Everett Dobrinski, a 2020 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductee discusses his cooperative career

Everett Dobrinski, Chairman of CoBank and a 2020 Cooperative Hall of Fame inductee discuss his career in cooperatives and future plans.
As a third-generation grain and oilseed farmer, Everett recognized at an early age, the value of cooperatives in providing essential services that his family farm needed to compete in a global marketplace. Today, as he approaches his 50th anniversary of marriage to his wife Peggy, he can now enjoy his years of retirement knowing that he has passed on his family farm to yet another generation. He has the privilege of helping his son Darren, who has taken over the family farm.

Everett first became active in Verendrye Electric Cooperative, eventually becoming Board Chair in 1990. He understood that the cooperatives needed to attract commercial business, such as the Minot Air Force Base, in order to maintain affordable, high-quality electric service for all customer-owners. Catering to the local community's needs, Everett's guidance was instrumental in financing a new daycare and convenience store in the more rural parts of Verendrye's territory.

Everett is an advocate of cooperative education in the boardroom, schools and universities and the statehouse. He frequently educated members about cooperatives and championed the need for cooperative director education in other industry sectors. As an Advisory Board Member of the Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives at North Dakota State University, Everett provided valuable advice to develop curriculum about cooperatives for high school and college students. As a former member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, he championed political engagement and advocated on issues of cooperative taxation, retail wheeling, and territorial integrity. His personal commitment and leadership within the cooperative sector are a testament to his belief that cooperatives empower farmers.