Winthrop, MN (April 10, 2025) – The boards of directors of Central Region Cooperative (CRC), Sleepy Eye, MN, and United Farmers Cooperative (UFC), Winthrop, MN, announced today their members have approved the plan of merger of the two companies.
The cooperatives entered a merger study in early February 2025 to identify operational, economic, and strategic benefits of a merger. The vote was submitted to membership on March 14, 2025, and tallied at a special meeting on April 10, 2025. Fafinski Mark & Johnson law firm certified the members of CRC and UFC approved the merger by a supermajority of votes cast.
“Our cooperatives have been discussing benefits of this partnership for some time,” said CRC Board Chair Larry Dean. “We’ve seen great success with the Agronomy Solution Partners (ASP) joint venture and know there are more efficiencies to be gained by working together as one organization. We look forward to building on existing geographical and operational synergies to be well positioned to serve our members now and in the future in a very competitive and rapidly changing agriculture environment.”
“Because we have overlapping territories and common investment needs, the merger will help us protect and efficiently use members’ equity as we make strategic investments for the future—as one cooperative instead of each cooperative making the same investments on the same fixed assets and rolling stock,” said Jeff Manderscheid, UFC Board Chair. “We also see many opportunities for our employees to grow in their careers in the new organization as we strive to deliver the best products and services to our members.”
As the two cooperatives prepare to unite, UFC will also see a leadership change. Mitch Altermatt, who has served as UFC’s CEO for the past six years, will be stepping down to accept the CEO position at Crystal Valley Cooperative. His last day with UFC will be May 2, 2025.
“Mitch has played a pivotal role in positioning UFC for this next chapter,” said Manderscheid. “His leadership through times of change, his focus on operational efficiency, and his commitment to team development have helped shape UFC into the strong, member-focused cooperative it is today. We’re incredibly grateful for his service and wish him the very best as he takes on a new opportunity.”
Mitch remains actively involved in ensuring a smooth transition as UFC and CRC move toward becoming a single organization. The newly merged cooperative will begin operations on September 1, 2025.
About United Farmers Cooperative (UFC)
Headquartered in Winthrop, Minn., UFC provides its member-owners and customers with agronomy products and services, energy and fuel, grain, feed, precision agriculture, parts, shop services, and equipment sales. UFC operates 13 locations across south-central Minnesota with 150 full-time employees.
About Central Region Cooperative (CRC)
Based in Sleepy Eye, Minn., CRC is a full-service, member-owned cooperative with five core business units: agronomy, energy, grain, feed, and BCA products (an ice melt and lawn fertilizer packaging business). CRC operates 12 locations across south-central Minnesota with 170 full-time employees.