The Webster definition of “valor” is “strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness” and that was required this year more than any other for the peanut industry. In recognition for his strength and leadership of the peanut industry during a time of crisis, American Peanut Council president Patrick Archer received the Valor Award, …
Peanuts on Panama City Beach
Hello from Panama City Beach, Florida and the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. The theme of the 11th annual conference is really a tribute to the U.S. peanut industry for overcoming adversity in 2009. Everyone knows that this year has been a tough one for the industry, starting out with the salmonella issue in January. But, Georgia Peanut Commission executive director …
JIF Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich
A lot of people might have stopped eating peanut butter recently but I’m sure not one of them. I’m glad to see that Smuckers continued it’s annual Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest. Somehow in all the excitement of Ag Day and spring I missed the fact that they announced the winner of this year’s contest. This sounds like a …
Peanut Day at the Speedway
The Atlanta Motor Speedway is declaring Sunday, March 8, as “Georgia Peanut Farmer Appreciation Day” during the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race in recognition of Georgia’s official state crop. It’s a show of support to Georgia-based peanut farmers who have been suffering due to the recent difficulties facing the industry, with the whole salmonella in peanut products problem. …
Participating in World Food Prize Events
One of the participants in the 2008 World Food Prize symposium who caught my eye yesterday was Dr. Gale Buchanan, USDA Under Secretary for Research Education and Economics. I saw him sitting in on every session I attended, so I caught up with him for an interview about the event and what he thought. This year’s World Food Prize winners …
Georgia Peanut Tour Blog
I am so lame. I was supposed to alert you to the Georgia Peanut Tour before the tour. But guess what? This is the great thing about a blog. It’s archived! So take a look at what agriblogging professional Joy Carter did. I think she’s raising the bar for you ag group communications managers. I think Joy has been drinking …
Trimble Trio
New technology and new media are a perfect fit, so it is fitting that Trimble/Ag Technologies sponsored our blog coverage this week at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. Left to right, the trio representing them at the conference were Josh Pitts of Ag Technologies, Trimble regional sales manager Tim East and Brian Kelly with Ag Technologies. I set up my …
FFA Alumni Conference Blog
FFA Alumni State Leaders are gathered in Washington, DC and thanks to a new blog, you can keep up with the action. The National FFA Alumni State Leaders Conference kicks off today. FFA Alumni members will have an exciting week touring Washington, D.C., visiting with their congressional representatives and learning more about opportunities available through the FFA Alumni. The event …
Old Friends and New at the Peanut Meeting
At the Southern Peanut Growers Conference this week, I had a chance to meet up with one old friend I hadn’t seen in over 20 years – and one new friend that I knew but had never met. Those of you in the ag journalism business may recognize this lady – formally the voice of the American Farm Bureau Federation …
Using New Media to Reach Peanut Farmers
Farmers and others in agriculture are just like everyone else these days. For the vast majority of us, computer usage is becoming a part of our everyday lives, if it hasn’t already taken it over! That’s why the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation made the decision to use the new media tools of blogging and podcasting to reach out and provide …