Building mutual respect and understanding is the best way to bring about policies that support and benefit the agriculture industry. Although some elected officials in Congress are already very knowledgeable and supportive of our industry, many have little understanding about the critical role ag retailers play in ensuring a safe, abundant and affordable supply of food and fiber.
As the voice of ag retailers, the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) works hand-in-hand with its membership to pave a path for productive conversations between our industry and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. One of the most effective ways to make an impact is for ag retailer-members to showcase their facilities by hosting elected officials.
A Win-Win
During these congressional facility visits, both the lawmakers and the hosting ag retail company benefit. Ag retailers showcase how their businesses support farmers seeking to improve their yield and boost regenerative ag practices while keeping their team and community safe by adhering to rigorous safety standards. In return, lawmakers see first-hand the ag retailer’s role in the food supply chain and how it supports its community by offering fulfilling careers right in their home districts.
These congressional facility visits leave a lasting impression on lawmakers as they return to Washington, D.C., to debate and vote on policies that impact the agriculture industry. Once the relationship is established, the lawmaker may call on the ag retailer as a resource in the future when it comes to policies that relate to issues of importance to our industry. Examples include truck transportation, reliable rail service and modern ag technologies.
Success Stories
Several ARA members have already accepted ARA’s challenge to invite their elected officials in Congress to tour their facilites. Last summer, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, visited the facility of ARA member Asmus Farm Supply in Rake, Iowa. As part of the visit, Asmus Farm Supply invited its team and members of its local community including growers, county supervisors, IT professionals and bankers to participate in the discussion led by Grassley. The conversation topics included rural broadband, federal crop insurance policy and other topics related to the ag industry. Bringing together a variety of local stakeholders and providing a platform to express their concerns to Sen. Grassley established Asmus Farm Supply as a leader in its community.
Other ARA retailer-members including Landus, and Helena Agri-Enterprises have also hosted their representatives for facility tours to highlight their top-notch facilities and the dedicated work of their teams. On the left is a photo from Sen. Joni Ernst’s visit to a Landus facility in 2023.
How to Host Your Own Congressional Facility Visit
Summer is a great time to invite elected officials to tour an ag retail facility because Congress is in recess through the end of August. This means officials will be back in their districts seeking to hear from their constituents and business leaders.
To get started with planning a visit, reference ARA’s Congressional Facility Visit Guide, which includes best practices and media samples. The resource outlines a step-by-step process to hosting a productive legislator visit that will foster lasting relationships with your elected official(s).
Used by retailers across the country, ARA’s Congressional Facility Visit Guide is one of the association’s most comprehensive member resources and critical to our industry’s grassroots advocacy efforts. It empowers our industry’s members to serve as a key resource and adviser to elected officials as they consider current and future policy proposals impacting agriculture.
At www.aradc.org, you’ll find a public document with quick tips from ARA’s Congressional Facility Visit Guide. Look for it in the membership benefits section of the website or contact Hunter Carpenter on the ARA policy team at hunter@aradc.org
Join the Grassroots Movement
To download the full guide, join ARA as a member and be an advocate for your industry’s best interests.
Congressional facility visits are just one way ARA helps its members participate in grassroots advocacy.
The ARA Legislative Fly-In is held annually in the first few months of the year as an opportunity for ag retailer- and supplier-members from across the country to visit the offices of their elected representatives and discuss the top priorities of ag retail.
One voice in Washington, D.C., won’t make enough noise, but our voices together cannot be ignored. By joining ARA, you help us better represent the ag retailer’s interests, and your business gains insights into federal regulations and legislation that infringe on your freedom to operate.
