The executive director of the National Biodiesel Board is not just a country music fan, but also a country music singer… well, for his wife and kids at home at least. But today, Joe got a bit more exposure than a home audience. He performed live on the Dave Nemo Show on XM Radio with renowned country music singer/songwriter Michael Peterson.
Michael and Joe also delved into energy issues, renewable fuels and where all that fits in with public policy. Joe says the National Biodiesel Board is aiming to have biodiesel replace five percent of the national supply of diesel fuel. He says that is equivalent to the amount of diesel the U.S. if refining and importing from in Iraq. In other words, he says the National Biodiesel Board is aiming to replace the diesel fuel we get from Iraq.
Some critics arguing against renewable fuels point out that the alternative fuel sources will never fully replace the need for oil. But, Joe says that’s not the point, “That’s like saying if you can’t do everything than you shouldn’t do anything.” Joe says The National Biodiesel Board simply doesn’t share that frame of thought. That’s why it has launched the BioTrucker Fuel Card. The card offers card holders cash price on all biodiesel fuel at 5,000 participating locations and special discounts at select truck stops all without any transaction fees. Those interested can sign up for the card at BioTrucker.com.
Both Michael and Joe lauded the farmers that make up the nation’s ag industry. Joe says agriculture is a powerful industry that fosters cutting-edge, technological innovation. “Ag is slow to move but powerful to respond,” Joe said.
You can listen to the entire broadcast of the Dave New Show with Michael and Joe here:
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I also got some videos of Michael and Joe while they were singing and strumming their guitars. You can watch the videos here:
I’m getting a lot more work done in airports today than I planned on thanks to United Airlines. My short connection in O’Hare turned into a 4 hour (I hope it doesn’t get worse) delay waiting for the next flight to Kalamazoo after several hours delay getting out of St. Louis. Lots of people in my boat since you could probably auction a seat here in concourse E/F. I just like to share my pain. Sorry.
First up you’ll hear John Walter, AAEA president. He feels humbled to be joining the ranks of some great ag journalists in holding the position of president.
Next up is Kyle Haley, LPC president. Both these guys think things are going very well in their organizations and are hoping to continue the efforts started by their predecessors.
The program ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network and Sonny Combs and Kitty Kat Rodeo. The song is “Like a Fool.” Since he wrote and asked that we feature his music I am only happy to oblige.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 131 (11 min MP3)
Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:
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The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting held a board meeting at the Ag Media Summit last week. Does this mean the group’s giving some consideration to getting with the program? I don’t know. A presentation was made to the group by folks representing the AMS though.
Here’s some happy looking NAFB’ers bellying up at Huber Winery last week.
I don’t know if you noticed but I think everyone was smiling all the time.
Thanks to Kyle Maw for reminding me about the Urban Cowboy and his blog. Owen Roberts was one of the judges of the AMS Idol competition at the Ag Media Summit btw. I’m looking forward to visiting the University of Guelph later this year (next month) to conduct a day long class in new media for graduate ag communications students. Glad to see you in the blogosphere Owen. Owen is a teacher of agricultural communications at the Ontario Agricultural College. He’s held the position of director of research communications at the University of Guelph for nearly 20 years, and started a program called Students Promoting Awareness of Research Knowledge (SPARK) which has been adopted by 20 other Canadian universities. Here’s what he’s trying to do on his blog.
This blog is designed to stimulate comments and dialogue on current agri-food issues. It’s mainly a collection of my weekly columns published Mondays in the Guelph Mercury, and Saturdays in the Woolwich Observer (in Elmira). Your comments are welcome. On the home page of this blog, you’ll see links to initiatives I’m involved in, and I welcome you to visit those websites.
After blogging an event like the Ag Media Summit there’s always the follow up work. For me this includes archiving my photos. I use Adobe Light Room to import my photos from the camera cards to start with and give them all a common file name and numbering system. Then I place them onto a separate hard drive for future use. At this year’s Summit I shot 550 photos of which I put 264 in the online photo album. I also archive the video files. I didn’t shoot much at AMS this year but there were still a couple of YouTube videos posted. I also archive the audio files which at AMS was about 15 this year. A couple of those were my sessions which I’ve sent to AAEA for use on their website.
Counting this post there are 35 stories posted for the Summit this year. Most of them have a photo included and of course some have audio files or YouTube videos.
So besides archiving I’ve just been looking through all the stuff I picked up at the Summit this year. I think I have 8 new USB memory sticks containing media kit information and that doesn’t count the CD’s or fully printed kits of information. I’m going to be looking through them and have already seen some AgWired story ideas I’ll use in the future.
