An FFA Welcome to Ag Retailers Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Attendees to the 2014 Agricultural Retailers Convention were welcomed this morning by two of the Louisiana state officers of the National FFA. On the stage were Christen Wall (l) and Nicole Roofner. Christen talked about her family alligator farm and Nicole gave us an invocation. Both are high school seniors but already have plans for what they want to do …

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio, FFA

Ag Retailers Kick Off Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

The 2014 Agricultural Retailers Association Convention & Expo is underway in New Orleans. The President/CEO for ARA is Daren Coppock, pictured here with some of our younger attendees from FFA and AFA. Great to see them here! Daren says attendance is at a record this year and judging by the crowd at the opening reception and today’s opening general session …

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio

Meet the New USFRA Faces: Thomas Titus

John Davis

If you get a chance to talk to one of the newest representatives in the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance’s (USFRA) Faces of Farming and Ranching program, you’ll certainly be taken by more than just Thomas Titus’ impressive height (6’8″!). You’ll hear just how enthusiastic he is to talk about the world of agriculture. “Talking about agriculture was something instilled …

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Farming, Pork, Swine, USFRA

NSIP Commits to Rebranding Initiative

Jamie Johansen

Following a competitive RFP process, the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) has selected Demeter Communications for its Rebranding Initiative. The purpose of the rebranding is to better position NSIP as the genetic selection tool for U.S. sheep producers, and increase usage of the technology for the benefit of all segments of the industry, according to Reid Redden, NSIP chairman. The …

Ag Groups, Marketing, Sheep

Agricultural Retailers Navigating Forward

Chuck Zimmerman

This week I will be attending my first Agricultural Retailers Association Annual Convention & Expo. I’ve got a preview of what will be taking place in New Orleans from Brian Reuwee, Director of Communications & Marketing. Brian and I sat down during the recent NAFB Trade Talk session. One of the things that caught my eye about this year’s program …

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio, Precision Agriculture, ZimmCast

Meet the New USFRA Faces: Jay Hill

John Davis

He is the youngest of five siblings and the only one who chose to follow in his father’s footsteps into farming, but Jay Hill of Southern New Mexico says it’s definitely not been boring. “You know, there’s some days when I thought, I should have been a lawyer or a doctor,” he told Cindy during an interview. “But I now …

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, USFRA

Meet the New USFRA Faces: Erin Brenneman

John Davis

She might not have started out an Iowa farm girl, but Erin Brenneman has embraced the role on her husband’s family pig farm in the southeast part of the state. “I was born and raised in the city, so I think that brings a unique perspective on farming,” the native of the Chicago suburbs told Cindy during an interview. Now, …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Swine, USFRA

Meet the New USFRA Faces: Darrell Glaser

John Davis

In our series to educate you about this year’s selectees for the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance’s Faces of Farming and Ranching program, we introduce you to a man who wants to educate the public about modern agriculture and how America’s farmers are feeding the world. “It’s very, very important as an industry that we help educate our consumer base …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, USFRA

Meet the New USFRA Faces: Carla Wardin

John Davis

Earlier this month, we told you about the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA®) announcing the winners of its second class of the Faces of Farming and Ranching program. Now, we’d like you to meet each of the five selectees, starting with Carla Wardin of Michigan, who along with her husband Kris, both sixth-generation farmers, are the sole owners of …

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Dairy, USFRA

COOL is a Big Issue for NFU

Cindy Zimmerman

I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with National Farmers Union Senior Vice President of Programs Chandler Goule last week at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention. We discussed a variety of policy issues where NFU is actively involved on the federal level, and one big one is Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). Goule says strongly supports …

Ag Groups, Audio, NAFB