Randy Carlholm

The Big Horn Co-op’s new CEO has a lot of challenges to deal with, from trouble finding and keeping good employees to the high cost of diesel and fertilizer.

Yet Randy Carlholm left retirement to take the leadership role starting late December and he’s thrilled to be a part of the communities and help a Co-op now celebrating 100 years in service.

“When you join a company that’s been in business 100 years, there’s some traditions and expectations that come with a company that size,” he said. “Well, we certainly want to honor those traditions and continue to meet our customers’ expectations. I’m a firm believer that cooperative business model, if it’s managed right, is hands down the best way to return funds back to the owners; way better than buying stocks in General Motors or General Electric or Coca-Cola or anything like that. So we want to continue on with building and continuing to be a successful business that can return those funds back to our members.”

At age 67, members’ equities are paid out. And it’s not just ag producers who can be members and reap the financial benefits.

“Anyone can be a member and participate in receiving those financial benefits that come with being a member of the cooperative,” Carlholm said. “We want to continue to grow our business, we want to continue to be relevant to our members. We want to continue to meet their needs, to meet their expectations. Give them the products and services that they will want.”

He’s so happy to be committed to that goal he said he promised at least five years as the CEO. It’s a natural spot for someone who grew up on a cow-calf operation in Nebraska. Carlholm met his wife, Leslie, in his home state and they have been married over 35 years. He spent 15 years in private industry and then 23 in the cooperative world. The couple now have eight grandchildren, and when he first retired they bought a house in central Nebraska to be near kids and grandkids. They’re keeping the house, and Randy said Leslie, who spent much of her career in economic development, will still spend a lot of time there as an indispensable grandma, but she’ll also be at their place in Greybull a lot, as she’s a key reason Randy took the job in the Big Horn Basin.

“We made 14 family trips to Yellowstone,” Randy recalled. “When this opportunity came up, Leslie said, ‘I really like it here, so if you’re lucky enough to get it, you need to take it.’ The climate is really nice, we enjoy outdoor opportunities and people are extremely friendly.”

He said it’s one of the most positive areas he’s ever moved to, and he wants to make sure the co-op can continue to be part of that positive atmosphere.

“We want to be good neighbors, and supportive of our local communities,” he said.