Five Star

What Five Star does

Five Star is a farmer-owned agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in New Hampton, Iowa, founded in 1889 and operating 19 locations across 15 counties in Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota. The cooperative serves individual farmers, livestock producers, agricultural operations, and rural homeowners through five operating divisions: Agronomy (crop inputs and the new Lime Springs dry fertilizer facility), Grain, Feed, Fuel & Propane, and Retail (Country Store). Member-facing products and platforms include RateStar financing, Five Star Bucks rewards, Five Star Link customer portal, and SmartPay Propane budget billing; in 2026 the Fuel & Propane division added Otodata IoT tank monitoring and an E85 co-marketing partnership with Homeland Energy Solutions. Patronage dividends of $3.6M have been distributed to members, consistent with a cooperative ownership structure that recycles earnings to farmer-members.

Underlying technology is operational rather than AI-native: RFID-based identity and automated batching in the feed division support throughput and traceability, while the Five Star Link portal and Otodata tank monitors provide connectivity between members and the cooperative's logistics systems. No proprietary software platforms or external AI/ML capabilities are disclosed in the source material, indicating the technology stack is primarily used for commodity handling, inventory management, and member engagement rather than differentiated digital products.

The business model combines sale of crop inputs (seed, fertilizer, crop protection), grain handling and merchandising, manufactured and branded feed, propane and refined fuel distribution, and rural retail through the Country Store channel. Revenue is generated through per-unit commodity margins, hauling and storage fees, fuel/feed volume, and member-financed services such as RateStar; ownership by farmer-members means surplus is returned partly via the patronage mechanism rather than captured solely as profit. Recent inorganic and capital moves — the September 2024 acquisition of A&K Feed & Grain and the April 2026 opening of the Lime Springs dry fertilizer facility — signal continued build-out of feed and agronomy capacity.

Name

Five Star

Legal name

Five Star Cooperative

Website

https://fivestarcoop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Five Star is a farmer-owned agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in New Hampton, Iowa, operating 19 locations across 15 counties in Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota. It serves farmers, livestock producers, and rural homeowners through Agronomy, Grain, Feed, Fuel & Propane, and Retail divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Cooperative Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (11521)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural & Rural Cooperatives (Farm Credit/Co-op Banks) (FSABAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Stakeholder Grocery Cooperatives (CRAHALAD)

Keywords

• Agricultural cooperative
• Agronomy services
• Grain marketing
• Livestock feed
• Propane delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

New Hampton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Agronomy Products and Services: Sales of agricultural seeds, fertilizers, crop protection products, and precision ag services to farmer-members
2. Grain Procurement: Buying and marketing grain (corn and soybeans) from farmer-members with competitive pricing and flexible delivery options
3. Livestock Feed: Sales of swine feed, cattle feed, show feed, and nutritional consulting services for livestock operations
4. Energy Products: Propane, diesel, gasoline, DEF, and lubricants delivered to residential, farm, and commercial customers
5. Retail - Country Store: Retail sales of farm and home supplies including Cenex fuel, Purina feeds, TrueValue hardware, pet food, and convenience items
6. Agricultural Financing: RateStar financing providing low-interest loans for seed, fertilizer, fuel, LP, and other crop inputs to farmer-members

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Five Star Cooperative is a farmer-owned agricultural supply cooperative providing agronomy inputs (seeds, fertilizers, crop protection products, precision farming services), grain procurement and marketing for corn and soybeans, livestock feed (cattle, swine, show feed) with nutritional consulting, and bulk fuel and propane delivery to farms, homes, and businesses. The cooperative operates 19 locations across 15 counties in Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota, with member benefits including patronage dividends and RateStar in-house agricultural financing.

