Twelve of the top performers in ag retail have been awarded the honor of being selected for the Agricultural Retailers Association Rising Stars Class of 2015. The Rising Stars program began in 2013 to recognize high achievers and develop future leaders in the agriculture retail industry. Member companies have the opportunity to introduce new leaders to the ARA and the …
OSHA Overreach Halted By Congress
In July the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sent a memorandum to end the exemption of retail stores to the Process Safety Management (PSM). PSM is a set of procedural, operational and organizational standards to intended to prevent the release of hazardous chemicals at manufacturing facilities. The rescinding of this exemption would force virtually all ag retailers that store …
Retailers Honored With Environmental Respect Awards
Awards for operator excellence, outstanding environmental stewardship and superior precision agricultural practices rounded out awards presented earlier this month during the 2015 ARA Conference & Expo. Four retail facilities were recognized for their stewardship efforts with the Environmental Respect Award. Mike Hemman, DuPont Western Business Unit Leader, conferred the awards in a ceremony during the conference. “The companies recognized today …
#ARA15 Continues To Grow
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 …
Notter Discusses Millennials at #ARA15
While at ARA, Jamie Notter, Culture That Works, gave a presentation on organizational culture to the retailers attending. He specifically spoke about the value in attracting millennials and how to build a successful working relationship with them as most management teams have an older management style that millennials don’t relate to. Attracting millennials as employees or customers is less about …
John Deere Visits Ag Retailers
Here’s the John Deere team at the Agriculture Retailers Association conference. Pictured on the right is Chad Brusveen, Corporate business manager. I spoke with him about the ag 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 …
Wrap-up of #ARA2015 by President/CEO
Palm Desert, CA is a place you really have to want to go to. It is beautiful but can take some effort to travel to. But apparently a lot of Agricultural Retailers Association members really wanted to attend their annual conference. According to Daren Coppock, ARA President/CEO, attendance was strong. Much stronger than they even hoped for. In my last …
Manolovits Named AGCO Operator of the Year
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 …
Pirkle Receives #ARA2015 Distinguished Service Award
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 …
California FFA Welcomes #ARA2015
The president of the California FFA Southern Region addressed members of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) meeting in Palm Desert, California last week, on behalf of the 79,000 FFA members in the state. “The FFA is giving its members the skills needed to build health communities, a strong nation, and a sustainable world,” said Samuel Looper as he welcomed ARA …