Raised on a large grain and livestock farm in Missouri and affiliated
with family farms in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, Jerry’s
background is broad-based and deeply rooted in agriculture. The
family farm in Missouri produced 1300 acres of soybeans, corn,
milo, sunflowers and wheat. In addition, the family was one of
the first Brangus cattle and Quarter Horse breeders in the state
of Missouri; and maintained a commercial cow-calf operation and
feedlot, as well as a farrow-to-finish hog operation. The Texas
connection also provided a keen understanding of vegetable, sugarcane,
citrus and cotton production.
Since forming The Duff Company in December 1985, Jerry has provided
global marketing and PR support for such clients as Monsanto,
Dow AgroSciences, Novartis, Uniroyal Chemical, Tomen, AgriPro,
WL Alfalfa, America’s Alfalfa, Gustafson, Bayer, Merial,
Boehringer Ingelheim and others. In the early 1990s he stepped
up the company’s business in Strategic Services and opened
an office in London, in order to provide consultative services
to a range of clients. The Duff Company provided on-the-ground
consultative services around the globe, including such out-of-the-way
countries as Uzbekistan, South Africa and Cuba. A network of PR
agency associates helped extend the company’s reach.
Prior to founding The Duff Company, Jerry spent nearly six years
with Fletcher/ Mayo/Associates in several capacities - from account
service to management supervisor, responsible for the public relations
profit center in Atlanta (a $1.6 million unit). F/M/A was the
largest marketing communications agency in agriculture at the
time, with more than $100 million per year in billings. His primary
account was Union Carbide, for whom he directed public relations
activities worldwide. In the process, he introduced several new
global products. Early in his years at F/M/A he also provided
advertising and international public relations support for the
agency’s other clients, including Dekalb-Pfizer Genetics,
International Harvester and Elanco.
Jerry takes an active role in strategic planning and problem-solving,
as well as overseeing the day-to-day management of several of
client accounts. He holds a degree in agriculture journalism from
the University of Missouri.
