Ambassadors Program

The Wisconsin Crop Production Association is proud to announce the launch of its new Ambassador Program. The Ambassador Program is significant in that it positions its retailer participants as industry leaders that are cooperating for the betterment of their organizations and the industry as a whole. WCPA is therefore encouraging strong member support and ownership of this important industry initiative.

The Ambassador Program has been designed to provide agronomic input retailers with opportunities to learn from each other and to have their facility assessed to identify innovative industry ideas regarding non-rule related practices. The importance of the Ambassador Program is that it empowers retailers within Wisconsin to take the lead in the cooperative implementation of non-rule related activities and practices. In applying innovative and practical solutions, participants over time contribute to collectively defining industry environmental quality standards. And, in the process reduce the continuous passage of additional rules.

Participation in the program involves three steps.

• Step 1. Conduct a meeting and site review with a trusted WCPA Ambassador to prepare for an Environmental Partners Program assessment. Common and potential rule violations and any concerns are addressed. Progressive management practices are also identified. When the participant is prepared, step two is initiated.
• Step 2. A second meeting is scheduled with the WCPA Ambassador, a DATCP representative and the EPP participant to review voluntary practices applications and to identify opportunities for effective and practical improvements.
• Step 3. The retailer is asked to follow-up with WCPA six months following the assessment to identify voluntary and proactive innovations, modifications, and improvements in practices and activities resulting from the site review and Environmental Partners Program Assessment.

Retailers who participate in the Ambassador Program are supporting the industry-driven program that will provide long-term benefits in protecting the environment, their facility, the health of the industry, and in generating professional and industry-wide recognition that is deserved for their professional support and participation.

Member Service and Support

WCPA Ambassadors serve as voluntary industry representatives to assist agronomic retailer managers and/or owners before, during and following participation in an Environmental Partner Program Facility and Grounds Assessment conducted with the assistance of DATCP.

• Before – Ambassadors may be selected to assist with a pre-assessment walk through and checklist to detect potential rule violations and identify innovative practices.
• During – Participants may select an Ambassador to serve as their personal representative during the actual DATCP assessment.
• After – Ambassadors may be called upon in an advisory capacity following the assessment and will also participate in an annual advisory council to evaluate the overall annual program and make recommendations for improvement.

Top 10 Reasons to Participate in the Ambassador Program

1. Join a growing number of agronomic inputs retailers throughout Wisconsin taking measures to apply proactive voluntary activities and practices.
2. Participate in the industry-wide process of identifying and sharing innovative, practical, effective, non-rule related solutions.
3. Learn what proactive and voluntary activities and practices are available to deal with environmental quality related issues.
4. Assist in the effort of positioning Wisconsin’s agronomic input industry as responsible for proactively defining and applying its own environmental quality standards.
5. Receive direct assistance from a respected industry representative during the entire process of participation in the EPP program.
6. Feel assured that the EPP assessment involving DATCP is focused on non-rule related practices.
7. Earn your organization’s designation of EPP Participant in the WCPA Membership Directory.
8. Receive recognition for your organization’s participation in WCPA’s Industry News Quarterly and in WCPA’s website.
9. Receive EPP signage for your facility and vehicles indicating your organization’s support and participation.
10. Demonstrate your professional commitment to your organization and to the industry.

Ambassador EPP Participation Checklist (PDF, 159K)

EPP Facility Review (PDF,167K)

Participation Agreement (PDF, 187K)

Code of Ethics (PDF, 175K)

Ambassador Brochure (PDF, 1.2M)