Charles A. “Al” Holdren

BS ’72 Agricultural Economics 

Ashland, Ohio

Charles A. “Al” Holdren began his cooperative journey with management training at Fayette Landmark, before transitioning to CEO of Ottawa Landmark. He seasoned many company changes and mergers, landing as the CEO of Town and Country Co-op. Holdren served as CEO for 26 years, retiring in 2017 after leading the merger of Western Reserve Farm Cooperative to form Centerra Co-op.

In his cooperative career, Holdren committed his company to improving the industry. He established the annual Ladies Luncheon to recognize and honor the never-ending work of women on the farm and female employees of Town and Country Co-op. He also worked with CEOs from other cooperatives in Ohio to form Cooperatives for the Cure to raise cancer research funds through initiatives like Fueling the Cure and Growing the Cure. Holdren has a passion for student scholarships, working tirelessly to raise funds for students in Ohio and abroad. He started the Ohio AgriBusiness Association’s Bowling for Scholarship event, which raises funds that help award more than $35,000 annually in scholarships to college students studying agriculture.

Holdren spent time dedicated to his home county of Ashland; serving twice as the chair of the Ashland County United Way campain, exceeding the established fundraising goal each year and also serving on the Ashland County Foundation Board for 8 years. Holdren also volunteered his time by visiting Moldova twice, supporting farmers transition from collective farming to a more capitalistic system.

After retirement, Holdren was tapped to serve as the Chairman of the Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA) Industry Education Committee. This committee develops and implements all OABA educational programming which includes the annual industry conference, grain operations and merchandising courses, grain grading schools, anhydrous ammonia safety workshops, the OABA Agronomy College, 4R Technology Review Field Day, and more. 

As a student at Ohio State, Holdren was a member of Alpha Gamma Sigma and the OSU LEAD II class from 1987-1989, for which he was recognized as its Distinguished Alumni in 2006. Holdren was inducted into the Ohio Ag Hall of Fame in 2019.