Taking a principled approach
As a cooperative, AMPI is guided by globally recognized values
Established and owned by dairy farmers, AMPI is among the approximately 3 million cooperatives worldwide celebrating the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives in 2025.
Dairy cooperatives were some of the first member-owned businesses organized in the U.S. The first co-op creamery was established in Connecticut in 1801 when farmers recognized the opportunity to save time and money while getting milk from cow to customer.
From farmer-owned companies to funeral services associations, co-ops now exist across the spectrum of business. About 12% of the world population holds membership in at least one co-op, while countless others support them by purchasing their products and services.
Regardless of who they serve or where they’re located, these member-owned businesses operate according to the same set of core principles — values that trace to the first modern cooperative founded in England in 1844. Here’s how you see the seven cooperative principles applied at AMPI:
1. VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP
AMPI is owned by, and operated for, 850 Midwest dairy farm families who pool production, processing, manufacturing and marketing to maximize the value of their milk.
2. DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL
A three-level governance structure ensures member control is central to the co-op’s operation. This grassroots leadership begins at 15 annual district meetings where members review cooperative performance and elect representatives. District representatives attend division meetings where they recommend practices and policies to the 15 members elected to the AMPI Corporate Board.
3. MEMBERS’ ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION
AMPI dairy farmer-owners share the financial risks and benefits of the co-op, based on each farm’s milk production. Profits generated by the cooperative are distributed back to members. Owners also contribute to the capital of the cooperative to build and maintain the infrastructure of the dairy manufacturing network and employ those who operate and support it.
4. AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE
AMPI Corporate Board members, who serve three-year terms, are responsible for establishing policies and directing the cooperative toward its overall objectives. They operate independently to make decisions that democratically benefit members’ best interests.
5. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION
The co-op actively educates members on market trends, best practices and cooperative governance to ensure informed participation. Communications tools such as the monthly Owner Intel, the quarterly Dairymen’s Digest and a members-only portal at ampi.com provide information owners need for making short- and long-term shareholder decisions. The Young Cooperators program and AMPI MasterClass provide members with deeper understanding of AMPI-related topics. The co-op also advocates on members’ behalf, educating and informing the general public and policymakers about issues related to dairy farming, food manufacturing, agriculture and rural America.
6. COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES
AMPI actively supports and provides leadership for local, national and regional cooperatives that benefit dairy farmer-owners. Memberships in the National Milk Producers Federation and Midwest Dairy Coalition give AMPI a say in the development of state and federal policies that impact members’ livelihoods. Participation in cooperative-supported organizations such as the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program, lets AMPI members reaffirm their commitment to the land, animals and communities.
7. CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY
True to AMPI’s Co-op Crafted® promise, members and employees contribute to the sustainability of their communities. Over and above the variety of stewardship activities undertaken by individual member farm families, the cooperative contributed more than $300,000 in product and monetary donations last year. Co-op employees collectively log almost 23,000 volunteer hours in community service annually. To protect the environment, the co-op’s manufacturing teams are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 and promoting initiatives that repurpose or compost 98.5% of manufacturing waste.
Since its founding, AMPI has been a dairy farmer-owned company guided by cooperative principles. These values are the blueprint for making AMPI’s milk manufacturing business resilient. They provide a roadmap members can all faithfully follow as the nation’s largest, cooperatively owned cheese company.
