Illinois Essay Contest Winner Named
Emily Bloemer of Bloomington, Ill., has been named the Illinois state winner of the 2012 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members.
"FS Still There"
On February 29, 2012, a tornado struck Harrisburg, Illinois. The Southern FS facility was directly in the path of the storm.
Wisconsin Essay Contest Winner Named
Alex Sievert of Bonduel, Wis., was named the Wisconsin state winner of the 2012 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members.
Sharing the Holiday Spirit
At Christmas, the staff at GROWMARK FS in Milford, Del., took holiday giving to a new level.
GROWMARK participates in IL Farm Bureau Youth Conference
Cassie Becker of GROWMARK presents about Ag careers to a group of Illinois FFA members at the Illinois Farm Bureau & Affiliates Youth Conference.
Iowa Essay Contest Winner Named
Jenna Schade of Walker, Iowa, was named the Iowa state winner of the 2012 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members.
Complete Certification
Topflight Grain Cooperative, Inc., is the latest grain cooperative to achieve 100 percent board certification.
GROWMARK System named sixth on list of propane retailers
The GROWMARK System was recently named number six on LP Gas Magazine’s list of the top 50 LP-gas retailers in the United States.
A Better Way
Raymond Buerk, Christian County Farmers Supply Co., helped create a better way to complete a difficult but necessary job.
Get Cooking with GROWMARK!
Submissions for a GROWMARK System cookbook are being accepted until April 15, 2012.
GROWMARK Announces Dieselex Gold Reformulation
New engine technology and emissions requirements led GROWMARK to look at ways to improve its flagship diesel fuel.
A Living Legacy
A desire to preserve history while allowing for future growth led to the development of the Our History website.
Teaching Tomorrow's Leaders
GROWMARK’s Ontario region office in Kitchener recently welcomed 30 new Advanced Agriculture Leadership Program (AALP) students.
GROWMARK Employees Recognized by NAMA
Fifteen GROWMARK employees were recognized at the Region IV Best of NAMA awards ceremony.
Filling Up at FAST STOP
Visitors to the FAST STOP Travel Center in Vandalia, Ill., can now get their fill of more than just gasoline or diesel fuel.
Hitting the Jackpot
The Auburn, Ill., FAST STOP recently sold a $250,000-winning Little Lotto ticket.
Harvest for Hope
Friends and neighbors finish harvest for a fellow farmer in Genoa, Ill., whose wife is battling breast cancer.
GROWMARK Launches New History Website
In honor of our 85th anniversary in 2012, GROWMARK created a new history website.
New website dedicated to collecting cooperative stories
Stories.coop is a new website dedicated to collecting individual stories of cooperation.
Bigger and Better Bins
Delhi, Ontario, is home to the largest storage capcity grain bin in the province.
2011 GROWMARK Annual Report
The 2011 GROWMARK Annual Report is now online!
Passing the Nozzle
At the end of September, Fuel Salesman Bob Bierman hung up the nozzle on his fuel truck for the last time.
Recovering Hope
Putting the cooperative principle of concern for community into practice, several Iowa FS employees aided in relief efforts in Joplin, Mo.
2012 Essay Contest Theme Announced
The theme for the 2012 GROWMARK Essay Contest is: “Cooperatives in a Global Environment.”
Emergency Education
Heritage FS, Inc., helps train rural first responders the proper way to approach agricultural emergencies.
GROWMARK to join the United Nations in Celebrating the International Year of Cooperatives
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives and GROWMARK is joining in the yearlong celebration.
Keep On Truckin'
The Yorkville Tank and Truck Center custom builds a variety of rolling stock for member cooperatives and other companies.
GROWMARK System in Top Ten on Co-op 100 List
The GROWMARK System of cooperatives, headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., was ranked seventh on the NCB Co-op 100.
Field of Wings
New Century FS, Van Horne, Iowa, is delivering value to their customers with a dedicated airstrip for aerial application.
Leverett Leadership
A commitment to safety and environmental stewardship earned Illini FS’s Leverett, Ill., facility the 2011 Illinois Environmental Respect Award.
GROWMARK Names Scholarship Winners
Thirty-five college students will be able to continue their education with help from the regional agricultural supply cooperative, GROWMARK.
Ericson named GROWMARK Vice President, Grain
Brent Ericson has been named Vice President, Grain, for GROWMARK, effective November 1, 2011.
High-Flying Help
Mike MacCoy, GROWMARK FS accounts payable manager, is a member of the elite Delaware Air Rescue Team.
cropNAtion iPad winners announced
Attendees at the 2011 Farm Progress Show had the opportunity to register for a cropNAtion profile and be eligible to win an iPad 2. And the winners are...
