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Willard Agri-Service’s Owner Frederick, Maryland, fertil- MISSION izer facility is neighbors to more than 1 million residents of Montgomery ResponsibleAg is an County. They county sits Being good neighbors is important to Willard Agri-Business next door to the nation’s industry-led initiative capital, Washington, D.C. committed to helping illy Willard, CEO of Willard Maryland, plant, one of the with environmental, properly Agri-Service of Frederick, Inc., area’s first liquid health, safety and security Additionally, Willard believes Respons- Willard explains. “In terms of compliance, store and handle Bleads a successful agribusiness manufacturing facilities. regulations to keep ibleAg ensures that his farm and business ResponsibleAg helps us showcase operation with five plants serving Today, Montgomery employees, customers and are in harmony with the surrounding com- that we are going above and beyond input supplies. The Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, County is the most communities safe. For Billy munity. As a farmer, working closely with just being safe. We are working to program helps members West Virginia, Delaware and New populous county in Willard, it’s about more an ag retailer is natural, but urban neigh- safeguard everyone on the streets and Jersey. In addition, Billy manages the Maryland with an than compliance alone. bors who have no direct interaction with in the communities – our employees, our ensure they are compliant Willard family’s 3200-acre farm that estimated 1,052,567 “I think participating in production need assurance customers and the environment.” with environmental, produces corn, wheat, soybeans and residents in 2018. And ResponsibleAg indicates that local businesses like Willard Agri- health, safety and security sorghum. Farming is in his blood. it sits next door to that our company is Service are following regulations that ResponsibleAg reduces risk and Billy’s great-great grandfather the nation’s capital, BILLY WILLARD committed and here to protect everyone. liability regulations to keep started farming in rural Montgomery Washington, D.C. Though CEO stay,” Willard says. “It’s Willard also believes ResponsibleAg employees, customers and County, Maryland, more than 150 the county is no longer Willard Agri-Service shows we’re investing in membership and the audit process have years ago. His father, De Willard, rural, modern agriculture doing things right, not just helped reduce liability risks, both to his our communities safe. began serving the agricultural is alive and well with businesses like trying to make the next quarter or “ResponsibleAg helps farm and his business. community in 1948, when at age 16, Willard Ag conscientiously working to the next month. We’re looking down us showcase our efforts “I have learned being proactive is he purchased a harvester to do custom be good neighbors. the road, three, five, ten years.” to safeguard everyone always more cost effect than being work for local farmers. In 1970, Willard reactive. When you become reactive in any Agri-Service opened its Frederick, Being a good neighbor to ResponsibleAg-certified in the streets and in situation, especially in our very populous urban centers and regulatory retailers inspire farmer the communities – area, it can be very costly,” Willard says. agencies confidence our employees, our “We’ll invest up front to reduce our risk.” The Willard family farming operation pro- Some in agriculture might be While Willard runs a highly He adds, “I appreciate that duces corn, wheat, soybeans and sorghum nervous operating next door to successful agribusiness, he is still customers and the ResponsibleAg auditors are tough. We in Maryland’s most populated county. urban neighbors and the home of a farmer. From that perspective, environment.” –Billy Willard want them to be thorough. When the agriculture’s regulatory agencies, EPA, knowing his ag retailer is a member auditor comes through and checks off DOT, OSHA and DHS, but Billy Willard of ResponsibleAg shows him the whatever we need to work on and we get doesn’t find it intimidating. businesses’ commitment to good it fixed, we’ve reduced a risk.” Willard Agri-Service began business practices. Billy Willard sees location in an urban By participating in ResponsibleAg, Billy participating in ResponsibleAg “I believe participating in Respons- area as an opportunity to tell agricult- Willard achieves the best of both worlds. in April 2015, and three of the ibleAg reflects a business that is doing ure’s story. ResponsibleAg is good for his farm and company’s locations are now things right,” Willard says. “It gives me “These are my neighbors,” Willard his agribusiness and gives his urban ResponsibleAg certified. A fourth is confidence as a farmer that everything explains. “We are near a major population neighbors confidence that he has their expected to complete certification the retailer is doing in my fields and center, so we’re going to be continually safety in mind. by the end of 2019, and the fifth throughout the area, from fertilizer scrutinized. However, it is an opportunity To learn more about the benefits of location in 2020. An industry-led being on grade to proper product to tell our story, let them see what we do, ResponsibleAg or to become a member initiative, ResponsibleAg helps handling and application, is being done how we do it, and how good we are at it.” visit www.ResponsibleAg.org or call members ensure they are compliant in the safest, most correct manner.” “We must be responsible neighbors,” 270.683.6777.