Many connections were made for FS Co-ops at the GFO March Classic!

It has been a while since the FS Ontario agriculture co-ops have come together for a provincial trade show presence, but this week Ontario FS Co-operatives did just that by attending the GFO (Grain Farmers of Ont.) March Classic Trade Show and Conference in London.

FS Co-operative exhibit at GFO March Classic 

FS System representatives from AGRIS Co-operative, Wanstead Farmers Co-operative, FS PARTNERS, North Wellington Co-operative Services, County Farm Centre, Sunderland Co-operative, Lucknow District Co-operative and GROWMARK all took part in manning the booth and greeting visitors throughout the day.

Guests entering the FS exhibit were asked to plot where they farm on a large eight foot map of Ontario noting the FS location closest to them. A spinning wheel was on site for folks to spin and learn a fact about Ontario ag co-ops and everyone was given a set of FS branded work gloves to take home.

This is the third year for the GFO March Classic that has grown rapidly in popularity. This year, the event expected approximately 1000 guests comprised of GFO members and delegates, sponsors and industry folks who all have a common passion for farming.

This year is the 100 year anniversary for a unified farmer-owned co-operative system network in Ontario.

Participating FS representatives at GFO March Classic this Monday were: (L-R) Allan Scott, Lucknow District Co-operative general manager; Jeff Wilson, County Farm Centre agronomy manager; Juli Paladino, FS PARTNERS marketing assistant; Tim Davey, County Farm Centre energy manager; Nathan Saarloos, FS PARTNERS crop specialist; Bill Brown, GROWMARK Ontario field sales agronomist, Cathleen Verhallen, AGRIS Co-operative customer service manager; Blain Thompson, Sunderland Co-operative general manager; Janice Johnson, GROWMARK Ontario marketing & communication specialist; Bruce Thomson, FS PARTNERS energy specialist; Terry Stevenson, Southern Co-operative Services communication manager; Mike Dotterman, AGRIS Co-operative fuel specialist. Also participating but not present for the photo were: Jeff McCallum, North Wellington Co-operative marketing & communication specialist, Darrin Angus, Wanstead Farmers Co-operative crop sales specialist; Sean Chase, FS PARTNERS crop specialist, Jim Campbell, AGRIS Co-operative general manager and  Tom O'NeilL, FS PARTNERS energy sales manager.

March marks 100 years for Ontario ag co-ops!

2014 is the 100^th anniversary of the formation of a unified Ontario ag co-op system.

It all started in March of 1914, when 300 farmers met in Toronto’s Labour Temple to address issues of economic grievances and social unrest in the farm community. Farmers were keen on uniting into one organization and thus, the United Farmers of Ontario and the United Farmers Co-operative Company (UFCC) emerged. It was not very long after that the UFCC became the accepted trading medium. Its first commercial venture as a co-operative was to purchase twine from Ireland to break a monopoly of Canadian twine manufacturers.

Later UFCC bought coal, fencing materials and fertilizer in a co-operative mode. In 1927, it established a grain marketing pool based on the model of prairie wheat pools. During the 30’s, extensive educational programs were developed and leadership provided for the formation of the Ontario Chamber of Agriculture (now known as (OFA) Ontario Federation of Agriculture).

In 1948, ownership was converted from membership control of individual farmers to member control by member co-operatives. With this change, United Co-operatives of Ontario (UCO) was formed and for the next 46 years, UCO contributed much to the growth and development of the co-operative movement in the province.

In 1994, UCO’s assets were purchased by GROWMARK, Inc. where members of UCO chose to become shareholder owners of GROWMARK and create a co-operative system serving farmers internationally in both Canada and the United States.

Members of United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) pose for group picture at the UFO Annual Convention in Dec. 1929.

Today, 100 years later the Ontario ag co-operative system is thriving. The FS brand has been the leading brand for the Ontario co-op network for the past 20 years. In 1994, most Ontario employees had never heard of FS, but it soon became the cornerstone of everything we do. 

Today, Ontario has over 250 FS branded trucks on the road, 55 FS signed facilities and over 600 System-wide employees sporting the FS logo while serving more than 32,000 members and rural customers. 

