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Show Highlights: Past Pacesetter deep-dives on the co-op asset challenge. [02:27] How to evaluate a strategic asset in ag co-ops. [04:53] Are "strategic" and "profitable" objectively the same? [10:56] Key elements for selecting co-op assets for closure. [16:31] How co-op members really perceive an asset closure. [24:14] Four best practices for communicating closing assets. [27:28] Why legal guidance is a must in asset closure decisions. [32:49] If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: Discover ACES, a recruitment co-op for co-ops. [05:15] How peer networks elevate HR practices in ag. [09:16] How does ACES manage trust around urgency with vendors? [12:50] Can co-ops sustain internal culture while using external services?  [16:31] Survey and tools for optimizing hiring and performance. [17:33] The cultural DNA of co-ops thriving in consortiums like ACES. [22:53] Evolving ACES services with member needs and next-gen shifts. [26:41] Risks of fading internal resilience due to pooled services. [33:39] Leveraging future-forward member co-ops for new ideas. [36:47] To learn more about ACES, visit https://agtalentcoop.wordpress.com/. Connect with Kalese Sheldahl on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalese-sheldahl/. If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: Two questions a GM Pacesetter texted Joe about change. [00:23] Why "more" tactics won't effectively communicate change in ag co-ops. [02:20] Recognize information asymmetry in co-op M&A deliberations. [05:04] Tips for translating change logic into proof for members. [10:12] Is a mandate to operate also a mandate to transform? [14:27] How to earn strategic trust and a mandate to transform. [16:26] Pacing change against "trust stock" without losing members. [26:52] The deal clock vs. the trust clock. [35:37] The reality that markets don't wait until change is digested.  [38:02] Send Joe your feedback and listener questions. [41:54] If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: Overview of MMPA and its evolution in changing dairy. [04:52] Is it true that there are fewer dairy farms and a trend toward scale? [09:25] Grain and dairy supply-chain parallels, and the perishability issue. [14:27] The need for investing in dairy assets for diversification. [21:49] How an oversupply crisis led MMPA to product innovation. [28:13] Learn about milk ultrafiltration and products. [33:22] Why engaging members in innovation must be a priority. [34:05] Safeguarding producer value over short-term relief. [37:02] Discover MMPA's new highlights and future innovations. [43:08] Leveraging byproducts, turning permeate into ethanol. [44:27] Learn more about Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) at https://www.mimilk.com/. To contact Joe Diglio, connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-diglio-19638171/. If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: What happens to a growth strategy that fails the member vote? [05:40] Anchoring co-op team emotions post-vote and pivoting. [13:20] Discover Mercer Landmark's newly created leadership roles. [17:17] Creating co-op-wide strategic clarity beyond "business as usual." [19:54] The need for shared P&L accountability in co-ops. [26:31] An example of elevating leaders based on strengths. [30:27] Why Mercer Landmark turned divisions into business units. [34:51] What's the RAVE standard for customer service excellence? [35:15] Learn about the Unified Customer Approach (UCA). [36:32] Building a UCA employee culture through purposeful redundancy. [43:51] To explore Mercer Landmark, visit https://mercerlandmark.com/. Find Neal Horrom on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-horrom-81519051/. Get your copy of Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach to Customer Service on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0688123163?