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GRAIN MERCHANDISER: JOSH GARTNER

Aurora Cooperative 7 years ago

I married my high school sweetheart, Katie, in the summer of 2011. We were blessed with our first child, Clarence, in March 2017. Katie and I both grew up in Wood River where we attended high school. We currently live in Grand Island. Most of our family still lives in Wood River so we enjoy getting together as much as we can with them.

When Katie and I aren’t working, we spend time on the back roads of Nebraska riding our Harley Davidson Road King. We attend the annual Sturgis, South Dakota bike week while taking in a good rock and roll concert and enjoying the scenery of the Black Hills.

Before starting my career at Aurora Cooperative 4 years ago, I was first a commodities broker, working directly with growers managing price risk. After that, I worked at an ethanol processer as a grain and co-products merchandiser. Today, I merchandise grain out of the Grand Island Grain Terminal. My current trade area includes Grand Island, Wood River, Shelton, Gibbon, Cairo, Ravenna, Dannebrog, Boelus, Rockville, St. Paul, Farwell, Loup City, Wolbach, Palmer, Archer, Central City, Clarks, Chapman and Phillips.

Each day I have the privilege of working with the nation’s most innovative grain and livestock producers which is the absolute best part of my career here at Aurora Cooperative. Grain marketing is not an easy task but through mutual trust and valued relationships, I get to help our farmer-owners make sound marketing decisions. It is my responsibility to ensure each farmer-owner is successful.

I believe in family farms, both current and the next generation. I believe in helping our farmer-owners increase yields and enhance profitability.