When Target announced the closure of its much-loved Cootamundra store, the locals quickly realised they would need to travel to Young or Wagga to buy many of their everyday essentials - even bras and briefs. An offhand comment by Cootamundra resident Leigh Bowden, "why don't we start a co-op?", marked the start of a long but exciting journey that has seen substantial progress made towards opening a member-owned retail co-op in the town.

Leigh shares with Michael Cavanagh the current progress of the Cootamundra District Co-op, as well as the highs and lows involved in pioneering a co-op: finding the first members, raising capital, securing supplies and establishing a spirit of co-operation (and not competition) with the other local retailers. 

If the co-op successfully opens its retail store, it will be a major victory for the board, the members and the local community. But if their vision doesn't quite come to fruition, Leigh and her team of dedicated volunteers will know that they did everything they could to help their Cootamundra community.

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Links & Resources:
Listen to all podcasts
Find out more about the Cootamundra District Co-op
Find out more about co-op farming
Subscribe to our monthly Co-operative Farming e-newsletter
Contact the Meet the Co-op Farmers podcast team 

If you or your community want to know more about setting up and running a co-op you can contact the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals for some friendly assistance.

When Target announced the closure of its much-loved Cootamundra store, the locals quickly realised they would need to travel to Young or Wagga to buy many of their everyday essentials - even bras and briefs. An offhand comment by Cootamundra resident Leigh Bowden, "why don't we start a co-op?", marked the start of a long but exciting journey that has seen substantial progress made towards opening a member-owned retail co-op in the town.
Leigh shares with Michael Cavanagh the current progress of the Cootamundra District Co-op, as well as the highs and lows involved in pioneering a co-op: finding the first members, raising capital, securing supplies and establishing a spirit of co-operation (and not competition) with the other local retailers.&nbsp;
If the co-op successfully opens its retail store, it will be a major victory for the board, the members and the local community. But if their vision doesn't quite come to fruition, Leigh and her team of dedicated volunteers will know that they did everything they could to help their Cootamundra community.
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Links &amp; Resources:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://coopfarming.coop/podcasts/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://coopfarming.coop/podcasts/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637113067597000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3n69tnqQ4ZchGhlG1ed4HK">Listen to all podcasts</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.cootacoop.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cootacoop.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637113067597000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0LjgLQQ4p3HwA1fllR458-">Find out more about the&nbsp;Cootamundra District Co-op</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coopfarming.coop/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://coopfarming.coop/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637113067597000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ku_eoxiKdNK0K888oPoBD">Find out more about co-op farming</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coopfarming.coop/subscribe-to-our-newsletter">Subscribe to our monthly Co-operative Farming e-newsletter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coopfarming.coop/contact/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://coopfarming.coop/contact/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637113067597000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1UyvrBynBdj_gYXiUE45DQ">Contact the Meet the Co-op Farmers podcast team</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
If you or your community want to know more about setting up and running a co-op you can&nbsp;<a href="https://bccm.coop/about/contact/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bccm.coop/about/contact/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637113067597000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2cWvpUSGNn9UbEEnJiiki7">contact the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals</a>&nbsp;for some friendly assistance.

Presented by www.coopfarming.coop.


A candid new podcast series will tell the stories of Australian farmers transforming their businesses and fighting back from the brink by working together. 


Featuring leading primary producers, the eight-episode podcast MEET THE CO-OP FARMERS will address some of the biggest issues in farming, put forward solutions aimed at future-proofing Australian family farms and talk to farmers and fishers fighting back with the co-operative model.


Pete Lewis speaks frankly with farmers from all around Australia who are successfully using co-operative farming business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences (warts and all), you will learn how relevant and positive it can be to the farming model and farming in general, and how it literally changes lives.


Interviews with Stuart Crosthwaite (Mountain Milk), Doriana Mangili (Sweeter Banana), Natalie Browning (CBH), Rodger Long (Limestone Coast Fishermen’s Co-operative), Stephen Thandi (Oz Group), Emma Robinson (Beef Collaboration Project), Kerry Murphy (TAFCO) and Larry McHugh (Marquis Macadamias).

