Chaseburg Farmers Union Co-op gives thanks to farmers

Celebrating the final day of June Dairy Month and jumping into July’s National Ice Cream Month, Chaseburg Farmers Union Co-op gave thanks to farmers and the community Tuesday with dairy delicious treats.

Firing up the grill, Brad Robson was on sandwich quality control cooking grilled cheeses bought from Vernon County Dairy Youth to help fund their activities. Farmers stopping into town for supplies, families driving through Chaseburg, and kids enjoying summer break all stopped by for a free sandwich, ice cream, and priceless community conversation.

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Chaseburg Farmers Union Co-op General Manager John Mislivecek said they’ve seen some positive activity for farmers. With a beautiful start to spring, fields were easily planted on a timely basis. He acknowledged commodity prices are not ideal, but was optimistic.

“There is still hope coming that we have good yields which will make up for some of that offset on prices,” Mislivecek said.

The co-op stays busy in the small community of Chaseburg. For the most part, the crew works with farmers in a 30-mile radius. Among farmers alone, they serve about 500 patrons, but fuel and LP customers add to their client basis.

“We sell ourselves on service and being locally owned right here in Chaseburg,” Mislivecek said. “We serve the surrounding area, and we do pretty much everything from nuts and bolts all the way through to feed and fertilizer and all that.”

Chaseburg Farmers Union Co-op started in 1947. The goal was to work together to help the farmers and return some of the equity to them throughout the years.

“That’s what the co-op structure is about,” Mislivecek said. “It is serving a local community and then giving back.”

Service has always been crucial, especially for farmers who can’t always leave fieldwork to another day or even another hour. Mislivecek said that is why they try to help in any way possible from custom application of products to feed delivery.

COVID-19 added unique challenges in 2020, but none that they could not overcome.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to stay essential and provide that service,” Mislivecek said. “We knock on wood every day because we are a small co-op, and if something would come along the line where it would affect an employee, it would be a huge factor on how we handle that.”

For those who wish to contact Chaseburg Farmers Union Co-op or stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Chaseburg, the co-op does have a website and Facebook page. Mislivececk encouraged anyone to also call if they have questions or swing by the co-op.  

“We’re a local co-op,” Mislivececk said. “We’re here to serve not only farmers, but we truly do appreciate what the farmers do.”