I’ve been told that we have a record number of media representatives (reporters) covering the Cattle Industry Convention this year. I know I saw more at the media reception tonight than I’ve ever seen before. Thank you Merial for sponsoring it and the excellent food, especially the little steaks that were fork tender! Because of all the reporters here I’ve …
Blogging Poll
I’ve been asking all the public relations professionals working here that I come in contact with if they know what a blog is. This is very unofficial or scientific and who knows what the margin of error is. I’d say 95% don’t know. In fact, most say they’ve never heard of the word! Well that’s changing and this blog is …
The Secretary is Coming!
Friday morning new U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns, will speak at the general session of the Cattle Industry Convention. Come back tomorrow late morning and we’ll have audio from his comments. He’s also going to be speaking to the media after his speech. I’ll have a picture then too.
Customers Playing Games
The trade show here at the NCBA convention is huge. Producers have lots of opportunities to talk to company reps or here at the Novartis booth, they can compete in a computer quiz for prizes that are awarded each day to the 2 highest scorers.
Impromptu Press Conferences
Although there’s a formal press conference room, impromptu press conferences pop up everywhere. Here’s Phil Seng (USMEF President) holding court with reporters in the news center.
Even The News Room Is Sponsored!
I know it’s not a very exciting picture but you can see how everything is sponsored. Reporters at the news center will leave this convention weighing several pounds more due to the large quantities of food bestowed upon them. Thursday’s breakfast included large steaks! After all we have to get our beef quota.
Farmers Getting High Speed Internet Access
Thanks to the USDA Rural Development Broadband program more and more rural communities are getting access! Listen to my interview with Gill Gonzalez, Undersecretary for Rural Development with USDA as he talks about the loan program that’s helping bring broadband to the countryside. Listen here: ZimmBlog Podcast
South Florida Biodiesel & Texas Cattle
What do they have in common? I’m at the NCBA/CBB convention in San Antonio and just sent a Talking News Release out for the National Biodiesel Board simultaneously with their live press conference going on at their annual convention in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. It’s amazing what you can do with computers and the internet today! So, here I am covering …
Free Beer – How Can You Go Wrong With This?
At the Schering-Plough booth a friendly bartender poured a free beer and you could enter a contest to win a new John Deere Gator! I spoke with Dan Ellsworth, Senior Product Manager, Cattle about new products from his company. You can hear our next podcast here: ZimmComm Podcast. Keep checking in for more from the Cattle Industry Convention & Trade …
Booth Activity
The first stop was the Merial booth, where I spoke with Jim Gibb, Sr. Manager, Beef Segment Development about new dna testing products from Igenity. You can listen to our next audio interview here: ZimmComm Podcast. Later this week, new U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns, will be making a speech. We’ll bring you audio from his remarks.