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State of Ohio Cooperative Week – October 13-20, 2012
In July of 2012, the United States Senate passed a resolution declaring 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives. On September of 2012, the state of Ohio proclaimed October 13-20 as 2012 Cooperative Week.
International years are declared by the United Nations to draw attention to and encourage action on major issues. The International Year of Cooperatives is intended to raise public awareness of the invaluable contributions of cooperative enterprises to employment generation, and in assisting individuals in producing their products and collaboratively purchasing their inputs. Collectively, cooperatives have more strength than individuals. The Year will also highlight the strengths of the cooperative business model as an alternative means of doing business, in providing services and sharing in the benefits.
Cooperatives are a different approach to reaching a common goal. Members work together to achieve goals that they would not be able to achieve individually. A cooperative is a user-owned and democratically controlled business in which benefits are received in proportion to use.
There are numerous cooperatives in your community, some of which include:
- Farm Cooperatives - There are farmers who market their products through cooperatives and, by banding together, have a stronger voice in the marketplace.
- Supply Cooperatives - Many farmers purchase their inputs (fertilizer, seed, crop protection) through supply cooperatives.
- Retail Food Cooperatives - Members include numerous local farmer markets and food cooperatives, throughout the state.
- Credit Unions - These comprise the largest number of local cooperatives.
- Rural Electric Cooperatives - These cooperatives provide electricity to consumer members who not served by investor utilities.
Cooperatives are an important part of the economy in the state of Ohio. There are more than 700 cooperatives in Ohio, which collectively pay nearly $300 million in wages and $44 million in taxes.
The Mid America Cooperative Council (MACC) is an association that educates these cooperatives’ employees, directors and members about the benefits of cooperatives. In 2012, MACC has had approximately 1,000 registrants for its cooperative education classes.
MACC is proud to list the following member cooperatives in the state of Ohio:
Cooperative Members:
Ag Credit
Ag States Agency
Agland Co-op, Inc.
Blanchard Valley Farmers Cooperative, Inc.
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative
CHACO Credit Union, Inc.
CHS Inc.
COBA/Select Sires, Inc.
CoBank
Crawford Pork
Dairy Farmers of America
Deshler Farmers Elevator Company
Edon Farmers Co-op Association, Inc.
Evergreen Laundry Cooperative
Farm Credit Services of Mid-America
FC Stone
Flywheel Tech Collective
GROWMARK, Inc.
Hardin Pork
Harvest Land Co-op
Heritage Cooperative, Inc.
Logan Pork
Luckey Farmers, Inc.
Mercer Landmark, Inc.
Mid-Wood, Inc.
Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company
Ohio Solar Cooperative
Select Sires, Inc.
Sunrise Cooperative
Town and Country Co-op Inc.
Trupointe Cooperative, Inc.
United Equity, Inc.
United Producers, Inc.
Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Associate Members:
Auglaize County Cooperative Council
Balestra, Harr & Scherer, CPAs, Inc.
Ohio Credit Union League
Agon Leadership
AgVantage Software, Inc.
Blue & Company, LLC
Braintree
CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP
Crowe Horwath, LLP
FCC Services
iRely LLC
National Network of Forest Practitioners
Ohio AgriBusiness Association
Ohio Agricultural Council
Ohio Cooperative Development Center
Ohio Employee Ownership Center
Schumaker, Loop & Kendrick
The Ohio State University
Unique Management Services, Inc.
Please join the Mid America Cooperative Council in celebrating 2012 Cooperative Week by patronizing your local cooperatives and supporting your community.
