2024 College Conference
on Cooperatives
on Cooperatives
February 15-18, 2024 - Minneapolis, MN
The College Conference on Cooperatives (CCOC) is National Farmers Union's premier cooperative education event, bringing together students and young adults from across the country for cooperative education sessions and co-op tours around the Twin Cities. CCOC provides students the opportunity to gain a basic understanding of cooperative business economics, become advocates for cooperative business models, and learn about career opportunities within cooperatives.
Interactive workshops allow participants to collaboratively work through problems that that co-op boards often face, and a day of Twin Cities co-op tours offer real world examples of the unique realities of co-ops.
Registration is $85. This cost includes lodging, most meals, and tour activities.
Interactive workshops allow participants to collaboratively work through problems that that co-op boards often face, and a day of Twin Cities co-op tours offer real world examples of the unique realities of co-ops.
Registration is $85. This cost includes lodging, most meals, and tour activities.
Location
Embassy Suites by Hilton Bloomington / Minneapolis
2800 American Blvd W, Bloomington, MN 55431
2800 American Blvd W, Bloomington, MN 55431
Date
February 15-18, 2024
Many of our student participants attend this conference with their teachers as part of a class curriculum. If you are an educator interested in attending for the first time, please reach out to Lisa Buckner for more information: [email protected]
Conference Schedule (subject to change)
Thursday, February 15
4:00 pm
Registration and Room Key Pick-up
The registration table will open at 4:00pm for you to pick up your conference materials and room keys
6:00 pm
Pre-Conference Pizza Social
The registration table will open at 4:00pm for you to pick up your conference materials and room keys
Friday, February 16
7:00 am
Breakfast Buffet
8:00 am
Conference Kick-off
Welcome to CCOC! National Farmers Union staff will kick off the conference with introductions and interactive activities to encourage you to get to know fellow attendees
8:30 am
Co-ops 101
9:45 am
Panel Discussion: Cooperation in Agriculture and Beyond
11:00 am
Should We Cooperate? When to Form a Cooperative
12:00 pm
CoMinnesota Keynote Luncheon
2:15 pm
Decision-Making in Cooperatives: How Would You Act?
3:30 pm
Panel Discussion: Co-op Careers
5:00 pm
Twin Cities Night Out
Busses will take interested participants to the Mall of America for a night out with your fellow conference attendees!
Saturday, February 17
TBD
Full Day of Twin Cities co-op tours
TBD
Conference Night Out
Sunday, February 18
7:30 am
Breakfast Buffet
8:30 am
Leadership Training
10:45 am
Co-opportunities: What's out there for me?
Hear from National Farmers Union staff about the next steps you can take to advance your participation in cooperatives, and what other opportunities Farmers Union has to offer
11:15 am
Conference Wrap Up: So, how did that turn out?
12:00 pm
Boxed Lunch and Farewell
“I liked that this conference had non-stop relevant experiences and information. As someone who was not knowledgeable about co-ops beforehand, I appreciate the diversity in perspective given. I also greatly enjoyed getting to know the attendees of the conference.”
"I enjoyed visiting the cooperatives in the community on Saturday because they were all types of cooperatives that I had never had much experience with or given much thought about. It proved to me that the cooperative way can be implemented for most any business."
See some of the cooperatives National Farmers Union has worked with in the past for our College Conference on Cooperatives in this behind-the-scenes video