Meet the VUC CEO, Paul Coppin
Oct 16, 2022
How long have you worked with the company?
I have been with the company for 23 years. I started at Reynolds United Co-op in August of ’99. I was named CEO of the newly formed Valley United Co-op in 2019.
Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised on a farm near Hankinson, ND.
Tell us a little about your family.
I married my high school sweetheart (Moni) 45 years ago in June. We have 2 sons. Joel (Andrea) lives in Delano, MN with Brayden, Avery, Rylan, and Bennett. Jamie (Angie) lives in Fargo, ND with their 3 daughters (Liana, Lucy, and Laney).
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies include golfing, traveling, and watching the grandkids at their events.
What was your first job?
I came from a farm, so a lot of my jobs revolved around farming. Dad had pigs, cattle, and grain so there was a lot to do.
My first off-farm job was working on the construction crew that built I29 near Hankinson.
My first job in the grain business was at Farmers Grain and Trading in Milnor, ND in 1978.
It’s hard to believe I’ve been in the Ag business for 44 years!
What is your favorite season and why?
Fall is my favorite time of the year. Harvest. Football. Cool mornings. Warm afternoons. Crisp air. I love the changing of the season.
When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to farm. Since I was old enough to walk, farming was in my blood. In high school, I realized that dads farm was not nearly big enough to sustain 2 families. I loved agriculture so I went into the next best profession, serving farmers!
What is one of your greatest achievements at VUC?
Tough question with many answers. Probably my biggest achievement/challenge was rebuilding the south elevator in Reynolds in 2008. Our main grain facility burned on May 26th, 2008. We built a new facility and were able to receive corn that fall. In over 4 months a new facility was built.
Another achievement that had a few phases was going from a single station co-op with 5 employees to a multi-station co-op with 85 full-time employees.
What makes VUC successful?
That’s easy………… employees.
I have been with the company for 23 years. I started at Reynolds United Co-op in August of ’99. I was named CEO of the newly formed Valley United Co-op in 2019.
Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised on a farm near Hankinson, ND.
Tell us a little about your family.
I married my high school sweetheart (Moni) 45 years ago in June. We have 2 sons. Joel (Andrea) lives in Delano, MN with Brayden, Avery, Rylan, and Bennett. Jamie (Angie) lives in Fargo, ND with their 3 daughters (Liana, Lucy, and Laney).
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies include golfing, traveling, and watching the grandkids at their events.
What was your first job?
I came from a farm, so a lot of my jobs revolved around farming. Dad had pigs, cattle, and grain so there was a lot to do.
My first off-farm job was working on the construction crew that built I29 near Hankinson.
My first job in the grain business was at Farmers Grain and Trading in Milnor, ND in 1978.
It’s hard to believe I’ve been in the Ag business for 44 years!
What is your favorite season and why?
Fall is my favorite time of the year. Harvest. Football. Cool mornings. Warm afternoons. Crisp air. I love the changing of the season.
When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to farm. Since I was old enough to walk, farming was in my blood. In high school, I realized that dads farm was not nearly big enough to sustain 2 families. I loved agriculture so I went into the next best profession, serving farmers!
What is one of your greatest achievements at VUC?
Tough question with many answers. Probably my biggest achievement/challenge was rebuilding the south elevator in Reynolds in 2008. Our main grain facility burned on May 26th, 2008. We built a new facility and were able to receive corn that fall. In over 4 months a new facility was built.
Another achievement that had a few phases was going from a single station co-op with 5 employees to a multi-station co-op with 85 full-time employees.
What makes VUC successful?
That’s easy………… employees.