Noting his solid leadership, vast array of agronomic knowledge and strong customer service, John Fritz, ag advisor for the Andersons, was named the 2018 Ohio Certified Crop Advisor of the Year on March 6 at the Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference in Ada, Ohio.

The award was designed to recognize individuals who are highly motivated, deliver exceptional customer service for farmer clients in nutrient management, soil and water management, integrated pest management and crop production, and have contributed substantially to the exchange of ideas and the transfer of agronomic knowledge within the agricultural industry in Ohio.

“This year’s winner has fulfilled the requirements and has achieved excellence in all aspects,” said Jonah Johnson, CCA and chair of the Ohio CCA Board. Johnson presented the award, noting that Fritz has been dedicated to his occupation for 39 years.

The Certified Crop Adviser and Certified Professional Agronomist programs of the American Society of Agronomy are the benchmarks of professionalism, Johnson explained.

Jim Gasche, a co-worker of Fritz, nominated him for the award. He noted that Fritz doesn’t hesitate to go above and beyond for his customers. “In the mid-1990s, he was the driving force for introducing variable rate technology on our farm center,” Gasche said in his nomination. “John is currently head of our 4R Stewardship Management program, which oversees our fertilizer recommendation and rates for all customers to ensure a healthy environment. All things considered, he has contributed substantially to our farm center team in the areas of crop advising, recommendations, accounting, data, technology, record, soil sampling and many more. John is a solid leader and uses his agronomic knowledge to better the world around him.”

The CCA certification was established in 1992 to provide a benchmark for practicing agronomy professionals in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. The Ohio program was established in 1993 and is celebrating 25 years in 2018. Currently there are 13,503 CCA and 479 CPAg program participants. Ohio is in the top 10 states with 567 CCAs and 21 CPAgs certified.