ARA Honors Joey Caldwell with Excellence in Advocacy Award
Dec 04 2024
Today ARA honored Joey Caldwell, senior vice president of retail at GreenPoint Ag, with the ARA Excellence in Advocacy Award in front of more than 600 ag retail industry professionals during the 2024 ARA Conference & Expo.
The ARA staff awarded Caldwell because of his engagement on ARA’s Public Policy Committee, shaping legislation and policy to support ag retailers’ needs nationwide. He emphasized how uncertainty continues to hinder progress in the farm economy during his testimony delivered on behalf of ARA before the House Agriculture Committee hearing on “Financial Conditions in Farm Country” in July.
“Not only a leader in advocacy himself, Joey encouraged his fellow GreenPoint Ag teammates to join ARA’s grassroots advocacy efforts to call on Congress to advance the Farm Bill,” says ARA Senior Director of Public Policy Hunter Carpenter. “The GreenPoint Ag team made up 17 percent of the messages sent to legislators using ARA’s VoterVoice tool.”
Caldwell also serves on the ARA Board of Directors, Member Services Committee and is vice chair of the Conference Planning Committee.
“It is truly humbling to be recognized by my peers for advocating for a cause greater than myself,” says Caldwell.
“Having grown up on a farm and dedicating 42 years to the agricultural retail industry, I am deeply passionate about championing our industry and rural farming communities. Every voice matters, and I believe we must all embrace the call: ‘If not me, then who will speak for the importance and needs of the agricultural community?”’
This award was created in 2023 to highlight an ARA member who has surpassed expectations in grassroots advocacy to educate lawmakers and regulators about the invaluable work ag retailers do to help their farmer customers ensure a safe and plentiful food supply for all.
View the 2024 ARA public policy priorities established by the membership. Learn more about the ARA Conference & Expo on the website or on ARA’s social media.