Think Small

Chuck Zimmerman

Next year’s NAMA Conference theme may be “Think Big” but starting tomorrow you can think “small” as in the 14th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference.

It’s going to be held at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Columbia, MO. They have heated buildings in case you’re worried about that.

Some of the sessions on the agenda include, Native plants as cut flowers, Fruits, nuts & medicinal herbs, Crop diversification options, 10 Ways to make money from trees, Ethanol from waste fruit and Legal matters. There’s quite a few more too.

According to the show organizers, last year, over 4,400 people and over 150 exhibitors attended.

Show Hours: Thurs, Nov 2: 9 am-5 pm, Fri, Nov 3: 8 am-5 pm, Sat, Nov 4: 8 am-5 pm. Call 800-633-2535 to register.

Farm Shows

Boot Camp LPC Style

Chuck Zimmerman

Livestock Publications Council Boot CampIt’s almost time for the second round of the Livestock Publications Council Boot Camp.

This year it’s in Louisville, KY.

If you haven’t already then you need to get registered.

They’ll have sessions on all the Adobe design software, AP Style Book (I actually have my own style!) and photography.

Contact Diane Johnson to get registered.

You can find out more about it in their latest newsletter (pdf file).

LPC

Firing Up The ZimmCam

Chuck Zimmerman

I have been wanting to work with a webcam for some time now and took the initial plunge today. Let’s just say that now that I have an “agricam” I’m even more armed and dangerous. I’ve already thought of a number of ways to use this. One of the first things I’ve got to do is learn how to use the video editing software I purchased earlier this year. I’m also wondering if it’s time for a video version of the ZimmCast using my new tool, the ZimmCam. So to get the ball rolling here’s a little demo.

Feedback? Stick with audio? More makeup? Actually I’m thinking of a lot more production value in a video podcast. You’ll just have to be patient with me. We’ll get there.

Video

Upcoming Schedule

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Equipment Manufacturers AssociationHere’s one of my next stops on the agricultural marketing highway. The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association will be holding their convention in Minneapolis next week. I’ll be part of a panel titled, “Marketing Communications Strategies & Tactics.” It’s going to be on Tuesday afternoon and features some real experts like, Dale Bentlage of Global Reach Internet Productions, Joe Baitinger of Farm Market ID and Connor Flynn of Lessing Flynn.

I’ll be showing attendees what blogs and podcasts are and planting the seeds of ideas for using them in their corporate communications plans. I guess you know that you’ll be seeing posts from there.

After that it’s time for my annual hunting trip. That’s going to be from November 10-14 so posting will be light on those days. I’m just giving you a heads up.

After that, it’s on to the NAMA Agribusiness Forum in Kansas City, followed by the NAFB Convention. This year the two groups are having an overlapping session on Wednesday afternoon.

Ag Groups

View From The Porch

Chuck Zimmerman

I want to thank the Front Porch Rocker for a link to AgWired from her blog. People are always asking me who reads AgWired. Well go visit one of our readers.

Here’s her profile. “I am a twenty something Business Analyst in Central Missouri. I grew up working on my family’s cattle and hog farm and could not have asked for a better childhood. The oldest of four, I graduated from MU and returned home to marry the man I had dated through high school and college. We’ve been married since April, have jobs that we love, and our friends and family and their children to keep us busy.”

If anyone wants to link to AgWired, you’ve got my permission. Let me know you’re doing it and I’ll post about your website too.

Uncategorized

A Treat From Paulsen

Chuck Zimmerman

Paulsen HalloweenThanks to Paulsen Marketing I now remember that it’s Halloween and I don’t have any candy for the kids yet. Time to go shopping and pick up my absentee ballot since I’ll be out of town on election day next week.

It looks like the Paulsen office is into the spirit.

The gang at Paulsen Marketing celebrated Halloween by dressing-up. The company is known for its family atmosphere and team-oriented approach to all tasks. Paulsen Marketing Communications is a full service advertising agency and public relations firm specializing in strategic planning and brand development. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota based agency has been in business for over five decades and now has satellite offices in Kansas City and Madison, Wisconsin. Check out their web sites: www.paulsenagribranding.com, www.paulsenmarketing.com and www.paulsenpr.com.

Okay. Now we really need to discuss an ongoing brand awareness plan here on AgWired.

Trick and here’s your treat.

