The President and CEO for the American Seed Trade Association is Andy Lavigne. We sat down for a visit during the organization’s 129th Annual Convention so I could learn more about ASTA.
To start with Andy says that having the convention back in Washington, DC and coupling it with an opportunity to visit with legislators on Capitol Hill has been very well received by members and the suggestion has been made to make this a regular location for the convention in the future. After the Storm the Hill day the Association got down to work with committee meetings to set policies for the coming year. In fact, this meeting is more of a policy setting meeting than a sales and marketing meeting. ASTA holds several other meetings during the year with a sales and marketing focus. After the convention here Andy says a key focus of the staff will be helping members with legislative follow ups from the visits on Capitol Hill. Ideas for that include inviting legislators to member company field days.
Andy would like farmers who are customers of ASTA members “to realize that we are partners” and that seed companies have to continue to innovate and develop varieties. He says that can only happen when seed companies work together in partnership with farmers.
Listen to my interview with Andy here: Interview with Andy Lavigne
I have more interviews to share from the 2012 American Seed Trade Association convention during the coming week.