For a decade the Cooperative IMPACT Conference has brought the cooperative community together to exchange ideas, tackle shared challenges and shape the future. From October 7-8, we’ll gather again at a pivotal moment for cooperatives and the communities they serve.
Register by August 31 to save $200
Built for this moment
Nelson’s keynote will bring our IMPACT theme to life through the story of Organic Valley, and what it can teach the cooperative movement about responding creatively to moments of profound economic change.
Some of the most powerful cooperative solutions emerge in moments of crisis. In the 1980s, family farms were disappearing under the weight of low prices, high interest rates and consolidation. Farmers were told to get big or get out. But in 1988, seven farmers in Wisconsin had a better idea: they formed a cooperative and helped spark the organic food movement. Today, that co-op is the largest organic, farmer-owned cooperative in the country.
In her keynote, Nelson will apply lessons from Organic Valley’s origin story to the current pressures testing our food systems and communities. Just as in 1988, co-ops are built for this moment. Nelson will challenge attendees to recognize where the cooperative model can offer a better way—and to seize those opportunities to build a more resilient future.
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About Shawna Nelson
Nelson’s journey with Organic Valley started when she applied to be a human resources intern in 2005. That initial summer internship turned into a semester-long experience and then a full-time position. She moved into roles in marketing, sales analysis, recruitment, employee relations, field operations and dairy pool management. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President of Membership. Now, she’s the cooperative’s first woman CEO.
Over the span of 20+ years, Shawna has contributed significantly to Organic Valley’s growth. She is committed to continuing the cooperative’s mission by supporting family farms, delivering high-quality organic food, prioritizing environmental stewardship and building on Organic Valley’s achievements.