Strengthening Connections
February 26, 2025
Written By Adam Buckallew
Hello, I’m Adam Buckallew. If you are a frequent reader of Momentum magazine, you’ve likely seen my name many times before. I helped launch Momentum for MFA Oil in 2015 and have served as the magazine’s editor ever since. One of the things I enjoy most is meeting our farmers and sharing their stories. Over the years, I’ve written features about co-op members, customers, delegates and the MFA Oil Board of Directors. I’ve covered various company news and agricultural trends and topics such as cover cropping, herbicide resistance, rural infrastructure, farm safety, supply chains and more.
I’ve had the privilege of telling others’ stories for over a decade. In this issue, I would like to share a bit about my own journey with MFA Oil. In September, I started in the newly created position of member relations manager for the cooperative, and I wanted to take this opportunity to share why the company is placing a greater emphasis on connecting with its farmer-owners.
In my new role, I will develop and implement strategies to grow and engage the cooperative’s membership while enhancing outreach and communication. Member engagement is fundamental to the co-op’s continued success and future growth. As a member-owned organization, MFA Oil relies on active participation from its farmer-owners to maintain strong governance and ensure the cooperative continues to meet the evolving needs of its members. Engaged members who understand and utilize their cooperative’s services not only strengthen the organization but also maximize the value of their membership.
Communication is vital in building and maintaining strong relationships in a cooperative. That’s why we started publishing Momentum 10 years ago, and we have added additional ways to communicate news and updates, such as the Fueled email newsletter, our social media channels, an annual report and more. I want to ensure that MFA Oil members are informed about their cooperative. When people understand what’s happening and why, they’re more invested in the co-op’s success.
Recently, I traveled across Missouri for the eight MFA Oil District Delegate meetings. Our delegates serve a critical role in representing their local communities and members’ voices, and this was an excellent opportunity for me to get to know them better. One of my priorities is to improve our delegate communications. We aim to keep our delegates well-informed so they can confidently represent the cooperative in their communities.
Some of my other new duties include assisting the Board of Directors with communications, answering member questions about elections and patronage, and improving our onboarding process for new members to ensure they understand the benefits of cooperative membership and the accounts through which they can earn patronage.
Ultimately, my goal is to help MFA Oil members stay informed and engaged. Whether through Momentum, company meetings or one-on-one conversations, I want to ensure you have the information and resources you need to make the most of your cooperative membership. Please reach out if you have questions, ideas for future magazine stories or feedback.
MFA Oil exists to serve you—our farmer-owners—and your involvement is what keeps it strong. I look forward to connecting with many of you in the months and years ahead.