Founded in 1870, Star of the West Milling Co. is the oldest company on the CropLife 1oo. Photo courtesy of Star of the West Milling.

Headquartered in Frankenmuth, MI, Star of the West Milling has more than 30 retail facilities and serves customers in six states. Photo courtesy of Star of the West Milling.

In 1882, the McGregor family came to the Palouse region of Washington state as sheep raisers, and added wheat to their farming enterprise in 1901. The McGregors were also pioneers in nutrient research and fertilizer application equipment in the 1940s and '50s. Pictured is Sherman McGregor, a second generation family member, with an applicator and shanks in 1957. Photo courtesy of The McGregor Company.

Today, The McGregor Company serves growers in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon with the seed, crop inputs, equipment, research, and advice needed to raise healthy, sustainable crops. Pictured are Chairman Alex McGregor (left) and President Ian McGregor, who represents the fourth generation involved with the company. Photo courtesy of The McGregor Company.

AgState is the result of a merger between First Cooperative Association (FCA) and Ag Partners/ALCECO in 2021. As such, its combined roots date back to the earliest days of Iowa agriculture. FCA was recognized as the oldest active grain cooperative in the nation. The Marcus grain location was incorporated in 1887. ALCECO has served Iowa producers for more than 100 years and was instrumental in bringing the loading of grain shuttles to northwest Iowa. Pictured is one of AgState's legacy cooperatives, Farmers Co-op Elevator (date unknown). Photo courtesy of AgState.

Today, AgState is managed by a 12-farmer member board, made up of former ALCECO and FCA board members. The cooperative is driven to help its members succeed and be profitable on every acre and animal. With local management making decisions and a long history of financial stability, AgState provides leading technology with expert support, high quality products, and exceptional service. Pictured is AgState's headquarters in Cherokee, IA. Photo courtesy of AgState.

While Cooperative Farmers Elevator (CFE) was established in 2015 by merging Cooperative Elevator Association (CEA), Farmers Elevator Coop, and United Farmers Coop, its roots date back to 1896. Pictured is a fleet of application equipment at CEA (date unknown).

Today, CFE has 20 retail locations that serve customers in three states. Pictured is the CFE facility in Alvord, IA.

Since it was founded as the Equity Produce Company in 1907, ALCIVIA has had a long history of mergers and acquisitions over the past century. Pictured is the Mondovi Co-op Equity Association in the early 1900s. Photo courtesy of ALCIVIA.

In 2021, Countryside Cooperative and Landmark Services Cooperative merged to become ALCIVIA. Photo courtesy of ALCIVIA.

Heartland Co-op was founded in 1907 to give Central Iowa farmers a place to market their grain for a fair price. Pictured is Heartland Co-op's Minburn facility circa 1964. Photo courtesy of Heartland Co-op.

Heartland Co-op has evolved into the cooperative it is today with more than 70 locations providing products and services to its 5,800-plus farmer members/patrons. Pictured is Heartland Co-op's Fairfield, IA, location.  Photo courtesy of Heartland Co-op.

Determined to improve their marketplace, a group of Nebraska farmers came together in 1908 to form the Aurora Elevator Co. In 1943, the company’s name was officially changed to Aurora Cooperative Elevator Company (pictured). Photo courtesy of Aurora Cooperative.

Today, Aurora Cooperative has more than 80 locations serving its farmer-owners in several states.

Frenchman Valley Coop (FVC) started as a grain coop in 1912, under the name Farmers Union Equity. In 1915, the name was changed to Imperial Equity Exchange. Pictured is the cooperative marketing wheat in Imperial, NE. Photo courtesy of Frenchman Valley Coop.

Today, FVC employs more than 250 employees and is the one of the largest cooperatives in Nebraska. Photo courtesy of Frenchman Valley Coop.

Since 1913, when brothers William and Jesse DeLong went into the grain business, the DeLong family has been committed to serving the agricultural community of southern Wisconsin. Pictured is a new grain elevator constructed in 1973. Photo courtesy of The DeLong Co.

Today, the multi-generational, family-owned business generates its revenue in six divisions: Agronomy, Grain, Exports, Seed, Wholesale Distribution, and Transportation. Photo courtesy of The DeLong Co.

Butte County Rice Growers Association (BUCRA) in Richvale, CA, was founded in 1914 by 30 farmers who felt the need to have combined representation in marketing their rice. Pictured is an aerial view of BUCRA in 1956. Photo courtesy of BUCRA.

Since that humble beginning over a century ago, BUCRA has grown into a company of more than 400 growers and multiple lines of business including Seed, Supplies, Drying/Storage, and Marketing. Photo courtesy of BUCRA.

MFA Inc. traces its beginnings to 1914, when seven farmers in Brunswick, MO, met to discuss the formation of farm clubs and soon placed the first cooperative order for 1,150 pounds of baler twine. Pictured is MFA's location in Salisbury, MO. Photo courtesy of MFA.

