The Missouri Institute of Cooperatives hosted the 2025 Cooperative Hall of Fame ceremony on November 6, celebrating four outstanding leaders whose vision, service, and dedication have strengthened the cooperative spirit across Missouri. The event was a tremendous success as colleagues, families, and cooperative professionals gathered to honor the impact and legacy of this year’s inductees.

The 2025 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductees were: Dr. Michael Cook (FCS Financial), Christopher Hamon (White River Valley Electric Cooperative),
Dan Singletary (Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative), and Ernie Verslues (MFA Incorporated).

Each honoree has made significant and lasting contributions to cooperative governance, leadership, and community service. Their work has shaped Missouri’s cooperative landscape—from advancing education and strategic leadership, to strengthening infrastructure, ensuring reliable service, and championing cooperative values at the local, state, and national levels.

The MIC Cooperative Hall of Fame was established to recognize individuals whose achievements have profoundly influenced the cooperative movement. With more than 100 distinguished members, the Hall of Fame honors leaders who exemplify integrity, innovation, and commitment to cooperative principles. This recognition preserves their legacy and inspires future generations of cooperative professionals to continue building strong, member-focused organizations.

If you are interested in nominating someone for the MIC Cooperative Hall of Fame, please contact Jill Moreland for more information.

Cooperative Hall of Fame

Members

Neil Adams, Associated Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2008
Robert M. Alderson, Boone Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2003
Aaron Bachtel, MFA Incorporated, Heritage, 2011*
George Barnitz, Intercounty Electric Cooperative, Member, 2007
Bill Blakeslee, Mid-America Dairymen, Employee, 2010
Rick Brune, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2024

W. Herbert Buckallew, Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2007*

Joel Bullard, Boone Electric Cooperative, Member, 2024
Marilyn Calvin, Dairy Farmers of America, Member, 2013
J. Chris Cariker, KAMO Power, Associated Electric Cooperative, Employee 2018
O.B. Clark, Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, Central Electric Power, Associated Electric Cooperative, Heritage, 2010
Don Copenhaver, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2014
Howard A. Cowden, Consumers Cooperative Association & Farmland Industries, Heritage, 2008*
Dale H. Creach, MFA Oil Company, Employee, 2003
Harold T. (Hal) Dandridge, Intercounty Electric Cooperative, Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Member, 2015
Steve Davis, Dairy Farmers of America, Employee, 2011
William Davis, Gascosage Electric Cooperative, Member, 2005
Jerry Divin, Southwest Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2006
Jim Edwards, Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, Employee, 2016
John Eggleston, NEMO Grain Processors, NE Missouri Electric Power Cooperative, Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Member, 2014
Lester Evans, Dairy Farmers of America & MFA Incorporated, Member, 2006
Benjamin “Benny” D. Farrell, MFA Oil Company, Member, 2019
B. L. “Bud” Frew, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2005
Vernon Gage, Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2003
Grover A. Gamm, Northeast Missouri Grain Processors, Heritage, 2010

Scott Gardner, FCS Financial, Employee, 2024
John Bill Greer, Webster Electric Cooperative, Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative, Member, 2018
Lloyd Gunter, Dairy Farmers of America and Webster Electric Cooperative, Member, 2014
Ardel Hackman, FCS Financial, Heritage, 2010
Christopher Hamon, White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2025

