A winning theme at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show

FS Your Winning Team took the lead at Canada’s largest farm show with hundreds of show-goers lined up to take a few practice shots on the 4Rs Right Place, Right Time, Right Source and Right Rate hockey net targets in Woodstock, ON from Sept 10-12.

Adorned with winning team messages throughout the tent, the centre ice was reserved for “Referee 4Rs” with a strong message to “Make the Right Call” with FS Nutrient Stewardship practices. 

Designed to show case FS Your Winning Team, the 70 x 40’ foot space incased in FS branded hockey rink boards, featured five large hockey player cut-outs each promoting FS services and delivering key messages such as “Get ahead of the game with MiField” or “Let Dieselex Gold be your best Defense”.

Visitors left the highly engaging space with FS branded mini-sticks to share with family and friends. “FSie” (the returning FS live mascot) took to the park with her winning team spirit to meet folks, take photos and hand out FS Your Winning Team branded mini sticks.

Here are a few photos to help capture the event:

 

See you next year!

Lucknow Co-op celebrates 75 years of success!

A Diamond-White Anniversary celebration took place Sept. 7 for members, customers and friends of the co-op who enjoyed a barbecue dinner, evening entertainment and social time to mark 75 years of success and growth for the co-operative.

David Gibson, Lucknow Co-op president says that the co-op is lucky to have such strong community support. “We thank our customers, members and employees for 75 years of success and we look forward to many more years as part of this great community.”

A big community gathering at Lucknow Co-op as they celebrate under rainbow lights!

Lucknow District Co-op board of directors and general manager Allan Scott enjoy
the festivities at the co-op's 75th anniversary bash!

Come out and see Your FS Winning Team at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show next week!

744906 Oxford Road #17
R.R. #6 Woodstock, ON N4S 7W1

GROWMARK recognizes Alex Michinski with the Endure 4R Advocate award at 2019 Annual Meeting & Symposium.

Alex Michinski, AGRIS Co-operative
Essex area manager.

The Endure 4R Advocate program recognizes GROWMARK System crop specialists who engage growers in sustainable best management farming practices. These practices include implementing nitrogen management as a System, conducting MiField applied research on farms, promoting the use of nitrogen stabilizers, and more.

This year,  Alex Michinski was nominated by AGRIS Co-operative as an individual who works diligently with his growers to improve water quality, manage nutrients sustainably, and engage in soil conservation practices. “The crop specialists who serve throughout the GROWMARK System literally help farmers grow by building great relationships, providing resources, taking advantage of an optimized supply chain, and winning with innovation,” said Mark Orr, vice-president of agronomy. “They are dedicated to improving farmer profitability the right way - in a sustainable fashion that protects our environment.”

Congratulations to Alex and AGRIS Co-op!

Ontario youth well represented at "Ideas Grow Here" themed Annual Meeting in Chicago

Congratulations to Michaella Snyder this year's youth speaker at GROWMARK's Annual Meeting and Agribusiness Symposium last week in Chicago. 

Michaella Snyder speaks to more 

than 800 at GROWMARK 

2019 Annual Meeting.

She was joined on stage with three more young-leader speakers, representing FFA (Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin). Snyder represented 4-H Ontario and delivered an excellent speech on innovation in agriculture. Michaella is from Kitchener/Waterloo area and is one of six 4-H Ontario Ambassadors chosen this year.  

Also selected from Ontario to attend the three-day event was Co-operative Young Leader (CYL) graduate John Nooyen from Kent-Bridge and president of Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario (JFAO) Nic Weber from Elmira.

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 a number of activities, including the annual meeting’s grand opening ceremonies and were able to take time to tour some of Chicago's many unique attractions. 

From L-R: At the Hilton Chicago Grand Ballroom entrance is Nic Weber representing JFAO, John Nooyen for Co-op Young Leaders and Michaella Snyder of 4-H Ontario.

Preparing for the Grand Entry of Flags ceremony.

Congratulations to all these young leaders from Ontario, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin!

North Wellington Co-op celebrates 75 years!

Congratulations to North Wellington Co-operative Services as they celebrate 75 years of success!

Last Saturday, the co-op held fun activities and served up a bbq lunch at all four of its locations in Harriston, Hanover, Mount Forest and Durham. A great turnout of about 200 people from these local communities came out to support their local co-op.

 

 

4-H Ambassadors and GROWMARK interns spend the day with FS!

The 2019 4-H Ontario Ambassadors along with two of this year's GROWMARK Summer Interns took part in a road trip yesterday giving them more insight in the many facets of FS.

The day began with a short tour of the GROWMARK Ontario headquarters in Guelph and then continued with a bus trip to North Wellington Co-operative's facility in Harriston. After some shopping at the garden centre, the group travelled to Ayr and enjoyed an outdoor bbq lunch at the FS PARTNERS Bringing You What's Next in Your Field annual event. After lunch, a quick trip and tour of the FS PARTNERS agronomy and Great Lakes Grain facility in Ayr, with a final stop-of-the-day taking place at the UPI Energy FS bulk plant on Hwy 24 in Guelph.

