One of the best networking opportunities during ARA Conference week is the ARA Invitational Golf Tournament at the Grand Cypress Golf Club. 

About the Course: Set in the midst of an open meadow, the Grand Cypress Golf Club, Links Course (formerly the New Course) is Jack Nicklaus’ tribute and homage to the famed Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland. The 18-hole Grand Cypress Golf Club, Links Course adds another dimension of play to the Orlando golf course scene with steeper and more challenging bunkers and slopes. This Scottish links masterpiece is complete with double greens, stone bridges and walls, gorse mounds, burns and pot bunkers as deep as 12-feet—all in the spirit of the true Scottish original.

Very little water comes into play on the Links Course, but when it does, it will challenge golfers to make precise shots. And, while very few trees are located within the interior of the course, creating generous landing areas, players need to look out for the more than 150 pot bunkers scattered throughout the lovely green fairways. Lavished with accolades like Gold Medal Resort (Golf Magazine), Platinum Award Winning Pro-Shop (PGA Merchandise Association), and Top 50 Resort Courses (Golf World), Grand Cypress is the full package and certain to be a highlight for any Orlando golfing experience.

Thank you to this year's golf sponsors:

• IRM (Beverage Carts)
• Syngenta (Breakfast)
• CoBank (Coffee)
• AGCO (Premium Golf Hole Sponsorship)
• Agworld (Premium Golf Hole Sponsorship)
• Faegre Drinker (Premium Golf Hole Sponsorship)
• NuVue (Premium Golf Hole Sponsorship)
• OSTARA (Premium Golf Hole Sponsorship)
• Smartwyre (Premium Golf Hole Sponsorship)
• Software Solutions Integrated (Golf Hole Sponsorship)
• DTN (Golf Hole Sponsorship)
• Marcus Construction (Golf Hole Sponsorship)
• Case IH (Golf Hole Sponsorship)
• ResponsibleAg (Golf Hole Sponsorship)

When it comes to Orlando airboat rides, there is simply no comparison to Wild Florida. Travel deep into the protected swamps, marshes and rivers that make up the Central Florida Everglades. Get an in depth look at the gators, American Bald Eagle and a huge assortment of wildlife. Certified Eco-guides, biologists, botanists, and Audubon experts, are trained to assure that each guest comes away with a new profound understanding of our vastly different land and plant communities, and the importance of their interrelationship and preservation. 

After the Orlando airboat ride, explore the amazing wildlife park full of zebras, watusi, deer, water buffalo, emu, wild boar and monster alligators. Visit the tropical bird aviary, hands-on alligator demonstrations, gift shop, 500 ft. sightseeing dock and nature trails. 

This tour is sponsored by

As part of its efforts to comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for pesticide registrations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a draft Herbicide Strategy that would apply to future labels and re-registrations of herbicides. The final policy on herbicides will be used as a pattern for insecticide and fungicide strategies, and it is an important part of EPA’s work to protect science-based registrations from activist litigation.

ARA, grower organizations, manufacturers and state departments of agriculture all have expressed deep concerns about the way this Strategy is designed as it will impose many compliance burdens on growers and applicators which will require additional documentation and be very difficult to monitor and enforce. Many think this Strategy as proposed will be as onerous as the 2017 WOTUS regulation that all of agriculture rose up and opposed.  This session will share some of the details of that Strategy, concerns with those details, and likely next steps in EPA’s rulemaking process.

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

• Opening Remarks
• Welcome by Florida FFA Students, Pledge of Allegiance

Opening Keynote Speaker: Generational Expert Kim Lear on Prepare for the Future: Recruiting, Retaining and Motivating the Next-Gen Workforce

Study after study has shown us that multigenerational teams outperform more homogeneous groups by almost every measure. This can be attributed to their unique and diverse experiences– the more seasoned employees offer wisdom and expertise while those on the younger end offer a fresh and innovative perspective. While the advantages are numerous, it turns out, managing multigenerational teams is easier said than done. Today’s teams are often plagued by issues regarding everything from work ethic and retention to succession and fairness. 

Today , each generation is taking on new roles in the workplace. Millennials are no longer entry-level employees - they are managers who may oversee older, more seasoned employees. Gen Xers have stepped up to the C Suite, reinventing and redefining what it means to be a leader, and Gen Zers are now on the scene, ready to shake up the work world and present a whole new challenge to their Millennial supervisors. 

The key to understanding and leveraging these generational trends is to recognize that it’s not about “out with the old, in with the new.” Every generation brings value to the workforce. 

Kim Lear will give you a closer look into who these generations are, the trends emerging as they adapt to each new career stage, and the communication tactics that bring people together. Her research, insights, and original concepts help audiences and clients bridge generational gaps and build strong teams.'

