2024 Join/Renew Associate Co-op $300 Annual Membership

This membership level allows your group to join as a collective and work towards approved by-laws. This level of membership is active upon approval. This level of membership enjoys all benefits, except- voting during the Annual Meeting.

Cooperative Membership Dues are paid annually. Membership dues support our mission-based work around cooperative development, land retention, and advocacy.

Our members are low and moderate-income families interested in self-help economic development activities like credit unions, housing, and worker cooperatives. Our members are primarily Black farmers, landowners, and ranchers.

Contact [email protected] with questions.

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Co-Ops are typically started by a group of people rather than individuals.

7 Principles That Guide Cooperatives

• • Voluntary and Open Membership

• • Democratic Member Control

• • Member Economic Participation

• • Autonomy and Independence

• • Education, Training, and Information

• • Co-operation among Co-operatives

• • Concern for Community

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Co-Ops are deemed Associate Members with the inability to vote during the annual meeting until the board approves your bylaws.

Co-Ops are first listed as Associate Members until by-laws are approved by the FSC Board.

The Federation offers technical assistance and coop development resources.

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Please note when filling out the form:

**Home address = billing address for renewals

**Work address = farm address, land, or co-op address

**For any question with an unknown answer, please put N/A

For assistance filling out this online form, please contact [email protected] or call 1-888-322-2985.

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MEMBERSHIP

The Federation has been successfully working since 1967 to provide Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives in the Southern region with land retention assistance, cooperative development assistance, and advocacy.

The Federation's strengths are its structure and governance. We are a member-owned and operated organization born out of the Civil Rights Movement to do the unique work of empowering our members with racial and economic equity. Black farmer, landowner & cooperative ownership is a driving force behind all that we do.

BENEFITS

Co-Op Development

Land Retention Assistance

Advocacy (member-driven)

Regional Marketing Opportunities

State and regional events that provide networking opportunities with Black Farmers, landowners & co-ops

Mediation Dispute Resolution

Technical Assistance with:

USDA programs

Heirs Property & Estate Planning

Business Plans

Farm & Forest Management Plans

Forestry Management

Debt Restructuring

State Association Support

Disaster Relief Funding

Monthly Newsletter & Communications

Discounted agriculture industry workshops, training, and conferences

Host or Publisher The Federation of Southern Cooperatives | LAF