The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) has honored Johnny Council of Grow West with the Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award. Council received ARA’s highest individual honor for his contributions to ARA activities and his role in fundamentally advancing the ag retail industry. The ARA Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2001 and renamed in 2010 to honor the late Jack Eberspacher, who served as ARA president and CEO from 2001 until his death in 2009.

Council served on the ARA Board of Directors from 2005 until 2014, serving in various leadership roles, including chairman of the Public Policy Committee and finally Chairman of the Board in 2013. His leadership in Grow West and its legacy companies contributed greatly to Grow West being recognized as the ARA Retailer of the Year in 2011. Council was Chairman when the first concepts that led to ResponsibleAg were being developed. This industry-led initiative now has more than 2,500 locations registered in the program and half of those have achieved certification.

Listen to an interview with Council here:
Interview with Johnny Council, Grow West, ARA Lifetime Achievement Award (4:40)