GROWMARK is a 2018 recipient of the HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award from the Department of Labor. The award goes to employers that have done a successful job of recruiting and supporting the veterans on their workforce. GROWMARK’s application included ways the company attracts and supports veterans, like having an internal military support group and military friendly leave policies. …
GROWMARK Youth Programs Support 4-H and FFA
It’s National Cooperative Month, it’s also National 4-H Week, and it is the month that National FFA holds its huge annual meeting. In celebration of all that, we talked with Karen Jones, GROWMARK Youth and Young Producer Specialist, about how this agricultural cooperative supports the young people involved in 4H and FFA. “GROWMARK has been a longtime financial supporter of …
GROWMARK Announces 2019 Essay Contest Theme
High school FFA members in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin can compete in the 2019 GROWMARK Essay Contest. The theme for the 26th year of the essay contest is: “What does the future of agriculture look like to you, and what skills will you need to play a part in it?” GROWMARK and its FS member cooperatives, along with …
Agriculture Youth Benefit From GROWMARK Support
Illinois FFA State Officers including Treasurer Taylor Hartke helped to bring in the flags during a moving ceremony to open the GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago. The Illinois FFA members joined FFA officers from Iowa and Wisconsin and 4-H youth from Ontario in marching in the 4-H and FFA flags along with the American and Canadian flags. Hartke said FFA …
CropLife America’s Vroom is Friend of GROWMARK
GROWMARK presented CropLife America CEO Jay Vroom with its Friend of GROWMARK Award during the group’s annual meeting in Chicago. Vroom is retiring later this year after 30 years in that role. He plans to return to Illinois and help with the operation of the family farm. Vroom said he has seen many changes in agriculture during his tenure at …
A ZimmCast on GROWMARK
This week the ZimmCast, sponsored by GROWMARK, will feature interviews from the GROWMARK Annual Meeting. Carrie Muehling interviewed GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin about the company’s new strategy, based on the acronym ‘GROW’ which is not just focused on getting bigger. It’s focused on getting better. She also interviewed Illinois farmer Rick Nelson who has served on the GROWMARK board for 28 years …
GROWMARK Watching Farm Policy and Regulation
While farmers and cooperators gathered at GROWMARK‘s annual meeting in Chicago last week still have concerns about what’s happening in the nation’s capitol, they continue to be optimistic about agriculture. “I think what they’re concerned about is where the election is going to go and what that means for their business. Overall, the mood is still very strong in the …
Nelson Leaving GROWMARK Board After 28 Years
Over the course of his 28 years of service on the GROWMARK Board of Directors, Illinois farmer Rick Nelson has seen a lot of change in the organization. When he was elected to the board in 1990, the cooperative operated exclusively in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Nearly 30 years later, GROWMARK has a presence in at least 40 states, as …
GROWMARK Embraces Change in Agriculture
GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin said the company’s new strategy – based on the acronym ‘GROW’ – is not just focused on getting bigger. It’s focused on getting better. During a shared address at the company’s annual meeting in Chicago, Spradlin and Board Chairman John Reifsteck reflected back on the past 30 years or more in agriculture, sharing both personal experiences …
GROWMARK: Our Strategy is to ‘GROW’
The theme of the 2018 GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago is more than just a theme. It’s also the strategy the company will use moving forward. The executive team is focusing on the word “GROW” – an acronym they plan to use to reflect an entire enterprise strategy across all of the cooperative’s business units, according to Ann Kafer, vice …