10-27-15 Sect. 1.qxp:Layout 1 10/22/15 2:56 PM Page 1 Evolve or become extinct, Mason warns agribusiness By Donna Sullivan, Editor homes with coal any more, Gore is talking about how When Damian Mason ad- the trend was also towards we’re killing the world be- dressed the Kansas Agribusi- vinyl wall coverings that cause we’ve got too many ness Retailers Association could be cleaned with a chemicals,” he described. So annual meeting this past Au- damp cloth. Then the sister- Chem Lawn became Tru- gust, his message was a bold in-law of one of the owners, Green. “Why?” he asked. one. He said the businesses who was a nursery school “Because all of a sudden, represented in his audience teacher herself, gave the ‘chemical’ became a bad basically face two choices: wallpaper cleaner to her stu- word. They just had to evolve or go extinct. dents. The youngsters had change their image. And I’m Mason is himself no been unable to use modeling sure the average suburban stranger to that concept, hav- clay because their fingers person would say, ‘I can’t ing built his comedy career weren’t strong enough, but have Chem Lawn come out as a Bill Clinton imperson- the wallpaper cleaner was and treat my lawn, my little ator. perfect for them and they children play on it! So now I “You would say of course loved playing with it. They have TruGreen – they’re I had to reinvent myself be- took the product around to green!’” cause Bill Clinton’s not nursery schools all over “Probably the best option going to last forever because Cincinnati, Ohio and found a you have as an industry is to presidents only last for eight market for it. They got a continue to say things like years,” he said. “But why meeting with Bob Keeshan, ‘safe and abundant,’” he would you say that and not better known as Captain counseled. “Thank God you say it about your own busi- Kangaroo, who agreed to got away from saying ness?” play with the product on his ‘cheap.’ Stop telling America Citing the increasing show one day a week for 2% how cheap their food is. power of the Environmental of gross sales, and Play-Doh They don’t care.” He also Protection Agency and the hit the national scene. The recommended tying agricul- fact that ag producers are Damian Mason addressed members of the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Associa- only difference between the ture’s message into the envi- such a minority, Mason be- tion at their annual meeting, urging them to continue to evolve their businesses to original product and today’s ronmental message and de- lieves those in agriculture keep up with the demands of the marketplace. Photo by Donna Sullivan Play-Doh is that they re- scribed a video he’d posted have no choice but to evolve. How old is your business? Is road.” The company looked Option number two is to moved the detergent from it on Facebook showing 22 “You, as a business, either it more than a century? Is it at all the lines they had car- change your customers. and added color and almond ounces of glyphosate that is evolve or you go extinct,” he going to be here 100 years rying communication up and “This one is a sales job and scent. “They didn’t want to spread over an acre of insisted. “It’s true in the ani- from now?” down their rails and decided this one is all about you,” he change their product, so they ground. “Go with that,” he mal kingdom and it’s true in Mason listed three op- to start selling access to said. “If you’re not going to changed their customers,” said. “Don’t back away from the business community. tions for evolving or rein- those lines. “They teamed up change your product, the Mason reiterated. the fact that we use chemi- That is what you must under- venting a business. Change with a little telephone com- only thing you can do is go The third option is to cals. Tell them how we use stand: you get two choices.” your products, change your pany in Abilene, Kansas and out and find a bunch of new change your image. “This is them and how we use buffer He went on to point out that customers or change your created a phone side with the customers for it, right? probably what you guys are strips, etc. Change our 99% of all species that have image. “What reinvention re- railroad side and started sell- As an illustration, Mason up against because of the image, always communicat- ever lived on earth are ex- ally is, is staying relevant be- ing long distance,” he said. used the Play-Doh company. business you’re in,” he stat- ing, and don’t use science. tinct. “Extinction is the rule, cause you want your phone “Of course, we went away The popular children’s toy ed. He used TruGreen, the They don’t understand sci- it’s not the exception,” he to ring tomorrow,” he ex- from