NAFB President Killed in Crash

Chuck Zimmerman

It is with a great deal of sadness that I am sharing with you the news that Lindsay Hill, Farm Journal Media, was killed in a traffic accident this morning. I just received the news from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Lindsay was currently serving as the association president. Here is the message from NAFB.

It is with a great deal of sadness that we report the tragic death of NAFB President Lindsay Hill in an auto accident early this morning. According to officials at Farm Journal Media, Lindsay was traveling in Ohio at the time of the accident. Additional details or arrangements are not available at this time. We will do our best to provide those details as soon as they are available.

Please keep Lindsay’s family in your thoughts and prayers on this very sad day.

Tom Steever, NAFB President-Elect
Mark Oppold, NAFB V.P.

That’s all the information I have at this time. I will update this post when I get more. Here is a link to the story about the accident from the Dayton, Ohio newspaper.

On a personal note, I have to say that it is really sad to hear of this happening to anyone but maybe even more so when it’s someone so young and full of energy. I was shocked and still am. Already in her career Lindsay had accomplished things that others never do. She will be sorely missed and Cindy’s and my prayers are with her, her family and friends and everyone in the industry impacted by this tragedy.

Post Update:

Services for Lindsay Hill will be Monday from 2-8 p.m., and Tuesday from 12-2 p.m. at Winner’s Harvest Barn in De Graff, Ohio. A celebration of Lindsay’s life will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Winner’s. (Thank you to Andy Vance for the details.)

Media, NAFB

Livestock Publications Council Design Workshop

Chuck Zimmerman

lpc-logo-smallIf you would like to improve your design skills then plan on attending the Livestock Publications Council June 16, Design Workshop (pdf). It will be held at the Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley campus just south of downtown Kansas City from 8:30am to 4pm.

This workshop will be held in a computer lab and concentrate only on design so you will get true hands-on training. We are sure you will like the focus and the format! Sessions include:

The Newest on Adobe Creative Suite 5
Preparing files for output and proofing
Philosophy of design

Registration Fees: $70/members • $90/non-members • $125/on site • $40/students

Registration Deadline: June 3, 2011 After June 3, add $35 late fee to each registration.

Contact Diane Johnson for more information: dianej@flash.net

LPC

Do you trust me with a straight-edge?

Melissa Sandfort

It’s in my blood, and it must be in my husband’s blood as well. Home haircuts, I mean. My husband’s grandfather had a barber’s chair in his basement and gave the kids haircuts. My great-grandfather used a kitchen chair, but did the same for his four boys. And now, I carry on the tradition and sit my dad, husband and son down for monthly haircuts at home. (Well, dad NEEDS a monthly haircut but usually only makes it once every three months.)

My repertoire of hair-cutting instruments consists of a spray bottle, comb, scissors and clippers, and a smaller battery-operated trimmer for the hairline and around the ears. My husband tells me stories of how he and his brother played with his grandfather’s straight-edge when they were kids. It’s amazing they survived. I once asked if he’d ever trust me with one and he just chuckled and handed me the disposable razor.

The leather strap here was used to sharpen the straight-edge. And the clipper, well, it was manually operated instead of electric. The tools look pretty much the same, it’s just that today’s haircut takes about 10 minutes; a quick shave takes 5 minutes. Back then, a trip to the barbershop was an all-afternoon, male bonding experience.

I guess our home haircuts are lacking in the overall experience. But it makes up for it in money-savings.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Freshmen congressmen will play a key role in crafting what is expected to be one of the most challenging farm bills in decades. To help us understand what these new lawmakers bring to the debate, the Agri-Pulse Web site will feature one-on-one video interviews with new members from both sides of the aisle and from both the House and Senate.
  • BASF Plant Science L.P. announced Megan Lybrand has joined the company as a media relations manager.
  • Farm Aid announced that it will bring its annual benefit concert to Kansas City.
  • DuPont Lannate SP and Lannate LV insecticides can now be used to control brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) infestations in the mainland United States (except in Texas, South Carolina and New Hampshire) on selected fruit, vegetable and grain crops.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Beltway Beef Commentary

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has launched its first ever Beltway Beef audio program. The weekly commentary will feature NCBA members, leaders, staff and more.

