Erickson takes reins at United Quality
By Jerry W. Kram
There is a new face at the helm of the area’s cooperatives.
Cameron Erickson is the new General Manager of the newly formed United Quality Cooperative. The coop was formed on April 1 with the official merger of the United Prairie Cooperative in New Town and Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative in Parshall and Ross. The former managers of those cooperatives, John Reese and Daryl Stevens both retired with the merger complete.
Erickson grew up in Glenburn and attended North Dakota State University, graduating in 1989. Since college, he has worked in agricultural cooperatives in one way or another. For the last 11 years he was general manager at Souris River Cooperative in Newburg.
Erickson said it will be a challenge to take over for two talented general managers.
"There is going to be a realignment," Erickson said. "We are still working to reorganize the company. I still haven’t had my first meeting with the board of directors. I will be working closely with the board to chart the future of the company."
The cooperative has a lot on its plate at the moment. Erickson said work is continuing on the new complex the cooperative is building at the junction of North Dakota Highway 1804 and the Highway 23 bypass. New storage tanks and a grain dryer are being added to the elevator in Ross. In Parshall, there are discussions about adding a new truck scale and another building.
"I don’t want to overstate my knowledge of these projects before I meet with the board," Erickson said. "But there will be a continuation of the projects that we have had planned."
