MFA Cooperative Association - Tipton (1919-Present)

Moniteau County, Missouri

MFA Cooperative Association

Tipton

(Org. 1919)

From the 1980 History of Moniteau County:

MFA Cooperative Association was organized by a group of local farmers in 1919. The business was then called Farmers Elevator Company. In 1936, the company was reorganized as a non-stock, non-profit cooperative and renamed MFA Cooperative Association.

Homer Scott was the first manager 1919-1928 and was followed by Claude Ferguson who served until 1947. Managers since then were John Sanders, 1947-1948; Clint Akin 1948-1950, Herman Haldiman 1950-1963; and Dan Oligschlaeger who started managing in 1963 and has been manager since {in1980]. The Cooperative has grown to a business volume of over five million dollars primarily of Grain Feed, Fertilizer, Agricultural Chemicals, and Farm Supplies. It has active [in 1980] members of over 400.

Its milling facilities were replaced in 1966. Grain facilities replaced in 1971 and the Cooperative is in the process of replacing the present warehouse office and scales.

From The Illustrated History of Tipton, Missouri 1858-2008:

George Kelley - MFA Founder

George Kelley, a Tipton farmer and stockman, along with 21 other men, organized the Missouri Farmers Association in 1915. MFA was a statewide cooperative organization formed by local farm club cooperative groups to give farmers the "advantages of cooperative marketing, cooperative purchasing, and cooperative processing of farm products." Farmers owned and controlled their own local exchanges but had the advantage of being part of a statewide group. Profits after expenses stayed in the community and were shared by the club members.

Mr. Kelley served as secretary of the Tipton Farm Club which grew into one of the largest clubs in the state. He also served on the state executive board for 20 years and served as President of the Board. He helped organize farm groups in Kansas and Illinois.

In addition to his time with MFA, he served as clerk of the Hickory Grove school district for over 50 years and served as president of the board of the Tipton Christian Church. After the death of his wife, he made his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Kasper. Eddie's son, Dean Kasper served as executive president of the Tipton Commerce Bank and as an investment broker.

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