Farmers Grain Company General Manager Kent Prickett was named Oklahoma Cooperative Manager of the Year by Triangle Cooperative Service Company at our Annual Meeting on May 13.
Kent Prickett has served as the General Manager of Farmers Grain Company for 25 years. During his tenure, the cooperative has grown from one location to 14. Kent’s participation in the cooperative system is far reaching. He has helped lead numerous industry related associations and committees, including serving as Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association board chairman; Fitzwater Endowed Chair for Cooperative Education board chairman; Oklahoma Fertilizer Check-off Committee board director; Oklahoma Certified Crop Advisors Association board director; and United Benefits Group board director. Currently, Kent serves as the Chisholm Trail Terminal board president, an Equity Marketing Alliance board director, and an NIK board director.
Kent has united more than one group in the name of the cooperative system. He successfully led six mergers, was a founding member of Equity Marketing Alliance, the creator of the Chisholm Trail Terminal project, and a leader in the creation of CoMark Equity Alliance.
Under his leadership, Farmers Grain has invested millions of dollars in infrastructure and facilities improvements and provided multiple products and services years before their competition. Advanced grain contracts, prepaid agronomy inputs, future contracting of fertilizer, increased cash patronage, and adjusted stock retirement payments were not only good business decisions, but increased producer loyalty to the cooperative. The Trusted Advisor program and Risk Management Services division increased product offerings, and created yet another valuable bond between the cooperative and the producer, establishing Farmers Grain as the industry expert and a trusted partner.
Combining an understanding of agriculture and business with a willingness to take risks, he has an uncanny ability to expertly execute projects at just the right time. Kent cares about the business and its employees, and while not always liked, he is always respected.
Farmers Grain Company is heavily invested in the communities it serves and provides strong monetary and non-monetary support to multiple agriculturally based youth activities and programs, including college scholarships and an in-house internship program.
Farmers Grain also partners with the Land O’Lakes Foundation and Co-Bank to provide funds to several area organizations who work to fight hunger and improve the local communities.
Numerous employees and board members serve on state committees and actively support and attend Oklahoma Coop Council trainings and legislative days. Farmers Grain participates in Triangle meetings and is a sponsor of the Manager Trainee program. In addition, Farmers Grain currently employs two former trainees.
On a personal level, Kent and his wife Carol have been married for 39 years and have four grown children and five grandchildren. He is an active member of the Pond Creek United Methodist Church, the Pond Creek Masonic Lodge, Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Alumni Association, and Board of Directors, is an alumni of Oklahoma State University, and an avid OSU Cowboys fan.