Congressman Ron Estes visited with members and employees of the Kanza Cooperative Association on Tuesday, May 1. The visit included stops at Kanza’s Stafford grain elavator, Iuka dry fertilizer plant and the corporate office.
Kanza CEO Bruce Krehbiel, Chairman Mike Christie and Board Member Randy Fritzemeier were among the members and staff who hosted the congressman to discuss issues including water rights, the farm bill, crop insurance, and immigration.
“Establishing a relationship with our government representation is important because we want them to understand our business and the needs of our communities” said Krehbiel, CEO of Kanza Cooperative Association.
Rep. Estes represents the 4th Congressional district which covers the four counties where Kanza has facitlities: Pratt, Stafford, Sedgwick and Harvey. His visit of Pratt and Stafford counties also included a tour of the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge with members of the Big Bend Groundwater Management District, Stafford County Farm Bureau, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources, and WaterPack to learn more about the water right impairment claim made by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The claim asserts that the Quivira Refuge has been impacted by junior groundwater pumping upstream on the Rattlesnake Creek.