Walker retires, Foth assumes new role

Judd Foth (right) is the new general manager of Farmers Cooperative Elevator – Ottosen. Foth takes over the role vacated by the retiring Kevin Walker. In-dependent photo.
By PHIL MONSON
OTTOSEN - There’s a changing of the guard at Farmers Cooperative Elevator – Ottosen.
Judd Foth is the new general manager as he replaces Kevin Walker, who is retiring after 15 years in the leadership role.
Foth began his new position back on Nov. 18. He previously spent four years leading the Livermore branch of Gold-Eagle Cooperative. Before that he spent 16 years working at the company’s ethanol plant in Goldfield.
“I’m excited about this opportunity. It is a very well-run coop. It has a strong customer base. They are one of the last stand-alone coops that are thriving. I’m excited to be taking over and I see a lot of opportunity going forward with this position,” Foth said.
Agriculture is constantly changing and Foth notes Farmers Cooperative Elevator – Ottosen, has adjusted to the changing times.
“Agriculture is continually on the move. Technology grows by leaps and bounds. Technological improvements are steering more into the agricultural sector,” Foth said.
“Here as a company, they have invested significantly in infrastructure in recent years. There’s a new fertilizer plant built a couple of years ago. There was a new shed a few years before that. Obviously, we take grain here. We have a feed mill that is still running for the small, independent farmer with livestock, not the big commercial farm. With the addition of the organic trans-loading facilities we have, there’s certainly avenues of opportunity,” Foth said.
“Here we strive to keep up with our patrons’ needs, whether that would be infrastructure or equipment. We are trying to put our best foot forward to keep patrons and Farmers Co-operative happy,” Foth said. “We also have a petroleum branch facility in Algona.”
“Kevin has been here quite a few years. He’s made some improvements to the coop and how they do things. He’s proven that it works. He’s leaving some big shoes to fill. I would be a fool to think I’m going to walk in and it’s just going to be another day. There’s lots to learn here with the challenges that are ahead but I hope to retire from here someday,” Foth said.
Walker has led the company since April of 2009. He will continue working at Ottosen until the end of the fiscal year at the end of January. He’ll help supervise the end-of-year audit coming up in the third week of February.
Read the full story in this week's issue of the Humboldt Independent!