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2012 IYC: Regional Cooperatives

Regional cooperatives play a large part in the agriculture industry.  Growmark, based in Bloomington, Ill. began in 1927 providing services to farmers in Illinois.  Over the past 84 years they have expanded to cover not only Illinois, but – Iowa, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada.  President and Chairman of the Board Dan Kelley says the most important thing is cooperatives are owned by the customer.  “They have input.”

He says one of the reasons it works is because cooperatives understand the customer better than anyone else.  “And they should,” he says.  “Afterall, cooperatives are owned by the customer.”

Kelley tells Brownfield cooperatives work at the grassroots level and the benefits of that is bringing the customer quality products, service and knowledge.  It also means sharing in the profits of those organizations.  That has been a great benefit to the agriculture industry.

Moving forward, Kelley says the future of cooperatives is very bright.  He adds the future is really in the quality of people that we have to continue to continue to deliver information to our owners.  “As long as we have quality people who have the tools necessary to work with the producers as we move into an age of technology” he says, “the agriculture industry will continue to be well served.”

Agricultural cooperatives have the ability to perform at levels comparative to large corporations all the while delivering value to their communities and their members.

AUDIO: Dan Kelley, Growmark (6:31mp3)