Today, MFA In. has more than 160 retail outlets serving more than 45,000 farmer/owners in Missouri and adjacent states. Pictured is an aerial view of MFA's Adrian, MO, facility. Photo courtesy of MFA.

Since 1915, Cooperative Elevator Co. has existed as an agricultural cooperative situated in Michigan’s “thumb” – a rich agricultural region offering fertile soils, tiled fields, adequate rainfall, and high-quality products. Photo courtesy of Cooperative Elevator Co.

Today, Cooperative Elevator Co. is headquartered in Pigeon, MI, serving more than 1,000 farmer producers with 12 locations in Michigan and one in North Dakota. Photo courtesy of Cooperative Elevator Co.

Frontier Cooperative was formed as the result of a merger between Frontier and Midwest Cooperative in September 2019, but its roots date back to 1915. At that time, a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing the Farmers Elevator Company in Brainard, NE. Illustration: Frontier Cooperative

Today, Frontier is a full-service cooperative located primarily in Eastern Nebraska.

Mountain View Co-op in Black Eagle, MT, has roots that trace back to 1916. Pictured is one of the co-op's predecessor companies -- Farmers Union Oil Co. (date unknown). Photo courtesy of Mountain View Co-op.

Mountain View Co-op has become the largest locally-owned agricultural cooperative in the state of Montana. Photo courtesy of Mountain View Co-op.

Founded in 1918, Allied Cooperative has had several mergers and name changes over the years, including The Kilbourn Equity Exchange, pictured here in 1918 in Kilbourn, WI, which is now Wisconsin Dells. Photo courtesy of Allied Cooperative.

Allied Cooperative formed from the merger of Wisconsin River Co-op of Adams and Farmers’ Co-op Supply & Shipping Association of West Salem in 2013. Pictured is an aerial view of Allied Cooperative's Adams location. Photo courtesy of Allied Cooperative.

Since it was founded in 1918, Pearl City Elevator has been partnering with farmer producers in Northwest Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Pearl City Elevator.

The full-service agricultural cooperative has developed a heritage of hard work and learning by doing. Pictured is PCE's Alliance Commodities, a state-of-the-art grain facility and dry and liquid fertilizer facility. Photo courtesy of Pearl City Elevator.

In 1919, Effingham Equity was founded as Effingham Equity Cooperative Union Exchange. It started with forward-thinking farmers who saw that by joining together, the group would have greater buying power than each farmer had individually. Photo courtesy of Effingham Equity circa 1961.

Today, Effingham Equity is one of the largest independent agricultural cooperatives in Illinois, offering a broad range of products and services including: Agronomy, Grain Services, Feed & Livestock, Petroleum, Hardware, and Supplies. Photo courtesy of Effingham Equity.

Top Ag Cooperative or its predecessor companies like the Okawville Farmer Elevator Co. have been in business since 1919, serving farmers and area residents with products and services for several generations.
Photo source: TopAg.net/about/timeline.

Today, Top Ag is a farmer-owned cooperative serving a multi-county area in southwestern Illinois covering the entire area east of St. Louis. Pictured is an aerial view of Top Ag's Okawville location. Photo courtesy of Top Ag Cooperative.

Indiana-based Co-Alliance was founded in 1920. Pictured is one of its legacy cooperative's in Tipton County. Photo courtesy of Co-Alliance.

Co-Alliance opened a new corporate headquarters in Indianapolis in September 2022. Photo courtesy of Co-Alliance.

In 1921, three University of Washington classmates -- Brayton Wilbur (pictured), Floyd Ellis, and Thomas Franck -- opened a small import-export brokerage trading company in San Francisco with a $5,000 investment. The newly created Wilbur-Ellis focused on trading fishmeal and fish oil.
Photo source: WilburEllis.com/history

Today, Wilbur-Ellis is a leading international marketer and distributor of agricultural products, animal feed, and specialty chemicals and ingredients. Photo courtesy of Wilbur-Ellis.

Country Visions Cooperative can trace its roots back to 1923. Throughout the years, several Wisconsin co-ops have come together to create a stronger, more effective organization serving a growing area. Pictured is Valders Elevator Coop in the late 1940s. Photo courtesy of Country Visions Cooperative.

Today, Country Visions is headquartered in Brillion, WI, after moving its corporate office from Reedsville in 2021. Pictured is an aerial view of Country Visions Cooperative's facility in Plymouth, WI, which was built in 2018. Photo courtesy of Country Visions Cooperative.

Southern States Cooperative was founded in 1923 as Virginia Seed Service (VSS) when Virginia farmers were unable to buy seed guaranteed to grow in the Commonwealth and soon expanded to include feed, agronomy inputs, energy and farm supplies. In the early 1930s, the cooperative became known as Southern States. Photo courtesy of Southern States.

Today, Southern States is an agricultural cooperative focused on providing profitable growing solutions and reliable energy expertise to its members and customers based on the specific needs of the local community. Pictured is Southern States' facility in King William, VA.