Dave Holtom ~ CEO – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is on the chopping block. Or is it? The DEI of the political left might be, but the DEI of the practical world, where 95% of us live, is alive and well – or should be. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are all words that carry positive meaning or intentions. But when applied to only a sliver of society at the expense – unfair expense of others, they lose their well-meaning intentions. Forced or mandated “benevolence” never works and technically, isn’t benevolence at all. I’m for DEI, but with a different understanding. It is a character trait of our business and culture that will fuel our success as long as we can operate in freedom. Not by mandate but with the freedom to choose. Without it, we will fail.

Take diversity. Valley Wide is a very diverse company. We are diverse in our business units. Energy, Retail, and Agronomy. We just came out of the winter months, and once again, our energy department paid all the bills and then some for the company through strong propane sales and earnings.

Now it’s time for the Retail and Agronomy business units to perform. Together, they make up what this cooperative DOES. We have a diverse customer base. We serve customers of all sizes and scales. Customers who are into livestock, fruits and vegetables, grains, and specialty crops. Customers who farm from the northern parts of Washington to central California to Texas and everywhere in between (and we are growing). Customers who farm, are in construction, mining, hobby farmers, and homeowners. Together, they are who Valley Wide SERVES. We have a diverse employee team. Employees with diverse backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and talents. Employees of both genders, various racial backgrounds, young, and like me, are older. Every single one of our employees is unique. Employees with various educational qualifications and areas of expertise. We have a diversified Board of Directors – representing all unique areas where Valley Wide does business, and each one with a very diverse background in agriculture. Together, the employees and directors all define WHO Valley Wide is. Diversity is at the heart of this cooperative – not because it is required, but because it naturally thrives in our structure and culture.

Equity. Equity is the building block of the cooperative system. One customer, one vote – no matter the size. Shared ownership is based on the amount of business you do with this company. As a patron, you can share equally in our patronage distribution with any other patron at the same rate of payout. Patronage, in this Cooperative, is shared with everyone – not just the privileged. Equity should be about fairness—ensuring all individuals have access to opportunities based on their contributions, rather than enforcing artificial advantages. Equity means treating people fairly, equally, but when you hire or promote based on race or gender models -and not qualifications – you do it at someone else’s expense. That’s not equity at all. Valley Wide serves a very diverse customer base. Customers both large and small. Our intent is to treat and service all customers with due respect and excellent service. For example, Monte Janicek was a long-time customer and former Board member of this cooperative who recently passed away. He and his wife Lena farmed their whole life on a small farm in Meridian and later in Parma. The finest people you will ever meet. Monte was not a “big grower” but was proud of his membership in the cooperative and, as a member, felt just as important as the biggest of customers – and was treated that way. His impact on the cooperative system and to the community of agriculture through his work with the young people in FFA and 4-H surpassed many – and it didn’t have anything to do with his race, gender, or acres farmed. It’s who he was. He will be missed.

Inclusion. When I think of inclusion, I think of giving everyone the opportunity. The opportunity – not privilege – to succeed. Do we isolate people from the co-op? Sure, if an employee doesn’t perform, has a bad driving record, or doesn’t follow company safety protocol, they are asked to leave. They are not included. But they are given the opportunity. As CEO and as a 30-year employee of this company, I’ve seen people of all types succeed at all levels of employment. Take Tina Erickson – the manager of the Menan Farm Store. Tina has worked for the coop for over 25 years now. The first time I met her was in 2001. I stopped at the Rexburg South Agronomy plant to visit with the manager there. No one was around, but I heard someone grinding over in the shop. I walked over there and sort of banged on the side of the fertilizer spreader – someone was inside it with a grinding wheel, giving the spreader an opportunity for a new life. The grinding stopped, and a person with a face and head shield popped up, wondering who was interrupting their work. It was Tina. She has proven to be a loyal, hardworking, honest, and sincere employee, and because of that, was promoted to store manager. Other employees with the same character traits occupy all sorts of positions within this company. If you look past the color and gender, you’ll find that there are many people with great talent and potential.

