EXHIBIT 10.25


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         THIS AGREEMENT is made effective as of June 1, 1998 by and between John
D. Johnson (hereafter "Johnson") and Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives, a
Minnesota cooperative corporation (together with all affiliates, the "Company").

1.       The Employment Clause

         The Company hereby agrees to and does hereby employ Johnson as
         President and General Manager, and Johnson hereby agrees to continue in
         the employ of the Company as President and General Manager, for the
         period set forth in Paragraph 2 below (the period of employment) upon
         the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Upon the
         expiration or termination for any reason of service by Noel Estenson as
         CEO of the Company (which shall occur not later than December 31,
         2000), Johnson shall automatically assume the position of CEO of the
         Company.

2.       Period of Employment; Termination of Agreement

         (a)      The period of employment shall commence on the date of this
                  Agreement and, subject only to the provisions of Paragraphs
                  6(b) and 6(c) below, relating, respectively, to death and
                  disability, shall continue for a rolling three (3) year
                  period, provided that Johnson's employment may be terminated
                  by either party on at least thirty (30) days written notice,
                  subject to the rights and obligations of the parties set forth
                  herein.

         (b)      Either party may terminate this Agreement and all of the
                  rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, upon at least
                  three (3) years' prior written notice to the other party.

3.       The Performance Clause

         Throughout the period of employment, Johnson agrees to devote his full
         time and attention during normal business hours to the business of the
         Company, except for earned vacations and except for illness or
         incapacity.

4.       The Compensation Clause

         (a)      For all services to be rendered by Johnson in any capacity
                  during the period of employment, Johnson shall be paid as
                  annual compensation a base or fixed salary of at least
                  $500,000. The Board will annually review Johnson's annual
                  compensation and determine what is appropriate for a cost of
                  living, merit increase, and/or increase in responsibilities or
                  duties in connection with a business combination involving the
                  Company.

         (b)      Johnson shall be entitled to receive incentive compensation
                  based on or comparable to the terms of the Executive
                  Compensation Plan in effect for CENEX, Inc.

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                  immediately prior to the merger of CENEX, Inc. with and into
                  Harvest States Cooperatives.

         (d)      During the term of his employment hereunder, Johnson shall be
                  entitled to those employee benefits separately made available
                  to him from time to time by the Board of Directors in its
                  discretion.

         (e)      The Company shall bear such ordinary and necessary business
                  expenses incurred by Johnson in performing his duties
                  hereunder as the Company determines from time to time,
                  provided that Johnson accounts promptly for such expenses to
                  the Company in the manner prescribed from time to time by the
                  Company.

5.       Termination with Severance Allowance

         (a)      Conditions for Severance Allowance and Amount. In the event of
                  termination of the employment of Johnson by the Company during
                  the period of employment for any reason other than for cause,
                  as defined in (b) below, death or disability, the Company
                  shall pay Johnson a severance allowance by continuing
                  Johnson's base or fixed salary for three (3) years, plus
                  continuing his family health insurance for at least one (1)
                  year. Said severance allowance shall be in lieu of all other
                  severance payable to Johnson under Company severance policies.
                  Said severance shall be paid in semi-monthly installments,
                  subject to normal withholding taxes. Failure of the Board of
                  Directors to appoint Johnson CEO of the Company following
                  termination or expiration of service by Noel Estenson as CEO
                  of the Company (not later than December 31, 2000) shall be
                  deemed to constitute an event of termination without cause and
                  entitle Johnson to receive the severance allowance provided in
                  this Agreement.

         (b)      Definition of "For Cause". For the purpose of this Agreement,
                  termination of Johnson's employment shall be deemed to have
                  been for cause (and in which case the Company shall have no
                  obligation to Johnson whatsoever) only:

                  (i)      if termination of Johnson's employment shall have
                           been the result of an act or acts of fraud, theft or
                           embezzlement on the part of Johnson which, if
                           convicted, would constitute a felony and which
                           results or which is intended to result directly or
                           indirectly in gain or personal enrichment of Johnson
                           at the expense of the Company; or

                  (ii)     if termination of Johnson's employment results from
                           Johnson's willful and material misconduct, including
                           willful and material failure to perform his duties,
                           and Johnson has been given written notice by the
                           Board of Directors with respect to such and Johnson
                           does not cure within a reasonable time; or


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                  (iii)    if there has been a breach by Johnson during the
                           period of employment of the provisions of Paragraph 3
                           above, relating to the time to be devoted to the
                           affairs of the Company, and with respect to any
                           alleged breach of Paragraph 3 hereof, Johnson shall
                           have substantially failed to remedy such alleged
                           breach within thirty days from Johnson's receipt of
                           notice from the Board of Directors.

