ARA: ARAPAC events garner strong support
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Attendees of the ARA conference and expo continued their strong support of ARA’s Political Action Committee (ARAPAC). Money was raised with a dinner and tour of the USS Midway, ARA’s annual golf tournament and a live and online auction. The money raised from these special events is used toward helping to elect and re-elect members of Congress who support ag retailers and distributors’ issues.
The USS Midway aircraft carrier, which was one of America’s longest-serving aircraft carriers, hosted the dinner and auction. Attendees were treated to this floating museum, which is the size of a city and had 4,500 sailors when at sea. The museum features more than 60 exhibits with a collection of 25 restored aircraft that attendees could view on self-guided and volunteer-guided tours.
Some of the featured items up for bid at the live auction on the ship included a golf trip to Hawaii; $2,500 vacation certificates; trips to NASCAR events; a guided tour of Washington, D.C.; a day of work from Daren Coppock, ARA president and CEO; and a John Deere Gator XUV 825i, among many other items.
In addition to the live auction, Purple Wave Auction returned this year to conduct the online auction event. Bids could be placed via the internet using a computer or mobile phone or by visiting Purple Wave Auction’s booth. This is the third year ARA has partnered with Purple Wave Auction to offer alternative bidding processes.
More than 140 participants took part in the ARAPAC Golf Tournament. See winners below.
ARA thanks all who participated this year in any or all of the events!
Golf Tournament Highlights
Every year ARA hosts a golf tournament to raise money for ARAPAC. This year, golfers played the Torrey Pines Golf Course, located in La Jolla, Calif. Torrey Pines Golf Course sits on the coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is named after the Torrey Pine, a rare tree that grows in the wild only along this local stretch of the coastline in San Diego County and on Santa Rosa Island.
First Place Team: Dave Thomas, Helena; Jay Stidham, CHS and Randy Parman, Helena.
Second Place Team: AJ Outlaw, Coastal Agrobusiness; Tom Tunnell, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association; Mark Phillpson, Syngenta and Jeff Sands,- Agricultural Retailers Association.
Third Place Team: Ed Barnhill, River Bend Ag; Josh Miller, River Bend Ag, Larry Fortner and Frank Edwards, United Services Association.
Longest Drive: Joe Elder, CF Industries.
Closest to the pin: Craig Weynand, John Deere Agriculture & Turf division.
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