Ryan Hunter-Reay Beats A Corn Grower

Chuck Zimmerman

Yesterday I posted the picture of Indy car driver Ryan Hunter-Reay getting the green flag in a pedal tractor race with Dick Gallagher, Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chairman. Here’s Ryan getting the checkered flag. I’ll see him race in the upcoming Iowa Corn Indy 250 at a speed somewhat higher than was exhibited in this tractor race and spoke with him after the day’s competition was over.

Ryan says the corn growers competition was a lot of fun. He loves coming to Iowa and working for the corn growers. You may remember that Ryan drove the Ethanol Car for some time, including here at the Iowa Speedway. You can listen to my interview with Ryan here: Ryan Hunter-Reay Interview

Iowa Corn “Join The Team” Indy 250 Promotion Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Learning All About Lessing-Flynn

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 303In this week’s program I’m continuing my on-going series of interviews with the leadership at agricultural advertising and public relations agencies. Have I had an opportunity to do so with yours?

I visited with Tom Flynn III, President, Lessing-Flynn, this week to learn what’s new. The first thing I learned is that they’re “old.” LOL. Actually, the agency was started in 1907 making it one of the oldest agencies in the country! Talk about longevity. The agency has about 14 on staff locally in Des Moines. They are doing work for companies like Vermeer, Ag Leader Technology, Schillinger Genetics, Iowa Corn Growers and others.

Tom says that changes in communications technology presents an opportunity for their clients. They have embraced it (social media) and hired someone to be a “driver” for it within the agency first by establishing Ad Mavericks. By doing so they have shown their clients that they have the expertise to be good advisers on how to enter the social media world. Tom also says that they have added a number of new folks to their staff recently that have added a lot of energy to their business. He says they’ve brought great ideas and talents that they didn’t have before. And the good news is that growth is happening.

Listen in on our converstation in this week’s program: Learn About Lessing-Flynn

This week’s program ends with some music from Music Alley. It’s called “Little Bridgid Flynn” by Bill Grogans Goat.

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, Growmark, locally owned, globally strong, 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.

Agencies, Audio

A Fun Cliché

Melissa Sandfort

“Stick a fork in me.”
Translation: it has ended; finished.

(Enter the hay bale.)

We had gone for a visit to western Kansas. Stop. Let me rephrase that as not many people just pack up and drive to western Kansas on a whim, without purpose. We went to visit my in-laws in western Kansas.

As I was walking back to the house, a pitchfork in a hay bale caught my eye. As I took in the scene, I could almost hear my father-in-law as he tossed the pitchfork into the bale, saying, “Stick a fork in me, I’m done for the day.”

As I melt into my easy chair each evening, I’m tempted to say the same thing. And I have a desk job.

Until we walk again …

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Iowa Corn Growers Compete With Indy Car

Chuck Zimmerman

The Iowa Corn Growers got competitive with Indy today at the Iowa Speedway. In the photo Indy car driver Ryan Hunter-Reay competes on pedal tractors with Dick Gallagher, Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chairman. Waving the green flag to start is Shannon Textor, Iowa Corn Growers Market Development Director.

Today was a promotional event that included Indy Car drivers, Iowa corn growers and representatives from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. It was all done to promote the upcoming Iowa Corn Indy 250 race and their Join The Team program. They paired up into teams and ran through a course of various events that included the pedal tractors, cornhole toss, corn shucking, remote controlled race cars and more. We held the event inside the garages because some rain moved through. Farmers in this area were actually happy to have some rain.

I spoke with Kevin Rempp, Iowa corn grower and currently Secretary/Treasurer for the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. He says that the promotion with the Iowa Speedway and Indy has been a great partnership. Iowa corn growers are also to be working with the universities involved and are doing so through their Iowa Corn Fed program and their new commitment to the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. Kevin says he got all his corn in the ground last week!

You can listen to my interview with Kevin here: Kevin Rempp Interview

By the way, Ryan beat Dick in the pedal tractor race just in case you were wondering. I’ll have more to come after getting back to ZimmComm New Media World Headquarters this evening.

You can find photos from today’s event here: Iowa Corn “Join The Team” Indy 250 Promotion Photo Album

Ag Groups, Corn, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Close Vote On Man Made Climate Change Question

Chuck Zimmerman

I am not surprised by the results of our latest ZimmPoll. The question was, “Do you believe in man made climate change?” If this doesn’t show a divided viewpoint then I don’t know what does. We just wanted a simple yes/no without trying to get into arguments over what science is better than another. Fifty two percent said yes and forty eight percent said no. This also attracted one of the highest numbers of responses to a ZimmPoll. So, I just wonder why there seems to be such a big push to create legislation and regulations when there is so much disagreement on the issue. What do you think?