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: What makes strategic alliances popular in agribusiness? [00:25] Understanding the ceiling problem of strategic alliances. [02:05] The agribusiness alliance-to-merger dilemma. [03:12] Five reasons co-ops choose alliances over mergers. [04:47] Explore four common strategic alliance structures in ag. [07:03] Identify three savings-efficiency phases in non-JV alliances. [10:59] How strategic alliances can diminish later merger value. [15:58] Targeted efficiency plays with no gains ceiling risks. [17:12] Goals and metrics boards must set before creating alliances. [19:20] Are strategic alliances dress rehearsals for mergers? [23:04] If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: How AI has supercharged ag-tech product development. [05:47] Darwinism risks for companies that fail to adopt AI tools. [09:46] Tips for enabling internal AI-driven change across teams. [12:53] What's "Personal OS" or a context vault for AI? [17:17] Addressing employee fears of AI replacing jobs—and will it? [23:15] How AI boosts existing ag workflows—e.g., Goose Assist. [29:42] Why leveraging AI doesn't equal ceding decision rights. [34:40] The dangers of "vibe coding" with lessons from a failed project. [38:48] Avoiding the trap of overbuilding digital product features. [41:40] The value of constraints James Dyson learned from Soichiro Honda. [44:33] Using AI as a capability enhancer, not an unqualified creator. [47:36] To learn more about AgVend, visit https://www.agvend.com/. Connect on LinkedIn with our guests from today's episode. Alexander Reichert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderreichert/ Patrick Walther: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-a-walther/ Check out Alexander's past appearance on The Pacesetter Pod. Ep46: Vintage 3 AgTech with Alexander Reichert: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pncNwe4CuJDDUHMrA6vOx?si=N2PQmWRmRSevXtWkS426qg If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: Adapting to ag's "new norm and never before" as co-ops. [04:09] Should co-ops shift to shorter 100-day strategic plans? [08:53] Learn key data on farmland transitions and ownership. [09:22] Input cost, innovation pipeline and supply chain considerations. [10:20] Three differentiators that give Land O'Lakes faith in the co-op model. [17:35] Revisit the core purpose of co-ops with four questions. [23:37] Navigating ag co-op member segmentation and growth. [30:06] Discover the best retailer metrics co-ops should adopt. [31:30] Four retailer growth-plan evaluations Land O'Lakes uses. [39:29] Why Land O'Lakes has a value-add focus as a federated co-op. [40:24] Has Land O'Lakes had success with cross-industry hires? [44:05] Land O'Lakes' 3-pillar growth plan and the value of data. [44:40] Brett's observations on our "Asset-Light Co-op" series. [48:48] Explore Land O'Lakes by visiting https://www.landolakesinc.com/. Connect with Brett Bruggeman on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-bruggeman/. If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: Three questions to radically self-assess differentiation in co-ops. [02:49] Why does brutal honesty matter to clarify market position? [07:17] The power of fostering intrapreneurship within co-ops. [10:06] Competing with other co-ops vs. specialized businesses. [12:44] A case study of co-op collaboration and benefits realized. [17:07] A startup-like store renovation that built a rural market. [23:43] Traits from varied professional cultures that can improve co-ops. [29:46] Why Mike values decisive leadership learned in the police force. [40:36] How photography decommoditized with lessons for ag services. [42:45] Thriving in digital disruption and customer value shifts. [45:36] Communicate and capture diverse value as ag co-ops. [51:42] Find out more about Central Prairie Cooperative by visiting https://www.cpcoop.us/. To connect with Mike Corbus, go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-corbus-2a3339169/?skipRedirect=true. If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: The evolution of ag co-op services and today's needs. [04:02] Training mindsets co-op employees need for member success. [08:23] Is non-farm talent a threat or an opportunity for co-ops? [11:35] The need to balance side ventures with the co-op's core mission. [18:58] How co-ops can efficiently collaborate for greater scale. [26:29] Why local control matters when co-ops work together. [29:13] Management and board roles in strategy ownership. [36:45] The key to sustainable organic growth for modern co-ops. [45:18] To learn more about Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, visit their website: https://www.ourcoop.com/ Find Joey Caldwell on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-caldwell-317a3bb2/. If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: How episodic vs. structural challenges impact ag. [04:51] Alarming fertilizer vulnerability data—why sovereignty matters. [06:00] The effects of reshoring and supply chain resilience. [06:33] Divestiture of non-core assets as a remedy for high capital costs. [07:49] The value of America's arable land and its future ownership. [15:38] Ag retail conditions ripe for consolidation and value-added