plant-based protein vs. animal-based protein

Plant-based Proteins

Each year the Student Board is tasked with a research project. This year, they researched plant-based proteins, with a specific emphasis on the contents of…

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Giving Back

We know how important it is to help others, and even more so during the holidays. That is why our December Giving is something we look forward to every year.

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Invest in Inflation

Will Roger’s once said, “Invest in Inflation, it’s the only thing going up.”  This Summer’s newsletter article, Coffee Shop Economics, created a lot of outreach and discussion about inflation.

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Inflation is higher, and printing money continues

Coffee Shop Economics

The most stunning economic statistic I have seen in the past few months is this: “According to the Federal Reserve, 41% of all U.S. dollars ever printed, were printed in the last twelve months.” 

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cattle in a feedlot

Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance: What You Need to Know

In our last article, Crop Insurance Agent Cory Johnson answered a couple of frequently asked questions around Crop Insurance and the importance of protecting what matters most. Now, you will have the opportunity to learn about Livestock Risk Protection Insurance (or LRP), which might be one of the best-kept secrets…

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Dear Washington D.C.

Rural America needs your attention, Washington D.C. Rural communities provide much of the food and energy that fuel American citizens’ lives. We are hard-working American people…

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Keeping You Informed

President & CEO Kevin Swayne informs stockholders of temporary office closures along with a reminder of the payment relief program deadline.

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CEO Update

President & CEO Kevin Swayne provides an update to stockholders regarding reopening the offices and other important High Plains Farm Credit happenings.

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Scholarship Deadline Extended

The deadline for the 2020-2021 HPFC Scholarship has BEEN EXTENDED to May 15th, 2020. Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to college and university students for the 2020-2021 academic…

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COVID-19 ACTIONS

COVID-19 ACTIONS To our valued stockholders and friends, High Plains Farm Credit is committed to serving our stockholders and the rural communities we serve.  We remain open for business so we may continue to meet your financial needs during these unprecedented times. In our efforts to continue to be responsible…

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Important COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 UPDATE To our valued stockholders and friends, High Plains Farm Credit would like to take this opportunity to inform you of the steps we are taking to keep our stockholders and employees safe, and our systems and services running, in response to the new coronavirus (COVID-19). We continue to…

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Agriculture & Banking Summit Coming Soon

Register for the Agriculture & Banking Summit High Plains Farm Credit’s mission is to “meet our stockholders’ financial needs at the best value while maintaining excellent customer service and financial stability”, and that’s why we’re proud to help sponsor the Agriculture & Banking Summit, in conjunction with Fort Hays State…

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Record Breaking Patronage in 2019

High Plains Farm Credit’s momentum continues with a strong financial performance in 2019 and net earnings of $26.7 million.  Following suit with the cooperative business model, the board of directors approved the return of 47% of those earnings in the form of patronage payments totaling $12.5 million to its member-owners. …

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Great Rates, Great Steaks and Great Patronage!

In this issue of the newsletter you will find valuable information about land value trends, online banking upgrade, Nominating Committee results, our patronage announcement and steak feeds.  With so much great information, I know when to keep things short so you can get to the good stuff, so here is…

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Charlie Schippers

37 Years and a Lifetime of Memories

High Plains Farm Credit – Home for the Past 37 Years It is truly amazing to think back over 37 years ago, I was getting out of college and wanted to be involved with agriculture in my future job.  I grew up on a farm thinking agriculture was the best…

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Lessons in Leadership

Lessons in Leadership This summer most of our directors attended the Gettysburg Leadership Experience.  The training highlighted choices made, opportunities missed and conversations avoided at Gettysburg which changed the course of history. Attendees heard about battle decision points, explored those same sites and reflected on how we can apply those…

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Opportunities on the Horizon

The most common stockholder question we have fielded over the past couple of years is “How do I position my operation for the future?”  Recently, I’ve started getting another question: “Is this a good time to expand my operation?”  Depressed commodity prices and lower land values have kept most producers…

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High Plains Stockholders to Receive Largest Ever Patronage

