How Membership & Patronage at Valley Wide Cooperative Work for You
For over 100 years, Valley Wide Cooperative has been a trusted, farmer-owned cooperative. Valley Ag is owned by three cooperative partners. As a cooperative, our members and patrons are also the owners of the company, participating in both governance and profits. This structure ensures that you have a direct stake in the cooperative’s success.
What is a Patron?
Patronage refers to the allocated percentage of annual profits that are returned to patrons and members in the form of stock equity and/or cash. Every consumer who makes purchases at Valley Wide and/or Valley Ag is eligible to apply for patronage, allowing them to benefit from the cooperative’s profitability.
What is a Member?
To become a member, you need to spend a minimum of $7,500 with Valley Ag and/or Valley Wide and be involved in production agriculture. If you don’t meet the membership requirements, you can still apply to be a patron and receive patronage benefits. Members enjoy several benefits, including the ability to serve on the board of directors, vote in board member elections, and cast votes on any Valley Wide mergers or acquisitions. At the end of each fiscal year, after reviewing the audited financials, the board allocates a percentage of profits to patrons and members in the form of patronage, which includes both cash payouts and stock equity.
Our Recent Growth and Success
Over the past 3 years, Valley Ag and Valley Wide Cooperative have made significant strides in several areas. We have paid out approximately $22 million in cash patronage and equity retirements. Additionally, we have reinvested $86.8 million into capital improvements to enhance our operations and better serve our customers. Alongside these investments, we’ve dedicated approximately $1.4 million to support the communities where we operate, further demonstrating our commitment to both growth and social responsibility. Joining Valley Wide and Valley Ag means you’re not only benefiting from quality products and services but also becoming an active participant in the success of our cooperative.
How to Apply
To apply for membership or patronage, visit the Member Hub section on our website and complete the Membership/Patronage Request Form.
