Today the current class of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program will be having a Media Relations Seminar in Chicago. Yours truly was supposed to be presenting a session on “Social Media From The Ag Perspective” but pneumonia canceled that. However, good friend and social media man Andy Vance, ABN, is on the scene for me. So to help him out we’d love it if you would post your twitter thoughts and comments on this topic to the #IALP hashtag.
The Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program (IALP) is an extensive business education and training program for agricultural producers and employees of agri-businesses. Through a series of in-state and travel seminars, participants interact with a myriad number of business, organization, elected, and educational leaders.
Post Update: Thanks again to Andy Vance for conducting today’s social media session. He covered a lot more than just Twitter but there were still over 90 tweets posted to #IALP during his session. Thank you to all who participated.
Cheese and Burger Society
This is The Casanova Burger. It’s just one of many cheeseburgers you’ll find at the Cheese and Burger Society.
The Casanova will have your taste buds at “Hello.” Fully stuffed with more flavor than it knows what to do with, this robust cheeseburger can satisfy the hungriest of bellies and the most discerning of palates. If you’re craving a little burger and cheese romance, it’s time you spent some quality time with The Casanova.
This is a great promotional website for cheese burgers brought to you by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. You can become a fan on Facebook.
Via @samvance.
Zimfo Bytes
- Bayer CropScience AG and Monsanto Company have agreed to cross license their respective herbicide tolerance traits in rapeseed/canola on a non-exclusive basis for commercialization within their respective branded canola seed businesses.
- USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) report, Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S., was released July 1, 2009.
- US Farms, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Victor Brandstetter to the position of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for all retail sales.
- Novus International Inc., is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Anant Bharadwaj, Manager of Aquaculture Nutrition.
AG CONNECT Expo Teams Up With Farm Journal Media
It seems like the list of companies and organizations that are partnering and participating in the new AG CONNECT Expo continues to grow. This time AEM has announced an alliance with Farm Journal Media to promote the new show
Under this agreement, Farm Journal Media will represent AEM in exhibit booth sales outside of AEM and FEMA membership, publish the Official AG CONNECT Show Directory, hold seminars and co-locate events at AG CONNECT, and promote attendance to AG CONNECT with a full multimedia promotion schedule using Farm Journal Media’s definitive suite of media products.
The inaugural AG CONNECT Expo 2010 is slated for January 13-15, 2010 (Preview Day January 12 by special admission) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. AEM initiated AG CONNECT Expo as a North American-based global showcase of the latest innovations, products, services and technology in all agricultural sectors, with extensive networking opportunities and access to leading worldwide industry experts.
As Official Sponsor of AG CONNECT Expo 2010, Farm Journal Media is promoting the trade show to the agricultural community with an extensive multimedia program. Farm Journal Media will also contribute its expertise in major education events and networking programs.
This includes Farm Journal Media’s “Leave a Legacy” project, forming the basis for a show Plan for Success Workshop to be held in conjunction with AG CONNECT Expo 2010. “Leave a Legacy” is a nationally recognized effort to provide family agriculture operations with expert succession planning – an essential process for continued production of abundant food, fuel and fiber at the necessary levels of high efficiency.
Zimfo Bytes
- By a vote of 46 to 11, the Oregon House passed SB 676, a bill that permits production and possession of industrial hemp and trade in industrial hemp commodities and products.
- Hoosier Ag Today, Indiana’s most listened to farm radio network, has revamped its popular Web site.
- The Hondo Group announced Courtney (Yuskis) Kleefuss will be joining the Hondo Green Marketing Services as project manager.
- The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association seeks applications for the Colorado Ranching Legacy Program. The application deadline is July 10, 2009.
- Pfizer Animal Genetics is now offering a diagnostic test for the genetic defect Osteopetrosis (OS).
Funny Video to Perk Up Your Tuesday, Or Not…
Remember this video? With 1.5 million views and counting, this popular video on YouTube has received comments both hilarious and depressing about the nation’s views on agriculture. Is it funny that people think that wool comes from cows, or is it just sad? How do we reach out to the folks in big cities who have never been exposed to agriculture issues? Let me take that back. They HAVE been exposed to farm animals in Disney movies, and that’s the problem, isn’t it?
