The idea of celebrating the special nature of cooperatives first appeared in 1924 in Waukegan, Illinois, when members of Co-op Trading set aside a time for promotion of the cooperative.
Co-op Month became an October event in 1930.

However, it was not until 1948 that an official proclamation was made naming October as Cooperative Month. Minnesota Governor Luther Youngdahl, at the request of the Minnesota Association of Cooperatives, made the proclamation. Soon, the October Co-op Month celebration spread to other states.

In 1964, Co-op Month became a national event when former Minnesota Governor Orville Freeman, then U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, proclaimed a national Co-op Month. For seven years, the government sponsored Co-op Month events.

In 1971, the responsibility for Co-op Month was turned over to cooperative organizations. Today, the National Cooperative Month Planning Committee, made up of representatives of national co-op membership organizations, selects a theme, prepares supporting materials, conducts public relations activities and provides financial support for co-op month activities. To ensure the active involvement of all of the cooperative sectors, each year, a different national co-op organization chairs the planning committee, raises funds for co-op month events and directs that year’s activities.

Past Co-op Month Themes

2006 – Cooperatives – Owned by Our Members. Committed to Our Communities.
2005 – Cooperatives – Owned by Our Members. Committed to Our Communities.
2004 – Cooperatives – Owned by Our Members. Committed to Our Communities.
2003 – Cooperatives – Businesses People Trust
2001 – Cooperatives – Businesses People Trust
2000 – Cooperatives – Businesses People Trust
1999 – Cooperatives – Businesses People Trust
1998 – Cooperatives – Businesses People Trust
1997 – Cooperatives – Expanding People’s Horizons
1996 – Cooperatives – Expanding People’s Horizons
1995 – Cooperatives – Expanding People’s Horizons
1994 – Cooperatives – Time Tested – Member Approved: 1844-1994, 150 Years of Cooperation
1993 – Cooperatives – Part of Your Life. Part of Your Future.
1992 – Cooperatives – Meeting People’s Needs
1991 – Cooperatives – Meeting People’s Needs
1990 – Cooperatives – Building your Community
1989 – Cooperatives – Building your Community
1988 – Cooperatives – People in Partnership
1987 – Cooperatives – People in Partnership
1986 – Cooperatives – Cooperatives Work
1985 – Cooperatives – Building a Better America and a Better World
1984 – Cooperatives – Building a Better America
1983 – Cooperatives – Building a Better America
1982 – Cooperatives – Building a Better America
1981 – Cooperatives – Building a Better America
1980 – Cooperatives – Focus on Future
1979 – Cooperatives – Good for All Americans
1978 – Cooperatives – Democracy in Action
1977 – Cooperatives – Good for America
1976 – Cooperatives – People Working Together
1975 – Cooperatives – Pioneers in Serving America
1974 – Cooperatives – Partners for Progress
1973 – Cooperatives – People with Purpose
1972 – Cooperatives – Cooperatives Serve
1971 – Cooperatives – Cooperatives Care
1970 – Cooperatives – A Better Life in the ’70s
1969 – Cooperatives – Progress through People
1968 – Cooperatives – Community Builders
1967 – Cooperatives – A National Asset
1966 – Cooperatives – Links in Progress
1965 – Cooperatives – Partners in American Life
1964 – Cooperatives – USDA Helps Build a Better America