In the past five years, Ontario FS Co-operatives have returned over $11.5 million in patronage refunds to Ontario farmers. 

Find an FS Co-operative near you! Visit www.fssystem.com for links to each FS Co-operative website.

Measuring up with WL Alfalfa

If you were a dairy producer visiting the FS booth at the Canadian Dairy XPO show earlier this month, you not only had the advantage of learning more about how WLAlfalfa can help produce high quality forages for your dairy herd, but you also had the opportunity to pick up a 25’ heavy-duty measuring tape to take back to your farm.

For the first time, FS Co-operatives took part at the Canadian Dairy XPO show in Stratford. With participation from Huron Bay Co-operative, Lucknow District Co-operative, FS PARTNERS and North WellingtonCo-operative, the FS booth was well represented. The two day show saw  approximately 11,000 in attendance.

Bill Brown, GROWMARK Ontario field sales agronomist and organizer of the event for the FS System, said that he was pleased with the overall energy at the show, especially with one of the largest snow storms to hit, dairy farmers still made their way to the show. “The WL brand is not widely recognized, but we don’t think it will take long for farmers to realize its high yield potential and excellent quality giving the producer more milk in the pail,” says Brown. 

Brent Lamont, FS crop specialist with
Huron Bay Co-operative at FS booth at Dairy XPO, Feb 4th. 

The WL Alfalfa  brand has been in existence for more than 50 years, providing top quality alfalfa forage seed varieties to farmers across North America. FS Co-operatives are exclusive suppliers of the WL brand.

CleanFARMS cleans up!

An excerpt from recent CleanFARMS News Release..........................


Ontario farmers returned more than 114,000 kilograms of obsolete pesticides and over 4,400 kilograms of animal health medications for safe disposal in 2013. The combined collection program was made possible through a unique partnership between CleanFARMS - a national industry-led agricultural waste stewardship organization - and the Canadian Animal Health Institute(CAHI).

"It's always a good thing when we can offer expanded programs to help farmers responsibly manage waste on their farms," says Barry Friesen, general manager of CleanFARMS. "Partnering with the Canadian Animal Health Institute on this initiative proved to be a win-win for everyone involved."

Ontario farmers were invited to participate at no charge, by dropping off their obsolete or unwanted agricultural pesticides and animal health medications to 31 ag-retail collection sites throughout the province in October for safe and environmentally responsible disposal.

Since the program launched in 1998, more than 1.9 million kilograms of obsolete pesticide has been collected across Canada and safely destroyed. The first animal health medication collection was piloted in 2009 and returned in 2013. After collection, all products are taken to a licensed waste management facility where they are safely disposed of through high-temperature incineration.

The obsolete collection program generally comes to the province every three years. In between collections, farmers are encouraged to safely store their unwanted pesticides and animal health medications until they can properly dispose of them through the program.

Thank you to the FS System for its part in this important program:

Sunderland Co-operative -- Oakwood Ag Centre
Lucknow District Co-operative
AGRIS Co-operative -- Leamington & Tupperville
Co-operative Regionale de Nipissing Sudbury -- Verner & Thornloe Ag Centres
North Wellington Co-operative -- Harriston
Huron Bay Co-operative -- Walkerton
Bradford Co-operative Storage
County Farm Centre -- Picton
GROWMARK, Inc. -- Kitchener

Calling 4-H Ontario High School students...2014 GROWMARK Essay Contest is now open!

Promoting Sustainability and Conservation of Natural Resources is this year's theme for the GROWMARK annual essay contest. It is open to all high school students who are members of  4-H in Ontario. 

Essays should be approximately 500 words, typed and double-spaced. The postmarked entry deadline for Ontario 4-H members is May 15. The Ontario provincial winner earns a $500 award and the winner’s 4-H Association receives a $300 award. Four runners-up each win $125.

Congratulations to Nicole Lauzon
2013 Provincial winner
4-H Hastings County

The essay contest has been in place in the United States for 21 years, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member co-operatives to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues affecting agriculture, and understand the unique role of co-operatives. This year, students will focus on four questions:  What does sustainability mean? Why should farmers be concerned with conservation and sustainable practices? What role do co-operative play in this effort?

