Randy Gordon will have served over 40 years in various executive capacities during his tenure.

July 13, 2020

3 Min Read
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The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) announced July 13 the impending retirement of its president and chief executive officer, Randy Gordon, which will occur following the association’s 125th annual convention in March 2021.

At that time, Gordon will have served nearly 43 years in various executive capacities at NGFA, most recently as the organization’s chief executive staff officer since 2012.

“It has been an honor and inspiration to work nearly my entire professional career at NGFA,” Gordon said. “The noble purpose NGFA’s member companies perform in transforming the American farmer’s bounty into safe, nutritious, sustainable and affordable human and animal food, and the professionalism and integrity with which it does so, is a high calling. I’ve also been blessed to work with a peerless, effective and supportive professional staff to advance this great industry’s goals and policy objectives, which are grounded in competitive, free-market principles. I’ll always be grateful for the personal relationships and friendships I’ve made within this industry, and with the many government officials and other trade association executives with whom I’ve had the privilege to work.”

NGFA chairman JoAnn Brouillette, managing partner of Demeter LP, commented, “Randy joined our staff at a time when our industry was facing the daunting challenge of eliminating fire and explosion hazards, and helped communicate the life-saving technology and safety practices developed through NGFA’s unprecedented industry-funded Fire and Explosion Research Program. His leadership, dedication and selfless service were instrumental in NGFA pursuing new programs and services for its members, and in overcoming many challenges that came thereafter.”

Brouillette said Gordan also has played a key role in the association’s continued growth into one of the nation’s premier agricultural trade associations.

“Randy and his predecessors have positioned NGFA extremely well to attain even greater achievements in the years ahead. We wish him and his family all the best.”

Brouillette announced that NGFA has appointed an eight-member Search Committee and now will begin the process of selecting Gordon’s successor.  Applications are due by mid-August.

Gordon joined NGFA’s staff on July 1, 1978 as its director of information services. In 1987, he was elected as NGFA’s vice president for communications and government relations.  In that capacity, he worked on legislative and regulatory policy issues involving grain elevators, animal feed, agricultural biotechnology, transportation, food defense and facility security, and other issues. He also authored the NGFA Newsletter and other publications, and conveyed NGFA’s views to the news media. 

He is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) – one of only eight industry members to be so honored during AAFCO’s 110-plus-year history. He also was recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005 with an award for efforts to prevent the establishment or spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States.

A Nebraska native, Gordon is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with undergraduate degrees in journalism, history and political science. Prior to joining NGFA’s staff, he worked at the university’s agricultural communications department for nearly three years.

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