Product overview

Five Star Cooperative is a farmer-owned agricultural supply cooperative offering a diversified portfolio of products and services across five core divisions: Agronomy (seed, fertilizer, crop protection, precision ag), Grain (buying, marketing, contracts, cash bids), Feed (livestock feed, nutritional consulting), Fuel & Propane (bulk fuel, propane, lubricants), and Retail (Country Store). The cooperative operates a platform model centered on Five Star Link, a customer portal providing account management, tank monitoring, and e-signature capabilities. Additional offerings include RateStar Ag Financing, SmartPay Propane budget billing, Five Star Bucks rewards, and text alert services. With 19 locations across 15 counties in Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota, the cooperative serves individual farmers of all sizes through quality products, expert service, and member benefits including patronage dividends.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Agronomy Services Full-service agronomy division offering seed, fertilizer, crop protection and performance products, and expert guidance for individual farmers across Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota. Includes cutting-edge data and online tools to maximize yield.
• Grain Services Grain buying and marketing services providing competitive pricing, flexible delivery, and tailored service for corn and soybean farmers. Includes cash bids, grain contracts, and grain procurement policies.
• Livestock Feed Premium feeds and custom nutrition plans for cattle, swine, horses, chickens, and other livestock operations, including swine feed, cattle feed, and show feed lines.
• Fuel & Propane Services Energy solutions supplying bulk diesel, gasoline, propane, DEF, and lubricants to keep agricultural operations and rural homes running. Includes propane delivery, tank sales and leases, and bulk fuel delivery.
• Country Store Retail farm and home supplies store located in New Hampton offering garden tools, pet feed, LP tank refills, pond stocking, Cenex fuel, Purina feeds, TrueValue hardware, and North Iowa's largest sprayer parts supplier.
• RateStar Ag Financing In-house agricultural financing providing low-interest loans for seed, fertilizer, fuel, LP, and other crop inputs to farmer-members with easy applications and payment flexibility.
• Nutritional Consulting Expert nutritional consulting services to unlock livestock's full potential through customized feeding programs for livestock producers.
• Cenex Agricultural Lubricants Premium lubricants designed specifically for agricultural equipment to ensure optimal machinery performance, supplied through the cooperative's fuel stations.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3.6 million in patronage dividends shared with members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Homeland Energy SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Partnership with Homeland Energy Solutions, Iowa's leading ethanol producer, for E85 fuel promotions supporting Iowa corn producers. The June 2026 promotion offered $1 per gallon E85 at Five Star locations in New Hampton, Hanlontown, and Scarville, celebrating ethanol's role in supporting Iowa agriculture and creating market opportunities for local corn growers.
• OtodatacoreTechnology or IntegrationOtodata provides cellular-connected propane tank monitors that integrate with Five Star Link portal, enabling real-time tank level visibility for customers and improved delivery scheduling for Five Star energy team.
• Murray EquipmentcoreTechnology or IntegrationMurray Equipment provided the automated batching system for the new Lime Springs dry fertilizer facility, replacing manual processes with technology for improved accuracy and reduced human error.
• Doyle ManufacturingcoreTechnology or IntegrationDoyle Manufacturing supplied the blending system for the Lime Springs dry fertilizer facility, enabling precision blending of agricultural fertilizers.
• Marcus ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for the Lime Springs dry fertilizer facility construction, completing the project on-time and on-budget with contribution from local sub-contractors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• West Central Cooperative: Iowa-headquartered farmer-owned cooperative combining agronomy, grain, and feed services — closely comparable business mix and member-driven governance to Five Star Cooperative.
• Premier Cooperative: Wisconsin-headquartered ag cooperative providing agronomy, grain, energy, and feed — comparable multi-division farmer-owned model in the Upper Midwest, though operating in a different state.
• Heartland Cooperative Services: Iowa-based farmer-owned cooperative serving central and northern Iowa with grain, agronomy, and feed services — directly comparable member-owned supply model in a similar row-crop territory.
• Mid-Iowa Cooperative: Iowa-headquartered farmer-owned cooperative providing agronomy, grain, and energy services — closely comparable in scale, geography, and member-driven business mix to Five Star.
• NEW Cooperative: Iowa-based grain and ag supply cooperative with overlapping geography and similar focus on corn/soybean farmer-members in northwest/north-central Iowa — directly comparable to Five Star's agronomy and grain franchise.
• Landus Cooperative: Iowa-headquartered farmer-owned agricultural cooperative offering grain, agronomy, and feed services across the state — directly comparable business mix and member-driven model to Five Star.

Broad incumbents

• Ag Processing Inc (AGP): Farmer-owned cooperative processing soybeans, corn, and grain — comparable cooperative ownership and grain-handling orientation, though focused on processing and export vs. Five Star's input retail model.
• Growmark: Midwest-based farmer-owned cooperative operating agronomy, energy, and grain handling businesses with retail supply coverage in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin — broadly comparable strategic footprint to Five Star's.
• CHS Inc. Largest U.S. farmer-owned cooperative with a broad ag inputs, grain, energy, and food portfolio — overlapping with Five Star's agronomy, grain, and fuel/propane divisions at a much larger national scale.

Regional players

• Frontier Cooperative: Nebraska-based farmer-owned cooperative with grain, agronomy, and energy operations — comparable multi-division supply model to Five Star but operating in an adjacent row-crop geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fivestarcoop
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCr9i7plZWtA7AMQuDp5DRpw
• Facebookfacebook.com/FiveStarCoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/five-star-coop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Five Star