tokarz, Seedway, LLC; Joe Leslie, GROWMARK FS, LLC; Lucas Waybright, GROWMARK FS, LLC; and Kristina McAllister, GROWMARK FS, LLC enjoy their meal at Wings, Etc...

Minature golf was a popluar choice at Pheasant Lanes. Travis Rudat, GROWMARK Logistics lines up his putt while Mitch Lindberg, GROWMARK Facility Planning and Supply (red shirt) and Travis Coty, Ag View FS, Inc. (green shirt) plan their next shots.

The next morning, the interns boarded a bus and headed to Sunrise Ag Service Company's Havana, Ill. facility on the Illinois River. There, they saw the barge loading and unloading dock, grain storage system, and fertilizer products building. Rich Vanderpool and Bob Bess led the tour.

The next stop on the tour was the WESTERN GRAIN MARKETING, LLC site near Adair, Ill. where GROWMARK Facility Planning and Supply's Tom Nealey and Randy Holthaus boarded the bus and explained the ongoing construction project. After stopping for lunch, the group toured the John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, Ill. and had free time at the nearby John Deere Pavilion. Supper at Joe's Crab Shack in Peoria, Ill. ended the day.

Jennifer Mormann, Three Rivers FS Company (left) and Andrea Beatty, Ag View FS, Inc. (right) play checkers at the John Deere Pavilion.

(Left to right): Mitch Lindberg, GROWMARK Facility Planning and Supply; Joel Lasack, AgVantage FS, Inc.; Drew Nesemeier, Gold Star FS, Inc.; Jacob Robinson, Gold Star FS, Inc.; Ross Brunsman, Three Rivers FS Company; and Jake Bonnell, GROWMARK Seed Division wait for their seafood at Joe's Crab Shack.

The following day the interns were in the Bloomington office. They completed a personality profile and learned how to identify and interact with people who have different relational styles from their own.

Additional Family Photos

There were a few photos submitted that we couldn't fit into the May/June issue of Spirit. Take a look!

Jeff Lynn, bulk fuel transport driver, Lincoln Land FS, Inc. poses with his family in San Francisco at You Tube. Son Tanner (front) wrote to the Dream Factory of Central Illinois requesting a visit to see where his favorite podcast Digg Nation was created and the Google and You Tube headquarters. The whole family - (left to right) Jared, Lori, Jeff, and Tucker - enjoyed the trip together.

John and Mary Lou Perrott enjoyed their trip to the Cathedral in Toledo, Spain in 2008. John is works for Huron Bay Co-operative in Belgrave, Ontario and has been in the Co-op system for more than 40 years.

Roger Marcoot, operations manager, South Central FS, Inc. (pictured) is a cousin to Randy Marcoot, retired director of IMS, GROWMARK, and nephew to Don Marcoot, retired Iowa regional manager.

A note from Jessica Beam at Gold Star FS, Inc.'s Cambridge, Ill. warehouse read: "We might not all be related by blood or marriage, but we are one big happy family!"

From left to right: James Main, petroleum energy specialist; Dan Wigant, LP specialist; Bobby Phillips, sales support/grain systems sales support; Mick Carr, grain systems specialist; Steve "Reno" Ebens, petroleum energy specialist; Matt Happel, multi-products specialist; Ashley Cocquit, customer service; "Big" Bob Sandburg, LP sales support; Dave "Spanky" Spangler, structures; Davie Nelson, sales support; Perry Coziahr, plant manager (retired April 30, 2009); Les Matson, sales support; Jason Dobbles, tire department; Chuck Blaszczyk, tire department; Rob Weston, LP sales support; Jon Loitz, Certified Crop Specialist; Jessica Beam, customer service; Matt Warner, crop specialist; and Steve Brown, sales support.

Expanded Photo Captions for System Family photos in May/June 2009 Spirit

1: Dan Pannier, assistant chief dispatcher, GROWMARK (left) and Cindy Fletcher, system administrator – LAN, GROWMARK (right) are step-brother and sister.

2 and 3: Father and son John Crosby, sales support, Gold Star FS, Inc. Atkinson facility (Photo 3) and Aaron Crosby, agronomy marketing manager, AgriPride FS, Inc. (Photo 2).

