NEAFA is happy to announce that John Mitchell will be joining the organization as its new executive director. NEAFA Vice President Jenny Mills recently sat down for a Q&A session with Mitchell, so that our members that aren’t familiar with him can learn more.
1. You have had a long history with not just the Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance, but the agricultural industry as a whole. Please tell us about yourself.
I grew up in the small rural town of New Berlin, NY. As a young boy I was always around agriculture and the farmers who frequented our family’s feed and farm supply business. I remember watching farmers unload their milk cans at the milk plant just around the corner from our feed store, and then I saw them come to the store to pick up feed and supplies. I started working in the store at fourteen, which is when I began learning more about the business. At my father’s urging, I attended Cornell’s Hotel School, which gave me a great business education and a possible alternative career to the feed business. After spending a few years working in the hospitality industry, I returned to the family feed business. The I.L. Richer Company was started in 1870 by my great grandfather, and when I joined the company we had seven mills and stores that sold mixed feed, farm supplies, fertilizer seed. I spent several years working in various jobs in the mills and stores before taking over the reins in 1979. Over the next thirty years the business went through dramatic changes driven by the decline of the poultry farms and the consolidation of the dairy industry. We addressed the changes by closing unprofitable locations, and purchasing mills from owners who were exiting the business. I was fortunate to have great mentors and employees who helped the company grow through innovations in feeding livestock, along with investments in new feed manufacturing facilities. At the time of the sale of the business in 2008 Richer Feeds had three plants that served over 1,000 farms in Eastern, Central, and Northern NY.
Throughout my career I was involved in the feed industry’s trade associations both in the Northeast and nationally. In 2003, I was involved with the formation of the Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance through the merger of the Eastern Federation of Feed Merchants and the New England Grain and Feed Council. It is very rewarding seeing how the organization has grown and become an important force in Northeast agriculture. Over the years I have been fortunate to belong to the boards of several companies and community organizations that have helped to shape my career by giving me insight into different management methods and styles of leadership.
2. The Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance’s strategic pillars are education, collaboration and advocacy. What are the largest opportunities you see for the organization in the next few years?
As I get started in the role of Executive Director, I want to spend time visiting with the Board of Directors (BOD) and with other members, listening to their concerns and understanding where I need to spend energy to help these three pillars of the mission thrive. I do hear a desire and need at this time to begin discussions with other agricultural organizations in finding common ground educating our elected officials and the general public on the business of agriculture in the Northeast. We need to tell the story of our agricultural producers, and we need support businesses that are providing the highest quality and safest food in the world.
3. Membership is the lifeline of our organization. What is your vision for NEAFA to continue to increase engagement with our members and subsequently increase membership numbers?
In the past 10 years, NEAFA has grown as a professional organization thanks to the leadership on the BOD. The BOD has a strong functioning committee structure that gets things done, and the membership knows this. The organization is effective in accomplishing tasks and communicating with the membership on the work being done, which is key to keeping members engaged. Consolidation and change in the industry have accelerated, and outreach to other agricultural businesses will be a priority for NEAFA to continue to be of value. Networking has always been one of the key reasons people want to be a part of NEAFA, and I am impressed with the way we have continued to be able to offer those opportunities, be it in person or virtually during this time of change. Maintaining and growing the membership has to be a priority, and I’m looking forward to working on that.
4. What are two or three of the largest opportunities available for our members, and how does NEAFA facilitate in helping to realize these opportunities?
The demand for high quality agricultural products has never been greater, and our members have the opportunity to grow and profit from this demand. NEAFA has ongoing education programs, and develops timely ones that help our members meet the challenges ahead. Also, our members face increasing scrutiny by the public and government agencies, and the Alliance is well positioned to provide guidance in navigating these arenas. Networking with other people in the industry is important in running an organization, and NEAFA will continue to set the table and provide these opportunities for our membership.
5. What excites you the most about the future of NEAFA?
As I mentioned before the involvement of the Board and other members is the strength of NEAFA, and honestly is a big reason that I was interested in taking on the role of Executive Director. This passion for accomplishing the organization’s missions is infectious and gives me energy to work hard for the organization. Exiting Executor Director Rick Zimmerman has done an outstanding job in creating this structure, and I have a big task ahead to keep that momentum going. I am glad that Rick will continue to lead us in our government relations effort at a time when legislative issues are increasingly complex.
6. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I’m on the boards of several companies which is something that I enjoy, as these businesses provide me a great view of the economy, and how different industries navigate these changing times. I also enjoy skiing, a passion I have had since a young boy. Getting on the top of a mountain in the middle of winter clears my mind and helps me reset. My wife and I have a big family, with six adult children and seven grandchildren which makes for many wonderful and memorable family gatherings. I’ve had plenty of “spare time” since retirement, but now I’m looking forward to giving up some of that spare time and getting to work with the Alliance in the days ahead.