LOCAL CO-OP, AREA’S BIGGEST
BUSINESS, GREW WITH VALLEY
Without a doubt, one of the
most successful phases of the
Matanuska Valley colonization of
1935 is the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Association
which was organized during
early colony days as the market
ing and purchasing agency for
newly arrived colonists. In the
years since the farmers themsel
ves took over control of their
Co-Op it has built into an asso
ciation that markets over a mil
lion dollars worth of agricultural
produce each year as well as a
similar amount of other business.
Being a cooperative business, it
is owned by farmer members
who acquire their equity by pat
ronage of the various association
departments.
When the colonists arrived
from the states of Wisconsin
Minnesota and other nearby
states, they found an unsettled
land; lived in tents until their
farms were built. In addition to
their farms however, the new set
tlers needed stores, warehouses,
schools, hospitals, and processing
plants. These were built and op
erated by the Alaska Rural Re
habilitation Corporation until
1940 whn they were sold to the
newly formed cooperative asso
ciation. The ARRC played a ma
jor role in the development of the
Matanuska Valley — recruiting
the settlers and furnishing the
equipment and commodities
needed. The amount spent on
each farm became part of that
farmer’s loan, repayable over a
30-year period at three percent
interest.
The ARRC sold the community
facilities to the Co-Op Associa
tion for approximately one-half
million dollars, also on a 30
year, low-interest loan. These
payments have always been met
by the Association. At the pres
ent rate of repayment, the loan
will be paid off ten years ahead
of schedule.
Withstanding many difficulties
at the start, the Co-Op has pros
pered and made considerable
progress the past 15 years. Dur
ing the war when many busines
ses experienced a boom, the Ma
tanuska farmer found that he
must compete with stateside pric
es in order to sell his agricultur
al products. Following over a
,year’s work, the Co-Op was able
to get the Army’s policy changed
I to allow for spoilage and trans
1 portation differences. Since that
time they have become a valued
customer and have helped the
farm economy of the valley im
measurably.
Leading department in the Co
Op business is the dairy indus
try. This is the largest phase of
the Co-Op and produces pasteur
ized and homogenized grade-A
milk, whipping cream, butter
milk, cottage cheese, and ice
cream. The latter product has for
the past two years, taken top
prizes in national ice cream con
tests; in 1954 winning first place
with three flavors and in 1955
receiving winning certificates by
grading at 92.5 on three submit
ted flavors. “The “Matanuska
Maid” ice cream was entered in
competition against large nation
al ice cream producers. An ex
pansion program started in 1953
includes a $75,000 addition to the
Palmer plant; the construtcion of
the third of a million dollar Ma
tanuska Creamery at Fairbanks,
Alaska.»Present expansion work
will add an addition to the far
north creamery and the construc
tion of a $125,000 plant in Spen
ard, just outside Anchorage, Al
aska. The latest acquisition in the
dairy department is an automa
tic, individual ice cream slice I
wrapper. This is the first ma
chine of its type in this area and |
means that instead of the old !
method of pouring soft ice cream
in molds—freezing in the sharp
room and then slicing, sliced ice
cream may now be purchased by
the customers already sliced and
wrapped in individual pieces.
This machine will be displayed
during open house at the
creamery during the Colony
Day celebration.
In addition to the milk and its
by-products business, egg pro
duction for the Co-Op rates high.
“Matanuska Maid” eggs are much
in demand in spite of keen
competition of airborne eggs
from the States. Produce from
the Valley Co-Op finds a ready
and popular market, with tons
of potatoes, cabbages, carrots,
lettuce, celery and other vege
tables handled yearly by the As
sociation’s produce department.
During the past 10 years, sales
Original Trading Post, now oc ?upied by ibe Palmer Fountain
and Valley Beauty Shop. The "R ec Hall" still is used for com
munity meetings and banquets.
have increased 450 percent. Re
tail and wholesale business is
conducted at the Warehouse,
Trading Post, Garage and Bulk
Oil plant.
