At its 2021 Conference and Expo in San Antonio, Texas, on Nov. 30-Dec. 1, the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) presented several awards and announced both outgoing and incoming board members.
Winner of the 2021 Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award was Alex McGregor of The McGregor Company, Colfax, Wash. This year’s Distinguished Service Award went to Anne Sheehy and Meg Steward of AGI Yargus, Marshall, Ill. The Retailer of the Year Award went to Valley Ag, Nampa, Idaho, and was accepted by Dave Holtom, CEO, and Richard Lloyd, General Manager. The 2021 AGCO Operator of the Year winner was Kolby Watson of Simplot Grower Solutions, St. Anthony, Idaho.
Outgoing ARA Board Chair Rod Wells, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Growmark Inc., announced incoming Board Chair Ian McGregor, President of The McGregor Company. ARA also welcomed incoming Board Members Dave Thomas, Helena Agri-Enterprises; Brent Nightingale, CF Industries; Gwyn Schramm, Bayer CropScience; David Webster, AGCO; and Darin Ebeling, Sackett-Waconia. Retiring ARA Board Members include Ward Bloodworth, Helena Agri-Enterprises; Lanny Fischer, CF Industries; Jason Minton, Bayer CropScience; Craig Jorgenson, AGCO; and Kelvin Feist, Sachett-Waconia.
ARA also used the conference venue to recognize a group of emerging ag retail leaders as part of its Rising Stars professional development program, sponsored by Atticus. This year’s members include Brandy Devader, J.B. Pearl Sales and Service; Ben Etsinger, Rantizo LLC; Mitch Fondell, Growers Edge; Erin Hardin, Southern States Co-op; Lindsay Hembree, CDMS Inc./Proagrica; Jeff Hunter, Buttonwillow Warehouse Company; Jamie Kimbles, Willard Agri-Service; Seth Landwehr, River Valley Cooperative; Kyle McClelland, Brandt; Kendra Meisgeier, River Valley Cooperative; Ben Sinele; AgVend; Cindy Warren, CommoditAg; Angie White, Farrell Growth Group; and Karl Wyant, Heliae Agriculture.