​The end of World War II in 1945 found Illinois Farm Supply prosperous beyond the dreams of its founders. Members cooperatives were correspondingly prosperous.

The war had given business such an impetus that the momentum carried over to make some shortages worse at the war's end. Costs rose rapidly and the need for capital to make long-deferred improvements was pressing.

Lessons learned during the war helped shape the company's future strategies on controlling its own source of supply for basic farm supply products (including petroleum, feed, and fertilizer).

As the war ended, some suppliers that had been required to sell fuel to Illinois Farm Supply by orders of the War Board, walked away from their obligations when the wartime regulations ended. Illinois Farm Supply and its member cooperatives faced a crisis. Roughly one-half of the needed fuel supply was abruptly gone. Illinois Farm Supply responded with bold new strategies requiring capital and carrying increased risk. Through these new ventures, the fuel supply crisis was averted.