Nebraska Cooperative Council

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October is Cooperative Month

October is National Co-op Month and for 2026 the National Co-op Month Theme is “Built for This Moment”.

Cooperatives were created for moments like these. When markets fail, supply chains are disrupted, economic uncertainty rises, or environmental challenges test the resilience of agriculture, farmer-owned cooperatives provide stability, service, and local leadership.

Unlike investor-driven businesses, cooperatives exist to serve their farmer-owners. Through member equity, democratic governance, and a focus on long-term value rather than short-term return on investment, cooperatives have the ability to weather the cycles of agriculture while continuing to invest in people, infrastructure, and rural communities.

Nebraska’s cooperatives demonstrate this commitment every day by returning patronage to their members, reinvesting in facilities and equipment, creating jobs, and strengthening local economies. In 2025 alone, Nebraska farmer-owned cooperatives returned more than $60 million in cash patronage and equity redemptions, allocated over $67 million in member equity, and reinvested $327 million in facilities and equipment to better serve their farmer-owners. Over 5000 Nebraskan’s are directly employed by farmer owned cooperatives with a state-wide annual payroll of approximately $435 million. Nearly all of this economic benefit inured to the benefit of rural Nebraskans and rural Nebraska communities.

As we celebrate National Cooperative Month, we recognize that cooperatives were not only Built for This Moment, they were built for the future. Their enduring, generational business model helps ensure that family farms remain competitive, rural communities remain vibrant, and the benefits of agricultural success are passed on to the next generation.

Built for This Moment. Built for the Future. Built by Farmers.

Click here for the proclamation signed by Governor Pillen.

College Credits for Cooperative Summer Interns in 2027

The Nebraska Cooperative Council, in conjunction with the University of Nebraska-Kearney, has developed a summer 2027 undergraduate college credit course: The Cooperative Business Model. This course will be offered exclusively to those undergraduates interning at agricultural cooperative members of the Nebraska Cooperative Council.

Linked here is a promotional flyer that contains more detailed course information.

In order to encourage broad participation by your summer interns and by our member cooperatives, the Nebraska Cooperative Council Education Foundation has agreed to provide scholarships to each qualified cooperative summer intern that cover 100% of the tuition and fees for these college credits.