About Centra Sota Cooperative
For more than a century, Centra Sota Cooperative has proudly served the farmers, families, businesses, and communities of Central Minnesota. As a member-owned cooperative, we’re committed to delivering trusted products, expert guidance, and exceptional service while investing in the people and places we call home.
Our Story
The Centra Sota story began all the way back in 1877, when local farmers joined forces to market milk and butter through a grassroots community creamery. By 1922, the Producers Co-op Creamery was officially formed, proudly becoming one of the very first cooperatives to produce the iconic Land O’Lakes Sweet Cream Butter!
What is a Cooperative?
A cooperative is born when a group of people unites to meet a common need.
Unlike standard corporations, a cooperative is entirely owned and controlled by the very customers it serves. At Centra Sota, our members, known as patrons, help shape the future of our organization and share in its success.
The Cooperative Difference
As a patron of Centra Sota, you’re more than a customer, you’re an owner. Membership comes with unique benefits designed to give you a voice in our cooperative and a share in its success.
- A voice in the cooperative through member participation and voting
- Patrons can receive yearly financial payouts (called patronage)
- The opportunity to build equity in the cooperative over time
- Local ownership that keeps decisions rooted in the communities we serve
Because our patrons are at the heart of everything we do, every major decision is guided by the people and communities we serve.
Serving Our Whole Community
While Centra Sota began as an agricultural cooperative for farmers, today we are proud to offer essential products and services to everyone in our community.
Whether you manage hundreds of acres or just a backyard garden, we are here for you:
Agronomy
Expert guidance to help local farmers select the best products, technology, and services for a successful harvest.
Energy
Reliable propane, fuel, and lubricants to keep homes comfortable, farms operating, and businesses moving forward.
Feed & Grain
High-quality nutrition tailored for everything from small backyard poultry flocks to hundreds of head of cattle.
Country Stores
Your local hubs where friendly, knowledgeable experts help you find the right pet food, lawn and garden supplies, and unique retail items.
Lawn Care
Professional services to keep your residential or business turf healthy and beautiful, while proudly giving back to the local community.
Mission, Vision & Values
Mission
To be a people-focused cooperative offering honest and helpful information, innovative products, and exceptional service from a reliable team of experts who care.
Vision
To improve lives and create a more vibrant future for farmers, families, and communities in Central Minnesota.
Our Values
- People-Focused: People are at the heart of everything we do. We strive to build life-long, genuine relationships with our customers, our vendors, our team members, their families, and our communities. We look for opportunities to give back and positively impact each community we’re in.
- Experienced Innovators: Locally-owned with roots stretching back a century, we’re proud of our rich history but are always planning for the future. We invest in innovations to ensure we’re bringing our customers the best products and practices, and making business easier to do than ever before.
- Exceptional Service: We know that respect and trust are earned, and we stand behind what we do. We’ll take the time to really listen, understand your needs, and then offer honest, knowledgeable guidance to help your operation thrive. If there’s a problem, we’ll do our best to make it right.
- Remarkable Team: Many of our teams consider each other family and treat our customers the same way. Their hard work and dedication are unparalleled. We attribute our success to their knowledge, experience, and commitment. We strive to build a safe, flexible, family-like, and engaging environment that empowers everyone to succeed.
Invest in Your Community. Share in Its Success.
When you become a Centra Sota patron, you’re not just gaining access to products and services, you’re becoming part of a cooperative that reinvests in local communities and shares success with its members.
Prefer to connect directly? Call 763-682-1464, email us, or visit one of our Central Minnesota locations.