Asmark Institute’s New Training Center Focused On Responsible Ag

The Asmark Institute hosted a dedication ceremony to commemorate the launch of the Ford B. West Center for Responsible Agriculture on October 27 in Owensboro, KY. Named after the former President of The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), who retired in 2013 after 34 years of service to TFI, the facility will be used as a national training and education center for personnel employed in the agricultural nutrient industry.

“Ford B. West is known throughout the U.S. for his impeccable integrity, tireless work ethic and an inherent ability to quickly dissect complicated issues into a simple plan of action,” said Allen Summers, President of the Asmark Institute. “It is very fitting that we honor him by creating a first-of-its-kind learning center that advances safety and compliance for the ag industry.”

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Among other programs planned for the new facility will be the training of auditors to implement ResponsibleAg, an industry-led effort to assist agricultural retailers with compliance on a myriad of federal environmental, health, safety and security regulations.

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About 120 people attended the ceremony and received an up close look at the facility, which was recently donated by Crop Production Services (CPS). The facility had served as a retail farm center until 2014 when CPS consolidated local operations and closed the site. Renovations at the new center were completed this fall and include a classroom and computer lab along with the typical equipment and simulated operations found at ag retail locations nationwide.

CropLife magazine attended the event and took several photos of the new training facility and the dedication (see slideshow above).

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Avatar for Dan Weber Dan Weber says:

My wife and I were honored to be part of the Ag community to honor Ford at this dedication of the Ford B. West Center. Allen and Susan Summers and the ASMARK staff did a fantastic job programing the evening and preparing the site for their guest. Staging the dinner and presentation in an old concrete fertilizer bin was somehow ostensibly correct when you think about Ford’s carrer. But who else other then Susan and Allen could make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!

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