Leroy Startz, Chair of the ARA Conference Planning Committee since 2009, spoke with Chuck Zimmerman while at the ARA Conference & Expo in Palm Desert, CA recently. After wrapping up a busy week, Startz was pleased with the overall event. He highlighted the importance of early planning to put together a successful, relevant week for ag retailers. Early planning helps … Read More
John Deere Believes in the Future
Chuck Zimmerman stopped by the John Deere booth at the Agriculture Retailers Association conference and visited with Chad Brusveen, Corporate business manager, about the economy and the future of precision ag. John Deere is a sponsor of ARA and Brusveen highlighted his companies commitment to the application business, to technology and equipment. And it is a testament to precision agriculture, … Read More
Making Big Data Work for Retailers
Greg Bright, Chief Data Officer and Principle Architect at Leap Media Solutions recently gave a presentation at the Agriculture Retailers Association Conference. Entitled, “Using Data to Find New Business,” Bright’s message transferred the information being used by many businesses to obtain new customers to the precision data agriculture retailers have access to today. His main take away? Using data is a journey– … Read More
ARA Distinguished Service Award Presented to Pirkle
The Agricultural Retailers Association presented its 2015 Distinguished Service Award to Billy Pirkle, who has served as chairman of ResponsibleAg, an industry initiative which kicked off last year at this time. The organization assists fertilizer facilities with federal regulatory compliance through education, training and certification. “Agricultural retailers are already committed to stewardship and safety,” said Pirkle, who is Senior Director … Read More
Manolovits Earns AGCO Operator of the Year Honors
Brian Manolovits, ag operator for Wilbur Ellis hailing from Mott, N.D., was selected as the 10th Annual Operator of the Year. Manolovits earned the top honor at the 2015 Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Conference and Expo held Dec. 1 through Dec. 3 in Palm Desert, California. “I am honored to be selected as AGCO’s Operator of the Year from among … Read More
Gearheard Earns ARA Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard Gearheard, former President and CEO of Agrium Retail, was presented with this year’s Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award from the Agricultural Retailers Association. Gearheard served as Senior Vice President of Agrium, Inc. and President of the Retail Division from August 1996 until his retirement in April 2014. He also worked in various capacities with other Agrium retail companies such … Read More
Andersons Honored As ARA Retailer of the Year
The Agricultural Retailers Association this week named The Andersons as Retailer of the Year for 2015. The award was accepted by Joe Hodges, Vice President of the Southern Region Plant Nutrient Group, during the ARA Conference and Expo. “On behalf of all the employees of The Andersons – thank you for this special recognition,” Hodges said. “It’s extra special when … Read More
Precision on the ARA Conference Program
The 2015 ARA Conference & Expo is underway in Palm Desert, CA. We have a big crowd attending again this year. The theme is Performance. Precision. Passion. and the conference programs reflect those concepts. After a morning general session we’ll have afternoon breakouts on topics like millennials, using data, banking and finance. I plan to get some interviews to share … Read More
Ag Retailers Meeting This Week
The 2015 Agricultural Retailers Association Conference & Expo is being held this week in Palm Desert, California with the theme of “Performance. Precision. Passion.” Presentations and discussions at the ARA Conference & Expo will feature topics such as sustainability within the food-chain, water issues, fertilizer trends, financial movements in the ag sector and personal health and wellness. The conference will … Read More
Wheat Growers’ Applicator Finalist for Operator of the Year
Four finalists have been named to AGCO’s Operator of the Year award; one will be announced as 10th Annual Operator of the Year at the 2015 ARA Conference and Expo in California December 1-3, 2015. Curtis Fick, Wheat Growers’ lead applicator at the Carpenter location, has been chosen as one of four national finalists for AGCO’s Operator of the Year … Read More