Meister Media Worldwide (MMW) has been named a national finalist for the 2026 Azbees Awards of Excellence by the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial content in American Fruit Grower. In addition to securing a national finalist placement, MMW took home two gold, a bronze and a silver award during the regional awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE).
Kubota Tractor Corporation announced a new multi-year partnership with NASCAR, beginning with the 2026 NASCAR season, that establishes Kubota as an Official Partner of NASCAR, including the Official Tractor of NASCAR, Official Construction Equipment Partner of NASCAR, Official Compact Equipment Partner of NASCAR and Official Utility Vehicle of NASCAR. Kubota will also serve as the official partner in the same categories for the upcoming NASCAR San Diego Weekend.
Sales and marketing misalignment is often treated as a systems or process issue, but new research from HLK suggests a more fundamental truth. In an upcoming webinar, HLK’s Ben Bocklage, Partner and Chief Strategy Officer, and Emily Kircher, Partner and Chief Marketing Officer, will share insights from a comprehensive study of 1,040 B2B leaders, including 20 qualitative interviews with CEOs, CMOs, CROs, and VPs across a range of industries. Together, they’ll unpack why organizations continue to struggle with alignment despite ongoing investments in new tools, processes and alignment initiatives like Account-Based Marketing (ABM). Webinars are free to NAMA Members. Non-members are $50. Register here.
Cotton Council International (CCI) welcomes the announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) awarding funding through the America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP) to support the global promotion of U.S. cotton. This investment underscores the critical role of U.S. cotton in supporting the American economy and rural communities.
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol announced that Walmart, a global retail powerhouse, has joined the program. Walmart’s membership marks an important moment for the retail industry, significantly scaling the impact of sustainable cotton sourcing and reinforcing the company’s focus on regeneration and transparency in its supply chain. As a member of the Trust Protocol, Walmart will gain access to aggregated, verifiable data on sustainability practices from U.S. cotton growers and have the ability to track the movement of U.S. Cotton and Protocol Cotton through its supply chain. This aligns with Walmart’s ambition to source more sustainable cotton and its broader ambition to help more sustainably manage, protect and/or restore at least 50 million acres of land and 1 million square miles of ocean by 2030.
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has opened nominations for the 2026 Borlaug CAST Communication Award (BCCA). The award is presented annually to recognize outstanding achievement by a scientist, engineer, technologist, or other professional working in the agricultural, environmental, or food sectors for contributing to the advancement of science in the public policy arena. All materials must be submitted through the nomination form by midnight CST on May 31, 2026.
Marion Ag Service is proud to announce its 50th anniversary, marking a half-century of service to the agricultural community. What began as a local solution for Willamette Valley growers has evolved into a nationally recognized agricultural retailer built on a foundation of trust, expertise, and deep-rooted relationships. To commemorate this golden anniversary, Marion Ag Service will host a year-long celebration featuring throwback pictures on social media, employee gatherings, and honoring the customers and community members who have been part of its journey.
The Charleston Orwig Collective, comprised of 100 percent employee-owned, full-service agencies C.O.nxt and Jigsaw, announces the promotion of three team members. Marty Defatte has been promoted from Front-End Developer to Senior Developer & AI Engineer—a newly created role that reflects both his technical expertise and The Collective’s commitment to advancing its AI-driven digital capabilities. On the client services team, Anna Grace Brown and Kendall Zoeller have both been promoted from Account Executives to Senior Account Executives.
Agricultural communicators from across the country and beyond will gather this July 19-21 for Ag Media Summit 2026 at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch. Registration is open as of April 15 at www.agmediasummit.com. This is the 27th year for the annual professional conference hosted by the Agricultural Communicators Network and the Livestock Publications Council, with support from the Ag Media Council. The accomplished editors, writers, photographers, designers and marketing communications professionals who deliver information to farmers, agribusinesses and the public inspired this year’s AMS theme: “AI: Authentic Intelligence.”
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is pleased to welcome Natalie Wolpert as Meetings Coordinator. In this role, Wolpert supports the planning and execution of ASTA’s signature conferences and events, helping ensure each program is strategically aligned with organizational goals while delivering a high-quality experience for attendees.
The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) announced the hiring of Danielle Griffin as Communications Manager, effective April 27, 2025. Griffin joins NCFC as the organization launches a new strategic plan with enhanced advocacy communications as a core goal.
