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.
At the media reception this evening we paid him a tribute and after we got through some of the roasting part the true feelings I think all of us in ag media share for Gene came through. For many of us he’s been a friend, a mentor, a person of integrity who we can count on to always help out in any way he can. In fact, he’s also someone who cares about the people he interacts with on a personal as well as professional level and that means a lot.
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.
It’s a pleasure to do this post about Gene, especially since New Holland is the sponsor of our coverage of Commodity Classic.
AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: 
and 
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 
I’m not sure if there’s a coup going on at AgriTalk or what.
Yes. It’s time once again for another edition of “Guess Who’s Boots.” These boots were seen around the show this afternoon.
I think Leah Guffey, WFMB, Springfield, IL is becoming an AgWired regular.
Steve Hawkins is managing director of The 
A record crowd converged on the 2008 Commodity Classic trade show this afternoon, welcomed by the bean guy.