At the Warehouse, feeds, fertil
izers, seeds, hardware items,
household appliances, hunting
and fishing supplies, and barn
equipment and supplies, make it
the most complete farm store in
Alaska.
The Trading Post carries a full
line of meats, groceries, dry
goods, clothing and shoes. The
Garage has a well-equipped ma
chine and repair shop and sells
a large percentage of the valley’s
farm equipment.
Today there are 125 producing
members of the Association. To
become a member the farmer
contracts to sell his agricultural
products through the Co-Op.
When his application is accepted
he becomes a member for a pro
bation period of one year, follow
ing which he acquires the right
to vote in the association’s af
fairs. In addition to the produc
ing members there are 1,000 con
sumer members who participate
in the same way as producer
members, except for voting
rights.
A board of seven directors are
elected by the membership dur
ing the anunal meetings. Presi
dent of ithe present board is
John Nash, who is a valley poul
try farmer. Clifton Grover, dairy
farmer is vice-president; secre- '
ta^-treasurer is Rex Kibbe, veg
etable, poultry and potato farm
er. Other directors include Jack
Newcombe, dairyman; Floyd
Davis, potato and poultry farm
er; Kit Carson, dairyman and po
tato farmer and William Hecker,
dairyman. Operations of all de
partments come under the gen
eral supervision of Stuart Dur
rant, Co-Op general manager,
and department heads: Tom Le
pak of the garage; Virgil Eckert,
warehouse; Jack Flint, local
creamery; Roy Brock of the An
chorage creamery unit and Dar
win Heinie of the unit at Fair
banks.
The Co-Op is the largest em
ployer in the Matanuska Valley
with a payroll of $365,253 this
past year, providing employ
ment for over 100 people. Not
only the largest employer, the
association also is the largest tax
payer in the school district and,
unlike many cooperatives, pays
large amounts to the Federal
Government in income taxes.
JOHN DUNLAP NEW
COMMANDER OF
WASILLA VWF POST
Commander Joe Hong of the
Anchorage Veterans of Foreign
Wars post was installation offi
cer in ceremonies held by the
Wasilla VFW post this past Sat
urday.
bfficers installed and their of
fices are as follows: John Dun-'
* ji.J ’W' , ■ A
Members of Ibe Arctic Trails Riding club of Palmer will put
on a demonstration during the 20th anniversary celebration
of Colony Day at the fairgrounds. The club, organized over a
year ago, has members from the real young years up to the
"creaky" age—but all good riders. Following the demonstra
tions the club will stage various type horse races. The above
picture shows members in action during a rodeo staged at the
fairgrounds last summer.
DR. C. EARL ALBRECHT
The gentleman facing ihe camera is Dr. C. Earl Albrecht, early
colony doctor who is now Territorial Commissioner of Health.
Dr. and Mrs. Albrecht plan to attend the 20th anniversary
celebration to be held in Palmer on May 29. The nurse with
her back to the camera is Mrs. Max Sherrod.
lap, commander; Henry Katkus,
senior vice-commander; John
Polis, junior vice-commander;
Jack Maley, chaplain; Leo Nun
ley, adjutant and quartermaster;
Roy Morrison, post surgeon; and
Phil Serrell, post advocate.
MATHEMATICAL PARADOX
One of life’s mysteries: Why
the girls with the least principle
draw the most interest.—Answers
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS
ALWAYS BRING RESULTS
*7<4e A
Congratulates tli
the Vail
Railroad
i
j
e moaern aay pioneers o
f
ey in tneir onservance o
f tke...
20th Annual Colony Day
• ' ' ■
* i mb
In line with the Alaska Railroad’s policy in aiding development and
growth of Alaska, your railroad pie dges its continued cooperation in
maintaining fast, dependable freig hi service at the lowest possible
rates.
Arrival of Colonists at Matanuska, 1935
The Alaska Railroad