GROWMARK Annual Meeting Photos Available for Download
Visit our album on Flickr to view, download, and print photos from the 2011 GROWMARK Annual Meeting, including photos with The Band Perry. Click Here: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjwcysg5
Helping Hands
GROWMARK employees are able to give back through a volunteer partnership with the Midwest Food Bank in Bloomington, Ill.
Quick Answers to Crop Questions
FS PARTNERS, Kitchener, Ont., provides customers with up-to-date plot information through QR codes.
Grain Cooperatives Earn Ceres Award
Three grain cooperatives were recognized by GROWMARK, Inc. with the Ceres award during the GROWMARK annual meeting in Chicago.
GROWMARK Honors Ag Leader
Wayne Nattress, retired executive director, Iowa FFA Foundation, was honored with the “Friend of GROWMARK” award at the GROWMARK annual meeting in Chicago.
FS Cooperatives Earn Performance Improvement Award
Five FS member cooperatives were recognized by GROWMARK, Inc. for business performance improvement during the GROWMARK annual meeting in Chicago.
GROWMARK Reports Estimated Year-End Financial Results
GROWMARK officials reported unaudited, estimated results for the fiscal year that will end August 31, 2011.
GROWMARK Director Elections Announced
GROWMARK, Inc., Bloomington, Ill., announced the results of director elections, held in conjunction with the regional cooperative’s annual meeting in Chicago.
GROWMARK Annual Meeting: “Value Driven”
More than 1,000 GROWMARK employees, member cooperative directors and staff, and guests will gather for the GROWMARK Annual Meeting on August 25-26, 2011 at the Hilton Chicago. The theme for this year’s meeting is Value Driven.
Agriculture Abroad
A group of GROWMARK board members and staff visited the African nation of Ghana in March.
Seeing for Themselves
Nearly 800 students attended the 18th annual fourth grade farm tour, held at the Kutz family dairy farm near Jefferson, Wis.
On Top of the World
Chad Richey, MID-CO, and his wife, Lynnette, took the journey of a lifetime to the base camp of Mt. Everest.
A New Way to Travel
The North Clay School District in Louisville, Ill., is the first school in Illinois to add a liquid propane-injected bus to their fleet.
Pink is the New Red
This year, several member cooperatives are hoping to bring a new color into focus: pink. Specifically, the shade of pink associated with breast cancer awareness.
GROWMARK Names Summer Interns
In the fifty-second year of the program, 41 college students are exploring career opportunities as GROWMARK summer interns.
Weeding Out Hunger
Conserv FS, Inc., employees and patrons had a hand in “Weeding Out Hunger” throughout their trade territory last winter.
Growing Forward: May 9, 2012
Topics Include: Hours of Service, RailAmerica fees, Illinois tax evasion policies, and NATO summit in Chicago, IL.
Growing Forward: May 1, 2012
Topics Include: Hours of Service, Congressional transportation & infrastructure bill, Iowa non-point source, Wisconsin DNR watch list decision, domestic fuels protection act, and a surface transportation bill.
Growing Forward: April 18, 2012
Topics Include: US Pesticide legislation, Canadian co-operative cuts, CFTC risk management regulations, Environmental Working Group water quality, Illinois General Assembly, and Wisconsin Governor Walker.
Fact Sheet: Environmental Stewardship & Agriculture
Read more about the ways GROWMARK, FS member cooperatives, and the farmers that they serve are striving towards environmental stewardship.
2011 Ontario Priorities
Open to read the GROWMARK System's governmental priorities for Ontario.
Fact Sheet: Hours of Service Exemption
Open this story to read a GROWMARK fact sheet on our priority to retain the Hours of Service Exemption for agriculture.
Fact Sheet: Reaffirm FIFRA
Open this story to read a GROWMARK fact sheet about the importance of reaffirming FIFRA as the rule of precedence in agricultural pesticide applications.
Fact Sheet: Support Capper Volstead Act
Open this story to read a GROWMARK fact sheet about the Capper Volstead Act.
2011 Federal Priorities
GROWMARK's 2011 Federal Legislative Priorities
2011 Illinois Priorities
GROWMARK's 2011 Legislative Priorities for Illinois
2011 Iowa Priorities
GROWMARK's 2011 legislative priorities for Iowa.
2011 Wisconsin Priorities
GROWMARK's 2011 legislative priorities for Wisconsin.
Good Governance is designed to stimulate conversation among leaders in the GROWMARK and FS System.
> Recent blog entries
GROWMARK Blog is the official blog of the GROWMARK System. The blog's vision is to be the go-to place online for information, discussion, and community between members, farmers, and consumers.
