The Missouri Farmers Union Family Farm Opportunity Center announced that Jill Lucht has successfully completed the first course of a professional development training program unique in the nation. “The Art & Science of Cooperative Business Development” was designed by industry leaders in response to sharply rising interest in the co-op model from business and community economic development professionals, as well as from state and local officials. Housing, food, energy, and agricultural producer co-ops have all proven effective in meeting people’s needs. Lucht was one of 23 participants who took part in the first five-day course in the training program, held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The second course will also be held there, in November, 2005. The program is run by CooperationWorks! — a national organization of 21 cooperative business development centers operating in 43 states coast to coast. Member centers have helped start nearly 400 new businesses which have created more than 5,800 jobs and attracted more than $900 million in investment. CooperationWorks! Chairman Bill Patrie states, “Cooperation is one of the most powerful development tools in America. It enables people to accomplish together what they could not possibly do alone, and it can bring economic and social benefits to the entire community.” The Missouri Farmers Union Family Farm Opportunity Center works to improve cooperative marketing and distribution opportunities for small and medium-sized family farmers throughout Missouri, and the rural communities in which they live. Editor’s Note: Missouri Farmers Union wishes Jill Lucht
good luck as she pursues her master’s degree in rural sociology
at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Lucht will continue working
part-time for MFU on the Natural Dairy Producers project. Thank
you for hard work and outstanding service to MFU! |