Additional program details can be viewed at GROWMARK  or 4-H Ontario.

On the road with two more Dieselex® Gold rolling billboards!

Latest customized  Dieselex Gold
fuel truck delivered to North
Wellington Co-op just last month.

With Dieselex Gold growing in popularity for Ontario FS members and customers, AGRIS Co-operative and North Wellington Co-operative Services together with UPI Energy LP have just introduced two more Dieselex Gold branded fuel trucks in Ontario.

UPI Energy, the creator of the design, had its first truck painted in 2012 and now with increased demand for the product, there are now four new trucks sporting the gold and burgundy Dieselex Gold colour palette.

AGRIS Co-operative general manager Jim Campbell says that his staff was very enthusiastic about the new addition to its fleet.”It is a great looking vehicle that will certainly create a big impact at local farm shows with our farmer-owners as well as drum up more interest in our local area,” says Campbell.

With now, over 30 fuel trucks equipped with Dieselex Gold fuel injectors (including UPI Energy, UPI/FS member co-op joint ventures and FSPARTNERS, a retail division of GROWMARK), the product has earned a good reputation in Ontario for restoring lost horsepower, improving fuel efficiency and protecting today's sophisticated fuel systems. To learn more about Dieselex Gold visit any of the website links in this blog post.

AGRIS Co-operative’s energy team here with new Dieselex Gold branded fuel truck. (L-R) driver/salesmen Pete Caza, Pat Coggans, Dean Gyori, Rick VanRycheghm and  Jeff Walters, customer service representative  Debbie Plourde, energy manager Charlie Mailloux, customer service rep. Sherry Newman, driver & fuel specialist Mike Dotterman, driver salesman Terry McClarty, driver & equipment installer specialist Rob Clark and driver salesman  Darrell Dutry.

Congratulations to Michel Chénier!

Michel Chénier

La Co-operative Agricole d"Embrun president and CEO Michel Chénier recently received a FCGA (Fellowship Certified General Accountant) designation for 2013.  

The FCGA designation is the highest national award granted by the CGA Association. It is presented each year to exceptional CGAs who have brought distinction to the profession.  The 30 recipients for 2013 hail from across Canada and beyond. All have been nominated by their peers, and have one thing in common:  they have provided exemplary service to the Association, the accounting profession and the communities in which they live and work. 

Michel Chenier seen here in the CGA November magazine as one of 2013 FCGA recipeints. To view the electronic magazine click on: http://docs.cgamagazine-digital.ca/doc/cga-magazine/2013-11-november-december/2013110701/#66

CGA electronic November magazine lists 2013 FCGA recipients.
Michel Chenier (fourth row, fifth column)

Expansion creates more than 700,000 bushels of grain storage for Thamesville area producers

Investment and construction of four new steel grain bins for Great Lakes Grain site in Thamesville was formally announced last week by AGRIS Co-operative board president, Jim Maw.

The $2.15 million investment by AGRIS Co-operative will significantly improve storage capacity and traffic flow by removing some existing storage and adding additional storage. The new layout improves flow and allows future storage expansion and intake capacity as market conditions demand.

The expansion will make way for an additional 700,000 bushels of grain storage for the co-operatives member-owners and customers in the Thamesville area. “These improvements will allow us to utilize the Thamesville elevator to its capacity, giving us added volume for wet grain,” says Don Kabbes, market development manager for Great Lakes Grain. The expansion will allow the site to receive greater volumes throughout the harvest period, allowing the co-operative's member-owners to move the crop more efficiently.

The project is expected to be completed by fall harvest (Sept. 2014).

Media launch at  Great Lakes Grain Thamesville site on Dec. 12 with AGRIS Co-operative board of directors (L-R) Jim Anderson, Larry Pajot – board vice-president, Richard Tanner, Ray Simard, Dave Sherman, Jim Maw – board president, John Sauvé, Paul Repko – board secretary, John Nooyen, Stan Gillier, Kim Fysh. 

