Osborn & Barr Wins a Handful of Firsts

Laura McNamara

Osborn & Barr didn’t do so shabby at its first-ever appearance at the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association communications contest. O&B earned four first-place awards and one merit award for its public relations, creative and event planning work for John Deere Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment.

“Osborn & Barr and our clients realize the importance of high-quality communications and marketing campaigns for the growing rural lifestyle market,” said Dan Kirkpatrick, associate director of public relation, Des Moines. “We’re honored that our campaign to reach rural lifestyle consumers was recognized by TOCA.”
Osborn & Barr earned first-place awards in the categories of:

Ø Writing a Feature Article
Ø Writing a News Release
Ø Overall Media Kits Design and
Ø Special Event (strategy, execution, collateral and overall results).

The “Equipment Ownership 101” series of articles received a merit award in the Special Writing Project category. Awards were presented at the TOCA annual meeting in Savannah, Ga. in May. This year, winners were selected from 440 entries. TOCA, founded in 1990, serves communicators in the “Green Industry” through fostering and rewarding those focused on sharing information that affects that industry.

Osborn & Barr concentrates on relationship-driven branding communications for agriculture, rural lifestyle, government, association and business-to-business markets to maximize the image and profitability of its clients. Its staff of more than 140 professionals provides brand management, strategic planning, event planning, creative services, public relations, media services, digital marketing and channel marketing. The 19-year-old agency has $125 million in capitalized annual billings divided among six United States and Canada offices located in St. Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines, Washington, DC, Guelph and Winnipeg.

Advertising, Ag Groups, Agencies

Farms.com Reduces the Risk

Laura McNamara

Farms.com Risk ManagementRisk is inherent in the farming industry, but Farms.com Risk Management and Midwest Strategic Investments, Inc. says it has the infrastructure to lessen that risk, helping clients spread, transfer and limit risk. The alliance specializes in risk management for hogs, cattle, soybeans and corn among other crops.

Farms.com Risk Management and Midwest Strategic Investments, Inc. (MSI) announce their strategic alliance to provide full service risk management marketing and hedging strategies along with trade executions to protect risk exposure to producers. Farms.com Risk Management works as an adviser to producers, farmers and agribusinesses across North America in the marketing of crops and hogs and during the purchase of feed inputs. Midwest Strategic Investments, Inc. (MSI) is a full service commodity brokerage firm specializing in agricultural risk management and marketing strategies.

“The goal of the alliance is to focus on risk management for hogs, cattle, soybeans, corn and other crops,” says Jim Nemitz, President of MSI. “We provide risk management and one-on-one consultation advice to individual producers, agribusinesses and corporations throughout North America.”

“Our emphasis is on quality and value-added services, with ŒSimple Answers and Smart Solutions,” says Victor Aideyan, Sr. Risk Management Consultant with Farms.com Risk Management. “We are committed to being a major leader in this area. We have built strong alliances with numerous companies to provide our customers with the widest range of services available.”
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Ag Groups, Agencies

Farms and Ranches Offer Low-Cost Rural Get-away

Laura McNamara

Kearney Area Ag Producers Alliance Country AdventuresIf it’s adventure you’re after, the Kearney Area Ag Producers Alliance encourages tourists to explore life on the rural farms and ranches just outside of city limits. KAPPA, a farmer owned agriculture development cooperative, says Country Adventures are low-cost, close-to-home alternatives for travel and excitement.

With gas prices high and school letting out, families are looking for a close-to-home vacation to remember; and many families are finding those experiences just outside their very own city limits. Rural adventures such as farming and ranching activities are gaining in popularity and benefiting both the farm/ranch owner with added income and also the traveling family with an educational and fun-filled get-away.

Farmers and ranchers can now join the growing number of others who are making additional money from agritourism, and without the investment of much time and effort because of the help of KAAPA Country Adventures. The Country Adventures Website is an online marketplace where experiences such as hunting, fishing, horseback riding and farm tours are sold to the buying public.

Often called the “eBay of Agritourism,” Country-Adventures lends itself to those in the agriculture community who have resources that they would allow the public to enjoy and experience. As summer approaches now is the time travelers are searching the internet for these types of adventures.

