Peak Forage Products



Wisconsin Ag News Headlines
October is Co-op Month in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 10/02/2014

It's been 50 years since former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Orville Freeman first proclaimed October as Cooperative Month in 1964. And many of those member-owned businesses continue to thrive today and have plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Wisconsin is home to nearly 600 registered cooperatives that provide agricultural marketing and supply services, financing, electricity, transportation, health care, food, housing, insurance, and many other products and services to millions of customers. Neighboring Minnesota is also home to the largest number of co-ops in the nation, including three Fortune 500 companies and the two largest cooperatives in the country.

Cooperative Network CEO Bill Oemichen says co-op have paved the way in Wisconsin. For example, credit unions operate in more than 100 schools. And a cooperative created the state's first community-owned solar facility.

"Cooperatives really are on the cutting edge, helping meet today's toughest economic challenges," Oemichen says. "Cooperatives continually step up to the plate to make things happen in their communities. Across many industries, in big cities and in small, co-ops are helping ordinary people improve their lives together."

Meanwhile, Governor Scott Walker has proclaimed October as Cooperative Month in the state. He says co-ops play a major role in Wisconsin's economy, annually recording about $16 billion in revenue, employing nearly 20,000 Wisconsin residents.

The theme of this year's Cooperative Month is: 'Innovate Cooperatively.'


Other Wisconsin Headlines
TractorPumps.com
Sheah Auguers/SD Ellenbecker
Copyright © 2024 - Farms.com. All Rights Reserved.