Monty's Plant Food Company awards cash to Shelbyville FFA cahpter

Finchville Resident Austin Newton receives a check and congratulations for a job well done from Commissioner Farmer
Photo Left to right - Monty’s President Dennis Stephens, Commissioner of Agriculture Ritchie Farmer, Austin Newton Shelby County FFA, and Shelbyville Southern States Sales Rep. Joe Dedman

Company, Plants, Local Organization all Grow From Roots
Shelbyville FFA Chapter benefits from ‘grass roots’ movement.

Louisville (Oct. 28, 2005) – The Shelby County FFA chapter may have just received a record harvest. During the State FFA Awards banquet, held Friday during the National FFA Convention, the chapter received a $1,294 check for their work from Monty’s Plant Food Company. Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer was on hand to deliver the check to Austin Newton of Shelby County who received the funds on behalf of the FFA Chapter. Like farming itself, they received payment for a project which began this past spring.

Louisville-based, Monty’s Plant Food Company approached the chapter about participating in an inaugural program in April. Soon, chapter members were inviting area farmers to a meeting at Claudia Sanders’ Restaurant. The only requirement for students was to invite local farmers and to attend the meeting themselves. Company President Dennis Stephens said, “We really want to get our message out to young farmers, to let them know that there are new technologies out there, ways of raising crops that do not rely on older technology. That is why we ask that chapter members also attend.” After that, it was up to area farmers to support their local FFA by trying Monty’s products on a portion of their farm. Monty’s promised the Shelby County FFA 25 cents per acre for any product sold in the county.

Supporting the effort locally was the Shelbyville Southern States store. Monty's Plant Food Company joined forces with Southern States so that the FFA students would not have to sell, handle or deliver the line of soil and fertility products. With the support of the local FFA and the enthusiasm of area farmers Southern States sold enough product to cover 5,176 acres in their first year of handling the fertilizer and the first year of the program. More importantly, even during a bad cropping season, sales accelerated as the season progressed.

Word spread of the program throughout the summer then word spread that “Monty’s Works”, according to area farmers like Garry Rutledge. Rutledge further stated that “Despite the drought, my alfalfa stayed green all summer. And because of the quality I received $1 more per bale than last year and I sold out!” Worth Brown used the fertilizer and saw a consistent yield increase on his soybeans and Ray Clark Casey saw improvements to his grass hay, alfalfa, and tobacco all fertilized with Monty’s.

According to the speech given by Stephens at the presentation ceremony, Monty’s Fertilizer works by first ensuring a good root structure for plants. “Monty's, as a product, made its name by focusing on the roots. It is only fitting, then, that as a company we continue to focus on our roots. Not only is FFA one of the deepest tap roots, anchoring all of Kentucky agriculture. But for me personally, it was those early days in the Bourbon County FFA which have served me well as a business man, as a commercial landscaper, and as a researcher. The skills I acquired in FFA have given me the desire to ask two key questions. "WHY?" and "CAN IT BE BETTER?" and the courage to accept the answers. By asking those questions, we have led the charge in developing new ways to fertilize traditional crops; ways that are beneficial to the plant, to the environment, and to producers bottom-lines.”

Sales of Monty’s Liquid Fertilizer will continue throughout the fall at Southern States; the FFA program will also be repeated next year. With farmers looking for answers to skyrocketing fertilizer expenses, and with the local FFA receiving a direct benefit, 2005-2006 might be the right time to explore options which incorporate new technologies and foliar feeding as part of their fertility program. The program is being expanded to over 40 FFA Chapters state wide next year. Locally, Monty’s officials say that if normal trends continue and the farmers of Shelby County continue to support the effort, they would expect to be back next fall to present a check of three to five thousand dollars to the Shelby County FFA.

If you or your chapter would like to participate in our FFA Donation Program, Contact Sonny Malone at (800) 978-6342