GOLDFIELD, Iowa – Oct. 4—Major transitions are reshaping Gold-Eagle Cooperative as the farmer-owned business grows and Chris Boshart has been named the next general manager. Boshart, who has served as Gold-Eagle’s feed department manager since 2018, is currently working with long-time Gold-Eagle general manager Brad Davis, who will be retiring.
“This is an exciting time to be part of Gold-Eagle,” said Boshart, an Iowa native who has spent the past decade of his career in the ag industry. “We’ve very recently expanded our territory to 15 locations in north-central Iowa. I am looking forward to working with our talented team members and valued customers to make this an even stronger farmer-owned cooperative in the years ahead.”
In the summer of 2019, members of the farmer-owned North Central Cooperative voted to merge with Gold-Eagle. This unification, which became effective October 1, brought six new locations (Clarion, Woden, Hutchins, Kanawha, Holmes, and the Highway 69 feed mill) into Gold-Eagle Cooperative, which is based in Goldfield.
Gold-Eagle’s board of directors undertook an extensive search in the past year to find the cooperative’s next general manager after Davis announced his plans to retire after serving Gold-Eagle for 35 years.
“We did our due diligence and received a large number of applications from many talented candidates,” said Jeff Morris, Gold-Eagle’s board president who farms near Titonka. “We were looking for someone who understands the cooperative system, values Gold-Eagle’s history and has the leadership skills to help Gold-Eagle succeed in the future. It was clear that Chris is the right person for the job.”
Boshart grew up near Wayland in southeast Iowa on a turkey and row-crop farm. After earning his industrial engineering degree from Iowa State University in 2003, he started his career as an engineer in southeast Iowa and later joined Agri-Way Partners, a farmer-owned feed and grain company based in Wayland. During his 10 years at the company, he was promoted to CEO. He filled this role before becoming Gold-Eagle’s feed department manager in the summer of 2018.
“Gold-Eagle has a lot of value to offer our patrons,” Boshart said. “This cooperative has a large demand for corn every day, since we utilize all of our bushels internally to supply our feed mills and the CORN, LP ethanol plant in Goldfield. Gold-Eagle also features some of the most modern grain and agronomy assets you’ll find anywhere, along with dedicated, experienced employees who are ready to meet the challenges of each season.”
Building on Gold-Eagle’s history of success goes far beyond maintaining the status quo. “We’re focused on continuous improvement and will keep growing our relationships so we can meet farmers’ unique needs and help our rural communities thrive for the next generation,” Boshart said