A Note from Our CEO: Shared Success: The Power of Patronage

By Kevin Still, President & CEO, Keystone Cooperative 

At Keystone Cooperative, we believe success is meant to be shared. That principle is at the heart of the cooperative model, and it’s why I’m proud to announce that 100% of our member net profits from 2025 are being returned directly to our farmer-members through patronage. This year, Keystone will distribute $57 million in patronage, including more than $46 million in cash, with the remainder applied to member equity. In addition, we will redeem $4.2 million in equity, bringing total cash returns to over $51 million. 

Looking ahead, we’re investing more than $60 million in infrastructure and technology to ensure Keystone remains positioned to serve today’s members and future generations. These investments will strengthen supply chains, improve efficiency, and deliver the innovation our partners need to thrive in a rapidly changing marketplace.  

But our commitment goes beyond infrastructure - it starts with people. Part of our mission is to lead with people and innovation, and people remain at the heart of everything we do. We strive to be the employer of choice in the Midwest, creating opportunities for growth and advancement within the cooperative. By investing in training, technology, and leadership development, we empower our team to work smarter and deliver exceptional service. There has never been a more exciting time to be part of Keystone. 

These numbers aren’t just financial metrics. They represent trust, partnership, and the strength of a model that works, and has for 100 years. Over the past decade alone, Keystone has returned more than half a billion dollars to members. That’s proof that when Keystone succeeds, our members succeed. It’s also why we pay the highest patronage rates and maintain the strongest cash-to-equity ratio of any cooperative in the Midwest. 

The cooperative model is built on shared success and at Keystone, that’s not just a promise, it’s a practice. Thank you to our employees for serving the customer to the greatest degree. And thank you to our farmer-members and partners for making this possible. Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected future for agriculture.