Great Lakes Grain is a grain marketing partnership between GROWMARK, Inc. and AGRISCo-operative Ltd. Great Lakes Grain is one of the largest operators of Ontario country elevators. It represents close to 440,000 MT (17 million bushels) of storage capacity with total marketing of more than of 46 million bushels serving farmers at more than 24 AGRIS Co-operative and FS PARTNERS branded locations from Windsor through to Toronto and north to Georgian Bay.

FS is larger than life!

The next time you are travelling the 401 about half way between London and  Chatham, you'll most likely notice a very large FS sign along the way.   

This particular FS logo is perched high at the top of one of the grain silos at AGRIS Co-operative's/Great Lakes Grain site in Dutton. Measuring 35 ft wide, it is by far the biggest FS in Ontario. 

This particular facility was considered to be the best location in the province to warrant moving forward with a project of this magnitude. “There is clear visibility to the thousands of travellers each day driving the 401,” says Terry Stevenson, communications manager for AGRIS Co-operative.  

The sign company that was contracted for the job confirmed that painting the FS directly onto the silo provided the best visual impact allowing it to hug the curves of the structure giving it a wider girth and maximizing the distance it can be seen.  The painted sign will also be able to tolerate the affects of wind and other environmental elements more efficiently, therefore extending the life span of the project.

Next time you are in the area, make sure you check it out.

FS PARTNERS recognized for its support of renewable fuels

This post is from FS PARTNERS Delivering Innovative Solutions blogsite. Posted Dec.4

FS PARTNERS Energy Sales Manager Tom O'Neill
accepting CRFA Fueling Change Award.

Last week, FS PARTNERS was awarded the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association's Fueling Change Award for the organization's achievements in promoting the use of renewable fuels. 

Accepting the award for FS PARTNERS was Energy Sales Manager Tom O'Neill, who is the key spokesperson for renewable fuels for FS PARTNERS and has actively promoted the benefits of biodiesel for many years.

Presented annually since 2006, the Green Fuels Awards honour pioneers in the development and commercialization of low carbon renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel in Canada. Award winners are nominated and selected by the members of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. The awards recognize the important contributions of individuals and companies who are advancing biofuels production and use in Canada. 

You can read more about the awards and other recipients here:

http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/canadian-green-fuels-award-winners-announced-1859096.htm

About the CRFA Green Fuels Awards:
The CRFA annual awards are the pre-eminent national awards recognizing the hard work and dedication of those working in Canada's renewable fuels industry. Award Recipients are selected for their achievements in the development, commercialization, and promotion of low carbon renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel in Canada. 

First FAST STOP service centre to hit the London area

A growing brand in Ontario, FAST STOP^® made its debut in London last week at Ron Kraft Auto Care's newly branded FAST STOP full-service station at 1880 Huron St.  

Despite the nippy cold weather that day, owners Ron and Carmie Kraft brought a genuine warmth of hospitality to the many guests who came out to take part in the grand opening celebrations.

Among the well wishers were Mayor of London Joe Fontana and Shawn Lewis representing MP Irene Mathyssen’s London-Fanshawe office. During the ceremony, a cheque for $2000 was donated to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada through combined contributions from Ron Kraft Auto Care, individual donations from customers and FS PARTNERS.

Official ribbon cutting ceremony: From (L-R) Andrea Fernandes of FS PARTNERS, Mayor of London Joe Fontana, Frank Barron of FS PARTNERS, Diana, Rob, Ron and Carmie Kraft, owners of the FAST STOP site, Shawn Lewis of MP Irene Mathyssen's office, Andrew Troyer of FS PARTNERS, Claude Gauthier of GROWMARK, Inc., and Emile Faddoul of FS PARTNERS.

The Ron Kraft Auto Care/FAST STOP site is equipped with eight full-service pumps that provide regular, regular-plus and supreme gasoline. The station offers auto, cylinder and fork lift propane and is home to Ron Kraft Auto Care, a complete auto maintenance and repair facility that has served the local London community for the past 40 years. 

The London FAST STOP station is the first for the London community, but one of 300 FAST STOP branded stations in the United States and 14th in Ontario. 

