This episode launches our tribute to the 2026 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees with a special conversation featuring Margaret Bau, a legendary figure in rural economic development who spent a decades-long career at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
After discovering the power of cooperatives during her Peace Corps service in Costa Rica, Bau joined the USDA just as its Rural Development program was forming. She started as a state-level cooperative development specialist in Wisconsin, where her unconventional approach expanded the agency’s reach far beyond traditional agriculture.
Throughout her career, Bau has been a powerhouse of community impact, delivering incredible stats:
- Incorporated more than 40 cooperatives.
- Trained over 500 cooperative development specialists.
- Presented to over 9,000 conference and meeting attendees nationwide.
One of her most notable achievements came in 2001, when she helped found Cooperative Care, the first new worker-owned home care cooperative organized in 15 years. Her quiet persistence replication model transformed this single grassroots effort into a massive movement. Today, that model has grown to include 25 worker-owned home care cooperatives across 12 states.
Recognized by peers as a “national treasure,” Bau has bridged the gap between federal resources and local needs, leaving a lasting legacy across the U.S. and Canadian co-op ecosystems.
Be certain to tune into what promises to be a lively conversation!