Skyland Co-op, Inc. commits to $105,000 Builder Level support for the Capper Project on the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
The Capper Project will rebuild the historic House of Capper to its original grandeur and create the Capper Cooperative Park to pay tribute to Arthur Capper and his work in establishing cooperatives in the United States.
"The board of directors of Skyland Co-op, Inc. are glad to help fund such a worthy project recognizing Arthur Capper and his immense contribution to our privileges as farmers to operate in a cooperative fashion. Like projects similar in the past, this project was unanimously supported by our board." said Wade Tucker, Board Chairman.
The Capper Project will create a tribute to the great work of Arthur Capper in rebuilding the historic House of Capper to its original glory and to develop and build the Capper Cooperative Park to celebrate the Capper-Volstead Act of 1922 which allowed for the creation of cooperatives in the United States. The Capper Cooperative Park, a walk-through educational park, is being developed in the green space to the north of the House of Capper to tell the story of the work of cooperatives in the United States.
With roots from one of their parent companies dating back to 1915, Skyland Grain, LLC is a grain farmers’ co-op providing producers with the supplies and services their operations need to succeed today and in the future. Skyland Grain operates grain receiving facilities at 71 locations across Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas, with a total licensed grain storage capacity of over 167 million bushels. Skyland Grain operates three cotton gins in Olton, Spearman, and Plainview, Texas.
Additionally, Skyland Grain has a full-service agronomy department that provides bulk liquid, dry, and anhydrous ammonia fertilizers, chemicals, and seeds, as well as custom applications for fertilizer and chemicals. Skyland also keeps customers moving with affordable lubricants and a fuel department that offers fuel orders, bulk delivery, transport delivery, contracts and 20 cardtrol locations.
“The support by Skyland Grain at the Builder level with a commitment of $105,000 for the Capper Project is significant in building the partnership and support for this project by the Coop community all across Kansas. The Kansas State Fair is a show place for new technology in agriculture and our cooperative partners are often the first to adapt to these changes in agriculture.” said Mary McCurry, Chair, Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation. “The Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation in working alongside the Kansas State Fair Board and our community partners like Skyland Grain to create a meaningful and beautiful fairgrounds with central points of interest that are crucial to developing them as a destination point for year-round activities.”
“We’re thankful for Skyland Grain and their investment in this project which will help bring the House of Capper back to its original grandeur as a centerpiece for the fairgrounds for the 2022 Kansas State Fair.” said Bryan Schulz, General Manager, Kansas State Fair.
The Kansas Cooperative Council, the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation and the Kansas State Fair have partnered together on this historic project, putting full support behind this project with the goal of funding and completing the project to allow for a celebration of the 100-Year Anniversary of the Capper-Volstead Act of 1922 to take place during the 2022 Kansas State Fair.
The Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation is playing a pivotal role in the success and execution of the renovation and beautification of the Kansas State Fairgrounds. The Kansas State Fair board creates project priorities and works with the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation and their partner organizations like the Kansas Cooperative Council and Skyland Grain to bring private funds to the table for renovations, rebuilds, improvements and beautification of the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
Capper Project Video:https://youtu.be/GhrqPQFaXFw
Photo of check presentation attached:Skyland Grain Board of Directors present the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation with a check for $105,000 for the Capper Project on the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
Pictured L to R:
Brandi Miller - Kansas Cooperative Council, Kent Dunn, Mike Westeman, Matt Johnson, Mark Schwertfeger, Casey Rushton, Bart Thoreson, James Fisher - Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation, Steve Arnold, Kenny Bock, Brian Briggeman - Arthur Capper Cooperative Center, Kansas State University.
For more information on how you can support the Capper Project and the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation please contact James Fisher, executive director, Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation at 816-262-1157 or James.Fisher@KansasSFF.com.
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The Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation is recognized as a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization.