Daily decisions coming out of Washington, D.C., directly impact the livelihood of agricultural retailers, their farmer-customers and rural communities across the nation. With a farm bill still in limbo and elections looming, the conversations had between lawmakers in Congress and members of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) during the recent fly-in event were pivotal as we look to strengthen the voice of the agriculture industry at the federal level.
About Fly-In Day
Just one day out of the year can influence which policies pass out of Washington, D.C., and which fall flat on the floor.
On ARA Fly-In Day, attendees separate into regional groups and meet with their elected officials to emphasize policy priorities, which members establish in the previous day’s committee meeting. This committee meeting prepares ARA members to address the top challenges facing our industry, especially in the districts where they operate.
“I had a wonderful time at ARA’s winter board meeting, which was held in conjunction with fly-in visits on Capitol Hill,” says ARA board chair Amy Asmus with Asmus Farm Supply. “Not only did I get the opportunity to catch up and network with our members at the committee and board meetings, but I was also honored to stand next to all of them as we ascended on the Hill to advocate for ag retail, our customers and our partners. I am truly proud to be a member of such a powerful association.”
In 120 meetings with congressional offices on both sides of the aisle, more than 90 ARA members and industry partners emphasized the need for policies that preserve critical crop input supplies and precision ag technology, modernize transportation infrastructure, and support instead of hinder ag retailers in their role to maintain a secure food supply chain.
The Impact
The ARA Fly-In paves a path for productive, educational conversations between the ag retail industry and the decision-makers in Congress to occur far beyond the discussions that happened on Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers want to hear from their constituents who wield the power to vote them in and out of office, not just from the ARA public policy staff. Although some in the U.S. House and Senate are already on board with ag-friendly policies, others have little knowledge about the value ag retailers provide to farmers and their communities. That is why it is so important for ag retailers to get involved in grassroots advocacy to speak as one unified voice.
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“Attending the ARA Fly-In was a profound and memorable experience for me,” says ARA board member Ernie Roncoroni with Grow West. “Spending a full day on Capitol Hill meeting with multiple congressional offices from my area in California underscored the intersection of policy and practice and emphasized the importance of these visits between industry and government. I will definitely be back next year.”
When elected officials hear directly from ag retailers in face-to-face meetings about common-sense solutions for our industry, it impacts their decisions on Capitol Hill.
“These conversations on Capitol Hill could not have come at a more opportune time for a 2024 farm bill,” says ARA senior director of public policy Hunter Carpenter. “Many legislators and their staff shared their frustration with the lack of action surrounding a new farm bill, noting the importance of ensuring a safety net for farmers in this legislation. ARA members will continue to lean on both chambers on and off the agriculture committees to swiftly pass a five-year farm bill.”
The Next Step
Building trust between rural America and Washington, D.C., is a crucial part of ARA’s advocacy approach. The momentum established during the ARA Fly-In will continue as ARA members take the next step in effective grassroots advocacy by inviting their elected officials to tour their facilities and see firsthand our industry’s commitment to safety and stewardship.
To set up ag retailers and suppliers for success, ARA has developed the Congressional Facility Visit Guide, which features best practices, media samples and a step-by-step process to hosting a visit. Last year, several ARA members set up facility tours for their legislators to showcase their business operations and establish themselves as a trusted resource for decision-makers in Congress.
