The Farmers Coop Oil Company was formed in Albert City in 1927. It remained in Albert City as an oil company until 1945, when the office was moved to Marathon. In 1966, the Farmers Coop Oil Company and Farmers Coop Grain merged together into Farmers Coop Association. In 1966, a small feed mill and grain elevator were bought in Webb. In 1977, the grain operation of Scholar Bishop was purchased in Webb. In 1980, the Linn Grove operation was merged into the Farmers Coop Association, and 50-car siding was completed for shipping grain. In 1986, Peterson became part of the FCA group. In 1989, FCA bought the Feed and Grain operation in Sioux Rapids, from Marvin Anderson. In 1991, Laurens became part of FCA, and FCA began to ship 75 car trains. In 1994, FCA leased Ranco facility in Sioux Rapids.
Facilities at Marathon: - Wood Grain House - Built 1956 - 48,000 bushel capacity - 1,000 bushel grain dryer
- Corn Working House - Built 1972 - 180,000 bushel capacity - 6,000 bushel dryer
- Feed Mill - Built 1972
- Starsky & Hutch - Built in 1974 - 160,000 bushel capacity each
- Bert & Ernie - Built in 1976 - 190,000 bushel capacity each
- Dolly - Built in 1982 - 360,000 bushel capacity
- Outside Ring - Built in 1986 - 1,000,000 bushel capacity
- Bean Working House - Built in 1992 - 480,000 bushel capacity
- Corn Flat - Built in 1996 - 1,350,000 bushel capacity
- North Fertilizer Plant - North part built 1956 - South part built 1973
- Total storage together 4,000 ton - South Fertilizer Plant - Bought in 1993 - 1,500 ton capacity
- New Bulk Fuels Plant - North edge of town - 295,000 gallon capacity
- Propane Storage - 30,000 gallon & 11,000 gallon
- NH3 Plant - 26,000 gallon tank, 60 ton storage - 12,000 gallon tank, 26 ton storage
- Bulk Chemical storage - 15,500 gallon capacity - new storage south east of building
- 28% Storage - Two 30,000 gallon & 22,000 gallon
- Shop - Built in 1995
- Office Remodel - 1995
- Old station on corner replaced with cardtrol - 1995,1996
- Rail load-out scale - 1997 for corn
- Rail load-out scale for beans
 Services offered at Marathon are:
Fertilizer application of dry, liquid & NH3, spraying application, lime application, grind, mix & delivery of feed, bagged feed, cardtrol with unlead, gasohol & diesel, bulk chemicals, packaged chemicals, 75 car weigh load-out, grain receiving, drying & storage, seed, bulk petroleum delivery, bulk propane delivery, L.P. tanks (sell & lease), and sprayer parts.
More about Marathon: Read about the history of the Marathon branch before the consolidation.
Ronald Jolliffe
Regional Manager
 jolliffe@firstcoop.com
Contacts:
Laurie Stone, lstone@firstcoop.com
Norm Lietz, nlietz@firstcoop.com
Brian Ahrendsen, bahrendsen@firstcoop.com |  |
