Northern Star Cooperative Services opened its doors in 1922 as the Farmers Exchange.  Its goal was to provide farmers with reasonable, reliable prices on items needed for their farming needs. In March of 1932 the company filed for incorporation as a Cooperative. Thus became the Farmers Cooperative Exchange. The cooperative continued to grow through the years and expand throughout the northland, in 1999 the name was changed to Northern Star Cooperative Services.

The same men that went together to file for Incorporation with the Farmers Exchange in 1932 became the first Board of Directors for the new cooperative.   They were Walter Gaslin (President), Ed Erickson (Vice President), Charles Mostoller (Secretary/Treasurer), John Olson and John Luko. The first year as the Farmers Cooperative Exchange proved to be a successful one as was told at their first annual meeting on September 21, 1934.  Sales for the year were $34,251.23, giving the Company a net profit for the period of $1517.11.  The company had also built their total assets up to $13,704.81.

The Northern Star Cooperative has continued to grow through out the years. The cooperative has spent several million dollars in expansion and improvements over the past 15 years with little or no borrowed money needed. Some of the more current expansions are: