New Horizons Supply Cooperative
Organization
New Horizons Supply Cooperative is a customer-owned business. It is a Wisconsin cooperative with offices at 1775 4th Street, Fennimore, WI 53809. The cooperative sells goods and services in Southwest Wisconsin, Northwest Illinois, and Northeast Iowa. New Horizons was formed in 1990 as the result of a merger of three area cooperatives. The oldest of the three founding cooperatives was formed in 1931.
Anyone may purchase from New Horizons Supply Co-op. There are no membership fees; all customers are eligible for a share of any profits based on purchases. Profits of the cooperative are returned to customers in the form of patronage refunds. Patronage refunds are paid in cash and equity (stock).
As a cooperative, all members have voting rights when electing directors and deciding other matters of the cooperative. The Board of Directors is elected by the members to set the policies of the co-op and hire the Manager to run the co-op.
Cooperative Principles
1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership
Co-operatives are voluntary organizations.
2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control
Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members.
3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative.
Currently, New Horizons has 9 directors. Directors are elected by district; each director represents an approximately equal number of members. New Horizons has three districts with two directors from the northern district, two directors from the southern district, three directors from the central district, and two at large directors. The directors 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. Current Board members are: Randy Heims (Chariman), Muscoda; Bruce Freiderick (Vice Chariman), Lancaster; Paul Johnson (Secretary), Gratiot; Andy Pink, Lancaster; Byron Reeves, Lancaster; Dean Roth, Boscobel; Richard Wiedenbeck, Lancaster, Dale Wills, Belmont; and Peter Winch, Fennimore.
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 115 employees.
An annual member meeting is held each year for presentation of financial and management reports. District director elections are held at this time. All patrons are encouraged to attend and participate in meeting discussions.
The cooperative has approximately 1,200 farmer members. Nearly 10,000 people hold an equity position in New Horizons Supply Cooperative.
For more information about New Horizons organization, please contact our main office. 1-800-321-2128