We began in 1882 with the Central States Cooperative League, which met at the Ashland Folk School of Grant, Michigan. The school offered a meeting place for people to attend conferences, retreats, and institutes on economic reform, peace education, and the growing cooperative movement. The summer school program at Ashland drew people from all cooperative sectors, who shared vital information about strengthening their co-ops, building the movement, and creating a better world. Families also went there to play together and to find joy and purpose in cooperative recreation.