Chapter 32
-- Compiled by the Cumberland Women's Club
and Published by the Cumberland Advocate
1874-1974
(used by permission of the Cumberland Advocate)
Donated by Linda Mott
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Cumberland Farmer's Union Co-op
The Cumberland
Farmer's Union Cooperative began operating as a business on May 13, 1931.
It was established as a result of the desperate economic need and condition
of farmers in that period of history. The organizers were members of the
Farmer's Educational and Cooperative Union of America. These farm families
had formed groups called Locals in nearly every
Township
of the counties in the Cumberland area namely Barron, Polk, Burnett and
Washburn.
In order to obtain funds with which to acquire facilities, stock and equipment, leaders of these Locals traveled about their townships at their own expense selling and taking pledges for shares of stock at $25.00 per share. It was necessary because of the poverty of most of the farmers to accept a payment of one third of the cost and taking a note for the balance due on the shares. When 150 families had purchased or pledged to purchase stock, a meeting was held at the former ZimZim theater in Cumberland on the 3rd day of February, 1931, to decide whether to proceed with the business venture.
The meeting
began at 1:00 P.M. and by 5:00 P.M., a committee consisting of the presidents
of various Locals had been appointed to serve as organizers of the Co-op.
They were E.E. Nystrom,
Cumberland; R.F. Heinecke,
Maple Plain; C.H. Odden,
Roosevelt; Harvey Good,
Lorraine; Allan Peterson,
McKinley; August Peterson,
Barronett, Washburn County; Harry Levings,
Crystal
Lake; P.L.H. Peterson,
Johnstown; and William Straw,
Lakeland who represented Roy Miller
president of that Local.
At 5:00 P.M. the 3rd day of February it was getting dusk and these farmers had many miles to travel to their homes over snow covered roads via horse drawn sleighs, so they set a meeting date of February 9th at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon and the meeting place was the basement of the Cumberland Public Library.
Accordingly, on February 9, 1931, the committee met at the Library and Roy A. Miller of the Lakeland Local was present and also Frank Calvin of the Wisconsin Farmer's Union who gave advice on the procedures necessary to organize a Co-op.
Then
on April 27, 1931 the first stockholders meeting was held to formally elect
Directors and approve the affiliation of the Cumberland Farmer's Union
Co-op with the Farmer's Union Central Exchange of St. Paul which was to
be the wholesale supplier of the Farmer's Union Co-ops being organized
in Wisconsin, Minnesota and North and South Dakota. The funds on
hand
from the sale of stock was $1440.00.
The first official Board of Directors were K.F. Heinecke, Elmer Nystrom, E.H. Augst, C.H. Odden, E.C. Baer, Harvey Good, Sever Johnson and Harry Levings. Mr. Heinecke was chosen the first president and Harry Levings secretary of the Board.
Property at the present location of the Co-op was first leased from the railroad and then some years later purchased.
Feed mills were also purchased at Barronett, 1949, and Comstock in 1958.
Through the Depression years of the 30s when farms were being foreclosed, there were many Bank failures, and the drought years when farm product prices were disastrous the Co-op kept alive and grew because of its faithful patrons and dedicated officers and employees.
Considering the small beginning and the difficulties and problems which faced the Co-op thru its early years and which were overcome and viewing the present size and volume of business, it can only be described as a miracle.
There
have not been many changes of Directors over the years. In addition to
the original directors, others have been W.C.
Helbig, Tom Odell,
Harold
Osmer,
Ole Odden,
Milton
Odden,
Harry
Farr, Scott Ely,
Grover
Jacobson,
B.J.
Holmbeck,
Abner
Odden,
Robert
Bodin,
Paul Pett,
Jr.,
Lester Odden,
John
L. Peterson,
Ernest
Lauritsen and
Marvin
Paulson. The last
five
named are the present directors.
Those who served as Presidents of the Board, K.F. Heinecke, E.E. Nystrom, B.J. Holmbeck, Paul Pett, Jr. Those serving as secretaries were Harry Levings, R.A. Miller, W.C. Helbig, K.F. Heinecke, Robert Bodin and Lester Odden. Managers have been Claude Dague, Francis Lewis, L.C. Kirk, Valmer Barrows, Harold Osmer, Marion Woods and Barney Mortensen.
The volume of sales the first year was less than $10,000.00. In 1973 the total was $1,448,553.22.
The first mill was a Sears Roebuck hammer mill run by a used Buick 4 cylinder motor and it was jokingly said that one man was kept busy carrying water for the radiator. Now there are two grinders, four mixers, one roller mill and one hammer mill run by 125 and 250 horsepower motors. There are also huge storage tanks and bins.
The first products sold were gasoline, kerosene, oils and some mill feeds and flour. Now, many petroleum products, propane gas, a variety of bulk and bagged feeds, seeds, hardware tools, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, veterinary supplies, bulk and bagged fertilizers, and tires.
The Co-op
has given employment to many people and added to the prosperity of the
area. Many thousands of dollars have been paid in local and municipal taxes.
It has saved money not only for its patrons, but for everyone in the area
by its presence as a competitive force to keep prices and costs of services
at a fair level. Over the years it has returned $259,906.59 as
patronage
refunds to stockholders and patrons. The Co-op is owned by the people it
serves.
The first
facilities were a 30 x 50 foot shed to house office, mill and warehouse,
a second hand simple gas pump and a primitive tank on a small used truck.
These were managed and operated by untrained men starting a new enterprise
with little financial means but with much faith, zeal, energy and determination.
It is a monument to people, people who have proven they can work together
and cooperate for their own good.
Thanks for stopping by!
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