Anyway, regardless of the very sad and disturbing truth that there are many people out there that have absolutely no clue where their food comes from, I hope this video gives you a laugh this afternoon!
Chocolate for Obama in Ghana
The folks at Divine Chocolate are inviting Pres. Obama to visit and learn more about cocoa farmers in Ghana. Free samples will be available at stores in Washington, DC.
Kuapa Kokoo, co-owners of Divine Chocolate, the pioneering fair trade chocolate brand, proudly extends an invitation for President Obama to come visit them during his upcoming trip to Ghana. The invitation includes the opportunity to learn not only about cocoa from Ghana, but how this dynamic group of 45,000 cocoa farmers is using democratic cooperation and Fair Trade as a way to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and to invest in their future.
“We wish to show Mr. Obama how cocoa farmers have joined together to build our communities, invest in education, clean water and health. We urge him to join our call for fair and dignified trade so that we farmers can be a greater part of the solution to problems facing Ghana and all of Africa,” says Mr. Paul CK. Buah, President of Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Cooperative.
Kuapa Kokoo has been internationally recognized for its pioneering efforts in Fair Trade. It is also an example of how African led social enterprises can be leading forces for achieving development goals on the continent.
Michele Payn-Knoper Earns CSP
Our Tuesday night AgChat host has earned a few extra letters to put after her name.
Michele Payn-Knoper, a professional agricultural speaker and principal of Cause Matters Corp., has earned the coveted Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, and has been singled out in the current issue of Speaker magazine as one of the “25 Hot Speakers” who are shaping the speaking industry.
Payn-Knoper, who for eight years has been building her speaking practice on connecting agriculture to “the 98.5% of Americans not involved with farming,” said she was “truly humbled” by the recognition. She hopes it will help her reach even more agriculturists with advocacy training and tools to educate the consumer public about farm and food issues.
According to the National Speakers Association (NSA), fewer than 10 percent of speakers who belong to the International Federation for Professional Speakers hold the CSP distinction. One of 30 professionals to earn the CSP in 2009, Payn-Knoper will be honored at the NSA Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., on July 19.
“It is an honor to receive this designation while doing what I love: helping agriculturists champion their cause,” Payn-Knoper said. “I am grateful to those clients who allowed me to continue serving them while completing the tenuous five-year CSP process.”
Payn-Knoper is known as a leader in agricultural advocacy, having worked with thousands of people through her motivational keynotes, workshops and social media tools. She is the founder of AgChat on Twitter, a weekly streaming conversation for people in agriculture that has captured national media attention. She also consults and conducts workshops training and keynote addresses across North America, as well as overseas. Her blog “Gate to Plate” can be found at http://causematters.wordpress.com.
Social Media and Tennessee Agritourism
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is going to be holding a series of workshops (pdf) on social media in August. It’s part of their Agritourism efforts which will “Take your marketing skills to a new level.”
If you think a . . .
“Twitter” is what the birdies do . . .
“Blog” is a swampy spot near the barn . . .
“Facebook Page” is that “Whated” picture at the Post Office . . .
These Web Workshops are for you.
A Cow’s Life
Without a doubt, Twitter is all the rage these days, and even farmers and ranchers are tweeting their daily lives from their tractors. This is a great way to promote food production to consumers, as it gives a unique insight into the lives of the people that are dedicated to growing a safe, wholesome product for consumption. While there are countless farmers, ranchers and foodies on Twitter, it’s not everyday you run across a tweeting heifer. A heifer? Yes, that’s right…it’s time to start following @Cows_life.
Hi! I’m a heifer on the Wagner farm, located in southeast North Dakota. Follow my day-to-day activities as a cow!
As reported by the Cattle Business Weekly, Val Wagner of Monango, N.D. was up late one night with her newborn son when a crazy idea hit – to begin twittering about her family’s cowherd. Easy is a necessity in the Wagner household. With four boys under the age of six, and farming and maintaining a herd of commercial Red Angus, little time can be spent idle. Wagner is tweeting on a regular basis on the happenings at the Wagner farm and the life of their Red Angus heifers. Eventually, one heifer will be chosen and followed through this coming fall, winter and in to next spring’s calving season. The heifers can be followed online at www.twitter.com/Cows_Life where Wagner writes from the perspective of the 27 head of young cattle.