Working to Serve Our Member Owners
NuWay-K&H Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative supplying agronomy services, precision ag solutions and energy and fuel related products and services. Our main office is located in Clear Lake, Iowa with our principal place of business in Trimont, Minnesota and additional operations based out of Welcome, Minnesota.
Focusing on the customer is core to all we do. As a cooperative, we are owned and controlled by the same people we service – and every decision made is for the benefit of our member owners. Any profits are divided and shared – or reinvested in the priorities and needs of our customers.
Timeline of Our History
Our History, Our Future
Like any evolving company, NuWay–K&H Cooperative’s history is a diverse one. It dates back to our origin in 1930 as K&H Cooperative Oil Company where our charter membership was formed, initially serving the counties of Kossuth and Hancock.
Years of expansion have led us here today, serving cooperative members across Minnesota and Iowa. While service is core to our philosophy, we are still always seeking ways to grow and change in the future interest of our customers and member owners.
1930
1930
K&H Cooperative Oil Company – Membership was formed to supply oil to rural areas that other oil companies would not serve. The K&H name originated from the names Kossuth and Hancock – the first 2 counties initially served.
1964
1964
K&H Cooperative Oil Company – Entered the propane supply business. A 30,000 gallon LP tank was brought into Wesley by rail, trucks were purchased, and personnel were hired.
1981
1981
The company begins with the consolidation of Sherburn Co-op, Dunnell Co-op and Trimont Co-op Association. Trimont Co-op manager Jim Lorenz is named first general manager of NuWay Cooperative.
1985
1985
K&H Opened its first C-Store in Burt, IA.
The Ag Center in St. James is sold and the Midland fertilizer plant in Fairmont is closed.
1986
1986
NuWay builds the St. James c-store, replacing a service station and tire business.
1987
1987
K&H purchased Viking Oil Company of Algona.
1989
1989
NuWay builds the Fairmont c-store.
1991
1991
NuWay builds the Butterfield c-store and purchases Cropmate of Sherburn. The Ceylon Co-op merges into NuWay.
1993
1993
NuWay purchases Rabbe Oil Company and Olson Oil Company.
1994
1994
NuWay purchases Ormsby Oil Company and M.V. Propane in St. James.
1995
1995
NuWay and Watonwan Farm Service (WFS) form NW Agronomy, which builds a liquid fertilizer plant at Welcome serving customers of both co-ops.
1997
1997
- From Cenex, NuWay purchases the former Vigoro fertilizer plants at Alpha and Dunnell, bringing to seven the number of the local co-op’s fertilizer plants.
- K&H Purchased Walker Oil Company of Algona, Fenton and Armstrong.
1998
1998
K&H purchased Sleper Oil Company of Titonka.
1999
1999
NuWay purchases the Casey’s store in Sherburn.
2000
2000
NuWay purchases a petroleum/propane business in Iowa with facilities in Swea City and Buffalo Center.
2001
2001
- K&H Purchased the Energy Assets of FC Coop of Rake and Thompson.
K&H Purchased Hilpipre Oil Company of Elmore, MN.
2002-04
2002-04
In a major move to improve efficiency and profitability, NuWay consolidates agronomy operations at Welcome by closing fertilizer plants in Sherburn, Alpha and Fairmont and operating the Dunnell and Ormsby plants only in the busy season. Likewise, the co-op consolidates its propane operations at Welcome, St. James and Buffalo Center. All operations staff members headquarter at Welcome. Account managers and administrative staff move to the expanded main office at Trimont.
2002
2002
NuWay purchases WFS c-stores at Wells, Truman, Amboy and St. James (Highway 60).
2004
2004
- NuWay purchases c-stores at Marshall, Comfrey, Madelia and Pipestone. Later, the Comfrey store is closed, bringing the number of NuMart Convenience Stores to 13.
- K&H Cooperative Oil Company and Farmer’s Coop Gas & Oil of Mason City merged, with Farmers Coop Gas and Oil merging into K&H Cooperative Oil Company.
2005
2005
- Kevin Jones is named CEO/general manager, and Jim Lorenz retires after leading NuWay Cooperative for 25 years and after a 45-year career in cooperatives.
- NuWay sells elevators at Ceylon and Dunnell to WFS, which has run them for 10 years.
2007
2007
K&H Purchased the Energy Assets of Osage Coop Oil of Riceville and Osage.
2008
2008
K&H Purchased the Energy Assets of Ostrander Farmers of Lime Springs, Leroy MN, and Harmony MN.
2010
2010
K&H purchased Springer Propane of Estherville and Gruver.
2011
2011
Casey’s General Stores purchases NuWay Cooperative’s chain of convenience stores. NuWay refocuses these resources on its core businesses: agronomy and energy.
2012
2012
NuWay enters into its first agronomy partnership with Keith Hartmann Seed of Northrop.
2014
2014
United Suppliers builds large fertilizer plant at Welcome to serve NuWay and WFS. NuWay builds a new Operations complex including office building, warehouse and scale at Welcome.
2015
2015
NuWay purchases Best Oil Company, Cloquet. In addition, NuWay enters another agronomy partnership, this time with Caldwell Brothers of Amboy.
2016
2016
NuWay purchases Cummings Oil Company, Aitkin.
2017
2017
NuWay Cooperative forms Best Oil Cooperative and Best Oil LLC with Staples Oil.
2018
2018
NuWay Cooperative and K&H Cooperative out of Clear Lake, IA merge together to form NuWay-K&H Cooperative.
