Taking a Weekend Retreat

Chuck Zimmerman

If you’re a long time AgWired reader then you’ll know that I go on a weekend retreat once a year. It’s something I highly recommend to everyone. I’ll be heading there tomorrow morning and back on Sunday late. I just thought I’d give you a heads up so you’ll know why there won’t be any new posts after tomorrow morning through Sunday evening. I am looking forward to this time away from everything, including phone and computer.

Aaron Gilbertie, Truffle Media Networkd, and I are completing a week of presentations around the mid-west. It has been great. Two years ago I was making presentations in some of these same companies and explaining what a blog and a podcast is. Now we’re talking about measurement, sponsorships, custom design, production and editorial content. This is Aaron and my first trip together and we have been asked quite often about the relationship between our two separate companies.

To start with, Ned Arthur at Truffle has been a long time friend in the industry since we were in farm broadcasting. We’ve been following each other’s move into new media and have had many discussions about it. Together we believe we can offer more resources to our clients as we grow (and we are growing fast). We are also providing content to the online media outlets each of us own which includes the Truffle Media Networks, “Animalcasts” and ZimmComm’s blogs like AgWired. If any company or agency enters into a project agreement with us we plan that one or the other company will be the lead with the other providing support. Make sense? Is it confusing? I’d like your feedback on this if you have any.

Uncategorized

K-State Wins NAMA Student Marketing Competition

Chuck Zimmerman

K-State Student Winning TeamI sure don’t want to forget to let you know that Kansas State University won the NAMA Student Marketing Competition again this year.

Just in case you’re wondering. Yes, Florida did take third, placing higher than Ohio State. Sorry, but it had to be said. The other finalists included, University of Florida, Sam Houston, Ohio State, Univ of Wisconsin-Platteville and the University of Guelph.

You can get a complete list of all the Student Awards and Scholarship Winners here.

Visit the 2007 NAMA Convention Photo Album.

NAMA, University

What Are You Doing For Earth Day?

Chuck Zimmerman

Earth Day.govWhat’s your company or organization doing about Earth Day, 2007? It’s coming up on April 22. I’d like to know if you’ve got any plans or events you’d like to have featured here on AgWired. I’m interested in agricultural related ones in case you don’t know that. Farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists and environmentalists no matter what the wackos would like everyone to believe.

If you’re not real familiar with Earth Day you might want to check out Earth Day.gov. It’s got quite a bit of information and ideas.

Uncategorized

Search For America’s Worst Cook

Chuck Zimmerman

The Search for America's Worst CookForward this to the person you love but just can’t bring yourself to tell them how you really feel about their cooking.

If you feel like a misfit when it comes to cooking, you are not alone. According to a new survey from the American Egg Board, nearly half of America’s home cooks (44 percent) experience an all-out disaster in the kitchen — whether it’s burning or improperly cooking meals or creating a mess of ingredients and utensils — at least several times a year, and even more (47 percent) know someone who is in desperate need of basic cooking skills.

To help home cooks — whether whizzes or wannabes — learn the basics of egg cooking and prove that even a kitchen klutz can become an eggs-pert, the American Egg Board is launching “The Search for America’s Worst Cook” contest. Entering is easy — just visit http://www.americasworstcook.com/ and tell us in an essay of 200 words or less why you or someone you know is in desperate need of basic cooking skills. In addition, video and/or photographs can be submitted but are not necessary for entry. The winner of the contest will receive a free trip for two to New York City, where he or she will take cooking courses at the Institute of Culinary Education and take in the tastes and sights of one of the hottest culinary destinations in the world. The contest ends on June 30, 2007.

Ag Groups, Food

AgNetwork.com Launches

Chuck Zimmerman

AgNetwork.comThe number of online ag news and information resources just keeps growing. I guess it means that more and more farmers are getting their information online doesn’t it? Or are we all just crazy? I only bring this up because over the last week I’ve still had people question the value of online communications to farmers. My guess is that they just aren’t very savvy themselves and assume everyone else is like them.

Integrated Management Information, Inc., a leading provider of verification and Internet solutions for the agricultural/livestock industry, today announced the launch of AgNetwork.com, a comprehensive new source of news and information for the international agricultural community. The launch was accompanied by AgNetwork’s first email newsletter, a periodic feature available to visitors to the site.

“Business dynamics within agriculture are increasingly multifaceted, global and interactive,” said Dr. Nevil Speer, Professor, Western Kentucky University. “Within that environment decision making needs to be quick and accurate — it requires access to the most up-to-date developments. Agnetwork facilitates the need for a one-stop, comprehensive and customizable outlet providing stakeholders with a continual stream of news and information.”

The AgNetwork Web site is based on IMI Global’s successful CattleNetwork.com model, which has grown steadily and rapidly into one of the nation’s leading sources of news and information on the cattle industry. In 2006, CattleNetwork had 1.2 million unique visitors, up 108% over 2005, and reported strong growth in other traffic categories as well as advertisers and revenue.

Internet, Media

United Country Real Estate Picks Osborn & Barr

Chuck Zimmerman

United Country Real EstateI guess when an agency has ag experience it helps get some non-ag business. That makes sense.

