Agricultural Retailers Association Conference Highlights From Keynotes to Breakout Speakers
Dec 01 2021
Today the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) concluded its first full day of the 2021 ARA Conference & Expo with more than 600 ag retail industry professionals in attendance.
The opening general session keynote speaker Jason Weller, president of Truterra, shared his message, Carbon Markets and the Role of the Ag Retailer, which addressed questions related to enabling widescale transformation of our ag practices, managing data, and more.
“As one of the hottest topics across the ag industry right now, it was appropriate we started today off with carbon markets and how ag retailers should navigate the logistics of their role in this transformational new market,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “It was eye-opening for Truterra, as a farmer-led sustainability unit of Land O’Lakes, to share its experience rolling out a carbon program.”
Later in the day, keynote speakers Thad Becker and Adam Jones shared the MFA experience of Offering Sustainability Services, which increases grower profits while reducing their environmental impact.
“Hearing how a fellow ARA member company is integrating conservation and agriculture is energizing and insightful,” said ARA Board Chair Rod Wells with GROWMARK Inc. “Our attendees surely benefited from MFA’s story of implementing soil health on the farm and ensuring proper compensation for stewardship efforts.”
After the general session concluded, attendees dispersed to one of two concurrent breakout presentations: Define the Value of Service led by Farrell Growth Group’s Brad Oelmann, and Farmer Buying Decisions and Attitudes led by Dr. Allan Gray with Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business.
This year featured extended expo hours and another networking reception in the expo hall to encourage relationship building across the industry and to showcase the leading products, services and programs.
Learn more about the ARA Conference & Expo on the website or on ARA’s social media.