Milestones are occasions for reflecting on the past and looking to the lessons learned to guide the future. In 2005, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative celebrate its 60 th anniversary, a record of unparalleled service to the state’s farmers and rural communities that proves the concept of cooperation is still timeless today.

When our cooperative was officially chartered in 1945, a whole new era in Tennessee agriculture began. TFC redefined the farm supply in this state by giving farmers cooperative control over a reliable and identifiable source of products they need.

“Timeless” describes a proud history of Co-op growth, innovation, and progress, toward our current positions as one of the strongest federated cooperative systems in the nation. It also reflects the enduring values of self-help and cooperation that have remained the same even as the Co-op have evolved to meet the needs of three and even four generations of farmers.

Long after many other businesses have come and gone, Co-op remains in the community to serve as a dependable supply of quality products for farmers and homeowners. It’s been that way since the beginning, and it will stay that way in the future. Co-op stores, services, and product mix will continue to adapt to the changing world around us, but the same founding principles of cooperation will stay intact.

Through the statewide Co-op system, individual farmers and their communities enjoy advantages such as greater purchasing power, an extensive distribution framework, and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. For 60 years, the Co-op system has helped farmers help themselves. That was – and still is – our cooperative charge, and that timeless belief continues to guide our actions and our attitudes. We’re proud to reflect on the past, but we’re looking toward tomorrow with confidence.