Shown giving the O-H-I-O salute: Joe Schmitz-Darke County, Nicole
McKibben-Clinton County, Liz Ritz-Henry County and Maria Miller,
Executive Director of the NFU Foundation
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Joe Schmitz, son of Darke County Farmers Union members, Don and Tina Schmitz, traveled to Minneapolis, MN to attend the 2015 National Farmers Union College Conference held February 19-22. More than 150 participants from 25 states and Puerto Rico toured housing, retail and marketing cooperatives in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
They were there to learn how cooperative businesses are adapting to changing environments and to hear from cooperative experts from across the nation why member-owned businesses are thriving in industries ranging from senior housing to healthcare. They also visited the headquarters of CHS Inc., the nation's largest agricultural cooperative, and the Mill City Museum, built into the ruins of what was once the world's largest flour mill. Students heard from cooperative leaders, farmers and government experts who explained the current challenges they face.
NFU hosts these exemplary youth hoping to instill in these young people the principles of these dynamic, ethical and community-minded business cooperatives. Presenters ranged from members, directors, employees and managers of traditional and value-added agricultural cooperatives to representatives of housing and worker-owned co-ops as well as consumer cooperatives such as REI and natural foods co-ops. Insights on cooperative development here and abroad were presented.
Joe and the two other young Ohioans were able to attend thanks to generous sponsorships from National Farmers Union, the CHS Foundation and others. The conference was organized by NFU and sponsored by CHS Foundation, CoBank, Farmers Union Industries, NFU Foundation, The Cooperative Foundation, CHS, Inc., Minnesota Cooperative Education Foundation, Featured Youth Foundation and Organic Valley.
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