Founding Fathers Beer Helps Armed Forces Relief Trust

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a beer our Founding Fathers would be proud of. It’s named, “Founding Fathers Beer.” Right now distribution is limited but there are a number of states where you can find it. If you do find and purchase some Founding Fathers Brew you’ll be helping a good cause. Listen to their new jingle: Founding Fathers Beer, a new American lager …

Audio, Food

Total Grain and Fertilizer on Track

Cindy Zimmerman

Total Grain Marketing (TGM) handled 70 million bushels of grain at its 31 locations in Illinois last year and this year is likely to be even more. During the recent GROWMARK media tour, we visited TGM and South Central FS in Casey (that’s pronounced Cay-zee) and learned about that facility in particular which was created when the two entities joined …

Audio, Fertilizer, Grains, GROWMARK

From Arkansas Farm to BASF Weed Control Expert

Cindy Zimmerman

We have interviewed Dr. Dan Westberg many times over the past several years about BASF Crop Protection products, particularly his work with Kixor herbicide technology. But, we took a few minutes to get to know dapper “Dr. Dan” a little better at this year’s Commodity Classic. Dan’s interest in weeds goes back to his roots. “I grew up on a …

Audio, BASF

Domestic Wine and Sweet Tea Vodka

Chuck Zimmerman

Just wanting to get back to the land was a desire that led Ann and Jim Irvin to a piece of property near Charleston, SC that is now home to Irvin~House Vineyard and the Firefly Distillery. This was one of the tour stops for the Agricultural Relations Council annual meeting crew. We spent several enjoyable hours there doing some wine …

Ag Groups, ARC, Audio, Farming, ZimmCast

Fast Stop General Store More than Convenience

Cindy Zimmerman

If you want to fill up with E85, get your propane tank refilled, grab some food for your llama and new Muck boots for spring field work, satisfy your sweet tooth with bulk candy, pick up some locally produced noodles and Fluffy Burgers for dinner, enjoy some Champ’s chicken for lunch, order a new garage door, and maybe bring your …

Audio, FS System, GROWMARK, Video

An Interest in Pinterest For Kodak Gallery

Chuck Zimmerman

Since I’ve been seeing more and more interest in Pinterest in the AgWired community lately, the release about the Kodak Gallery mobile app being able to share photos to the popular social media site caught my eye. I visited with Trent Gruenwald, Sr. Product Manager, Social & Mobile Products for Kodak Gallery to learn more about it. Trent says the …

Apps, Audio, Farming, Social Networking, ZimmCast

Agricultural Public Relations Hall of Famer Lyle Orwig

Chuck Zimmerman

During the 2012 Agricultural Relations Council Annual Meeting Lyle Orwig, CEO, Charleston|Orwig, was inducted into the inaugural Agricultural Public Relations Hall of Fame. Here’s Lyle with his award in between past ARC President, Deron Johnson (left) and current President, Mace Thornton. I visited with Lyle about his recognition at the meeting and he says he’s very honored and humbled to …

Agencies, ARC, Audio

GROWMARK Legislative Priorities

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK government affairs director Chuck Spencer shared some of the agricultural cooperative’s top legislative priorities on both the state and national level during the media day tour this week. Chuck and other GROWMARK representatives participated in the Ag Day event Wednesday at the Illinois state capitol to talk with legislators about some of those priorities. “Obviously everyone in Illinois is …

Audio, Farm Bill, GROWMARK

Ag Secretary Vilsack & IA Gov. Branstad Press Conf.

Chuck Zimmerman

Today at 3pm, CDT, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will hold a joint press conference to clarify facts surrounding Beef Products Inc.’s lean finely textured beef. We sure need some facts to get out into the consuming public on this. You can watch it live in the player window below. The press conference will be held …

Audio, Beef, Food

An ARC History Lesson With Don Lerch & Paul Weller

Chuck Zimmerman

At the 2012 Agricultural Relations Council Annual Meeting, the first two members of the newly established Agricultural Public Relations Hall of Fame were inducted. Pictured below are Lyle Orwig, Charleston Orwig, (left) and Don Lerch, retired, with their awards. Before the award ceremony I visited with Don Lerch, who was a founding member of ARC and Paul Weller, Agri/Washington, who …

ARC, Audio, ZimmCast