Southern States Cooperative will review its operations at a series of local annual meetings, including the upcoming meeting for members of Southern States Cooperative, Inc. - Washington Service.

"The news is good," said president and CEO Thomas R. Scribner. "The Cooperative had a great year in 2007 with earnings exceeding plan by the largest margin in a decade and the outlook for 2008 is even better." Sales in fiscal year 2008 exceeded $2 billion for the first time ever.

Southern States Cooperative, Inc. - Washington Service will hold its annual membership meeting on Wednesday, January 21, at 303 Norman Street.

Membership day activities begin at 10 a.m. with the meeting scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.

With the theme, "Let Me Help You," the Cooperative's management will use the meeting to report on both local and company-wide operations, as well as projected budget results for next year. Local board members will be elected, and retiring board members will be recognized.

Board nominees include McCord W. Hall and Shane Moore.

"The annual meeting is the best single opportunity to outline our plans for the future to our membership and discuss our progress in meeting our financial goals," notes Mike Guin, manager of Southern States Cooperative, Inc. - Washington Service.

Founded in 1923, Southern States now has more than 300,000 farmermembers. As one of the nation's largest agricultural cooperatives, the Richmond, Va.-based firm provides a wide range of farm inputs, including fertilizer, seed, livestock feed and pet food, animal health supplies and petroleum products, as well as other items for the farm and home. The Cooperative serves its members and non-member customers through some 1,100 retail outlets and had sales over $2 billion in its fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.