Membership

What is a Cooperative?

A cooperative is an organization owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its services. An example are cooperative schools where a group of parents pool money and resources to hire a teacher and create a school.  Another common example are telephone companies where groups of home owners without phone or internet service join together to create a company to fill a service or product need.

Types of cooperatives include Service (like telephone/utilities), Marketing cooperatives (like Tillamook or Wilco’s Hazelnut business) and Supply (like R.E.I. or Wilco’s Energy and Farm Store businesses).

The groups who come together to build the company are member-owners. To be a member of the Wilco cooperative, you must be an agricultural producer as defined by the IRS. As a member, you are one of the owners of the business. Members earn patronage (similar to earning dividends and stock/equity), have voting privileges, and can run for the Board of Directors. During the Annual Meeting each year, Board members are elected; by law changes can be discussed and voted upon, and then a recap of the prior year is presented to the members.

Core Values

Why Wilco

Apply For Membership

How to qualify and become a member of Wilco

You must be an Agricultural Producer (For the most updated information view this as defined by the IRS)

Provide proof of a Schedule F from your Individual Income Tax Return if less than 10 acres or a corporation has more than $5,000 annual revenue.

Bear the risk of production and what’s produced for sale

If you qualify you must complete a membership packet which includes:

Membership Application

W-9

A check for $10.00 (initial Membership fee), but don’t worry, we also give a $10 Wilco Gift Card too.

NOTE- The total membership fee is $300 but only $10 is due up front and the remaining $290 is paid by 10% of patronage earnings per year until paid in full.  So only $10 is an out-of-pocket expense to a new member.

Once a Membership Application is completed and returned, the application is reviewed and voted on by the Board of Directors. You will be notified by Customer Care upon approval or denial of the application.

Frequently Asked Questions About Membership