Alltech Symposium Press Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Press ConferenceThis morning we participated in a press conference after the opening general session. On stage (l-r) are Dr. Mark Lyons, who is the son of company founder Dr. Pearse Lyons, next to him, then Alltech BioScience Medal of Excellence winner, Dr. Ronan Power and Dr. Karl Dawson, Alltech Director of Worldwide Research.

For those of you who couldn’t be here to participate I thought I’d post the full press conference audio for you here. There were a lot of questions about how Alltech is accomplishing being “Green” and questions relating to how how they’re communicating their message to the public, their customers and to the regulators.

You can listen to the press conference here: alltech-symposium-08-press.mp3

Or you can download the press conference from this link: Listen to MP2 Alltech Press Conference (45 min MP3)

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio

Dr. Pearse Lyons Addresses Opening Session

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Pearse LyonsDr. Pearse Lyons is the founder and the President of Alltech. This is his show and it is quite a show. I’ll have more on that later.

I think I heard someone say there were less than a hundred people at the first Alltech Symposium. The fact that we’re near 1,700 here is a testament to how well marketing by education has worked for him.

Speaking at the opening general session this morning he addressed the theme of the Symposium, The Greenest Generation, head on. While a lot of people are expressing dismay and concern about the challenges of feeding the world at the same time as we reduce our impact on the environment by such things as the production of biofuels, he sees this as a time to step up to the challenge. I think it’s interesting to see how a company like Alltech handles the issue of food vs. fuel since it has customers on both sides. I like his approach to talk about how we’re going to solve things instead of worry about what might happen, “if.”

The photo is courtesy of Alltech photographer Tim Webb.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

Alltech Symposium Participants

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the fun things I’m doing here at the Alltech Symposium is a series of video “man on the street” interviews with participants. I’ve done about 6 so far, all from different countries. I started out easy with an American from Ohio by the name of John Nesbett.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Video

Finding a Seat For Opening Session

Chuck Zimmerman

There are almost 1,700 participants here at the Alltech Symposium and they all gather outside the doors before the opening general session kicks off. Then it’s a sort of rush to get to choice seats although I don’t think there’s a bad one in the facility.

I was fortunate to get inside early and took a short video clip so you can see what it’s like, especially if you’re planning on attending next year.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Video

Kentucky Silk is a Fine Coffee Experience

Chuck Zimmerman

Kentucky SilkIt’s called “Kentucky Silk” and it’s another innovation from Alltech. This stuff will get you going in the morning, or evening, or whenever.

This morning as we arrived at the Convention Center for the Alltech Symposium we had sample. It’s a bottled product and contains bourbon and coffee. Basically you pour some in a cup, add hot water and top it off with some cream on top. It is good. The photo is contributed by Alltech photographer, Tim Webb.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The nation’s key reference book on foreign animal diseases, commonly referred to as “The Gray Book,” has been revised into its Seventh Edition and is now available from the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA). The book sells for $25, including shipping and handling. Order forms are available online or by contacting the USAHA office at 816-671-1144 or usaha@usaha.org.
  • John Deere Agri Services presented its annual Ambassador Awards on Feb. 21. The award recipients typically represent leaders in the agricultural industry who excel in the use of technology systems and have a drive for technological advancements for agribusinesses. Five companies were recognized: AgMark LLC and Farmway Co-op Inc. (Beloit, Kan.); Bunge North America (St. Louis, Mo.); the Country Operations Division of CHS Inc. (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.); and First Cooperative Association (Cherokee, Iowa).
  • Farmers are employing new tactics to acquire more farm ground — which is changing the social fabric of rural America, according to recent survey of TOP PRODUCER readers. The farm business magazine is highlighting the survey in “The Cold Reality of Cash Rents” in its Spring 2008 issue. To view the issue, visit the Web site and click on “The Cold Reality of Cash Rents.”
Zimfo Bytes

Alltech BioScience Medal of Excellence

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech BioScience Medal of ExcellenceAt the opening general session of the Alltech Symposium a big award is given. This year it was presented to one of Alltech’s own. It’s the Alltech BioScience Medal of Excellence.

Dr. Ronan Power, Phd, Director of Research, Alltech, is the Director of their new Nutrigenomics Center. He’s seen here receiving his award (center) with Alltech President, Dr. Pearse Lyons to the left and Dr. Karl Dawson, Alltech Director of Worldwide Research to the right.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Research

Alltech Symposium General Session Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

KY Gov. Steve BeshearThe opening general session is taking place here at the Alltech Symposium. Attendees were greeted by Kentucky Governor, Steve Beshear.

I think we’ve got about 1,700 people from all over the world participating in “The Greenest Generation.” I conducted some interviews with several of them from different countries which I’m in the process of editing and uploading and will have those later on.

To set the tone for the theme of this year’s Symposium we watched the following opening video:

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Video

Alltech Fun Run

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech Fun RunThe few, the proud, the brave, were out before daylight this morning to participate in the annual Alltech Fun Run.

We had a big crowd of international runners doing laps around Transylvania University. I’m just now getting ready for the opening session so this is just a quick post to shame all you who slept in this morning instead of getting out and working off some of that good Kentucky Ale.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

Opera Superstars Featured at Alltech Symposium Dinner

Chuck Zimmerman

Opera Competition Winner From AtlantaAt this evening’s Alltech Symposium International Dinner we heard some awesome voices. For example, this young man from Atlanta was just plain unbelievable. He’s just 19 years old. He’s an example of the talent that’s being fostered by Dr. Everett McCorvey, Professor of Voice at the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre with the assistance of Alltech.

He sang one song for us and helped lead us in a few songs where the audience participated.

You can listen to his presentation here: alltech-symposium-08-freshman.mp3

Of course the online photo album has been updated too, so please feel free to check it out.

Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio