In 1970 a group of area farmers got together and started the St. Cloud NFO (National Farmers Organization) Livestock Marketing Center in Clear Lake. That was 46 years ago, and today that organization is stronger than ever.

 

National Farmers is a non-profit organization with barns all across the country like the one in Clear Lake. Along with offering risk management, they cut out the middleman by combining commodities from farms, then negotiating with agricultural industry buyers to ensure the producers receive the best possible prices. 

 

“We work for the farmers and ranchers,” said NFO Minnesota Coordinator and Clear Lake resident Julie Kunz, “They’re our boss and we provide them a good service.”

 

Every Wednesday, cattle are brought to NFO’s barn in Clear Lake where they’re unloaded, individually weighed and a USDA sticker is applied. The sticker ensures that when the cattle get to the packaging house they can tell which animals belong to which producer, and the producers get data back on how their cattle do. 

 

National Farmers Organization holds an annual convention, and at this year’s event in Peoria, IL, St. Cloud NFO Livestock Marketing Center in Clear Lake was awarded number two in the nation.

 

The award is based off volume of cattle moved, and every year in the past 19 years NFO Clear Lake has placed in the top four. They’ve been awarded first place four times, second place 11 times, third place three times, and fourth place once.

 

They haven’t won these awards by luck, but through hard work, knowledge and customer service. 

 

Kunz has been with the company 16 years, and Regional Director Bob Hendrickson has been with them 25. They, along with one part time employee, comprise NFO’s Clear Lake team.

 

“A lot of our success is due to Bob’s wealth of knowledge,” said Kunz. “He learned so much from his dad, who was a MoorMan’s feed salesman, and he raises his own cattle besides. He’s very good at advising our customers on problems they may be having.”

 

NFO Clear Lake has a large service area, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Southeast and Southwest Minnesota and all the way up to Black Duck. They don’t advertise, yet their clientele continues to grow, mostly through word-of-mouth. 

 

“We have a good reputation in the packing industry,” said Hendrickson. “The quality of the product we get is outstanding.”

 

Kunz added, “Your customer almost becomes family over the years. You develop a personal relationship with them.”

 

“It’s incredible how just three people can make such a big impact on agriculture in the area,” Hendrickson said. “When you look at the numbers it’s amazing.”

 

St. Cloud NFO Livestock Marketing Center currently has 290 patrons, and is overseen by a nine-member board who are producers themselves.

 

“Things are always changing and I learn every day at this job,” said Hendrickson. “We have great working relationships; I’m blessed with the people I do business with.”