In summary, DEI is not a bad concept – it’s quite good in fact, but to legislate it is where the problem lies – especially when it’s at the expense of others. Legislating goodness has never worked all that well. We started with one law and couldn’t keep it. We then had 10 and couldn’t keep them. Today, we have volumes of books full of laws to address every different infraction that could occur, and we are still no better off, and our behavior is unchanged. My point is, adding more regulation is not the answer. It’s really not that hard. There is a “law” already in place that deals with all these matters, and in a way that does not hinder anyone else.  “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” On these two commandments hang all the law.

~Dave Holtom

The Dedicated People Driving Agricultural Success – Adam Clark Board Chairman – Ever since I was little, all I wanted to do was farm and ranch, just like my father and grandfather. I grew up doing the enjoyable tasks, like running a tractor in the fields and chasing cows on horseback at our ranch. However, I also tackled the less pleasant jobs, such as working with cattle in subzero temperatures and shoveling furrows to irrigate fields in the blazing heat. If you asked my parents, they would probably tell you that I complained every once in a while, but I still loved every bit of it. To be honest, I never really considered doing anything else. So naturally, when I finished high school, I decided to attend college to study agribusiness with an emphasis in agronomy.

I chose BYU-Idaho, which is only 15 minutes away from the family farm. This proximity allowed me to attend school full-time while also putting in full-time hours on the family farm. One of the graduation requirements was to complete an internship.

While I could have simply used my work at the family farm, for some reason, I applied for—and got—an internship as an agronomist on a thirty-thousand-acre almond and pistachio farm in California’s Central Valley.

Coming from southeast Idaho, where I had only known alfalfa, barley, wheat, and cattle, and where growing seasons last only six months, I was in for a surprise. This experience opened my eyes to the diversity of agriculture. I also got to see how a commercial farm operates in comparison to my family’s operation. Overall, it was a fantastic experience where I learned a great deal about various aspects of agriculture and was able to bring back many ideas to improve our farming operation.

Over the past twelve years as a member of the board of directors for Valley Wide Coop, I have had the opportunity to travel to the different geographies and tour the Co-op’s facilities. My favorite part, similar to my internship, has been to meet with our members and to learn about the different kinds of operations. I am still in awe of the diversity of agriculture in all the areas the Co-op serves. From the dry farms in northeast Washington and Idaho to the specialty crops of Oregon and California and everything in between.

Though our farming practices and variety of crops are different from region to region, what they all have in common are the passionate men and women who make them all work. Many have a deep history like my own, with a desire to make their operations successful. They all rely on a trusted partner such as Valley Wide to be a reliable competitive supplier to provide them with crop nutrients and crop protection, fuel and lube, and all of their other farm supply needs. It’s no secret that Valley Wide has grown over the past several years, but no matter our size, as a board of directors it is important to ensure the Co-op is still fulfilling the needs of our members, no matter the size of their operation or the variety of crops they grow. The cooperative system has proven that we are stronger as we work together.

As you all jump into your busy season this summer, I hope you can rely on Valley Wide to be that trusted partner. I wish you all a safe and successful year.

~Adam Clark

Valley Wide Cooperative & Valley Ag both play a vital role in the Central Valley’s agricultural sector, supporting farmers and fostering the industry’s growth. For farmers in the region, co-ops like Valley Wide are essential, particularly when it comes to navigating pricing and economic stability, a critical concern emphasized by John Barindelli, who stated, “As a farmer, having a co-op in the market is a really good thing”. Farmers also value the co-op’s commitment to meeting their evolving needs. As Derek Azevedo points out, in farming, “it’s all about being nimble and providing our customers with what they’re asking for,” highlighting the importance of adaptability in the agricultural sector. Looking forward, Valley Wide and Valley Ag will continue to stand alongside our farmer-members, placing their needs at the forefront of our decisions. We will work tirelessly to support them in their vital mission of feeding the world.

The Challenge Coin has a history in the military as a symbol of dedication and valor for recipients. The Valley Wide and Valley Ag Challenge Coins share that symbolism by recognizing employees who go above and beyond for the cooperative and its members. Each quarter, CEO Dave Holtom selects individuals in the company to be recognized as Challenge Coin recipients.