2014 International Year of Family Farming?

Chuck Zimmerman

During our weekly AgChat session last night several folks interjected messages about a United Nations sanctioned initiative called the 2014 International Year of Family Farming, Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth. So I had to look at it and can’t say I like what I see. If you click around their website you’ll see some pretty mixed messages. There …

Ag Groups, Farming, International

Thornton Promoted at AFBF

Chuck Zimmerman

Congratulations to our good buddy Mace Thornton. He’s just been named Executive Director of Communications for the American Farm Bureau Federation. Here’s Mace at last year’s Agricultural Relations Council meeting. Mace just turned that gavel over at this year’s meeting. Mace will implement AFBF’s communications strategies, manage the Communications Department and staff, and help lead AFBF as a member of …

Ag Groups

Dairy Makes Sense Parody Video

Chuck Zimmerman

This is just too good not to share. The Midwest Dairy Association just published Feedin’ A Nation, a very entertaining music parody video. Thank you to the more than 65 dairy farmers from age 1 to 81 for helping bring this video to life. All footage was filmed at dairy farm family homes in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. Join …

Ag Groups, Dairy, Video

Find ZimmComm at 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmComm New Media will be forging new frontiers once again at the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference. Here’s where you’ll find us in the Connection Point. We’ll be at booth 402. Yeah, booth numbers don’t always make it easy to find. Just follow the arrow. We’ll have an announcement out soon about a very cool booth giveaway and of course there will …

Ag Groups, NAMA, ZimmComm Announcement

ARC Learns About Oklahoma Ag Priorities

Chuck Zimmerman

I was not able to attend this year’s Agricultural Relations Council meeting in Oklahoma City but have been following along some of the social media posts like in the Ag Relations Council Facebook Group. Here’s one example of what you would find there thanks to John Blue, Truffle Media Networks. Shawna McWaters-Khalousi of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, highlights what …

Ag Groups, ARC, Audio, Public Relations

Agvocating on Ag Day

Chuck Zimmerman

There were lots of agvocates in Washington, DC last week for National Ag Day activities. They included some great young people and we’ll hear from a few of them in this week’s program. Let’s start with Troy and Bobbie Uglem, North Dakota. They are 2012 National Outstanding Young Farmers. During the lunch program on Ag Day Troy addressed those attending. …

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio, ZimmCast

Farmers Telling Personal Stories Important to Consumers

Chuck Zimmerman

This week during Ag Day activities the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance held an educational session which was moderated by Chris Galen, Sr. VP of Communications for the National Milk Producers Federation. He also sits on the board of USFRA. Chris says Ag Day provided a great opportunity to speak with Capitol Hill staffers and legislators about the latest research …

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio, USFRA

Ag Relations Council New President

Chuck Zimmerman

The Agricultural Relations Council annual meeting is taking place in Oklahoma City. Wish I could be there but . . . Thanks to Janice Person, Monsanto, for sharing a picture of the passing of the gavel. Pictured are now past ARC President Mace Thornton, AFBF, (left) and Mike Opperman, Charleston Orwig, now new President. I will plan to share more …

Ag Groups, ARC

National Ag Day Contest Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

At the National Ag Day banquet in Washington, DC, the winner of the written essay contest read her essay to us. She’s Whitney Bowman, Mount Jackson, VA. Here’s where you can find her essay titled “American Agriculture: Nourishing Opportunities.” Other winners include Lebo Molefe, Naperville, IL – Video Essay Contest – see below and April Fox, Wayne State University – …

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio, Video

BCS Communications Celebrating Ten Years

Chuck Zimmerman

Here are a couple of farm kids doing good in the big city. Leigh Ann Cleaver and Kelly Schwalbe of BCS Communications (our sponsor) attended National Ag Day Activities and we visited about what’s new with the agency. BCS Communications supports National Ag Day because it’s “second nature to us” says Kelly. Additionally, most of their clients are involved in …

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Agencies