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In October, 1952, according to police a fire bug
burned the main building of the Hudsonville Cooperative in Hudsonville.
The building was a complete loss.
A new elevator, modern in every respect has
replaced the old elevator. It was opened for business the middle of July.
Elevator service provides for handling grain in and out of the building at 1,000
bushels an hour.
Albert Lanning is president, with Alex Klooster, secretary-treasurer, and James
Heuvelhorst, manager.
The cooperative was organized 30 years ago.
It has 1,700 members with branch elevators in Bauer, Jamestown, and Vriesland.
It did $1,600,000 worth of business in 1952.
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Hudsonville Farmer’s Co-Op Elevator Company, 90th Anniversary
(Grand Valley West Advance, July 17, 2007)
When the Co-op was formed on 17 April 1917 with the co-operative promise of
mutual benefit for all members.. Recognition of 90 years in operation will be on
18 July 2007 with special activities.
According to Jim Roskam, the co-op’s chief operating officer, the goal of the
co-op has remained the same.
In 1917 the economy was based on the family farm. The co-op was formed to
help market farm products more efficiently, giving farmers more cash for their
labors. Each year profits were distributed to co-op members, everyone who had
shares in the business.
While the mission today is the same, the marketing of farm products is a
global concern handled by F. C. Stone Company. The product line has diversified.
Once the co-op was the place to buy coal, and have grain milled. Now it is
the source of lawn fertilizer, pest control, pet food, batteries, tires,
gardening supplies, pond chemicals, fuel oil and propane, bird seed and equine
supplies.
We have enjoyed growth by expanding to non-traditional enterprises.
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