Member

Biographical Info

Premier Cooperative is an agriculture and consumer supply business, dedicated to providing its members/owners with the products and services they desire. As a cooperative, Premier Co-op returns its profits each year to its members based on the amount of business (patronage) each member does with the company. Established in 1893 as Patrons’ Mercantile Cooperative, Black Earth, Premier is recognized as the oldest consumer and farm supply cooperative in the United States. In 2000 Patrons’ changed its name to Premier Cooperative when the Mt Horeb Farmer’s Cooperative merged with Patrons’. In 2004 Quad County Cooperative of Blanchardville joined Premier and in 2007 Lancaster Cooperative Farmers Union merged with Premier. In early 2008, Premier acquired five agronomy locations from the former Agriliance (owned by regional cooperatives Land 0′ Lakes and CHS) agronomy company. In 2011 Consumers Cooperative of Richland County merged with Premier, and in 2013 Heartland Country Cooperative of Westby/Cashton partnered with Premier. In addition to these cooperative partnerships, Premier has acquired other small and large private businesses throughout its many years of operations. Each company that is part of Premier today brought with it a rich history of cooperation in their communities.

Premier operates many different businesses within the cooperative and has locations in 19 communities throughout Wisconsin. Its agronomy and animal nutrition divisions are the largest. The agronomy division has eleven locations featuring highly trained specialists in everything from plant nutrient deficiencies to custom application of plant food and crop protection products. The animal nutrition division provides the highest quality feed products for conventional, organic, and non-GMO producers. In 2009 Premier opened a new conventional feed manufacturing facility in Mineral Point to complement the many convenient bagged feed locations throughout its territory. In 2018 Premier opened a new state-of-the-art feed manufacturing facility in Westby. This facility manufactures organic, non-GMO, and conventional feed. Premier’s team of experienced nutritionists provides customers with the exact diet their livestock need to maximize production and animal health. The production, delivery and administrative teams work together to deliver the feed in a professional and timely manner. The grain division’s four locations offer members a convenient solution to their drying, storage, transportation, and marketing needs. Premier’s retail division consist of four convenience stores, three automated fueling stations, a Do it Best and ACE Hardware, a full-service lumber yard, and two automotive, truck and tire repair centers. The auto and truck centers help keep our trucking transport fleet of over 600 vehicles on the road serving our members. The energy division services farm, businesses and homeowners alike with quality fuels, lubricants, and propane for their equipment and home heating needs. Premier is ranked one of the top 25 propane supply companies in the nation. And finally, the administrative team provides the support functions of each department from payroll and benefits to information technology solutions.

As a member/owner of Premier you may do business with only one of the many departments or locations of the cooperative, but you are part owner of a very diverse business enterprise. We invite you to visit any of our departments, introduce yourself to the employee team, and get to know your business. If you’d like to know more about our history, visit the link to the “100 Year History” book below. The entire staff at Premier is waiting to exceed your expectations in a safe and compliant manner.