POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints John D. Johnson, T. F.
Baker and Debra A. Thornton, and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-1 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of Harvest States Cooperatives, and any and
all amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do
and perform to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, each acting alone, or the substitutes for such attorneys-in-fact and
agents, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Name Title Date
---- ----- ----
/s/John D. Johnson President and Chief Executive Officer December 4, 1996
- - - - ------------------------------- (principal executive officer)
John D. Johnson
/s/T.F. Baker Group Vice President Finance December 4, 1996
- - - - ------------------------------- (principal financial officer)
T. F. Baker
/s/John Schmitz Vice President Corporate Accounting December 4, 1996
- - - - ------------------------------- (principal accounting officer)
John Schmitz
/s/Steven Burnet Chairman of the Board of Directors December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Steven Burnet
/s/Steve Carney Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Steve Carney
/s/Sheldon Haaland Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Sheldon Haaland
/s/Jerry C. Hasnedl Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Jerry C. Hasnedl
/s/Edward Hereford Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Edward Hereford
/s/Gerald Kuster Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Gerald Kuster
/s/Tyrone A. Moos Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Tyrone A. Moos
/s/Duane G. Risan Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Duane G. Risan
/s/William J. Zarak, Jr. Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
William J. Zarak, Jr.
/s/Edward Ellison Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Edward Ellison
/s/Leonard D. Larsen Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Leonard D. Larsen
/s/Duane Stenzel Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Duane Stenzel
/s/ Russell W. Twedt Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Russell W. Twedt
/s/Merlin Van Walleghen Director December 4, 1996
- - - - -------------------------------
Merlin Van Walleghen