Dec 02 2020
Today the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) honored Johnny Council of Grow West with the Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award. Council received ARA’s highest individual honor for his steadfast contributions to ARA activities and his role in fundamentally advancing the ag retail industry.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized for this award,” said Council. “I’ve had a great career with our company and ARA, so it means a lot to receive an award like this. The one thing I know for sure is that it wasn’t me alone but the people around me that allowed this even to be possible. I accept this prestigious award on behalf of them.”
Council served on the ARA Board of Directors from 2005 until 2014, serving in various leadership roles, including chairman of the Public Policy Committee and finally Chairman of the Board in 2013. His leadership in Grow West and its legacy companies contributed greatly to Grow West being recognized as the ARA Retailer of the Year in 2011.
“Johnny has always been willing to take on challenges facing the association and the industry,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “He was Chairman of the Board when the first concepts that led to ResponsibleAg were being developed. This industry-led initiative now has more than 2,500 locations registered in the program and half of those have achieved certification. Fourteen of those participating locations are Grow West sites, and five of those have achieved certification. Johnny has been a true leader and we are thrilled to present him with this well-deserved recognition.”
The ARA Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2001 and renamed in 2010 to honor the late Jack Eberspacher, who served as ARA president and CEO from 2001 until his death in 2009, and his career-spanning achievements and contributions to the agricultural retail industry.
Watch this video and skip to the 3 minutes, 25 seconds mark to see Council’s remarks.