4: Roger Read, general manager, Illini FS (left) and Warren Gillett, sales and operations manager, GROWMARK Facility Planning and Supply Division (right) are first cousins.

5: Brothers Jerry Sutton, environmental, health, and safety manager (left) and Tim Sutton, energy marketing manager (right) work for Christian County Farmers Supply Company.

6: Sue Collins, administrative assistant, WESTERN GRAIN MARKETING, LLC (front right) and Gary Spoon, southern region grain operations manager, WESTERN GRAIN MARKETING, LLC (back right) are brother and sister. Gary is married to Cathy Spoon, office manager, Western Illinois FS Feeds and controller, Alpha FS (back center). Ryan Ward, feed warehouse manager, Western Illinois FS Feeds (back left) is Cathy’s nephew. Valarie Collins, administrative assistant, WESTERN GRAIN MARKETING, LLC, (front left) is Sue’s daughter-in-law.

7: Wabash Valley Service Company employs father David Coles, Energy Management Specialist, Browns/Grayville territory (right) and son Todd Coles, crop salesman, Ellery territory (left).

8: WESTERN GRAIN MARKETING, LLC employs Gordon Miller, general manager (left) and son Ryan Miller, merchandising manager (right).

9: Mother Karen Slade, receptionist, Evergreen FS, Inc. (right) and daughter Cindy Boward, facility equipment product specialist, GROWMARK (left).

10 and 11: (Photo 10, Left to Right): John Barman, feed blender and warehouseman, Alpha FS; Jeff Barman, turf blending lead person, Alpha Distribution Center; and Mark Barman, first shift warehouse lead person, Alpha Distribution Center are brothers. Their uncle Doug “Fuzzy” Barman (Photo 11) works for Ag View FS, Inc. as a floater operator at the Buda, Ill. facility.

12: GROWMARK Lubricants inventory and production manager Makayla Umphreys (left) is married to AGRILAND FS, INC. lubricant specialist Rod Umphreys (right).

13: Barb Walters, store supervisor (center) and husband Paul Walters, grain elevator employee and fuel truck driver (right) work with son Brandon Truckel, elevator operator and part-time fuel truck driver (left) at Foxboro Co-op in Ontario, Canada.

14: Tom Wolters, custom applicator, Evergreen FS, Inc. (right) is married to Judy Wolters, marketing research/information technology administrative assistant, GROWMARK (second from right). Their children are Erika Curtis, product specialist, electronic payment systems,

GROWMARK (second from left) and Jason Wolters, serving in the Army National Guard.

15 and 16: Richard Stiltz, feed delivery driver, Menard Service Company (Photo 15), poses with his Dodge two-ton feed truck that cost $947.75 new. Sixty-one years later, son Dick Stiltz, agronomy marketing manager, Lincoln Land FS, Inc. (Photo 16), stands by a new Case 4520 dry air machine with a sticker price of $270,000.

17: Husband and wife Travis (right) and Becky (left) Wiedenhoeft work for Frontier FS Cooperative’s Mapleton facility. She is an administrative assistant/customer support representative and he is a custom applicator/mechanic.

18: Illini FS employs Nicholas Eisenmenger, assistant plant manager, Kemp facility (left) and father Bernie Eisenmenger, Tuscola Tire Center manager (right).

19: Megan Leopold, seed marketing communications manager, GROWMARK (left) and Debbie Bachman, broker assistant, MID-CO COMMODITIES, Inc. (right) are sisters.

20: Kristie Israel, crop protection supply coordinator, GROWMARK (left) is married to Richard Israel, spray operator, Ag-Land FS, Inc. (right).

21: Three generations of the Irle family have been involved with the GROWMARK System over the years. Joe Irle (left) was a GROWMARK Director from 1980-1990 and served as an Illinois Grain District Director prior to GROWMARK’s formation. Son John (center) is currently energy department operations manager, refined lubes and fuels for Illini FS. John’s son Jonathon (right) was recently hired as seasonal help at Illini’s FarmTown in Urbana. John’s older sons Gale and Bryan were also seasonal Illini FS employees during their college years.