long distance on wires began as a wallpaper cleaner lawn care company to back ence. Use emotion.” continued. “And it’s worse plained. and started going with mo- back when people heated up his point. He described He warned that image for businesses. Think of the He listed Sprint as an ex- bile Sprint. That’s a pretty their homes with coal and how in the 1980s people change should be done with businesses that have lasted ample of changing the prod- big departure from what they dealt with black soot on the started spending more a great deal of thought so as for more than one century. uct. “Who knew Sprint actu- once were, isn’t it? Nobody walls. In the 1950s, its money on their lawns and not to alienate existing cus- The Guinness Brewery, the ally has its roots in the rail- knows about the Southern maker, the Kutol Company, many used a company called tomers while trying to gain Ford Motor Company, you road?” he queried. “SPR was Pacific Railroad, but every- was struggling because not Chem Lawn. “Enter the can come up with some. the Southern Pacific Rail- body knows about Sprint.” only did people not heat their 1990s and 2000s and Al Continued on page 3 Moran hosts FDA commissioner to highlight Kansas producers’ judicious use of antibiotics U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran Great Bend, along with ex- livestock producers, veteri- larly the agency’s oversight sity’s College of Veterinary future plans after graduation. (R-Kan.), Senate Agriculture perts and stakeholders at the narians and veterinary stu- of antibiotic use in the live- Medicine clinics, research Additionally, they traveled to Appropriations Subcommit- local and state level. dents as we transition toward stock industry, which direct- labs, and diagnostic services. Great Bend Feeding to learn tee chairman, hosted Food “As someone who places more veterinary oversight of ly impacts Kansas agricul- They also visited with a about the safe and judicious and Drug Administration tremendous value in learning legitimate uses of medically ture producers and has im- number of students about is- use of antibiotics in livestock (FDA) deputy commissioner about issues through conver- important antibiotics in plications on overall public sues facing the next genera- production. Michael Taylor in Kansas on sations with Kansans, it was food-producing animals. The health. The visit included a tion of veterinarians, their Friday, Oct. 16. They made a pleasure to host FDA rep- actions the FDA has taken to tour of Kansas State Univer- experience at K-State, and stops in Manhattan and resentatives to discuss im- date represent important portant issues impacting our steps in addressing antimi- state,” Moran said. “The crobial resistance, and we FDA plays a critical role in look forward to continuing reducing resistance to med- our work with stakeholders ically important antibiotics to ensure the judicious use of and overseeing the safe and antimicrobials to protect judicious use of antibiotics public health while ensuring in livestock production. The that sick and vulnerable ani- responsible use of antibiotics mals can receive the treat- is both an agriculture and ment they need.” public health issue, impact- Earlier this year at a Sen- ing everyone from farmers ate Agriculture Appropria- and ranchers, to veterinari- tions Subcommittee hearing, ans, to consumers. It’s im- Moran invited Taylor to visit portant the FDA learn direct- Kansas. As chairman of the ly from the best experts in agriculture subcommittee, he the field, including right here has the opportunity to play a in Kansas, about the issue.” role in overseeing the activi- FDA deputy commis- ties at both the FDA and the sioner for Foods and Veteri- U.S. Department of Agricul- nary Medicine Michael R. ture (USDA). During the Taylor said, “We are grateful visit, Moran introduced Tay- to Senator Moran and his fel- lor to Kansans to learn first- U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), left, is joined by FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael low Kansans for the opportu- hand about some of the is- Taylor, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Professor Dr. Mike nity to meet directly with sues facing the state, particu- Apley and FDA Deputy Director for Science Policy at the Center for Veterinary Med- icine Dr. Bill Flynn. 10-27-15 Sect. 1.qxp:Layout 1 10/22/15 10:32 AM Page 2 Page 2 Grass & Grain, October 27, 2015 age of dwindling farming You must demonstrate the serve because they are un- which makes men dream populations coupled with a same courage and convic- sure how the board or or- greater dreams and perform continuing exodus to larger, tion when telling your story.