By Alex Enlow, ARA, Director of Communications and Member Experience
Every year in August, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives go into “August Recess,” where Congress traditionally cancels votes in Washington and
allows all members of Congress to work in their districts for the month. As the unified voice of agricultural retailers in Washington, D.C., the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) takes advantage of this opportunity to coordinate facility visits between elected officials and our ARA members in their districts.
Through our coordination, we scheduled three successful congressional facility visits for our members GreenPoint Ag and Van Diest Supply Co.
Rep. Van Orden Tours Van Diest Supply Co.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., toured Van Diest Supply Co.’s facility in Sparta, Wis., where he met with their on-site management to hear firsthand from ARA members about the challenges facing the ag retail industry today.
“Family-owned businesses like Van Diest Supply Co. are what help keep our farms operational,” Van Orden says. “Our farmers must have the tools they need to feed the world, and it is critical we keep them supplied and supported to meet the demands of our markets.”
Van Diest’s Sparta facility operates in the wholesale distribution segment of the agricultural inputs market, serving Wisconsin and Minnesota. It works with agricultural retailers to provide excellent service in this seasonally demanding industry. The Van Diest Supply Co. team puts in many miles in an effort to make sure customers are well-supplied with products and well-informed of changing market conditions.
“We really appreciate the opportunity to meet with Congressman Van Orden to give some feedback and industry insight on the challenges the agriculture industry is working through right now,” says Matt Meade, the Wisconsin ag area manager for Van Diest Supply Co. “The future is sure to bring our industry more opportunities, as well as new challenges. The Agricultural Retailers Association was pivotal in getting our chance to share our thoughts.”
House Ag Vice Chair Tours GreenPoint Ag
House Agriculture Committee Vice Chair Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., toured GreenPoint Ag’s retail facility in Hawkinsville, Ga., a full-service agronomy location.
“I was happy to spend time at GreenPoint Ag and grateful for the Agricultural Retailers Association for making it happen. Our growers and producers allow Americans across the country to put food on their tables and clothes on their back, GreenPoint is doing great work here to help support farmers in Georgia’s 8th District along the way,” Scott says.
The farmer-owned ag input supplier services farms and rural businesses with crop nutrients, crop protection products, seed and professional products. It offers seed treatment, field scouting, soil sampling, tissue sampling, custom application and ag tech services through AccuField.
“Representative Austin Scott’s visit to our Hawkinsville location was a meaningful opportunity to showcase the work our team is doing to support growers across Georgia,” says Chris Casey, vice president of sales for GreenPoint Ag. “His engagement with ag retailers like GreenPoint Ag reinforces the importance of strong partnerships between policymakers and the agricultural community. We’re grateful for his continued support and advocacy on behalf of rural America.”
Rep. Shomari C. Figures Tours GreenPoint Ag
GreenPoint Ag also hosted Rep. Shomari C. Figures, D-Ala., at its facility in Evergreen, Ala.
After his visit, Figures commented: “The Agricultural Retailers Association is a key partner in empowering our farmers, securing our food system and promoting economic growth in rural communities. My visit today was insightful and reminded me of the importance of supporting the agricultural businesses and the people who drive this industry.”
GreenPoint Ag’s Evergreen location is one of two CN bagging facilities owned by GreenPoint Ag. The Evergreen location is set up to receive products by rail and bag them for distribution and sale in both GreenPoint Ag’s retail and wholesale businesses.
“We are honored to welcome Representative Shomari Figures to our GreenPoint Ag location in Evergreen,” said Joey Caldwell, GreenPoint Ag’s senior vice president of growth and strategy. “His commitment to supporting rural communities and agricultural innovation aligns perfectly with our mission to serve growers across the Southeast. This visit reinforces the importance of collaboration between public leadership and agribusiness to drive sustainable growth and prosperity.”
Making Connections That Count
Congressional facility visits put a local face on our industry, and strengthening these relationships is central to ARA’s advocacy mission. ARA is proud to coordinate these visits, and each visit is a meaningful win. This is one of the many benefits of being an ARA member.
Interested in joining ARA? Visit aradc.org/join to learn more.
Already an ARA member? ARA is happy to coordinate congressional facility tours any time. Reach out to ARA Senior Director of Public Policy Hunter Carpenter at hunter@aradc.org.