         (c)      Request and Release. In order to obtain the severance
                  allowance provided for in this Agreement, Johnson must submit
                  a request for severance and must sign a complete release of
                  all claims. The Company shall have no obligation to pay any
                  severance allowance unless and until Johnson shall have
                  submitted the request for severance and signed a full and
                  complete release of all claims, to be drafted by Legal Counsel
                  for the Company.

6.       Termination without Severance Allowance

         (a)      Voluntary Termination by Johnson. In the event of voluntary
                  termination by Johnson, the Company shall not owe Johnson any
                  severance allowance and Johnson shall not, for a period of
                  three (3) years from the date of termination, directly or
                  indirectly participate anywhere in the continental United
                  States in any activities which are in competition or conflict
                  with the activities of the Company or any Company subsidiary
                  or affiliate, including, but not limited to, managing,
                  consulting, operating, controlling, owning or having an
                  ownership interest in, being employed by, or being connected
                  with the management, operation or control of, any business
                  which is of the same or similar type of business in which the
                  Company or any Company subsidiary or affiliate presently
                  engage, or hereafter engage during the term of this Agreement,
                  or which competes with, or reasonably could be expected to
                  compete with, the Company or any Company subsidiary or
                  affiliate. Notwithstanding any provision herein, Johnson shall
                  be entitled to receive, to the date of termination, base or
                  fixed compensation plus a prorated amount of Executive
                  Compensation.

         (b)      Death. In the event of Johnson's death during the period of
                  employment, the legal representative of Johnson shall be
                  entitled to the base or fixed salary provided for in Paragraph
                  4(a) above for the month in which death shall have occurred,
                  at the rate being paid at the time of death, and the period of
                  employment shall be deemed to have ended as of the close of
                  business on the last day of the month in which death shall
                  have occurred but without prejudice to any benefits, such as
                  life insurance, otherwise due in respect of Johnson's death.

         (c)      Disability.

                  (i)      In the event of Johnson's disability during the
                           period of employment, Johnson shall be entitled to an
                           amount equal to the base or fixed salary provided for
                           in


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                           Paragraph 4(a) above, at the rate being paid at the
                           time of the commencement of disability, for the
                           period of such disability but not in excess of twelve
                           (12) months from the beginning of the period that
                           establishes such disability, as described in
                           Paragraph 6(c)(iii) below.

                  (ii)     The amount of any payments due under Paragraph
                           6(c)(i) shall be reduced by any payments to which
                           Johnson may be entitled for the same period because
                           of disability under any disability or pension plan of
                           Harvest States or of any division, subsidiary, or
                           affiliate thereof, or as the result of workers'
                           compensation or nonoccupational disability payments
                           received from any government entity.

                  (iii)    The term "Disability" as used in this Agreement,
                           shall mean an illness or accident occurring during
                           the period of employment which prevents Johnson from
                           performing the essential functions of his job under
                           this Agreement, with reasonable accommodations (as
                           defined by federal and Minnesota disability laws),
                           for a period of six consecutive months. The period of
                           employment shall be deemed to have ended as of the
                           close of business on the last day of such six-month
                           period but without prejudice to any payments due
                           Johnson from any disability policy or disability
                           insurance.

7.       Successor in Interest

         This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder shall be
         binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
         respective legal representatives, and shall also bind and inure to the
         benefit of any successor of the Company by merger or consolidation or
         any purchaser or assignee of all or substantially all of its assets,
         but, except to any such successor, purchaser, or assignee of the
         Company, neither this Agreement nor any rights or benefits hereunder
         may be assigned by either party hereto.

8.       Construction

         Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be
         interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under
         applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be
         prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be
         ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity
         without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining
         provisions of this Agreement.

9.       Governing Laws

         This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in
         accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.


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10.      Notices

         Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall
         be sufficient if in writing, sent by Certified Mail, Return Receipt
         Requested:

         If to Johnson:       John D. Johnson
                              51 Dellwood Cove
                              Dellwood, MN 55110

         If to the Company:   Chairman of the Board of Directors
                              Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives
                              5500 CENEX Drive
                              Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077

         With a copy to:      Legal Department
                              Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives
                              5500 CENEX Drive
                              Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077

11.      Entire Agreement

         This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the
         parties, superseding all prior agreements, and may not be modified or
         amended and no waiver shall be effective unless by written document
         signed by the Chairman of the Board and Johnson.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective
as of the date set forth above.

                                         CENEX HARVEST STATES COOPERATIVES



/s/ John D. Johnson                      By: /s/ Elroy Webster
------------------------------------         -----------------------------------
John D. Johnson                              Elroy Webster
                                             Office of the Chair



                                         By: /s/ Gerald Kuster
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Gerald Kuster
                                             Office of the Chair


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