Agencies

Monsanto Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship

Chuck Zimmerman

MonsantoIf you know a high school senior who wants to pursue a career in agriculture then get them to apply for a Monsanto Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship. See a list of this year’s awards here and download the application form (pdf).

Monsanto and the National Association of Farm Broadcasting have teamed up for the third year in a row to offer the Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship Program to high school seniors nationwide. One hundred $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in agriculture who clearly demonstrate excellence in the areas of academics, leadership and real-world agricultural experience.

In order to qualify for the scholarships, applicants are required to come from a farm family, plan to enroll as full-time students in an agriculture-related academic major in an accredited school, and be committed to pursuing a career in agriculture. Applicants will also be evaluated on their academic records, leadership and extracurricular activities, and personal essays submitted as a part of the application process. The scholarship application deadline is February 15, 2007. Established in 1999, the Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship Program has awarded more than three quarters of a million dollars in support of young people interested in agriculture.

Agribusiness, NAFB

Pawsitively Ridiculous

Chuck Zimmerman

PEDIGREE Ice Cream Sandwich Treats for DogsDo not tell Cindy about these. She feeds all my good leftovers to our two house dogs (Crash & CJ). If we’re going to get ice cream sandwiches around here, they’re mine, all mine! However, if this will help the dairy industry then add ’em to the grocery list.

Now, two of the biggest names in the ice cream and dog food industry – Good Humor and PEDIGREE Brand – have come together to create the first real ice cream sandwich formulated especially for dogs. The new PEDIGREE Ice Cream Sandwich Treats for Dogs from Unilever Ice Cream’s Good Humor brand give pet owners the crème de la crème of treats they can reward to their loyal, four-legged friends.Read More

Dairy

Hall of Fame Food

Chuck Zimmerman

Jay O'Brien - Photo courtesy of Scott Windus PhotographyHall of fame food is what I like. I made a nice roast beef in the oven last night in fact. It looks like the Beef Checkoff is getting some recognition for all the work it does in reaching out to the restaurant industry.

The Beef Checkoff Program is one of only five honorees and the first commodity to be inducted into the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) “Supplier Hall of Fame.”

Cattlemen’s Beef Board Chairman Jay O’Brien, a producer from Texas, accepted the award – which is produced by Nation’s Restaurant News, the weekly national news publication covering the foodservice channel – during the MUFSO conference in Dallas Oct. 15-18.

“Each day, nearly a million hardworking men and women go about the business of putting beef on America’s tables, and on their behalf, I’d like to thank the team at Nation’s Restaurant News for our 20-plus years of successful, groundbreaking partnership,” O’Brien said upon accepting the prestigious award.

Ag Groups, Beef, Food

So Long Trans Fat

Chuck Zimmerman

KFCI’m going to feel a lot better about ordering KFC Extra Crispy from now on. KFC’s decision to move to low-lin soybean oil is getting a lot of media attention today.

KFC Corporation announced today it is converting all of its 5,500 restaurants in the United States to a zero grams trans fat cooking oil. The new oil, a low linolenic soybean oil, will replace the partially hydrogenated soybean oil in current use in KFC restaurants. The conversion, which follows over two years of extensive testing of oil options to identify the same taste profile, has already begun in many KFC restaurants and is scheduled to be completed by the end of April 2007 nationwide.

This announcement has made the folks at Monsanto very happy for some very obvious reasons.

VistiveMonsanto applauds today’s announcement by KFC that it will reduce trans fatty acids in fried foods at its chicken restaurants by using oil from low-linolenic soybeans. “We’ve been very pleased with the level of interest from food companies in using VISTIVE™ low-linolenic soybeans in their efforts to reduce trans fats,” said Jerry Steiner, executive vice president of Monsanto.

KFC is the latest company to announce the use of low-linolenic soybeans to reduce or eliminate trans fats in its products. Kellogg Company, for instance, announced last year that it is using oil from VISTIVE low-linolenic soybeans as part of a major trans fat initiative.

Post Update: This statement just came out from Qualisoy:

KFC’s commitment to this new variety is an important step in continuing the development of trait-enhanced soybeans that will offer increasing health benefits and functionality for foods. According to QUALISOY CEO John Becherer, “We applaud Yum Brands Inc. on its movement toward eliminating trans fats from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) products by transitioning to a low-linolenic soybean oil. This is an important step towards making America’s favorite foods healthier.”

Agribusiness, Food