Daniel T. Kelley
Former Chairman of the Board & President
GROWMARK
An authentic leader and champion of cooperative development, Daniel Kelley spent more than three decades serving the cooperative sector. Most recently, he retired as board chairman and president of the agriculture supply cooperative GROWMARK, Inc. Kelley’s roots in the cooperative movement began in 1970 when, as a full-time farmer, he joined his local cooperative, Evergreen FS. He later served as president of the organization from 1985 to 2008.
A tireless champion of new ideas and innovation, Kelley is widely credited for shaping GROWMARK, Inc. into the organization it is today. AgriVisor, a grain and livestock marketing analysis and brokerage service, was initiated during his tenure. A joint venture between GROWMARK and Illinois Farm Bureau, the venture has since expanded to serve Farm Bureaus in Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio.
In the 1980s, Kelley shouldered efforts to reform the Farm Credit Banks, creating a foundation for success that co-ops, the Farm Credit System, its member-owners and rural communities enjoy today. Over his career Kelly has served on many cooperative boards. He is currently on the board of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, CoBank and Illinois Agriculture Leadership Foundation, which he chairs.
Let Kelley know you appreciate his commitment to cooperatives by placing a congratulatory message or adding your name to the Friends of Daniel Kelley page in the Hall of Fame Commemorative Program.
The Cooperative Hall of Fame is administered by the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF), the 501(c)(3) non-profit affiliate of NCBA CLUSA. Nominations are received annually from throughout the cooperative community, with the final selection made by the NCBA CLUSA Board of Directors on the recommendations of a selection committee of national cooperative leaders.
The Cooperative Hall of Fame gallery is on display at NCBA CLUSA offices in Washington, D.C. and can also be viewed online at www.heroes.coop. For Hall of Fame dinner attendance or sponsorship information, call CDF at (202) 383-5445 or email cdurand@cdf.coop.