Caterpillar Says Eat My Dust

Chuck Zimmerman

Eat My DustThis looks like a very creative way to engage your client and to help them generate some sales while having a lot of fun.

Apparently, car dealers aren’t alone in finding creative ways to set up test drives. Now construction equipment dealers are joining the fun.

Winners of the recent “Eat My Dust” Sweepstakes, sponsored by Caterpillar dealers in the southwest, not only won a NASCAR race weekend at Fontana (CA) Speedway in February – they tested a new Cat tractor by using the machine to actually build their own dirt race track. Once completed, participants raced around the dirt track in dune buggies.

“What a cool way to demo a new machine,” exclaimed Monty Fross, owner of Rocks ‘N Stuff, of Stockton, CA. “When it came time to race the dune buggy, I drove it to win. And I did.” In addition to bragging rights, Fross got to lead a parade lap around Fontana (CA) Speedway prior to the start of the NASCAR Auto Club 500 – from inside the new Cat tractor. “I had a blast waving and honking at all the kids as I circled the track,” said Fross.

The event was created by Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications for its Cat dealer clients. The promotion helped launch a new product, the Cat 414E Industrial Loader, to contractors within seven Cat dealer territories, explains Fred Nichols, management supervisor for Rhea & Kaiser.

The picture is of one winner in the Caterpillar “Eat My Dust” Sweepstakes preparing to race around a dirt track created by various test drives of the new Cat 414E Industrial Loader, behind.

Agencies, Agribusiness

Farmer Frank Wins First Place

Chuck Zimmerman

Farmer FrankThanks to the Ag Documentation Center for bringing this to my attention. It’s a really good piece of television photojournalism. In fact, it’s the #1 award winner of the Poynter Institute 2007 The Best of Television Photojournalism.

The first place winner is Jonathan Malat/KARE Minneapolis, Minn.

Jonathan follows Farmer Frank who has made the move to the city but can’t quit working “on the farm.” Visit the site to watch the video.

Media

10th World Agricultural Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

World Agricultural ForumThe World Agricultural Forum for 2007 will take place next week in St. Louis. The agenda says it kicks off with a reception on Monday, May 7.

They’ve got some interesting names on the program like Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agricultural and Rural Development for the European Union. She’ll be doing the keynote address.

As you might guess biofuels are a major topic. Sessions on it include:

BIOENERGY: HOW DO WE RATIONALIZE INVESTMENTS IN AGRICULTURE TO AUGMENT FOSSIL FUELS?
HOW CAN WE MAKE BIOENERGY A SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT WITHOUT AFFECTING FOOD SUPPLIES?
Are Biofuels an Option for Developed Economies?
How Do We Balance Conflicting Forces: The Debate on “Food and Fuel”?
What are the Social, Ethical and Environmental Issues in Bioenergy and Agriculture?
What affect does Biofuel Have on Smallholder Farmers?

Ag Groups

FMC Hero Dollars

Chuck Zimmerman

Hero InsecticideWe sure need some new heroes in our society today. And a good comic book to go with it. I just noticed how FMC is marketing their Hero Insecticide using a “Hero.” It looks like their Commodity Classic donation promotion went over well.

As part of its ongoing “Be a Hero, Support a Hero” promotion, FMC Corporation will donate more than $4,200 to the United Service Organization’s (USO) Operation Care Package, which provides care packages to U.S. Servicemen and women who are stationed overseas.

This donation from the “Be a Hero, Support a Hero” promotion represents $5 for every attendee at either the FMC “What is New” or ” Closing Learning Center” sessions, or those who registered for a prize drawing at the company’s booth at the recent Commodity Classic event in Tampa, Fla. These monies will allow FMC to purchase USO care packages for nearly 200 U.S. service personnel stationed overseas.

Agribusiness

AASHTO Starts Transportation Vision

Chuck Zimmerman

Transportation VisionDo you remember the trip I took across the United States last year with AASHTO to commemorate the Interstate Highway System’s 50 year anniversary? I do. It’s hard to forget a 2 week convoy where I got to meet and get to know some great people. AASHTO has just announced a new website called Transportation Vision.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) today launched a web site to chronicle and facilitate the establishment of a new multi-decade vision for U.S. transportation. AASHTO, which represents the state departments of transportation nationwide, is planning a conference May 21-23 in which an estimated 150 people from public and private-sector groups will lay a conceptual framework for that transportation vision.

