conference
Attorneys, accountants, business developers, cooperative leaders, students, and others are invited to the 2026 Cooperative Law Conference on September 15 & 16 at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center at The Ohio State University in Columbus.
This year’s theme, “Capital Strategies for Cooperation,” will explore how cooperative enterprises align finance, governance, and growth through effective capital strategies.
Cooperatives are embedded in communities across Ohio and the United States, from farmer-owned agribusinesses to community-owned grocery stores, retailer-owned wholesalers, and resident-owned communities, among many others.
Cooperatives play an integral role in agriculture. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that the country’s agricultural cooperatives’ share of total farm marketing was 25%, including crops, livestock, and poultry, and 30% of major farm production supply sales, including feed, seed, fertilizer, petroleum, and crop protectants. Ohio ranks 10th nationally in agricultural co-op net sales and has an estimated 39,000 memberships in farmer-owned co-ops, among roughly 74,000 farms.
This year’s two-day conference will feature a diverse group of expert speakers, including agricultural economists, attorneys, accountants, and others. Attendees will gain practical insights to strengthen their ability to advise and support cooperative businesses.
Registration is $260 per person and includes both days of programming. Thanks to support from the Ralph K. Morris Foundation, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students may attend at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. Ohio attorneys may also be eligible for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit, pending approval.
The conference will be at 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio, with complimentary parking available for attendees. To learn more and register, visit: go.osu.edu/lawconference
