Sustaining Sponsor Spotlight: Heritage Cooperative, Inc.
The Ohio AgriBusiness Association is pleased to feature our Sustaining Sponsors in the 2022 Spotlight Series. This week, the focus is on Platinum Sponsor: Heritage Cooperative, Inc..
Location: 59 Greif Parkway, Delaware, OH 43015
Year started: Heritage Cooperative was formed in 2009 through the consolidation of Champaign Landmark, Inc. and Farmers Commission Co. and merged with Agland in 2017, keeping the Heritage name.
Number of employees: 605
Number of facilities: 50+
Types of services offered: Agronomy, Grain Merchandising, Energy, Feed, and Retail
Company history: Heritage Cooperative’s roots date back over 100 years. The Farmers Commission Company (formerly named the US Commission Company) started in 1919. In 1932 the Champaign Farm Bureau Service Company was incorporated and evolved over the years to become Champaign Landmark, Inc. In 2009, these two cooperatives merged to form Heritage Cooperative. In 2017, Agland Co-op merged with Heritage Cooperative, keeping the Heritage name.
How has your company changed over the years? Heritage Cooperative, which operated primarily in western Ohio, was known as an agronomy and grain powerhouse. Agland Co-op operated in the central and eastern parts of the state, deriving fully half its revenues from energy and related services. The goal was never simply to get bigger; rather, leaders of both cooperatives were looking to diversify their product and service offerings, and in doing so, mitigate owners’ risk.
How do you see your company growing in the future? Heritage Cooperative will grow by providing value to our members and customers through individualized solutions. Growth will also continue by adhering to our core values which are providing superior customer service, highest standards of integrity and trust, continuous improvement and being a good partner.
Interesting tidbits about your business:
- Heritage Cooperative is ranked by NCB as #83 largest cooperative in 2020.
- We have nearly 5,000 members and over 20,000 customers.
- Purchased Hanby Farms out of Nashport, Ohio and their Performance Feed brand in 2020.
- 1st Choice Energy Services, the energy division of Heritage Cooperative generated 37% of revenue in 2020.
- We partner with three national organizations that are leading the way toward a more sustainable agriculture: The Fertilizer Institute, which promotes 4R Nutrient Stewardship, Truterra, the Land O’Lakes sustainability division, and Pheasants Forever who directly supports our in-house conservation specialist.
- We work in partnership with Truterra and the Campbell Soup Company to support stewardship on Ohio farms. Our organizations work together to help Ohio wheat growers benchmark wheat that is used in cookies and crackers that are produced at the Campbell Soup (Pepperidge Farm) bakeries in Ashland and Willard, Ohio.
- We are involved in statewide community support through Ohio FFA Foundation, Ohio Farm Bureau’s Cultivating a Cure, Fueling the Cure, and 4-H and FFA Junior Fairs.
- In 2022, Heritage acquired Witmer’s Feed and Grain out of Columbiana, Ohio, including the Millstone Farm and Garden Center.
How has OABA helped your business or the agribusiness industry? OABA has helped our business by providing training, networking, and certification. OABA has also been a major advocate for the agricultural community.
Interested in becoming a Sustaining Sponsor in 2023?
Click here to learn more about the program or contact Lauren Prettyman at lprettyman@oaba.net. Sustaining sponsors will automatically be promoted as such at all 2023 OABA events and will not be approached for sponsorship opportunities throughout the year.
Note that because the OABA Educational Trust is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, sponsorships related to this trust are separate from OABA.