Macon Trousdale Farmers Cooperative received the 2009 Pinnacle Award during Tennessee Farmers Cooperative’s (TFC’s) annual meeting at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville on Nov. 30. The award, one of the highest honors given by TFC, was presented to three member cooperatives by customer relations officer Jim McWherter and TFC board chairman Bill Mayo.

Incoming manager Andy Shrum and board president Jackie Woodard accepted the award on behalf of Macon Trousdale Farmers Co-op, which operates in Lafayette and Hartsville. Also honored as recipients of the Pinnacle Award were Coffee Farmers Cooperative in Manchester and Obion Farmers Cooperative, headquartered in Union City.

“Working together as a team, you’ve helped your respective Co-ops stay the course and maintain solid community support through what was a challenging year,” McWherter said to the winning Co-ops during a special breakfast ceremony. “Congratulations on your service-minded approach and for striving for excellence in all areas of the business.”

The Pinnacle Award is based on a formula designed to, as McWherter said, “give every cooperative, whether large or small, a chance to compete.” The 2009 criteria for the Pinnacle Award included the percentage of net worth growth, rate of sales growth, ratio of earnings to permanent assets, the percent of purchases these Co-ops made from TFC, and working capital to arrive at a final score that shows both value to members and dedication to the Co-op system.

Macon Trousdale is in the midst of a transition with longtime manager Reid Brown’s upcoming retirement after 22 years at the helm of the 1,400-member Co-op established in 1949. As has been his custom, Brown deflected any praise associated with his tenure to what he says is the No. 1 combination for the Co-op’s success — employees and customers.

“We have great employees and loyal customers,” he says. “You can’t make it without those two things.”

Shrum and Hartsville store manager Ronnie Givens will look to continue Macon Trousdale’s run over the last five years of a 24 percent increase in net worth and a 31 percent increase in sales.

TFC, a regional farm supply and service organization, is owned by Macon Trousdale Farmers Cooperative and 57 other member Co-ops across the state. These Co-ops are owned by their farmer members and governed by a local board of directors. Together, the Co-op system serves more than 70,000 farmer owners and some 500,000 non-member customers.