This column appears in the August/September 2021 issue of Sugar Producer.
For more than 30 years, America’s sugar farmers and workers have had a steadfast advocate in Jack Roney. As the Washington representative for the Hawaiian Sugar Planters and then the director of economics and policy analysis for the American Sugar Alliance, Jack has fought for fair farm and trade policies for sugar producers.
At the end of August, Jack will retire from the American Sugar Alliance. While it will certainly be a bittersweet farewell, I have been privileged to witness Jack’s talent and passion for American agriculture and have spent the last several months reflecting on his incredible career.
For many of us, Jack taught us everything that we know about sugar policy. Jack has helped guide the industry through day-to-day market developments as well as major trade disputes and policy challenges. We are all familiar with Jack’s sugar presentations and WASDE analyses.
His deep understanding of sugar policy, coupled with his endless good nature, could disarm even the worthiest policy adversary.
During his time with the sugar industry, Jack worked on a total of six farm bills. Thanks in no small part to Jack and his expertise, attempts to weaken America’s successful no-cost sugar policy have been repeatedly rebuffed. The most recent vote in the House in support of U.S. sugar policy won by a historic 141-vote margin.
Of course, while I can list all of Jack’s many policy accomplishments, what has defined Jack’s career in sugar has been his passion for serving America’s sugar producers with honor and integrity.
He has fought on behalf of our multi-generational family farmers so that they might compete on a level playing field and pass on their farming legacies to their sons and daughters. And he has worked to preserve 142,000 good-paying sugar jobs across the country.
Bill Hejl, former president of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association, echoed this sentiment when we asked people from across the industry to share a message with Jack about what his career has meant to them.
“Thank you for saving the sugar industry, not only for my children, but for my grandchildren, and all the grandchildren of all of the sugarbeet and sugarcane farmers all over America,” Hejl said.
In just a few weeks, Jack will hand over the torch to Rob Johansson, who will no doubt fearlessly lead our industry forward. Regardless, we will always miss Jack’s Irish cheer.
From the entire sugar industry, we congratulate Jack on an accomplished career, and thank him for everything that he has done for America’s sugar farmers and workers. We wish him the absolute best in retirement.