Stakeholder engagement

Each CHS annual meeting includes education sessions that give owners useful insights on market trends, aspects of equity management, cooperative business management topics and more. A sustainability session was added to the annual meeting in December 2023.

Encouraging young people to step into roles at member cooperatives is key to sustainability of the cooperative system. Cooperatives are encouraged to nominate young leaders to attend the annual CHS New Leaders Forum, where participants learn about the cooperative model and benefits of cooperative ownership, gain skills in advocacy and communication, interact with members of the CHS Board of Directors and other CHS leaders, and network with other young leaders from around the U.S.

The biannual CHS Cooperative Leadership Conference invites member cooperative general managers and boards of directors to gather for team-building, learning and inspiration. New perspectives and strategies gleaned at the conference help local boards work together more effectively and plan for future success.

A series of forums are held each year throughout the CHS trade area and virtually to provide business and financial updates to CHS owners, gather their input on cooperative governance topics and answer questions related to business operations and governance.

A webinar for CHS employees around the world provided basic information on sustainability, offered the opportunity to ask questions and gathered feedback on key topics around the CHS sustainability focus areas.

In collaboration with the Field to Market team, CHS invited cooperative leaders and members to learn more about how sustainability practices add value to agricultural operations.