Columbian ag co-operators visit the Ontario GROWMARK System

(L-R)-Back- Dalia Najera (On Co-op), Jose Luis Fonseca,
Susan Fino, Antonio Salcedo, Claude Gauthier (GROWMARK)
Lydia Makuch Phillips (CCA), Helda Ustariz, Daniel Pacheco,
Front-Jineth Marroquin, Jose Aliro Montano, Janice Johnson (GMK)

Through the Canadian Co-operative Association’s Study Mission in Columbia, an opportunity emerged for a small group of co-operators from various agriculture co-ops in Columbia to visit Canada. The group wanted to learn about agriculture co-operatives in our country, and GROWMARK was honoured to be chosen as on one of the requested destinations to visit.

On Oct. 22, our Spanish speaking guests were escorted by Lydia Makuch Phillips from the Canadian Co-operative Association and Dalia Najera, from the Ontario Co-operative Association who together performed the essential role of English/Spanish translators.

The morning began at the Kitchener Ontario region office with a presentation from Claude Gauthier, Ontario region manager on the general scope of the GROWMARK System. The group then travelled to Ayr to take a tour of the agronomy/grain site with Kevin Stumpf, FS PARTNERS branch manager and finished off with a visit to UPI Energy’s bulk fuel plant in Guelph, hosted by Bob McKenzine UPI Energy director of operations and John Canjar director of sales & marketing.

All of the Columbian co-operatives represented by the participants had identified agribusiness and marketing as key areas they would like to further develop. They want to learn about Canadian models of agribusiness and marketing and about the possibility of exporting their products to new markets. They were also interested in learning new technological developments in the field of production.

Prior to the visit to Kitchener, the group met with VinelandGrowers Co-operative (a 100 year-old co-op and member of GROWMARK) and also found some time to take in Niagara Falls.

(L-R) Daniel Pacheco, Bob McKenzie (UPI Energy)
 Jose Luis Fonseco looking at Absorbal, while discussing
Emergency Response procedures

Many commented on the beauty of our fall season.

Our international guests represented the Columbia Co-operative Association along with various agricultural co-ops such as cocoa, chicken production and other agriculture sectors.

    

Second Co-op Week Trivia Question for Ontario FS System employees

We will be posting two questions today since Thursday's question was not sent out.

PLEASE NOTE: Everyone who answered the first trivia question correctly and everyone who answers the next two questions correctly will have a chance to win the iPad at the end of the month along with all US employees who answered trivia questions correctly.This time, everyone who answers correctly will have his or her name entered into the draw to win the $50 Tim's gift card.

QUESTION:
GROWMARK just held it's Annual General Meeting at the end of August in Chicago. At that time, the new board of directors was announced. The GROWMARK Board of Directors is comprised of 16 directors, two of which represent Ontario. 

a)   Please name the two Ontario directors and the associated FS member co-ops they are affiliated with here in Ontario? 

b)   Name GROWMARK's Chairman of the Board and President. 

Please email your answers to Janice Johnson by 5:00 tonight. The draw will take place on Monday. 

First Co-op Week Trivia Question for Ontario FS System employees

The first person to answer this question correctly, will win a $50 gift card from Tim Hortons. That winner will have his or her name added to the group of winners from the US trivia contest for a chance to win an iPad.  

           QUESTION:

     GROWMARK is a long standing supporter of agricultural youth and young adult programs including 4-H, FFA, the Junior Farmers Association, and Co-operative Young Leaders' Program (Ontario, Canada) and Farm Bureau Young Farmers, Leaders, and Agriculturists. One initiative held annually is the GROWMARK Essay contest which provides high school students who are FFA members in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois and in Ontario 4-H members the opportunity to submit a 500 word essay for a chance to win $500 in scholarship money.

What was the theme for the essay contest for 2013? Who was the 2013 Ontario winner? What 4-H Association (County) was he or she affiliated with. 

Please send your answers in to Janice Johnson.

Participants must be an employee of GROWMARK or an FS Co-operative in Ontario to play.

Celebrating Co-op Week in Canada!

This week is our week to celebrate our co-operative heritage, principles and values; nation wide.

Co-op Week appears to be a uniquely Canadian phenomenon. In the US, October is Co-op Month, and the International Co-operative Alliance and United Nations have an International Day of Co-operatives on the first Saturday in July.

