Expansion in the Belgrade location with an addition to the fertilizer plant. Now with an overall capacity of 8,400 ton.
Updated bulk soybean and seed storage is built. Co-op update: 26 full-time employees with the addition of 33 part-time, seasonal employees. Current sales are $33 million.
New bulk chemical building is added in Belgrade. Updated and increased bulk chemical building holds 55,000 gallons of liquid.
Melrose Ag Center is acquired. Growth and expansion continues with the purchase of the Melrose Ag Center, including their patrons and employees.
New seed storage shed is constructed in Belgrade. Machine warehouse and seed storage shed are built.
New headquarters is completed. Main offices are moved to the industrial park in Belgrade. Space in the convenience store begins to be rented out to Central Minnesota Credit Union.
New fertilizer blending tower is built in Belgrade. Has a capacity of mixing 130 tons of dry fertilizer per hour.
The anhydrous plant is moved from Lowry, MN to Villard, MN.
Expansion in Belgrade. Land is purchased and a 30,000-gallon tank is moved from New Munich, MN. Co-op update: Sales reach $23 million.
CPS Ag Center is acquired in Brooten, MN. Customers and employees are transitioned to the Belgrade location.
Seed warehouse is added.
Cenex in Long Prairie, MN is acquired. 250 customers are served south of Interstate 94 in Saint Martin and Meire Grove, MN. Bulk seed and treatment plant is built.
United Seed Dealers is formed. Seed is sold for the first time through the United Seed Dealers.
Expansion in Belgrade. Railroad land is purchased to move to the current location in the business park on the northeast side of Belgrade.
New convenience store is added. Co-op builds a convenience store in Belgrade (currently named Coop’s Corner) on the intersection of Highways 55 and 71. Offices move from Main Street and fertilizer plant to back of convenience store.
Allen Anderson retires and Jeff Koehler takes over as general manager. Co-op update: Sales increase yet again to $4.8 million.
First bulk chemical storage tank is built, holding 15 tons and 3,000 gallons of liquid.
Expansion into appliances and fertilizer plant is acquired. The Frigidaire line of appliances and display room are added. Fertilizer plant is acquired in the spring. Co-op update: The co-op expands to 12 employees with sales increasing to $2.7 million.
Expansion in Belgrade. Truck shed is built and five acres of land are purchased south of Belgrade for the location of the propane and fuel bulk plant.
Town and Country in Glenwood, MN is acquired. Business and L.P. tanks are purchased. Co-op update: The Belgrade office is enlarged to house the first computer. Employment grows to eight full-time employees and $1 million in sales.
Expansion into propane delivery. The first L.P. customer delivery truck is purchased. The truck makes 75 trips a year to fill up in Glenwood, MN.
Allen Anderson takes the lead as general manager. Co-op update: The co-op has five full-time employees and $356,000 in sales.
The Pure Oil Company is acquired from Pete Thompson.
A warehouse is added. The Quonset adjacent to the gas station and garage is built. The men working on construction are paid $1 per hour.
The Farmer’s Cooperative Oil Association name is changed to the current name today, “Belgrade Cooperative Association”.
Expansion in Belgrade. Three lots are purchased on Main Street in Belgrade, and the cooperative becomes a dealer for the Minnesota Prison, which makes machinery and twine.
New facility’s grand opening takes place in Belgrade.
Central Minnesota Cooperative Oil Company name changes to “Farmer’s Cooperative Oil Association”.
Central Minnesota Cooperative Oil Company is founded on Sept. 11. C.T. Haugen is elected president and Sam Kjeldahl is named as the first manager.
A foundational meeting takes place to organize a cooperative oil company.