Late last week, member-owners of North Central Farmers Elevator and South Dakota Wheat Growers each voted to approve a merger of the two cooperatives. It was the second attempt at a positive merger vote, after failure two and a half years ago. North Central Farmers Elevator General Manager Mike Nickolas says the key to approval this time was they sought member input prior to the vote.
He says the merger is necessary for the coops to compete with other larger organizations.
Nickolas says they don’t have a new name for the coop yet and will be seeking input from members and employees.
Nickolas will stay on with the new cooperative serving as Grain Division Manager. North Central members voted 911 to 657 to approve the merger. Wheat Grower members voted to approve by a margin of 1,598 to 954.