Our next ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “How many apps on your smartphone?” They don’t have to be “ag” apps, just any apps. I can tell you I’ve got more than 90 on my iPhone but I’m doubting I’m normal.

Feel free to post a comment on either the results of our last poll or on the new one. What smartphone apps are your favorites and why. Thank you for participating.

And if you have any questions you want to suggest for future ZimmPolls please let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • An analysis of 2010 trends from AgCareers.com yields a positive outlook for the agriculture industry.
  • Andy Weber, CEO at Farm Journal Media, was named as Media Business magazine’s “Top CEOs” for their 2011 Top Innovators in Business Publishing Awards.
  • StollerUSA recently released an educational video to explain the scientific technology behind their signature yield-enhancing formulation, Bio-Forge.
  • Alamo Group Inc. announced that its Board of Directors is pleased to appoint James B. Skaggs as Chairman of the Board.
Zimfo Bytes

Promoting Iowa Corn Indy 250

Chuck Zimmerman

Tomorrow I’ll be on location at the Iowa Speedway for an advance promotion for the Iowa Corn Indy 250. There are teams that will be competing made up of Indy Car drivers, media, Iowa corn growers, Iowa Speedway folks and coaches from Iowa and Iowa State.

That’s about all I know right now. But by sometime tomorrow afternoon we’ll both know more and you can count on pictures and more. This ought to be interesting!

Ag Groups, Corn, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Greg Guenther Wins Precision Labs iPod touch Giveaway

Chuck Zimmerman

The ZimmComm/Precision Laboratories Mix Tank App iPod Giveaway has ended. The entries were collected and a winner has been drawn.

The winner is . . . . Illinois corn grower, Greg Guenther! Greg served eight years on the Illinois Corn Grower board and three years on the National Corn Growers board. He was honored by the ICGA with their World of Corn Award, which goes to individuals, organizations or businesses for making significant contributions to the corn industry. Greg also received the St. Louis Agribusiness Club, Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award in 2009.

Congratulations to Greg. He will receive an iPod touch that comes pre-loaded with the Precision Labs Mix Tank App and the AgWired App. Just trying to make it easy for you Greg.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter. We had a lot of fun doing the giveaway and I think you’ll see more opportunities in the future.

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Novus Expands Arkansas Feed Supplement Facility

Cindy Zimmerman

A number of dignitaries, including the Governor of Arkansas, helped cut the ribbon Tuesday on a newly expanded and LEED Silver Certified manufacturing facility in Little Rock for Novus International animal feed supplements.

The Novus Arkansas site was developed in 2006 to manufacture MHA® feed supplement, a source of methionine, an essential amino acid in premixes and farm feed mills which provides benefits to laying hens and other livestock and companion animals. The new expansion features a 45,000 square foot manufacturing facility for MINTREX®, Novus’ chelated trace mineral products for aquaculture, poultry, pork, beef, dairy and pet nutrition. In keeping with the commitment Novus has to sustainability, the expanded facility earned Silver LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The company headquarters in St. Charles, Missouri has earned Platinum LEED Certification.

Stewart Doan stopped by the dedication event happening on his home turf and was able to interview Giovanni Gasperoni, Chief Administration and Strategy Officer, who says the expansion will increase production and their ability to serve customers. “Our customers are all over the world,” Gio said. “Both the family of products produced here will reach the 98 countries we are serving today.”

“It is our motto to feed the world affordable, wholesome food, so we need to help our customers to produce more with less,” said Gio. “This is what we are about.”

Listen to Stewart’s interview here: Giovanni Gasperoni Interview

Feed, Novus International, Poultry

Mary Thornley Executive Director CAMA

Chuck Zimmerman

Mary Thornley is the first National Executive Director for the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association.

“This is an important step for CAMA. The Provincial chapters have been working for several years to unify our national existence. The appointment of Mary as our National Executive Director allows us to better carry out our vision and bring greater value to all members of the agri-marketing community,” says Justin Funk, CAMA National Chairperson.

Also the Executive Director for the CAMA Ontario Chapter, Mary was born and raised on a farm in Bruce County, ON. She pursued her interest in agriculture and attended the University of Guelph and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Agricultural Business (Co-op) in 1996.

The membership base includes sales and marketing individuals from all aspects of Canada’s farm industry. CAMA is a national organization with chapters in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

You can hear a welcome message from Justin here: CAMA Welcome Message

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