FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2012

Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191
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Tony Jarboe, 202-314-3104
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WASHINGTON (May 4, 2012) – Families, communities, and businesses large and small depend on the spirit of cooperation to succeed. National Farmers Union (NFU) is introducing a special curriculum to highlight 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives.

“Cooperation is at the heart of America, from its largest cities to its smallest towns,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Schools, organizations, and community leaders are invited to use these lessons. The co-op curriculum is available to everyone for free.”

A White House Community Leaders Briefing hosted by the National Cooperative Business Association was held today where NFU Director of Education Maria Miller and others raised awareness of the cooperative business model. Farmers Union members have helped organize hundreds of successful cooperative businesses, some of which are among the Fortune 500 companies.

The curriculum provides six separate lessons each for collegiate and adult students. The lessons are written to introduce how cooperation works to help individuals accomplish as a group what they could not on their own.

To download the curriculum, visit www.nfu.org/education/education-materials. To learn more about ways to use the curriculum, contact Miller at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The curriculum was developed with support from CHS Foundation in cooperation with the NFU Foundation.

National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

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