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December 9, 2024

United Prairie Wins The Scoop’s Business Innovation Award

Due to its achievements in digital transformation, United Prairie and its Tolono, Ill., headquarters has been named the 2024 recipient of The Scoop’s Business Innovation Award, sponsored by Ever.Ag. The award was presented Dec. 4, at the Agricultural Retailers Association Conference and Expo in Houston.

Kansas City, Mo. (Dec. 9, 2024) — Due to its achievements in digital transformation, United Prairie and its Tolono, Ill., headquarters has been named the 2024 recipient of The Scoop’s Business Innovation Award, sponsored by Ever.Ag. The award was presented Dec. 4, at the Agricultural Retailers Association Conference and Expo in Houston.

The Business Innovation Award recognizes ag retailers who demonstrate digital transformation in their business. These include outstanding examples of how ag retailers are taking their enterprise resource planning, agronomics and business data to elevate customer service and build a sustainable business. The award is presented to a single ag retail location and its team in the U.S.

“Ag retailers are the trusted adviser to farmers, and it is essential they evolve their products, services and customer relationships to optimize the opportunities in the field,” said Margy Eckelkamp, editor of The Scoop. “It is our goal to highlight the work being done to create digitally enabled and meaningful business relationships and show excellence in the ag retail business.”

The United Prarie team accepting The Scoop’s Business Innovation Award at the Ag Retailers Association Conference in Houston.

United Prairie is a full-service ag retailer offering dry fertilizer, seed, custom spraying and application. Since the company was founded in 1996, the United Prairie footprint has expanded from four locations to 14 across east-central Illinois.

“Our focus every day is to increase our customer’s return on investment and provide a better customer experience,” said Curt Miller, CEO of United Prairie. “On behalf of all our dedicated employees and our loyal customers, we are grateful for this achievement. Our employees are blessed with talent, and they know if they are given talent, they have the responsibility to use it.”

Learn more about the work of United Prairie’s team.

“United Prairie exemplifies the spirit of innovation and forward-thinking leadership in the agricultural retail sector,” said Mike Moore, executive vice president of Ever.Ag, agribusiness division. “Their unwavering commitment to empowering farmers with cutting-edge solutions, personalized service, and sustainable practices sets them apart as true pioneers in the industry. Through their vision and drive, United Prairie is helping shape the future of agriculture.”

About Farm Journal

Farm Journal is the nation’s leading business information and media company serving the agricultural market. The company serves the row crop, livestock, machinery, produce and retail sectors through branded websites, eNewsletters and phone apps; business magazines; live events including conferences and tradeshows; nationally broadcast television and radio programs; and an array of data-driven, paid information products. Farm Journal is also the majority shareholder of the online equipment marketplace, Machinery Pete LLC. Trust In Food is a Farm Journal division dedicated to accelerating the adoption of climate-smart and regenerative agriculture in ways that work for producers and enhance connection to consumers. In 2010, the company established the non-profit, public charity, Farm Journal Foundation, dedicated to sustaining agriculture’s ability to meet the vital needs of a growing population through education and empowerment.

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Ag retailers are the trusted adviser to farmers, and it is essential they evolve their products, services and customer relationships to optimize the opportunities in the field.

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