As I lugged box after box of printed photos up the stairs, I had no idea what waited for me inside. What I experienced was not just a trip back in time and a better understanding of Cherryland’s history, but a familiar feeling of nostalgia that reminded me of what it truly means to be part of a cooperative.

I’m not sure what I expected—maybe just photos of old lines and poles, trucks, and office furniture from over the years, frozen in time with a gentle sepia tone fading in. And don’t get me wrong—there were alot of those photos: photos of trucks that could hold a place in a museum, overhead line where there is now underground, and different parts of our office that are completely unrecognizable now. As I looked through them I discovered, I wasn’t just unboxing decades of photos, but the story and evolution of Cherryland.

These photos took me on a journey through the last 50-plus years, featuring pictures of the current headquarters looking all fresh and new. I looked through photos of the addition of the drive-thru (did you know that was not originally planned?) and the groundbreaking of Warehouse One, where we currently house our bucket trucks. I saw signs of outdated technology, safety equipment, and obsolete processes. I saw a lot of change in those photos and signs that show how Cherryland has constantly been evolving.

All the changes to the building and evolution through the years, however, were not the most interesting thing I saw. It was the one thing that has remained the same—the sense of community. From the photos of families at Annual Meetings to the Centennial Farm celebrations, to employee birthdays, and retirements, I could feel the Cherryland community. I had the sense that the employees and members understood what it meant to be a cooperative and work together to create that lasting foundation.

That is something I don’t want us to lose, and I think Cherryland does a really great job at keeping that community spirit strong. As we move forward in a world that values automation, Cherryland will continue to be a leader in technology and care, fostering human connection.

Looking through our history taught me that Cherryland is truly exceptional and has evolved without losing its connection to the membership. We will continue to do that as we move forward with the development of our new headquarters. In 50 years, when someone looks through historical photos (that they won’t have to haul up the stairs), I hope they see the same thing: Cherryland working for the membership and with the membership. It will always be part of the co-op difference.