Do you remember the Golden ARC Awards? I do. And they’re back.
Are you one of the best in agricultural public relations? Do you contribute valuable professional communications to your position? Are you proud of your work?
Since its inception in 1990, the Golden ARC Award came to represent the pinnacle of success in agricultural public relations. Now reintroduced after a multi-year absence, the Golden ARC esteem will undoubtedly wow clients, bosses and colleagues.
Now is the time to submit your best work to the prestigious 2010 Golden ARC Awards. The deadline is Saturday, May 1, 2010.
The Golden ARC Awards Program consists of two divisions, the “Campaigns Division” and the “Tactics Division.” Within each portion, individual categories exist. Check out the rest of the site for more information on how you can win in 2010.
Agricenter International is a self-sustaining, non profit that provides economic development by facilitating agricultural research, educational programs, environmental conservation, natural area preservation and recreational opportunities.
John’s presentation focused on their efforts to better inform and educate consumers on the importance of agribusiness to the U.S. economy and the impact of ag exports to the world. He also gave us an overview of the status of what is considered to be the world’s largest urban farm and research test facility.
His presentation will give you another idea of what you miss when you don’t attend an ARC meeting. Think about putting it on your calendar next year!
Attendees to the 2010 Agricultural Relations Council in Memphis, TN, toured a local ADM barge and elevator loading operation. Here’s a short segment of Q&A with the group during our tour. It was very well done and I think we learned a lot. For example, the tour guide said they were unloading up to 300 trucks per day during last season.
In ZimmCast number 250 learn how Ducks Unlimited does public relations. I can’t believe I’ve done 250 of these. The first posted version of the ZimmCast was January 31, 2005! I wish I could say it seems like only yesterday but it really doesn’t.
Getting on to the topic of this week’s program, I recorded the presentation made by Tony Dolle, Director of Communications for Ducks Unlimited. He’s seen here conducting his presentation during the Agricultural Relations Council meeting in Memphis at their headquarters. Tony’s job was to tell us how they conduct public relations and deal with today’s media. I think you’ll find it very interesting. Ducks Unlimited is a very successful and well run organization with a budget of about $220 million.
Since we were in Memphis and it’s the home of some of the best blues music you’ll ever find I ended the program with some music from Music Alley. It’s a song called, “Memphis Blues” by Ocean Street.
Before leaving Ducks Unlimited this morning we took a group photo of those of us attending the Agricultural Relations Council meeting. Thank you to Tony Dolle, Director, Communications for doing the honors.
We received a great program overview and I’ll have more to post on the presentation at Ducks Unlimited within the next couple days. Your agriblogger is a little agritired at the end of this trip.
We also toured an ADM grain handling/barge facility this afternoon and have a social media panel discussion coming up. Then it’s off to BB Kings for supper this evening. I’ll bet you wish you were here. We do.
At the urging of my ARC buddies I am posting a new edition of “Guess Whose Boots.”
This is going to be tough. I will not lie. But the first person to leave a comment with the correct answer (as defined by me) will win a prize from the ZimmComm prize stash.
I will tell you that the photo was taken today in Memphis as part of the Agricultural Relations Council meeting that I’m attending.
This morning the Agricultural Relations Council unveiled a new logo. Actually, it was ARC President Deron Johnson who made the unveiling.
He says the logo has some very specific thematic elements including:
The “A” in arc has an actual arc that sweeps through the middle of the letter.
The typeface is bold and uppercase signifying simplicity and strength. This logo is contemporary, yet still conservative and professional.
The colors symbolize life (green) and nourishment (yellow).
Also, the arc in the “A” goes a long way in giving a head nod to agriculture.
When I receive a good quality electronic version of the logo I’ll get it posted for you.