    The talk is all policy all the time, honing in on critical issues inside the nation’s Beltway that have a direct impact on U.S. cattle ranchers across the country. This week you’ll hear Colin Woodall, NCBA vice president of government affairs, discuss the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) proposed rule on livestock marketing. Woodall explains that the so-called GIPSA rule is far from resolved and says it’s vitally important for cattlemen to continue voicing opposition to this rule that NCBA believes will punish innovation and stymie profitability and consumer choice.

    Click here to download the first weekly segment of Beltway Beef.

    Use this link to subscribe to the podcast.

    Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, NCBA

    Lots of Smartphone Apps

    Chuck Zimmerman

    According to our latest ZimmPoll you’re using lots of apps on your smartphones. Well, at least some of you are. Over a third of our respondents said they have more than forty apps on their smartphone. That was followed though by another third who said they only have zero to ten apps. Seventeen percent said they have 20 to 30 apps, thirteen percent said 10 to 20 and five percent said 30 to 40 apps. That’s a lot of apps! It’s amazing how useful these devices are becoming and apps are what make that possible.

    Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Will USDA forecast for record 13.5 billion bushels of corn come true?” There’s been a lot of flooding and cool weather in the corn belt this spring. How much do impact will that have? Let us know what you think and 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

    Hondo Group Happenings

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 304My on-going series of interviews with the leadership at agricultural advertising and public relations agencies continues again this week. I just got off Skype with Lynn Balinas, President, The Hondo Group.

    Lynn has a long background in agribusiness with several companies. That work took him all the world after which he joined the “agency world.” He wound up in Texas with McCormick Company and just about four years ago they formed The Hondo Group. They moved the office to Austin to be near a good talent pool due to the University there. He says they’re “providing innovation in traditional spaces.” One of the new things about The Hondo Group is their Kinita mobile platform that allows for the deployment across all smartphone systems at once.

    Listen in on our conversation as Lynn talks about some of their clients and social media success stories: What's New With The Hondo Group

    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, ZimmCast

    Changes at Brownfield Ag News

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Brownfield Ag News has announced a couple of major changes today.

    First, Dave Russell is the Farm Director of the new Brownfield Ohio Ag News Radio Network.

    “Having the opportunity to go back to my home state is exciting,” said Russell. “I’m looking forward to helping build Brownfield Ohio, but even more, I’m looking forward to telling Ohio’s tremendous agricultural story.”

    Moving into Indiana for Brownfield is Meghan Grebner, who has served as Agri-Business Director for stations WMBD and WIRL since 2007 and is currently regional Vice President for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB). Meghan has also been a contributing editor here on Agwired.

    The top photo is one of Meg’s favorite Facebook profile photos of her and Dave. The bottom one I took at Commodity Classic this year in Tampa. Just couldn’t resist putting them side by side!

    Congrats and best to both of them – and to the whole team at Brownfield!

    NAFB

    Novus Donates Award to Global 4H Project

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Novus International has won a national award for information technology and donated the prize money to the Global 4-H Knowledge Center.

    novusNovus received $1000 for the first ever Information Technology Innovation Award from the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) for a customer inventory management system integrating satellite communications and remote monitoring technology.

    The Global 4-H Knowledge Platform is a program of the National 4-H Council designed to enhance sustainable food security in Africa. The Global 4-H Knowledge Platform links 4-H programs in the United States with others around the world to develop a global network that employs the 4-H model to create sustainable livelihoods and improve economic security for young people. Earlier this year, Novus partnered in the launch of this program.

    Novus International

    Introducing…Royal Star Papaya

    Melissa Sandfort

    Tex Starr Distributing LLC, a newly formed company in South Texas announces the unveiling of the company’s new sweet papaya variety called Royal Star Papaya. The proprietary seed variety is a natural hybrid that is sweet, firm, and brightly colored inside and out.

    To reach the consumer, Tex Starr Distributing LLC plans to launch a consumer marketing push this summer to align with the product’s availability.

    David Peterson, grower and proprietor of Tex Starr Distributing LLC., says, “Foodies, chefs, health and adventure eaters alike are searching for the next big culinary ingredient and we intend to give them Royal Star. It smells and looks enticing, tastes amazing, is great for your body and has a longer shelf life than other papaya varieties available on the market.”

    While most Maradol papayas have a shelf life of 3 days once it has been cut, Royal Star Papaya has a shelf life of up to 5 days, even after it is cut. Uncut the fruit can last for up to 14 days.

    Contact information for Tex Starr Distributing LLC, the only distributor of Royal Star Papaya, is available at www.royalstarpapaya.com.

    Food