1. THE POWER OF BEING CONNECTED
(Note: Insert co-op logo/name on this introductory slide. Presenter to show this slide while getting settled and ready to speak.)
An Owner of the CHS® Cooperative System

2. WE’RE STRONGER TOGETHER
Welcome! We thank you for your business and your interest in learning more about your co-op. (Option: Provide some specifics about the co-op, such as territory served, number of employees, and key products and services.)
Today we’re going to talk about how we can be stronger, here in our community, by working together for shared success.
(Option: Play “You never farm alone – 30 second version” video or full 5-minute video. Before showing video, speaker to say: “Here’s a short video about how cooperatives are serving the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s member owners.
For easy viewing, ensure you have internet access, and embed video link in the PP slide.
30-Second version “You Never Farm Alone”
5-Minute version “You Never Farm Alone”
An Owner of the CHS® Cooperative System

3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MEMBER OF A CO-OP?
Agricultural cooperatives were originally formed so farmers could purchase their supplies at a lower cost, obtain a better price for their crops, and share in the profits from those efforts — and that’s still our mission today. Anybody who buys from our cooperative, or uses our marketing services, can be a member and “own” a part of the co-op. As a member, you benefit from the collective bargaining power of many farmers and ranchers.

4. WE WORK FOR YOU
That’s right: we work for you. You own us, and all of our employees are here to serve you. Our team is proud of our long legacy of serving American agriculture, and we have a wide range of ag expertise, from agronomy to grain marketing. (Option: Mention additional or other areas of expertise such as precision agriculture, animal nutrition, energy, etc.) We’re always ready to get to work helping your farm or ranch succeed.

5. YOUR CO-OP HAS A DIFFERENT MISSION THAN OTHER BUSINESSES
A cooperative is fundamentally very different from other private agribusiness companies. Our mission is unique: We’re here to help you – our owners --grow.
Think of it this way: When you work with other agricultural businesses, it’s simply a transaction. You buy a product or service, you get that product or service, and nothing more. When you work with a cooperative, you get your product or service, but you also get a voice in the company, and a share of the profits in the form of patronage.

6. YOUR CO-OP IS BUILT ON THREE PRINCIPLES: FARMER-OWNED
FARMER-CONTROLLED
FARMER BENEFIT
Three principles define the co-op business model: You own it, you control it, and you benefit from it.

7. FARMER-OWNED
Take a look around the room. At the person next to you … at yourself … all of you ARE the co-op. It’s not in some office or boardroom. It’s here. It’s local. It’s this community.

8. BE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER
Our collective power extends far beyond our community, too. That’s because your local co-op is one of about a thousand co-ops that make up the CHS cooperative system – which is a larger, farmer-owned network with global connections. Thanks to hundreds of thousands of individual farmers and ranchers joining together, you’re part of something bigger that gives you even more leverage, more buying power, and more access to markets and resources.

9. FARMER-CONTROLLED
Cooperatives are controlled democratically by the people who use its services. As owners, you have a voice in your co-op. You can attend annual meetings, stay aware of issues that concern your co-op, and give your input to your board to help direct the actions and future of your co-op.

10. YOU HAVE A VOICE IN YOUR CO-OP
Remember, your board answers to you and represents your co-op's best interests. I encourage you to take the time to get to know your board members, if you don’t already know them, and share your opinions with them. (Introduce any board members who are present.)

11. YOU CAN HELP SHAPE THE CO-OP’S FUTURE
Your co-op needs leaders like you. We need your insights, vision and support to help us serve future generations. Have any of you ever considered serving on the board? Being on the board lets you get involved in things like setting your co-op’s mission and vision; hiring a general manager; or voting on decisions regarding major investments and community service priorities. You might also consider serving on committees or volunteering in some other way. Another opportunity is to serve as a voting delegate for your co-op during regional member caucuses at the CHS Annual Meeting. If you’re interested in any of these leadership opportunities, please let us know. They can be very rewarding, and we’d welcome your service.

12. FARMER BENEFIT
As a farmer-owned and farmer controlled cooperative, everything we do is designed to serve the needs of our local farmers and their future generations. We return value back to our owners through patronage and/or equity benefits, which are based on earnings as well as volume. So the more business you do with the co-op, the more return you get. We also make local investments – in facilities, staff and services – to ensure that you have the inputs, expertise and access you need. (Option: Mention recent/major investments your co-op has made.)

13. THE CO-OP SYSTEM INVESTS ON YOUR BEHALF
And how does owning a part of the CHS cooperative system benefit everyone in this room? CHS invests in supply chain logistics, regional and global infrastructure, processing plants, oil refineries and much more on your behalf -- as well as donating money to education and safety programs to help rural America thrive. (Option: Mention any CHS investments of particular value to your co-op and its members.)

14. WORKING TOGETHER FOR A STRONGER COMMUNITY
When you buy from your co-op, the financial benefits come back to this community in a variety of ways. For example, patronage, whether large or small, gets spent locally on things like shoes, dance classes or new farm equipment. And did you know your co-op is a significant employer and member of the local business community? We strengthen our local economy through payroll and property taxes. We support farm safety programs, ag education and other community giving. (Mention number of employees and/or examples of your community support, if desired.) Again, these are all ways that the co-op system helps us grow stronger together.
(Option: Play the “Stronger Together” video, if desired. Before showing video, speaker to say: Here’s a short video about what happens to the money you spend at your local co-op, and how it grows.)
For quick viewing, ensure you have internet access and embed video link in the PP slide.
2-Minute video “We are stronger together as a cooperative”

15. Learn more: VALUEOFTHECO-OP.COM CHSINC.COM/NEW-LEADERS
We encourage you to learn more about the cooperative system as a whole at the two websites shown on the screen. If you see something there that you would like to participate in, please talk to us.

16. STAY CONNECTED LOCALLY:
SHARE IDEAS & OPINIONS OFTEN
CONSIDER BOARD SERVICE
In closing … remember that as your cooperative, we truly believe in the power of being connected. That’s why we encourage you to have regular contact with us, share your opinions, and consider serving on the board in the future.
Thank you for coming. We appreciate the opportunity to work with you and supply the products and services your farm needs to prosper.