Austin, Texas, December 4, 2008 – The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is pleased to announce The McGregor Company of Southeast Washington, managed by Alex McGregor, as recipient of the 2008 ARA Retailer of the Year Award. This award is sponsored by ARA and Monsanto, and is a recognized symbol of quality and prestige – the emblem of the very best in the industry. ARA Chairman Dan Weber, vice president of agronomy for Ceres Solutions, bestowed this honor yesterday during the annual ARA Conference & Exposition, The Race for Global Resources... World Leaders' Perspectives, in Austin.

"On behalf of the ARA Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to recognize The McGregor Company of Southeast Washington as this year's ARA Retailer of the Year," said Dan Weber, chairman of the ARA board. "The award's nomination criteria for consideration are quite rigorous. As the recipient of honor, must consistently outperform competitors; exceed customers' expectations; and applies outstanding and innovative business practices. All of which, The McGregor Company embodies and truly represents the 'Best of the Best.'"

The McGregor Company was established with the concept of providing fertilizer to replenish the cereals production ground of Southeast Washington in the late 1940s by the father of the current president. Land grant university researchers conducted research on the McGregor family farm that showed extraordinary returns when you provided nourishment to soils that had been badly depleted over the years. Today the ag retailer operates in 40 communities, and also includes two seed companies, a trucking business, an equipment manufacturing division, chemical distributing business and an agronomic research farm.

The McGregors trace their heritage in Washington to Scottish descendants who stopped off in Canada before settling in the state. They took the only jobs available as open range sheep herders, and the principles for future business were outlined by Alex McGregor's great uncle Archie in 1894 based on five core values: industry, hard work, character, honesty and fair dealings. Despite the changes and technological advancements these same five principles serve as the company's foundation to withstand the evolution of industry change.

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CONGRATULATIONS, MCGREGOR COMPANY!!!  We are proud to have you as an IAP Member!

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Reprinted with permission from the ARA press release.