OUR HISTORY

1930

1930

K&H Cooperative Oil Company – Membership was formed to supply oil to rural areas that other oil companies would not serve. The K&H name originated from the names Kossuth and Hancock – the first 2 counties initially served.

1964

1964

K&H Cooperative Oil Company – Entered the propane supply business. A 30,000 gallon LP tank was brought into Wesley by rail, trucks were purchased, and personnel were hired.

1981

1981

The company begins with the consolidation of Sherburn Co-op, Dunnell Co-op and Trimont Co-op Association. Trimont Co-op manager Jim Lorenz is named first general manager of NuWay Cooperative.

1981

1981

NuWay purchases the Midland fertilizer plant in Fairmont, the Ag Center in St. James and the Co-op Oil fertilizer plant in Trimont.

1985

1985

NuWay builds its first convenience store in Trimont, replacing a two-bay service station.

1985

1985

K&H Opened its first C-Store in Burt, IA.

1985

1985

The Ag Center in St. James is sold and the Midland fertilizer plant in Fairmont is closed.

1986

1986

NuWay builds the St. James c-store, replacing a service station and tire business.

1987

1987

K&H purchased Viking Oil Company of Algona.

1989

1989

NuWay builds the Fairmont c-store.

1991

1991

NuWay builds the Butterfield c-store and purchases Cropmate of Sherburn. The Ceylon Co-op merges into NuWay.

1992

1992

NuWay builds the Welcome c-store and purchases the Welcome fertilizer plant.

1993

1993

NuWay purchases Rabbe Oil Company and Olson Oil Company.

1994

1994

NuWay purchases Ormsby Oil Company and M.V. Propane in St. James.

1995

1995

NuWay and Watonwan Farm Service (WFS) form NW Agronomy, which builds a liquid fertilizer plant at Welcome serving customers of both co-ops.

1997

1997

From Cenex, NuWay purchases the former Vigoro fertilizer plants at Alpha and Dunnell, bringing to seven the number of the local co-op’s fertilizer plants.

1997

1997

K&H Purchased Walker Oil Company of Algona, Fenton and Armstrong.

1998

1998

K&H purchased Sleper Oil Company of Titonka.

1999

1999

NuWay purchases the Casey’s store in Sherburn.

2000

2000

NuWay purchases a petroleum/propane business in Iowa with facilities in Swea City and Buffalo Center.

2001

2001

K&H Purchased the Energy Assets of FC Coop of Rake and Thompson.

2001

2001

K&H Purchased Hilpipre Oil Company of Elmore, MN.

2002

2002-4

In a major move to improve efficiency and profitability, NuWay consolidates agronomy operations at Welcome by closing fertilizer plants in Sherburn, Alpha and Fairmont and operating the Dunnell and Ormsby plants only in the busy season. Likewise, the co-op consolidates its propane operations at Welcome, St. James and Buffalo Center. All operations staff members headquarter at Welcome. Account managers and administrative staff move to the expanded main office at Trimont.

2002

2002

NuWay purchases WFS c-stores at Wells, Truman, Amboy and St. James (Highway 60).

2004

2004

NuWay purchases c-stores at Marshall, Comfrey, Madelia and Pipestone. Later, the Comfrey store is closed, bringing the number of NuMart Convenience Stores to 13.

2004

2004

K&H Cooperative Oil Company and Farmer’s Coop Gas & Oil of Mason City merged, with Farmers Coop Gas and Oil merging into K&H Cooperative Oil Company.

2005

2005

K&H Purchased Nelson Petroleum of Clear Lake.

2005

2005

Kevin Jones is named CEO/general manager, and Jim Lorenz retires after leading NuWay Cooperative for 25 years and after a 45-year career in cooperatives.

2005

2005

NuWay sells elevators at Ceylon and Dunnell to WFS, which has run them for 10 years.

2007

2007

K&H Purchased the Energy Assets of Osage Coop Oil of Riceville and Osage.

2008

2008

K&H Purchased the Energy Assets of Ostrander Farmers of Lime Springs, Leroy MN, and Harmony MN.

2010

2010

K&H purchased Springer Propane of Estherville and Gruver.

2011

2011

Casey’s General Stores purchases NuWay Cooperative’s chain of convenience stores. NuWay refocuses these resources on its core businesses: agronomy and energy.

2012

2012

NuWay enters into its first agronomy partnership with Keith Hartmann Seed of Northrop.

2014

2014

United Suppliers builds large fertilizer plant at Welcome to serve NuWay and WFS. NuWay builds a new Operations complex including office building, warehouse and scale at Welcome.

2015

2015

NuWay purchases Best Oil Company, Cloquet. In addition, NuWay enters another agronomy partnership, this time with Caldwell Brothers of Amboy.

2016

2016

NuWay purchases Cummings Oil Company, Aitkin.

2017

2017

NuWay Cooperative forms Best Oil Cooperative and Best Oil LLC with Staples Oil

2018

2018

NuWay Cooperative and K&H Cooperative out of Clear Lake, IA merge together to form NuWay - K & H Cooperative.