(The picture above (circa early-1970's) shows the company's original main office/warehouse and truck scale facility located at 107 South Vine Street in Monroe City. This building served as the company's headquarters until September 2002 and was then demolished in 2004.)

The Farmers Elevator & Exchange Company of Monroe City, Missouri was organized in 1919 by a group of progressive citizens to provide a cooperative medium through which the farmers of the Monroe City territory might market their grain, livestock and produce, and in turn purchased needed supplies at the lowest possible cost.   (reprinted from a 1956 issue of the Monroe City News, a local newspaper.)  Its Certificate of Incorporation was signed in Jefferson City, Missouri by John L. Sullivan, Secretary of State for Missouri on Friday, June 6, 1919.  W.W. Fuqua was named chairman and L.G. Abel was named Secretary of the newly formed organization.

Because it was located on the railroad, the operation of the Farmers Elevator & Exchange Company  was very diverse in the early years and included the operation of a livestock yards where local farmers could bring their livestock to be transported by rail.

In 1924 a total of 224 carloads of livestock were shipped on the railroad through the Farmers Elevator & Exchange Company which set a new record for the company. There were 17,848 head of hogs, cattle and sheep making up that record number.  

From the Monroe City News,  written the week of April 3-7, 1925, we read that the newly elected Board of Directors of the Farmers Elevator & Exchange met and organized by re-electing all officers.  They included: A. Lee Ely, President; C.L. Elzea, Vice President  and J.D. Robey, Secretary-Treasurer.  The board also made plans for building an addition to the office building (shown in photo below).  The ndew part was to be 20' x 36', located on the west sie of the south front.  It was to be of hollow building blocks, stuccoed and with concrete floor.  A vault was to be built in and the remainder of the space used for a cream room.

In 1956, Monroe City News ads proclaimed Farmers Elevator & Exchange Co. was considered 'the oldest and largest cooperative in Monroe County, MO' and employed 12 people.  In 1956, sales volume of the company that year was $1,545,359 and included sales of grain, fertilizer, coal, seed, feed, eggs and cream.  At the annual stockholders' meeting for the business year of 1956, Reichard E. Redman was elected President, B.W. Freidank, Vice President, and George G. Yates, Secretary.  Other directors included: Baxter Watts, T. Roy Burditt, Lambert Buckman and Cecil Shortridge.  Photo below are the Employees from 1957 who included: Otis G. Hedberg, manager; Virigie Hoar, bookkeeper; Vivian McNally, asst. bookkeeper; Hugh Smith, Frank Homolas, Lyle Bloomer, Milton Sullivan, Loren Kaiser, Fletcher Sharp, Earl Buckner, Lewis B. Talton and Berry Talton. 

On the night of Sunday, March 12, 2006, an F-2 tornado struck the city of Monroe City including the facilities owned and operated by the Farmers Elevator & Exchange Company.  Losses to this storm exceeded $850,000 and included the total destruction of the company's main office and retail warehouse which was then located at 312 West Summer Street.  During the following 27 months, the company ran its business from a mobile office trailer which was rented.  The Company also rented both temporary and permanent warehouse facilities until facilities could be replaced.  On June 1, 2009, the company moved into a new facility at 107 South Chestnut Street in Monroe City.  The new site includes a building that is 140 ft. long and 60 ft. wide with administrative offices, a retail store and a large warehouse for feed and farm supplies.  Also a new 12' X 70' truck scales was constructed at the facility. 

Above is a photo of the employees of the Farmers Elevator & Exchange Company taken in 1957.

Shown here above is a photo of Farmers Elevator employee Harry Fisher beside the company truck, circa 1940's. Photo was submitted to us in March 2007 by Dennis Evans of Monroe City.

Above is a photo of Bob Campbell who served on the Board of Directors from 1958-1969 and granddaughter Dede in 1965 at company fish fry. Bob was Board Chairman of the Farmers Elevator & Exchange Company at thetime of this photo. (photo submitted by Joe Campbell)

Description of fishFry1965- Employee Otto Loutenschlaeger and Board chairman Bob Campbell frying fish for company fry in 1965.