Pomegranate Rocks

Chuck Zimmerman

I am not a pomegranate fan boy, yet. Brett Frazier, Mayor of Madera, CA, is trying to convert me though via YouTube.

“We wanted to have a fun way to bring attention to pomegranates, and that Madera is the Heart of Pomegranate Country, so we figured what better way than with a parody video,” said Frazier.

The video is a parody of LFMAO’s hit Party Rock called Pomegranate Rock.

The video was shot over the course of a day featuring many tourist attractions in Madera and the area.

Madera is honoring their connection with pomegranates during the second annual Madera Pomegranate Celebration taking place Oct 27 through Nov 4. There is a softball tournament, golf tournament, pomegranate dinners, recipe contest and the Pomegranate Festival Nov 3 at the Madera Municipal Airport.

For more information, go to www.pomegranatefestival.com.

While they rock to pomegranates in California, the next festival opportunity near ZimmComm World Headquarters is the Gulf Coast Pirate Festival, home of the Pirate Riot. Argh!

Ag Groups, Food, Video

ZimmComm Moves to Joyent Cloud

Chuck Zimmerman

For several years now ZimmComm has enjoyed the web hosting services of the industry pioneer, Joyent. Why did we choose Joyent (originally TextDrive)? Because they not only provided state of the art hosting services and technology but seemed to embody that same willingness to try something new that we have. We have never been sorry.

This weekend we took another step forward with Joyent as we moved to the new Joyent Cloud.

Why constrain your ideas using yesterday’s cloud architecture and infrastructure? Build reliable and resilient applications on a high-performance cloud infrastructure service that powers many of the best mobile, social, gaming and e-commerce enterprises in the industry.

Joyent Cloud provides the essential features to develop, launch and scale web and mobile applications. Our high-performance cloud is designed to improve the productivity and success of application development teams and administrators. Rely upon the stability and reliability of Joyent to create your next innovation.

These folks have taken another big step forward with their move to the next innovation in cloud hosting. So we’re proud to be on their client list along with LinkedIn and Adobe!

But as good as the Joyent Cloud is we couldn’t do it without the Robert, the ZimmComm webmaster! Robert moved us without any disruptions or problems. He’s the best when it comes to not only what you see on our websites but also what you don’t see. So thanks to Robert and Joyent. Looking forward to many more years together.

ZimmComm Announcement

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • MGEX announced that its Board of Directors approved the 2012-2013 Board officers and committee representatives.
  • Neil Dobbins is the new CEO of Rabo AgriFinance.
  • A recent Farm Journal Pulse poll shows America’s producers overwhelmingly support candidate Mitt Romney in the upcoming presidential election.
  • Pear Bureau Northwest has named Meijer as the 2012 Pear Retailer of the Year for its outstanding pear merchandising program.
Zimfo Bytes

50 Year Anniversary Issue of Agri Marketing Magazine

Chuck Zimmerman

Agri Marketing magazine is celebrating 50 years. Here’s where you can get your copy of the 50th anniversary commemorative issue. Now for a message from Publisher Lynn Henderson.

Hearty thanks to the magazine’s subscribers, advertisers, authors and all of the people who have worked for or been affiliated with the magazine since its inception in 1962.

You can read the issue now by clicking here. On the first screen that opens are instructions on how to navigate through it.

If you have difficulty in opening it or have any suggestions, please send your comments to info@AgriMarketing.com.

You can still view the online version of the annual Agri Marketing Services Guide by clicking here.

We want to thank Agri Marketing Digital’s premiere sponsor, Farm Journal Media, for making this service available to you!

Best Regards,
Lynn Henderson
Publisher/Editorial Director

Media

New FFA Officers Announced

Chuck Zimmerman

At the conclusion of the 2012 National FFA Convention the new officer team was elected. UF Gators student Clay Sapp was elected to serve as National FFA president. How ’bout them Gators!

“It will be my mission to activate change and growth in the National FFA Organization,” he said. “I plan to develop strong relationships, be a champion of FFA and agricultural education and seek new ways to strengthen student experiences within FFA.”