Co-op Week has been celebrated by francophones throughout Canada since 1958. In 1981 celebrations were held among Anglophone co-ops in the Maritimes and Saskatchewan. The event went national in 1982 with the encouragement of the Co-operative Union of Canada, a predecessor of the Canadian Co-operative Association.

The co-op sector has deep roots in Canada. In the late 19th century, farmers in Quebec, Ontario and Atlantic Canada developed co-operative creameries and cheese factories to meet the needs of the growing dairy industry. Alphonse Desjardins founded Canada’s first caisse populaire in Lévis, Quebec in 1900. And in the first decade of the 20th century, farmers in western Canada organized co-operatives in an effort to market their products.

In Ontario, a united agricultural-based co-op network began in 1914 when a group of farm leaders met and developed the concept of connecting Ontario farmers into one organization. In reality, two similar organizations emerged, but The United Farmers Co-operative Company (UFCC) quickly became the accepted trading medium. Its first commercial venture as a co-operative was to purchase twine from Ireland in an effort to break a monopoly of Canadian twine manufacturers who had previously controlled the supply of twine to farmers.

During Co-op week, Canadian co-ops including GROWMARK and the Ontario FS Co-operatives will celebrate by raising the co-op flag, offering special customer appreciation activities, fund raising for community (locally or globally) and hosting various events that educate and bring awareness to the diverse co-op sector.

Fundraising efforts from GROWMARK Ontario employees are geared towards supporting the Co-operative Development Foundation that provides financial support and guidance to global communities in need of a new start through co-operative practices.

    

Click here to read Prime Minister Harpers 2013 Co-op Week Message

GLG Crop Assessment tour now bigger than ever!

The Great Lakes Grain gang is making headlines and gaining more attention each year from ag media and farmers with respect to the good work they are doing with their annual Crop Assessment Tours. The tours have been conducted in and around south western and central Ontario for the past four years sending large groups of FS crop specialists and grain staff on crop scouting blitzes, capturing new field data to analyse and share with producers.

Fran Downey of AGRIS Co-operative
begins soybean yield checks just
outside Muirkirk, ON.

The GLG Crop Assessment tour has evolved over the past four years and this year FS crop specialists from all over Ontario   participated from Lucknow Co-op, Huron Bay Co-op, North WellingtonCo-op, Sunderland Co-op, Wanstead Farmers Co-op, FS PARTNERS and AGRISCo-operative.

More than 1000 yield assessments were compiled and analyzed in thirteen zones. A total of 577 corn and 519 soybean sites were observed this year throughout the Great Lakes Grain trading area amounting to approximately 35,000 acres of corn and 31,000 of soybeans.

Dale Cowan, senior sales agronomist with Southern Co-operative Services tells Ontario Farmer News that every year he expects to talk about variability. “However the biggest surprise this year was the amount of variability...not only from field to field, but even within fields.”  

Don Kabbes, Great Lakes Grain market development manager was on hand at Canada’sOutdoor Farm Show to present the full tour results. You can view the details of the tour report at http://www.greatlakesgrain.com/index.cfm?show=10&mid=293 or by either visiting Great Lakes Grain, AGRIS or FS PARTNERS sites.

(L-R) Don Kabbes, Great Lakes Grain market development manager, Mark Kerry, DEKALB eastern Canada sales manager and Dale Cowan, Southern Co-operative Services senior agronomist at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show presenting
2013 Crop Assessment Tour results.

Setting the Table with Top 5 Improvement Awards

Congratulations to Thunder Bay Co-operative Farm Supplies and Sunderland Co-operative for being recognized as two of five Top Performance Improvement achievers for the FS System in North America during GROWMARK's Annual Meeting in Chicago.

GROWMARK measures the improvement in the performance of member co-operatives based on return on invested capital. Over a five-year time frame, each co-operative's return on invested capital improvement is measured in comparison to other co-operatives in the System. From this measurement, the Performance Improvement Award was developed.

Blain Thompson, general manager
Sunderland Co-operative Inc.

