Education

Educational Events
College Conference on Cooperatives

2010 CCOC Group

Every year in February, students and advisors from across the nation come together to learn about cooperatives from an array of experts. The students are participants in the College Conference on Cooperatives (CCOC) hosted by the National Farmers Union (NFU) Foundation.

In 2011, college students attended the event Feb. 17-20. Sponsored in part by the CHS Foundation and CoBank, participants from Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Montana and Colorado came together for a front-row learning experience. The annual conference features presentations by cooperative leaders from all across the cooperative spectrum, and is beneficial to both beginning students of co-ops and to those with some previous co-op education.

"Our own history is so closely tied with the cooperative movement," said NFU President Roger Johnson. "Farmers Union has a strong commitment to providing cooperative education not only to our members, but also to the general public, and especially to young people."

CCOC participants visited CHS headquarters and heard cooperative leaders, farmers, and government experts explain current challenges facing co-ops. Students also toured housing, retail and marketing cooperatives across Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Presenters included members, directors, employees and managers from traditional and value-added agricultural cooperatives, as well as perspectives from electric, housing, worker-owned co-ops. Students also heard from others involved in consumer cooperatives such as credit unions and Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op. Representatives from recently established cooperatives and the Peace Corps provided perspectives on cooperative development in the United States and abroad.

Past participants have said:

"The most important thing I learned was how many areas cooperatives are involved in, not just agriculture alone."

"I plan to implement some of these principles in our family operation."

"The most important aspect… was the information I learned about new generation and value-added cooperatives."

Participation in the College Conference on Cooperatives is by invitation to selected schools, but a small number of conference spots are open to other interested post-secondary students, advisers and high school business and agriculture educators. A modest registration fee applies; partial travel sponsorship may be available. Contact your state Farmers Union education director or e-mail NFU Education Director This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 
All-States Leadership Camp

Each summer, National Farmers Union (NFU) members ages 17-20, who have distinguished themselves as leaders, are given the opportunity to attend NFU’s All-States Leadership Camp. Youth come from across the United States to Bailey, Colo., where they spend a week at the NFU Education Center, nestled among the peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

In 2010, these young leaders attended NFU’s 74th All-States Camp July 11-16. Under the theme “Summit of Leadership,” campers explored their personal leadership skills; identified issues important to their generation; and discussed their role in affecting positive change throughout rural America, both individually and through involvement in Farmers Union.

Rulon Gardner, an Olympic gold and bronze-medal wrestler, and Josh Blue, a comedian and National U.S. Paralympics soccer player, who didn’t let cerebral palsy slow his game, were the opening speakers at camp. Other guest speakers included NFU President Roger Johnson, NFU Vice President Claudia Svarstad, NFU Vice President of Government Relations Chandler Goule, NFU Foundation Chair Bill Stevenson, CHS Foundation President William Nelson, and Gary Matteson of the Farm Credit Council.

In addition building leadership skills and other learning opportunities, participants also enjoyed hikes and outdoor games, a camper talent show, dances, a campfire, and outings to an amusement park and musical dinner theatre.

The campers elected six of their own to the 2011 National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC). The NYAC represented Farmers Union youth from around the country at the NFU Legislative Fly-In in Washington, D.C., in September, and at the NFU convention in San Antonio, Texas, in March. The council will help plan and then attend the 2011 NFU All-States Leadership Camp. Members of the 2011 NYAC are Gina Dethlefsen and Patrick Lowin, S.D., Chandler Winkels Muff, Minn., Kale Havelku and Kayla Wagner, N.D., and Darla Rosenbrock, Colo.

Are you interested in attending All-States Leadership Camp? Contact your state Farmers Union for eligibility requirements for future camps. Click here to locate your local Farmers Union.

Click here to view pictures from the 2010 All-States Leadership Camp

See pictures of past All-States Camps

All-States Leadership Camp 75th Anniversary, July 16, 2011, click here.