Events
For relevant news and agricultural forecasts . . . Elburn Cooperative is the place to start.
Elburn Cooperative’s custom online site provides an abundance of pertinent information directly to our community. We’ve gathered input from every member of our team to make ElburnCoop.com your premiere online stop. 
Here at Elburn Cooperative, we’re proud to provide you with leading news sources including UPI and Freese-Notis, as well as what you’re already used to, DTN News.
Freese-Notis is the principal weather forecasting corporation, renowned worldwide for its mid-range and long range weather forecasts. The addition of the Freese-Notis will provide enhanced data to give you the first-hand facts you need to make better decisions.
In addition, ElburnCoop.com is providing more local input from our resident experts in agronomy, feed, and grain marketing. In addition, you’ll see feature news from around the Midwest—articles specifically written for us on topics of interest to northern Illinois farmers.
Our updated custom website is just another way Elburn Cooperative is responding to our customer’s needs. We understand that you work long hours. Often, your first opportunity to ask important questions, and gather useful information, comes late at night or early in the morning. ElburnCoop.com is your resource for everything you need to make good decisions . . . from a look at tomorrow’s weather forecast, to a heads-up about next week’s possible insect infestation.
Elburn Cooperative and NIU Huskies KICK Hunger!
Elburn Cooperative Company’s latest donation to a local food bank occurred at an NIU basketball game held on January 7. Jeff Keifer presented a check for $900 to Steve Ericson of the Northern Illinois Food Bank. These funds were the result of Elburn Cooperative’s pledge to donate $50 for every field goal the Huskie’s football team kicked in the 2011 season. This donation represents Elburn Cooperative’s continued support to help those facing hunger in our local community. Go Huskies!
At right: Jeff Keifer presents a check for $900 to Steve Ericson of the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Elburn Cooperative Receives 2010-2011 Friends of 4H Award
We are happy to announce that Elburn Cooperative Company was selected to receive the 2010-2011 Friend of 4-H Award. Doris Braddock, 4-H Community Worker at the U of I Extension, says, “Although this award is small in nature, we truly appreciate the support that Elburn Cooperative gives to the Kane County 4-H Program. We are more than happy to publicly recognize their contributions in front of our 4-H volunteers.”
Elburn Cooperative was presented this award at the annual 4-H Volunteer Dinner on Thursday, December 1, at the Kane County Fairgrounds. Ron Alms, Senior Agronomist, accepted the award on behalf of Elburn Cooperative. “We have always believed in the importance of giving back to the community through volunteer efforts. We are honored by this recognition, and we support the work 4-H is doing here in Kane County.”
On behalf of Elburn Cooperative, Ron Alms receives the 2010-2011 Friend of 4-H Award from Doris Braddock. This award recognizes local companies who show a strong commitment to the community by supporting local 4-H programs.
Elburn Cooperative Helps Feed the Hungry Through Kane County Farm Bureau’s Harvest for ALL Program
Through Kane County Farm Bureau and a program called Harvest for ALL, local farmers provide proceeds from crops to help local food banks. Harvest for ALL helps restock local food pantries, promotes goodwill for the agriculture industry, and reminds the public where all food originates. It's another way for family farmers to fight hunger in Illinois.
Since the program started in 2009, Elburn Cooperative has donated more than $7,000 to Harvest for ALL. According to Elburn Cooperative Company general manger John Husk, it’s important to give back to the community not just at Thanksgiving, but the whole year through. “Hunger is a real problem for so many people right here in Kane County, and throughout Illinois,” says Husk. “As a company working directly in agriculture and with the farmers who are helping to feed the world, we feel it’s very important to give back to our own community in this way.”
The Land O’ Lakes Foundation has also been generous in matching Elburn Cooperative’s gifts to local food pantries. Ron Alms, Elburn Cooperative Senior Agronomist, says “Being part of the Harvest For ALL program helps promote farming. It also helps make people aware of where their food comes from, how it’s grown, and what exactly goes into that item they’re picking up at the grocery store. It doesn’t just come off the shelf.”
Elburn Cooperative employees also like to put some fun into giving back to the community. At the annual Elburn Cooperative Golf Outing at Hughes Creek Golf Club in September, Ann Bindseil and Christy Laczynski set up a “land it on the green” game at the 17th hole to help raise funds for hunger. Ann added, “The “land it on the green” game was a fun way to get people involved, and most of the winners donated their winnings back to the cause.”
Gene Feldott, Kane County Farm Bureau member adds, “People have asked “how do you give (field) corn to people for food? We don’t give them the corn directly; we give the proceeds from the corn per acre to the food pantry itself.” Cash proceeds from harvested crops add up: according to Steve Arnold, Manager of the Kane County Farm Bureau, Harvest for ALL is part of a nationwide program that has raised over $273,000 and 18 million pounds of food for the hungry in the last year alone.
You can learn more about how Kane County Farmers Fight Hunger at this
Kane County Farm Bureau video: Click to view on YouTube.com
Kane County Farm Bureau received a 2011 Summit Award from the Center for Association Leadership for its hunger relief efforts. Farmers, ag businesses and individual members have donated over $50,000 in crop proceeds, cash and in-kind donations since the program started in 2009.
