Ag consultancy firm adds Farm Bureau vet

Mace Thornton, a veteran ag strategic communications professional, has joined Stratovation Group, an ag consultancy concern, as partner and chief operating officer.

With a career spanning more than 30 years as a strategic communications professional in the agricultural sector, Thornton held senior leadership roles at the American Farm Bureau Federation, where he was executive director of communications in its Washington, D.C., office. At the United Soybean Board, Thornton was vice president of communications and marketing strategy.

“By virtue of his experience at the American Farm Bureau Federation and the United Soybean Board, Mace offers an integrated approach to policy communications, advocacy and marketing strategy,” Cameron Camfield, Stratovation’s founder and CEO, said in a news release. “There’s much we can learn from someone who’s been in the middle of that work.”

Thornton, who resides in the greater St. Louis area, will establish a new field office in St. Louis. In addition to starting a St. Louis presence, Camfield said Thornton’s mission at Stratovation will be to lead and direct services creating value for commercial clients and advocacy organizations in the agricultural space.

Thornton will help shape initiatives such as Stratovation’s farmer-centric, multi-year research effort titled Biologicals: Farmer Value, Perception and Potential. A collaborative effort of Stratovation, the Ag Retailers Association, the Fertilizer Institute, and DC Regulatory and Legislative Services, the effort is also supported by 10 major agribusinesses, according to the release.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my work in agriculture but also the variety of work offered by Stratovation’s broad range of clients,” Thornton said in the release. “I enjoy crafting comprehensive communications strategies that are informed by research, and I look forward to putting my experience into action for Stratovation’s clients.”

“Adding Mace to our partnership and leadership team is a big step forward for our company, and I’m excited to have him and his expertise on board,” Camfield said in the release. “It’s also exciting to establish a field office in the backyard of the diverse food and agriculture sector located in St. Louis.”

Stratovation is a specialized management consulting firm offering market research and intelligence, strategy and business consulting, marketing communications and brand origin as well as web development and communication.