Southern States Cooperative recognized 37 retail locations for outstanding performance during the fiscal year ending in July 2010 – including the Russellville location.

The “President’s Award for Operating Excellence” is awarded annually to retail managers and their staffs who meet or exceed store goals in three major areas of operations: Capital Investment – which includes return on investment for capital acquisitions like fertilizer spreaders and sprayers; Net Profit ñ which includes a net increase over the previous year; and Store Productivity.

Ten of the winning managers have won the award for ten years or more and one manager, Michael E. Farmer, of Southern States Georgetown Cooperative, in Georgetown Kentucky has won the award every year since the program began in 1987.

“I am extremely proud of these winning managers and their store employees,” said Donny Dunbar, Southern States Vice President of Retail Operations. “It takes a team to win this prestigious award and these stores have done an outstanding job.”

Southern States is a Richmond, Va. based farm supply and service cooperative, founded in 1923 that now has more than 300,000 farmer-members. As one of the nationís largest agricultural cooperatives, it provides a wide range of farm inputs, including fertilizer, seed, livestock feed and pet food, animal health supplies and petroleum products, as well as other items for the farm and home. The cooperative serves its members and non-member customers through 1,200 retail outlets. Please visit the web site http://www.southernstates.com for more information.