Inducted: Â 2007
Jack Gherty devoted 35 years to cooperatives and agribusiness, 16 of which were as President and CEO of Land O' Lakes, Inc. Under his leadership, Land O' Lakes transformed from a regional to a national farmer-owned business and membership organization, giving producers a powerful presence in the marketplace and a strong voice in the policy arena.
Gherty always emphasized the value of cooperatives in serving the needs of farmers and rural communities. He was an innovative leader who spearheaded a precedent-setting joint venture between Land O' Lakes and Cenex that established a new model for cooperative business activity. He also was a driving force behind the establishment of the Land O' Lakes Foundation, which serves rural communities, and the Land O' Lakes International Development Division, which provides humanitarian and economic development assistance on a global basis.
An active volunteer, Gherty served on numerous special committees and boards within the cooperative community, including 16 years on the board of the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership, which he helped build it into a preeminent educational program.
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