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Mid-County

CONTENT :

Page 2 - In Memory of Dale Page 3 - In Memory of Tony Page 4 - Agronomy Page 5 - Holiday of Cologne Page 6 - Holiday of Waverly Page 7 - Mid-County Careers

Spring 2024 • Vol . 43 www . midcountycoop . com

Bill Reimers General Manager

( 952 ) 466-3721 billr @ midcountycoop . com

This newsletter is dedicated to two long-term employees who recently passed away .

Dale Schmitz , who was with Mid-County for over 34 years and served in many

different capacities in our Petroleum and Agronomy Departments , passed away on Jan . 17 .

Tony Hallum , who had been our Cologne Holiday Store Manager for 10 years , passed away on Feb . 19 .

Both had fought cancer for several years , and even though they were struggling with their health , they stayed working until December , which is a testament in itself to their dedication to their careers at Mid-County .

These will not be easy positions to fill , but the rest of the employees have worked hard to maintain our customer service .

The next couple of pages of this newsletter will tell you more about these two dedicated employees and outstanding gentlemen .

Truck Center

It has been almost a year since we dedicated our repair shop to strictly truck repair . It was a smooth transition , and we are keeping the bays full even during the winter months . One of our big motivators to change was the lack of qualified auto technicians . We are very fortunate to have some very experienced and qualified truck technicians to handle the workload .

Energy

Energy markets have been rising since the first of the year . This is true for Gasoline , Fuels , and Propane . There are no big reasons for this other than the typical increases we usually see heading into summer . Gasoline and Fuel markets may drop for a day or two , only to rise higher than before . In part , this is due to the instability in the Middle East . With several ships being attacked in the Red Sea , they are taking different routes for all products , which increases costs and adds volatility in the market . In the case of propane , the ability to export from the gulf has grown so much that any excess inventories are sent overseas . So even with the warm winter , inventories are lower than last year , and prices have recently increased . Agronomy

We are excited and look forward to another good spring in our Agronomy Department . With the addition of another John Deere sprayer and two additional tender trucks , we are well-positioned to be there when you need us . Staffing

Another positive note is that hiring staff has shown some improvement over the last year . At one time , we were looking to add six full-time employees , and we are now recruiting for one . Part-time staffing for our convenience stores always cycles , but we rarely have excess employees . If you know of someone looking for their first job , this is a great way for them to experience the workplace .

And no matter what career path a young person is taking , working in a retail environment is a great way to learn how to communicate with people , and it will teach them skills that will last a lifetime .

As always , I appreciate your comments to improve your coop .

( 952 ) 466-3700 • 888-466-3700 • 700 Lake Street West , P . O . Box 177 , Cologne