Ford West: Power in Humility
March 1, 2021 Elliot Nowels, a former Meister associate who joined us after the acquisition of his company back in 2000, was the first to point me to Ford West as a source of information and insight into the fertilizer industry. I was relatively new at the job, and grateful to make this valuable connection.
Ford West served the fertilizer industry for more than three decades.
West retired from The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) in 2013, where he had served the industry for more than three decades. Last month, we were saddened to hear of his passing, after a 15-year battle with prostate cancer, at 73.
In my early encounters with Ford, he placed my questions in the context of my experience and took the time to provide the bigger picture. That kind of empathy and patience is a gift, one I will always appreciate.
But it was his day-to-day work ethic, his humility, and his ability to connect with people that won him so much praise over the years.
“Ford West was recognized as a passionate ambassador of the fertilizer industry,” says Allen Summers, founder of the Asmark Institute and a long-time friend. “His reputation for impeccable integrity, tireless work ethic, and an inherent ability to quickly simplify complicated issues made him an industry leader respected by all. Ford’s natural ability to connect with people garnered countless long-term relationships and fostered many opportunities over his 40-year career.”
Kathy Mathers, TFI’s Vice President of Public Affairs, who worked side-by-side with Ford for many years, adds that it was simply never about him.
“If Ford had an ego, I never saw it,” she says. “Instead of promoting himself, the work we did was always about promoting the fertilizer industry and ensuring it retained its license to operate. I don’t think that it’s an overstatement to say that he loved this industry, and particularly its people. What I will remember most about Ford is his natural curiosity, his enthusiasm for life, and interest in exploring the road less travelled, be that in Doha or Durham, NC.”
I also asked Elliott to weigh in on Ford West’s legacy: “He was a big part of the reason TFI earned the reputation and respect for smart perseverance in its lobbying work — ‘wearing out a lot of shoe leather’ — as I remember a Hill staffer saying.”
TFI credits Ford’s leadership with several accomplishments, including growing its retail membership, championing the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program, the Nutrients for Life Foundation, and the ResponsibleAg certification program.
On a final personal note, I found his professional endurance through the early stages of cancer to be profoundly inspiring. In public, I never saw the smile leave his face.
Godspeed, Ford. Thanks for everything.
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