Ag Retailers Association Names Coppock CEO

Cindy Zimmerman

ARAThe Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) has named Daren Coppock as the organization’s new President and CEO, replacing Jack Eberspacher who passed away in July after a brief battle with cancer.

Coppock is an experienced association leader with deep ties to the agricultural community having been raised on a farm in Oregon and serving as an advocate for production agriculture for the past decade. He joins ARA from the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) where he served as the organization’s CEO since July of 2001.

“I look forward to joining the team at ARA as we tackle some important agricultural challenges on behalf of agricultural retailers,” said Coppock. “I’m impressed by the leadership of the organization and eager to get out and meet some of the members in the coming months.”

Beginning on November 1, Daren Coppock will begin transitioning from his current position with NAWG to ARA and will be working full time for ARA by January 1, 2010.

Ag Groups, Wheat

2009 Chevron Delo Tractor Competition

Chuck Zimmerman

Chevron Delo CompetitionTractor restoration is a competitive sport and the “Super Bowl” of the competition is the 2009 Delo Tractor Competition by Chevron. The event will take place during the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis with 12 competitors.

Since 1995, the Delo Tractor Restoration Competition has rewarded the determination, mechanical skills and business savvy of high school aged FFA members from around the country. Through the restoration of an antique tractor, participants develop skills applicable to the modern business world. The skills needed for success in the program – equipment maintenance, teamwork, project management, budgeting, planning and marketing – help develop the participants into future leaders in the agriculture community.

Follow Event Online

Social media will play a major role at the 2009 Delo Tractor Restoration Competition. The event will be supported through a number of social media channels, including YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. Regular video updates will be placed on the event’s YouTube channel. The Delo Tractor Restoration Competition Facebook page will be used to post status updates, pictures and video. Finally, Twitter will also be used to provide a regular stream of updates and will be the first place the results will be announced outside of the awards banquette. For those who can’t attend the event, these social media channels are the next best thing. To access Delo Tractor Restoration Competition updates online, go to:

YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TRCAdmin
Twitter: http://twitter.com/delotrc
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Delo-Tractor-Restoration-Competition/141932364292

Agribusiness

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Acclaimed television host, network news anchor, author and business entrepreneur Bill Kurtis has accepted an invitation to be the keynote speaker at the Inaugural MEAT INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME Induction Ceremony in Chicago on Oct. 27.
  • The American National CattleWomen Inc is excited to announce the launch of College Aggies Online, a new program aimed at helping today’s college students become confident advocates for the agriculture industry. Contact Krissa Thom at KThom@animalagalliance.org or (703) 562-1410 for more information.
  • Elanco announced that an independent expert panel of physicians, nutritionists, and animal scientists has completed a thorough review of the research and published a summary paper addressing scientific issues relevant to recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST).
  • United Fresh Produce Association President and CEO Tom Stenzel released a statement on the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, which will began national distribution of fruit and vegetable vouchers Oct. 1, 2009.
Zimfo Bytes

San Francisco City Critter

Chuck Zimmerman

Jack Rabbit RunningYou never know what you’re going to see traveling away from home.

I was amazed at the number of jack rabbits roaming around the street and parking lots of the office buildings right near my hotel in South San Francisco. I almost stepped on one when it jumped out from under a bush next to the sidewalk.

This one kind of wandered around long enough for me to get my camera out for a quick shot.

Uncategorized

Learning About Fluidigm IFC’s

Chuck Zimmerman

Fluidigm ChipHere’s a look at a Fluidigm integrated fluidic circuit (IFC). This is the core technology that the company produces. Holding the chip is Yong Yi, Product Manager, Fluidigm. He was one of the first people I interviewed here at the company headquarters in South San Francisco. I’ll be posting his interview later.

I just wanted you to see that we’re going to be talking about some pretty technical products that have a real application for agricultural biotechnology. We’re going to learn more about it in coming weeks since I’ll be posting regular stories about the work that Fluidigm does and its technology.

Uncategorized

Charleston Orwig is Legendary in the Dairy Business

Cindy Zimmerman

Charleston Orwig must have more dairy industry related clients than any other communications agency in the country, which makes sense since they are located literally in the heartland of the state synonymous with dairy production – Hartland, Wisconsin. At World Dairy Expo this year they are working with a number of clients – including Alpharma, Arm and Hammer animal nutrition, Novartis, Dairyland Seed and Hoard’s Dairyman.

