AGCO Corporation presented its 11th annual Operator of the Year award at the Ag Retailers Association convention and expo this week in Orlando. The award, which recognizes the best custom applicators across the country, was given this year to Tony Kornder of Genesis Growing Solutions in Le Sueur, Minnesota.
“We’re proud to have recognized the agricultural industry’s hard-working custom applicators with this special award for more than a decade,” said Mark Mohr, tactical marketing manager at AGCO Corporation.
Kornder has 19 years experience as an applicator and applies on about 35,000 acres each year. Kornder is also a member of his company’s safety committee and a fifth-generation family farmer.
All of the AGCO Operator of the Year finalists were honored at the ARA convention. In addition to Kornder, the finalists were Ken Funk of CHS Elburn in Newark, Illinois; Joel Waterman of Hamel Seed & Farm Supply in Worden, Illinois; and Ronnie Peterson with Crop Production Services in Dothan, Alabama.
Ag retailers across the country nominated more than 40 applicators for the 11th annual Operator of the Year. A panel of judges at AGCO then evaluated submissions based on skills, dedication, customer service and community involvement.