Member Owned: Fundamentals of the Cooperative Model

3535 Forest Road,Lansing MI 48910

22 February, 2023

Description

Continental Breakfast/Registration - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Program begins at 9:00 a.m. Cooperatives are member-owned, member-driven businesses and with almost 2 million members nationally and gross business volume over $200 billion annually, they play a key role in agricultural supply chains. Learn about the co-op business model and principles, current trends in agricultural cooperatives, and the roles of co-op member-owners and leaders in this interactive training by the CFAES Center for Cooperatives at The Ohio State University on behalf of the Mid America Cooperative Council (MACC). Topics Include: • What is an agricultural cooperative (“co-op”)? • Overview and history of agricultural co-ops • Cooperative Principles • Comparison to other structures (LLCs, Corporations, Partnerships, Sole Proprietorships) • Advantages and limitations of Co-ops • Why does agriculture use the co-op structure? • What does it mean to own or be a member of a co-op? • Role of co-op directors, management, and employees • Governance of cooperatives Following the core training, Todd Hoppe (General Counsel for Michigan Sugar Company and Michigan Milk Producers Association/Partner, Foster Swift Law Firm) will present on the legal rights of Co-op members. HOSTED BY: Michigan Milk Producers Association Greenstone Farm Credit Services Michigan Farm Bureau Foster Swift Law Firm Farm Bureau Insurance Company Michigan Pork Producers Association