Hensall, ON, Canada, November 15, 2023 - Hensall Co-op, a farmer-owned and fully independent agricultural co-operative, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Minn-Dak Growers Ltd. (Minn-Dak). This strategic move brings together two prominent entities in the North American specialty crop market. 


For over five decades, Minn-Dak has been a pioneer in processing and marketing specialty crops from the Upper Great Plains—the region comprising Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota—and beyond. Operating from well-established facilities in Grand Forks, ND; Donaldson, MN; and Dickinson, ND, Minn-Dak supplies high-quality mustard and buckwheat ingredients to the global food industry. Their distinctive, tailor-made processes and integrated research and development approach have led to the creation of unparalleled products. 


Jeremy Peterson, Vice President of Minn-Dak, reflected on the company's legacy, stating, "Harris Peterson, my grandfather, founded Minn-Dak with a vision to cultivate a market for local farmers. The acquisition by Hensall Co-op aligns seamlessly with our commitment to creating value-added opportunities for specialty crop farmers, ensuring the continuation of his vision." 


This acquisition promises a smooth transition for Minn-Dak's growers and customers. Brad Chandler, CEO of Hensall Co-op, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, saying, "We eagerly anticipate partnering with the Minn-Dak team, combining our expertise to provide growers with an expanded portfolio of value-added crop opportunities. Minn-Dak's research focus aligns seamlessly with our strategy to enter new markets with customized products, fostering growth in existing markets and broadening Hensall Co-op’s global footprint.” 


For further information about Hensall Co-op and the acquisition of Minn-Dak Growers Ltd., kindly visit our website at www.hensallco-op.ca or contact us at 519-262-3511 ext. 243.

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Speaking with Brad Chandler, CEO of Hensall Co-op: “We would like to congratulate the winners of the Bright Futures Scholarships. Hensall Co-op values community and personal growth which is why the Bright Futures Scholarships allows us to directly impact and support the education of our members’ families.” Hensall Co-op is Proud to be Farmer Owned and proud to support education.

 

Abigail Peel (Turnberry Township, ON) will be attending the University of Alberta for a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering Co-op program. As an engineer, Abigail hopes to “take on leadership roles and act as an advocate for small communities, ensuring that we are taken just as seriously as the bigger cities when it comes to environmental issues.”

 

Attending University of Guelph (Ridgetown Campus), Nicole Vermue (Bluewater Township, ON) will be working towards an Associate Diploma in Agriculture. Nicole hopes to “help the agricultural community in the future to help teach the younger generations by volunteering and helping with fundraisers that involve agriculture and aid the growth of agriculture within my community.”

 

The third recipient is Saarah Amir (Bluewater Township, ON), who will be attending the University of Ottawa for a Bachelor of Health Science Honours to “become a doctor and further progress medical research and treatments in rural and underdeveloped communities.”

 

The Hensall Co-op Bright Futures Scholarship provides post-secondary scholarships to students who are entering their first year of post-secondary education and have shown a career interest in agriculture or a field or trade that will advance rural communities and economies. Up to three $2,500 scholarships are awarded to students who are children or grandchildren of individuals who were a member of Hensall Co-op or an employee, as of March 1 of the year of application.

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Hensall Co-op and its employees are thrilled to announce the recipients of the third annual Hensall Co-op Strong Communities Initiative, a program dedicated to supporting initiatives that make a positive impact on rural communities. This year, two exceptional organizations have been chosen to receive the top grants totaling $20,000, with an additional $10,000 being split between 5 well deserving organizations.

 

The Portage District General Hospital Foundation, located in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, has been selected as one of the grant recipients. They will receive $10,000 in funding to aid in the ongoing development of a state-of-the-art hospital. This initiative will bring much-needed high-quality healthcare services to the residents of Portage la Prairie and the surrounding communities, ensuring that they have access to healthcare of the highest standard.

 

Additionally, the Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health, based in Goderich, Ontario, has been granted $10,000 to support Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training. MHFA equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to promote a better understanding of mental health. This training will empower community members to effectively respond to mental health crises, fostering a healthier and more supportive environment for all.

 

Brad Chandler, CEO of Hensall Co-op, expressed his enthusiasm for these grants: "We received an overwhelming number of applications that highlighted the pressing need for funding in rural communities. Hensall Co-op is both proud and honoured to give back to organizations that play a vital role in supporting our members, customers, and communities."

 

With the strong need in the community, Hensall Co-op has also awarded each of the following organizations with a $2,000 grant:

  • Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation – MRI Campaign (Palmerston, ON)
  • Municipality of Arran-Elderslie – New Paisley Firehall (Chelsey, ON)
  • Tanner Steffler Foundation – TSF Youth Hub (Clinton, ON)
  • Koko Platz Recreation Club – Clubhouse Rebuild (Portage la Prairie, MB)
  • Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation – StepOne machine (Seaforth, ON)

The Hensall Co-op Strong Communities Initiative seeks to provide one-time grants to projects that address critical needs within communities, with a particular focus on initiatives aligned with Community Health and Healthy Living. Grants of $10,000 are awarded to projects completed by not-for-profit entities that are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as charities and have been in operation for over 12 months.

 

Hensall Co-op remains committed to strengthening rural communities across Canada and looks forward to witnessing the positive impact of these grants on the Portage la Prairie and Goderich communities.

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Hensall Co-op is happy to announce that our 4th annual Photo Contest is now open for submissions.

