I don’t know if you can see it clearly on this small photo but this baby’s sporting an E85 sticker and her jumper suit says “Smell of Ethanol” on the back. On the front she’s got an Indy Racing League logo too.
I think her name is Danica after IRL driver Danica Patrick. You know this baby’s in a corn grower family and one that fully supports ethanol.
I just love babies and there seemed to be quite a few around yesterday afternoon in the trade show. These two are already planning to grow up and be corn/soybean/wheat farmers.
Babies take great pictures and I just love to hold them. At this point mine are all grown up and I have to admit that it’s nice to give them back to their rightful owner after holding them for a few minutes.
I tried to do some interviews but they were in a “no comment” mood at the time.
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Here’s the New Holland team ready for action in the trade show.
After his speech Secretary Schafer met up with the press near the media room.
Our Secretary of Agriculture made an appearance here at Commodity Classic. He took the stage after we heard from political analyst Charlie Cook who provided a pretty clear analysis of where we’re at with the Presidential campaign.
Craig Lindholm is marketing manager for seed treatments with the 
“What we’re seeing in research trials with new Stamina® fungicide seed treatment and another pipeline seed treatment for soybeans in development are the benefits of controlling key seedling diseases for healthy plants right out of the ground,” Craig said. “This is critical to protecting and maximizing yield by giving seedlings a stronger, faster start, improved plant vigor and increased stands in those critical early days when soils are generally cold and wet.” 
Today we honored and roasted my good friend (and client) Gene Hemphill. Gene’s sort of retiring but not really from New Holland. He’ll be staying on to continue to work with us and also pursue some other projects he’s been wanting to do like write a book.
I know I’ve enjoyed working with Gene, especially as Cindy and I have worked at creating a company of our own in a very competitive media world. I’ve had the opportunity to travel with him and meet some very interesting people like Jay Leno, Michael Peterson and recently, Chuck Leavell. These are people who share his interests and values and he’s found creative ways to make those relationships work for the benefit of New Holland. I know they know they’ve got a gem and that’s why he’s going to continue to be there for us. Here you can see him getting a standing ovation during the reception.
This afternoon the winner of the New Holland Zero Turn Radius Mower was drawn near the end of the opening trade show session.
“Take a look at some of the things that have happened just in the last few years that have dramatically changed in the use of seed treatments,” Gary told the media. “Insecticide seed treatments are standard on corn and that’s happened in a very short period of time. Now we’re up to about four active ingredients being standard and we’re not very far away from six active ingredients being standard.”
This Saturday night at the big Commodity Classic evening of entertainment at the Grand Ole Opry one of the performers will be