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                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.0

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints John W. Huey, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and revocation in
each, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, to sign any or all
reports (including reports on Form 10-K, Form 3, Form 4, Form 5, Schedule 13-D,
Schedule 13-G, and Form 144), and any amendments thereto, required or permitted
to be filed by him under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, or the
Securities Act of 1933, with respect to beneficial ownership of, and
transactions in, equity securities of BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and with respect to other matters relating to the
Company, and to file the same, with all documents required or permitted to be
filed in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

DATED: January 17, 2000                                /S/ K. DANE BROOKSHER
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                         K.DANE BROOKSHER

DATED: January 13, 2000                               /S/ GARY M. CHRISTENSEN
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                        GARY M. CHRISTENSEN

DATED: March 3, 2000                                   /S/ ALAN M. HALLENE
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                         ALAN M. HALLENE

DATED: January 18, 2000                               /S/ C.L. WILLIAM HAW
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                        C.L. WILLIAM HAW

DATED: January 12, 2000                               /S/ JOHH J. HOLLAND
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                        JOHN J. HOLLAND

DATED: January 13, 2000                                /S/ ROBERT J. NOVELLO
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                        ROBERT J. NOVELLO

DATED: January 14, 2000                               /S/ DONALD H. PRATT
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                        DONALD H. PRATT

DATED: January 17, 2000                            /S/ ROBERT J. REINTJES, SR.
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                     ROBERT J. REINTJES, SR.

DATED: January 12, 2000                               /S/ GARY L. TAPELLA
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                        GARY L. TAPELLA