Community is one of our corporate values at Linde, and community engagement at Linde is an integral part of making  our world more productive. From volunteerism to charitable contributions, our employees are consistently working to provide significant and lasting value to the community. 

This week we’d like to highlight Sourcing Manager Kazen Coffey for his incredible work with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Agricultural Mechanics Committee. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage and provides year-round educational support within the community. 

Specifically, the HLSR Agriculture Mechanics Contest encourages, recognizes and rewards the learning and skill development of Texas’s 4-H and FFA youth through the design, construction and exhibition of agricultural projects – from chicken coops and lighted horse trailers to self-dumping hay trailers and plasma tables.

Kazen has worked directly with the HLSR Ag Mechanics Committee since 2009. He coordinates with Linde, previously TWSCO then Praxair, to provide general welding and cutting consumables and equipment, as well as PPE, for the high school aged FFA and 4-H members to use on the projects they work on throughout the year. 

The Ag Mechanics Committee also offers annual college scholarship opportunities for the students who excel and win the contests. Many of the items donated end up back at the high schools throughout the state of Texas and are used as resources to help develop the welders of tomorrow. 

The Agricultural Mechanics Committee is one of the 100+ committees operated by the 35,000+ volunteers who work to create a show-stopping event each year. The entire HLSR would not be the well-run success that it is today without the vision, dedication and hard work of its volunteers like Kazen Coffey. Great job, Kazen!