Co-op Hall of Fame Tribute:  Honoring Kevin Still's Cooperative Legacy

Well, was there an early mentor or an early challenge or turning point that helped you see yourself as a cooperative leader?

Well, you know, first of all, I wanna say my father growing up was, was a mentor.

And he, you know, he, he taught me that you don't have to be flashy.

You need to pay attention to the details.

You need to live within your means.

Uh, I can remember growing up, I always wanted green tractors.

We always had red ones.

[laughs]

And they were usually used.

Um, but yet, you know, we had-- we lived well and, and, uh, and, and had a great life growing up.

But, um, yeah, I, I, I think that, uh, the other mentor I had was, was Dave Wicker, and he was the first, uh, general manager that I worked with.

I worked with him for about five months, but he taught me a lot in those five months.

And, and he just taught me a lot about business.

He taught me a lot about, um, doing the right things.

And he taught me that you have to make tough decisions.

So as you became the leader, did you teach people under you? Did you find that there were other people that helped to teach you? I'm getting at the fifth principle of cooperation, education, training, and information.

Yes.

Okay.

Well, I think, you know, uh, one thing, you can always learn new things, right? And I think it's by listening to other people.

It's, it's, it's, you know, it's, it's looking outside the system too.

Um, you know, you can...

Y-you need to look, you need to see how other businesses operate also.

And at, at the end of the day, the cooperative is, is a business and always ran it as a business first.

But it is about training and education.

It is about bringing your people along.

Well, was there an early mentor or an early challenge or turning point that helped you see yourself as a cooperative leader?

Well, you know, first of all, I wanna say my father growing up was, was a mentor.

And he, you know, he, he taught me that you don't have to be flashy.

You need to pay attention to the details.

You need to live within your means.

Uh, I can remember growing up, I always wanted green tractors.

We always had red ones.

[laughs]

And they were usually used.

Um, but yet, you know, we had-- we lived well and, and, uh, and, and had a great life growing up.

But, um, yeah, I, I, I think that, uh, the other mentor I had was, was Dave Wicker, and he was the first, uh, general manager that I worked with.

I worked with him for about five months, but he taught me a lot in those five months.

And, and he just taught me a lot about business.

He taught me a lot about, um, doing the right things.

And he taught me that you have to make tough decisions.

So as you became the leader, did you teach people under you? Did you find that there were other people that helped to teach you? I'm getting at the fifth principle of cooperation, education, training, and information.

Yes.

Okay.

Well, I think, you know, uh, one thing, you can always learn new things, right? And I think it's by listening to other people.

It's, it's, it's, you know, it's, it's looking outside the system too.

Um, you know, you can...

Y-you need to look, you need to see how other businesses operate also.

And at, at the end of the day, the cooperative is, is a business and always ran it as a business first.

But it is about training and education.

It is about bringing your people along.