services. [19:52] Should country grain elevator owners sell or hold today? [25:00] Richardson's selective Canadian elevator strategy. [31:28] Understanding co-ops as a capital reservoir or river. [33:27] How has Ceres secured scale by partnering with co-ops? [37:32] Why value-added processing benefits co-ops and farms, but less so PE. [40:09] Discover tactics for de-risking fertilizer dependency. [46:39] To explore Ascendant Partners, go to https://ascendantpartners.com/. Connect with Austin Liepold on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinliepold/. If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: Explore what's new at DTN and their Ag Hub platform. [03:07] DTN's vision to be a data escrow solving data-sharing distrust in ag. [05:38] Problematic fragmentation and B2C treatment of farmers. [09:55] How Ag Hub IDs use cases to drive higher wallet share. [13:54] Why in-house ag-data solutions and AI can't really work. [18:03] DTN's ability to combine data with customer CRMs/ERPs. [22:19] Current and future benefits for growers through Ag Hub. [26:36] Ag Hub's decision-grade intelligence beyond digitizing workflows. [31:21] Will more data transparency worsen commoditization? [41:08] A case for traceability-driven future proofing for "data-enhanced" bushels. [43:14] Explore DTN by visiting https://www.dtn.com/agriculture. Connect with Grey Montgomery on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/greymontgomery/. Find Katherine Sartiano on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinesartiano/. If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: Evolving leadership demands on ag co-op GMs or CEOs. [08:01] What are the co-op GM/CEO turnover trends and stats? [15:18] The role and risks of mergers as a succession strategy. [19:37] Why strategic clarity is crucial in succession-driven mergers. [22:14] Whose responsibility is it to lead succession planning? [25:28] Impacts of boards choosing executive search over internal CEO pipelines. [30:39] What exactly is the job of a recruiter? [32:53] Best practices to develop future CEO talent and retain runners-up. [39:26] Mitigating internal disengagement during external CEO searches. [43:24] How CEOs can foster top talent for candidate readiness. [48:19] Advice to integrate talent management and strategy. [50:57] Why performance reviews from the board-level down matter. [52:09] Discover more about Ag1Source at https://ag1source.com/brands/ag-1-source/. To explore People Spark Consulting, visit their website at https://peoplesparkconsulting.com/. Check out The People Spark Podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/4MDxso5DYdYbaCrJOv8tw3. Links to past Pacesetter Pod episodes with today's guests for deeper insights: Mark Waschek on Episode 140: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5HKupTrIzI6EWK8IZVhrjQ?si=oFnYcIQGTOuj7rJxOSdsdg Kristen Ireland on Episode 74: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vnpmQZeohfINYk1AHl82U?si=UpyQRd2nSz66nWrU5ayFdQ If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: Will asset-light be a tough sell in co-ops wired for asset-based value? [03:22] Risks of remote advisory with no community touchpoints. [05:52] Facing the revenue bridge in a transition to asset-light. [08:09] Can newly advisory-based ag co-ops avoid cultural drag? [10:16] Why sequence matters over speed in a major transition. [14:34] Greenfielding an asset-light co-op vs. transformation. [18:22] Building the stamina for a multi-year asset-light shift. [20:36] How to leverage disruption as an ag co-op in transition. [25:17] What the fit-for-the-future co-op could look like. [28:08] Are we ready to accept that co-ops don't have to be asset-first? [31:23] Join the dialogue on shaping the future ag co-op model. [34:37] If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.

Show Highlights: Can ag co-ops survive with no physical community anchors? [01:50] Uncover the true core of asset-light co-ops—hint: it's not tech. [06:15] What does "acqui-hiring" in tech mean for future ag co-ops? [10:14] Discover 4 key skill demands on asset-light co-op talent. [12:17] Entrepreneurial vs. process-oriented talent profiles. [14:41] Understanding employee flight risk in asset-light co-ops. [17:55] Why talent retention needs ownership in the asset-light model. [22:18] Potential equity structures asset-light co-ops can try. [24:31] What's coming up next in the asset-light co-op series? [27:46] If you are interested in connecting with Joe, go to LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemosher/, or schedule a call at www.moshercg.com.