Albert J. Shivley graduated from Liberty High School in 1960, and enrolled in the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. After two quarters at UNC, Al returned to Joes to marry his high school sweetheart, Sandy Scofield, and become the manager of Guy Keller Oil Company in Cope, Colorado. In July of 1962, Al accepted a job at the Adams County Co-op service station repairing tires. In 1964 he was promoted to manager of the service station. By November of 1967, he had been promoted to general manager of the Adams County Co-op, a job he held until he retired in 2003. When Al accepted the reins of leadership, annual sales at the co-op were just under $300,000 with 11 employees. By the time he retired, the business employed more than 160 people and had grown sales to $60 million. In 1984, Al was appointed to the Farmland Industries Board of Directors and served that group for 17 years, nine as chairman.