Sunderland Co-operative Inc. serves parts of Durham/York Regions, and the county of Victoria. It has a membership of 1,800 farmers or rural-residents and more than 60 years of successful operation returning patronage to its members each and every year. It is a full service agricultural co-operative providing products and services in feed, agronomy, grain marketing, energy products and services and has a retail store on site that provides hardware products, pet supplies and work wear.        

Ben Postuma, general manager
Thunder Bay Farm
Supplies Co-operative

Thunder Bay Co-operative Farm Supplies is the FS System’s most north-westerly located co-operative in the GROWMARK System. The Co-op was established just over 60 years ago and has just over 120 member-owners. The co-operative provides local farmers with quality agriculture related products such as feed, seed, fertilizer and other necessary supplies like fencing, metal roofing and siding, livestock equipment and tractor implements. For the home, the co-operative provides lawn seed, pet products and hardware for local residents and farmers.

Setting the Table in Chicago with youth leadership

Ryan McGeachy of Chatham, Ontario, recently attended the 2013 GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago as this year’s youth speaker where he spoke in front of more than 1000 attendees about his views on how co-operatives can help build a better world. 

McGeachy was one of three young people chosen to take part in the travel opportunity sponsored by GROWMARK, Inc. Also travelling to Chicago was 4-H Ontario Ambassador Brianna Dracup of Stirling, and director of fund development for Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario Sara Jibb of Sunderland. Jibb is also an employee of Sunderland Co-operative.

Attending the 2013 GROWMARK AGM
as youth delegates are Ryan McGeachy (CYL),
Sara Jibb (JFAO) and Brianna Dracup (4-H Ontario). 

Ryan McGeachy is attending the University of Guelph majoring in agriculture business. He was chosen for this opportunity through his involvement with the Ontario Co-operative Association’s Co-operativeYoung Leaders Program sponsored by AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. McGeachy also represents Junior Achievement as a Canadian Ambassador.

In his opening remarks in Chicago, McGeachy said that, “A business cannot run effectively without a well-guided system and for co-ops, it is the seven co-operative principals that characterize a co-operative’s vision and ultimately defines how co-operatives can help build a better world.”

Each year GROWMARK provides travel opportunities to youth who have shown dedication to leadership development. They travel to Chicago to learn more about GROWMARK and network with business people and other young leaders. As part of their experience, they took part in the annual meeting’s grand opening ceremonies with young leaders from Future Farmers of America and had the opportunity to visit the Chicago Board of Trade. 

Young leaders from Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ontario take part in the
"Grand Entry of Colours" Ceremony at GROWMARK AGM at the Hilton Chicago. 

Setting the table in Chicago-Part II

Ontario zone directors named at GROWMARK AGM

Newly elected to the GROWMARK Board of Directors representing Ontario is Warren Jibb. Jibb is also serving as president of Sunderland Co-operative Board and operates a 750 acre dairy and crop farm with his brother and family members near Sunderland, Ontario.

Returning director Kim Fysh was elected to the GROWMARK Board in 2011. He has served on the AGRIS Co-operative Board as president from 1996 to 2006. Kim and his wife Merry, along with Kim’s brother, operate an 1100-acre cash crop and vegetable farm outside Thamseville, Ontario.

Denis Bourdeau, who has served as a director on the GROWMARK Board since 2007, retired from the board this year. He and his wife Hélène own a fifth-generation family farm, including dairy and cash crops, as well as operating a bed and breakfast. Denis also serves on the Board of La Co-opérative Agricole d’Embrun.

Setting the Table in Chicago

"Setting the Table" was the theme
for the GROWMARK 2013
Annual General Meeting

Solid volume growth in GROWMARK business units produced record sales for the co-operative for the 2013 fiscal year, ending August 31.

Jeff Solberg, chief executive officer, reported unaudited, estimated sales of $10.3 billion for FY 2013 at the co-operative’s Annual General Meeting in Chicago IL. Pretax income is estimated at $220 million, one of the best years in company history. An estimated $135 million in patronage refunds will be returned to GROWMARK member co-operatives and farmer-owners.

“We began this year coming off a severe drought, but the strength of the FS System pulled us through to a very good 2013 fiscal year,” Solberg said. “Our business is built around our mission to improve the long-term profitability of our member owners. Our sales will allow us to return significant patronage to our owners.”

