Randy is the director of marketing and communications for Ernst Conservation Seeds in Meadville, Pa. Ernst Seeds is the largest native seed producer in the eastern United States, and has been a supporting member of POWA (PA Outdoor Writers’ Association) since 2013. Randy also serves as the Mercer and Crawford County coordinator for Hunters Sharing the Harvest, another long-time supporting member of POWA. He founded the United Way Pro-Am Bass Classic in 2005, which remains the largest single fundraising event for the United Way of Western Crawford County annually.

In his spare time, Randy is also a freelance writer, editor and photographer, with credits including Pennsylvania Magazine, Hunting & Fishing Digest, Pennsylvania Game News, Fish and Field Report, Pennsylvania Afield, Bowhunter, Keystone Outdoors, The Business Journal, Greenville Record-Argus, Meadville Tribune and Erie Times-News. Randy was a contributor to the book Civility in Business and Professional Communication, authored by Dr. Rod Troester and Cathy Sargent Mester in 2007.

Randy lives in Greenville, Mercer County with his wife Monica. The couple have three adult children; Laurel, Evan and Raina, and three grandchildren; Evelyn, Della and Samuel.

You can reach him by email at rferguson@ernstseed.com, sharedeer1@gmail.com by phone at 814-333-3840 (desk) or 724-813-0839 (cell).

Randy is just one link for supporting members; of course, you can reach out to anyone of POWA’s leaders with comments, suggestions and complaints. Contact information is included later on in the email.

We also want to take the time to thank Connie Spindler of the Maryland Office of Tourism Development. Connie served POWA and its supporting members for 14 years as your representative and is taking a well-deserved break. Thank you, Connie, for your years of service and hard work on behalf of POWA!