22: Susan Hagen, office manager, Medora FS, Inc. (left) is a sister to Don Prather, warehouse manager, Medora FS, Inc. (right).

23: Brothers Aaron Wickersheim, LP bulk delivery (left) and Dan Wickersheim, energy department manager (right) followed their father Larry Wickersheim, general laborer (center) to Servco FS Cooperative.

24: Father John Knobloch, general manager (left) and son Ross Knobloch, GROWMARK Lubricants specialist (right) work for AGRILAND FS, INC.

25: Jeff Baker, crop applicator, Rushville facility (left) is the nephew of Mary Ann Baker, Astoria plant secretary (center) and Bob Baker, tender driver/Ipava warehouse (right), all of whom work for Two Rivers FS, Inc. Mary Ann and Bob are brother and sister.

26 and 27: Brothers Fritz Oncken, Lyndon Crops plant manager (Photo 26)and Brent Oncken, Lyndon Energy LP deliveryman (Photo 27)work for Gold Star FS, Inc.

28 and 29: Jeff Baldwin (Photo 28) is a crops salesman at Gold Star FS’s Aledo facility while son Mark Baldwin (Photo 29) is a custom applicator for Evergreen FS, Inc.

30: GROWMARK FS’s Milford West facility employs husband Terry Willey, Jr. as a spreader truck operator (left) and wife Kandi Willey as office manager (right).

31: Second cousins Patti Meyer, energy assistant (left) and Nathan Schmidt, energy specialist (right) are Servco FS Cooperative employees.

32: Husband and wife Bob Clark, retired feed mill/Paris FarmTown manager, Illini FS (right) and Mary Ruth Clark, who worked in the business office of Edgar County Supply Company (left) are parents-in-law of John Knobloch, general manager, AGRILAND FS, INC. (Photo 24). Bob worked with John at Illini FS and introduced him to daughter Cindy, who John married.

33: Servco FS Cooperative employs Betty Rolling, FAST STOP manager (right) and daughter-in-law Kristen Rolling, marketing assistant.

34: Mindy Miller, marketing communications assistant, GROWMARK (center) poses with father Dave Miller, AGRILAND FS, INC. energy sales manager, Eastern territory (right) and mother Lu Miller (left).

35 and 36: Mother Peggy Weiss, Reynolds location secretary (Photo 35) and son Nathan Weiss, custom applicator, Aledo (Photo 36) are Gold Star FS, Inc. employees.

37: Brothers-in-law Aaron Wickersheim, LP bulk delivery (left), Lewis Bowman, LP department manager (center), and Eugene Peters, LP service/bottles (right) work for Servco FS Cooperative.

38: AgVantage FS, Inc. employs husband and wife Rick, LP technician (right) and Myrna Zanatta, administrative assistant, Hazleton facility (left), who enjoy riding motorcycles together.

39: Husband and wife Nathan, custom turf lawn specialist/applicator, Evergreen FS, Inc. (right) and Amanda Ellis, accounts receivable, Evergreen FS, Inc. (left) are pictured with daughter Ellie.

40, 50, and 60: John Grandin, Western Region seed agronomist, GROWMARK (Photo 50) and wife Holly Grandin, ag finance specialist, New Century FS, Inc. (Photo 60) welcome another generation of the family to the GROWMARK System as daughter Lynnae Grandin (Photo 40) will serve as a crop scout for New Century FS, Inc. this summer.

41: Heritage FS, Inc.’s Bourbonnais grain facility is where father Clark (left) and son Matt Gregorie (right) work.

42: Retired agronomy department and part-time Arrowsmith plant food employee Bill Schuth (left) and wife Gloria, Yuton Elevator grain accounting (right), work for Evergreen FS, Inc.

43: (Left to Right): Kenneth Whittaker retired from Spoon River FS in 1979. His son, Reg Whittaker, is GROWMARK’s logistics planning and operations analysis manager. Cathy Hanes, marketing service coordinator for GROWMARK is Reg’s daughter. Mike Mackie, agronomy marketing manager, RIVERLAND FS, Inc. is Reg’s cousin and uncle to Beau Johnson, operator, RIVERLAND FS, Inc.

