The unified Nebraska co-op formed by the merger of Frontier Cooperative in Brainard and Midwest Farmers Cooperative in Elmwood will operate under the Frontier Cooperative name when the merger becomes effective on Sept. 1, the boards of directors of both companies recently announced.
The merger, which was approved by a member vote in late April (GM May 3, p. 1), will create a retail business with approximately 50 grain, agronomy, energy, and feed locations across 14 counties in east-central Nebraska. The unified company’s headquarters will be at 3333 Landmark Circle in Lincoln, Neb. The staff plans to be operating in the new headquarters by Sept. 1.
“The Frontier name is a nod to the company’s heritage but also an expression of its brand and purpose – to always be visionaries, tirelessly looking for new ways to support its farmer-centric communities,” the two co-ops said in a statement.
The unified co-op will be led by current Midwest Farmers CEO Jeremy Wilhelm, with a board made up of 18 directors, nine from each co-op. The merger will result in a new Frontier Cooperative logo, which features an underlined “O” to emphasize “a visual limitless horizon line.” The new brand, which will appear on the company’s trucks, offices, and uniforms, “also gives the word Frontier a distinctive visual treatment and helps set the brand apart from others, similar to its philosophy of giving customers a unique experience that is better than anyone else,” the companies said.
The current Frontier operation is a full-service, member-owned co-op offering grain, agronomy, energy, and feed products and services from 22 locations in eastern Nebraska. The company has 200 full-time and part-time employees. Midwest is also farmer-owned, with grain, agronomy, energy, and feed divisions operating from 28 locations in southeastern Nebraska.