How You CAN Make A Difference

Educating consumers about crop protection is important. Who better to provide that education than retailers and others in the agriculture industry? According to Doug Mertens, field sales manager for NK Brand Seeds and Industry Communications Committee chair for the Mid America CropLife Association (MACA), a multitude of approaches are needed to overcome the misconceptions about your industry. Please take a moment to read the following letter from Mertens, which explains how you can help steward this very worthwhile goal.

Sponsor a School Visit
The Mid America CropLife Association has made great strides in getting our message to the public through our educational outreach program, the CropLife Ambassador Network (CAN). Since 2003 over 30,000 youth have learned about the benefits of crop protection.

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How can you help? Sponsor one school visit by contributing $250 to the CAN program. What will that provide?

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  • An industry ambassador directly speaking with an average of 50 students.

  • 60 minutes worth of a good message about modern agriculture.

  • Classroom visuals for our ambassador to use.

  • A written lesson unit on modern agriculture for teachers to reinforce concepts taught by ambassador.

  • A program coordinator to develop and market our program.

The cost averages out to $5 per student. A bargain in today’s marketing budgets! Act soon by sending your company’s contribution by March 30 to:

Mid America CropLife Association
11327 Gravois Rd., #201
St. Louis, MO 63126

MACA members also can make donations through PayPal in the Members Only section on the MACA website.

The Mid American CropLife Association has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Each donation made is tax deductible. A receipt of your donation will be provided. Your support of education will be displayed on our website. 

As a CAN Ambassador since 2000, I have seen an imperative need for this program. Each year I get to see firsthand how little is known about agriculture and the critical connection it plays in everyday life. Programs like CAN provide positive educational experiences to today’s youth about agriculture by people that are involved and invested in agriculture.

Please consider making a donation to the CAN program. Remember ,our futures depend on it. For additional information about on CAN, contact the program coordinator, Janet Braun at 800-625-2767 or [email protected], or visit the MACA website at www.maca.org.

Sincerely,
Doug Mertens
MACA
Industry Communications Committee Chair
314-849-9446
800-625-2767

As I’ve written in this column before, I strongly believe in the CAN program, and as an Ambassador myself, have shared the industry crop protection message with schoolchildren and adults alike. A number of presentations are conveniently put together for you on the CAN website. Personally, I like the questions and discussion time after the presentation best; it really provides an opportunity to alleviate fears and make the message even more personal. (I know the similar names can be confusing, but MACA and CAN are not affiliated with CropLife eNews or CropLife® magazine.)

I hope you’ll seriously consider donating to CAN’s efforts, both monetarily and timewise. You’ll find it’s a solid investment in the future of your industry.

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