NEWS MEDIA >> Press Releases
UNITED FCS AWARDS $9,500 IN SCHOLARSHIPS |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 2010 CONTACT: Jilayne Radtke
715-842-2211, ext. 6322 |
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| United FCS awarded a total of $9,500 in college scholarships this spring to nineteen students pursuing post-secondary degrees during the 2010 - 2011 school year. Recipients of the $500 scholarships were: 1. Shaun Condon, son of Robert & Kathryn of Clara City, MN. Plans to attend University of Mary in Bismarck MN and major in Business. Graduating from MacCray High School 2. Michaela Bengtson, daughter of Jerome & Kristine of Kandiyohi, MN. Plans to attend Ridgewater Community College in Willmar, MN and major in Agriculture Education. Graduating from New London-Spicer High School 3. Benjamin Krautkramer, son of Paul & Janice of Marathon, WI. Plans to attend University of Wisconsin - Stout and major in Construction Management. Graduating from Marathon High School 4. Brooke Maguire, daughter of Meldon & Karen of Mosinee, WI. Plans to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh and major in Human Resources Management. Graduating from Mosinee High School 5. Skyler Stensrud, son of Stan & Conni of Marshall, MN. Plans to attend either South Dakota State University or Minnesota State University - Mankato and major in Engineering. Graduating from Marshall High School 6. Lance Weber, son of Andy & Roxane of Elkton, SD. Plans to attend South Dakota State University and major in Agriculture. Graduating from Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High School 7. Julia Elgersma, daughter of Bill & Pat of Greenwood, WI. Plans to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls and major in Agriculture Business. Graduating from Greenwood High School 8. Hannah Hasz, daughter of Tom & Theresa of Granton, WI. Plans to attend University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse and major in Education. Graduating from Granton Area High School 9. Jessica Zoromski, daughter of Jody & Jorja of Stevens Point, WI. Plans to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls and major in Animal Science/Pre-veterinary Medicine. Graduating from Stevens Point Area Senior High School 10. Zach Otto, son of Jeffrey & Monica of Lucan, MN. Plans to attend Ridgewater Community College and major in Farm Management and Livestock Management. Graduating from Westbrook Walnut Grove High School 11. Kayla Mathiowetz, daughter of Myron & Rebecca of Morton, MN. Plans to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato and major in Communication Disorders. Graduating from Cedar Mountain High School 12. Britney Green, daughter of Todd & Barbara of Morgan, MN. Plans to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato and major in Nursing. Graduating from Cedar Mountain High School 13. Krystal Zaske, daughter of Wayland & Cynthia of Renville, MN. Plans to attend Bethany Lutheran College and major in Psychology. Graduating from Renville County West High School 14. Nicholas Holm, son of Randy & Peggy of Dassel, MN. Plans to attend Ridgewater College and major in Farm Operation and Management. Graduating from Dassel-Cokato High School 15. Hannah Walsh, daughter of Tom & Pam of Litchfield, MN. Plans to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato and major in Elementary Education. Graduating from Litchfield High School 16. Ashley Knudson, daughter of Wayne & Becky of Bellingham, MN. Plans to attend North Dakota State University and major in Nursing. Graduating from Lac qui Parle Valley High School 17. Sonja Larson, daughter of Gary & Ingrid of Canby, MN. Plans to attend Viterbo University - LaCrosse and major in Vocal Performance and Visual Communications. Graduating from Dawson-Boyd High School 18. Rebecca Bauer, daughter of James & Barbara of Owen, WI. Plans to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls and major in Agriculture. Graduating from Owen-Withee High School 19. Nickolas Erickson, son of Doug & Kaye of Prentice, WI. Plans to attend University of Wisconsin - Marathon. Graduating from Prentice High School The United FCS scholarships are awarded to graduating high school students enrolled at an institution of higher education. To qualify, applicant’s parents (or student) must be a United FCS customer with a GPA of 3.0 or better. In addition, the applicant must reside in a county served by United FCS. Selection criteria are based on academic aptitude, vocational promise, personal attributes and leadership qualities. United FCS, a part of the National Farm Credit System, serves over 5,000 customer members, primarily in a 22-county service area in Minnesota & amp;Wisconsin providing loans, leases and a wide array of financial services. |
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UNITED FCS GROWTH PROMPTS LOCAL EXPANSION PLANS |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2010 CONTACT: Marc Knisely, CEO
320-214-5024 |
