IFCA Honors Customer Applicators and Exhibitors at MAGIE 2022
Besides hosting a first-class summer trade show, the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA) also likes to honor a select few of the folks at the annual event by bestowing upon them “best of” honors. New this year was a trophy and recognition for a custom applicator within the state of Illinois that has shown “dedication, achievement, and an overall professional attitude” when applying crop protection product to grower-customer fields. The trade group accepted applications for this award throughout the early summer months of 2022, narrowing the finalists down to four from there.
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“We thought it would be nice to honor these hard-working individuals because they might not receive such widespread recognition elsewhere,” said IFCA President Kevin “K.J.” Johnson of the Applicator of the Year award. “And we further thought that the MAGIE [Midwest AG Industries Exposition] show, dedicated to the ag retail business, would be the natural place for this kind of ceremony to take place.”
John Elher from Ehler Brothers, right, accepts the Applicator of the Year Award from IFCA President Kevin “K.J.” Johnson.
At the 2022 MAGIE, Johnson and IFCA’s Leslie Forrest, Director of Programs, Office & Memberships, were on hand to formally announce the winning custom applicator. That ended up being John Ehler from Ehler Brothers in Royal, IL.
According to his entry, Ehler has been spraying for 22 years. His typical day during the busy season lasts between 12 to 16 hours. Grower-customers can find him planning schedules, talking, and working with them, operating his machine, and occasionally mixing loads and scouting fields. Ehler takes pride in his ability to provide leadership to his co-workers and “giving the best experience to all of his customers.” In the field, Ehler’s favorite machine is an AGCO RoGator 1300C. And when he isn’t busy working, Ehler loves to spend time with his family and watch his son, Jameson, play baseball.
The other Applicator of the Year finalists were Terry O’Brien from BRANDT, Greenview, IL; Scott Giles from Diamond Ag in Aledo, IL, and Tyler Wells from West Central FS in Maquon, IL.
The Image Award
The Fertilizer Dealer Supply exhibit at MAGIE 2022 featured all of the products the company supplies to ag retailers.
In addition to the Applicator of the Year award, IFCA also annually recognizes one exhibitor at the MAGIE show that exemplifies the best “booth display.” In 2022, the winner of this honor was Fertilizer Dealer Supply.
Founded in 1967, Fertilizer Dealer Supply prides itself on being a premier supplier of agricultural sprayer parts to fertilizer and chemical retailers across seven different states. Headquartered in Philo, IL, the company carries products lines for multiple manufacturers. This includes TeeJet, Banjo, Chandler, Willmar, Blu-Jet, and Ray-Man.
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