Let’s meet a different kind of agency, an association and cause management company. Let’s meet Drake & Company and who better to talk about it than the man himself, Steve Drake. This is the continuation of my series of podcast conversations with the leadership of various types of agricultural communication agencies. I remember when Steve got his company started about …
Illinois Aerial Applicator Had Good Season
During the National Agricultural Aviation Association convention I met Don Younglove, R&R Flight Services (not pictured), during the trade show. He’s got three planes and the business is located in Mendota, IL. He’s a big proponent of BASF products by the way! I asked Don how business was this season and he says that it was good. It was a …
Working The Booth At NAAA
At the NAAA convention, BASF held a drawing for some custom airplane nose art. The winner is Terry Harchenko of Salem, OR. Hey, Terry, send us a photo of your plane with the new artwork if you get a chance. Sometimes the unsung heroes of a trade show booth are the company sales representatives who work in shifts and answer …
Change is Necessary to Fight PRRS
Since Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS) has been a problem in the U.S. hog industry for more than 20 years and is costing producers nearly $600 million per year, Boehringer Ingelheim (BIVI) is working with the industry to find and implement changes that will help control and even eliminate it. Dr. Dale Polson, a member of the BIVI Area …
NAAA Convention Wrapup
Since I left the NAAA convention early I had to wait to catch up with Executive Director Andrew Moore (right) to see how he would characterize this year’s convention. Actually Cindy spoke with him by phone for me. Andrew says they broke a number of attendance records. For example, they had 27 percent more room nights booked than their largest …
NAAA Treasurer Optimistic For Future
Garrett Lindell, Lindell Aerial Ag Service, Aledo, IL. is the Treasurer for the National Agricultural Aviation Association. I visited with him at the BASF booth during the NAAA convention. He’s also a BASF fan and is pictured with Sue Koning, BASF. Garrett says his business is about 15 years old. He’s got 6 planes on the field and hires up …
Ready To Become An Aerial Applicator
NAAA/BASF Agricultural Aviation Scholarship winner Ben Cadenbach says receiving the scholarship “makes a huge difference” and will allow him to complete his education and become an aerial applicator. The people at the convention have been very open with him and offered a lot of advice. You can listen to my interview with Ben here and hear what his plans are …
BCS Communications Strategy For Growth
I found out what’s new at BCS Communications at their recent holiday open house party. This is an episode in my series with the leadership of agricultural marketing and communications agencies. Pictured are the principals, (l-r) Kelly Schwalbe, Leigh Ann Cleaver and Illinois Blaisdel. It was hard to drag them away from friends and clients but we found a place. …
PRRS Area Regional Control Updates
The number of PRRS Area Regional Control and Elimination (ARC&E) projects continues to grow in hog producing areas of North America. “It actually grows like every month,” says Dr. Laura Batista, a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim (BIVI) PRRS Area Solutions Team, who organized the recent ARC&E workshop and update in Chicago. “Last year I think we were supporting five …
Hoping For His Own Aerial Applicators Business
The sponsor for one of the National Agricultural Aviation Association/BASF Scholarship winners this year is Waylon Woods, Wood’s Aviation. He’s pictured here (right) with scholarship recipient Matt Kollars. I visited with them during the NAAA convention to find out why Waylon sponsored Matt and what Matt plans to do with his scholarship. Waylon says that he worked with Matt during …