“ARA and the industry lost a dynamic leader and true visionary. Jack worked tirelessly to build this organization into the strong voice for agricultural retailers and distributors we have today in the nation’s Capitol. He always stressed the importance of ARA listening to its members and providing value to those members. Due to his efforts, we have an experienced and very capable team at ARA who are committed to seeing Jack’s and the Board of Director’s vision for the organization fulfilled. ARA has a solid foundation in place that will only get stronger through the active involvement of its members and the industry.”

 - ARA Chairman Ken Manning of Wilbur-Ellis Company


"I had the pleasure of working with Jack at NSP, NAWG and ARA.  While the organizations were different, Jack played an important role in the advancement of policy and programs to the benefit of the members and the industry alike.  He was well-respected and recognized for his consensus building skills and ability to work with all stakeholders for successful outcomes."

 - ARA Board Member Rick Turner with Bayer CropScience


"Through Jack's leadership, ARA has experienced one success after another. Summarizing my thoughts of Jack, I come up with three words - Passion, Determination and Commitment. He never lost focus of his goals."

 - ARA Vice Chairman Scott Ramsdell of Ramsdell F&M Ltd. of Flandreau, S.D


"Among ag retailers, Jack Eberspacher’s legacy will clearly be that he was the man who turned around the ARA. He came in at a time of disarray and lack of momentum. Within a short time, ARA became a vibrant organization with a fresh approach aimed at understanding and meeting member needs down the road. Jack’s fiscal understanding coupled with his capability to leverage the ARA presence in DC enabled the organization to build a credible profile among decision-makers on the hill. His dogged (seen by some as stubborn) approach to achievement of goals will be sadly missed by an important sector of production agriculture."

 - Past ARA Board Member Don Pottinger with International Raw Materials


“I do not know of any other Agriculture CEO, who has been a CEO of three national organizations, and the leaders of those organizations speak about Jack Eberspacher with such glowing terms on what he did to make their organizations and people better. I will miss Jack personally and professionally.”

 - Past ARA Board Member Neil Strong with Syngenta Crop Protection


"During my term as ARA chairman, Jack Eberspacher clearly displayed his commitment to the success of our Association through his passion and tireless efforts. The ARA was finding its way after some turbulent times, and Jack's undaunting leadership and energy helped build the springboard that enabled our organization to move forward. As I looked around the congregation at Jack's recent memorial service, I saw industry leaders who had traveled from all over the country, National Association leaders past and current and ARA employees past and current. It was clear that Jack touched many of our lives. This service was a well-deserved tribute to Jack and his family. Jack Eberspacher will be missed and all of us should be appreciative of his legacy, his capable leadership and his positioning of the Association's banner to insure future success of the important issues ARA tackles in the future."

 - ARA Past Chairman Joe Hodges with The Andersons, Inc. in Florida


"When Jack was hired by ARA, it was a critical time for the organization. We just moved our offices from St. Louis to Washington, D.C. to become more effective in our lobbying efforts. Jack transformed the organization into a lean, mean, lobbying machine. He was very adept at finding key people to fill the roles needed and always keeping his eye on the ball. We will truly miss him.”

 - ARA Past Chairman Pete Romano of Quincy Farm Chemicals, Inc. in Washington


"Jack just had that natural ability to smile and laugh and make you feel like he wanted to be your friend. And, that was a very easy thing to accept, Jack’s friendship."

 - ARA’s Immediate Past Chairman Dan Weber from Ceres Solutions in Indiana   


“Jack spent his eight years at ARA applying his high energy levels and passion with great results along side the agriculture industry and the people in it he loved. We are all grateful that he, his wife and their children became part of the Washington, D.C., family of aggies.”

 - Bill Flory, National Association of Wheat Grower’s (NAWG) president in 1998 and a member of the search committee that hired Eberspacher.


“Jack led the organization through a very trying time and brought it back from the brink of serious financial trouble. He confronted head-on some challenges that would have made a lesser person throw up their hands in frustration. Thanks to him and the grower leaders who served with him, his tenure with NAWG resulted in an organization with sound financial footing.”

 - Current NAWG CEO Daren Coppock


"Jack’s attributes of honesty, integrity and dedication were the elements of his extraordinary leadership which established ARA as the retailer’s voice among legislators and regulators in Washington, D.C. He will be greatly missed not only by ARA but by all in production agriculture."

 - Ron Farrell, ARA Board Member from Rapid, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri