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AgWired Live TV of My Real Life Tour

Chuck Zimmerman

AgWired Live TVYes, AgWired Live TV fans. We were broadcasting live from the My Real Life Tour stop at Lincoln Southwest High School this morning. For those of you who tuned in, you realize why I’ve got a new video camera on order. My little webcam isn’t built for a dark set with a brilliant spotlight and at a distance.

However, my sponsor, Gene Hemphill, New Holland, was watching back home in Pennsylvania. So he got to see what the show was like since he couldn’t be here.

Once we’ve got this new service figured out and I get the new gear I ordered this is going to be something we’ll be using in more locations and with some advance promotion. Count on it.

My Real Life Tour Photo Album

AgWired coverage of My Real Life Tour is sponsored by:
New Holland

New Holland

Lee McCoy Arrangements – Updated

Cindy Zimmerman

Lee McCoyFuneral arrangements have been announced for our friend and fellow farm broadcaster Lee McCoy.

Saturday, May 24 there will be a Memorial Service at 3:00 p.m. at:
Crossroads Church
2564 Sharpsburg McCollum Rd.
Newnan, GA 30265.

Then on Tuesday May 27 there will be a graveside service at:
Georgia National Cemetery
2025 Mount Carmel Church Lane
Canton, GA 30114

This will be a full military (U.S. Dept. of Navy) funeral as Lee was a Vietnam Vet who served on the USS Pomodon SS486 submarine. Funeral time will be announced later today.
Update: Lee’s wife says the graveside service will be at 12:00 noon. If you are attending the burial, please be at Sosebee’s Funeral home by 10:00 as this will give us time to pay our last respects and follow the procession to the Cemetery where a Naval Chaplain will officiate.

Arrangements are being handled by:
Sosebee Funeral Home
(770) 479-2131
191 Jarvis St
Canton, GA

Lee’s family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to one of the following organizations that he supported:
The Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Georgia Cancer Coalition
VFW Peachtree City Post No. 9949

More on donations from Lee’s wife Aurora: If you are sending donations to the VFW Post 9949 where Lee was Post Commander, please send to this address:
VFW Post 9949
117 Chadwick Drive
Peachtree City, GA 30269

Aurora says Lee served his post with a lot of pride. He always made sure he was at a Veteran’s funeral to perform the Honor Guard and make sure the spouse received a beautifully folded flag. Many times he was so weak but he made it a point to be at the funeral and serve his fellow countrymen.

She is also contacting the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Georgia Cancer Coalition so that they can set up the donation page in honor of Lee.

Be sure to check out the tribute post that Gary Cooper did about Lee on SE Agnet. The outpouring of sympathy from people in the industry who knew Lee has just been tremendous. He truly has touched so many lives.

If you would like to share your feelings or stories about Lee – please feel free to comment on this post, or yesterday’s post.

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Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Syngenta has created the Resistance Fighter™ Resistance Management Module, a unique tool to help growers manage resistance by offering herbicide solutions tailored to corn and soybean fields. The interactive solutions module allows growers to input attributes unique to their farm and management style, generating a herbicide program designed to fit their needs. Each solution is customized by crop, weed, county, state, preferred management methods and history of resistance.
  • The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) is collaborating with Athenix Corp. to develop hybrids that are more efficient in using nitrogen fertilizer. These new hybrids could result in improved economics on the farm, reduced impact on the environment and reduced energy requirements to grow the corn crop.
  • Pioneer Hi-Bred and John Deere Risk Protection, Inc. will jointly sponsor the annual Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour Aug. 18-21, 2008. More than 70 volunteer crop scouts will travel 20 predetermined routes across seven states to measure corn and soybean yield potential in more than 1,000 fields as part of Crop Tour. Growers will be able to go online to access several features that will recap these evening meetings and provide a local perspective on agronomics as reported by Pioneer agronomists.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Ne Ag Research Center Director Mark Schroeder

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Mark SchroederThe new Director of the University of Nebraska, Agricultural Research & Development Center, is Mark Schroeder. He’s sitting at last night’s dinner while visiting with Governor Heineman.

    After dinner I got to talk to Mark about his new position and what he thinks about this marriage of Army and agriculture touring together and inspiring communities like Lincoln. He thinks it’s great. In fact, everyone I’ve spoken with after seeing Michael’s show have said the same thing.

    You can learn more about the Ag Research Center in my interview with Mark which you can listen to here: real-life-schroeder.mp3

    My Real Life Tour Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of My Real Life Tour is sponsored by:
    New Holland

    Audio, Education, New Holland, University

    Nebraska Governor Heineman Praises Michael Peterson

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Nebraska Governor HeinemanNebraska’s Governor, Dave Heineman, stopped by the dinner for Lincoln, NE area influencers that was part of the My Real Life Tour. He posed for a photo with his wife and Michael Peterson.

