For about 100 years, the grain elevator and agricultural cooperative in the heart of Serena has been a constant — even while it has undergone change.

The location has experienced name changes since the cooperative was established there in the early 1900s. Most recently it has been La Salle County Farm Supply and now is under the name Grainco FS. But it's still a regular meeting spot for local farmers.

"It's not unusual to have them leave the cafe, then come here to check the market prices and have a cup of coffee," said Mark Harmon, plant manager for 21 years. "It's a meeting place. We have our regulars who come in on a regular basis."

The cooperative, like others in the area, was built along the railroad to allow grain to be shipped by that method. Today, the train doesn't stop in Serena and all the grain is transported via semi trailers. However, capabilities still exist to ship by train again if that method was to become viable.

The cooperative sells fertilizers, seed and chemicals primarily, as well as being a grain elevator where farmers can take their soybeans and corn each year. Grain bins at that site were destroyed in August 2007 during a powerful thunderstorm. Since some renovations already were needed, the cooperative decided to rebuild new, taller bins that now stand out on the horizon as drivers approach Serena.

"It was expensive to put back together, but it was time to do some revamping," Harmon said. "They're taller, but less in diameter so it's less area."

As more residential subdivisions and growth have pushed into the area, the cooperative has begun to address other markets as well. It has a propane service, offers petroleum products, sells feed for horses and other animals, carries salt for water softeners and started a turf department to care for athletic fields and commercial grounds.

"There has been a lot of residential development," Harmon said. "We get a lot of horse people looking for feed and straw. We don't carry straw, but we can direct them to some of our farmers. It's become a lot more residential people versus strictly farmers."

Like farmers, the cooperative's business moves in conjunction with the weather. As this year's harvest is coming in a month later than usual, fewer farmers will have time to spread fertilizer before winter hits. That means more of them will be doing it in the spring, and that means business will be hectic when winter breaks.

"There are things they try to do in the fall so the spring isn't so crazy," said Harmon. "But the weather dictates our timelines."

Harmon said the key to the cooperative's success has been the employees who have stuck around for a long time in the same community. Harmon has been there for 23 years. The propane operator, Kevin Anderson, has been there more than 30 years, and the crop specialist, Rich Frye, has been there about 20.

"We've had good people that the customers know,"he said. "There is a comfort level with the people here."

Over the years, Harmon said Serena has remained primarily an agricultural community, but the number of farmers has decreased. Fewer farmers own larger farms due to the struggling economy.

"There are a lot of family farms," he said. "We see the same names through a lot of generations, and that's always nice to see."

The Serena cooperative employs 12 people full time and three to five people seasonally. The location has thrived, Harmon said, due to the people.

"It's a real nice community," he said. "We have good customers, good co-workers and a lot of people coming through our door."