I made bourbon coffee today which I got at Woodford Reserve Distillery and it was even better than I thought it would be. I bought some other products there but I’m saving them for hunting camp later this year.
My daughters are fighting (not hard) over the iTunes gift card I got. I’m going to try to fulfill all the “can you send me a photo” requests but if I don’t send you yours soon please email remind me. There was a lot going on there and if it didn’t get written down then . . .
The photo is executive chef Gil Logan from Churchill Downs. He prepared the food for the reception we had there on Sunday afternoon. It was really good and this guy was very funny. He’s a huge advocate for the farmer and in his spare time and vacations he visits farms to find new recipes.
It’s time to hit the road again. Another Ag Media Summit has come and gone. I want to take this chance to thank some folks.
Thank you first of all to Dave Krog and Ken Benkstein and Agragate Climate Credits Corporation for sponsoring my coverage of the AMS this year. Thanks to everyone who attended my workshops and said such kind words afterwards. Thanks to the committee and staff who put this program together and made attending and working here so enjoyable. Thanks to BASF for sponsoring the media room. It’s so nice to have a place to work that’s conveniently located and has good high speed internet access. Thanks to all of you who read and subscribe to AgWired. I can’t tell you how much the words of encouragement I’ve heard here mean to me.
So, it’s onward to the next stop on the agricultural marketing and communications highway.
Don’t forget to check out the photo album and feel free to download them if you need them. I think there’s over 250 in there.
The last meeting of the day here was an IFAJ 2009 Congress planning committee meeting. It’s going to overlap with the Ag Media Summit in Ft. Worth in 2 years. I’m on the communications committee for it and will be developing the website for the event. I’ve already got the domain and would like to invite anyone who wants to help me. Please just let me know.
It sounds like the committee has a lot of plans already in place including a set of 3 farm tours and one in Washington, DC. I think the event has the potential to be the most awesome one ever held since you’ll have international ag journalists here and our domestic ones who go to AMS anyway.
We’re seeking sponsors for the event. If you or your company would like to be a sponsor please let me know and I can pass your interest along to our sponsor committee.
While AAEA was meeting so was LPC. Here’s new LPC president Kyle Haley alongside now past president Lisa Bryant.
It sounds like LPC is doing great both in membership and financially. I know their involvement with AMS has helped this just like it has with AAEA.
I interviewed Kyle and will feature that interview in next week’s ZimmCast. You’ll hear him say how well their regional meetings and the annual GALA in Kansas City are doing for example.
One thing I heard in both meetings this morning as I tried to wander back and forth were references to Howl at the Moon. I’m thinking that’s one of those, “What happens in Louisville, stays in Louisville” kind of things. If anyone has any comments about that please feel free to add them here. I was a good boy last night.
The Ag Media Summit is now over. This has got to be one of the best programs and events yet. Not only was it the biggest so far in attendance but the enthusiasm and fun and fellowship was unmatched in my experience.
Today both AAEA and LPC had their annual meetings. Here’s new AAEA president, John Walter, presenting a plaque to now past president Marcia Taylor.
I’ll be featuring an interview with John in next week’s ZimmCast so that’s where you’ll hear his vision for the future of the organization. For example, he’s looking forward to continuing the outreach efforts to work with other organizations like LPC that was part of the most recent AAEA strategic plan.
I know it has been a while since I’ve done a Michael Peterson post. Have you been going through MP withdrawal?
New Holland sponsored Michael Peterson to do a performance today at lunch which was both inspiring and entertaining. I’ve been asked several times already if I recorded it and would be posting it. Yes and yes.
Michael played some of his old songs and some new ones. He urged everyone to visit his new website, “I Remember America.”
You can listen to his complete performance here:
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The Agricultural Relations Council announced the winners of their 2007 ARC of Excellence Scholarship Program today and two of the recipients were in attendance to receive them.
First of all we have Melissa Leander, Kansas State, pictured here with ARC president Bob Giblin.
They’ll receive $500 each from the organization.
The next recipient is Katie Allen, University of Missouri.
She was here with her Dad but I couldn’t talk him into getting into the picture.
Not attending today is Jill Goetz, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
In addition to handing out the scholarships we got an update on the Golden ARC Awards which will be returning to life this fall. More information on them will be forthcoming.
Before that though we heard a presentation on the Kentucky horse industry from Jim Navolio. Jim was head of the Kentucky Equine Education Project which was started to raise awareness of how important this industry is to the state. He says that it’s amazing how little legislative support the industry gets in light of how much it contributes, especially through taxes.
This week I’m attending the Agricultural Media Summit. As if you didn’t know that by now. So this week’s program is a live demo for my “Podcasting For Publishers” session.
