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 Sep. 12, 2012 Source: Mid America CropLife Association news release The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) honored several industry, media and academic leaders at its recent annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. The Association's Industry Vision Award was presented to Jim Wissmiller, President of Tenkoz, Inc. located in Alpharetta, Georgia. Tenkoz was founded in 1983 and is comprised of 14 regional independent distribution companies with combined purchases representing 25% of the US crop protection market. Wissmiller began with Tenkoz 11 years ago as Vice President responsible for managing programs and performance for assigned product groups and relationship and performance with assigned basic suppliers. He was also responsible for establishing and managing the Tenkoz private label business. Prior to Tenkoz he held key management positions with Zeneca/Stauffer for more than 30 years. Jim began his career with Stauffer Chemical Company in field sales in 1970. He also worked as Commercial Director of Stauffer's Brazilian business and as National Sales Manager and Group Product Director of the US business. With ICI and Zeneca, Jim served in a series of marketing and general management positions. His last role was as Vice President where he was a member, along with the President and the CFO of the North American business, of the strategic leadership team that had responsibility for the performance of the North American business. He also had responsibility for strategic marketing and business development in the US and Canada. The award is presented annually to an industry leader who provides exemplary vision on the issues affecting Midwestern agriculture. The MACA Educator of the Year Award went to Dr. Christina DiFonzo, who has been the field crops entomologist at Michigan State University located in East Lansing since 1996. Chris has her M.S. and Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Minnesota. Her B.S. is in biology from Mercyhurst College which is located in her home state of Pennsylvania. Currently she is responsible for insect research and extension recommendations in all Michigan field crops, including corn, soybean, dry beans, small grains, sugarbeets, and forage crops. She teaches the introductory Entomology course at MSU, plus Pesticides in Pest Management and Insects in the Cinema. Chris has been a great asset, not just to Michigan, but Midwestern production agriculture on insect issues. She is a leader on soybean aphids and other pests. Chris is a strong believer in outreach, as evidenced by her e-mail news blasts, FastFonzFacts, which is widely distributed, not just in Michigan, but other states as well. The Ruth White Media Award is presented to an individual who's demonstrated an evidence of consistent, objective and accurate reporting on American agriculture and the myriad of issues involved in modern agriculture, including the CropLife industry. This year's winner is Steve Fairchild, editor of Today's Farmer. He's a graduate of the University of Missouri with a BA in English and has been with MFA, Inc. for 11 years. As editor he is responsible for writing and editing Today's Farmer magazine, Todaysfarmer.com and MFA's social media; for MFA Inc. During his tenure he has written about many topics including crop conditions, livestock, and many different food issues. However, in 2011 it was Missouri's Proposition B that caught Steve's attention. The producers in MFA's trade territory got a stark, first-hand introduction to animal rights pressure tactics as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) successfully ushered Proposition B into being. Proposition B spelled out inexecutable regulations and restrictions for even top-notch pet breeders in Missouri. Agricultural interests, of which MFA was the only agriculture supplier, joined together to fight the ballot initiative, but also spent time organizing among themselves while HSUS was already campaigning to the general public. As Fairchild stated, "One of the most important lessons for agriculture is that the time to coalesce is well ahead of any potential crisis or interference from outside pressure groups like HSUS." In the end, Missouri's congressional delegation modified the language of the ballot initiative and succeeded. The CropLife Ambassador of the Year Award was first presented in 1993. It is designed to recognize an ambassador for their efforts in promoting the crop protection industry through presentations to students or consumers. This year's recipient is Dave Junge, President and CEO of Junge Control, which is a manufacturing business specializing agricultural blending process controls and equipment. It was founded in 1979 with his wife Mary. Since starting in 2004, as an ambassador, he has made 17 presentations. Dave has reached 815 students. Dave enjoys showing the positives about agriculture to kids. He started making presentations because his son Matthew and his friends didn't know much about agriculture. Dave has invented numerous scale and metering systems for accurately dispensing liquid and dry ingredients. He also farms and lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Finally, MACA President Matt Wagner presented the Association's most coveted award - the Dean Roy Achievement Award - named in honor of one of the organization's founders for "Exceptional Service to MACA and the CropLife Industry" for contributing the most by their selfless service. The winner is selected in secret by the serving president, and Wagner selected Jeff Hayslett, AMVAC Chemical, as the 2012 recipient. Wagner cited Hayslett's commitment and involvement with MACA. Currently, Hayslett serves as National Accounts Manager for AMVAC Chemical and lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area. "Jeff is committed and involved as he works for the benefit of MACA and the crop protection industry," stated Wagner. "His three attributes are his interest in MACA, willingness to work together on projects with others, and desire to help whenever asked." As a former committee chairman of the MACA Crop Production Issues committee he made sure everyone has an opportunity to provide input. "Jeff has served on the board several times to fill out a term and also when the board had needed someone to serve as Secretary/Treasurer, Jeff stepped up and was more than willing to assist for the year. It also meant that he served on the Executive Committee - yet, Hayslett found the time necessary to make sure the minutes and finances were properly recorded," stated Wagner. "He believes in MACA and is willing to give his time." Hayslett is the 31st person to receive the Dean Roy Achievement Award. Tweet |
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