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Wheat Cooperative Becomes Value-Added Organization |
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News release issued September 21,
2001, effective immediately. Wheat Cooperative Becomes Value-Added Organization Ardmore resident Fred Schmedt is among the organizational advisors for the newly established Great Plains Dough Products, a cooperative association converting Hard Red Winter Wheat into commodity products. Schmedt, an agricultural economist at the Noble Foundation in Ardmore, said the association's mission is to promote economic development of the region and state by attracting value-added technologies and applying them to natural resources. The cooperative should especially benefit southwest Oklahoma, the state's major wheat production area. "As agricultural producers become more aware of the fact that only a very small percentage of the price consumers pay for food products goes to commodity growers, many are exploring opportunities to 'participate' in the delivery of food products beyond the farm gate," Schmedt said. "The group organizing GPDP recognizes they will never use enough wheat or flour to raise the price of the wheat they produce, but they are confident they can participate in the delivery of consumer food products and earn a respectable return on their investment in plant and equipment. "It is this entrepreneurial spirit that makes our economic system work," Schmedt added. "Farmers are inherently entrepreneurs and some are beginning to look beyond the farm to apply these talents." GPDP will use the latest technology in converting the wheat into low cost, highly marketable commodity products. The association, established by the Board of Directors of Grady County Ag Enhancement, LLC, celebrated with an organizational meeting in Chickasha Aug. 29. The founding board includes Jerry White, president; Steve Poag, vice president; Jay Fulton, treasurer; John Osborn, secretary; and members Bud Lowe, Pat Harper, and Hal Pike. N.C. Doty & Associates, LLC of Fargo, N.D., prepared the feasibility study and business plan for the endeavor. Deb Porras has been named project coordinator. She will work with the GPDP board of directors and board of advisors for rapid implementation of the business plan. She received her bachelor's degree in accounting and master's in business administration, both from Oklahoma State University. Porras was selected for her experience in marketing, organizational design, methods, management, cost control, and financial analysis. She also has more than 10 years international business experience with contacts in the South American food industry. GPDP can be contacted by calling (405) 222-8645. ### Photo: Fred Schmedt The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs. To learn more, check out the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org. More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release |
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