What better program and interview than with your sponsor? The program is my interview this morning with Agragate Climate Credits Corporation CEO Dave Krog. We’ll learn all about carbon credits and how their new company is now focusing on bringing this service to farmers nationally. In case you don’t know about carbon credits you need to listen to this program. It’s a great potential extra income source for farmers and as our speaker said yesterday, we’re going to see more and more programs like this.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 130 (10 min MP3)
Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 6 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes
InfoExpo officially kicked off with a reception this afternoon. There is a lot to see and talk about in this year’s show because it’s bigger and better than ever.
I made sure I stopped by the Mosaic booth to enter for an iPod Nano. In fact, I’m so pumped to see these as giveaways. If you won one today I’m hoping you’ll be in my session tomorrow “Podcasting For Publishers.” I’ll show you how to use it and where you can get some great content for it and how to create your own. Make sure you stop by and see Dan and Bruce.
Ralph Grossi, President, American Farmland Trust, was our luncheon speaker today. He gave us a great overview of Washington, DC policy including the farm bill situation.
To save me time summarizing his comments I’m going to just let you listen for yourself. Yes, the golden ZimmComm microphone was in action. I’ll try to get back here and post more about what he said later. It’s getting time for the opening of the InfoExpo and that’s where I need to be next.
Listen to Ralph Grossi’s remarks here:
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This is why I like taking the pictures as opposed to being in them. Poking my head through an animal cutout would not be the way I want to be remembered but hey, I take the pics when they ask.
I don’t know if you can figure out who they are but these are leaders in the industry.
It’s just an example of what a fun loving group agricultural journalists can be.
The winner of the first AMS Idol contest is Angie Greving, Charleston-Orwig.
Angie just absolutely wowed the crowd with a Martina McBride number (Independence Song).
In fact, she was called back up afterward to sing some more. I’m not sure what the winner received. Hopefully a recording contract somewhere. Hey, I’ve got a microphone and a lot of hard drive space. It could be a start.
The executive director of the National Biodiesel Board is not just a country music fan, but also a country music singer… well, for his wife and kids at home at least. But today, Joe got a bit more exposure than a home audience. He performed live on the Dave Nemo Show on XM Radio with renowned country music singer/songwriter Michael Peterson.
0
I’m getting a lot more work done in airports today than I planned on thanks to United Airlines. My short connection in O’Hare turned into a 4 hour (I hope it doesn’t get worse) delay waiting for the next flight to Kalamazoo after several hours delay getting out of St. Louis. Lots of people in my boat since you could probably auction a seat here in concourse E/F. I just like to share my pain. Sorry.
This week on the ZimmCast you get to hear from the new presidents of the 
Next up is Kyle Haley, LPC president. Both these guys think things are going very well in their organizations and are hoping to continue the efforts started by their predecessors.
The 
Thanks to Kyle Maw for reminding me about the 
He’s John Walter and actually he was strumming a guitar at the Ag Media Summit. John’s the editor of 
After blogging an event like the Ag Media Summit there’s always the follow up work. For me this includes archiving my photos. I use 
It’s time to hit the road again. Another Ag Media Summit has come and gone. I want to take this chance to thank some folks.
The last meeting of the day here was an IFAJ 2009 Congress planning committee meeting. It’s going to overlap with the Ag Media Summit in Ft. Worth in 2 years. I’m on the communications committee for it and will be developing the website for the event. I’ve already got the domain and would like to invite anyone who wants to help me. Please just let me know. 
While AAEA was meeting so was LPC. Here’s new LPC president Kyle Haley alongside now past president Lisa Bryant.
The Ag Media Summit is now over. This has got to be one of the best programs and events yet. Not only was it the biggest so far in attendance but the enthusiasm and fun and fellowship was unmatched in my experience.
I know it has been a while since I’ve done a Michael Peterson post. Have you been going through MP withdrawal?
The 
The next recipient is Katie Allen, University of Missouri. 
The 
credits you need to listen to this program. It’s a great potential extra income source for farmers and as our speaker said yesterday, we’re going to see more and more programs like this.
InfoExpo officially kicked off with a reception this afternoon. There is a lot to see and talk about in this year’s show because it’s bigger and better than ever.
Ralph Grossi, President, 
Getting back to the AMS Idol contest, here’s all the contestants.
This is why I like taking the pictures as opposed to being in them. Poking my head through an animal cutout would not be the way I want to be remembered but hey, I take the pics when they ask.
The winner of the first AMS Idol contest is Angie Greving, 
If you didn’t make it to the AMS Idol competition then never fear. AgWired is here (or was there). 
Cool Interactive Ideas in new media was the topic of a NAMA Boot Camp presentation by Erin Holte, Martin Williams.