Gary Hanman, Dairy Farmers of America, Employee, 2004
Barry Hart, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Employee, 2019
Clyde M. Hawes, SEMO Electric Cooperative, M&A Electric Power Cooperative, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Member, 2015
Fred V. Heinkel, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2007*
Joe R. Hinds, Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative, Hertiage, 2013*
William Hirth, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2004*,
A. H. Holbert, Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative, NE Missouri Electric Power Cooperative, Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative, Heritage, 2014*
Robert G. Idel, FCS Financial, Employee, 2018
Gary D. Irwin, FCS Financial, Employee, 2019
Byron Jahn, Consolidated Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2008*
Dave Janish, FCS Financial, Employee, 2023
David Jobe, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2010
John F. Johnson, MFA Incorporated, Heritage, 2012*
Jim Jura, Associated Electric Cooperative, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Employee, 2016
Meredith Kapp, Farm Credit Services of Western Missouri, Farm Credit Services of Missouri, Heritage Award, 2022
Jerry King, Dairy Farmers of America, Member, 2008
Arthur Kipping, Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, Member, 2004
P.D. Kircher, Osage Valley Electric Cooperative, Member, 2013
Frank Charles “Chuck” Lay II, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2022
Brad Lee, CoBank, Employee, 2023
Don McQuitty, NW Electric Power Cooperative, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Macon Electric, Employee, 2015
David Minnick, Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, Member, 2009
Don Mills, MFA Incorporated, Member, 2018
Randy Mooney, Dairy Farmers of America, Member, 2018
Layne Morrill, White River Valley Electric Cooperative, KAMO Power, Associated Electric Cooperative, Member, 2014
Eugene Murphy, Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers & MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2006
Wayne Nichols, MFA Incorporated, Member, 2023
Ed Nierman, Dairy Farmers of America, Member, 2009
James A. Nivens, FCS Financial, Member, 2019
Mike Nordwald, Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, Employee, 2014
Daryl Oldvader, FCS Financial, Employee, 2017
Floyd Ouderkirk, MFA Oil Company, Employee, 2022
Robert D. Partridge, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Heritage, 2009*
William (Bill) Powell, Mid-America Dairymen, Heritage, 2012*
Larry Purdom, Mid-America Dairymen, Dairy Farmers of America, Member, 2010
Philip Ragsdale, Webster Electric, Employee, 2023
Dave Ramsey, Associated Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2018
Russell J. Rosier, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2009*
Walter R. Ryan, Three Rivers Electric Cooperative, Heritage, 2013
Ralph Schallert, MFA Oil Company, Member, 2022*
Keith Schnarre, Boone Electric Cooperative and MFA Incorporated, Member, 2013
Janice Schuerman, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2015
John Schuster, Co-Mo Comm Incorporated, Member, 2023
Arlen Schwinke, Mid-America Dairymen and Dairy Farmers of America, Member, 2012
Don Shaw, Central Electric Power Cooperative, Employee, 2014
William (Bill) Siebenborn, Dairy Farmers of America, Member, 2011
Douglas D. Sims, CoBank, Employee, 2007
Dan Singletary, Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2025

Burrell Smith, Lewis County Rural Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2014
Frank Stork, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Employee, 2005
Bill Stouffer, MFA Incorporated, Member, 2008
Bill Streeter, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2016
Daniel L. Strode, Ralls County Electric Cooperative, Employee, 2013
Jerry Taylor, MFA Oil Company, Employee, 2015
Eric Thompson, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2006*
Ronald Thompson, Dairy Farmers of America, Employee, 2022
A. Jay Turner, Boone Electric Cooperative, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Member, 2022
Bev Twellman, MFA Oil Company, Employee, 2017
Ernie Verslues, MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2025

Herman Vestal, Webster Electric, Member, 2008*
Thomas White III, Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, Member, 2008
Gary W. Wrye, FCS Financial, Employee, 2022
Homer A. Young, Consumers Cooperative Association & Farmland Industries, Heritage, 2009*
Ray Young, MFA Oil Company and MFA Incorporated, Employee, 2004*
James E. Zerr, FCS Financial, Heritage, 2008

Friends of Cooperatives

Scott Brown, Ph.D., University of Missouri
Donald M. Claycomb, Ph.D., Linn State Technical College
Michael L. Cook, Ph.D., FCS Financial & University of Missouri

Charles (Charlie) Cramer, Ph.D., University of Missouri
Brady J. Deaton, Ph.D., University of Missouri
Thomas J. “Jake” Fisher, University of Missouri
Terry Heiman, Ph.D., Pemiscot-Dunklin Electric Cooperative, M&A Electric Power Cooperative, Associated Electric Cooperative
Missouri Agriculture & Small Business Development Authority
Lowell Mohler, Missouri Department of Agriculture
Donald Nicholson, Ph.D., USDA
Michael F. Nolan, Ph.D., University of Missouri
C. Brice Ratchford, Ph.D., University of Missouri*

* Posthumous Awards