For Immediate Release
For more information contact:
Randy J. Bernhardt
Progressive Ag Foundation
rjbernhardt@aol.com
Dee Weeda
Broadhead + Co
dweeda@broadheadco.com
Strong Support Continues for Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® Program
Nationwide and Westfield Industries recent contributors
Birmingham, AL, February 17, 2009 – Financial support for the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program grows as the organization moves into 2009. The Nationwide Foundation, Columbus, Ohio, and Nationwide Agribusiness, Des Moines, Iowa, have doubled their support in 2009 and are now a Bronze sponsor of the Foundation. In addition, Westfield Industries, a division of Ag Growth Industries, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is a new sponsor in 2009 at the Bronze level.
The grant from Nationwide is provided by the George and Gladys Dunlap Cooperative Leadership Award Program, which began in 1994 with a $1.2 million bequest from the Dunlap family. Initially the Dunlap Cooperative Leadership Award Program was developed to recognize outstanding projects that promote cooperatives as a way of doing business. In 2007, the Nationwide Foundation Board of Trustees expanded the program to include projects that educate the public about various aspects of agriculture. The program has awarded more than $800,000 in grants over the past 15 years.
"This award is an outstanding way to honor the memory of George and Gladys Dunlap," states Karen Blickley, director of the Nationwide Foundation. "The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program provides valuable safety and health education for those who live in agricultural areas throughout North America." Nationwide has been a sponsor of the Safety Day program since 2001.
Westfield Industries is a leading manufacturer of portable grain augers and as part of its work designing and building grain augers has a long history of promoting safety.
"Progressive Agriculture Safety Days® make great sense," says Gary Anderson, president and COO of Ag Growth Industries. "An important component of a comprehensive farm safety program is educating children about the potential hazards of being around farm machinery. The Safety Day program is reaching out to that audience, and we want to support their efforts."
About Nationwide
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world. Nationwide ranks #108 on the Fortune 500 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
About Westfield Industries
Established in 1950, Westfield was acquired by Ag Growth Industries in 2000. It is the largest of the eight Divisions held by the Ag Growth Income Fund, a leading manufacturer of portable and stationary grain handling, storage and conditioning equipment including augers, belt conveyors, bucket elevators, drag conveyors, grain storage bins and temporary storage systems, grain handling accessories and grain aeration equipment.
From its base in Manitoba, Canada, Westfield’s 300 employees utilize over 174,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities to produce an extensive line of grain augers and grain handling accessories.
Other Companies in the Ag Growth group include Batco Manufacturing (specialty crop belt conveyors), Wheatheart Manufacturing (grain handling equipment), Edwards Group (aeration and grain drying equipment), Hi Roller (commercial stationary enclosed belt conveyors), Twister Bins (grain storage bins and accessories), Union Iron (commercial stationary grain handling equipment and temporary grain storage systems and Applegate Livestock Equipment. For more information, visit http://www.aggrowth.com/ and http://www.grainaugers.com/.
Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® is a program of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to make farm and ranch life safer and healthier for all children through education and training. Individuals and organizations interested in supporting this worthwhile effort or in hosting a Safety Day should call 888-257-3592 or visit www.progressiveag.org for more information. Progressive Agriculture Safety Day™ applications are due each July 15 for Safety Days that will be conducted the following calendar year.