FoA 269: [Tech-Enabled Advisor Series] Cooperatives Embrace Digital Tools with KC Graner of Central Farm Service

<p><strong>This episode is brought to you by AgVend (</strong><a href= "http://www.agvend.com"><strong>www.AgVend.com</strong></a><strong>) </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today’s installment of our Tech-Enabled Advisor series is really an insightful look at how a farmer-owned cooperative is leaning into the digital changes that are happening in our industry to remain relevant and provide value to their farmer shareholders.  KC Graner is the senior vice president of agronomy at</span> <a href= "https://www.cfscoop.com"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Central Farm Service</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a co-op in southern Minnesota. As an advocate of the cooperative system, KC has spent his career embedded in member-owned organizations. Prior to taking on his role at Central Farm Service, KC worked at WinField United, serving over two dozen different retail cooperatives across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.  </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For today’s episode, we are partnering with</span> <a href="http://www.agvend.com"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">AgVend</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">. You may remember AgVend from </span> <a href="https://aggrad.libsyn.com/page/6/size/25"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Episode 125</span></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">back in 2018 with CEO Alexander Reichert.</span> <a href= "https://www.agvend.com/who-we-are"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">AgVend</span></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">is the leading provider of digital tools to serve the producer of tomorrow. Their suite of products is designed to strengthen the relationship between manufacturers, retailers, and growers by providing the agricultural distribution channel with white-labeled information, engagement, and commerce portals. They make it easier to do business with ag retailers, help them unlock profitability for their growers, and make more time for high-value touchpoints. </span></p> <p><strong><em>“What we've seen is the outperformance of