Agricultural Innovation Recognized: Five Star Cooperative Receives 2025 Business Innovation Award
Kansas City, Mo., (Dec. 4, 2025) – Five Star Cooperative, based in New Hampton, Iowa, has been awarded the prestigious Business Innovation Award for 2025, as sponsored by AgVend. This accolade was presented on Dec. 3 during the Agricultural Retailers Association Conference and Expo held in Salt Lake City.
Recognizing Digital Transformation in Agriculture
The Business Innovation Award highlights agricultural retailers that showcase significant strides in digital transformation. This includes exemplary cases of how these retailers leverage enterprise resource planning, agronomic data, and business analytics to enhance customer service and foster sustainable business models. The recognition is granted to a single ag retail location and its team across the United States.
Empowering Farmers Through Technology
Margy Eckelkamp, editor of The Scoop, expressed the importance of this award: “Especially in volatile economic times, farmers need partners they can rely on, and increasingly, technology is fortifying how those relationships grow. With greater transparency, real-time data sharing, and easy-to-use communication tools, retailers like Five Star Cooperative are rewriting the playbook for building trust with their clients.”
Operating primarily in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, Five Star Cooperative is a farmer-owned agricultural supply cooperative dedicated to serving rural communities. They cater to individual farmers and various types of farms, aiming to provide top-quality products, expert services, and unwavering long-term commitment. A significant initiative contributing to this success is Operation Easy, which streamlines internal processes to boost efficiency and enhance the overall customer experience.
Voices Behind the Innovation
Scott Black, CEO of Five Star Cooperative, emphasized the goal behind their digital transformation: “At Five Star Cooperative, digital innovation isn’t about employing technology for its own sake. It’s about listening to our members and delivering practical solutions that simplify their operations. Operation Easy enabled us to gather direct, honest feedback from our customers, which in turn guided us in developing tools that enhance transparency and accessibility. While receiving this award is an important milestone, the real achievement lies in our farmers’ positive experiences and continuous improvements. We see this as just the beginning of our journey.”
Learn more about Five Star Cooperative.
The Need for Innovative Practices
Alexander Reichert, CEO at AgVend, added, “Digital transformation isn’t solely about replacing traditional practices in ag retail; it’s about enhancing and protecting them. The retailers at the forefront of this industry are modernizing their operations to provide their teams with more time and clarity, allowing them to effectively serve their growers, especially during challenging market conditions. Innovation is essential for resilience and maintaining an acute focus on customer needs.”
About Farm Journal
Farm Journal stands as the foremost business information and media company catering to the agricultural sector. Their services span the row crop, livestock, produce, and retail markets through various branded websites, eNewsletters, mobile applications, business magazines, conferences, and a range of data-driven products. Additionally, Farm Journal oversees the online equipment marketplace, Machinery Pete LLC, and leads the Trust In Food initiative, which aims to foster the adoption of conservation practices and regenerative agriculture. The company also founded the Farm Journal Foundation in 2010 to promote education and empowerment in sustainable agricultural practices to meet the demands of a growing population.
