REGIONAL FOCUS The 2013 CHS Annual Meeting showcased diverse business entities and let farmers kick the tires on innovative technologies. CHS Prepares for a Bright Future By Lani Jordan The 2013 CHS Annual Meeting, Dec. 5–6 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, drew more than 2,000 of the cooperative’s owners and other stakeholders. The New Leaders Forum that week drew nearly 175 promising young farmers and ranchers from across the U.S. Ranked number 69 in 2013, CHS is the only cooperative in the 2013 Fortune 100 ranking. Based on fi scal 2013 earnings, CHS should return an estimated $433 million in cash to owners in fi scal 2014. In recent years, CHS has completed or committed to $4 billion in acquisitions, expansions and upgrades in its energy, grains, and processing and food ingredients businesses, with the goal of adding long-term value for its farmer and cooperative owners, as well as customers worldwide. As CHS pursues its growth strategy, commitment to safety will be the overriding priority, says CHS President and Chief Executive Offi cer Carl Casale. Highlights for fi scal 2013: • A $327 million expansion project that will increase production capacity at the CHS McPherson, Kan., refi nery by 18 percent to 100,000 barrels per day • Acquisition and construction valued at $18 million in propane terminals and storage to enhance dependable supply • Continued front-end engineering and design studies toward possible construction of a $1.5 billion proposed fertilizer manufacturing plant at Spiritwood, N.D. • Global commodities expansion, including new offi ces in Uruguay and Taiwan, an Australian wheat origination joint venture, a partnership in an Argentina sunfl ower processing plant now under construction, and major upgrade and expansion of a joint-venture grain export terminal at Kalama, Wash. • Continued investment in soy processing and food ingredients including storage capacity, quality assurance and safety • Investments in domestic crop nutrients supply and distribution and grain origination, many in conjunction with member cooperatives and locally controlled CHS Country Operations retail facilities. LEARN MORE: Watch a video from the meeting at chsinc.com/c. EDITORIAL STAFF Linda Tank / publisher / VP Greg Lamp / editor in chief Kristine Thompson / director Lisa Graham-Peterson Lani Jordan Tom Murray David Lundquist / photographer OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Chairman David Bielenberg, Silverton, Ore. First Vice Chairman Dennis Carlson, Mandan, N.D. Secretary-Treasurer Dan Schurr, LeClaire, Iowa Second Vice Chairman Steve Fritel, Barton, N.D. Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Curt Eischens, Minneota, Minn. Don Anthony, Lexington, Neb., Robert Bass, Reedsburg, Wis., C.J. Blew, Castleton, Kan., Jon Erickson, Minot, N.D., Jerry Hasnedl, St. Hilaire, Minn., Alan Holm, Sleepy Eye, Minn., David Johnsrud, Starbuck, Minn., David Kayser, Alexandria, S.D., Randy Knecht, Houghton, S.D., Greg Kruger, Eleva, Wis., Edward Malesich, Dillon, Mont., Steve Riegel, Ford, Kan. Copyright 2014 CHS Inc. All rights reserved. Vol. 7, No. 2 C is sent to you courtesy of CHS to connect you with its broad world of resources and solutions. CHS is the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company. C is published bimonthly by CHS, 5500 Cenex Drive, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077. Subscription cost is $6.00 per year. Please send address changes to C , CHS, mail station 408, 5500 Cenex Drive, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077; call 630-462-2307; or fax 630-462-2202. For editorial requests, call 800-232-3639, ext. 4323, or send email to greg.lamp@chsinc.com. TM 4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 CHSINC.COM
Issue Articles
Regional Focus
Lani Jordan
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