California Ag Network

Tag: The Agricultural Retailers Association

  • Ag Retailers Association Debuts LaborLink: A Smarter Way for to Find Workers

    The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is pleased to announce the launch of LaborLink, a new member benefit designed to help agricultural retailers address one of their most urgent operational challenges: securing reliable labor. Through a partnership with másLabor, the nation’s leading provider of H-2 visa services, ARA members now have direct access to expert support in navigating H-2 visa processes.

    “Our members are dealing with significant labor shortages that impact everything from product delivery to service capacity,” says Daren Coppock, ARA President and CEO. “LaborLink gives members access to a proven, legal workforce solution—and it comes at a critical time in the hiring cycle.”

    The H-2 visa program enables U.S. employers to legally hire foreign workers for temporary, non-agricultural positions. For agricultural retailers—many of whom require help with logistics, custom application, and facility operations—the program offers a powerful tool for filling workforce gaps.

    Crucial Timing

    To be eligible for the spring workforce window, employers must begin the H-2 application process by June 1. By starting now, ARA members can bring workers in during the fall and rehire them in spring 2026 under a cap-exempt status, significantly improving their chances of success.

    With LaborLink, ARA members receive:

    •Strategic consultation to determine H-2 eligibility and approach

    •Full-service filing and compliance support

    •Access to industry-leading tools and templates

    •A dedicated case manager from másLabor

    másLabor currently represents more H-2 program clients across more sectors and states than any other provider, offering deep expertise in regulatory navigation, audit readiness, and workforce onboarding.

    “This collaboration is another example of how ARA is working to deliver real, timely solutions to help members operate more effectively,” Coppock says. “We’re proud to offer this benefit and look forward to seeing the impact it makes across the industry.”

    Get more information about ARA’s LaborLink.

    About Agricultural Retailers Association

    The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is a nonprofit trade association representing the interests of retailers across the United States on legislative and regulatory issues on Capitol Hill. As the political voice of agricultural retailers, ARA not only represents its membership but also educates members on the political process and important issues affecting the industry. For more information on current legislative and regulatory issues impacting agricultural retailers, visit www.aradc.org.

  • Ag Retailers Association Celebrates 2024 Rising Stars

    The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) recognized a group of top performers and emerging leaders as part of its Rising Stars award program at the 2024 ARA Conference & Expo.

    Through participation in ARA Conference educational sessions and networking events, ARA Rising Stars expanded their network to include industry thought leaders such as ARA board members and learned new approaches to apply to their work.

    “Each year we look forward to recognizing a new class of Rising Stars for their impactful work in the ag retail industry,” says ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “We hope these top performers will remain engaged with ARA as we work together to advance our industry for years to come.”

    The Rising Stars program, sponsored by Atticus, is a meaningful way for ARA retailer member companies to nominate emerging leaders to be recognized for their work in front of hundreds of industry professionals and to explore new ways to hone their leadership skills.

    “We remain consistently impressed by the level of professionalism and enthusiasm demonstrated by the Rising Stars,” shares Randy Canady, Atticus Founder and CEO. “It is with great pride that we acknowledge these emerging leaders for their passion, dedication, and steadfast commitment to advancing the agriculture industry.”

    The theme of this year’s Rising Stars award program was “Empowering Leadership through the Next Frontier.” As part of the award application process, many nominees submitted videos to Atticus, sharing their unique stories and explaining what this year’s theme meant to them. One Rising Star, Eric Winans, PhD, research farm manager and technical agronomist with Brandt, was named this year’s grand prize-winning Rising Star for his video! Watch Eric’s winning video.

    New this year was the Atticus Fan Favorite Video Contest, which empowered our Rising Star nominees to share their application videos on social media, encouraging friends and family to vote for them. Chase Porter with Southern States Cooperative was named the 2024 Fan Favorite winner, totaling the most votes. View Chase’s Fan Favorite video.

    As part of the program, each Rising Star also completed the ARA NAVIGATOR 360°online leadership assessment to identify their own strengths and areas to improve as it relates to their company’s unique needs. Developed specifically for agricultural leaders by NuVue, LLC, this ARA tool empowers organizations to thrive in challenging times through developing effective leadership.

    ARA knows that when employees are challenged and engaged in their own professional development, companies are more likely to retain a higher number of high achieving employees to tackle the challenges facing our industry. Nominations are accepted annually from late spring until early fall and are open exclusively to ARA members.

    Learn more about the Rising Stars Award program in this video.

    View each of the videos submitted by this class of Rising Stars. See a list of this year’s ARA Rising Stars.

    Learn more about the ARA Conference & Expo on the website or on ARA’s social media.

    About Agricultural Retailers Association
    The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is a nonprofit trade association representing the interests of retailers across the United States on legislative and regulatory issues on Capitol Hill. As the political voice of agricultural retailers, ARA not only represents its membership but also educates members on the political process and important issues affecting the industry. For more information on current legislative and regulatory issues impacting agricultural retailers, visit www.aradc.org.

  • Agricultural Retailers Association Concludes Annual Conference and Expo

    Today the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) concluded its annual Conference & Expo with two panels of industry experts and an off-site local ag tour.

    Thursday morning held a presentation of the Chairman’s Report by 2020-2021 ARA Board Chair Rod Wells with GROWMARK Inc., before recognizing the outgoing members of ARA’s board of directors. The ag retailer panel: COVID-19 Practices – Temporary and Permanent Changes featured Matt Carstens, president and CEO of Landus Cooperative; Clay Houchin, CEO of Buttonwillow Warehouse Company; and The Scoop’s Editor Margy Eckelkamp as the moderator.

    “This panel represented ag retailers from all across the nation as they discussed what they think is next when it comes to personnel management, customer engagement, logistics and the use of technology,” said Wells.

    Moderated by ARA Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Counsel Richard Gupton, the final panel of the conference focused on public policy by offering insight into what the industry has seen in the first year of the Biden administration and discussed what the industry can expect in the next three years. Jeremy Stump with Nutrien, Sean McCarty with Helena Agri-Enterprises, and Hunter Carpenter with ARA provided the ag retail perspective on legislative and regulatory issues that impact business operations.

    “Hearing from our member panelists regarding the opportunities and challenges being created by Biden administration policies is essential as ARA members look forward to setting the association’s 2022 policy priorities,” said Gupton.

    The Post-Conference Local Ag tour explored the final stages in the food supply chain as attendees toured a food distribution company with facilities that have been recognized as one of the best in the U.S. for safety and emission reductions.

    “The ARA members and industry partners present this week can proudly return to their companies equipped with new knowledge and stronger industry connections,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “It was refreshing to see the ag retail industry come together this week to share ideas, celebrate our industry’s best, and find new ways to add value to America’s farmers.”

    Learn more about the ARA Conference & Expo on the website or on ARA’s social media. The 2022 ARA Conference and Expo will be held Nov. 29 through Dec. 1, in San Diego, Calif.

    About Agricultural Retailers Association
    The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is a nonprofit trade association representing the interests of retailers across the United States on legislative and regulatory issues on Capitol Hill. As the political voice of agricultural retailers, ARA not only represents its membership but also educates members on the political process and important issues affecting the industry. For more information on current legislative and regulatory issues impacting agricultural retailers, visit www.aradc.org.