Joining Sapp on the 2012-13 National FFA Officer team are Kalie Hall of Georgia as national secretary, Joenelle Futrell of Kentucky as Eastern Region vice president, Lindsey Anderson of California as Western Region vice president, Brennan Costello of Nebraska as Central Region vice president and Wiley Bailey as Southern Region vice president.

For the next year, the group will travel more than 100,000 miles across the country to engage top leaders in business, government and education. The national officers will lead personal growth and leadership training seminars for FFA members. The team will help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and promote agricultural literacy.

Ag Groups, FFA

O.H. Kruse is a Family Business

Chuck Zimmerman

When O.H. Kruse Grain & Milling decided to hold a dealer appreciation day they viewed it as an investment in their dealers and their brand name according to Kevin Kruse, President/CEO. He says it is an opportunity to re-present their brand. Kevin spoke to attendees during the evening dinner.

I spoke with Kevin before dinner and asked him what message he wanted to share with the folks attending. He said, “We’re a family business and that they’re part of our family. We really appreciate and are proud to be doing business with these people. It’s a thank you and it’s a discussion of how we can work together to improve both our businesses. That’s the focus.” Kevin also spoke about the challenges in the feed industry and what he sees in the future for the company.

Listen to my interview with Kevin here: Interview with Kevin Kruse

O.H. Kruse Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Feed, O.H. Kruse

Shoppers Pay Higher Prices for Breakfast Items

Melissa Sandfort

Shoppers paid slightly more for food at the grocery store during the third quarter of the year, with many popular breakfast staples showing an increase in retail price. Higher retail prices for eggs, bacon, orange juice, milk and toasted oat cereal, among other foods, resulted in a slight increase in the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Quarterly Marketbasket Survey.

The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that can be used to prepare one or more meals was $51.90, up $1.00 or about 2 percent compared to the second quarter of 2012. Of the 16 items surveyed, 9 increased and 7 decreased in average price compared to the prior quarter. The cost for the overall basket of foods decreased about 2 percent compared to one year ago.

Most of the slight quarter-to-quarter increase in the marketbasket of foods can be attributed to higher retail prices for breakfast staples, apples and bagged salad.

According to USDA, Americans spend just under 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food, the lowest average of any country in the world.

AFBF, Agribusiness, Food

MCA Names New Director of Communications

Melissa Sandfort

Stephanie Morgan will now serve as the director of communications for the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. She started the position on a part-time basis Oct. 23rd. Morgan will be graduating from Missouri State University in May 2013 with a degree in agricultural communications. Morgan will be based at MCA headquarters starting on May 22, 2012.

She previously worked as an agricultural broadcaster for KKOW-AM, Pittsburg, Kan. For three years. She also interned for the Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Farmers Care.

Morgan is from Lamar, Mo., where she grew up on a diversified family farming operation, consisting of largely of cattle.

Agribusiness, Beef

Farmers are Authentic Voices

Chuck Zimmerman

The farmers I know are “Authentic Voices” when they speak out on their industry – Agriculture. Thanks to a piece I got in the mail I just learned about Authentic Voices. Melanie Wilt wants to help farm organizations and their members. As the mailed piece says, “Free your farmers from the restraints of public opinion.” We’ve got so many great efforts underway to accomplish this. Perhaps your organization should give Melanie a call.

Authentic Voices is a combination of classroom and interactive programming that helps farmers own their voice to connect with the public. Advocates practice message development and delivery by working through real agriculture scenarios.

Melanie Wilt is the Owner and Chief Experience Officer of Wilt Public Relations, Inc. Melanie has over a decade of experience helping non-profits and state government as in-house counsel and as a consultant. She has served as Communication Director for the Ohio Department of Agriculture and technology start-up, non-profit Avetec.

Learn more in this introductory video:

Agribusiness, Education

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • MANA Crop Protection announced its KlearSky Technology brand, which represents advanced formulation technology that embodies a range of attributes to deliver high performance and reduced impact on the environment.
  • SFP recently named Dave Schwartz as vice president of new product development.
  • CF Industries is a new bronze sponsor of the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program and the Progressive Agriculture Foundation.
  • MGEX is pleased to announce the launch date of Oct. 26, 2012 for the MGEX Information Xchange.
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