44: GROWMARK Dispatcher Corey Loercher (top) and wife Tiffany Loercher, GROWMARK graphic designer (left) smile with son Oliver.

45: Tom Salrin, market development representative (right) and son Chris Salrin, propane product manager (left) both work at GROWMARK.

46 and 47: Gold Star FS, Inc. employs brothers Bill Stropes, credit manager (Photo 46)and Warren Stropes, River City Turf and Ornamental (Photo 47).

48: Lindsey Powell, marketing specialist, GROWMARK Facility Planning and Supply Division (center) credits stepfather Robert Cameron, Certified Crop Specialist, Two Rivers FS, Inc. (left) with introducing her to the GROWMARK System. Detrik Hendee, Robert’s nephew and Lindsey’s cousin (right) has been a crop scout for Two Rivers FS, Inc. for the past three summers and will continue that role this year. Robert’s cousin, Michael Kessler, Certified Crop Specialist, also works for Two Rivers FS, Inc.

49: Heritage FS, Inc. employs brothers Ed Lambert, operations manager, Bourbonnais Grain (left) and Mike Lambert, grain manager (right).

51: Husband Jeff Haas, spray truck driver, St. Clair Service Company (standing) and wife Tessa Haas, secretary, St. Clair Service Company (seated) are expecting their second child this fall.

52: Brenda Linton, dispatcher, GROWMARK (left) poses with daughter Jessica Haycraft, Northern Region services coordinator, GROWMARK (right).

53: Eric Engle, Western Region seed sales manager, GROWMARK (left) and Vanessa Smock, administrative assistant, New Century FS, Inc. (right) are brother- and sister-in-law.

54: Jim Welch, custom applicator (left) and son-in-law Mannie Linder, warehouseman (right), are employed by Gold Star FS, Inc.

55: Kirk Kaiser, custom applicator, Anchor facility (right) and wife Cathy Kaiser, accounts payable (left), work for Evergreen FS, Inc.

56, 57, and 58: Brothers John Van Casteren, operations supervisor, Elmvale facility (Photo 58)and Jerry Van Casteren, operator II, Stayner facility (Photo 57), work for FS PARTNERS. John’s son Dave Van Casteren (Photo 56) also works for the cooperative as agronomy sales advisor for both Stayner and Elmvale facilities.

59: Gold Star FS, Inc.’s bin crew includes uncle Dave Spengler (right) and nephew Alex Spengler (left).

61: Stephenson Service Company employs cousins Ken Ils, operations manager, Stockton facility (left) and Joe Ils, sales and delivery/custom applicator, Lena facility (right).

62 and 63: Vince Ochs, marketing manager, South Central FS, Inc. (Photo 63) and brother Brent Ochs, plant manager, West Liberty and Newton facilities, Wabash Valley Service Company (Photo 62).

64: Father Dan Schmitt, LP sales and service, New Century FS, Inc.(right) and son Jake Schmitt, energy marketing development specialist, New Century FS, Inc. (left) work out of the New Traer, Iowa facility.

65 and 66: Husband and wife Dave, propane sales and delivery (Photo 65) and Gretchen Greenholt, energy marketing assistant (Photo 66) work for Heritage FS, Inc.

67: GROWMARK’s Keith Milburn, director, IMS (left) and wife Jane Milburn, business appraisal administrative assistant, GROWMARK (right) hold son Ryan.

68: Gordon Cooper, retired Aledo facility operations manager, Gold Star FS, Inc. (left) and son Dave Cooper, Aledo plant manager, Gold Star FS, Inc. (right).

69 and 70: Heritage FS, Inc. employs brother and sister James Fruendt, operations, Beaverville/St. Anne facility (Photo 70) and Julie Fruendt, secretary, Beaverville/St. Anne facility (Photo 69).

71: Joe Wrench, logistics, Illini FS (left) works with cousin Dwight Wrench, accounts payable, Illini FS (right).