We encourage everyone to enter!

 

Prizes:
  • First Place: $500 Yeti package (1 prize available)
  • Category Winner: $150 cash for each category (3 prizes available)
Categories:
  • Farmer’s Best Friend
  • Hardest Worker on the Farm
  • Farming Views
Eligibility:
  • Entrants must own the rights to the image(s) they submit
  • The contest is open to all members, customers and employees of Hensall Co-op

 

Application Form

 

Contest Rules

 

 

Application Deadline: September 30, 2023

 

Please send any questions to marketing@hdc.on.ca.

 

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Hensall Co-op is proud to have taken part in the Huron Manufacturing Bus Tour on May 4, 2023. These tours create an opportunity for local high school students from Huron and Perth County to see and experience different career opportunities that are available. 

 

Watch Video Here

 

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Hensall, Ontario, Canada - February 7th, 2023

Hensall Co-op Enters New Seed Distribution Agreement with

Syngenta Seeds

 

Hensall Co-op has entered into a new agreement with Syngenta Seeds IP high-protein soybean distribution. This agreement, which is effective beginning the 2024 growing season, offers benefits directly to IP soybean growers as well as global end use customers. This agreement will give the entire supply chain the tools needed to achieve a higher level of success as a food ingredient industry. Put simply, it offers a full, value-added supply chain of growing, processing, marketing, and distributing Syngenta high-protein soybean varieties in conjunction with grower and end-use customer communications, seed forecasting and traceability for farm members and the end-use markets served by Hensall Co-op.

 

Read Full Press Release

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Thank you to everyone who entered our third Hensall Co-op photo contest. Our judges were impressed with the quality as well as the variety of the submissions received.


We thank all participants and hope you will take part in our next photo contest. Remember, we will require photos from all seasons so keep those cameras snapping! 

 

We will be in touch with our winners in the next week to co-ordinate delivery of your prizes.

 

Congratulations to our 2022 photo contest winners!

 


 

First Place - Sarah Kiar, "Grow"

Prize: Yeti package valued at $500

 

 


 

Runner Up - First

Max Kraft, "Best Friends

Prize: $150

Runner Up - Second

Gerry O'Reilly, Untitled

Prize: $150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Video Category

 

Winner 

Annemarie Kraft, "Team Work"

Prize: $150

 

 


 

Honourable Mentions

 

Adam Thompson, "It's Go Time"

Prize: $50

 

 

Jane McCutcheon, "Hensall Combines"

Prize: $50


 

Bryan Smith, "Class Combine Training"

Prize: $50


 

 

 

 

 

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Hensall Co-op is pleased to announce our 2022 Bright Futures Scholarship program is available. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide post-secondary assistance to students who are entering their first year of post-secondary education and have shown a career interest in agriculture or a field or trade that will advance rural communities and economies.

Up to three scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded to students who are children or grandchildren of individuals who were a member of Hensall Co-op as of March 1 of the year of application, individuals who had a controlling interest in an entity that was a member as of that date or a Hensall Co-op employee as of the date of application. Full details and application are available through this link:

 

Bright Futures 

 

To be considered for a Scholarship, applicants must complete an application and submit it to Hensall Co-op (marketing@hdc.on.ca) by August 1st of the year of application. 

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The judges were impressed with the submissions, both in quality of the images and how the contestants followed the guidelines for each category. We thank all participants and hope you will take part in our next photo contest. Remember, we will require photos from all seasons so keep those cameras snapping!

 

Thank you to our judges Nancy Taylor from Cranberryblewe Graphic Design and Illustration, Kent Schubert from GBB Inc. Management Consultants and Reta Byvelds from Hensall Co-op.

 

And here are the winners ... 
Best in Show


Jaleesa Alderdice
Her winning image is on the cover of our 2020 Annual Report and Jaleesa wins a Yeti package valued at $500.
 

   

Reserve Best in Show

 

Tory Struyf

"Rhett, Evie and Wes"

 

Tory receives a $350 Yeti Package for Reserve and also won the Going with the Grain category.
 

  

 

 

FEEDING ONTARIO:

   

First Place - $100

Betty Ann Kerrigan

Second Place - $50

Jill Sebben

Boys in the Barn

Third Place - $25

Jill Sebben

Chickens in the Barn

     
FIELD FUN:    

First Place: $100
Jaleesa Alderdice
This image was selected for the billboard in Hensall for 2021.
 

 


Second Place - $50
Lindsey Roosendaal
"Jack, Ellen and Molly"
 


Third Place - $25
Betty Ann Kerrigan
"Jumpstart to the Day"
 
     
FULL OF ENERGY:    

First Place - $100

Leigh Winston

Second Place - $50

Karen Dumais

Under the Rainbow

 

Third Place - $25

Karen Dumais

Fuel for Thought

     
GOING WITH THE GRAIN:  

First Place - $100

Tory Struyf

This photos was also 

Best in Show Reserve

Second Place - $50

Annemarie Kraft

Third Place - $25

Jane Zilke

     
KEEP ON TRUCKING:  

First Place - $100

Maggie Thompson

Second Place - $50

Max Kraft

Third Place - $25

Annemarie Kraft

     
PLANT PROTEIN:    

First Place - $100

Jaleesa Alderdice

This image also won

Best In Show

Second Place - $50

Karen Dumais

Scalehouse

Third Place - $25

Tory Struyf


 

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