Each year, young leaders from across the cooperative system gather at the CHS New Leaders Forum (NLF) to learn about cooperative ownership, make connections with other young farmers and ranchers and share their perspectives. Here, we check in with four NLF alums.
Preparing for the future
Craig Baxter, Waseca, Minn., is a Crystal Valley Cooperative member. He says technology will continue to drive agriculture in the future.
“The future of agriculture is autonomy — being able to be more precise in how you plant, where you plant and gathering that data. Within the next five to 10 years, I see us implementing larger drone and autonomous vehicle technology. Huge changes are coming to agriculture and our farm is already preparing for them.
“I’m a double-skip-generation farmer. I didn’t have experience with co-ops in my past jobs, so seeing the importance of grassroots leadership and knowing I have a say in how the business operates is impressive. The farmer down the road is a partner in making the co-op successful and the co-op is a partner with us, not just a business trying to extract money from us.”
Watch a video profile of Baxter:
Jacob Runge, St. James, Minn., believes building relationships are a vital component to his farm’s success.
Fostering relationships
Jacob Runge, St. James, Minn., explains why cooperatives and social media both play a role in his farming operation. Runge is a member of Central Farm Service (CFS).
“I’m a big relationship person. I like knowing who I’m doing business with. Everybody is here to support each other. We just want to help each other to the best of our ability, and we want to see everyone succeed.
“I’ve always had a passion for showing people what we do. They’re so many generations disconnected from the farm that most people don’t know what we do out here. With social media, you can have a connection with someone overseas or several states away. It opens up new communications avenues.”
Watch a video profile of Runge:
Tyler Fischer, Gettysburg, S.D., works to get his crops planted.
Cooperative advantage
Tyler Fischer, Gettysburg, S.D., is a CHS River Plains member and producer board chair. He describes how the cooperative system helps him meet his operation’s goals.
“Rain is our No. 1 limiting factor here, so we’ve got to use every drop of moisture the best we can. Placement of nutrients and seed is one of the biggest advantages, coupled with seed genetics, that have allowed us to push our yields.
“Access to seed and fertilizer and a grain market — and the expertise necessary to do the best job you can on your fields — we can’t do that without co-ops. We need the co-op team to provide expertise with, ‘This is what we’re seeing; this is what we’re having luck with on other farms.’
“Being on the board at my co-op has given me a chance to see the bigger picture, touring facilities and meeting other co-op members. I love seeing how everything comes together. That’s how value is created.”
Watch a video profile of Fischer:
Amanda Hands scouts winter wheat on her Garden City, Kan., farm.
Co-ops support farms and families
Amanda Hands, Garden City, Kan., describes why she has a passion for cooperatives. She is a board member and owner of Garden City Cooperative.
“To me, agriculture is family and that includes the co-op. My relationship with the co-op is lifelong, from supporting me as a high-schooler trying to earn money for college with a part-time job on the scale to being there for my family during harvest and planting times and helping us with various technologies. The co-op team is learning along with us and we appreciate that.
“In agriculture, farmers continue to make changes and as the farm changes, the co-op has to change. With technology advancements and all the information we have at our fingertips, we will always need a boots-on-the-ground approach to help us navigate the changes. That’s what the co-op is here for.”
Check out the Spring 2025 C magazine with this article and more.