World Dairy ExpoI talked to Lyle, the Orwig of Charleston Orwig, in the agency’s suite overlooking the expo arena about their commitment to agriculture and the dairy industry. “When we began with Charleston Orwig, agriculture was a focus for us, we didn’t just happen to get a couple of ag accounts and say – oh, let’s be an ag agency,” Lyle said. “Having grown up on a central Illinois dairy farm, it’s important for me personally, as well as the agency to maintain that connection to agriculture and so we have focused on that as we’ve grown the agency.” Lyle says about 85 percent of the agency staff have an agricultural background, either in agribusiness communications or growing up on a farm, or both.

One of Charleston Orwig’s specialties is reputation management, which is critical these days in the animal agriculture industry with critics such as PETA and HSUS becoming more aggressive in trying to sway public opinion against livestock producers. “Part of our mission is to help clients tell their story in a positive way and educate consumers on the need to grow crops and livestock for feeding the world as well as the U.S.,” Lyle says. Listen to my interview with Lyle below.

Charleston Orwig and two of their clients – Hoard’s and Alpharma – are sponsoring coverage of World Dairy Expo this week on our sister blog, World Dairy Diary, and be sure to check out the World Dairy Expo Flickr photo album for all the sights.

Agencies, Audio, Dairy, World Dairy Expo

Legendary Grilled Cheese at World Dairy Expo

carly

WDXThe theme of of World Dairy Expo this year is “Legendary” and the experience of having a Badger Dairy Club grilled cheese sandwich is a legendary expeirience. Today I took a moment to try one of their famous grilled cheeses and after just one bite you can tell they have grilled cheese sandwich making down to an art.

The Badger Dairy Club, a student organization on the UW-Madison campus, has become famous for their legendary grilled cheeses they bring to the World Dairy Expo. Every year members of the Badger Dairy Club come to the expo and prepare thousands of grilled cheeses to sell to hungry expo goers. This is one of the club’s biggest fundraisers. Members also put countless of hours before, during and after the expo making the sandwiches as well as setting up show ring displays, picking up milk, and cleaning up the barns.

Take a look at a video below of my experience.

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Dairy, World Dairy Expo

Blog Action Day ’09

Chuck Zimmerman

BAD BadgeI just signed up for Blog Action Day ’09 which is October 15. Sign up here.

Blog Action Day is an annual event that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day on their own blogs with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be the largest-ever social change event on the web. One day. One issue. Thousands of voices.

This year the topic is climate change. It doesn’t matter where you stand on the issue, the idea is to add your voice to the mix. So I would challenge you farmer bloggers in particular to sign up and make your voice heard. That’s what it’s all about.

BTW. I believe we have climate change. It’s called the “seasons.” I also believe our climate does change. We have things called “ice ages” for example. Is man causing change? I don’t think so and I really don’t think we can do much about it. However, I believe we should all be good stewards of the resources God has blessed us with. That’s why I’m such an advocate for renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. Unfortunately, I think we have politicians and extremists who are trying to alarm the world public in order to advance their own social agendas. So I’m signed up and will right about this on “the day.” I hope you will too.

You can find the BAD Blog here.

Energy, Environment

Why You Should Attend NAFB Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s why you should attend this year’s NAFB convention:

EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS SOON!

Get your registration in now to receive the favored rate! Rates will go up after October 16. Click here to register today!

The group rate ($135+ tax) at the Westin expires October 25, so be sure to get your room booked soon. Click here to go directly to our group reservation page.

NAFB, Video

Blogging In The Air

Chuck Zimmerman

ChuckI’m on a flight to San Francisco right now and using in-flight wifi for the first time. Works great. I’m getting some email work done among other things.

I’m also continuing to read “Six Pixels of Separation.” I hope you are too. One of the first points Mitch Joel hits on is the idea that providing free content can make you money. I think the question I get asked most often is, “How do you make money doing this?” Well, Cindy and I have built our whole business via new media using blogs, podcasts and social networking. As Mitch says, we’re all connected now. We can instantly connect with almost anyone. This has fundamentally changed the way business is conducted. For example, your brand is no longer what you say it is. It’s what Google says it is. Why? Because people are searching and finding lots of information about you and your brand. What are you doing to make sure those top results are links or information to you?

I’ll keep pointing out some interesting ideas as I come across them in this book but so far I think it’s the best one I’ve read that puts what we’re doing in language that business people can understand. If I was an agency, I’d buy this book for my client. Unless of course you’re a “traditional” marketer and still think these social media mechanisms are just wastes of time.

Internet, Social Networking