DeKalb Farmers Co-op, in operation since 1961, will become a branch of Rutherford Farmers Co-op on Oct. 1.The announcement was made at a public meeting last week that the board of directors have voted to enter into a five-year lease agreement with Rutherford Farmers Co-op to assume management of the business.The local co-op will retain ownership of the business, and the Rutherford co-op will submit payments according to the lease agreement.The local co-op, made up of approximately 800 members, elects a board of directors yearly to oversee day-to-day operations.The local board will remain in existence, and will continue to manage the property and assets of the co-op.The Rutherford co-op already operates co-ops in Murfreesboro, Woodbury, and Eaglville.Mack Wilhite, who started with the co-op in 1984, and has worked at the White, Cannon and Warren County co-ops, will be the new manager at the DeKalb location. Current manager Gilbert Martin will take an outside sales position with the co-op .With drastic changes in agriculture activity in the county in the last few years adversely affecting the business, the new arrangement with the Rutherford co-op is expected to financially strengthen the local co-op, and allow services to be expanded in DeKalb County.The co-op will be closed on Oct. 1, the day of the change in management, and will re-open on Oct. 3.The co-op will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday hours will be from 7 a.m. until noon.