Centerra Co-op: A Brief History

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.

Centerra Co-Op’s Equine Nutrition Expert, Kathi Green, poses with two horses during the Spur for the Cure Benefit Trail Ride.

photo by Debbie Petcher

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.

In 2017, Western Reserve Farm Cooperative and Town and Country Co-Op joined forces, and became Centerra Co-Op.

Since then, Centerra Co Op has added grain storage at the Mansfield and Andover locations, as well as a new robotic bagging system in Andover for the packaging of bagged fertilizer. Centerra’s Propane service has also expanded to northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Fueling sites have been updated with new pumps that can accept all major credit and debit cards as well as the Co-Op’s own fuel cards. Centerra partners with companies such as Purina, Corteva, and Scotts to provide the best products and services to its members and customers. These partnerships also allow for training opportunities that give Centerra’s team members 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 Crown. In addition, Centerra Country Stores carry the Co-Op’s own brands, such as Centerra’s Nature’s Blend, and their Sommer’s Wild Bird Feed. Centerra also stocks Purina Impact Horse Feed, a line sold exclusively by core Purina Dealers. Speaking of horses, Centerra has a wide selection of equine supplies, including nutritional supplements, grooming tools, and show gear. In addition, several of the stores have convenient drive-throughs, where sales associates can load your feed, bedding, or fertilizer directly into your vehicle.

Kathi Green, the Co-Op’s Equine Nutrition Expert, believes that “working together with Purina, Buckeye, and Triple Crown allows us to offer quality nutrition products. I am thrilled to help provide the best 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).