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| WILLMAR, Minnesota - United FCS is pleased to announce that it has acquired 6.4 acres to accommodate the cooperative's expansion plans. "We were looking for property that would provide a convenient location for our customers and good visibility," said Marc Knisely, CEO of United FCS. "This property provides good frontage on Highway 71, 45th Avenue Southeast and Abbott Drive, and enough space to construct a new facility with future development possibilities on the remaining lots." The current United FCS facility on Abbott Drive was originally constructed in 1981 and later added to in 1996. The Willmar location serves as a retail branch office, and it houses the corporate offices of United FCS. The farmer-owned cooperative has continued to post solid results in spite of the turbulent and volatile economic conditions affecting much of the world. "We are fortunate to have a diverse, highly productive and financially sound customer base," said Knisely. "With the support of our farmer/agribusiness owners, we have been able to significantly grow the business which directly benefits our farmer shareholders." United FCS employs 180 people, 40 of which are based out of the Willmar facility. The Willmar office services a loan portfolio of $727 million in total commitment. United FCS reported that it managed nearly $1.3 billion in total outstanding assets at year-end 2009. "The Association is well-positioned to serve the financial services needs of agriculture and rural America," said United FCS Board Chair Stan Claussen of rural Benson, "A strong capital base, a high-quality credit portfolio, exceptional employees, and solid earnings has resulted in a cooperative that is well-positioned to serve our members and enhance their long-term success." The Association also recently reported that it will be distributing $4.8 million of cash patronage payments to its members as a result of continued success in 2009. The cash distribution scheduled for early March puts the total patronage paid back to members at over $43 million since 2002. "We remain very positive about the future of agriculture and our local service area, " said Knisely, "We are also very appreciative of the work of Tom Lindeman and his staff at Pro 1 Realty in helping to put this purchase together as well as the support provided by the City of Willmar and Kandiyohi County officials." Future development announcements are anticipated once the Board of Directors finalizes construction timelines and plans for a new facility. United FCS is part of the national Farm Credit System that has been supporting agriculture and rural communities for over 93 years. Serving over 4,600 customer-members, the Association has a primary focus on a 22-county service area in West Central Minnesota and North Central Wisconsin providing loans, leases, and a wide array of financial services. |
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UNITED FCS DISTRIBUTING NEARLY $5 MILLION IN CASH PATRONAGE |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 19, 2010 CONTACT: Marc Knisely,
CEO
320-214-5024 |
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| WILLMAR, Minn. - Amidst volatile and turbulent
economic times in some sectors of agriculture, United FCS, posted
strong operational performance again in 2009 continuing a trend
of Association success. As a result, United FCS has announced
that it is distributing $4.8 million in cash patronage - a return
of a portion of the Association's net earnings - to eligible
customer-members. United FCS members in Wisconsin and Minnesota
will receive the payout in early March. This distribution to
customers puts the combined total patronage paid to over $43
million since formation of United FCS in 2002. "United FCS remains fully committed and focused on our mission of enhancing the success of our membership," said Marc Knisely, CEO of United FCS. "During uncertain economic times, our results illustrate the Board and staff's commitment to serving agriculture and rural communities for the benefit of our members." Knisely also noted "The Association is well positioned to meet the challenges of a weak global economic situation and the volatility impacting certain agricultural sectors. We know that the financial strength of our cooperative plays a key role in assisting our customer-members in maintaining a healthy bottom line. The Association leverages a solid capital surplus position to access funds at very good rates which in turn allows us to offer very competitive interest rates to our customer-members. Celebrating another successful year for the Association by returning cash to customer-members through patronage is one of many ways we provide membership value." "We are very pleased to demonstrate our commitment to the cooperative principles of returning excess capital to qualifying members in the form of patronage," said Stan Claussen, Board Chair, "In fact, we take it a step further by thanking our customers for their 'patronage' by returning all patronage 100% in cash. I'm also pleased to share that the Board of Directors has adopted a resolution authorizing continuation of the patronage program for 2010, subject to Association performance." United FCS is a part of the National Farm Credit System that has been supporting agriculture and rural communities for over 93 years. Serving over 4,600 customer-members the Association has a primary focus on a 22-county service area in West Central Minnesota and North Central Wisconsin providing loans, leases and a wide array of financial services. |
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