John Reifsteck, Champaign, Ill., was elected chairman of the GROWMARK Board of Directors. He replaces Dan Kelley, Normal, Ill., who retired. Reifsteck has served on the GROWMARK Board since 1993, and was one of two vice chairmen. He and his wife, Nancy, operate a corn and soybean farm in Champaign County.

The sky's the limit for Ontario GROWMARK Intern

Stephanie Campbell of Chatham, and GROWMARK Summer Intern, was one of three college and university students to receive a $1,000 scholarship from GROWMARK this month in Bloomington, Illinois.

This summer, Campbell worked at AGRIS Co-operative in agronomy as a crop intern. Her special project was working with the GPS aerial crop scouting equipment to develop a new service that AGRIS could offer its customers and members.   

To apply for this scholarship, Stephanie submitted an essay that described her summer experience and the impact her project had on the future success of the co-operative as well as her future career opportunities.

In her essay, Stephanie wrote, “One of the biggest assets I will take into my future career opportunities will be the value of asking questions. The environment I worked in throughout this internship was very open to questions and opinions. The contacts I have made in the industry throughout the summer are invaluable and will be utilized in the future as well. 

  

I hope to continue to be a part of the GROWMARK family moving forward. The potential is great, the values stand true and the future of the business is strong.”

Stephanie is entering her fourth year at the University of Guelph and is majoring in food, agriculture and resource economics. She is also co-managing the OAC Leadership Conference and enjoys being involved in College Royal as well as other events throughout the school year. She is active with her local 4-H Association as a member of local clubs and as the county webmaster. This fall, Stephanie will be participating in the Queen of the Furrow competition. 

GROWMARK invests in future talent by providing more than $44,000 in scholarships annually and has been supporting college and university students with scholarships since the early 1960s. Today, they are awarded to students majoring in agriculture or accounting at 16 universities and colleges throughout Ontario and the United States.

To see a demonstration of the GPS aerial equipment Campbell worked with this summer, click on the video below:

A new way to tap into future technology, today!

Introducing FS PARTNERS Touching Tomorrow Today Technology Tour

Touching Tomorrow Today might not be easy to say five times fast, but neither is keeping up with the fast-pace world of agriculture science: And that is why the FS PARTNERS’ 3T technology tour was introduced.

On one of the hottest days of the summer, three tractors pulled over 110 participants on mobile bleachers throughout the corn and soybean fields at the Syngenta Research Farm in Plattsville. At each stop, the group heard from experts on various topics such as biological pest control, new and innovative corn traits and the very controversial topic of bee health and the use of new products and technologies available to ensure bee safety.

With eight highly technical topics on the agenda, the tour demonstrated innovative technologies available today, and in the future, to help farmers maximize their yields, reduce environmental impact, and optimize the way they do business.

Don McLean, GROWMARK Ontario agronomy business director came up with the idea of the 3T tech tour, saying that the program utilizes GROWMARK's FS Green Plan Solutions® program, designed specifically to help customers meet their performance goals. “We are providing the best agronomic recommendations and year-round support for our customers’ operations from local, knowledgeable and professional crop specialists,” says McLean.

Stewart Cressman of
 Crystal Brook Farms

During the tour, I managed to track down one progressive farmer who spoke to me about the importance of these types of educational events for his operation. Stewart Cressman, of Crystal Brook Farms operates a fourth generation farm, operating 1000 acres of combined cash and feed crops and a 400 head beef feedlot, just southwest of Kitchener. Cressman commented that the day was most beneficial to him. “It is an excellent way to showcase new technology and to see what new tools are in the toolbox for producers down the road; and I especially like to support companies like Syngenta that are very progressive in bringing new products to the market and who work closely with the universities and government in research and development” says Cressman.

Cressman has attended the last three years of Pursuit of Maximum Yield events and said that since then, he has moved more of his business over to FS. “I am impressed with the knowledge and programs they provide,” he adds.

 FS PARTNERS partnered with Syngenta and Bayer CropScience to bring these technologies to its customers.

 FS PARTNERS customers toured the fields of  Syngenta's Research Farm in Plattsville
during the first Touching Tomorow Today Technology Tour.