National Corn Growers Association

Reaching for Excellence Award

The NCGA Reaching for Excellence Award, sponsored by FMC, was created in 2015 to recognize programmatic excellence among state corn grower associations and to encourage the building of a library of successful program templates that corn associations may quickly implement.

 

Corn states have submitted outstanding programs in membership recruitment, grassroots advocacy, youth leadership development, community outreach and environment/stewardship programs.

 

FMC recognizes the annual winner and supplies seed grants to other corn state associations that implement their own versions of the nominated programs.

 

SUBMIT YOUR PROGRAM
 

While there is not a formal application, state grower associations and/or state checkoff boards interested in applying should supply a two to three-page narrative, on that state association’s letterhead, that includes the following elements:

 

Program Summary – a precise two to three-paragraph description of the program, the need it addressed and its outcome.

 

Program Description - What was the level of effort required and resources used? How many staff members, consultants or volunteers were involved? What were their roles? What was the estimated cost of implementation?  Did the program collaborate with other ag or community groups?

 

Program Evaluation - Describe the qualified or quantified performance outcomes for the program.  Why do you consider this program a success?  What advice or recommendations would you have for others considering your program?

 

Please submit the outlined two to three-page narrative documenting programmatic excellence by Friday, December 4, 2020. All submissions should be sent to Steve Uram.

 

A panel, comprised of members of the Member and consumer Engagement Action Team, will select the winner.  All submissions will be posted on ShareFile to better facilitate the sharing of ideas and successes among NCGA’s state affiliate organizations.

The winning state and program will be recognized at the NCGA Awards Banquet at Commodity Classic. 

Application Summaries

FMC Corporation, an agricultural sciences company, provides innovative solutions to growers around the world with a robust product portfolio fueled by a market-driven discovery and development pipeline in crop protection, plant health, and professional pest and turf management. The FMC portfolio also includes biologicals such as Quartzo® and Presence® bionematicides. FMC Corporation employs approximately 6,500 employees around the globe. For more information about FMC, please visit www.fmc.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AWARD INFORMATION

FMC will award a $2,000 cash prize and provide special recognition to the winning state program.

 

SEED GRANT GUIDELINES

  • FMC will provide up to eight $1,500 seed grants to states who want to replicate/build upon an existing applicant’s program.

  • Seed grants are awarded on a calendar year basis and are awarded beginning in late January

  • To apply, state corn associations should submit a one-page summary of how they will implement their selected RFE program.  Applications are due by July 31, to Steve Uram, NCGA Grassroots Advocacy & Leadership Programs Manager.

  • State Associations may apply for up to two grants in the same year.

  • State Associations cannot apply for a program that they have already submitted.

  • Seed grant recipients must submit a one-page wrap-up evaluation of their executed program to assist with future implementations.