Don’t Forget Golden ARC Award Entry

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a reminder that the Agricultural Relations Council has issued a “call for entries” (.doc) for the 2013 Golden ARC awards. The annual competition includes 36 categories for agricultural public relations activities conducted in full or partially in the year 2012.

Entries in the 2013 Golden ARC awards are due to contest headquarters on or before Jan. 31, 2013 at 5 p.m. Early entries postmarked by Dec. 31, 2012 will receive a $25 discount per entry.

The Golden ARC awards contest honors the stellar work created by professionals in the agricultural industry.

Categories fall into two divisions – Campaigns and Tactics. A student category is also available, free to student ARC members. The 36 categories reflect the broad scope of public relations and public affairs activities today, including campaigns and a range of tactics, from traditional media releases to social media. The Golden ARC de Excellence award for the best all-around entry in the campaigns division will also be awarded.

The winners will receive their honors at the ARC annual meeting, March 20-22, 2013 in Oklahoma City, OK.

Ag Groups, ARC

Harvest Masters Unveiled New Mirus Software at ASTA

Jamie Johansen

asta-mirusJust last month at the ASTA Seed Expo in Chicago, Harvest Masters by Juniper Systems, announced the release of their new harvest data collection software system they call Mirus.

Cindy spoke with Allen Wilson, Ag Marketing Manager for Harvest Masters, during the event. Allen shared how the two year long process to develop this software resulted in a brand new generation. Not simply a new addition to the previous version.

“The Mirus software that we just released works with our harvest data collection for research combines. It’s a Windows based platform. We have been using Windows mobile, but this is a Windows so it will be running on tablets, Windows XP and Windows 7 & 8. We are in that Windows environment. It is a next generation software to work with our hardware that we previously put out. This is a lot more flexible and easy to use. The operators are now able to see four different screens at one time about their system statues and yield levels. A lot more information available for the operators.”

“The feedback we got back from our beta testers, which were about 20 people that have run our previous software, all said it’s intuitive, it’s easy to use and they don’t have to go struggling through a bunch of different screen to find the information they need or settings to change. It’s a precision piece of equipment so they have to be monitoring it and watching to see if there are changes occurring. It was really over-whelming to hear these people that have used our software say we have made a step forward.”

You can find more information about the release of this new software on a previous post on sister site Precision Pays.

Listen to Cindy’s complete interview with Allen here: Interview with Allen Wilson

Check out photos from ASTA here:
ASTA-CSS Photo Album

ASTA, Audio, Harvest, Precision Agriculture, Seed

ZimmComm Blogging Team Expands

Melissa Sandfort

taliaHave you been noticing a new name appearing on the ZimmComm websites? That’s right – Talia Bang has joined the ZimmComm blogging team working in Nebraska alongside Melissa. Talia was raised on a polled Hereford farming/ranching operation in North Bend, Neb. She hails an Animal Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has worked for Pfizer Animal Health and Heartland Farm Partners in Lincoln. While she’s not in the office on the agribusiness blogging highway, she has a small AQHA breeding program raising cow-bred horses and does team penning with her fiancée, Tanner Goes. So join us in welcoming the newest ZimmComm team member!

Agribusiness

Learn About Fresh From Florida with Florida NAMA

Chuck Zimmerman

Susan NardizziWant to get a “fresh” update on the Florida Dept. of Agriculture’s Fresh From Florida marketing campaign? Then join Florida NAMA (my new NAMA chapter) in Melbourne on January 17.

You are invited to join us for this special luncheon in Melbourne, January 17, 2013. FDACS Marketing Director Susan Nardizzi (pictured) will share for the first time publicly some exciting new marketing initiatives that will soon be underway for Florida Agriculture. Please see the program flyer (pdf) for details.

Hosting the luncheon program, the Florida Chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association (FL NAMA) is comprised of individuals who join to help support the Chapter and agri-marketing curricula, including “Gator NAMA” team activities at the University of Florida.

There is a $40 luncheon charge to help defray meal and meeting costs. RSVP is simple, see the information at the bottom of the flyer. Payment can be made at the door, we can bill you before or after, or take a credit card over the phone or at the door as well. The main thing is we want you to join us if you can. We think you will find it time well spent.

