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Hampton man gets national recognition

By Staff | Feb 9, 2010

HAMPTON – After more than 20 years hard work acquiring a reputation for excellence and dedication Dave Meyer, a Liqui-Grow employee, was recently recognized by his peers in the liquid fertilizer business by being named a runner up for the national 2009 AGCO applicator of the year.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized this way and to be able to represent the company,” Meyer said. “Over the years there have been a lot of acres, but I’ve always made it a point not to do a sloppy job. I try to respect each field and treat it like it was my own.”

Meyer, a 10-year employee of Liqui-Grow, based in the heart of Franklin County, has more than 20 years experience hauling and applying liquid fertilizer.

In his current job he applies approximately 4,000 acres each year of 32 percent nitrogen fertilizer.

The work requires long hours, especially in the spring when workdays can last from 4 a.m. to well past 10 p.m. for two or more weeks, but said he has always taken pride in the work he does and the dedication it sometimes takes to do it.

“I will do whatever it takes to get the job done,” Meyer said. “That was the way I was brought up and that’s what I do. I think it’s great that there is someone like AGCO who takes an interest in what we do.”

As the first runner-up in a national field of hundreds of applicators Meyer received his award at the U.S. Ag Retailers Convention in December in Jacksonville, Fla. Each of the runners-up received a plaque recognizing their efforts, an AGCO coat and other merchandise as well as a pre-paid Visa card for $500.

Finalists for the Applicator of the Year are drawn from hundreds of nominations submitted each year for the honor. Meyer’s nomination was submitted by Hampton plant manager Steve Heilskov who completed an application for each of the applicator drivers.

“I really appreciate that gesture from Steve and everybody at the company,” Meyer said. “Liqui-Grow operates in a lot of ways like a family and they have been very good to me.”

While the job has evolved in terms of precision, high technology and efficiency that allows for fewer overtime hours, Meyer said he looks forward to continue working for the immediate future.

Being recognized, he said, has caused him to reflect somewhat on these changes and also appreciate the people, his father especially, who have helped him succeed in his career.

“Receiving this award I really wish that my father were here to share in that honor,” Meyer said. “He was a farmer that went into the ag business hauling fertilizer and doing other jobs to stay around the farm.

“He certainly deserves a lot of credit and I know he is looking down and smiling to see us get this recognition.”

Contact Kevin Stillman by e-mail at stillman.kw@gmail.com.