“We don’t want any farmer or rancher to miss out on this opportunity as people are making their travel plans now,” said Marge Lauer, Project Director of Country-Adventures. “People are looking for, and willing to pay for outdoor and rural experiences. They want to ride your tractor, milk your cow, and look for birds and other wildlife as they hike on your land. All of those things you do everyday is what they would love to do for one day.”
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Ag Groups, Agencies, Agribusiness

NAMA Executive Director Position Update

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMA 50If you’re interested in following in Eldon White’s shoes then now is the time to let the search committee at NAMA know. Here’s an excerpt from a member letter just sent out by fearless leader Stephanie Gable.

Post Update: You can find the NAMA Executive Director Position Description here (Word doc).

The position has been posted, effective today, on the following websites:
– www.nama.org
– www.asaecenter.org
– www.agcareers.com

Resumes also can be e-mailed to searchcommittee@nama.org.

We will be accepting resumes for 30 days, with the position closing at end of business on July 6, 2007. At that time the search committee will begin the process of identifying and interviewing prospective candidates. We hope to have our new Executive Director on board in October.

The search committee consists of the following members:
– Stephanie Gable, Fort Dodge Animal Health
– Monte Reese
– Tom Smull, Associations, Inc.
– Greg Ehm, Two Rivers Marketing
– Beth Burgy, Broadhead+Co

Good luck to all of you who will be applying!

NAMA

I Want a Happy Steak on my Plate

Chuck Zimmerman

Cows UniteJust in time for the lead up to the Cattle Industry Summer Conference we have the introduction of Cows Unite by the folks from Sustainable Table. Thanks to AdRants for the story.

Cows Have the Right to Be Cows. Cows Have the Right to Graze. Cows Have the Right to Clean Air. Cows Have the Right to Dignity and Joy. These are just a few of the rights cows nationwide are presenting as part of their agreed-upon “Bovine Bill of Rights”—a historic document found at www.cowsunite.org that is the centerpiece of “Cows Unite,” a movement unveiling afoot in which a strong affiliation of cows in pastures coast-to-coast have created to help humans understand the importance of organic dairy, decent treatment for cows and the critical role of family farmers.

Officially launching May 31, www.cowsunite.org will serve as the hub for all Cows Unite materials, gatherings, calls to action and activities. Currently, visitors can download the Bovine Bill of Rights, view two short films capturing the resistance in action and learn how they can become more involved. Cows Unite has already received support from a number of leaders in the sustainable food movement, including Organic Valley, Beyond Pesticides, Bioneers, Farm Aid, and Ecotrust.

You can find the full Cows Bill of Right (according to them) by clicking on: Read More

Beef

Rhea & Kaiser Capture Platinum… Again

Laura McNamara

Rhea&KaiserIt looks like Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications knows what it’s doing when it comes to full-service integrated marketing. At the Association of Equipment Manufacturers annual Publications in Construction and Agriculture awards in Las Vegas, R&K secured a handful of awards including the best of show Platinum Award for the second time in three years.

Overall, R&K won an unprecedented five “Measures of Success in Communications” awards for its efforts on behalf of Caterpillar General Construction and Medium Wheel Loaders. In the past three years, R&K has earned 13 awards, the most of any agency, including AEM’s first-ever Platinum Award in 2004.

“We are thrilled that our work has again been recognized at the top of a very competitive field,” said Jim Haist, senior vice president at Rhea & Kaiser. “We have a long history with equipment clients and an in-depth understanding of our clients’ customers. I think it shows in the work and how it impacts the intended audiences.”

AEM presented the following awards to R&K on May 15:

* Best of Show, Platinum Award, for the Cat Medium Wheel Loaders brochure, which received the highest score of all entries;
* First place in the “Magazine Ad Series” category for the Cat E-Series Backhoe Loader ad campaign;
* Second place in the “Product Literature” category for the Cat E-Series Backhoe Loader brochure;
* First place in the “Product Literature” category for the Cat Medium Wheel Loaders brochure; and
* Second place in the “Magazine Ad Series” category for the Cat Medium Wheel Loaders ad campaign.
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Advertising, Agencies

Logan Barbee Helping Agriculture in Iraq

Chuck Zimmerman

Logan BarbeeHere’s the latest report from Paul McKellips, Global Outreach Officer, US Embassy Baghdad, The Green Room – Public Affairs GO Team. He’s still finding the news you won’t find anywhere else. This time he interviews a Florida boy who’s doing what he can to help out.