Keynote Speaker Sponsored by

• Distinguished Service Award Presentation
• Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation

Opening General Session sponsored by

In 1887 Winter Park was originally developed for wealthy Northerners as a summer retreat. You will be taken to the Park Avenue shopping district where the Southern charm that lured the elite society can still be seen. Picturesque shops, boutiques, cafes, brick-lined streets and the towering trees of Central Park make Park Avenue the place to be and be seen. Browse the exclusive boutiques and art galleries filled with one-of-a-kind treasures, as well as stores bearing the names of your favorite designers.

Scenic Boat Ride  Start your tour with a relaxing, 45-minute pontoon boat ride while gliding through canals and tree lined lakes. View beautiful homes nestled along beautiful lakes and observe nature.

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art houses the world's most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) including Tiffany jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass windows, lamps, and the chapel interior he designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Museum's holdings include a major collection of American art pottery and representative collections of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century American paintings, graphics, and decorative arts. 

Network and enjoy light refreshments just outside the general session. 

Sponsored by

• President's Report by ARA President & CEO Daren Coppock
• Retailer of the Year Award Presentation (sponsored by Farm Journal/The Scoop and Bayer CropScience)

Keynote Speaker: Jones Loflin, Public Speaker, Author, Coach on “How Can I Launch When My Payload is Over the Limit?”

You're busy. There aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done, and no matter how hard you try, there are things or people that need attention you're not able to provide. Jones will share ideas on how to take more control of your day instead of letting it control you.

Keynote Speaker Jones Loflin sponsored by

• AGCO Operator of the Year Award Presentation
• Golf Awards Announcement

Opening General Session sponsored by

Sponsored by

When the Winston Weaver fertilizer plant burned in Winston-Salem, North Carolina last January 31, a comprehensive and coordinated effort was necessary to manage the response. Cleanup, safety, communication and business continuity were only some of the challenges faced. Mike Carroll from Meherrin Fertilizer will share with you lessons learned to help attendees refine their own crisis management plans.

Sponsored by

The focus of the last few years has been on recruiting – how do we fill our open positions? In many instances, businesses create bigger recruiting issues by not working on employee retention. What starts as a mild headache (a few open roles) turns into a debilitating migraine (good employees leaving, in addition to our open roles). In this interactive session, we’ll dig further into ways you can adjust work to increase retention (and engagement) with your team – and reduce recruiting headaches. In the session we will discuss: 

• Key factors of engagement for your teams (and no, it’s not a ping pong table or nap pods)
• Practical tips to confidently lean into conversations BEFORE concerns become a retention issue. 
• Tools to give feedback in a way that INCREASES engagement. 
• Conversation starters to unlock deeper engagement dialogues.

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

Join us as we "Raise the Bar" at country music star Blake Shelton's Ole Red restaurant for the annual ARA Dinner & Auction that benefits the ARAPAC. The ARAPAC is our political action committee that financially supports lawmakers who support the ag retail industry. 

BUY TICKETS

Sponsored by 

• Rising Stars Award Presentation
• Retiring & Incoming ARA Board Member Ceremony
• Chairman's Address by 2022-23 Board Chair Ian McGregor
• New Chair Installation & Address by Amy Asmus
• The Scoop Business Innovation Award Presentation (sponsored by Ever.Ag Agribusiness)
• ARA Excellence in Advocacy Award Presentation (new this year!)

Keynote Speaker: Dave Mitchell with The Leadership Difference shares a message on the Foundation of Peak Performance Culture to focus the organizational components that create high levels of employee satisfaction (retention) and attract prospective new hires to join (recruiting). 

• Explore the 10 items new and existing employees look for when choosing to join and remain with an organization.
• Discover the single most important characteristic in an employee that predicts high performance. 

General Session Sponsored by

Network and enjoy light refreshments just outside the general session. 

Sponsored by

• AFA & FFA Student Presentations

Keynote Panel of International Retailers: Hot Issues & Trends in International Markets

ARA’s relationships with similar organizations in other countries provides an opportunity to network, share information and coordinate efforts toward solutions that are globally compatible.  Retailers from Brazil, Canada, France and Argentina will show that while some of our national issues and challenges differ, there is much we have in common and many areas where we can work together to make a bigger impact for our retailer members. Margy Eckelkamp with Farm Journal / The Scoop will moderate.

• Save the Date: 2024 ARA Conference & Expo, held Dec. 3-5 in Houston, Texas
• Closing Remarks

General Session Sponsored by

The tour meanders through a viewing concourse, offering step by step visualization of receiving, processing, ice cream, cultured products, fluid production, packaging and shipping. A tour guide will provide details on plant history, Publix standards, food quality and safety, sustainability and other interesting facts. Ice cream is served at the end!