After over four decades of dedicated service to the agricultural technology industry, we are announcing the retirement of Rick Goff, co-founder and cornerstone of Advanced Grower Solutions (AGS). Rick’s remarkable journey spans over 40 years, beginning in July 1985 at Datasphere and culminating in his transformative work at AGS.

A Journey Through Industry Evolution

Rick’s career has been marked by resilience and adaptability through significant industry changes. Starting at Datasphere in 1985, he navigated the company through its acquisition by Control Data Corporation in 1988, followed by Doane Agricultural Services in 1990. In 2003, demonstrating true entrepreneurial spirit, Rick joined forces with two colleagues to acquire the software division of Doane Ag Services, co-founding Advanced Grower Solutions.

“It’s been a wild ride,” Rick reflected on his journey, a statement that perfectly captures the dynamic nature of his career in an ever-evolving industry.

A Champion for Growers

Throughout his tenure at AGS, Rick has been more than just a software developer; he’s been a problem-solver, innovator, and trusted advisor to numerous growers. His impact can be seen in the numerous success stories where his expertise turned potential disasters into opportunities for growth and improvement.

Real Solutions for Real Problems

Rick’s approach has always been hands-on and customer-focused. When EVL Nursery faced a devastating server crash during their busiest season, Rick didn’t just offer sympathy, he provided a solution. By introducing them to GrowPoint Cloud, he gave them the advanced security and data backup capabilities they needed to prevent future disasters.

His innovative thinking shone when helping growers upgrade their systems. Rather than pushing expensive hardware replacements, Rick developed creative solutions like GrowPoint Cloud applications that created parallel data copies, giving growers the security they needed without breaking their budgets.

The birth of GrowerOnline exemplifies Rick’s collaborative approach to innovation. When Martin at Hackney shared their operational challenges, Rick didn’t just listen, he partnered with them to develop an entirely new solution, incorporating their feedback every step of the way.

Going Above and Beyond

Rick’s commitment to growers extends far beyond software sales. He’s conducted workshops on networking solutions, helping growers with suboptimal setups improve their facility access through dual technologies. When Van Berkum Nursery faced a network-crippling virus during their peak season, Rick didn’t hesitate to implement an immediate GrowPoint Cloud solution, minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity.

A Lasting Impact

Rick’s influence on the agricultural technology sector extends far beyond individual customer relationships. His work in developing cloud-based solutions has helped modernize an entire industry, making advanced agricultural management tools accessible to growers of all sizes.

These stories spotlight just a few of the growers Rick has helped over the years; his influence reaches far beyond these examples, touching many more in ways both large and small. The testimonials from growers speak volumes about Rick’s impact. From hesitant adopters who found cloud solutions “quicker and smoother” than expected, to long-term partners who helped develop production modules alongside Rick, the common thread is trust, innovation, and results.

Looking Forward

As Rick embarks on his well-deserved retirement, his legacy lives on in the countless growers whose operations run more efficiently, more securely, and more profitably because of his innovations. The foundation he helped build at Advanced Grower Solutions continues to serve the agricultural community, carrying forward his commitment to excellence and customer service.

Rick’s career stands as a testament to the power of combining technical expertise with genuine care for customers. His “wild ride” through four decades of agricultural technology evolution has left an indelible mark on the industry and the many growers who have benefited from his dedication.

From all of us at Advanced Grower Solutions and the broader agricultural community, thank you, Rick, for your unwavering commitment, innovative spirit, and the countless ways you’ve helped growers succeed. Enjoy your retirement, you’ve earned it.