Ralph K. Morris Foundation
The Ralph K. Morris Foundation is a nonprofit corporation which provides development opportunities for emerging leaders expressing interest in applying and advancing the principles of cooperation, and in promoting farmland preservation, land stewardship, and sustainability.
Tom Lyon Family Leadership Symposium
in cooperation with
Cooperative Network Annual Meeting
December 2, 2025 | Eau Claire, WI
Ralph K. Morris Foundation &
Tom Lyon Family Leadership Symposium Presents:
What connections are worth keeping and which need ditching?
Audra Krueger, Executive Director, Co-operatives First
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In the last 15 years there have been drastic changes in the co-op ecosystem. Support organizations struggle to maintain their relevance as the big players and funders walk away from long-established relationships. While some view their disengagement as a threat to the co-op movement, perhaps we are better served by asking ourselves: are we connected in the best ways? Or do we need to build something new?
Join Audra to learn from the Western Canadian example of how one of the big co-op players made a bold decision to fund the creation of a new co-op support organization. While this disruption created some turmoil and fear in the Canadian co-op ecosystem, it has resulted in a new generation of modern and relevant co-ops and spurred the education of thousands of people. In her talk Audra will reveal if she is still the skunk at the garden party and a saboteur of nice co-opy things, or if she is working to welcome new people and ways of connecting within the co-op movement.
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Audra Krueger is the Executive Director of Co-operatives First, a non-profit organization promoting the co-operative model in rural and Indigenous communities across western Canada. Before joining Co-operatives First, Ms. Krueger was Research Liaison at the University of Saskatchewan’s Centre for the Study of Co-operatives. She is former vice-chair of Good Food Junction Co-operative, first director and treasurer of Saskatoon Car Share Co-op, director of Saskatchewan Co-operative Association and Executive Director of the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op.
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Ms. Krueger has also researched and written on Mexican agrarian co-ops, which earned her a Master’s degree in Collaborative International Development and Sociology from the University of Guelph. Ms. Krueger’s focus on strategic partnerships and pragmatic solutions has positioned her organization for strong short and long-term impacts.
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Within the first few years of operations, Co-operatives First has delivered educational products to thousands of people. The organization has helped to create over 140 co-ops in western Canada. Plus, her community engagement team has directly engaged thousands of community leaders and business, economic and community development professionals with the co-operative model. Her long-term goal is to increase the number of co-operatives forming across western Canada.
Who We Are
The Foundation's Purpose
A major challenge for cooperatives serving any sector of rural America is the perpetuation of formidable leadership, both governance and managerial. The viability of cooperatives is a mirror image of those they are designed to serve and are deeply affected by the fundamentals of changing demographics, low economic return on investment, changing business structures, and lifestyle desires. To sustain this economic and social environment, cooperatives must apply resources toward maintaining a leadership development system that stimulates ongoing participation and hones the intellectual capacity of the willing.
The life and work of Ralph K. Morris exemplified the visionary, dedicated, practical leadership needed by cooperative enterprise in the future. The Ralph K. Morris Cooperative Leadership Fund has been established by the Ralph K. Morris Foundation to support the development of future cooperative leaders.
Support Us
Contribute today!
In order to continue to provide opportunities to educate and train our young cooperative leaders,
we must also continue to seek contributions to the Foundation.
There are a number of ways in which you can make a contribution to the Foundation.
Provides financial support to help cover costs associated with training, professional development and educational programs for young leaders interested in the future of cooperatives and rural communities.
This Fund provides financial support to graduate students or law school students enrolled in an agricultural cooperative program or that can demonstrate how their field of study would relate to or benefit the agricultural cooperative industry.
The Rod Nilsestuen Fund commemorates Rod’s achievements and sustains his legacy through an annual symposium at the Unversity of Wisconsin River Falls. The Fund’s mission is to encourage creative thinking, research, education and outreach in the areas of cooperative business and development, wise rural land use, and leadership.
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The Tom Lyon Family Leadership Symposium recognizes the legacy of the Lyon Family in encouraging organizations, agencies, and all people--especially students and emerging professionals--to advance cooperative business, develop their leadership skills, and work for the preservation of farmland.
Contact Ralph K. Morris Foundation
Get in touch with Ralph K. Morris Foundation to learn more about our work and how you can get involved.