Could a farmer- and rancher-owned cooperative help strengthen Alaska’s agriculture industry? The State of Alaska, through the Governor’s Office and Division of Agriculture, wants your input.

A co-op could help producers tackle shared challenges like high input costs, marketing, labor, processing, and transportation. But whether it moves forward depends on you.

If enough interest is shown, the Governor’s Office will support a feasibility study by the University of Alaska Fairbanks with up to $50,000 to explore next steps.

We are working with the Alaska Farm Bureau and the Alaska Food Policy Council to reach as many producers as possible ahead of the Alaska Farm Bureau’s Agriculture Conference and Grazing Lands Symposium, November 13–15 in Anchorage, where this discussion will continue in person.

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* 1. Location of Operation (please select what region)

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* 2. Type of Operation (Select all that apply)

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* 3. How many years of experience/ in business?

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* 4. What services would you be interested in accessing through a co-op? (Check all that apply)

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* 5. Co-ops are governed democratically. This means every member gets one vote—no matter how much they use the co-op—and members elect a board of directors through annual elections. The board has fiduciary responsibility and sets the co-op’s direction. Would you be comfortable with this governing structure?

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* 6. Co-ops typically raise start-up capital through member equity. This means members provide an initial investment (sometimes called a “buy-in” or membership share), which helps fund operations and demonstrates commitment. The buy-in can range from $10 to several thousand dollars. What level of member equity (one-time buy-in) would you consider reasonable?

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* 7. Overall, how interested are you in participating an agriculture co-op?

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* 8. What concerns, if any, do you have about the co-op business model?

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* 9. What are the biggest challenges you face in your operation right now?

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* 10. First and Last Name (optional)

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* 11. Business Name (optional)

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* 12. Contact information (optional)

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