New Hampton, IOWA, October 6, 2023 – Five Star Cooperative, a proud farmer-owned agricultural cooperative spanning across 14 counties, is proud to announce the appointment of Rick Pleggenkuhle as the new Retail Manager, effective October 1st, 2023.
In this pivotal role, Rick, an existing member of the Five Star team will assume responsibilities for our Country Store in New Hampton, further strengthening the cooperative’s leadership team.
Rick grew up on a farm near Fredericksburg, Iowa. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Natural History from the University of Northern Iowa.
Rick spent over 20 years in horticulture working primarily in retail as a landscape designer and at a large wholesale nursery as a plant buyer. Not long after the closing of Sherman Nursery, Rick joined Five Star Cooperative in Agronomy where he worked with seed ordering and inventory as well as agronomy financing. He moved into an Energy Sales, Service, and Delivery role in 2020. He is celebrated by customers as “Rick, the LP Guy” and has significantly expanded the cooperative’s customer base in his area. He is known for his relentless commitment to customer service.
Scott Black, CEO of Five Star Cooperative, expressed his confidence in Rick’s leadership, stating,
“Rick’s appointment is a testament to our commitment to building strong relationships and careers that drive success and growth for our cooperative, team members, and members alike. I am confident Rick, along with our entire retail team, will be successful moving our retail business positively forward.”
Please join us in congratulating Rick Pleggenkuhle on his new role as he embarks on this exciting journey as Country Store Manager. Five Star Cooperative remains dedicated to yielding success for its members, customers, and team members.
Connect with Rick on LinkedIn by clicking here.
