New Media is New to Me

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello! My name is Margy Fischer, I’m a senior at the University of Missouri – Columbia studying Agricultural Journalism, and I’ll be blogging on this site during the 2006 Commodity Classic thanks to a student fellowship with Monsanto. It was almost three weeks ago that I learned of this opportunity from Bill Allen and am very grateful for this trip.

Blogging is completely new to me. The closest I may have ever come to posting a blog would be the weekly e-mail updates I would send my friends this past summer while interning in Washington DC. If those e-mails can serve as any precedent, then my posts will be full of anecdotes and observations of my surroundings. But my lack of experience with “new media” could be interesting enough that you’ll want to stay tuned.

Commodity Classic

The Journey Begins

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello, My name is Mary Irelan and I am a student at the University of Illinois. I am currently a sophomore and I am majoring in Ag Communications. I would like to start off by thanking my sponsor, Monsanto, and specifically Tami Craig Schilling and Mica DeLong for allowing me to take part in this amazing experience.

Commodity Classic

Student Bloggers Sponsor Interview

Chuck Zimmerman

MonsantoKicking off our coverage of Commodity Classic 2006 is an interview with Tami Craig Schilling, Monsanto Public Affairs Director, about their Future Ag Journalist Fellowship program which is sponsoring our student bloggers, Mary Irelan and Margy Fischer. Tami explains how the program came about, why they picked Mary and Margy and what the objectives of the program are. She said that if this works well it might be something they’ll do again. If so, AgWired is ready, willing and able to do our part to help.

Agribusiness, Commodity Classic

Listen To Michael, Mary and Margy

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast58-Commodity Classic WeekIt’s Commodity Classic week here on AgWired. That means you must enter our contest to win a video iPod, which is being sponsored by New Holland and watch for event coverage that includes student bloggers Mary Irelan and Margy Fischer, sponsored by Monsanto. This week’s ZimmCast is a little different. No one on one interview. You can hear some of the music from Michael Peterson’s new CD, “Down on the Farm” and I interviewed both Mary and Margy to find out what they want to accomplish at Classic and what they think about blogging it.

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Podcasts, ZimmCast

Make Sure You Enter Our iPod Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland This is just a friendly reminder to enter our New Holland “Down on the Farm” Classic iPod Keepsake Contest. You don’t have to be a farmer to enter. As long as you don’t work for New Holland or me you’re eligible. Tell your neighbors, your family and your friends. Maybe they want to know about AgWired anyway.

Agribusiness, Commodity Classic

College Students To Blog Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

Mary IrelanMeet Mary Irelan, University of Illinois student and about to become, AgWired blogger. Actually, she’ll just be blogging her experiences as a first time visitor to Commodity Classic next week. Her trip is being sponsored by Monsanto as part of it’s Future Ag Journalists Fellowship program. Monsanto wants to make sure the future agricultural communicators get some “new media” training.

Agribusiness, Commodity Classic

Michael Will Be At Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

Michael PetersonThe 2006 Commodity Classic is getting closer. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been a little behind on posting today. Preparations. That and having our internet access upgraded somewhat which caused us to be “without” for a while this afternoon. But no time like the present time to post some news.

Agribusiness, Commodity Classic, Farm Shows

Listen To Sec. Of Ag Johanns

Chuck Zimmerman

I promised audio from Mike Johanns. I caught the start of his press conference just a couple seconds late but you can listen to his opening statement here: Johanns Opening Statement If you’d like the whole thing, please feel free to contact me and I can arrange to make more available to you.

Audio, Commodity Classic