Agricultural communications is an important and broad industry and there are several organizations that focus on professional development for ag communicators. One such organization is the American Ag Editors’ Association (AAEA), but don’t let the name fool you. This organization is made up of people involved in ag communications from editors to public relations professionals to designers to publishers and …
A Portrait of the American Farmer
“I feel like I’ve made 300 of the best friends I’ve ever had,” said Paul Mobley, author of the new photographic book, “American Farmer” when describing how photographing farmers around America has changed his life. Paul never set out to put together a collection of photos taken of farmers around the world – he happened upon the opportunity when he …
We Hate Sheep
Sullivan Higdon & Sink hates sheep. Why? Because they are followers – not leaders. Well, you may love them or hate them but during NAMA you can abuse them as part of the interactive We Hate Sheep game. The game was created by t2, an interactive company based right here in Kansas City, the host town for this year’s NAMA. …
Student Marketing Competition Finalists Announced
As the 2010 National Agricultural Marketing Association’s (NAMA) trade show kicked off yesterday, there was a sea of students anxiously waiting to get through the doors. Why? Because they were waiting for the announcement of which teams would make it through the finals for the Student Marketing Competition. On Tuesday, 31 teams from around the country arrived for their chance …
Buy Your Raffle Tickets Already
The students here at NAMA are not just busy trying to win the NAMA Student Marketing Competition. They are also busy selling raffle tickets. For $10, you can get one chance to win a Vizio Flat Screen TV, retailed at more than $2,000. The proceeds from the raffle will benefit the AgriBusiness Educational Foundation (ABEF) which support the NAMA Students …
Student Marketing Competition Underway
Last night while the judges were relaxing in preparation for today’s Student Marketing Competition, the students were doing a little prepping themselves. All around the Hyatt, you could see members of the 31 competing teams practicing their presentations, Q&A’s and making final tweaks. Here is a photo of several of the Iowa State students who were making some final changes …
A Moment with the Student Marketing Competition Judges
Last night, I attended the NAMA reception for the dozens of professionals who will be judging the Student Marketing Competition that is sponsored by Monsanto. The volunteer judges, along with the student competition committee, are integral to the success of the program. But the program doesn’t just give students experience in developing products and marketing campaigns it is also an …
Planting My First Garden
Wow. Growing your own food is hard work. For the past month, I’ve been living (and continue to live) in the Canyons of California on Puma Canyon Ranch. Here on the ranch (what most people would call a farm), there are dozens of acres of avocado, lemon and orange trees. However, there is more than fruit here on the farm, …
Book Review – Enough
As I write this review, I’m sitting on my deck looking out at dozens of acres of avocado, orange and lemon trees. Yesterday, I helped to plant a vegetable garden – the produce being grown for a local restaurant. The irony is that as I am surrounded by abundance here in America, I’m reading about those in other countries who …
Farmers New Cash Crop is Clean Energy
Farmers and small business have found a crop to make them more money – clean energy. This according to a recent report from the Environmental Lay & Policy Center (ELPC) which just released “Farm Energy Success Stories” that demonstrate how a farm or small rural business adopted clean energy technologies and cut energy costs. Much of the monies that made …