Many connections were made for FS Co-ops at the GFO March Classic!

It has been a while since the FS Ontario agriculture co-ops have come together for a provincial trade show presence, but this week Ontario FS Co-operatives did just that by attending the GFO (Grain Farmers of Ont.) March Classic Trade Show and Conference in London.

FS Co-operative exhibit at GFO March Classic 

FS System representatives from AGRIS Co-operative, Wanstead Farmers Co-operative, FS PARTNERS, North Wellington Co-operative Services, County Farm Centre, Sunderland Co-operative, Lucknow District Co-operative and GROWMARK all took part in manning the booth and greeting visitors throughout the day.

Guests entering the FS exhibit were asked to plot where they farm on a large eight foot map of Ontario noting the FS location closest to them. A spinning wheel was on site for folks to spin and learn a fact about Ontario ag co-ops and everyone was given a set of FS branded work gloves to take home.

This is the third year for the GFO March Classic that has grown rapidly in popularity. This year, the event expected approximately 1000 guests comprised of GFO members and delegates, sponsors and industry folks who all have a common passion for farming.

This year is the 100 year anniversary for a unified farmer-owned co-operative system network in Ontario.

Participating FS representatives at GFO March Classic this Monday were: (L-R) Allan Scott, Lucknow District Co-operative general manager; Jeff Wilson, County Farm Centre agronomy manager; Juli Paladino, FS PARTNERS marketing assistant; Tim Davey, County Farm Centre energy manager; Nathan Saarloos, FS PARTNERS crop specialist; Bill Brown, GROWMARK Ontario field sales agronomist, Cathleen Verhallen, AGRIS Co-operative customer service manager; Blain Thompson, Sunderland Co-operative general manager; Janice Johnson, GROWMARK Ontario marketing & communication specialist; Bruce Thomson, FS PARTNERS energy specialist; Terry Stevenson, Southern Co-operative Services communication manager; Mike Dotterman, AGRIS Co-operative fuel specialist. Also participating but not present for the photo were: Jeff McCallum, North Wellington Co-operative marketing & communication specialist, Darrin Angus, Wanstead Farmers Co-operative crop sales specialist; Sean Chase, FS PARTNERS crop specialist, Jim Campbell, AGRIS Co-operative general manager and  Tom O'NeilL, FS PARTNERS energy sales manager.

March marks 100 years for Ontario ag co-ops!

2014 is the 100^th anniversary of the formation of a unified Ontario ag co-op system.

It all started in March of 1914, when 300 farmers met in Toronto’s Labour Temple to address issues of economic grievances and social unrest in the farm community. Farmers were keen on uniting into one organization and thus, the United Farmers of Ontario and the United Farmers Co-operative Company (UFCC) emerged. It was not very long after that the UFCC became the accepted trading medium. Its first commercial venture as a co-operative was to purchase twine from Ireland to break a monopoly of Canadian twine manufacturers.

Later UFCC bought coal, fencing materials and fertilizer in a co-operative mode. In 1927, it established a grain marketing pool based on the model of prairie wheat pools. During the 30’s, extensive educational programs were developed and leadership provided for the formation of the Ontario Chamber of Agriculture (now known as (OFA) Ontario Federation of Agriculture).

In 1948, ownership was converted from membership control of individual farmers to member control by member co-operatives. With this change, United Co-operatives of Ontario (UCO) was formed and for the next 46 years, UCO contributed much to the growth and development of the co-operative movement in the province.

In 1994, UCO’s assets were purchased by GROWMARK, Inc. where members of UCO chose to become shareholder owners of GROWMARK and create a co-operative system serving farmers internationally in both Canada and the United States.

Members of United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) pose for group picture at the UFO Annual Convention in Dec. 1929.

Today, 100 years later the Ontario ag co-operative system is thriving. The FS brand has been the leading brand for the Ontario co-op network for the past 20 years. In 1994, most Ontario employees had never heard of FS, but it soon became the cornerstone of everything we do. 

Today, Ontario has over 250 FS branded trucks on the road, 55 FS signed facilities and over 600 System-wide employees sporting the FS logo while serving more than 32,000 members and rural customers. 

In the past five years, Ontario FS Co-operatives have returned over $11.5 million in patronage refunds to Ontario farmers. 

Find an FS Co-operative near you! Visit www.fssystem.com for links to each FS Co-operative website.