72: Sisters Mary West, benefits administration coordinator, GROWMARK (right) and Kathie Wickenhauser, Wapella/Clinton office manager, Evergreen FS, Inc. (center) are passing on the family System tradition to Kathie’s son Rob Wickenhauser, welder, Evergreen FS, Inc. (left).

73: Lindsay Otten, safety and environmental services coordinator, GROWMARK (left) and stepfather Joe Luechtefeld, board member, St. Clair Service Company (right).

74: Dennis Meseke retired from Fayette Service Company (now South Central FS, Inc.) after 39 years of service (left); son Randy Meseke works for GROWMARK as facility equipment petroleum manager (right).

75: Evergreen FS, Inc. employs brother and sister Dave Jenkins, plant manager, Long Point facility (left) and Laurie Orr, seed marketing assistant (right).

76: Ed Fehlhafer, retired LP department manager, Carroll Service Company (left) passed on his FS legacy to daughter Susan Fehlhafer, marketing assistant, Ag-Land FS, Inc. (center) and son Tommy Fehlhafer, crops marketing manager, Ag View FS, Inc.(right).

77: Lori Weber, tax compliance assistant (left) and son-in-law Brian Gulso, business analyst (right) both work for GROWMARK.

78: Father Larry Bowen (left) and son Ronnie Bowen (right) work for South Central FS, Inc.’s grain and feed department.

79: Husband Jim Sample, Dewey facility agricultural commodities relocation specialist (left), works for Illini FS while wife Belinda Sample, IT project planning specialist (right), works for GROWMARK.

80: Father Mike Wilson, area marketing coordinator, Wabash Valley Service Company (left) enjoys turkey hunting with daughter Ashley Wilson, precision farming coordinator, Illini FS (right).

81: Mother Deb Jolly, Midwest Grain grain marketing assistant, (right) and daughters Kara Jolly, seasonal worker (left) and Stephanie Jolly, Holder Elevator bookkeeper (center), work for Evergreen FS, Inc.

82: Husband and wife Tim Connolly, certified propane specialist (left), and Jonie Connolly, sales support specialist (right) work for Ag-Land FS, Inc.

AGRIS Co-operative Team Visits Japan

This post was written by Scott Vandehogen, AGRIS Co-operative Seed Specialist.



Earlier this year, a team from AGRIS Co-operative had the opportunity to travel to Japan on a two week business trip. Representing AGRIS was board directors John Sauvé and Scott McGeachy along with seed specialist, Scott Vandehogen. Also making the trip were five of AGRIS Co-operative’s marketing partners from London Agricultural Commodities.

The marketing position of AGRIS Co-operative has been to try and put our farmer-owners closer to the export customers who buy their crop. The main purpose of this trip was to provide Ontario farmers the opportunity to visit the end users of their product, allowing them to better understand their needs and help those end users understand farmers’ needs. In addition, the AGRIS Co-operative team was able to meet their export customers, reviewing their current and future grain needs, as well as general Ontario and Japanese trends in the marketplace.

At each meeting a fair amount of time was spent helping our Japanese buyers better understand the Ontario growers’ cost of production using an AGRIS Co-operative-produced breakeven calculator for corn, Roundup Ready soybeans, identity preserved conventional soybeans and Roundup Ready 2Y soybeans. The Japanese buyers showed interest in exactly how identity preserved grower premium payments are calculated. They also had several questions and concerns in regards to Roundup Ready 2Y soybeans and the potential threat that these beans may bring to their market.

Pictured at one of the many Japanese offices they visited are Scott Vandehogen (second from left), Scott McGeachy (fourth from left), and John Sauvé (sixth from the left).

The AGRIS Co-operative team found Japanese buyers are very interested in meeting and talking with the Ontario farmers who grow their food. They traditionally visit Ontario in the summer and early fall to get a closer look at the actual crops; pluck the pods and taste-test the beans in the fields themselves.

For now, Japan has bought what it requires and is hesitant to support higher premiums. Their uncertainty is due to the current global economic situation and the possibility of an eventual turn to genetically modified beans that would result in possibly being caught with high premium inventories.

“Japan is not tapped into the genetically modified market, but thinks that they most likely will be someday,” said John Sauvé. “If Japan does switch and agree to use genetically modified soybeans for tofu production, there will still be a need for an identity preserved system because buyers will always require certain characteristics to match their end use.”

