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Five Star Cooperative

Farmer-owned cooperative: agronomy, grain, feed, energy

Custom Applicator

Full-Time
No salary listed
Entry
Burchinal, IA, USA
In Person

About the job

Requirements
  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
  • Fluent reading, writing, and speaking of English is required.
  • A Class A Commercial Driver’s License with hazardous materials and tanker endorsements is required, along with a valid Department of Transportation physical card.
  • An Iowa Commercial Applicators License with 1A, 1B, or 1C certification is required, or the ability to obtain it.
  • Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills are required.
  • Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and OneDrive is required.
  • Good customer-service skills and approach are required.
  • The role requires speaking, writing, reading comprehension, listening, monitoring, judgment and decision-making, and time-management skills.
Responsibilities
  • Operate agronomy spraying and spreading application equipment.
  • Apply fertilizer, chemical, and pesticide products according to work-order specifications, considering weather conditions, droplet size, elevation-to-distance ratios, velocity, and obstructions.
  • Mix fertilizer and chemicals properly according to product labels to ensure quality and accuracy.
  • Prepare and submit required application documentation on time.
  • Apply basic agronomy chemistry knowledge to all products.
  • Work in the fertilizer plant, including mixing products, loading trucks, and reading work orders and maps.
  • Complete and maintain driving and delivery records.
  • Assist with operations and distribute seed, fertilizer, and crop-protection products to growers.
  • Work directly with customers and develop customer relationships.
  • Communicate inventory information to the supervisor or location manager.
  • Regularly maintain and repair sprayer and spreader application equipment.
  • Maintain a certified applicator license.
  • Enforce and follow all cooperative policies.
  • Coordinate with other departments and assist with projects or other duties as assigned.
  • Assist other locations and departments as directed by management.
  • Receive grain, maintain grain conditions, and measure grain inventory as assigned.
  • Load and unload bulk and packaged fertilizer and chemical products and measure agronomy inventory as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
  • An agricultural background is a plus.

About the company

Five Star Cooperative is a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative serving Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota with agronomy, grain, feed, and energy products across 19 locations. It supports members with soil testing, seed selection (DEKALB, Asgrow, Stine), crop protection, and precision-agriculture data; the grain division handles marketing, storage up to 30 million bushels, and logistics; the feed division supplies livestock nutrition and the energy division distributes refined fuels and propane. Profits are returned to farmer-owners through patronage cash payouts and equity, and RateStar provides in-house financing for inputs. Its goal is to support member farmers and rural communities with reliable inputs, market access, financing, and integrated services, as demonstrated by the 2024 Burchinal agronomy complex investment following the 2022 Mason City tornado.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

New Hampton, Iowa

Founded

1889

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • October 2025 patronage returned $3.6 million, reinforcing member loyalty and local cash flow.
  • April 2026 Lime Springs fertilizer facility expands service speed and safety after Burchinal.
  • 2025 Business Innovation Award and AgVend recognition validate digital customer experience gains.

What critics are saying

  • TerraClear's 2027 weed mapping rollout depends on grower adoption and subscription acceptance.
  • Construction-heavy expansion raises execution risk after tornado rebuilds and multiple 2025-2026 projects.
  • If acreage consolidates away from northern Iowa, patronage economics and local relevance erode.

What makes Five Star Cooperative unique

  • Farmer-owned, 19 locations, and 30 million bushels create strong switching costs.
  • Burchinal's 2024 agronomy complex delivers 24-hour load-out, seed treatment, and fertilizer throughput.
  • 2026 TerraClear partnership adds AI rock and weed mapping across 110,000 acres.

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