By Chad Hart & Darin Wohlgemuth
Several years ago, we received a generous gift from CoBank to support undergraduate education in agricultural cooperatives. These funds allow us to reduce travel costs for students and give them the rare opportunity to literally follow the supply chains of key agricultural products. Along the way we network with local and national leaders throughout the cooperative structure. Through these experiences, our students have seen firsthand the essential role cooperatives play in U.S. agriculture.
Year 1: The Soybean Chase (Dec ’23)
The inaugural trip, designed by Bobby Martens and joined by Darin Wohlgemuth and Amani Elobeid, followed soybeans from the farm all the way to export terminals.
Students began at the AGP crush plant in Eagle Grove, IA, then followed a truckload of soybean oil to AGP’s biodiesel refinery in Algona. The next stop was the CHS crush plant in Mankato, MN. Both crush plants showed students the impressive range of products derived from soybeans and observed the constant flow of inbound grain trucks and outbound railcars and semis.
At CHS headquarters in Inver Grove Heights, MN, the leadership team provided insight into CHS’s role in the soybean supply chain. A highlight of the trip was an hour-long conversation with CHS CEO Jay Debertin, whose thoughtful questions pushed students to think deeply about the industry.
The group then flew to Seattle to explore the export side of the supply chain. Students toured the Port of Seattle and AGP’s terminal facility in Aberdeen, WA. We caught up with ISU alum Mike McBreen who shared his experience in global trade. A visit to the Space Needle added a bit of sightseeing before the final stop: the CHS/Cargill export facility in Kalama, WA, where students watched railcars being unloaded and vessels being loaded for departure to the Pacific Rim.
Year 2: The Fertilizer Chase (April ’25)
The second year of the cooperatives travel course shifted focus to fertilizer.
The group began at Key Cooperative in Nevada, IA, examining local fertilizer logistics. They traveled to Dubuque, IA, to meet with representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CVR Energy, and Tessenderlo Kerley. Students toured fertilizer production facilities and learned about the lock and dam system on the upper Mississippi River—an essential route for imported fertilizers moving north to farm country.
The final leg of the trip took the group to St. Louis, MO. Bruce Oakley Inc. provided an inside look at barge, rail, and truck logistics. WinField United Crop Nutrients leadership team discussed fertilizer purchasing and pricing strategies. Students also visited the largest lock on the Mississippi River system and took in the Gateway Arch.
A special thanks goes to the WinField United team—Paul Barr, Amy Pollard, and Tony Bolz—who helped coordinate visits, traveled with the group, and engaged students in wide-ranging conversations. Their openness sparked discussions not only about fertilizer markets but also about career paths, leadership, and the intersection of policy and agricultural markets.
Year 3: The Ag Financial Capital Chase (April 2026)
As we continue the search for a new Cooperatives faculty position, Chad Hart and Darin Wohlgemuth will again lead the travel course. This year’s focus is the flow of financial capital in agriculture.
The group will visit the Farm Credit Services corporate office in Omaha, NE, as well as the CoBank regional office. If you’re in the Omaha area and could join us at a networking event on Thursday evening, April 16, please complete this form so we can gauge interest. The chance for our students to make connections to industry professionals and alumni is very valuable.