Co-op merger ballots, governance documents mailed out

Wheat Growers and North Central Farmers Elevator cooperative members have or will soon have ballots with which to vote on the proposed merger of the two agricultural co-ops.

The ballots were mailed out on May 27, said Steven Briggs, senior vice president of agronomy and corporate marketing for Wheat Growers.

Governance documents were also sent out to cooperative members. They contain legal paperwork that would pertain to the joint co-op, to be called CentraGro, should it be approved by a majority of both Wheat Growers and North Central members.

A series of informational meetings for Wheat Growers and North Central members begins Monday. Meetings are slated for Tuesday in Aberdeen, Ipswich and Warner. Wednesday meetings are scheduled for Mellette and Redfield. There will be meetings Thursday in Bowdle and Faulkton. In all, there will be 17 member meetings, according to information mailed to members.

Ballots are due by 5 p.m. June 17. Votes can also be cast by Wheat Growers members at a special meeting at 1 p.m. June 18 at the Dakota Event Center in Aberdeen. A special meeting for North Central members will follow an hour later.

Wheat Growers, based in Aberdeen, was founded in 1923. It has and 5,400 members and 39 locations. North Central, headquatered in Ipswich, has 21 locations and about 2,500 members. It was founded in 1915.

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