    The Governor spoke very highly of Michael and what he’s doing. They held a joint press conference earlier this week that I couldn’t make so I was glad to have an opportunity to meet him here.

    I spoke briefly with Governor Heineman and asked him his thoughts on the Tour which you can listen to here: real-life-ne-gov-int.mp3

    My Real Life Tour Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of My Real Life Tour is sponsored by:
    New Holland

    Audio, New Holland

    Some IndyCar Cruising

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Laura McNamara in a street legal 2-seater IndyCarWhile I’m here in Lincoln, NE this week with Michael Peterson, Laura is in Indianapolis having just too much fun. She’s primarily reporting for Domestic Fuel with sponsored coverage for the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. Here’s her latest post from there:

    There are lots of perks that come along with covering the Indy Racing League. Perks like meeting IndyCar Drivers, photographing the world’s most significant motor sporting event (Indy 500) and meeting some of the most talented journalists and photographers of the motor sports industry. Those amazing opportunities come on a regular basis with IRL coverage. Sometimes, a few extras get thrown in. In Kansas City, I got to take a couple laps around the track with IndyCar Driver Davy Hamilton. No, not in an IndyCar. But, it was an Indy pace car and we did go 118 miles an hour around a 1.5 mile oval, getting just centimeters away from the wall. By the way, Davy will drive the #22 Hewlett-Packard/KR Vision Racing car during this weekend’s race.

    Just last night, I got to take another “Indy” style spin. This time it was in a street legal two-seater IndyCar.

    Check out the video here:

    I think Laura’s having fun wouldn’t you say?

    Ethanol, Indy Racing, Video

    Michael Peterson Provides Perspective

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Michael Peterson Hospital VisitAs I said in my last post, the My Real Life Tour is a community event. During the course of the week that the tour is in town events include shows and patient visits at local hospitals like this one in Columbus, NE.

    Patients, staff and volunteers are invited to attend and they enjoy a show which really helps brighten their day. So besides working with young people and the military you’ll find Michael visiting the media and all kinds of people. This effort is about more than just trying to get people to support our military. It’s also about re-building pride in our country and values that matter. I think that more companies should consider becoming involved like New Holland has. I’m sure that you can contact Michael for more information if you’re interested.

    You can hear a portion of Michael’s show for the hospital where he talks about “perspective” here: real-life-hospital-michael.mp3

    My Real Life Tour Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of My Real Life Tour is sponsored by:
    New Holland

    Audio, New Holland

    Real Life Helping American Legion Legacy Scholarship

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Dave KamenskeWhen the Michael Peterson, My Real Life Tour, comes to town it’s not just a high school program. It’s really a community event. Well in advance a group of local volunteers or “circle of influence” people are solicited to help put together numerous local events, including school programs, press conferences, hospital visits and other types of events.

    In Columbus, NE we were escorted into town by the Legion Riders and treated to lunch which they prepared for us. One of their leaders is David Kamenske, pictured here on the left. He says that part of what they’ll do, working with Michael and the tour is raise money for the American Legion Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship provides funds to help children of single parents, as a result of the war on terror, with their college education. Michael is the national spokesperson for this effort.

    You can listen to my interview with Dave here: real-life-am-legion-kamenske.mp3

    My Real Life Tour Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of My Real Life Tour is sponsored by:
    New Holland

    Audio, New Holland

    The Army and Agriculture

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Army GuysSince the Army is the major sponsor of the Michael Peterson, My Real Life Tour – Strong for America, they need some recognition. These guys were watching the show in Columbus, NE last night.

    I interviewed a couple more after the Grand Island Senior High School show yesterday. They’re very happy with how the relationship and mission is going. I think it’s interesting to see the Army and agriculture getting together on a project don’t you?

    My Real Life Tour Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of My Real Life Tour is sponsored by:
    New Holland

    New Holland, Video

    Faculty Love Having Michael Peterson

    Chuck Zimmerman

    My Real Life TourAnother part of the audience at the schools where My Real Life Tour stops is the faculty. As you can see, they get into it too.

    The Principal of Grand Island Senior High School is Kent Mann. I spoke to him before the show yesterday and he was really looking forward to it. He said his only fear was how to top this next year. He also says that his son worked for years for my sponsor, New Holland, before returning to farming full time. It’s just another example of how much of a connection there is to agriculture with what Michael’s doing with the Army.

    You can listen to my interview with Kent here: real-life-grandisland-mann.mp3

    After the show I interviewed Kent again in his office, this time with video. I think he found the show to be all he expected.

    My Real Life Tour Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of My Real Life Tour is sponsored by:
    New Holland

    Education, New Holland