CHS Inc.
CHS Inc. is a Fortune 100 business owned by United States agricultural cooperatives, farmers, ranchers, and thousands of preferred stock holders. Based in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, it owns and operates various food processing and wholesale, farm supply, Cenex brand fuel, financial services and retail businesses, and is a co-owner of Ventura Foods, a vegetable oil processor.
It is ranked 1st on the National Cooperative Bank Co-op 100 list of mutuals and cooperatives (ranked by 2012 revenue), and 69th (by 2012 revenue) in the Fortune 500 2013 list of United States corporations.
History
CHS today is the result of many mergers of farmer-owned cooperatives. Significant events include the following.
In 1931 Farmers Union Central Exchange was founded in Saint Paul, Minnesota. That core cooperative company later became Cenex, a combination from the last two words in its former name.
In 1998, Cenex merged with Harvest States Cooperatives to form Cenex Harvest States.
In 2003, the cooperative changed its legal name to CHS Inc., with Cenex becoming the name of the energy brand.