Cooperatives are the foundation and future of American agriculture By Dan Schurr, chair, CHS Board of Directors As I wrapped up harvest this fall on my farm in eastern Iowa. I reflected on the impact cooperatives have had in my life and the value they provide to rural America and agriculture. I grew up in the cooperative system. My father was a leader in our local co-op and some of my earliest memories include being tasked with counting nails and other hardware as part of taking annual inventory at the co-op. While that was a small task for a small boy, it made me part of the cooperatives' service to its farmer-owners. As I took over management of our family farm, I relied on the co-op for products, services and expertise. Today, because I am part of a co-op connected with CHS, when I send my grain off to market, I know I am connected to a world of opportunities -- opportunities I wouldn't have with any other grain buyer. That's the cooperative difference. Cooperatives were built on the principle of doing more together than one person can do alone. This collective strength has powered agriculture for generations and has long been an economic and stewardship engine for rural America. And ag cooperatives are led by the very people who own them: farmers. As the nation's largest farmer-owned cooperative, CHS has for generations brought value through patronage back to our owners and their communities. In the past decade, CHS has returned nearly $3.5 billion to our owners. At CHS, we're investing in a global supply chain that brings added value to the grain our owners produce and delivers a reliable supply of inputs that protect and feed our crops and energy that fuels our equipment. From new elevators in Erskine, Minn., and Worthing, S.D., to expanded facilities in Drayton and Kindred, North Dakota, we're making strategic investments in key corridors that connect farmers to world markets and bring economic growth to communities. As a fixture in rural America for nearly a century. CHS is investing for the future - in facilities that will serve our farm families for generations and bring quality jobs and economic viability to communities to keep them strong. An agricultual cooperative, like CHS, brings that long-term thinking because it is created for farmers, by farmers. As we look to the future of agriculture, cooperatives are an unwavering and vital part of how we will keep American agriculture and the American farm strong. IT TAKES A CO-OP. CHS ©2024 CSc. Cooperatives are the foundation and future of American agriculture By Dan Schurr , chair , CHS Board of Directors As I wrapped up harvest this fall on my farm in eastern Iowa . I reflected on the impact cooperatives have had in my life and the value they provide to rural America and agriculture . I grew up in the cooperative system . My father was a leader in our local co - op and some of my earliest memories include being tasked with counting nails and other hardware as part of taking annual inventory at the co - op . While that was a small task for a small boy , it made me part of the cooperatives ' service to its farmer - owners . As I took over management of our family farm , I relied on the co - op for products , services and expertise . Today , because I am part of a co - op connected with CHS , when I send my grain off to market , I know I am connected to a world of opportunities -- opportunities I wouldn't have with any other grain buyer . That's the cooperative difference . Cooperatives were built on the principle of doing more together than one person can do alone . This collective strength has powered agriculture for generations and has long been an economic and stewardship engine for rural America . And ag cooperatives are led by the very people who own them : farmers . As the nation's largest farmer - owned cooperative , CHS has for generations brought value through patronage back to our owners and their communities . In the past decade , CHS has returned nearly $ 3.5 billion to our owners . At CHS , we're investing in a global supply chain that brings added value to the grain our owners produce and delivers a reliable supply of inputs that protect and feed our crops and energy that fuels our equipment . From new elevators in Erskine , Minn . , and Worthing , S.D. , to expanded facilities in Drayton and Kindred , North Dakota , we're making strategic investments in key corridors that connect farmers to world markets and bring economic growth to communities . As a fixture in rural America for nearly a century . CHS is investing for the future - in facilities that will serve our farm families for generations and bring quality jobs and economic viability to communities to keep them strong . An agricultual cooperative , like CHS , brings that long - term thinking because it is created for farmers , by farmers . As we look to the future of agriculture , cooperatives are an unwavering and vital part of how we will keep American agriculture and the American farm strong . IT TAKES A CO - OP . CHS © 2024 CSc .