Facilities embracing this organization included selling and handling of grain, coal, lumber, livestock and other farm produce and supplies. They could also operate flour and feed mills, act in capacity of commission house to purchase, erect, operate and control warehouse elevator and mills.
During the next seven years, finances were the biggest problem for the organization. The struggle to survive went on into the depression years. Farmers, businessmen and banks were going bankrupt all over the country. These were very dark days for the members of the Farmers Co-Op, but somehow they managed to close the books of the old company. They sold the assets to the Farmers Co-Op Elevator Association, a new organization that with the members' loyal support and the boards' direction has prospered and grown into the big business of this centennial year of the Town of Roland.
In the year 1944 the business expanded by building a feed mill. In 1949 the directors voted to build an annex for 60,000 bushels grain storage. The lumber yard was purchased in the fall of 1951.
The 1950's were very prosperous years for the Co-Op Elevator and the Iowa farmers. In 1953 the Co-Op started to advertise fertilizer for sale. Many new members were joining the Co-Op in 1954, and a new bulk fertilizer plant was erected.
In 1956 a new elevator was built with a capacity of 130, 000 bushels. In 1958 the Co-Op purchased facilities and equipment to start in the petroleum business. In 1965 the petroleum department was expanded with the addition of propane gas service, and again in 1966 with the purchase of the bulk plant and station at Nevada.
In 1959 the board voted to go into the liquid fertilizer business, and it was decided to have a new office building erected in 1961. The membership totaled 510 at that time.
An anhydrous ammonia storage tank and other needed equipment of that nature was purchased in 1963. In 1967 a new dry fertilizer plant and another anhydrous ammonia tank were added to the fertilizer department, along with the construction of two steel grain storage tanks and the purchase of the Johnson Grain Co. , increasing the grain storage facilities by 280, 000 bushels.
Another addition to the feed mill was made in 1969 with the construction of holding bins. The addition of two welded steel grain storage tanks increased storage capacity another 120, 000 bushels, to give the association a total storage capacity of 750, 000 bushels.
The present board of directors is Gale Eggland, Floyd Twedt, Harold Tjelmeland, Orville Twedt, Andrew Bakke, Raymond Sande, and Robert Strother.
39