MEMBER SPOTLIGHT DEAN AND CHARLENE FICHTNER

Both Dean and Charlene Fichtner have spent their careers working in various aspects of production agriculture. Dean has lived and worked on the family homestead all of his 78 years, in addition to working for several years at the local coop. The history of the Fichtner property can be traced all the way back to 1929 when his father Wes first purchased the farm/ranch. The original homestead has undergone four major remodeling projects. Dean and Charlene have also witnessed several shifts in agriculture, while remaining devoted contributors to our community’s cooperative.

Participation in the cooperative system has been a family tradition for generations. This legacy extends well beyond the realm of being a local producer. Charlene spent 22 years of her career working for the Maywood Cooperative, and the next 26 years working for Farmland and CHS. Charlene’s dad, Harrison Sellers, served as a board member of the Maywood Co-op. Dean, along with dad Wes and his brother Dave, have served at various times on the Maywood Co-op Board of Directors. The Fichtner family has been strong believers in the cooperative system throughout its various iterations and have witnessed numerous changes.

The Fichtner family business has reaped several benefits as a direct result of the accomplishments of their community cooperative in recent years. Ag Valley is the primary supplier of feed and other inputs for their operation, which focuses mostly on cattle.

The Fichtner family has a great deal of pride for the local cooperative and the positive influence it has on the communities it serves and have witnessed the significant impact on these areas. Even to this day, the Fichtner’s continue to be active in the company, assisting their daughter and son-in-law as they assume greater roles on the ranch. They are very involved in the activities of their grandchildren and are strong supporters of 4-H and FFA organizations. In the summer of 2022, Ag Valley Coop was pleased to hand Dean Fichtner his equity redemption check he had earned from his patronage of the coop over a period of many years. Ag Valley appreciates the commitment and dedication of the Fichtner family.