CHS Inc.

Montana cooperative members Jordan and Anna Shearer reflect on their connection to agriculture saying, “We are truly fortunate to build our lives around agriculture.” Hear more about their story as ranchers and members of Rocky Mountain Supply Cooperative, based in southwestern Montana.

The future of the cooperative system and the agriculture industry depend on a strong talent pipeline. Students in middle and high school classrooms across the United States are learning about agriculture and preparing to be future leaders through FFA. This week is National FFA Week, a time to share the FFA's mission to develop the next generation of ag leaders and the impact the organization has on its members every day. CHS and the CHS Foundation support FFA in elevating and expanding its work with educators and students at local, state and national levels. Tanner Peterson, an ag teacher and FFA advisor, is a prime example of how FFA changes students’ lives for the better and inspires young people to pursue ag careers. “As a kid, I didn’t grow up on a farm, but I did get involved in FFA," he says. "It helped me become the best version of me that I could become, and it sparked my interest to become an ag teacher.”

Many of our owners, customers and employees face risks working in and around grain bins. Because safety is a core value at CHS, we partner with Nationwide Agribusiness to raise awareness of the dangers of grain bin entrapment and the importance of following safe work practices. We also support rural communities through donations and grants made by the CHS Foundation and our Seeds for Stewardship program. These funds provide access to training and life-saving rescue equipment. Learn more about how CHS supports grain bin safety: https://bit.ly/4b4T9ys.

Customers of our ag retail business use an online and mobile portal called MyCHS to manage their business with us. We recently introduced several enhancements to it, including the ability to subscribe to daily cash bids for grain and secure electronic signing for grain contracts. The MyCHS app also now available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. In addition, a new customer grain offer system is now live in the portal. It was developed in collaboration with the software technology company Bushel. The system gives farmers real-time control over their grain offers and sales decisions, further streamlining their experience within MyCHS and providing additional data security. “This is more than a system upgrade — it’s a step toward improving how we do business with farmers,” says Mark Biedenfeld, vice president, customer success, CHS. “Our teams now have improved tools for faster, more reliable service, and our farmers have additional capabilities to make it easier to do business with CHS. We continue to look for innovative tools that improve our customer experience."

James Pieper, a Minnesota farmer, is educating and entertaining his more than 100,000 Instagram followers with a mix of drone photography, selfies and scenes around his farm. What started as a way for him to document the work he does on the farm has grown into more educational content by leaning into the curiosity of his followers. Pieper shares more about how and why he chooses to tell his farm story on social media in the latest episode of the "It Takes a Co-op" podcast. https://bit.ly/4hgzWfE

One way we empower future leaders is fostering learning and development. Three CHS interns attended and presented examples of their work at the Gateway to Ag Careers conference in Austin, Texas. The group was accompanied by Jeroen Hoogendoorn, vice president, IT business partner, CHS. “All three used their voice, radiated confidence, showed up calm and collected and brought impressive examples of their work, relevant to the ag industry that resonated with the audience,” says Hoogendoorn. Gateway to Ag Careers is a program of AgGateway, which develops resources and relationships that drive digital connectivity in global agriculture and related industries. The conference provides students with opportunities to engage with industry professionals, participate in education sessions and explore career pathways.

Looking to make a difference in rural America? Join our team at CHS. Our people serve rural communities with roles in the field, on the road and at the office. We have variety of a seasonal opportunities including CDL drivers, operations specialists, custom applicators and scale operators. Learn more and apply online at: https://jobs.chsinc.com.

Through videos and photos, James Pieper takes people who find and follow his Instagram account along on his journey as a young farmer and cooperative owner in Minnesota. “Oftentimes our story is getting told by folks who sometimes don't have the farmer’s best interest in mind or have an overly cynical viewpoint,” he says. "I think it's really important for the farmer to have a voice in that conversation.” Hear more about how and why he chooses to tell his farm story on social media in the latest episode of the "It Takes a Co-op" podcast. https://bit.ly/4hgzWfE

CHS President and CEO Jay Debertin recently spoke about ag and economic policy at the 2025 Regional Economic Conditions Conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "The downcycle ag is in is the nature of the business we’re in," says Debertin, who joined the Minneapolis Fed board of directors in 2024. "These cycles are not easy, but they’re a fact of life." The conversation covered many topics that impact the ag sector, including supply chains, energy markets, sustainability, inflation, labor and trade policies. Find a recording of the event here: https://bit.ly/4g1mcE0.

CHS plans to upgrade and expand our grain facility in Warren, Minn. The project is expected to double the current capacity to nearly 4 million bushels. "We see the agricultural area in central and northern Minnesota as a vital growing region in the United States," says Rick Dusek, CHS executive vice president, ag retail, distribution and transportation. "Investing here ties into other infrastructure investments we’ve made recently to build out a strategic network of grain shuttle loaders that connects growers and their grain to the global market." Construction is set to begin this summer with projected completion in early 2026. Find additional details about the project: https://bit.ly/40KfygM.