KENNEDY — GROWMARK FS recently achieved certification from ResponsibleAg, the only program in the nation that provides a voluntary comprehensive assessment of agricultural facilities that store and handle farm input supplies such as fertilizer, crop protection products, seed and fuel. Certification requires that a facility meet stringent regulatory-based criteria, implement industry-leading safety and security measures, and uphold facility safety as one of its highest priorities. “ResponsibleAg certification demonstrates to our community and our customers that we are a safe and responsible partner within the community,” said Stanley Dybka with GROWMARK FS. “The ResponsibleAg assessment was very thorough and an excellent mechanism for ensuring that we are complying with the federal requirements. We take great pride in this third-party certification. It reinforces our commitment to our employees and the community.” “Participation in ResponsibleAg is voluntary,” said Tim McArdle, chairman of ResponsibleAg Inc. “It is incumbent on all to ensure we are a safe, responsible and proactive industry. Our hope is to engage our entire industry in this beneficial program over the next few years.” More information about ResponsibleAg and its certification process, including a list of agribusinesses that have been successfully certified, are available at www.responsibleag.org. “There are hundreds of regulations from different regulatory agencies that an agribusiness such as ours must follow,” Dybka said. “Voluntarily participating in the program and attaining certification helps ensure we are making our facility and our daily practices safer for our communities, our customers and employees. We must repeat and pass the assessment every three years to maintain our ResponsibleAg certification.”