Key Cooperative is the result of more than 100 years of building

We wouldn't be here today if not for the vision and foresight of those that came before us. Here is a brief timeline of our history.

1918

Farmers Co-op Company

Farmers meeting for purpose of forming farmer’s elevator (Farmers Co-op Company)

1918

First Manager

C.A. Lindroth was hired as first manager – salary was set at $125.00 per month

1922

Grain Only

Board of directors voted to discontinue handling coal, flour & feed and buy only grain.

1930

Expansion in Sully

Creamery opened in Sully

1941

Expansion in Sully

Members approved to build a service station in Sully

1944

Expansion in Roland

Feed mill was built in Roland

1949

Lumber Expansion

Members of SCE voted to begin a lumber department

1951

Expansion in McCallsburg

Feed mill was built in McCallsburg

1955

Expansion Plans

Final plans were drawn up for a new elevator and mill in Sully

1956

New Elevator

New 130,000 bu elevator was built in Roland

1962

Coal Discontinued

Coal business was discontinued in Sully because of no rail service

1963

New Acquisition

Acquired Gilbert Cooperative Company

1964

Concrete Expansion

Ready-mix plant was built in Sully & three cement trucks purchased

1965

Expansion in Zearing

Zearing Elevator purchased

1967

Expansion in Roland

New dry fertilizer plant built in Roland

1969

Storage Expansion in Sully

A 79,000 bu. steel grain storage bin was built in Sully

1970

Creamery Closed

All creamery equipment in Sully was sold

1970

1974-76 New Construction

James Huyer was hired as first official General Manager of SCE and later that year, passed away.

1974

1974-76 New Construction

Nevada location built

1981

Acquisition

Acquired Farmers Co-operative Company (McCallsburg)

1983

Expansion

Established Roland Transport

1984

Merger

Merged with Farmers Co-operative Grain Co (Story City/Gilbert) name changed to Heart of Iowa Cooperative

1985

New Construction

Newton grain facility built by SCE

1988

CENTROL Established

Established CENTROL of Iowa

1988

Cardtrol

HOIC built first cardtrol in Story City

1993

Purchase

HOIC purchased Fernald Grain Company

1996

New Office

Built new office in McCallsburg

1998

Acquisition

SCE acquired Grinnell location

1999

Expansion

HOIC purchased Kelley location

2000

Acquisition

SCE acquired New Sharon/Barnes City/Taintor locations

2004

Expansion

Completed new fertilizer plant in Nevada

2004

Acquisition

SCE acquired feed mill in Grinnell

2007

Expansion

Established new Greenfield site at S-14

2008

2008-2009 Merger

Merger of Heart of Iowa Cooperative & Sully Cooperative

2009

Acquisition

Acquired LeGrand location

2010

New Building

Built Newton Rail Center

2013

Expansion

Expansion at Grinnell Feed Mill added pelleting equipment

2016

Acquisition

Acquired St. Anthony location

2016

Expansion

Built a 100,000 sq ft agronomy center in Grinnell