I didn’t get to spend any time with Whitney Wallace at Commodity Classic but I got to follow her via her Monsanto Student Blogger blog – Whitney’s Classic Comments. I’m happy to see Monsanto continuing the Future Ag Journalists Fellowship program we got started a couple years ago now. I know the experience that students like Whitney are getting will …
Media Room
I think I’m the last one in the media room now. In fact, it closes in 20 minutes and they’re already tearing it down around me. Here’s Ned Arthur, Truffle Media Networks, hard at work earlier. In case you’ve never seen these professionals in action Cindy shot a short video clip when things were very active. We had a record …
Manufacturers Support of Biodiesel
Ed Hegland is a farmer from Minnesota and currently serving as Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board. He stopped by the New Holland booth here at the Commodity Classic trade show where I got to talk to him about how equipment manufacturers are supporting biodiesel. Ed says that as a farmer he’s excited to see companies like New Holland and …
Commodity Classic Posts Record Numbers
Registration is now officially closed here at Commodity Classic and the final numbers have been posted. 4,534 Total Registration (record) 145 Total Media (record) 847 Booths (record) 1,479 Total Growers The highest registered attendance of growers was 1,517 at the Las Vegas Classic in 2004. Still a pretty impressive showing here in Nashville. AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic …
If You Believe, Belong
For the last couple days we’ve been watching the American Soybean Association sand sculpture take shape. I’m not sure when it was finished but here it is. The theme message is “If you believe, belong.” AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic is sponsored by: and 2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album
Evan Slack iPhone Training
It took 3 or 4 days but we’re pretty sure that Evan Slack, Evan Slack Network, showed everyone attending Commodity Classic how to use the iPhone. I’m hoping Apple is paying Evan a commission. Here he’s showing Anita Vanderwert, Brownfield, how to check her stock quotes via the built in web browser. She doesn’t seem to be paying attention. If …
The 3 Amigos on Stage
Each year at the Commodity Classic general session we get to hear from the Presidents of the participating associations. Here they are on stage involved in an interactive discussion with moderator John Phipps. Pictured left to right are John Hoffman, ASA, Ron Litterer, NCGA and John Thaemert, NAWG. John starts out wondering how in the world these three guys got …
Rick Tolman is NAMA Agribusiness Leader of the Year
Earlier this week the National Agri-Marketing Association announced that NCGA CEO Rick Tolman is their Agribusiness Leader of the Year. Here he’s standing next to their booth at the Commodity Classic trade show. The award honors outstanding leaders in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related areas who exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry. …
New Holland at Maximum Capacity
The head of the Cash Crop Segment for New Holland is Ed Barry who is here at Commodity Classic. He says they have a T8040 Tractor on display and a CR9060 Combine along with a lot of training aids. Business is good as evidenced by the somewhat short supply they currently have on equipment. He says that New Holland has …
Classic Babies
I don’t know if you can see it clearly on this small photo but this baby’s sporting an E85 sticker and her jumper suit says “Smell of Ethanol” on the back. On the front she’s got an Indy Racing League logo too. I think her name is Danica after IRL driver Danica Patrick. You know this baby’s in a corn …