A group of far seeing farmers met in 1904 at Palmer and formed "The Farmers' Co-operative Society". This corporation commenced operation on the first day October, 1904, with an authorized capital stock of ten thousand dollars.

Their original stockholders were: J. L. Pulley, H. F. Toben, Geo. Schnug, P. Kelleher, Geo. Burghart, Ole Sodestrom, H. L. Rassler, Theo. Miller, Loughlan, Wm Elsen, Fred Bruns, F. Lampe, H. Beneke, John Ihnen, Paul Peterson, Chas. Wiegert, and Peter Anderson

They leased a lot and buliding on what is now the Swartzendruber Produce from P.E. Tall as an office.

This first fall the society had no storage bins and scooped the grain they bought directly into the railroad cars for shipment.

Tom Philson was the first manager, serving from 1904 to 1905. He was followed by R. J. Pulley who served until 1910.

The Society bought coal sheds from the Citizens Lumber Company of August 14, 1905. They puchased their first elevator from the Wheeler Grain Company for $4,000 on November 16, 1905. It had a capacity of about 9,000 bushels and is now the North part of the present building.

Albert Schroeder became manager in 1910 and served until 1911. He was followed by M.E. Caykendall who served until 1912 when E. A. Beneke became manager. Beneke served until March of 1919.

A corn crib was built in 1914 north of the elevator for the storing of ear corn. The second elevator was built in 1915 with a capacity of 25,000 bushels.

Big changes were made in 1918. The name was changed from "The Farmers' Co-operative Society" to "The Farmers Co-operative Company". The capital stock was increased from ten thousand to fifty thousand dollars and the board of directors was increased from five to seven members. The scope of business was increased.

J. P. Maricle served as manager for part of the month of March, 1919. He was followed by John McGurnin who served until 1920.

The first audit, giving complete information on the amount and kind of business done, was made in 1919.

In 1919 the company bought 32,862 bushels of corn for $51,735.63 and 39,137 bushels of oats for $36,343.44. The company sold $184.95 worth of coal and $794.41 worth of seed in 1919. The total of all commodity sales for that year was $64,177.79.

H. L. Lathrup became manager in 1920 and served until 1922 when Ray Buckingham took over and served until 1929. He was followed by Wm. Wiegert who served until 1937.

Soy beans were bought for the first time in 1938 when 459 bushels were bought for $398.51. That same year 206,340 bushels of corn were bought for $93,954.39 and 148,690 bushels of oats for $35,498.51. The coal business for 1938 had increased to $8,957.42 and the seed business to $976.94. Total commodity sales for 1938 were $144,051.08.

Clifford Swalin became manager in 1937 and served ten years when the present manager, Don G. Reiter, took over.

The annex was built to the south in 1940 with a capacity of 40,000 bushels at a cost of about $8,000. Fertilizers were first sold in 1940. Total sales for that year on fertilizer was $161.52.

The company bought the Beneke Grain Company elevator in 1943 for $12,000. It had a capacity of 50,000 bushels.

The feed building was built and a feed mixer installed in 1943. A grain dryer was installed in July of 1945.

The present concrete building was built in 1950 with a capacity of 250,000 bushels for $132,000.

In 1953 the company bought 105,477 bushels of beans for $299,628.28 and 360,583 bushels of corn for $492,733.37, also 47,220 bushels of oats for $35,405.73. The company sold, in 1953, $11,739.36 worth of coal, $20,936.98 worth of seed and $50,659.06 worth of fertilizer. Total commodity sales for 1953 were $1,082,659.54.

The highest year for total commodity sales was 1948, with $1,230,123.33. In 1948 there were 337,646 bushels of corn bought for $707,703.00 and 67,967 bushels of oats bought for $70,568.82.

It is known that the office has been robbed twice but record of many interesting side lights of the business have been lost.

Today with a capital stock of $150,000.00 the Farmers Co-operative Company of Palmer is proud of its past and with a rapidly expanding business it looks confidently into the future.