“Think big, focus small.” These four words were the challenge I heard another association executive say to a group of young people he was speaking with recently. He had simplified his challenge to this concise statement, making it easy for everyone to understand.

Those words started me thinking about the Mid America CropLife Association's (MACA) Water Guardian Award program, started in 1991. Its goal is to recognize businesses that project a positive image by promoting environmental stewardship of the crop protection industry, concern about the quality of our water and protection of the environment. Although much has changed during the last 12 years, environmental stewardship remains an issue every retailer needs to consider. I know that resources — both time and financial — are tighter than ever, but protecting the environment is one issue that can't be left for others to do.

Every retail dealer needs to think about what he or she can do to protect the environment every day of the year, not just during spring cleanup or in the fall as the equipment is put away. Environmental stewardship begins with recognizing that it's everyone's job and that everyone from top management on down needs to be involved.

As you prepare for the fall harvest, take a few minutes and talk with your entire staff about what your dealership can do. Don't just talk. Actually make a list, and then talk about the items on the list. That's “thinking big” to consider all the things that can be done. And if you can do everything on the list and do a good job, that is terrific! But being a realist, I know that most people can't afford the time and money to do everything on the list.

So it's necessary to “focus small” by zeroing in on what can be done and done well. Identify two to five things that can be done to protect the environment and show that you really do care about your neighbors and community.

Something a previous award winner did was to ask the local fire department to visit the dealership and see how things were stored so if a problem were to occur, fire fighters would be familiar with the site and the products stored there.

Another idea is training. It's an ongoing process to educate your employees on how to protect water so there isn't runoff or overapplication of inputs. Another idea is to make stewardship part of the everyday process by making sure proper procedures are in place and used — especially during the busy times.

Be sure to assign a lead person to each of the points identified. Make your staff members a part of the process and recognize them for their efforts. Then put a note on your calendar to check in a month to see how things are going. Keep checking on a monthly basis. As we all know, people need to be reminded and then recognized for doing a good job. That's why MACA is pleased to be a sponsor of this award.

By partnering with Apply magazine, we hope to recognize dealers for being good environmental stewards and share their practices with others so everyone can benefit.

So I encourage you to “think big, focus small.” If every dealership implements just one new idea, we will all win by protecting the environment!

Bonnie McCarvel is executive director, Mid America CropLife Association.

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