Car of the Heartland To Promote The American Farmer

Chuck Zimmerman

Car of the HeartlandThis afternoon I saw the unveiling of the Car of the Heartland, the official Car of the American Farmer. This is a concept car developed by Furniture Row Racing. They’re looking for industry partners to help them make the car a reality on the NASCAR tracks in 2010, starting with the Daytona 500.

The unveiling was done to the participants in the American Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Conference. Prior to seeing the new car we received a very in-depth tour of the Furniture Row Racing garage. Furniture Row races the #78 car in NASCAR. It was very interesting to see cars in various stages of development and speak with the engineers who work on them.

One of the key developers of the Car of the Heartland concept is Pat Driscoll, Corporate Relations, Furniture Row Racing. Pat is a former farm broadcaster friend from way back and it was great to see him again. I spoke with Pat about this new project after the cloth was pulled off the new car. He says the car is really a new model for NASCAR. For one thing the car will not sport a multitude of corporate logos. It will solely promote the American farmer with the intent of displaying different visuals of the agriculture that’s local to the area in which a race track is located. The goal is to help the American consumer better understand where their food comes from. Pat says they’re currently communicating with 31 different organizations about partnering with them on the project.

I’ve created a photo album from the unveiling so you can see multiple views of the car: Car of the Heartland Photo Album

You can listen to my interview with Pat here:

AFBF, Audio

News Media In Transition

Chuck Zimmerman

AFBF PR ConferenceOne of the sessions here at the AFBF Shining at the PR Summit was titled, “News Media in Transition.” I thought I’d hear stories about how tv and newspapers were utilizing new and social media mechanisms to “transition” to how consumers want to get news and information. Instead I would characterize the comments as being very defensive and actually blaming shoddy reporting today on social media and citizen journalism.

We had a tv news reporter on the panel who says that when it comes to blogging, “I won’t do it.” He admits he’s old school and I think overlooks the value of providing his reports in a mechanism that makes it easier for me to get them. He is confusing unbiased reporting (what’s that?) with opinionating. I think you can use a blog to report news without adding personal perspective. However, I think that consumers want to know the opinion of people they respect and admire and that could very well be a tv reporter.

This same reporter called his Facebook friends, “My little Facebook friends.” That sounded kind of demeaning and dismissive to me. I don’t think he meant it that way but when he said “Everyone has a Twitter/Facebook account” as if somehow there’s something wrong with that it really showed a resistance to change and transition which I think clearly shows why traditional media outlets are struggling so much.

It has been a great session here today. We’re about to go on a tour which I’ll be posting about later.

AFBF

Country Classic on Display at CMA

Cindy Zimmerman

clint erickson boomer 8NThe CMA Music Festival in Nashville featured some well-known country legends like Reba McEntire and the Judds, so it was a perfect place for New Holland to display its own country classic, the Boomer 8N.

“It’s a retro going back to the Ford 8N and we are very proud of that heritage of ours going back to the 40s and 50s,” said Clint Erickson, New Holland business manager for Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. The tractor, which was just launched earlier this year at the National Farm Machinery Show, was on display for all four days of the CMA Music Fest and at the New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race on Sunday.

The slogan for the 8N is “The Legend Returns” and Clint says it attracted a lot of attention at the festival with many posing for pictures with the shiny, sweet ride. Find out more at www.8n.com.

Listen to or download my interview with Clint here:

New Holland, Tractor

Who are the Next Generation of Food Producers?

Amanda Nolz

Most ranch kids can trace their heritage back to a long lineage of food producers. In past generations, if a kid’s father were a rancher, he or she would more than likely grow up to be a rancher, as well. Yet, today’s generation may have many ancestors of ranchers in their family trees, but because of the many challenges facing producers today, they often opt to pursue big city careers in favor of returning to production agriculture.

bilde According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are two times as many farmers over 65 as under 35 in the United States today. In addition, it is estimated that one-quarter of the nation’s farms will change hands in the next decade. Yet, it’s a rare occasion for a young person to return to production agriculture, which is why a young person like Seth Zilverberg is making the news. Seth is a fellow Limousin breeder, and I recently chatted with him and his mother about his move back to his family’s cattle operation. Here is what his mom, Peg, has to say about young people in production agriculture.

We are so proud of Seth and happy to have him home. I wish there were more young people returning home to production agriculture, and I think it’s so disappointing to know that more often than not, these kids are encouraged to pursue outside opportunities. So many people told Seth he was ‘too smart’ to return home to the farm, and I think that’s the biggest mistake of all.