Scott Vandehogen, AGRIS Co-operative seed specialist meets with (left to right) Mr. Shinohara, Mr. Miyashita from Sanko Shokuhin Co. and Mr. Kobayashi of Sojitz Corporation in Japan. AGRIS Co-operative supplies identity preserved soybeans directly to the Sojitz Corporation.

Today the world demand for soybeans is changing. Soybeans are not only required for animal feed and human consumption but also for fuel production as well. With global production increasing through genetically modified crops, Scott McGeachy believes AGRIS Co-operative has an opportunity to help supply a growing food shortage in a niche market.

“I believe that we need to grow this market or risk losing it,” he said. “Food safety is very important to the Japanese consumer and it is gratifying to know that AGRIS
Co-operative can provide assurances in this area through its traceability process and well-developed identity preserved system.”

Growing identity preserved soybeans is not for everyone. It takes a farmer who is willing to go that extra mile. Once one understands how much is involved, it becomes clearer as to why premium payments to these farmers are necessary to enable them to remain interested in this unique market. Some of the added restraints include no night time or early morning combining to eliminate dirt tag and a strong commitment to equipment preparation such as cleaning planters, combines and conveyor equipment before each use. It is a niche market that typically appeals to the smaller or mid-size grower.

It was a valuable experience for John, Scott and Scott who all felt the Japanese buyers truly appreciated their visit. They value long-term relationships and are eager to continue meeting with AGRIS Co-operative and the Ontario growers.

Wild Weather

I received this email from Craig Huelsmann, Southern FS, Inc. marketing manager, commending several employees for their efforts during recent weather events.

In the past six months, Southern FS has had more than its share of reminders of Mother Nature's power. During the winter months, ice storms left several of our locations as well as local communities impassable due to downed trees, power lines, and storm damage debris. Then on May 8, 2009, we experienced straight-line sustained winds recorded between 80-90 miles per hour, golf ball sized hail, and a few tornado touchdowns in another seven counties. Both events left areas without power from one to 14 or more days. Each created unique challenges in serving large numbers of our communities without power to pump fuel or propane locally.





Several people in our organization jumped in during these local disasters, going above and beyond the call of duty. They worked well over normal business hours, through evenings, and on weekends to meet the challenges of helping customers, neighbors, and people they didn't even know.

During the winter ice storms, Mike Cozart, Comfort Pro heating specialist, drove an extra 30-40 miles roundtrip to get propane from a bulk plant that had power to ensure customers could cook and use their furnaces, even when his competitors wouldn't get out and get product for their customers. Gregg Lamb, energy sales specialist, fielded calls and coordinated temporary tank sets and helped move equipment. Russell Frizzell and Ricky Williams, energy specialists, worked with location employees to handle a commercial prospect as a team, which became a customer when their previous supplier was unable to provide a confident solution. John Miller, energy specialist, drove 30 miles out of his area to fuel a generator at a nursing home to ensure the safety of its residents, helping another driver who was unable to get his truck out of his driveway. Daniel Tanner, Gary Riley, and Darren Brown, servicemen, all jumped in to help cover potential leaks, out of gas and low gas concerns, temporary tank sets, preparing 12-volt fuel pumps, and covering for other fuel and propane drivers as needed.

This spring, John Fosse, location manager, coordinated setting up fuel tanks with 12-volt pumps just hours after the storm hit. Then, he stayed until dawn with Mike Crickman to fuel emergency, county, police, and sheriff vehicles. Larry Richey, Ron Clark, Jim Horton, Crickman, and Tanner, location employees and servicemen, transported, loaded, delivered, offered full service fueling for incoming vehicles, gathered names and phone numbers to coordinate orders, and set up and moved equipment as needed from Friday night through the following Tuesday. Randy Holliday and Terry Pike, energy specialists, spent their weekends hauling fuel to generators and clean-up crews even when they both had no power at their own homes.

These are just a few examples of how Southern FS employees pull together as a family to help people. We are very proud of the excellence the Southern FS team has shown.