The Mid America CropLife Association President Rodney Schmidt presented the Association's most coveted award, the Dean Roy Achievement Award, to Doug Mertens, FMC, during its recent annual meeting in St. Louis. The award is named in honor of one of the organization's founders, for "Exceptional Service to MACA and the CropLife Industry," for their contributions of selfless service.
A long-time member of MACA, Mertens has been active in the CropLife Ambassador program volunteering as a speaker for many years. He was named Ambassador of the Year in 2003, then he kept speaking to students and in 2018 was named the Ambassador of the Decade in 2018. He continues to make presentations and is passionate about the program. He drives around the state of Missouri to make presentations (pre-covid and is anxious to get back in classroom).
Currently, Doug is co-chair of the Young Leader Scholarship Program (YLSP) and is working with the college students. Since becoming involved with MACA in the early 2000s, he's recruited people to become involved in MACA, he's served on the Executive Committee, chaired the Industry Communications Committee which oversees the ambassador program, and Young Leader Scholarship Program.
He has helped to secure sponsorships for the YLS program and the annual meeting. He's willing to assist with these programs whenever possible.
Schmidt says, "Doug is willing to pitch in and help. He is passionate about agriculture, enjoys talking with his customers and colleagues and talking about what is going on in the market. He's comfortable in the field, in the office or in a classroom. For more than 20 years, Doug has been involved with MACA and the industry. He's a true believer in giving back to agriculture and the importance of sharing why agriculture is important to everyone. He's a person you can count on to do what's best for MACA and the industry. He does it quietly without fanfare."
Doug Mertens, lives in Columbia and is the 41st person to receive the Dean Roy Achievement Award.
Categories: Missouri, Business, Crops, Education