The History of the Wetaskiwin Co-op Association
officially dates
back
to
1917
...
But
its story starts earlier.
Back then, farmers needed to sell their produce, grain, and animals
to
make a living and also buy
essential supplies. Exploited by too many non-producers and
profit-takers, they faced a difficult and sometimes unfair
marketplace. To address this challenge
and improve their situation, farmers all across
Western Canada joined forces
and formed cooperatives. This
is how the Wetaskiwin Co-operative began.
The first
settlers of the Co-op
envisioned a store that they could rely
on for their every need. At that time they needed
commodities like salt, flour,
sugar, apples, feed, seed grain, and binder twine.
In the beginning, the bulk of the business was
conducted on a railway spur at the box car door.
Local members were notified
that their supplies had arrived
and farmers would call at the box car to pick up their
orders and sometimes their neighbours' orders as well.
As
peoples' needs changed so did
the Co-op grow to satisfy its members and other customers.
Over an eighty-eight year period the Wetaskiwin Co-op has responded to the consumers' demand for groceries, feed for their
livestock, petroleum products, fertilizer, farm supplies, tack, lumber, hardware, home
decor and several other kinds of merchandize and services. Expecting the best they
made some fairly wise decisions and bold moves.
 Entering
the feed business was one of those logical steps in expanding operations.
Acquiring a feed mix mill meant that the Co-op could
manufacture, sell and deliver all types of livestock feeds
anywhere in Western Canada. They engaged nutritionists
and feed mill experts. These
individuals dedicated themselves to
creating a business
that livestock producers could rely on
for quality feed.
We
are proud to have had the foresight to introduce restrictions on the use of animal
by-products long before the government started imposing
this type of restrictions. Today,
we
create custom feed programs that satisfy producers from all over Alberta and parts of
Saskatchewan. We remain steadfast in
offering you high-quality products, competitive prices, and
reliable service.
Today
the Country Junction is not just a farm supply store -
Everyone Can Shop Co-op - over 50,000
items in the home centre, a huge building supplies facility,
garden centre, bulk petroleum operations, hardware, tools,
gifts, clothing, flooring, and much much more.
 The new facilities and the many achievements of the
Wetaskiwin Co-op would be an impressive awe-inspiring site for the
old-timers to see.
When you
walk into our new bright Country
Junction store and look down
the neatly organized aisles
of merchandize think back to the year
1917 and what an investment
of $550 has produced. Ask for a coffee in the Java Junction and
chat with the descendants of the pioneers
that envisioned a store that they could rely on for their
every need.
Enjoy the enthusiasm and kindness at
the Country Junction because what you are experiencing is as a result of over 88 years of
authentic friendly co-operation and customer service.
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