United Country Real Estate, the only national real estate franchise system specializing in country properties such as small city and town residential, second home, vacation, recreational, retirement, ranch, farm and commercial across America, has selected Osborn & Barr as its agency of record for public relations.

“We selected Osborn & Barr based on the agency’s expertise in communicating with the millions of people living in and desiring to live in the country across America, their successful track record with highly recognizable brand names in the agricultural and rural marketplace, and its staff’s commitment to delivering measurable results,” said Dan Duffy, chief executive officer and chairman of the Board of Directors for United Country. “The agency also shares our passion for the country lifestyle, and this was the determining factor in selecting a strategic partner.”

Osborn & Barr will partner with United Country to develop and implement public relations initiatives that support the real estate company’s franchise growth efforts and increase the level of brand awareness among target audiences as the real estate specialists in country property. The agency’s unique experience and strong reputation in helping shape and deliver its clients’ brands throughout rural America will assist in increasing awareness of the organization and the country real estate market.

Agencies

U. S. Wheat Associates Calendar Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

U. S. Wheat Associates 2007 CalendarGot pictures of wheat? Want to earn a few bucks and have your picture immortalized? Then enter the U. S. Wheat Associates calendar contest.

U.S. Wheat Associates invites anyone who is part of the U.S. wheat industry to submit photographs for possible use in its 2008 calendar. The 12 winning photographers will receive $100 each from USW. Any noncommercial images that show wheat being planted, grown, managed, harvested, shipped or processed will be considered as long as they are submitted to USW by August 1, 2007.

“We love to share the American experience of producing wheat with our overseas customers,” says Steve Mercer, director of communications at USW. “By featuring U.S. wheat production, our calendars help us do that while educating buyers about the quality, advantages and reliability of our crop.” Read More

Ag Groups

Phil Johnson Be Comin’ Round The Mountain

Chuck Zimmerman

This was too good an opportunity to pass up, sorry Phil. As you know, Phil Johnson is the NAMA Marketer of the Year. His company held a very nice reception at the NAMA convention to honor him and I was lucky enough to be invited and toast him in his golden toga.

One of the things they also did for Phil was memorialize him in video. As you can guess this is a very serious look at his life and career. Thanks to Colle+McVoy for sharing so that I can share with you.

Here’s where you can find it on YouTube.

Agencies, NAMA

Mike Miller Was a Great Farm Broadcaster

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike MillerIt’s with a great deal of sadness that I have to report that Mike Miller, a friend and award winning farm broadcaster has passed away. Many of you may remember Mike from his days in farm broadcasting. Just prior to moving to Missouri I even lived with Mike in Houston and commuted with him to work each day as we were trying to get a full time satellite tv farm news channel off the ground. I was there in a consultant capacity and moved on to Learfield Communications while Mike kept at it. We had some memorable times there that I will never forget. He was a great talent and last fall I had hoped he was getting back into farm television. Here’s an excerpt from his obituary on the Macon.com.

Michael Douglass Miller -FORT VALLEY – Michael Douglass Miller, 53, died while on a business trip to Istanbul, Turkey on April 12, 2007. Services will be 11A.M. Thursday, April 19, 2007 at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Fort Valley with The Rev. Drs. Donald and Ruth Tate officiating. Burial will be in Ruckersville, Virginia. -Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, to the late Douglass Harrison and Helen Gibson Miller, Mike was a graduate of Woodberry Forest School and Virginia Military Institute. He was the managing director of the ocean marine division of Allen Insurance Group, and had clients in forty nine countries. Prior to moving to Fort Valley, Mike spent the first twenty years of his career in the broadcast new media and won numerous national awards, including an Oscar. He and his wife, Debbie, have lived in Kentucky, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Texas. -Survivors: his wife of almost twenty five years, Debbie Cook Miller of Fort Valley, originally of Kentucky; sister, Patrice Miller Lifon of Canton, GA; nieces, Anne Douglass Ligon and Sarah Elizabeth Ligon, of Canton, GA; aunt, Charlotte Burrill of Fredericksburg, VA; and several cousins in Virginia. -In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Saint Andrew’s Memorial Fund, 309 Central Ave., Fort Valley, GA 31030. -Rooks Funeral Home in Fort Valley has charge of arrangements.

The have a guest book you can sign.

Media

AAEA Announces MarComm Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

AAEAThis is a very interesting announcement from the American Association of Agricultural Editors. MarComm Awards! We love awards. So quick, get your thinking cap on and start entering.

We are thrilled to announce that the AAEA Board of Directors on April 10, 2007, approved the American Agricultural Editors’ Association 2007 MarComm Awards program. This is our first awards program directed at those who produce great communications work for their companies, associations, clients, and others in the agribusiness world.

The program is open to affiliate members of AAEA, as well as potential members and active members who are eligible for the categories listed below. Entrants may enter any one of five categories and submit as many entries per category as desired. Cost is $20 per entry. These are the categories:

· News Release
· Advertorial
· Media/Special Event
· Media Room Web Content
· Newsletter – Print or Electronic.

Here’s where you can find the entry form. (Word doc)

ACN