On July 23, the boards of directors of Centerra Co-op, Mercer Landmark and Sunrise Cooperative held a meeting where each shared what makes their co-op successful and what challenges they face. At the end of this first meeting, all three boards agreed to begin exploring the potential benefits of unifying their cooperatives. (A letter explaining this initiative has been mailed to the members of all three co-ops, and leadership has informed their respective employees.)

Why explore unification?

All three cooperatives share a customer-focused mentality. They may have different ways of saying it, but all three co-ops believe they exist to make their members successful. For example, if Centerra is truly shoulder-to-shoulder with its members, then they owe it to the membership to recognize the impact of low commodity prices and investigate ways to minimize that impact.

The 2017 merger that created Centerra Co-op resulted in retention of talented employees and their experience, the ability to finance loyalty and risk management tools, higher patronage rates and investment in assets. The boards' deeper evaluation of this new opportunity will include both the member value impact and opportunities for the employees who champion your needs every day.

What's next?

The boards are likely to meet again before harvest, at which time they will dive into the financial, operational and cultural opportunities and challenges of unification. The results of each meeting will be shared with co-op members and employees. The goal of this strategic initiative is to assess how a unified cooperative could enhance value for members, strengthen opportunities for employees and create long-term sustainability for regional agriculture.

Centerra Co-op, Mercer Landmark and Sunrise Cooperative are three highly respected agricultural cooperatives in this area. Each has a strong legacy of service, innovation and delivering value to their farmer-owners. This joint exploration reflects their shared commitment to the future of agriculture and the prosperity of their members.

Your thoughts and questions are welcome.

Jean Bratton

CEO, Centerra Co-op

Email: jbratton@centerracoop.com
Phone: 567-203-8445