2012 NAMA Best of Show Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

Best of Show Public RelationsWe had a great Best of NAMA Celebration here at the Agri-Marketing Conference. Congratulations to all the winners.

We especially want to congratulate our Best of Show winners. First up is PR Best of Show which was awarded to the Minnesota Pork Producers and Weber Shandwick for their entry “Oink Outings.” Accepting were Pam Voelkel and Emily Negrin.

Advertising Best of ShowNext up is the Advertising Best of Show awarded to Beck’s Hybrids for their in-house work on the “Suspects of Success Campaign.” Accepting was Ashley Fischer.

I believe you can a listing of all the winners in the latest AgriMarketing Magazine.

You can also find more photos that you are welcome to download and share here: 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

Advertising, NAMA, Public Relations

Coalition Pleased With Immigration Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Representatives from both agricultural employers and farm labor are pleased with guest worker provisions included in the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act introduced in the Senate yesterday.

awcLeaders from the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) held a press conference yesterday to highlight the stake American agriculture has in immigration reform. Late last week, a landmark agreement on immigration reform was reached by the AWC, the United Farm Workers (UFW), and key Senators.

The bill’s provisions for agriculture include a new “blue card” program for experienced farm workers, and improvements to the current agricultural worker visa program.

Participating in the news conference were National Council of Farmer Cooperatives president Chuck Conner, National Milk Producers president Jerry Kozak, Western Growers Association president Tom Nassif, United Fresh Produce Association president Tom Stenzel, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association president Mike Stuart, U.S. Apple Association president Nancy Foster, and United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez.

Listen to or download here: AWC press conference

Ag Groups, Audio, Cooperatives, Dairy, Farming, Produce

Look closer …

Melissa Sandfort

birdI’ve seen a few of these around but you have to look closer to see what they’re really made of. My in-laws have a windmill and tractor; my grandparents have a bird. Here’s what Sam is made of (or Fred because I’m not sure he’s a toucan):

Rebar, rake, dust pan, marbles (eyes), mower sickle guard (beak) and a grease cup (top of his head)

In learning about Sam, I also learned that back in the day instead of a grease gun, they had grease cups for “hard oil” to lubricate bearings. They’d put the grease in the cup and turn the knob to push the hard grease out.

So my grandmother’s saying holds true: Don’t throw anything away. “We could live off what your generation throws away.” And if not live off of it, build really unique things from it!

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Sunny Skies for Chicken Media Summit

Jamie Johansen

photoThe sun is out and a warm ocean breeze is blowing here in New Bern, North Carolina for the Chicken Media Summit. The National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association has once again brought together media from across the country to share their dedication to providing a wholesome product.

Tonight we hear from Bill Weldon, Ph.D., & Vice President of Global Research & Development and Western Europe Operations for Elanco Animal Health, and Susan Finn, PH. D., RD, FADA, President and CEO of the American Council for Fitness & Nutrition. They will give a 2013 report on the importance of animal source foods.

Tomorrow we embark on “Chicken: Farm to Forklift Day.” The day will include tours of a hatchery, chicken houses, processing plant and wastewater treatment plant.

And Friday wraps up with panel discussions with chicken company executives and industry issues.

Soon we will have a album full of pictures and audio interviews for download.

Chicken Media Summit, Poultry

AgNewsWire.AgWired.com – Ag Media’s Online Ag News Service

Melissa Sandfort

AgNewsWire.AgWired.comZimmComm New Media, LLC has expanded its AgNewsWire.AgWired.com.com website to serve as a new agricultural media content service for reporters, companies, organizations and individuals seeking high quality photos and audio from industry events and concerning current issues.

“We generate so much content on our agricultural and renewable energy websites that we decided to create one place for all of it to make it easier for people in the industry to locate and utilize,” said ZimmComm New Media president Chuck Zimmerman. “Last year we covered nearly 70 different industry events, posted more than 1200 audio files and placed nearly 20,000 high resolution photos in Flickr albums. All of that content is available for anyone to download and use free of charge.”

AgNewsWire.AgWired.com.com will now have links to all the audio, photos and video that ZimmComm compiles at events, for podcasts, news conferences and more. In addition, AgNewsWire.AgWired.com will also continue to be an agricultural news release distribution service as it has been since it was introduced in 2006.

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Agribusiness, Audio, Events, Photography, Podcasts, ZimmComm Announcement

ZimmComm Announces Agri-Blogging Internships

Talia Goes

zimmcomZimmComm New Media is now taking applications for students in the agricultural communications field to attend and learn how to “agri-blog” some of the most important industry events held every year. It has been years since we worked with Monsanto on student blogging opportunities at Commodity Classic and we miss the experience of working with budding agrimarketing professionals. So we decided to do something about that.

The opportunities will include all-expense paid trips to one or more industry events where students will assist in the compiling of photos, audio and video and posting of activities on pertinent websites. Interns will learn and develop the use of tools, techniques and technology to gather and distribute information through various social media channels. Per-diem and college credits may also be available.

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Agribusiness, ZimmComm Announcement

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the re-establishment of the Forestry Research Advisory Council and is seeking nominations for new members.
  • Bayer CropScience and Monsanto Company have entered into a series of licensing agreements for next-generation and enabling technologies in the field of plant biotechnology that will provide new options and choices for farmers.
  • Farm Market iD, announced it has launched a new website in conjunction with new branding.
  • Dairy.com announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Blimling and Associates, Inc. and its two sister companies.
Zimfo Bytes

Grocery Store Must See

Talia Goes

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Have you started spring planting”

Our poll results: Sixty-two percent said No, I’ve Been Delayed More Than One Week, twenty-three percent said Yes, I’m In the Field Right Now, and fifteen percent said No, I’ve Been Delayed by One Week. The late winter storms and heavy rain showers seem to have put a damper on the majority of farmer’s spring planting plans.

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What is the #1 thing you look for on a food label?” Reading food labels has become more popular with media attention about health risks. What are some of the things you look for in the grocery store? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

New Holland, ZimmPoll

Highest NAMA Conference Attendance Since 2000

Chuck Zimmerman

Winners of NAMA Golf TournamentIt was a chilly day to be out golfing yesterday but the ABEF golf tournament still went on. First place golfers included Les Kahl, AdFarm; Roger Reierson, AdFarm; and Bill Vaughn, Merck.

We’ve got 1,248 agrimarketers and students from across the country forging new frontiers within the agricultural industry. This is the highest attended conference since 2000!

2013 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

NAMA

Name the NAMA Past Presidents

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMA PresidentsA number of past presidents of the National Agri-Marketing Association attended a dinner last night with the current president and executive committee. This is a fine looking group of NAMA royalty that includes our current President isn’t it? Know who they are? The first person to correctly identify them will win a prize from the ZimmComm stash of stuff. Just post in comments.

Today things really kick in gear as the student NAMA marketing competition gets underway. Many students have been seen wandering the hallways mumbling to themselves. It may look a little strange to some people but they’re just practicing. Also on tap today is a NAMA leader workshop, board meeting, Best of NAMA awards and opening of the Connection Point trade show. I think that’s enough for one day!

Our photos will be adding up online and can be found here: 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, NAMA