Frontier Coop Board of Directors
Greg Sabata (Chairman), Gale Janak (Vice-Chairman), Kevin Hendrichson (Secretary) Steve Barlean, Tim Birkel, Terry Chmelka, Greg Fiala, Mark Stara, Jim Woita, Jerry Paczosa

The History of Frontier Cooperative Company

Start of business

February 18, 1915, a meeting of 34 local farmers was called for the purpose of organizing the Farmers Elevator Company. Shares of stock at $100.00 per share were subscribed for at this meeting.

The stockholders elected the following Board of Directors: F. C. Semin, (President of the Board) Anton J. Bruner (Secretary-Treasurer) John Chmelka, John Jakub, John Lanspa, William Witzel, Jr., and Raymond M. Rerucha.

A special board meeting decided not to purchase any of the 2 existing elevators in Brainard, but to build a new 33,944 bushels facility at the cost of $9,000.00 along with coal bins at the cost of $500.00.

The contractor for this building project was G. H. Birchard.

Purpose or goals

The first articles of incorporation provided the company to buy and sell grain, livestock, lumber, coal, lime and similar articles.

The December 20, 1999 revised articles of incorporation provide the company to buy, sell, handle, ship, manufacture, process, grade, market, store and warehouse agricultural products, equipment, and supplies used or consumed in the production of agricultural products and to carry on any related activity or business and to act as agent, broker, or representative for its stockholders and patrons.

The Frontier Cooperative Mission Statement: To be a customer oriented, progressive, profitable Cooperative, providing knowledge and service to help producers and communities prosper.

Managers and long time employees:

The first manager was Charles Moriarty. William A. Malovec replaced Charles Moriarty who resigned after being manager for only 2 months. William A. Malovec salary of $90.00 per month was agreed on at the October 9, 1915 meeting.

In 1969 Gene Stara become manager of Frontier Coop. Gene remained general manager until his retirement in 1996. The present General Manager of Frontier Cooperative Company is Randy Robeson. He became manager in February 1996.

In the late 1960’s Farmers Cooperative had approximately 5 full time employees and 1 part time employee. In 2008 Frontier Cooperative Company had 93 full time and 8 part time employees.

The Brainard location of Frontier Cooperative Company has several employees that have been employed 20 years or longer. They are Irene Kozisek 1976 (employed with Farmers Union Coop Oil Association at time of purchase), Marlene Kudlacek 1987, Kevin Havlovic 1985, Gary Holeka 1981, Joyce Novak 1974, Jeanette Heins 1985, John Riha 1988, Marty Helman 1986, Thomas Jelinek 1983,and Edward Sabata 1983. Employees that have been with the Coop system for 20 years or more from other locations are Corky Charles (Mead) 1976, Melvin Bomar (Bellwood) 1981, Kim Emmons (Fremont) 1987, Eugene Gembica (Silver Creek) 1985, and Randy Stewart (Silver Creek) 1978. 

The current Board of Directors consists of 9 members and 1 associate director. They are Greg Sabata, President; Gale Janak Vice President; Kevin Hedrichson, Secretary – Treasurer; Tim Birkel, Terry Chmelka, Steve Barlean, Greg Fiala, Jim Woita, Mark Stara, and Jerry Paczosa (Associate Director).   

Building and expansions:

From 1915 until 1969 the Coop was known as Farmers Cooperative Co and had one location in Brainard. In January of 1969 the Dwight Farmers Coop merged with Brainard. In 1976 Farmers Cooperative purchased Farmers Union Coop Oil Association of Brainard. The new concrete elevator was built in 1977 and the 2 annexes to the elevator in 1980. The original wood elevator that was built in in 1915 was removed in 1998. In 1984 the David City Elevator facilities were leased by Farmers Cooperative and then purchased in 1985. During 1990 Farmers Cooperative Co purchased Scoular of Weston and merged with Farmers Union Coop of Mead. After the merger with Farmers Union Coop the company’s name changed to Frontier Cooperative Company. Frontier Cooperative Company merged with the Bellwood Coop in September of 1997, with the Ceresco Coop in March of 1998 and in January 1999 purchased Wagner Mills in Schuyler. On May 10, 2002 Frontier Cooperative purchased locations in Fremont, North Bend and Silver Creek from the Peavey Grain Company. Frontier Cooperative has 13 locations with the main office being located in Brainard, NE.

The total storage capacity of all locations is as follows: Grain – 32,900,000 bushels, propane – 131,000 gallons, gas and fuels – 306,000 gallons, anhydrous ammonia – 1,950 ton, dry fertilizer – 3,250 ton, liquid fertilizer - 22,000 ton and chemical – 30,000 gallon.

Contributions made to area:

A sampling of the growth of Frontier Cooperative is as follows:

	1983	1987	1990	2000	2005	2006	2007
Sales	$11,200,000	$21,600,000	$53,400,000	$75,200,000	$179,270,965	$168,495,164	$245,075,663
Assets	$4,750,000	$10,600,000	$18,850,000	$46,300,000	$58,406,077	$112,702,503	$144,167,951
Payroll	$233,000	$653,000	$1,200,000	$2,798,000	$5,066,659	$5,196,799	$5,629,768
Property Tax	$34,830	$118,284	$138,795	$235,440	$320,366	$332,439	$348,950
Members Equity	$2,380,000	$3,711,000	$6,464,000	$13,847,000	$16,257,305	$17,684,453	$20,242,188
Bushels Sold	2,358,000	7,460,000	15,589,000	24,300,000	56,767,025	50,096,604	50,862,950

The percentage of dividend pay out has risen from 20% to 50% since 1983.

Technology

Frontier Cooperative began using a computerized accounting system in the early 1990s. Frontier Cooperative Company has it’s own microwave telephone system, this system helps link local telephone lines in 7 of the 9 locations. This same microwave system also networks Frontier’s computer system. Throughout the Frontier Cooperative Company there are approximately 80 computers and 57 telephone lines. Frontier Cooperative hosts many of DTN dishes on it’s elevators.