Education

Educational Events
College Conference on Cooperatives

2010 CCOC Group

Every February students attend the Collegiate Conference on Cooperatives. Sponsored in part by the CHS Foundation and CoBank, the event attracts participants from Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Montana and Colorado. The annual conference features presentations by cooperative leaders from all across the spectrum, and it is beneficial to both beginning students and to those with some previous co-op education.

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"Our own history is so closely tied with the cooperative movement," said NFU President Roger Johnson. "Farmers Union has a strong commitment to providing cooperative education not only to our members, but also to the general public, and especially to young people."

CCOC participants visit CHS headquarters and they have heard from cooperative leaders, farmers, and government experts who have outlined the challenges facing co-ops. Students also tour housing, retail and marketing cooperatives across Minneapolis and St. Paul.

More focused presentations have been given by members, directors, employees and managers from traditional and value-added agricultural cooperatives, as well as from electric, housing, and worker-owned co-ops. Students benefitted from listening to others involved in consumer cooperatives such as credit unions and Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op.

Past participants have offered the following comments:

"The most important thing I learned was how many areas cooperatives are involved in, not just agriculture alone."


"I plan to implement some of these principles in our family operation."

"The most important aspect… was the information I learned about new generation and value-added cooperatives."


Participation in the College Conference on Cooperatives is by invitation to selected schools, but a small number of conference spots are open to other interested young adults.   A modest registration fee applies; partial travel sponsorship may be available. For more information contact your state Farmers Union education director or e-mail NFU Education Director Maria Miller.
 
All-States Leadership Camp

Each summer, National Farmers Union (NFU) members ages 17-20, who have distinguished themselves as leaders, are given the opportunity to attend NFU’s All-States Leadership Camp. Youth come from across the United States to Bailey, Colo., where they spend a week at the NFU Education Center, nestled among the peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Campers explored their personal leadership skills; identified issues important to their generation; and discussed their role in affecting positive change throughout rural America, both individually and through involvement in Farmers Union.  

In previous years, speakers have included Rulon Gardner, an Olympic gold and bronze-medal wrestler, and Josh Blue, a comedian and National U.S. Paralympics soccer player, who didn’t let cerebral palsy slow his game, were speakers at the camp. Other guest speakers have included NFU President Roger Johnson, NFU Vice President Claudia Svarstad, NFU Vice President of Government Relations Chandler Goule, CHS Foundation President William Nelson, and Gary Matteson of the Farm Credit.

Farmers Union campers come together at the NFU Education Center to take part in cooperative activities and listen to several inspirational speakers. In addition to building leadership skills and other learning opportunities, participants enjoyed hikes and outdoor games, a camper talent show, dances, a campfire, and outings to an amusement park and musical dinner theatre.

The National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC) is elected each year by their peers during camp. NYAC duties include representing thousands of Farmers Union youth across the country, including working at the annual NFU Convention. These young Farmers Union members also hone their leadership skills at a session in Washington, DC and help plan the next year’s NFU All-States Leadership Camp.

Are you interested in attending All-States Leadership Camp? Contact your state Farmers Union for eligibility requirements for future camps. Click here to locate your local Farmers Union.

2013 NFU All-States Leadership Camp:   June 23 – 28, 2013

Photos and information on previous All-States Leadership camps can be found on NFU's Education Facebook page, as well as the NFU All-States Leadership Camp webpage.