Examples of Business Development & Support Services

Lexington Farmers Market
Lexington Farmers Market (LFM) was incorporated in 1975 as the Farm and Garden Market Cooperative Association, Inc. and does business today as the Lexington Farmers' Market. KCARD has assisted LFM by providing educational sessions to members/directors covering cooperative basics and principles, board training and member communications. In addition KCARD assisted in updating/revising the co-op bylaws and policies and in the development of an accounting system. KCARD provided assistance in developing membership agreements, job descriptions and the hiring of their first full time manager.

Lake Cumberland Milling, LLC
KCARD has provided support for this development effort since the idea generation phase guiding the growers through an interim board all the way to a full board of directors. KCARD provided information of cooperative basics and principles, cooperative development steps, including feasibility studies, membership recruitment, equity drives, and business planning. KCARD also helped develop their articles of incorporation and bylaws. Although they have formally organized as a Limited Liability Company, Lake Cumberland Milling has incorporated cooperative principles into their governing documents. KCARD helped Lake Cumberland Milling complete their business plan which included their plan to install and operate soybean extrusion facilities to increase the need for local soybeans, and KCARD recently helped LCM update their business plan.

Marshall County Cooperative
Marshall County Cooperative is a farm supply cooperative located in Benton, KY. KCARD performed a Business Management and Operations Analysis at the request of management and their board of directors in March, 2006. The audit identified strengths, weaknesses and threats to the business. It identified the opportunity to change their marketing strategy focused on large agronomic farms, which were decreasing in members each year, to targeting small farmers and new arrival retirees that have small farming operations. The study clearly identified a way not only to increase sales revenues but net profits as well. KCARD recently provided Marshall County Co-op with assistance in updating and revising their by-laws.

Cooperative Winter School
The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development hosts an annual Winter School for Cooperative board/management training. National figures in cooperative development are typically present to participate in the activities. Sessions include cooperative basics, cooperative development process, new generation cooperatives, cooperative financing, and cooperative law. Speakers in the past have included Bill Patrie from North Dakota; Sam Hinkle, a cooperative lawyer from Louisville, and David Sparks with CoBank of Louisville. The Winter School is typically held in January or February of each year.

Green River Cattle Company, LLC
Green River Cattle Company, LLC was incorporated in 2001 by nine cattle producers in Central Kentucky that desired to provide source-verified, gourmet-quality premium beef to discriminating grocery and restaurant customers. KCARD performed a Business Management and Operations Analysis at the request of the Green River Cattle Company board of directors in January, 2006. As a result of the analysis, KCARD was able to make recommendations that would significantly improve their business operations in the future. Currently, KCARD has been facilitating a strategic planning process to improve their profitability.

Central Kentucky Growers Association
This cooperative has been in existence for over 8 years. The primary products of this cooperative are bell peppers and cucumbers. The Center has assisted this group with board/management training through the Cooperative Winter School, as well as additional feasibility analysis with their current expansion. KCARD has assisted Central Kentucky Growers through development of a proposal for the Phase 1 Tobacco settlement board. KCARD performed a plant operations efficiency study in 2005 that outlined potential cost savings for the co-op's operations. KCARD assisted in some feasibility on cooperative expansion, as well as updating their business plan. KCARD also has played a support role in structuring an equity retention plan over the next seven years.