Steve Becraft, CEO, of Southern States made the first visit of a Southern States CEO to Marshall County Co-op since 1951when they went under the umbrella of Southern States.

Steve Becraft’s visit was a big event for The Co-op and itás employees. Steve is a huge college football fan, in fact his “ON IN LAW” ­ Tanner Morgan was the starting Quarterback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers the past 5 years, including December 2021 when they beat our WVU Mountaineers in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Arizona. Steve’s visit was mainly to see the facility in Moundsville plus the new Propane Satellite Plant in New Martinsville with discussions held on further expansion in the near future.

Becraft has held the role of President and CEO of Southern States Cooperative, Inc. since July 1, 2021 following the retirement of Jeffery Stroburg, who held the position since May 2015.

Becraft brought more than 30 years of industry experience in the agronomy and ag-retail markets, with five years in key leadership roles at Southern States, including serving three years as the cooperative’s CEO Visits Marshall County Co-op and New Martinsville Satellite Plant COO.

Southern States Cooperative is a Richmond, Virginia-based agricultural retailer and service cooperative that provides a wide range of production inputs, including crop nutrition, seed, livestock feed, animal health supplies, energy solutions, as well as products for the farm and home. Founded in 1923, the cooperative is owned by more than 200,000 farmer-members, and serves its members and non-member customers through 87 company-owned retail locations, primarily in the states of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Kentucky. This year of 2023 makes the 100 year anniversary of Southern State Cooperative.

On Friday, January 6, Mr. Becraft, along with Marshall County Co-op Manager David Voithofer, and Dave Bledsoe, Marshall County Co-op Propane Supervisor, stopped at the Wetzel Chronicle office on their way to their Satellite Plant just outside of New Martinsville.

Selling and service is their business and the great thing is it’s all owned by local farmers. In fact 1,700 of them to be precise. The Co-op has been in existence at it’s current location on a tract of land near the Moundsville bridge since 1941. Voithofer, manager of the Co-op grew up in Smithfield, PA near Uniontown has been with Marshall County Co-op for 37 years, and with Southern States for 38 years. The Co-op has done a lot of expanding over the years, but The Co-op’s lifeline is propane. He added itás now what keeps them competitive with larger lawn and garden and farm retail businesses in the area.

He explained that CEO Becraft, was excited to visit the area and get an opportunity to see the new Satellite Plant of New Martinsville, while visiting the Co-op location in Moundsville. The New Martinsville site is located in their growth area where they are better suited to serve Wetzel and Tyler Counties, while cutting transportation costs. He mentioned he’s been in propane for 31 years, having started The Co-op in the business in the late 1980ás. He said that the tank transported to the Wetzel County site is the one he put in Moundsville in August of 1990. It now has a new home out RT 7 past the 4-H camp and career center. The new satellite plant will allow better service while cutting expenses and transportation costs for The Co-op.

Voithofer said the visit to the area by CEO Becraft shows Southern States commitment to Marshall County and the surrounding areas they service. He added they are a small business and they want and need to make a profit and they want to cut cost. “Being a Co-op, we pay back a patronage to our membership”. Voithofer said that The Co-op has a wonderful long-term group of employees, which includes Dave Bledsoe (30 year Co-op Propane Supervisor). Voithofer said they have just shy of 3,000 home heat customers from Weirton to the southern tip of Tyler County. As of now they won’t have an office down in Wetzel County but the satellite plant will be a filling station, adding they welcome the opportunity to better serve Wetzel and Tyler counties and the good people in the area”.

During their visit they took time to pose for a picture, talk a little about the business and a whole lot about football. It was a pleasant visit with some great stories, but none better than the one shared by Steve Becraft of his son-in-law Tanner Morgan and their victory over the Mountaineers in a rainy downpour in Arizona at the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in December 2021.

Thanks to the Co-op group for stopping by and sharing their successes with the Wetzel Chronicle. Good people, good products, and good service make great success stories and keep businesses thriving, competitive and a welcome place to do business. When thinking of spring, keep in mind the Marshall County Co-op, you won’t be disappointed.