Photo courtesy of Debbie Petcher
Centerra Co-Op: A Brief History by Dena Cartwright and Jen Warden Farm cooperation has been around forever. From helping deliver a calf or putting up a new barn, to swapping produce for a basket of eggs, farmers have been there for each other. Cooperatives (co-ops) were formally created to continue this mutual aid by improving buying power through joint purchases of supplies, equipment, and services. In the early 1900’s, there were farm cooperatives in nearly every county in Ohio. According to Centerra Co-Op’s CEO, Jean Bratton, Centerra’s history begins in the 1930’s, with Farm Bureaus, Landmark stores, and Farmers’ Equities (similar to a co-op with more focus on grain and feed) in northeast and north central Ohio. As the economy grew and competition increased, co-ops had to unite to continue their mission and remain viable. This merging of co-ops and resources created two main farm co-ops in northeast Ohio: Ashtabula Farm Bureau Cooperative Association and Geauga Landmark, and they eventually joined forces to become the Western Reserve Farm Cooperative in 1990. In 2003, Medina Landmark, AgriMark (Ashland County), Town & Country Co-Op (Lorain County), and Wooster
Equity merged to serve central Ohio - from Lorain County to southern Ashland County - under one name, Town & Country Co-Op. Throughout this time, these cooperatives expanded their service area and offerings to include: • petroleum delivery and fuel islands • propane delivery • retail stores • precision ag products and services (Ag Info Tech), as well as continuing to provide agronomy, feed and grain products and services to their customers.
Centerra Co-Op’s Equine Nutrition Expert, Kathi Green, poses with two horses during the Spur for the Cure Benefit Trail Ride.
a deeper understanding of the products they sell. Nine Centerra Country Stores serve Centerra Co-Op’s retail customers, stocking everything from lawn and garden supplies to national brands of pet and livestock feeds, including Purina, Buckeye, and Triple In 2017, Western Reserve Crown. In addition, Centerra Farm Cooperative and Town and Country Stores carry the Country Co-Op joined forces, Co-Op’s own brands, such as and became Centerra Co-Op. Centerra’s Nature’s Blend, and Since then, Centerra Cotheir Sommer’s Wild Bird Feed. Op has added grain storage at Centerra also stocks Purina the Mansfield and Andover Impact Horse Feed, a line locations, as well as a new robotic sold exclusively by core Purina bagging system in Andover Dealers. Speaking of horses, for the packaging of bagged Centerra has a wide selection fertilizer. Centerra’s Propane of equine supplies, including service has also expanded to nutritional supplements, northeast Ohio and western grooming tools, and show gear. Pennsylvania. Fueling sites In addition, several of the stores have been updated with new have convenient drive-throughs, pumps that can accept all where sales associates can load major credit and debit cards as your feed, bedding, or fertilizer well as the Co-Op’s own fuel directly into your vehicle. cards. Centerra partners with Kathi Green, the Co-Op’s companies such as Purina, Equine Nutrition Expert, Corteva, and Scotts to provide believes that “working together the best products and services with Purina, Buckeye, and to its members and customers. Triple Crown allows us to offer These partnerships also allow quality nutrition products. I am for training opportunities that thrilled to help provide the best give Centerra’s team members information for your horses’
health. Along with my years of experience, I work with PhDs, researchers, and veterinarians to ensure the highest standard of care for your horses.” Centerra is owned by 2,900 ag producers and over 9,000 active customers. The board, made up of local farmers, guides the business of the Co-Op. Roughly 350 employees carry out day-today operations at more than 30 locations. The Co-Op supports cancer research organizations, hosting two annual fundraisers, Fueling the Cure Golf Outing – Aug. 5, 2022, and Spur for the Cure Benefit Horseback Trail Ride – Aug. 27, 2022, which, in past years, have collectively raised nearly $500,000 for this important cause. In addition, Centerra supports The United Way, and also provides sponsorship and educational opportunities for FFA and 4-H members. Farmers still work cooperatively, helping others whenever needed, and Centerra is proud to be a part of this uniquely generous community of people. To learn more about Centerra Co-Op, visit centerracoop.com, follow them on Facebook and check out their YouTube channel. For equine nutrition needs, contact Kathi Green at 440-3219996, or kgreen@centerracoop. com. Source: W.T. Richie, B.S., M.S. “History and Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Ohio,” (Ph.D. dissertation, 1958, The Ohio State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster).
26 OHIO EQUESTRIAN DIRECTORY 2022
