Our third Ambassador Interview was with Mr. Tom Rutherford. He has been an ambassador with CropLife Ambassador Network for approximately 5 years. Tom is from Chicago, Illinois and he works with Oil-Dri Corporation as the Vice President and General Manager of Ag Crop & Horticultural Products Group.
Mr. Rutherford discovered CAN through friends and members of Mid America CropLife Association (MACA). MACA made a presentation about CAN and becoming an ambassador and Tom decided to get involved as he had many friends that were already involved. After getting involved, he decided he enjoys it, likes working with kids and finds being an ambassador very rewarding.
One reason he likes being an ambassador is because he gets to help influence kids that live in the city that may one day be working in agriculture. Last year, he did 10 ambassador visits throughout the year. Fellow company employees are also ambassadors for CAN.
As an ambassador, Tom feels that others should become ambassadors because being in the agriculture industry, “we don’t ever want ag to become it’s own island.” His advice to agriculturalists that are considering to become an ambassador is to do a visit or call an ambassador. Mr. Rutherford plans to continue being an ambassador for CAN every year.