NAMA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

Agribusiness, Zimfo Bytes

Passing of George Logan

Chuck Zimmerman

George LoganCindy and I were very saddened to hear of the passing of George Logan. George was one of the people we got to know well through the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. He was always willing to talk and offer advice over the years and always seemed to kept a pretty level head. We have memories of visiting him at his Lake of the Ozarks place when our daughters were younger and wish we could have done that more often. Here’s the announcement from the NAFB office.

Dear NAFB members,

Once again, our association finds itself saying goodbye to one of our long standing members. We received notice this morning that George Logan passed away.

George served our organization in so many ways–he was President in 1972, served as NAFB’s first Executive Secretary, honored as the Meritorious Service Award recipient in 1985 and was inducted in the NAFB Hall of Fame in 1995. George was also instrumental in helping set up the NAFB Foundation and served as Treasurer of the Foundation until just a few years ago. His impact on NAFB is evident and his friendliness and sincerity will be missed.

Services are currently pending. NAFB will provide details when they become available.

Tom Brand
Executive Director
National Association of Farm Broadcasting

Post Update: You can find a full biography of George Logan, details about services and more using this link.

Media, NAFB

Looking Back at Agri Marketing in 2012

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 378To take a look back at the most viewed stories in the agricultural marketing world Lynn Henderson, Publisher, Agri Marketing Magazine, and myself did a run through of the top stories and posts on our websites. This is the first time we’ve done this and we had a lot of fun. Enough fun that we think we should do it more frequently. What do you think about that?

AgrimarketingYou can find find the AgriMarketing.com TEN MOST COMMONLY VIEWED AGRI MARKETING NEWS ITEMS IN 2012 here. You can find the Top Posts in 2012 on AgWired.com here. Very different lists and some surprises on each of them.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: The Year in Agricultural Marketing

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

Audio, Media, ZimmCast

Joshua Bledsoe Named COO of the National FFA

Melissa Sandfort

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Joshua Bledsoe was named chief operating officer of the National FFA Organization. Bledsoe will manage major FFA operations and lead the overall execution of the 557,318-member organization’s strategic plan, reporting directly to CEO Dr. Dwight Armstrong.

Bledsoe has previously served as the state agricultural education leader and state FFA advisor for North Carolina and has accumulated 15 years of progressive leadership and management experience within agricultural education. He has been a key member on numerous national and state FFA boards and committees, and is a member of the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education, among other professional organizations.

As COO, Bledsoe will lead key FFA organizational units, including education; convention and events management; partner services; information technology; marketing, communications and brand management; and merchandising and customer fulfillment.

As the North Carolina State Agricultural Education Leader, Bledsoe provided leadership and overall coordination for agricultural education within the state. He was charged with leading an 11-member state agricultural education team and ensuring professional development opportunities for teachers. Bledsoe also developed and maintained close working relationships with local, state and national agencies and organizations. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Bledsoe earned both undergraduate and master’s degrees in agricultural education.

Bledsoe will relocate to Indianapolis with his family to begin the new role on Feb. 18.

FFA

Where to Find Ag Leader This Winter

Melissa Sandfort

Insights WeeklyAre you interested in getting the latest information about precision ag equipment? If so, here are a few stops you might want to schedule this winter in order to talk with Ag Leader experts:

• Dakota Farm Show in Vermillion, SD, January 8-10
Click here for the conference program.

• Fort Wayne Farm Show in Ft Wayne, IN, January 15-17
Click here for the conference program.

• Iowa Power Farming Show in Des Moines, IA, January 29-31
Click here for the conference program.

• Southern Farm Show in Raleigh, NC, January 30 – February 1
Click here for complete show information.

• World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA, February 12-14
Click here for the conference program.

• National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY, January 13-16
Click here for the conference program.

• Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, FL, February 28 – March 2
Click here for the conference program.

Russ Morman, Ag Leader Inside Sales Representative, says it’s important for the company to have a presence at these regional and national farm shows.

Listen to Russ explain

And if growers get their hands on the equipment and decide it’s buying time, Ag Leader dealers are most generally on hand to help out.

Listen to Russ explain

If you’re on the road this winter and have time to visit one of these locations, be sure to find Ag Leader’s staff of experts who will be on hand to talk about the latest in precision technology equipment, enhancements, future products, and much more.

See you this winter!

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

Zimfo Bytes