Patrie congratulates Golden Growers, asks them to pass skills to future generation of farmers.

At the Golden Growers Annual Meeting on March 19, 2026, in West Fargo, North Dakota, Bill Patrie delivered a heartfelt reflection on cooperation, legacy, and the passage of time. Drawing inspiration from poetry, he recalled the following segment from Dylan Thomas's poem. 'Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn to late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.'

"In my 50-year career in North Dakota, I have worked with start-up cooperatives who have caught and sang the sun in flight. Golden Growers is one of those." Stated Patrie. "The light we embraced was the belief we could work together to make our individual farms more profitable. You did that, I helped, and I hope that light never goes out."

He recounted moments with early leaders such as Pat Benedict, Armand Tiegs, and others from the 1993 steering committee whose vision transformed frustration over low farm prices into sustainable prosperity. "A key reason for the success of farmers creating value added enterprises that increase farmers income is their faithful execution of well thought out ideas. Not everyone can execute on those well thought out feasibility studies and business plans." In the case of Golden Growers, "Pat Benedict could," continued Patrie.

Throughout his remarks, Patrie emphasized one recurring truth: successful cooperatives are not born of anger or ideology but of discipline, intelligence, and trust. "In my view, new generation cooperatives break clean of political and organizational ideology. The profitable operation of the enterprise is the single goal. If it does not create a net margin, it is not feasible"

Patrie told members that corn growers in the region will never forget what you did at Wahpeton. He also advised members that it is their responsibility to pass along skills learned to generations of future farmers to chart a similar path.

Patrie stated that he made 20 trips to Fargo to assist on the ProGold project noting that this was his 21st. "What a thrill to remember all of you, the important people who built this organization." Noting the turmoil in the world today, Patrie concluded, "I will remember this period of time in my life that was, for me, my Camelot. A time when violence was not strength and compassion was not weakness. I will remember Golden Growers as an example of courage and leadership and the power of human cooperation to make lives better."

Patrie's full prepared speech can be read here.