Timeline

1919

First Board Meeting

The Board of Okawville Farmer Elevator Company held its first Board Meeting and Directors were elected

1920

Construction for New Grain Elevator

Construction began on a new 15,000 bushel grain elevator in Okawville

1920

Picnic for New Elevator

A picnic was held to dedicate the new elevator in Okawville. This was the forerunner to the Annual Wheat Festival

1921

Various Additions

Various additions were built at the coop as the business grew including a building for the seed cleaner and a grinder

1939

Ear Corn Crib Built

An ear corn crib was built in Okawville

1941

New Feed Building

A new feed building was built with a larger hammermill and mixer in Okawville

1941

First Patronage

The Board declared its first patronage refund to members of $2,125

1947

Storage Bin Built

A 25'x44' concrete storage bin was built in Okawville

1948

More Storage Bins Built

4 additional concrete storage bins were built in Okawville

1949

Warehouse Built

A warehouse for flour was built south of the elevator in Okawville

1950

New Corn Sheller

A new corn sheller was purchased

1955

Seed Cleaning Building

The ear corn crib was converted to a seed cleaning building

1956

Steel Bin

A steel bin was built in Okawville

1956

Stock Increase

Capital stock was increased to $80,000

1960

New Corn Sheller

A new corn sheller was installed

1964

Stock Increase

Capital stock was increased to $100,000

1968

Bought Elevator

The elevator in Addieville was bought from the Gaebe family

1972

Feed Grinding Building Damaged then Rebuilt

The feed grinding building was damaged by fire and rebuilt

1974

Entered Liquid Fertilizer Business

The coop entered the liquid fertilizer business with a partner, Swift Fertilizer Company

1975

New Bushel Bin

A new 35,000 bushel bin was built in Addieville

1976

Purchased First Liquid Spray Truck

The coop purchased its first liquid spray truck

1976

Silos Built

2 concrete silos were built in Okawville

1977

New Feed Warehouse

A new feed warehouse was built in Okawville

1979

Entered NH3 Business

The coop entered the NH3 business

1979

Went Into Liquid Fertilizer Business

The partnership with Swift was ended and the coop went into the liquid fertilizer business on its own, supported by Farmland Industries

1981

Fiscal Year End Changed

The fiscal year end was changed from December 31 to August 31

1981

Grain Facilities Destroyed

In June the Addieville grain facilities were destroyed by fire

1981

Grain Facilities Rebuilt

In September the grain facilities had been rebuilt

1984

New Dry Fertilizer Plant

A new dry fertilizer plant was built in Okawville

1986

Office Enlarged

The office was enlarged in Okawville

1986

Bookkeeping Update

The bookkeeping system was converted to a computer based system

1987

Addition to Dry Fertilizer Plant

An addition was constructed to the dry fertilizer plant

1988

Grain Bin

A grain bin was constructed in Addieville

1989

HLM Grain Business Purchased

The HLM Grain business in St Libory was purchased

1990

Lumber Business Purchased

The Joellenbeck lumber business and property was purchased in Okawville

1992

Chemical Plant Built

A new chemical plant was built in Okawville

1993

Rail Siding Expanded

The rail siding was expanded in Okawville

2001

Bushel Bin Constructed

A 300,000 bushel bin was constructed in Okawville

2005

TOP AG Cooperative Formed

Okawville Farmers Elevator Company and Trenton Farmers Equity Exchange (including Pierron) merged forming TOP AG Cooperative

2006

Leased Lebanon Grain

Leased Lebanon Grain from the Toberman family

2006

Bushel Bin Constructed

A 750,000 bushel bin was constructed in Okawville

2010

Major Grain Expansion

There was a major grain expansion in Okawville with a new leg dump and 2nd 750,000 bushel bin (Pit 3)

2011

Damage to Grain Storage then Rebuilt

Severe wind damage was suffered to grain storage at both Pierron and Okawville and was rebuilt

2011

Grain Facilities Purchased

Mascoutah grain facilities were purchased after having leased them for several years

2012

Severe Drought

A severe drought covered most of the Midwest with our local area being some of the worst resulting in widespread near crop failure

2014

Rail Siding Expanded

The rail siding was expanded to allow for loading 65 rail car trains

2014

Grain Dryer

A new 3,000 bu/hr grain dryer was erected in Okawville

2015

New Bin and Dump Pit

A new 500,000 bu bin and a 1,000 bu dump pit with a 15,000 bu/hr leg was erected in Trenton

2017

New Bin

A new 400,000 bu bin was erected in Pierron

2017

2 New Bins and Pit

Two new bins (500,000 bu and 235,000 bu) and at 1,100 bu pit with a 15,000 bu/hr leg was erected in St. Libory

2018

New Scale

A new 14x70 scale was erected and purchased a house for a new office in St. Libory

2020

Propane & Agronomy facility purchased

Terayne Ag Specialties of Venedy was acquired in January 2020.

2021

Feed & Seed Cleaning company acquired

Wiechert Seed Co. of Nashville was acquired in May 2021.

2021

Grain facilities purchased

Oberbeck Grain Company was purchased in July 2021.  Locations in Highland and New Douglas added more than 3.7 million bushels of storage capacity to Top Ag.