> Recent blog entries
GROWMARK Announces New CEO
Chairman of the Board Dan Kelley names Jeff Solberg Chief Executive Officer of GROWMARK, Inc. effective January 1, 2011.
November GROWMARK Gleanings
Matt Hynes, FS Seed sales and marketing manager, discusses seed selection.
June GROWMARK Gleanings
Harry Cooney, GROWMARK senior energy analyst, offers the summer energy market outlook.
October GROWMARK Gleanings
Cory Winstead, AgriVisor Risk Management Specialist, talks about the basics of risk management.
August GROWMARK Gleanings
Kevin Black, insect and plant disease technical manager, discusses the soybean crop.
July GROWMARK Gleanings
Kevin Black, insect and plant disease technical manager, discusses the spotty problems with the 2010 corn crop.
September GROWMARK Gleanings
Randy Holthaus, grain systems marketing manager, discusses grain bin safety and the importance of preparing grain systems for harvest.
2011 Farm Progress Show
Take a virtual tour of the FS exhibit at the 2011 Farm Progress Show!
Ken Baer discusses the ADM GROWMARK partnership
Former GROWMARK CEO Ken Baer discusses the formation of the partnership between ADM and GROWMARK.
Bill Davisson reflects on CF Industries
Former CEO Bill Davisson discusses the public offering of CF Industries.
Norm Jones reflects on the acquistion of UCO
Former GROWMARK CEO Norm Jones discusses the acquisition of United Co-operatives of Ontario.
Mel Sims reflects on the FS Brand
Former GROWMARK Chairman of the Board Mel Sims discusses the creation of the FS Brand.
Moving to Bloomington
Former GROWMARK Chairman Mel Sims discusses the decision to move the GROWMARK headquarters from Chicago to Bloomington in 1961.
Sims discusses the relationship with Illinois Grain
Former GROWMARK Chairman of the Board, Mel Sims, discusses the beginning of the relationship between FS and Illinois Grain.
C. H. Becker and Mel Sims on the formation of CF Industries
Former GROWMARK CEO Chet Becker and Chairman Mel Sims discuss the events that led up to the formation of Central Farmers Fertilizer Company, the predecessor to CF Industries.
Farm Progress Show cooperating farmer enjoys working with FS
David Brix, one of the cooperating farmers for the 2011 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill. talks with Cindy Zimmerman of ZimmComm about working with FS on the agronomic demonstration plots.
FS Green Plan Solutions delivers value
Evergreen FS crop specialist Neil Eimer tells Cindy Zimmerman about the value of FS Green Plan Solutions.
Cory Winstead discusses AgriVisor's role in cropNAtion
Cory Winstead of AgriVisor tell's ZimmComm's Chuck Zimmerman about AgriVisor's role in the new agricultural social platform, cropNAtion
GROWMARK board member finds value in developing tomorrow's leaders
GROWMARK Board member Rick Nelson of Paxton, Ill. is also a Prairie Farmer Master Farmer. He is a part Cultivating Master Farmers, a group that pairs young ag couples with Master Farmers for development and networking.
cropNAtion from a user's perspective
Sean Arians, Illinois Young Leader Chairman, talks to Chuck Zimmerman of ZimmComm about what he sees as the value of cropNAtion
FS at the 2011 Farm Progress Show
Gary Bowen of Evergreen FS tell Chuck Zimmerman with ZimmComm about FS' prominent presence and sponsorship at teh 2011 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill.
Marion Ertmer discusses propane
Marion Ertmer, GROWMARK manager, propane marketing, talked with Meghan Grebner, WMBD/WIRL agribusiness director about propane uses and safety.
GROWMARK Chairman Speaks at McLean County Chamber of Commerce
Dan Kelley, Chairman of the GROWMARK Board of Directors, speaks about business leaders' role in employee training and development.
Grain Bin Rescue Program
Randy Holthaus, GROWMARK grain systems marketing manager, speaks to Consumer Ag Connection about grain bin safety and a rescue training program sponsored by GROWMARK, GSI, and Successful Farming magazine.
Propane Market Outlook
Randy Miller, director of propane operations, discusses the supply, demand, and pricing of propane last year and for the coming season.
Fall Fertilizer Outlook
Joe Kilgus, agronomy area sales manager for Southern Illinois discusses the supply and demand for fall fertilizer application on AgriTalk.
Biodiesel Blender's Credit Impact
Brigette Harlan, GROWMARK renewable fuels product manager, talks about recent developments in legislation regarding renewable fuels and the future of that industry.
Future of Renewable Fuels
Mark Dehner, marketing manager of refined & renewable fuels talks about the outlook for the renewable fuels market in light of the expiration of the blenders' tax credit.