October marks cooperative month as businesses highlight community impact

October traditionally marks National Cooperative Month, when member-owned businesses across the United States highlight their contributions to local economies and communities under this year's theme "Cooperatives Build a Better World."

The celebration holds special significance in 2025, which the United Nations has designated as the International Year of Cooperatives, providing an opportunity to envision a cooperative future during challenging economic times.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at least 30,000 cooperatives operate nationwide, contributing more than $700 billion to the economy. These businesses span numerous industries including agriculture, childcare, energy, financial services, food distribution, healthcare, housing and telecommunications.

"Now is the time to lift up the people-centered businesses at the heart of our communities and economies, and trumpet the cooperative business model as an effective option for building an economy that empowers everyone," said one cooperative leader.

Unlike investor-owned businesses focused primarily on shareholder profits, cooperatives are organized, owned and controlled by the people who use their services. This structure prioritizes meeting members' needs through improved services, lower prices or patronage refunds.

Cooperatives operate according to seven principles that guide their business practices: voluntary and open membership; democratic member control; member economic participation; autonomy and independence; education, training and information; cooperation among cooperatives; and concern for community.

The tradition of celebrating Cooperative Month has deep midwestern roots, beginning in 1948 when Minnesota Governor Luther Youngdahl signed the first official proclamation. It became a national observance in 1964 when former Minnesota Governor Orville Freeman, then U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, proclaimed October as national Cooperative Month.

As inflation and supply chain issues challenge businesses, cooperatives provide stability while creating paths to ownership and wealth-building for their members. Their structure allows them to address local needs directly, whether through hunger relief initiatives, community investment, or disaster response.

The economic impact of cooperatives extends beyond their own operations. Many co-ops return profits directly to members through patronage dividends that are then reinvested locally. Others provide matching funds for community donations, multiplying their members' charitable giving.

In Iowa, cooperatives have joined forces for a statewide awareness campaign. Governor Kim Reynolds recently signed a proclamation declaring October as Co-op Month in Iowa, where nearly one in two residents is a cooperative member. The state's 12,000 cooperative employees collectively represent one of Iowa's ten largest employers, and cooperatives generate more than $60 million in annual property taxes.

During October, cooperatives nationwide invite community members to learn more about how the cooperative model continues to build stronger local communities by putting people ahead of profits while delivering economic advantages to their member-owners.

Individual cooperatives are marking the month with various initiatives:

• Land O'Lakes has donated over 7.6 million pounds of food products to food banks across the country through its First Run program, focusing primarily on macaroni and cheese donations to communities where members and employees live.

• Land O'Lakes Foundation offered three dollar-for-dollar match programs that provided over 800 grants worth $3.4 million in 2024 to support member-selected causes in hunger relief and community vitality.

• CHS, the nation's largest farmer-owned cooperative, reports it will have returned nearly $2.6 billion to owners over a five-year period when cash returns are completed in 2026.

• Key Cooperative is celebrating with a social media campaign highlighting their role as an essential business partner providing agronomy, energy, feed and grain services to members.