Southern States Cooperative celebrates a century

Virginia-based Southern States Cooperative is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023 with events focused on its customers and employees. The agricultural cooperative operates in eight states across the Southeastern U.S. with more than 100 Southern States Cooperative branded retail locations.

The cooperative just launched a “Share Your Story” campaign – collecting personal stories of members and employees and sharing their stories via social media throughout the year. Southern States leadership will also be holding local customer appreciation events throughout the year.

Southern States Cooperative CEO Steve Becraft says Southern States has been working with families for 100 years. “I attribute this longevity to the dedication of our employees, many who have served this cooperative, and its members, for decades. I am also grateful for our customers as we position ourselves to continue to serve these family farms for generations to come.”

Founded in 1923 as Virginia Seed Service to supply seed to Virginia farmers suited for the growing conditions in the state, the cooperative quickly expanded into feed, fertilizer, crop protection, and into surrounding states, and became known as Southern States Cooperative in the 1930s.

Today, Southern States is owned by more than 200,000 farmer-members, and serves its members and non-member customers in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina. It also has professional turf businesses in Alabama and Georgia.

After many years as both a wholesaler and retailer, in 2020 Southern States partnered with GROWMARK as an agronomy and energy supplier, to focus on being an ag-retail cooperative serving members and their unique needs as farmers in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern States.