Lake Area Tech Ag Students Attend College Conference on Cooperatives

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Lake Area Technical College Agriculture students recently participated in the College Conference on Cooperatives (CCOC), an annual conference held in Minneapolis by the National Farmers Union (NFU) to educate, motivate, and inspire the next generation of leaders in cooperatives.

Throughout this three-day conference, participants heard from experts in the field, engaged in interactive learning activities and workshops, and toured co-ops in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. The event attracted students from across the country and was beneficial to those new to co-ops as well as those with some previous co-op education.

“I appreciate Farmers Union and the opportunity for LATC’s students to see how the cooperative business model works in industries that support agriculture and its surroundings,” commented Lake Area Tech Agriculture Instructor Jeffrey York. “The students were able to tour housing, retail, and banking industries as well as the cooperative grocery store. They also heard from speakers from the electric cooperatives. Thanks to Farmers Union, this experience allows students to see the whole picture when it comes to cooperative business models.”

NFU promotes rural economic and cooperative development by supporting existing agricultural co-ops and helping form new farmer co-ops and other rural businesses.

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Photo courtesy of National Farmers Union.

Lake Area Tech Agriculture students pictured are (front row left to right) Lucas Jones, Hayes, SD; Sarah Wipf, Huron, SD; Maddie Luvaas, Lennox, SD; Kendra Wetz, Clear Lake, SD; and Blair Boomsma, Watertown, SD.

Second row: LATC Agriculture Instructor Jeffry York; Logan Fenhaus, Corona, SD; Sean Domke, Redfield, SD; Bus Driver John Bumgardner; Max Abrahamson, Canby, MN; Cody Caraway, Volga, SD; Steven DeGeest, Huron, SD; Lucas Kannegieter, Willow Lake, SD; and Jack Bratland, Willow Lake, SD.

Third row: Landon VanZee, Armour, SD and Landen Melius, Cresbard, SD.