By John Johnson
A dozen co-op gins in West Texas and Oklahoma have served their grower-owners for more than 90 years. Some were founded prior to the Capper-Volstead Act that was adopted by the U.S. Congress on February 18, 1922. The Act authorized agricultural producers to form voluntary cooperative associations for the purpose of producing, handling and marketing farm products and provided them with certain exemptions from antitrust laws.
Often referred to as the second step in the cotton supply chain, these 12 co-op gins have provided economic sustainability for their grower-owners for several generations by adding value to the cotton crops they produce while preserving the legacy of family farms. They also stand as a testament to the proven, successful business model of cooperatives. Meanwhile, the gins have provided economic support for their local communities ranging from educational scholarships, support for civic organizations and local volunteer fire departments, to name a few. They also survived the Great Depression that began with the stock market crash of 1929 that lasted 10 years and the choking dust and high winds of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.
PCCA congratulates these co-op gins for their longevity, perseverance and service to their grower-owners.
Farmers Cooperative Exchange – 1917
Burns Flat, Okla.
Manager Dustin Moore
Farmers Co-op Assn. – 1920
Eldorado, Okla.
Manager Rusty Reese
Farmers Co-op Society #1 – 1920
Chillicothe, Tex.
Manager Jimmy Barnett
Farmers Co-op Gin – Grandfield – 1923
Grandfield, Okla.
Manager Jo Ann Rollins
Farmers Co-op Gin – Carnegie – 1925
Carnegie, Okla.
Manager Jeannie Hileman
Farmers Co-op Gin – Childress – 1925
Childress, Tex.
Manager Benny Poe
Farmers Co-op Society #1- Wellington – 1927
Wellington, Tex.
Manager Kim Martindale
Lakeview Farmers Co-op – 1928
Lakeview, Tex.
Manager Dusty Byars
Tri-County Co-op – Dodson – 1928
Dodson, Tex.
Manager Jeff Camp
Midwest Farmers Inc. – 1928
Clinton, Okla.
Manager Rodney Sawatzky
Humphreys Co-op Gin – 1928
Altus, Okla.
Manager Jantz Bain
Western Planters Co-op – 1929
Lone Wolf, Okla.
Manager Kenneth Hahn