You can view the video about the Kane County Farm Bureau’s 2011 Summit Award here: Click to view on YouTube.com
For more information on the Elburn Cooperative’s commitment to Harvest for ALL, please download the attached Kane County Farm Bureau newsletters, or visit http://www.kanecfb.com
April 1, 2011
Elburn Cooperative Company And Stover Brothers Trucking Keep It In The Family
Elburn, Il. – When executives at Elburn Cooperative Company learned that Stover Brothers Trucking was selling their 65-year-old family business, they jumped at the chance to officially welcome the Stovers into the family.
The drivers for Stover Brothers have always been a key part of Elburn Cooperative’s trucking operation. When the Stover family decided that it was time to sell the business, it was really an easy decision for the Elburn Management to buy the equipment and bring the drivers formally into the company.
Stover Brothers has a long history with Elburn Cooperative Company, having been their primary hauler of grain and fertilizer for more than 40 years. Duane “Dink” Stover and his brother, Eugene, started Stover Brothers Trucking in 1946 with only a semi and a straight truck. Since then, the company has grown into a full-fledged operation with 13 trucks and drivers.
But it was that rapid growth and the constantly changing marketplace that led the Stover family to consider selling the company. “Everything has a life cycle,” says president and Duane’s youngest, Roger Stover. “We knew we didn’t have another generation to keep the business going, and we wanted to make sure we could continue to take care of our loyal customers and our drivers.”
The Stover family could not be more pleased with the end result. “It is a perfect fit for us,” commented Rick Stover, Roger’s brother and one of the drivers. “We’ve grown with Elburn Cooperative, and our guys are who the farmers see as the face of their company.”
Elburn Cooperative customers will be pleased to hear that they will still get the same service with the change of ownership—right down to the drivers they are used to seeing week after week. The only difference will be the name on the side of the truck.
“Trucks are trucks, but employees make the company,” Elburn Cooperative Company General Manager, John Husk says. “Our customers have come to rely on Stover Brothers, so it was natural for us to purchase their assets and take on their drivers as our employees.”
It is that commitment to customers and employees that put the Stover family at ease. “I think my husband would be proud to see what his business turned out to be,” says matriarch, Joanne Stover.
Elburn Cooperative Company is a premier agriculture-based company with an 88-year history of providing dedicated grain merchandising, agronomy, feed, trucking, logistics and retail services. A staff of professionals delivers innovative services and quality products that help customers across the Midwest and around the world succeed.
DAILY GRAIN COMMENTS
01/20/09 - Elburn Cooperative is pleased to announce our new grain marketing comments blog dedicated to providing you with insightful marketing advice. Each day of the week one of our merchandisers will share their thoughts on the market. Visit us at http://elburncoop.blogspot.com .
Producers to Benefit from Partnership
When Elburn Cooperative Company’s management team orchestrated the Morris River Terminal purchase in 2006, general manager, John Husk knew that only good things could come from it; for the Elburn Cooperative Company and its producers. “It is important for a company like ours to be involved farther into the grain merchandising pipeline,” says Husk. “By doing so, we can provide much more value to our customers and pay them more for their grain production.”
The Morris acquisition was one part of Husk’s strategy that would not only provide access to a burgeoning market, but also make it possible for the company to have its own river terminal, eliminating a third party for loading and shipping grain. The second part of the management team’s strategy was to find a partner that would move the grain into the export market. Elburn Cooperative Company found that partner in CHS, Inc.
A Fortune 100 company and global leader in moving, processing and marketing the highest quality grains and grain-based products, CHS had predominantly been focused on working with cooperatives in the western corn belt. However, with the increased demand for domestic ethanol production, CHS has come to rely more and more on cooperatives in the eastern corn belt to satisfy grain demand in the export market.
As Husk points out, the relationship is mutually beneficial, “We have a destination that is reliable and CHS needs grain that they can ship to their export customers.” CHS President and CEO, John D. Johnson, agrees, “I always have a philosophy when you’re in a business relationship: you have to get up in the morning, put yourself in your partner's shoes, and say ‘is this a good deal?’ And if you can say yes to that, you've got a partnership that's going to last a long time. That's exactly what we have with Elburn Cooperative.”
In June, the management team of CHS, Inc. visited the Morris River Terminal for a tour of the facility and to discuss their partnership with Elburn Cooperative. The meeting proved to be successful and marked the beginning of what promises to be a very long and profitable relationship for all parties, most especially, the farmers who produce the grain.
Steward Employee Nick Hankes Inducted In Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame
Steward employee Nick Hankes was recently inducted into the Illinois 4-H Foundation's Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes extraordinary 4- H alumni, volunteers, and former staff. Nick, a 35-year volunteer and longtime supporter of 4-H, is currently chair of the county Extension Council, a 4-H Foundation member, a Blue Ribbon Sale Committee member, president of the 4-H Fair Committee, and a fair superintendent.
For more information, please visit: http://Illinois.edu