Funky Tricia Wins Excellence Award

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s Tricia Braid-Terry and former Secretary of Agriculture John Block at last week’s NAFB Convention. We didn’t know it at the time but we were in the presence of greatness. Tricia Braid-Terry of Funks Grove was recently honored by the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) as the winner of its 2007 Excellence in Broadcasting Award. The award was presented at ISA’s …

Ag Groups, Media

Final Farewell to Mr. Potato Head at Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

Laura McNamara

The famed mascot of the U.S. Potato Board will make one last appearance at the 2007 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The board says it plans to retire the balloon after this year’s parade. So, you might want to make a special effort to catch the annual parade and get a final glimpse at the cheerfully oversized, classic ag icon. The …

Ag Groups, Audio, Farming, Food

Get Real With Christmas Tree Videos

Chuck Zimmerman

The National Christmas Tree Association has launched a new contest for the 2007 holiday season inviting YouTube users to “Get Real This Christmas.” I’m really glad they made a YouTube video to explain the contest! To participate in the contest, YouTube users can create a unique video (three minutes or less) showing or explaining why a Real Tree is the …

Ag Groups, Video

Thanksgiving Meal Costs Higher

Chuck Zimmerman

This came out last week during the NAFB convention but I just couldn’t get to it until now. It has taken a day or two to get unpacked from a couple weeks on the road. I’ve already got part of our Turkey Day meal purchased but I’m not finished yet. This chart is from the release sent out by the …

Ag Groups, Food

Missourians Get E85 for $1.85

Laura McNamara

Consumers have the chance to fuel up on E85 for $1.85. The ZX snack shop in Kirkwood, Missouri is hosting a grand opening for its first E85 fuel pump. The celebration will begin Thursday, at 8:30 a.m. and will continue until 4:00 p.m at 10921 Manchester Rd. General Motors and the MO Corn Growers Association will be displaying “Live Green …

Ag Groups, Ethanol

Farm-City Week Kicks Off Friday

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time to thank our farmers and ranchers as National Farm-City Week kicks off on Friday. The National Farm-City Council has been organizing this event since the late 1950’s according to this year’s Chairman, Al Pell, AgDay TV. I spoke with Al at the National Farm-City Week Kickoff Luncheon last week. He talks about the organization and why they hold …

Ag Groups, Audio, ZimmCast

Michael Peterson Performs For Farm-City Week

Chuck Zimmerman

Thanks once again to Gene Hemphill and New Holland for making it possible for me to cover the National Farm-City Week Luncheon and get to see one of my favorite performers, Michael Peterson. Michael has a great message for anyone in our country and especially our young people. If you’ve never heard Michael then you can watch a short part …

Ag Groups, New Holland, Video

Beef U

Laura McNamara

The course objective: get more beef on more menus. The Beef Checkoff Program launched “Beef University“, earlier this year to offer the food service industry more education on beef. Beef Checkoff has partnered with Taco Bell, Boston Market and Quizno’s in the program to promote beef in food options outside the home. “Beef University” is a two cd set that …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Beef, Education, Food, University

National Farm-City Council Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

The Farm-City Council is all about our youth and many of them were represented here at the National Farm-City Week Kickoff Luncheon. These FFA’ers are posing with Michael Peterson our keynote speaker. I’ve got some video of Michael I hope to post later when I get a chance to edit it. Besides hearing from Michael who spoke eloquently about the …

Ag Groups

Rock and Rolling Tree Farmer Gets Award

Chuck Zimmerman

At today’s National Farm-City Week Kickoff Luncheon Rolling Stones keyboardist, Chuck Leavell (left) received the first ever American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, “Book of the Year” award. He received it for his book “The Tree Farmer.” Terry Gilbert, a Kentucky farmer and Foundation board member, presented the book award to Leavell. “The Tree Farmer is a rare treasure among …

Ag Groups, Audio