Sep 25, 2015

FS celebrates another successful event at this year's Outdoor Farm Show!


For many of you who came out last week to visit us at the FS booth at our new location on 4th lane at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show, I'm sure you will agree that it was a fabulous week to connect with colleagues, customers, family and friends under three days of warm sunny skies.

This was the second year for the Ontario FS System to participate at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock. This year, the show had more than 43,000 people attend and 750 show exhibitors on display. 

If you were not able to attend this year, I hope you will enjoy this photo gallery of special moments at our FS booth. 


Getting started bright and early Monday morning with Juli Paladino, 
Justine Lennox and Terry Stevenson. Also a very special thank you to 
Moe Crickmore, Tony Tennant and Bruce Thomson for their much
 needed help during set up.
Bruce delivers his large banner display structure. 
UPI Energy delivers Dieselex Gold tank 

Allan Williamson promotes the benefits of Dieselex Gold.

Let's talk Great Lakes Grain crop tour results
 with Tyler Sabelli and Chris Snip.

London Free Press interviews Don Kabbes on GLG crop tour results.

A great meeting place!

Some serious colouring going on with FS interactive colouring books.

Saarloos family fun!

Mike Dotterman talks energy. 

Petra Hathaway enjoys time with visitors.

Petra is interviewed by Mary Baxter of Better Farming magazine.

Hmmmm, what should I colour next?

Catching up on old times with Dennis Smith, Ron Feltz and Blair Morrison.

Ed Benjamins stops by to say hi with Juli Paladino, Nicole Weber 
and Bruce Thomson.

Rain gauge interactive fun!

Measuring up. 

FS team gives it a try!
Devin Homick and family pop by to say hi!

Juli Paladino shows guests the Ontario map with more than 75 FS locations.


Great interaction in the FS tent.



Nathan Saarloos and son....Adorable! 

FS team watches on-line media video coverage of GLG crop tour results!
Seen here: Brent Troyer, Petra Hathaway, Mary Bell,  Justin Geelen and Terry Stevenson. 



 Thank you to all who took part....See you all next year!


Sep 4, 2015

FS Co-operatives earn Performance Improvement Awards

Five FS member co-operatives, including Ontario's Vineland Growers Co-operative, were recognized by GROWMARK for business performance improvement during the 2015 GROWMARK annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois last week.

For the second year in a row, the co-operative with the highest degree of improvement was Ag-Land FS, Pekin, Illinois. Ranking second was Stephenson Service Company, Freeport, Illinois. In third place was Conserv FS, Inc., Woodstock, Illinois. In fourth place was Vineland Growers Co-operative, Jordan Station, Ontario, and fifth was AGRILAND FS, Inc., Winterset, Iowa. 

GROWMARK measures the improvement in the performance of member co-operatives based on return on invested capital. Over a five-year time frame, each co-operative's return on invested capital improvement is measured in comparison to other co-operatives in the System. From this measurement, the Performance Improvement Award was developed.








Sep 3, 2015

Ahead of the curve with youth leadership in Chicago


Caitlyn Rongits, Ontario
youth speaker at GROWMARK 
2015 Annual Meeting 
Eighteen year-old, Caitlyn Rongits of Norwich, Ontario, recently attended the 2015 GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago as this year’s Ontario youth speaker alongside FFA state presidents from Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. These four young leaders spoke to an audience of more than 800 attendees and Caitlyn's speech addressed her views on the importance of agriculture sustainability. 

Caitlyn is a recent graduate of the Ontario Co-operative Association's Co-op Young Leaders Program and was one of three young people from Ontario chosen to take part in the travel opportunity sponsored by GROWMARK. Also travelling to Chicago was 4-H Ontario Ambassador Olivia Bolender of Stouffville and from Alma, executive director of community and international programs for Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario Jen van der Meulen. 

Ontario youth representatives at Grand Ballroom, Hilton Chicago.
From L-R Jen van der Meulen, Caitlyn Rongits and Olivia Bolender.
Caitlyn is a second year student at the University of Guelph studying criminal justice and public policy. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in human resources or law.
In her opening remarks in Chicago, Caitlyn said that the question about sustainability should be an obvious one, stating that, "the focus of every farmer and business should be to create a company or system that is strong enough to last through anything!"  



Each year GROWMARK provides travel opportunities to youth who have shown dedication to leadership development. They travel to Chicago to learn more about GROWMARK and network with business people and other young leaders. 

As part of their experience, they took part in the annual meeting’s grand opening ceremonies with young leaders from Future Farmers of America (FFA) and also had the opportunity to visit the Chicago Board of Trade. 

Young leaders from Ontario and FFA Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa get ready for the Grand Entry of Colours opening ceremonies at GROWMARK's AGM in Chicago on Aug. 28


Sep 2, 2015

Ahead of the curve with GROWMARK's 2015 year-end results


Jim Spradlin, CEO 
The GROWMARK System unity, economies of scale, and the relationship at the farm gate are evidenced in the operating results for the 2015 fiscal year, which ended Aug. 31.

Jim Spradlin, chief executive officer, reported unaudited, estimated sales of $8.8 billion (U.S) for FY 2015. Pretax income is estimated at $140 million. An estimated $61 million in patronage refunds will be returned to GROWMARK member co-operatives and farmer-owners.

Energy, agronomy, and retail grain units all achieved business growth and recorded earnings above expectations, while the retail supplies group performance was slowed due to a softening ag economy and plenty of weather-related challenges this summer. 

Spradlin commented, “The GROWMARK System is strong, responsible, focused on the success of our customers -- prepared, and positioned for continued success. I believe the founding farmer-members of our great co-operative System would be proud of our progress. We honour their bold, innovative, courageous, and sustainable co-operative structure by working together to stay ahead of the curve.”

More than 800 people attended the annual meeting held at the Hilton Chicago. To read more detail about reported financials, please go to: www.growmark.com/MediaCenter/Pages/2015%20Annual%20Meeting%20Press%20Kit.aspx