Newly elected officers include:
President – Deron Johnson
First Vice President – Mace Thornton
Second Vice President – Katana Ewbank
Secretary Treasurer – Mike Opperman
Immediate Past President – Bob Giblin
Director – Janice Person
Director – Amy Keith McDonald
Director – Carroll Merry
Director – Mark Ingbritson
From Puerto Vallarto to Memphis, TN. Now that’s culture shock. But I’m here at the Agricultural Relations Council Meeting at the Westin off Beale St. Our program has just started with a presentation from John Charles Wilson, Agricenter. I’ll have a post on his presentation later.
To get things kicked off I spoke with ARC President Deron Johnson, Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications. He says it’s a mix of professional development and networking. The focus is the Consumer Outreach For Ag. The program will include in the hotel presentations and off site ones as well. It will conclude with a social media panel. The photo of me interviewing Deron was taken courtesy of Janice Person.
Deron says ARC is in a “solid year two of rebirth” for the organization. There are more attendees here this year and they’ll be making some exciting announcements before the end of the meeting. He says they’ll be making a compelling case for people in the industry to join ARC.
It’s time for the ARC Memphis: Consumer Outreach for Ag meeting. The Agricultural Relations Council is calling for registrations. The meeting will be held February 18-20, 2010 at the Westin Memphis Beale Street Hotel, Memphis, TN.
The agenda includes a presentation from Agricenter International, Tennessee Farm Bureau, trip to Ducks Unlimited and a session on, you guessed it, Social Media for New Decade. What ag comm program would be complete without one, eh?
The hog industry is hurting, but optimism still exists here at the World Pork Expo 2009.
Despite a year of plunging profits and flu fears, attendance is still expected to be pretty strong at the expo this year, according to general manager John Wrigley, who stopped by the Novus International tent for an interview. “We’re probably going to be down on international, the H1N1 virus caused some Asian groups not to come, but as far as regular attendance, it’s exactly what we would expect,” he said. “I’m pretty pleased right now.”
John says there are about 450 exhibitors at the expo this year, just about the same as last year, and that is what will motivates producers to attend. “The reason they come is to talk to the exhibitors, they want to know what products and services they have that will help them do a better job,” he said.
The big change this year is the days for the show. “We went to a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday instead of Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” said John. That was motivated by input from producers and exhibitors who said they would rather have the expo during the week instead of spilling into the weekend.
John notes that the World Pork Expo is totally a producer event, sponsored by the National Pork Producers Council. “Everything we do is for the producer,” John said. The National Pork Board does sponsor the Great Pork BarbeQlossal, which will be held here at the fairground on Friday and Saturday.
You can listen to my interview with John here:
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A new post to the Agricultural Relations Council group on Facbook by Katana Ewbanks details some incentive offers to join and get others to join.
The ARC Board is excited to announce our spring membership specials to our Facebook group members.
Individuals who become and ARC member between now and April 18, 2009 can join for the low price of $100. This is a $75 savings off our annual membership.
For companies who want multiple employees to join ARC, we have developed a laddered membership that will provide a significant cost savings. The laddered membership works like this:
* Member #1 — $175
* Member #2 — $100
* Member #3 and beyond — $75 each
We believe so much in the mission and focus of this organization we have even built in a contest for 2009 members:
* Personally recruit 3 ARC members in 2009 and your 2010 membership dues are free.
* Personally recruit 5 or more ARC members in 2009 and not only do you get your 2010 membership for free, your name is also entered in a drawing for a free registration to the 2010 ARC annual meeting.
There has never been a better time to join ARC. If you have any questions, or to get a membership form, visit us online at www.agrelationscouncil.org.
It sounds like the ARC annual meeting has gone very well in New Orleans. Thanks to Mace Thornton, AFBF, I got some notes about the meeting to share. Here’s what he says:
An aggressive plan in place to rebuild the organization and grow membership. Now have Den Gardner managing (have not had professional management for the last 3-4 years so this was a key decision) and an energetic board. I do believe that ARC’s period of dormancy is over. I know we are planning a webinar later this year and will conduct an industry PR trends survey, which we hope to make a yearly event.