So, who are the future of food producers? Where is the next generation going? How can we help beginning farmers? What’s your story? Do you come from a farm background? How many generations of agriculturalists are in your family? What are your plans for the future? Inquiring minds want to know?

Food

Shining At The AFBF PR Summit

Chuck Zimmerman

AFBF PR ConferenceThe American Farm Bureau Federation, “Shining at the PR Summit” is underway here in Denver. I’m feeling my miles this morning after 5 days at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville but thank you to the Brown Palace Coffee & Tea Co. for helping out.

I’ll be conducting a session on social media here in just a few minutes. Please feel free to tweet your thoughts on using social media to the PR professionals here from state Farm Bureaus across the country. Just use the #FBPR hashtag. You know what I’m talking about right?

Public Relations

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Alan Quarry, Chairman and CEO of Quarry Integrated Communications, has been appointed Entrepreneur in Residence at Wilfrid Laurier University where he will serve as a resource and advisor to aspiring entrepreneurs within the Laurier School of Business & Economics.
  • The American Agricultural Insurance Company announced the appointment of Janet S. Katz as the company’s new Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2009.
  • Wet weather and a delayed planting season in corn is giving broadleaf weeds a head start, taking over fields very quickly across the Corn Belt. The late planting season is also providing corn growers more time to evaluate their weed management program and make the best decisions to manage glyphosate-resistant weeds in their fields.
  • Jon Scholl, President of American Farmland Trust, spoke to agricultural leaders and the press as part of the Farm Foundation’s Forum on “Carbon Policy Options and Implications for Agriculture” in Washington, D.C., where he outlined why he’s “optimistic” on the opportunities for agriculture and refuted the idea that cap & trade legislation will only result in increased costs to agricultural producers.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Bone Collector Competes in Celebrity Tractor Race

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Michael Waddell is the star of Bone Collectors on the Outdoor Channel. He was one of the competitors in the New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race, hosted by Michael Peterson.

    Waddell gave it a valiant effort and hopefully will compete again next year.

    Hunting, New Holland, Video

    Pork Producer Dedicated to Sharing Ag Story

    Amanda Nolz

    It’s certainly not news to anyone in the agriculture industry that livestock producers, especially pork producers, are hurting. According to the National Pork Producers Council, pork producers, who prior to the announcement of the H1N1 “outbreak” were already losing money, have seen losses accelerate to an average of $17.69 on each hog marketed since May 1, 2009. Total losses have escalated to 7.2 million a day.

    greenway-open-houseDespite these many downfalls, pork producers aren’t going to give up without a fight. My neighbor and local pork producer, Brad Greenway, is determined to help producers through media outreach and consumer education, and he wants you to join the fight, too! I had a great chat with Greenway the other day, and he had some advice in serving as an agriculture advocate. Greenway has spoken to over 65 groups, as well as offering an open house at his own facilities. He’s a great resource for all agriculture enthusiasts. Thanks, Brad!

    Farmers count for less than 2% of the population in the United States, said Greenway. That’s why it’s so important for farmers to get out and explain to consumers how food is produced. It’s amazing that no matter where I’m at, in a big city or in a rural community, I always get the same questions. We have to get better at telling our story. With the ballot initiatives in California, Arizona and now Ohio, the animal rights issue is one that we are continually trying to combat. They want to change the way we raise our livestock. By using sound science and sharing our personal stories, we can work on public perception. I’m proud of the way we raise our livestock, and we can’t be afraid to stand up for our industry, even in the local coffee shop.

    Start a good habit today and share the agriculture story with someone new!

    Education, Environment, Livestock

    A Michael Peterson Performance

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I don’t know how many of you have had a chance to see Michael Peterson perform. With his permission I shot a video of him singing one of his biggest hits, “Drink Swear Steal & Lie” at the Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville last night. He was being backed up by the band Stony Run.

    New Holland, Video

    New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race Hosted by Michael Peterson

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Darby LedbetterThe 2009 New Holland Celebrity Tractor Show, hosted by Michael Peterson, has concluded and we have a two time winner!

    He’s Darby Ledbetter, seen here with his wife, being interviewed by Cindy. I think Darby was pretty excited and did a victory lap with the checkered flag. I’ve updated the online photo album for your viewing pleasure. I’ll be posting more over the next couple days since I’m heading off to Denver immediately for the AFBF Public Relations conference. It’s going to be a busy week for AgWired.

    Thank you Gene Hemphill, Dawn Fox, New Holland and Holly and John Fritz, H. B. Fritz & Associates for another fantastic week in country music city.

    2009 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

    You can listen to Cindy interview our race winner here:

    New Holland, Video