Country Pride Cooperative, an independent regional co-op headquartered in Winner, S.D., announced on Jan. 25 that it will merge with CHS Inc., Inver Grove Heights, Minn. Country Pride members voted 92 percent in favor of a resolution to sell the co-op’s assets to CHS, with the deal expected to be finalized on March 1, 2019. Other terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank the Country Pride members for their support of this proposal,” said Cody Jorgensen, chairman of the board for Country Pride. “We are excited about the future and what CHS will bring for our patrons and employees.”
Country Pride operates agronomy, feed, grain, energy, seed, and retail divisions from Nebraska locations at Crofton and Valentine, and from South Dakota locations at Burke, Dallas, Dante, Fairfax, Freeman, Menno, Mission, Wagner, White River, and Winner. The co-op has more than 140 employees, and was created from a merger in 2000 between Freeman Co-op Gas and Oil and Winner’s Farmers Co-op Oil Association.
“CHS has a long history of serving South Dakota farmers and ranchers, much of that history alongside Country Pride as our partner,” said Mike Johnston, Senior Vice President, CHS. “This decision by Country Pride members will help us strengthen our ability to add value for area producers and reinforce our commitment to help our farmer-owners grow and succeed.”