High Plains Farm Credit finished the year with over $27 million in record earnings. In doing so, the Board of Directors has agreed to payout the largest ever patronage dividend to the stockholders. The patronage equates to nearly a 0.85% return on business volume totaling, drum roll please, $9,400,000.  HPFC…

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Membership Has Its Privileges

October is National Cooperative Month which brings attention to the multiple ways cooperatives help build more vibrant rural communities and improve the livelihood of their members.  This newsletter is a shining example of how High Plains Farm Credit is an active financial cooperative that shares its success with our customer-stockholders.…

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Kansas Takes the Lead in Cattle Disease Traceability

Kansas is among the nation’s leaders in the beef industry. One factor that makes the beef supply chain so strong in Kansas is that every segment exists here. An important partner in the industry is our agricultural lenders. As the beef industry, in collaboration with K-State, the Kansas Department of…

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Wrapping Up 2018

I think the old adage is 100% accurate: “Time goes by faster as we get older.” I am still struggling to come to grips with the fact we are wrapping up 2018. This has been a challenging and, in most cases, a rewarding year for our stockholders. We started the…

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Howard Ziegler

Howard Ziegler – Celebrating 39 Years

Thanks for 39 years! Howard Ziegler, of Olathe (formerly of Hays), will be retiring at the end of December after 39 years of service with Farm Credit. Since his first day in January of 1980, Howard has held many roles within Farm Credit, with his most recent role being Senior…

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Beef Battalion Donation

Donation to Beef Battalion

High Plains Farm Credit Donates to Beef Battalion High Plains Farm Credit partnered with CoBank’s sharing success program to donate $10,000 to the All American Beef Battalion (AABB). The AABB, also known as Steaks for Troops, is a group of individuals involved in the United States beef cattle industry working…

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2018 Farm Bill Is On The Move

Kevin SwaynePresident & CEO In April, High Plains Farm Credit held stockholder appreciation events at each branch location.  This is one of the highlights of our year, when we take time to stop, say thank you, and show appreciation to you, our customer-stockholders, for doing business with High Plains Farm…

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Internship Turns Into Job Opportunity

MacKenzie ThornburgAppraisal Trainee | Larned Office My name is MacKenzie Thornburg, and I just finished my spring internship at High Plains Farm Credit. I grew up in Great Bend, Kansas and headed to college right after high school. In college I was on the Livestock Judging Team and involved in…

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High Plains Farm Credit 2017 Land Report

Kirk Green – Sr. Appraiser Phillipsburg Office The year-end land value trends for the association have recently been completed and offer an interesting look at what land values are doing in our area. Our association keeps records of land sales in our area and each year we analyze these sales…

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Matt Thielen

An Association to be Proud of!

Matt Thielen | Director When I moved back to my family farming operation in 2008, the wheat price was over $9/bu, milo was close to $5/bu, and feeder cattle were around $0.90/cwt—with feeders getting as high as $2.20/cwt.  Since then we have seen grain and cattle prices go up and…

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Staff at Fort Hays State game

Proud FHSU Supporters!

Directors, Staff and HPFC are proud supporters of Fort Hays State University. High Plains Farm Credit sponsored the January 18th games against Missouri Western. Directors, Staff and families cheered the Tigers to victories and threw out mini-basketballs to the crowd.

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Record Dividends

Kristen WindscheffelChief Financial Officer Because at High Plains we understand that our success is dependent on your success, we are proud to announce that our Board of Directors approved a $4,400,000 cash patronage payout to be returned to stockholders in April. The payout will be based on business conducted with…

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Thank you for 38 years Vickie!

Vickie Leiker, of Ness City, is retiring at the end of this year after 38 years of service. Over the years, Vickie has been an integral part of the Association holding various roles throughout her career, most recently as part of Association’s accounting group. “My favorite thing is just being…

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Farm Credit History – The BioStar

Many of you may remember the Farm Credit logos developed in 1963. Prior to that Farm Credit had hundreds of logos, so an effort was made to develop a more streamlined, purposeful logo. A circular emblem was produced to represent Farm Credit’s all inclusive services. As one Farm Credit article…

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