The Importance of Organic Conferences

As a company whose success is so heavily reliant on the success of our producer partners, we really value the next few months because it provides numerous opportunities to visit with our producer partners face to face at Organic Conferences. Although we attend workshops and conferences throughout the year, the next few months are packed with multi-day conferences giving producers the opportunity to learn about best practices, advancements in technology and equipment, and market insights with face to face interactions with the businesses they market with.

It is important for us to sponsor these events to support the betterment of the Organic purpose. Additionally, these conferences offer an opportunity to shake hands with the individuals that form the backbone of our business; the Organic Producer. If we had the resources, we would visit everyone’s farm, but unfortunately that just isn’t achievable. Luckily, these conferences have dedicated tradeshow hours where our producer partners can come by our booth and discuss the topics that are important to them in between the valuable educational sessions they attend. It is our hope that we have the opportunity to not only meet with future partners but be able to visit face to face with the producers we currently purchase our Organic Grain from. We believe that there is tremendous value in discussing the opinions and thoughts on Organic Farming practices as well as the successes and failures that we all share with each crop year.

Whether you have worked with us in the past, currently, or are looking into getting into Organic Farming, we would love the opportunity to visit with you. Below is a list of the Organic Conferences we sponsor and attend this year. Please stop by our booth and say hello.

Minnesota Organic Conference (Sponsor)

Jan 10-11, 2019
St. Cloud, MN

Practical Farmers of Iowa (Sponsor)

Jan 17-19, 2019
Ames, IA

Northern Plains Food and Farming Conference (Sponsor)

Jan 24-26, 2019
Fargo, ND

Moses Organic Farming Conference (Sponsor)

Feb 21-23, 2019
La Crosse, WI

F.W. Cobs Company Opens New Organic Grain Elevator (Stewart, MN)

The Newly Certified Organic Grain Elevator in Stewart, MN

In February 2018, F.W. Cobs Company, Inc. opened the doors of their new Certified Organic location in Stewart, MN. With the purchase of this grain elevator, F.W. Cobs added 500,000 bushels of storage; a rail siding that will accommodate the loading of 20 railcars, and a bin arrangement that will allow handling of Organic Corn, Wheat, Barley, Soybeans, and other small grains. This facility, the largest Organic grain elevator in the area, is Certified Organic by Pro-Cert and will act as a hub for Organics in the region, adding value to Organic Producers and local businesses in the region. F.W. Cobs is very excited about the opportunity to grow its business in Minnesota, a region that has been an integral part in their success already.

F.W. Cobs has operated in the area for years primarily purchasing Organic Corn. Although they have years of developed relationships in the region, the proximity of the elevator, availability to acquire more grains, and greater access to customer distribution will allow F.W. Cobs to work with more producers in the region than previously possible. F.W. Cobs President, Shaun Brooks, commented on this impact, “This acquisition allows F. W. Cobs to drastically increase our grower base in central Minnesota. We value the people and relationships we have in the region and this facility will allow us to better service the growers and our customers”

The company’s philosophy has always been based on producer and customer relationships. One of the most valuable components of this acquisition is accessibility and satisfaction for producers. The Stewart location gives F.W. Cobs the ability to control hours of operation and ensure efficiency for all parties working to deliver their grain to the elevator. President Shaun Brooks also shared his thoughts on this key component, “We wanted a facility that could unload a truck in less than ten minutes, the grower’s time is very important to us and this facility can unload a truck very fast. We wanted a facility that will support seamlessness for all parties involved, with little delays and high satisfaction for those who will partner with us.”

The new location resides on a short line railroad, TCWR, with access to class 1 railroads that provide accessibility to the large majority of F.W. Cobs’ end users. Beyond making outbound logistical coordination easier, U.S. Merchandising Manager Kurt Wetzel commented on how this change in rail accessibility can impact business, “This facility will give us direct access to all Class 1 railroads, reducing our freight cost, and allowing us to have the most competitive bids.”

F.W. Cobs Company Inc. has committed to supporting producers in North America, developing its business by only purchasing in the United States and Canada. The move to purchase the facility in Stewart, MN was an action that strongly supports this philosophy. The company hopes that this new direction will not only prove beneficial for business, but also strengthen the Organic cause in Minnesota and provide a positive impact on the community as a whole. “We are very excited to be a part of the community in Stewart. We look forward to partnering with local producers and building a strong future for the Organic farming industry in Minnesota.” Shaun Brooks, President.

F.W. Cobs Company Blog