We have successfully completed our annual financial audit and I am happy to announce that your cooperative experienced another solid year in 2024. Notable achievements include consistent year-over-year growth from our feed and agronomy divisions, which led our company in total sales. Our energy team also maintained their steady performance despite the unusually warm winter last season. Each division ended the year with strong sales and positive earnings. Premier will report fiscal 2024 local net savings of $16 million and total revenues exceeding $275 million.
Based on our 2024 results, and those of many prior years, this spring we intend to once again return approximately $6 million in cash to our members, reflecting the company’s financial strength and our commitment to the member/owners of Premier Cooperative. Equally important to returning patronage, this past year our financial strength has allowed us to return tens of thousands of dollars back in the form of donations and sponsorships to our local communities, as well as award 41 high school students with scholarships, cook breakfast for countless youth exhibitors at our local and county fairs, reward hundreds of kids for showing livestock and supporting agriculture, and the list goes on. All this while also investing back into the company this year with new rolling stock, feed and grain manufacturing expansion projects, a new office and warehouse, and a new full-service agronomy facility. After 131 years Premier Cooperative is still building for the future.
We look forward to sharing more information about our 2024 year-end results at the annual meeting scheduled for January 15, 2025. If you have a graduating senior this year, please be sure to check out our website for more information on scholarships exclusive to Premier members.
From animal agriculture, crop production, and grain services, to energy solutions for the home/farm/business, hardware and lumber, auto and other retail services, the cooperative’s employee team has an incredible passion to serve our members. We will continue to look for improvements to the products and services we currently provide and search out new opportunities for the future.
Thanks to all of you who called in feed, propane, and other deliveries early so that our employee team could also enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with their families. With Christmas and New Years just around the corner, our staff will once again appreciate your help and support as we work to get the same amount of work done with fewer days. With your cooperation, we can do it. If you are still looking for a gift for the hard to buy for person, our hardware stores (Do it Best in Mt Horeb and ACE in Westby) are stocked with great gift ideas. And if you just can’t decide, Premier gift cards and prepaid Cenex fuel cards from our convenience stores make great stocking stuffers for the last-minute shoppers. Thank you for your continued support. Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
