Awards for operator excellence, outstanding environmental stewardship and superior precision agricultural practices rounded out awards presented earlier this month during the 2015 ARA Conference & Expo.
Four retail facilities were recognized for their stewardship efforts with the Environmental Respect Award. Mike Hemman, DuPont Western Business Unit Leader, conferred the awards in a ceremony during the conference.
“The companies recognized today are true ambassadors of our industry,” said Hemman. “Over the years, we have seen this program encourage retailers to improve the environmental footprint of their businesses and take a leadership role in their communities highlighting the environmentally responsible practices of the ag industry.”
The international award is presented by DuPont Crop Protection, CropLife and Farm Chemicals International magazines. North American honorees included Crop Production Services-Clarence, Mo., (Midwest); Gar Tootelian (West); Green Valley Agricultural, Inc. (East).
The Crop Production Services facility in St. Stephens Church, Va., which was recognized with a regional Environmental Respect Award in 2000, was presented with the Spirit of Respect Award. With this award, DuPont recognizes prior winners for continuous improvement and outreach.
“You need to keep expectation at a high level and get the entire team on board and understanding just how important safety and stewardship is,” said Eugene Longest, facility manager. “If you allow things to slide, they can get away from you in a hurry, and it is very difficult to right the ship again.”
Reedley, Calif.-based Gar Tootelian was also named the North American Ambassador of Respect, as the top regional honoree. “Environmental respect is more than having clean shop floors and tight valves,” Hemman added. “Environmental respect is about promoting the knowledge and technology that benefit the sustainability of an entire region for generations to come. Gar Tootelian is the pinnacle of this type of environmental respect in California.”