Submitted
LOGAN – The Dane G. Hansen Foundation is pleased to welcome Mike Erhart as the newest member of the Foundation’s board of trustees, effective immediately. Erhart comes to the Foundation with an impressive history of work in Kansas – and for the last 20+ years, in Northwest Kansas.
A graduate of Emporia State University with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry, Erhart has spent most of his career in the agriculture and energy fields. He says he started humbly at a local co-op where he was responsible for increasing sales but was not afraid to step in wherever he was needed, including delivering fuel and rebuilding equipment – really anything the company needed and could help it increase productivity.
He worked in sales and management for various agricultural companies from 1975 to 1990 and then for Archer Daniels Midland from 1990 to 2002. He then went to work for Western Plains Energy in Oakley until 2006 when he came to Phillipsburg to work for Prairie Horizon Agri Energy.
In 2016, Erhart combined his work experience and people skills to establish DK Developments LLC, a private consulting company in Phillipsburg. He specializes in process, production, market development, financial and operational analysis for businesses and organizations.
Erhart grew up in central Kansas and worked on the family farm for his grandfather during his early years and upon entering high school, when his family moved to another town, he went to work on a tree farm and hired out to area farmers in the evenings. He said he has always lived in small rural towns and continues to support rural communities through various committees and activities.
In 2022, the Dane Hansen Foundation contracted with DK Developments and Erhart to serve as the owner representative for the recently opened LIFE Project in Logan. As such, Erhart handled the communication between the Foundation and outside parties including contractors and architects. He oversaw the budget and schedule to get the facility open on time.
The last few years of working together made it clear that Erhart could bring value to the Hansen Foundation beyond the LIFE Project.
Erhart’s appointment follows the retirement and subsequent passing of former Trustee, Cy Moyer, who served the Foundation for more than 27 years. He joins current board members, Doug Albin, WaKeeney; Carol Bales, Logan; Warren Gfeller, Russell; Rhonda Goddard, Penokee; Robert Hartman, Hays; and Brien Stockman, Logan.
The Dane G. Hansen Foundation was established in 1965 with an estate gift from Dane G. Hansen. Based in Mr. Hansen’s hometown of Logan, the Foundation has been providing scholarships and grants to support growth and prosperity to the residents of Northwest Kansas for nearly 60 years. The Foundation has a primary service area that includes the 26 most northwest counties in the state.