Organization

New Horizons Supply Cooperative is a customer-owned business. It is a Wisconsin corporation with offices at 770 Lincoln Avenue, Fennimore, WI 53809. The cooperative sells goods and services to both members and non-members. It may also market goods produced by its members. New Horizons was formed in 1990 as the result of a merger of three area cooperatives.

The corporation is organized as a "producer", or farmer, cooperative. Farmers purchasing $1,000 of more of goods and services from the cooperative each year are considered to be members. They select the Board of Directors and vote at the company's annual meeting. Although Hew Horizons is closely affiliated with its primary wholesale supplier, CENEX/Land 0' Lakes does not hold an ownership position in the cooperative.

Everyone may purchase from New Horizons Co-op. There are no membership fees; all customers are eligible to qualify for a share of any profits. Provided that adequate information is supplied to co-op personnel, sales are tracked for each customer for patronage refund purposes. Profits of the cooperative are returned to customers in the form of patronage refunds. Patronage refunds are paid 20% in cash and 80% in equity(stock). Profits from sales to unidentified customers or to customers that have declined to participate in patronage refunds remain in the company as unallocated capital reserve.

Seven farmers serve on the Board of Directors. Directors are selected by district; each director represents an approximately equal number of members. The directors select a President, Vice President, and a Secretary/Treasurer from their ranks. Because the directors are full-time farmers, they do not participate in day-to-day activities of the cooperative. The Board of Directors meet at least monthly to review financial and policy matters. They also meet with the cooperative's auditor and lender as needed.

An annual member meeting is held in January each year for presentation of financial and management reports. District director elections are also ratified. All patrons are encouraged to attend and participate in meeting discussions.

As in other types of businesses, there is a chain of command for personnel. Employees report to a location supervisor or department manager. They in turn, report to the cooperative's General Manager; the General Manager reports to the Board of Directors. The cooperative has approximately 40 full-time employees and 50 part-time employees.

The cooperative has approximately 1,250 farmer members. Nearly 8,000 people hold an equity position in New Horizons Supply Cooperative.