Every year in February, students and advisors from across the nation come together to learn about cooperatives from an array of experts. The students are participants in the College Conference on Cooperatives (CCOC) hosted by the National Farmers Union (NFU) Foundation.

In 2011, college students attended the event Feb. 17-20. Sponsored in part by the CHS Foundation and CoBank, participants from Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Montana and Colorado came together for a front-row learning experience. The annual conference features presentations by cooperative leaders from all across the cooperative spectrum, and is beneficial to both beginning students of co-ops and to those with some previous co-op education.

"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 visited CHS headquarters and heard cooperative leaders, farmers, and government experts explain current challenges facing co-ops. Students also toured housing, retail and marketing cooperatives across Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Presenters included members, directors, employees and managers from traditional and value-added agricultural cooperatives, as well as perspectives from electric, housing, worker-owned co-ops. Students also heard from others involved in consumer cooperatives such as credit unions and Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op. Representatives from recently established cooperatives and the Peace Corps provided perspectives on cooperative development in the United States and abroad.

Past participants have said:

"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 post-secondary students, advisers and high school business and agriculture educators. A modest registration fee applies; partial travel sponsorship may be available. Contact your state Farmers Union education director or e-mail NFU Education Director This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .