Two MFA greats were honored posthumously by induction into the Missouri Institute of Cooperatives Hall of Fame Feb. 11, 2004. Honored were William Hirth and Ray Young.

Hirth, MFA's founder and president, is an icon for the cooperative movement in the Midwest. In 1908, Hirth started the Missouri Farmer and Breeder Magazine. In those difficult times in agriculture, Hirth saw cooperative action as the best way to bring farmers into the mainstream of "modern" life. He used his editorial platform to call for the formation of farm clubs. Eventually, he became the clearinghouse for farm clubs that were springing up around the state, collecting group orders and submitting them en masse to manufacturers for tremendous discounts.

Until his death on Oct. 24, 1940, Hirth had been elected president of MFA every year from 1928, resigning only 18 months to run unsuccessfully for the Missouri governorship.

Under Hirth's guidance, MFA developed into the largest cooperative business in the Midwest. So successful were Hirth's efforts that by his death in 1940, MFA was the centralizing name in multiple cooperative businesses, including Farmers Livestock Commission Company, MFA Grain and Feed Company, MFA Insurance Company, MFA Milling Company, MFA Oil Company, Producers Creamery, Producers Grocery Company and Producers Produce Company.

The induction committee awarded Hirth, "In special recognition of visionary leadership, nurturing the cooperative movement, belief in the power of group action, lifelong dedication to promote the interest of farmers, and 30 years of exemplary service as a cooperative founder."

Raymond Young was devoutly involved in the cooperative movement for 60 years--from 1933 until his death in 1993.

As the first general manager and then president of MFA Oil Company, Young built the foundation and the management team that allowed MFA Oil to develop into its present form. In addition, as executive vice president and chief executive officer of MFA Incorporated, Young guided the cooperative through the expansion years of the 1970s as well as the contraction of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

After a start with Producers Produce Company in 1933, Young's career became his mission: to improve the financial position of MFA's farmer/members.

Young served the interests of Missouri farmers by providing a stabilizing force during a critical time in the history of Missouri agriculture. His shrewd business skills, combined with his deft touch in handling the political implication of business decisions, helped both MFA Oil Company and MFA Incorporated weather the agriculture crisis of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Much of MFA's success in the 1970s can be attributed to Young's business acumen and vision.

In nominating Young, former MFA president Bud Frew said, "What endeared Ray Young to most people was his honesty, integrity and loyalty, not only to the cause, but to the people in the cause. Mr. Young's entire life was devoted to cooperatives and in particular, Missouri cooperatives."