Community Service at Butterfield & Associates Grain

Butterfield & Associates Grain, Inc. was featured in the June, 2001, issue of CropLife magazine. The article appears below.

Growing A Positive Image Nurturing a positive image in your community can make a difference for your business. Nelson Dinsmore, co-owner/co-manager of Butterfield & Associates Grain, Inc., Meadville, Missouri, is well-versed in this PACE advantage. His staff conducts three major community programs: fire safety training; a Cub Scout program focusing on how modern ag practices can co-exist with wildlife and improve habitat; and elementary class visits to the facility.
Why did you choose to work with community groups and what information are you sharing? We're located in a small rural community in north-central Missouri where many of the kids are familiar with some aspects of agriculture, but there are still some misconceptions. The training with Cub Scouts and the "Partners in Education" program is hands-on training. Our fire training, including anhydrous ammonia training, helps our volunteer fire department. We keep them updated and advised on products we handle in case of an emergency. It's a combination of public relations and education, especially for the kids, showing them that agriculture can coincide with nature.	Is there a lot of effort and cost involved in planning these events? I handle most of the planning; my partner follows through, keeping safety in mind. I sit down right after the first of the year and put everything together. We try to do our programs right before the spring season, putting our custom applicators, office personnel, and general staff at specific stations within our facility. Having it during the off-season is good, because it gives us time to talk, but bad because they can't see everything we do. We show the kids our mapping program, walk them through grading grain, and let them climb up in the sprayers and application equipment. We usually give them an ink pen, a notepad, and some refreshment, so cost is minimal. We pay a regulatory company to have a trainer on site and use their training materials. Since we're located right across from the fire department, we head across the street, watch tapes, do training, and sometimes have a meal. We also hold an annual customer appreciation dinner, which is open to the public.
What are the benefits for the community and dealership? Although the kids are from a rural area, not many have first-hand experience with agriculture. This is a bedroom community, and many of their parents work in nearby industrial areas. We give the kids a chance - even though they go by on the school bus and see cows and tractors - to learn about agriculture. And, it gives our business an image of being community-minded, that we care about more than ourselves, and they can see that we're set up to safely take care of any concerns.	How does the industry in general, including your grower-customers, benefit? They're cognizant of the fact that we try to be involved in the community. It's a good practice for our industry and business. We know those in our community on a first-name basis. My philosophy is: We benefit and it gives us good public relations, shows we're part of the community, and that we support the community.
Can you suggest how a dealership might determine what type of community service project is right for them? Most of the schools have some kind of "Partners in Education"-type program. It's a very good tool to get involved in, especially with elementary school kids. Kids that age are very impressionable. Anybody can have a community event. Most dealerships are in rural areas with local/county fire departments. It doesn't take a lot of money, but you'll gain good public relations. Back to Top