The board of directors for both West Central Cooperative and Farmers Cooperative Company (FC) have announce a unanimous vote to proceed with a member vote on a merger between the cooperative companies. “Our members own these cooperatives, said FC board president and Odebolt-area farmer, John Scott. “We encourage each owner to read the plan of the merger and proposed articles of incorporation, ask questions and return their ballot.” He added that each and every member matters in this decision. Sue Tronchetti, the board chair for West Central and a farmer near Paton said this is a landmark decision for member-owners that will allow the boards, employees and management teams to diversify, improve member services and protect and enhance member patronage. For this merger to take place, Iowa law requires 50 percent of each membership vote. Of that 50 percent, two-thirds of the votes cast must favor the proposal. Ballots and voting details will be mailed to each cooperative’s voting members by approximately Nov. 20. The votes will be tallied at a special meeting tentatively scheduled for Dec. 18. If the merger is approved, each cooperative would be represented by nine-farmer owners and member equity will roll into the new cooperative on a one-for-one basis. The combined cooperative would be headquartered in Ames and led by current West Central CEO, Milan Kucerak.