Co-op worker killed in Farnhamville grain accident

By: 
Erin Sommers Graphic-Advocate Editor

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office investigated the death of Bret Steck, a Farmers Cooperative Company employee working at the Farnhamville site last week.
Steck “went into the elevator (on Thursday) to do routine maintenance,” Chief Deputy Scott Anderson said Monday morning. “He was covered.”
Anderson said the co-op has begun the process of checking to make sure Steck, who was from Gowrie, followed safety protocol when he entered the elevator.
“We are saddened that we lost one of our friends and coworkers in a grain bin accident,” officials said in a statement on the Farmers Cooperative website. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of Bret Steck of FC-Farnhamville.”
The statement said Steck entered the bin “with proper supervision” at about 9 a.m.
Emergency responders recovered Steck’s body at about 10:45 a.m.
“At this time, the focus of our thoughts is on the emotional healing of the Steck family and our coworkers,” the statement said.
Company officials said they would release more information once the investigation was complete. 

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