Networking among people who speak the language of ag PR. We just started a facebook page and are redesigning our logo and website in the very near future. Tiered membership dues…$175 for first, $100 for second. Plus recruiting bonus, half off membership with 3 recruits, free membership with 5.
It looks like there’s new life being breathed into the Agricultural Relations Council. I’m wondering if anyone would like to sponsor AgWired coverage of the annual conference? If so, please let me know.
The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) announces its 2009 board of directors and its annual conference, set for March 12-14 in New Orleans.
The 2009 ARC Board includes: Deron Johnson, Rhea+Kaiser Marketing Communications, board president; Mace Thornton, American Farm Bureau Federation, first vice president; Katana Ewbank, Alpha Scouts, second vice president; and Bob Giblin, consultant, immediate past president. Directors include Mark Ingbritson, Rhea+Kaiser Marketing Communications; Amy Keith McDonald, McDonald Marketing Communications; Carroll E. Merry, Countryside Marketing; Janice Person, Monsanto; and Mike Opperman, Charleston/Orwig.
After maintaining a low-profile over the past few years, ARC is moving forward with a renewed direction to meet the needs of public relations/public affairs practitioners across the country. “We are excited about this new team and eager to rejuvenate and invigorate ARC in 2009 and beyond,” says Johnson. “We now have retained Gardner & Gardner Communications, an association management firm, to manage the organization and are dedicated to growing the organization in members as well as in professional development.” (more…)
The red-shirted Beef Ambassadors have been wandering the halls here at the Summer Conference. I spoke with two of them this morning, Leticia Varelas, NM (L) and Jennifer Rassler, PA. They wanted to make sure I pointed people to their blog: Raising The Steaks. I hope you’ll take some time to see what these ambassadors of the industry are doing.
In my interview they each talk about projects they’ve been involved with like:
Summer Photo Contest: So, our mission for you is to capture those little moments of you washing your animal, leading him around, or how well you take care of them. Let your photo show how your involvement with the beef cattle production project really encourages you to be aware of animal welfare. So what we want from you is your best photo. Send it in to us at our email, which is raisingthesteaks@gmail.com. Feel free to include a caption about your picture. The contest deadline is October 1st, so you’re sure to have the perfect moment for a picture. Be sure to include an email adress where we can contact you. Photos will be judged, and a winner notified. Check back for more details as we get this contest rolling.
Penn State Blood Drive: Jennifer says they held a blood drive that had the slogan, “Beef, It’s What’s For Donors.” They fed donors hamburgers and gave them t-shirts too. She says it was the biggest blood drive they’ve ever held.
YouTube Videos: Both of these ambassadors produced YouTube videos for Earth Day to showcase the positive things farmers do for the environment. You can find Leticia’s video here and Jennifer’s video here.
Listen to my interview with Leticia and Jennifer 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.
Hello professional agricultural public relations people. If you’re going to be in Louisville for the Ag Media Summit (where all the cool people will be) then you need this on your calendar.
Mark your calendars now!
It’s NAMA Convention week here on AgWired. I’ll be blogging from Dallas, TX starting on Tuesday. You can hear all about the activities the guys at Truffle Media Networks and I have prepared in this week’s program.
For example, we’re going to be giving away an iPhone at our booth at the convention trade show. You’ve got to register at our booth but you don’t have to be present to win when we do the drawing at the end of the trade show Thursday evening.
Ned Arthur, Aaron Gilbertie and I will have entry cards and they’ll be in all the registration bags too. You can also stop by our AgWired Meetup at Monduel’s (Hyatt Atrium Bar) from 5-7pm on Tuesday evening to get your entry card as well.
This week on the ZimmCast I have a feature interview with Bob Giblin, Senior PR Counsel, Director of Research, Insight & Measurment, Morgan & Myers. Bob attended the recent Agricultural Relations Council spring meeting and gives us a report on what they did and the status of the organization. Bob says they’re working through a new strategic plan that includes bringing back the Golden ARC awards this year. He says there’s never been a better time for an organization like ARC. Here’s the group at an Aquarium visit during the spring meeting.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 114 (15 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.
