Flashback Friday | SJO girls roll, knock off Westville by 31

Left: Westville's Taylor Ceader tries to dribble around St. Joseph-Ogden's Rachael Graham during their early season nonconference game on December 5, 2009. The Spartans easily defeated the Lady Tigers, 70-39. Right: Spartans' Hannah Gaylord dribbles in the fourth quarter. Gaylord, a 5'8" sophomore, finished the contest with nine points. (Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Flashback
Friday

Spartans' Kelsie Rademacher goes up for an easy shot under the basket during the third quarter. She finished the contest with six points. The St. Joseph-Ogden girls team would go on to win their next four games heading into the State Farm Holiday Classic the last week of December. The program finished the 2009-10 season with 18 wins against 10 losses and in second place in the Sangamon Valley Conference final standings.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Left: Tigers' Chelsie Davis dribbles past Spartans' Emily Kayser during the first half. Right: SJO's Tori Master (right) tries to pass the ball to a Spartan teammate. Want to see more photos from this game? Follow this link to learn how. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

United Prairie to add partner, Ceres Solution to acquire one-fifth ownership

TOLONO -- Ceres Solutions, an agricultural cooperative based in Crawfordsville, IN, announced today the company's intent to purchase a significant share of Tolono-based United Prairie LCC.

Ceres Solutions would become 20% owner of the operation and existing stakeholders in United Prairie would have reduced ownership percentages accordingly.

According to today's press release, "The immediate advantages to both organizations would be alignment between two strong midwestern agricultural operations, and potential synergies of procurement, logistics, and other opportunities. Both Ceres Solutions and United Prairie would continue to operate independently in their customer-facing segments and compete in the marketplace."

United Prairie was formed in 1996 combining the crop production divisions of Unity Grain and Grand Prairie Cooperative. Over the past 20 years, the operation has grown to 11 retail locations throughout central Illinois.

"The proposal demonstrates the ongoing importance of developing strong strategic partnerships to continue to serve local farmers with products, services, technologies, and innovation," said Curt Miller, CEO of United Prairie. "United Prairie’s direction has always been to add cooperative owners that enhance our ability to provide the highest level of service and value to the growers we serve."

The transfer of ownership is expected to be completed by August 1.

Jeff Troike, CEO of Ceres Solutions added, "We’re pleased to take this next step in making an investment that will benefit both Ceres Solutions and United Prairie."