The new website can be accessed at http://www.transportationvision.org. It contains links to research, a set of recent reports created by AASHTO, conference information, and links to associated groups.

Uncategorized

New Japan Director for U. S. Wheat Associates

Chuck Zimmerman

Mr. Wataru Mr. Wataru “Charlie” Utsunomiya will be the new Japan country director for U. S. Wheat Associates beginning June 1. I am so glad we can call him Charlie.

Mr. Utsunomiya started his career as a grain trader with Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and has held various management positions with the company for 30 years. Mr. Utsunomiya is currently chairman of Columbia Grain, Portland, Ore. He also served as president and CEO of Rice Milling Company, a Marubeni subsidiary, general manager of Marubeni’s oilseeds, fats and oil department and assistant general manager of its foodstuffs division among other positions. He has commodity export experience in the Asian, South American, African and the Middle Eastern markets and has served four assignments in the United States over 13 years.

Every year, with one recent exception, Japan imports more wheat from the U.S. than any other country.

Ag Groups, International

Live Earth Concert

Chuck Zimmerman

Live EarthI really don’t think you need to have a “crisis” or even a cause as an excuse to hold a bunch of concerts do you? I just noticed an announcement about Live Earth. It’s supposed to be 7 concerts on one day on 7 continents. I’m betting there will even be some good music in all this.

I don’t know about you but this whole man-made global climate thing seems almost like a religion to the people who have either bought into it or are just using it as their latest platform to gain attention. Take Mr. Gore for example.

“We hope the energy created by Live Earth will jump start a massive public education effort,” Live Earth Co-Chair Vice President Al Gore said. “Live Earth will help us reach a tipping point that’s needed to move corporations and governments to take decisive action to solve the climate crisis.”

For people like him we’ll never do enough I guess. These crisis promoters don’t even want to acknowledge all the great work that’s being done, especially in the biofuels or bioproducts business for example. Good news doesn’t get you noticed in today’s out of control media.

I do like his use of the very popular “tipping point” term though. Nice, Al. Now how about getting back to reality and help out the people and companies that are actually doing the work you want to cry about.

Environment

Is It The iCorn

Chuck Zimmerman

iCorn Phone?I’m not sure they would call it the iCorn. But a phone that’s made from corn is cool. Actually this story on Mobiledia says that NEC has developed a plastic made from corn that will be used in phones and computers.

NEC Corporation has developed a corn-based bioplastic that conducts heat faster than stainless steel, and it aims to mass-produce the material starting in April 2008 for use in mobile phones and other portable devices, the company said today.

NEC also said the material could help make laptops and mobile phones thinner and lighter by eliminating the need for heat-releasing sheets or fans.

Corn

McCormick Gets Rodney Miller

Chuck Zimmerman

Rodney MillerIt looks like McCormick is going to increase their marketing efforts, especially in the area of compact tractors with this announcement.

McCormick International USA, a division of ARGO Tractors and part of ARGO S.p.A., based in Italy, announces the appointment of Rodney Miller as vice president of sales and marketing for new products and communication effective June 1, 2007.

Miller brings extensive experience in the agriculture equipment sector. Most recently, he served as Montana Tractors CEO, where he helped launch the company in 2004. He guided the fledgling compact and utility tractor company to sales of more than $70 million and established a dealer network of 300-plus independent dealers throughout the United States and Canada.

Miller’s initial responsibility will be to focus on all aspects of new product sales and marketing for both the McCormick and Landini tractor brands in the United States.

Agribusiness, Tractor

Hondo Group Formed

Chuck Zimmerman

The Hondo GroupI’ve been meaning to alert you to The Hondo Group if you’re not already aware. I saw Lynn Balinas, President, at the NAMA convention. Later in the day I got a nice cigar that was wrapped with a code to text to them. Once you did, they texted back directions to their website to enter a contest to win a pair of Twisted X Boots. I have been so busy I didn’t get entered in time. I’m not sure who won but if I find out I’ll post it here (or they can leave it in comments).

If you’re wondering what a Hondo is, it’s “the eye at the end of a rope through which the opposite end passes to close the loop.” It’s also the title of one of my favorite Louis L’Amour western novels. John Wayne starred in the movie version too.

It’s also an integrated marketing and communications agency located in Ft. Worth, TX.

Agencies