You can listen to Paul’s report here: logan-barbee.mp3

Logan Barbee is a Senior Agricultural Advisor working for the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the Babil Province (ancient Babylon) region of Iraq. He retired from the University of Florida’s Extension system in order to begin his second tour in Iraq. Logan is an agricultural purist and he’s very passionate about making a difference in Iraq. Check out the USDA website for more information on Logan Barbee.

Audio, International, USDA

Thundering Into Nashville

Chuck Zimmerman

ThunderheadIt’s that time of year when you can see some really cool skies. This is a thunderhead off in the distance on the drive to Nashville today.

I have arrived and will be getting my CMA creds tomorrow to begin covering this year’s CMA Music Festival. I think we have a kick off parade downtown tomorrow so that will probably be the first opportunity to post from the event.

I got in a lot of phone time today on the way and even had a great meeting in St. Louis for a new project you’ll learn more about soon. Part of my phone time was setting up a new Palm Treo. I had to have mine replaced because it was having problems that the techs finally said must be from a virus on the phone that they couldn’t get rid of. Nothing computerized is safe from the hackers I guess. Makes me wonder if the iPhone will be as secure as my Mac seems to be.

New Holland

Roundup Powered Up at Ag Field Day

Laura McNamara

Delta and Pine Land CompanyTwo new cotton varieties from the Delta and Pine Land Company will be displayed at the Ag Technology Field Day, July 19th in Memphis. D&PL’s Bollgard II®/Roundup Ready® Flex cotton varieties are designed to control resistant weeds and offer greater weed management.

In 2006 testing, both DP 141 B2RF and DP 161 B2RF demonstrated yield and fiber potential a step above the performance of current B2RF varieties. Both new varieties are in seed production for an introductory-supply launch in 2008. D&PL Technical Services will also demonstrate management plots for both Roundup Ready® and Roundup Ready® Flex cotton. In addition to the weed management plots, visitors to the D&PL tour stop will also get to see many experimental cotton lines on the verge of making it commercially, according to David Roberts, D&PL Technical services agronomist.

“Much of our product pipeline will be represented at this field day,” Roberts said. “As for our commercial cotton products, all major D&PL Bollgard II®/Roundup Ready, Bollgard/Roundup Ready, Roundup Ready and Roundup Ready Flex varieties are represented in the weed management plots. Our stop at the Agricenter field day will give visitors a good look at the exciting D&PL product portfolio in cotton and soybeans.”

New Group III, IV and V soybean varieties bred for performance in the South, plus the new Roundup Ready/STS™ soybean varieties that combine two herbicide systems for maximum control of resistant weeds will also be on display at the D&PL tour stop.
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Advertising, Cotton, Farm Shows, Technology

Julie Drendel Joins Staff of Jersey Journal

Laura McNamara

Jersey Journal Assistant Editor Julie DrendelThe official publication of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. welcomes a new member to its editorial staff. Julie Drendel is the new Assistant Editor for Jersey Journal, a 54-year-old publication specializing in the jersey cattle industry.

“Because of her internship with Jersey Journal last summer and work on the Jersey Directory, our readers and advertisers know Julie’s work and her deep understanding of the purebred dairy business,” said Kimberly A. Billman, Jersey Journal Editor. “We are delighted to have her return to the staff as a full-time employee.”

A Dean’s List student at the University of Illinois, Drendel earned a B. S. degree in animal sciences, food animal science option, this past May. In addition to her internship with Jersey Journal, she interned with the Kane County Farm Bureau in St. Charles, Ill., contributing articles for the membership newsletter and helping with the planning and staging of the Ag Tech Tour for Teachers in the summer of 2005.
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Beef, Dairy, Farming, Livestock, Publication