Agricultural Relations Council:A Consumer-Driven Marketplace A look at the influences consumers have on the food and fiber industries – March 29-31, 2007.
North American Agricultural Journalists:The annual NAAJ meeting will be April 15-17 in Washington, D.C. The conference hotel will be the Holiday Inn-Capital. Rooms are $223/night. We have a small block reserved, so budget now. The number to call for reservations is 202-479-4000. Identify yourself as being with NAAJ, North American Agricultural Journalists. You must make reservations by March 15.
The Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association:Next Annual Meeting: May 1-May 3, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Savanna, GA.
If precision farming is the new revolution in agriculture then John Deere has it on display here so growers can get their hands on it. Chrystal Schuck works in the Ag Management Solutions area of John Deere. This is a division in John Deere that uses gps receivers and on-display mapping to reduce costs to growers and allow them to keep records from year to year.
She was working the booth today showing the multiple displays they have set up. I interviewed Chrystal who reviews several of the new technologies they’re offering like Swath Control Pro for sprayers which will soon be available for planters which will further increase field productivity. Chrystal says this is very important to farmer’s bottom line.
Listen to my interview with Chrystal here (4 min):
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AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: and
At the recent Agricultural Media Summit, one of the “official” participating organizations, the Agricultural Relations Council held a breakfast meeting.
Here’s outgoing(?) ARC President Jeri Omernik leading the meeting. ARC presented 5 recommendations from a task force that evaluated the organization. I couldn’t stay for the end of the meeting so I’m not sure where the discussion went after I left. The five recommendations are:
We offer professional intimacy with others in the same industry;
We offer professional development in ag, science and food-related Public Relations;
We are experts in ag, science and food-related Public Relations;
We extol the value of Public Relations in the agriculture, food and science industries and its continuing development; and
We strive to identify and to advocate best practices in Public Relations in the agriculture, food and science industries.
They consider these five attributes, the “unique selling proposition” of ARC. You can find a membership application here (pdf).
Commodity Classic took place in Anaheim, CA. You'll find all of Chuck, Cindy and Joanna's photos here.
Happy Ag Week
It's time to thank our farmers and ranchers for all their hard work to feed us.
In this week's program I interview Linda Tank, CHS, Inc., who is Chair of the Agriculture Council of America, the group coordinating National Ag Day. Learn more about their activities, especially this week in Washington, DC.
Do you remember the Golden ARC Awards? I do. And they’re back.
The first presentation at the 
In ZimmCast number 250 learn how 
From Puerto Vallarto to Memphis, TN. Now that’s culture shock. But I’m here at the 
It’s time for the 
Despite a year of plunging profits and flu fears, attendance is still expected to be pretty strong at the expo this year, according to general manager John Wrigley, who stopped by the 
The red-shirted Beef Ambassadors have been wandering the halls here at the Summer Conference. I spoke with two of them this morning, Leticia Varelas, NM (L) and Jennifer Rassler, PA. They wanted to make sure I pointed people to their blog: 
The 
The next recipient is Katie Allen, University of Missouri. 
Hello professional agricultural public relations people. If you’re going to be in Louisville for the 
For example, we’re going to be giving away an iPhone at our booth at the convention trade show. You’ve got to register at our booth but you don’t have to be present to win when we do the drawing at the end of the trade show Thursday evening. 
This week on the ZimmCast I have a feature interview with Bob Giblin, Senior PR Counsel, Director of Research, Insight & Measurment, 
If precision farming is the new revolution in agriculture then John Deere has it on display here so growers can get their hands on it. Chrystal Schuck works in the Ag Management Solutions area of John Deere. This is a division in John Deere that uses gps receivers and on-display mapping to reduce costs to growers and allow them to keep records from year to year.
At the recent Agricultural Media Summit, one of the “official” participating organizations, the 
It's time to thank our farmers and ranchers for all their hard work to feed us.