Have a look at some of the day's activities:

First stop at GROWMARK Ontario office. (L-R) Wilson Behan, GROWMARK summer intern with County Farm Centre; Danette Woodworth, 4-H Ontario executive assistant, 4-H Ontario Ambassadors: Michaella Snyder (Waterloo), Rebecca Stockdale (Peterborough), Allison French (Peel), Rose Danen (Perth), Christie Annett (Lambton); Anikka Bolender, 4-H Ontario program co-ordinator, Bernard Wierenga, GROWMARK summer intern with AGRIS Co-operative. 

Kelly Boyle, North Wellington Co-operative (NWC) general manager welcomes the group to his ACE store and garden centre.

Below: Ambassadors pose for pic with NWC's 75th anniversary photo props. Anniversary celebrations take place this Saturday July 13.

Kevin Stumpf, FS PARTNERS hub manager talks to the group about the value of the Bringing You What's Next in Your Field event.

Below: Kevin demonstrates the processes of the new automated fertilizer blending facilities at the new 15,000 MT capacity facility at FS PARTNERS/Great Lakes Grain site in Ayr.

UPI Energy FS customer experience manager Dianne Kennedy, shows the group around the bulk plant on Hwy 24. 

Thank you Ambassadors and Interns for spending the day with us! 

2019 International Day of Cooperatives is fast approaching!

On 6 July, cooperatives from all around the world will show what makes them special under the slogan COOPS 4 DECENT WORK.

We’re shouting out the message that cooperatives are people-centred enterprises, characterised by democratic control, that prioritise human development and social justice within the workplace.

The theme is chosen to support the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 ‘Inclusive development and decent work’.

You can read more about the theme here

The study on the economic impact of the Co-operative Sector in Canada - Just released!

GROWMARK, Inc. and the FS Co-operatives provide sustainability and strong economic impact for Ontario farmers.

Conducted earlier this year, using data collected in 2015 from 5,730 co-operatives, a new and comprehensive study was released and provides a detailed portrait of Canadian co-operatives. Among other things, it presents descriptive statistics for 2015, five and ten-year trends, and the economic impact of the sector on the Canadian economy.

Commenting on the study, Claude Gauthier, GROWMARK,Inc. executive director Ontario operations, stated: “Co-operatives need to be recognized as a sustainable democratic business model. The agriculture co-operative network in Ontario has served its farmer-owners for more thanr 100 years, and today, FS Co-operatives account for more than one billion dollars to the Ontario economy.”

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STUDY

 Co-operatives

·       In 2015, there were 5,730 co-operatives that reported in Canada.

·       Their volume of business was $85.9 billion, with assets of $503.2 billion. This represents 20.9% growth in volume of business and 42.5% growth in assets.

·       Memberships totalled 31.8 million, and the number of reported full-time equivalent employees was 182,253. This represents a 13.3% increase in membership and a 2.5% increase in the number of employees.

 The economy

·        The co-operative sector in Canada contributes $61.2 billion yearly to Canada’s GDP, an increase of 12% since 2010.

·           The sector injects $34.3 billion in taxes to all orders of government, an increase of 11.1% in five years.

·       The contribution of the co-operative sector to Canada’s GDP in 2015 was estimated at $61.2 billion, representing 3.4% of the national figure of $1,813.9 billion.

To view complete study, click here. 

The release of the study took place last week at the Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC)’s Congress 2019, Scott Banda of Federated Cooperatives Limited and Guy Cormier of Desjardins Group released the Study on the Economic Impact of the Co-operative Sector in Canada in 2015. Led by Dr. Fiona Duguid in partnership with George Karaphillis, the study confirms that co-operatives are an economic driver that contributes to the development of the Canadian economy.

Sunderland Co-op kicks-off big expansion at new site in Peterborough region

This week, Sunderland Co-operative opened the first phase of a multi-expansion project at its new site in Otonabee, serving the farmers and residents of Peterborough region and beyond.

The new 8,000 sq. ft. retail farm supply store and large-capacity feed warehouse is the first chapter for this expansive 12.9-acre property.

During the ribbon cutting ceremony Otonabee-South Monaghan mayor Joe Taylor "thanked the Co-op for having the confidence in our township to locate here. I know that our residents and the residents of County of Peterborough will support it for years to come,” said Taylor.

(L-R) Sunderland Co-operative Inc., general manager Jake Vancuren, president Urs Kressibucher and Otonabee-South Monaghan mayor Joe Taylor cut the ribbon to open Sunderland Co-op’s new retail and warehouse facility south east of Peterborough.

“We are undergoing a full feasibility study right now, but our strategy is to build the site into a multifaceted facility that will provide product and services in all our core businesses," says Urs Kressibucher, Sunderland Co-operative president. “We plan to offer a Whole Farm Plan experience to area farmers by delivering everything they need from seed to harvest to run a successful, prosperous and sustainable operation.”

"This move will help us grow our business," says Sunderland Co-operative general manager Jake Vancuren. "We are coming to our 70^th year of business and with this vision for the region, we plan to be here for at least 70 more.”