Presented by www.coopfarming.coop. 
 
A candid new podcast series will tell the stories of Australian farmers transforming their businesses and fighting back from the brink by working together. 
 
Featuring leading primary producers, the eight-episode podcast MEET THE CO-OP FARMERS will address some of the biggest issues in farming, put forward solutions aimed at future-proofing Australian family farms and talk to farmers and fishers fighting back with the co-operative model. 
 
Pete Lewis speaks frankly with farmers from all around Australia who are successfully using co-operative farming business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences (warts and all), you will learn how relevant and positive it can be to the farming model and farming in general, and how it literally changes lives. 
 
Interviews with Stuart Crosthwaite (Mountain Milk), Doriana Mangili (Sweeter Banana), Natalie Browning (CBH), Rodger Long (Limestone Coast Fishermen’s Co-operative), Stephen Thandi (Oz Group), Emma Robinson (Beef Collaboration Project), Kerry Murphy (TAFCO) and Larry McHugh (Marquis Macadamias).

A candid new podcast series will tell the stories of Australian farmers transforming their businesses and fighting back from the brink by working together.

Meet the Co-op Farmers

Presented by www.coopfarming.coop.

A candid new podcast series will tell the stories of Australian farmers and regional Australia transforming their businesses and communities and fighting back from the brink by working together. 

Featuring leading primary producers, the podcast MEET THE CO-OP FARMERS will address some of the biggest issues in farming, put forward solutions aimed at future-proofing Australian family farms and talk to farmers and fishers fighting back with the co-operative model.

In our second series, we uncover more great stories of co-operation in regional Australia. We’ll not only be talking to the farmers, fishers and foresters who put the food on our table and get the wood to the mill. We’re going to look at what’s driving a rediscovery and take up of this tried and tested model of doing business together. Along the way, you’ll meet people across our rural communities working together to overcome disasters and crisis and plan for a better future. It’s truly inspiring.

Pete Lewis speaks frankly with farmers and communities from all around Australia who are successfully using co-operative business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences (warts and all), you will learn how relevant and positive it can be to the farming model and farming in general, and how it literally changes lives.

Interviews with Stuart Crosthwaite (Mountain Milk), Doriana Mangili (Sweeter Banana), Natalie Browning (CBH), Rodger Long (Limestone Coast Fishermen’s Co-operative), Stephen Thandi (Oz Group), Emma Robinson (Beef Collaboration Project), Kerry Murphy (TAFCO) and Larry McHugh (Marquis Macadamias).

Presented by <a href="http://www.coopfarming.coop">www.coopfarming.coop</a>. A candid new podcast series will tell the stories of Australian farmers and regional Australia transforming their businesses and communities and fighting back from the brink by working together. Featuring leading primary producers, the podcast MEET THE CO-OP FARMERS will address some of the biggest issues in farming, put forward solutions aimed at future-proofing Australian family farms and talk to farmers and fishers fighting back with the co-operative model. In our second series, we uncover more great stories of co-operation in regional Australia. We&rsquo;ll not only be talking to the farmers, fishers and foresters who put the food on our table and get the wood to the mill. We&rsquo;re going to look at what&rsquo;s driving a rediscovery and take up of this tried and tested model of doing business together. Along the way, you&rsquo;ll meet people across our rural communities working together to overcome disasters and crisis and plan for a better future. It&rsquo;s truly inspiring. Pete Lewis speaks frankly with farmers and communities from all around Australia who are successfully using co-operative business models. Through their stories and real-life experiences (warts and all), you will learn how relevant and positive it can be to the farming model and farming in general, and how it literally changes lives. Interviews with Stuart Crosthwaite (Mountain Milk), Doriana Mangili (Sweeter Banana), Natalie Browning (CBH), Rodger Long (Limestone Coast Fishermen&rsquo;s Co-operative), Stephen Thandi (Oz Group), Emma Robinson (Beef Collaboration Project), Kerry Murphy (TAFCO) and Larry McHugh (Marquis Macadamias).

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