The lack of awareness of cooperative approaches to development may be changing. For example, much of the literature on neighborhoods and communities now stresses the desirability of arriving at consensus about preserving or changing a community s identity, amenities, and services. There is an increasing emphasis in schools on cooperative learning in which students learn in groups and teach each other rather than view each other as contestants competing for the same prize. Technology breakthroughs have democratized access to information and communication, although many would argue that the effect thus far has been an overload of trivia and commercialism rather than a gateway to cooperative enlightenment. The Independent Pharmacy Cooperative is an excellent example of joint purchasing.
Agriculture is the single most important economic sector in most Wisconsin counties.
Dane County, the home of the state capitol and the largest campus in the University of Wisconsin system, also has the second highest level of agricultural production of Wisconsin s 72 counties. Despite the tremendous importance of agriculture in the state economy, it is ignored by most local leaders when they look at opportunities for economic development. We can reinstate agriculture and agricultural processing as an economic sector deserving of locally-based development initiatives. Farms engage in the same cooperative activities as other businesses. Farmers have been doing so far longer than most other business owners.