The Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica swine health seminar is about to get underway here in Dallas. The event is being held just prior to the start of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting, which is here along with Pork Forum.
Our friends at BCS Communications are coordinating the event and are busy right now registering people and getting ready for the seminar. Following the seminar, we’ll be taking off to the Frontiers of Flight museum for the BIVI party.
Here’s another case of the shooter getting shot. And I don’t mean Deer or Deere.
I’ve been on and off the computer today here at the Dixie Deer Classic and loving the free open wireless internet access. There’s no formal media room but since I’m working for the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show today and tomorrow, I had no problem pulling up some table space in one part of the exhibit. Traffic has been picking up all day here and I’ve heard that it’s going to be crazy later on and this weekend.
I know hunting isn’t “agriculture” but . . . there are a lot of farm folks wandering around. This morning the show hosted large groups of urban school children who attended workshops and got some great first hand experience with hunting and wildlife. After seeing lots of comments lately about how out of touch our urban population is with farming, I think this is a good thing.
I don’t know is he’s really called the Deer Measurer but he is one and he says, “Have tape measure, Will travel.” He’s Dave Boland and he’s an official measurer for Pope & Young, Boone & Crockett, Long Hunter Society and the North American Shed Hunters Club. He explained the process for coming up with the measurement to score deer racks. I’ve got a bunch of racks but I’ve never had mine measured or mounted. I’m still waiting to get one that’s worth it.
Here at the Dixie Deer Classic he’s been busy. He says that the definition of trophy is the biggest deer you’ve killed. So, anyone can bring their mount or rack in and have it measured and it will be a trophy for them. I like that idea. For you serious hunters out there, he does say that long tines are the key to big scores.
You can listen to my interview with Dan here: dixie-deer-classic-measurer.mp3
I didn’t know that media room services were already changing. Apparently at Pork Forum you now get a neck rub while you’re slaving over your computer. Andy Vance, ABN Radio, seems to like the new treatment he’s getting from Cindy Cunningham, National Pork Board. Here’s a little information about this year’s program.
We’ve chosen for our theme this year: “Principles, Practices and Proof: The Path to Success.” Producers who have followed news reports about our industry in recent months know that this is a theme that should give us much to discuss and debate. Delegates last year approved the industry’s Statement of Ethical Principles. One of the questions before Delegates this year will be what’s next in the industry’s efforts to create a positive public image.
While I’m in Raleigh, Cindy (my Cindy) is in Dallas doing some work for Boehringer Ingelheim. I’m sure we’ll learn more about that soon.
I’m on location in a deer hunters paradise. Well, I’m not in the woods looking at a big buck but I am at the Dixie Deer Classic. This is a big show at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. John Deere has their Drive Green Utility Tractor Show set up here and I’m actually posting from one of their displays since the grounds have free open wireless access. How’s that for a concept?
The first guy I met when I walked in was Reece Untz, Porta Climb, Inc. He’s pictured here with his granddaughter on one of his products. I let him get my coverage of the event started by doing a short interview. Reece says he was here at the first Dixie Deer Classic and that they get between 15-18,000 people through. Things started a little slow this morning but then it is a work day. I’m betting this place will be packed by tonight since it’s open until 9pm.
Reece says they make a Cadillac product and in fact I think I have a relative with one of these stands. They don’t look like they’ll fit in an overhead on a plane but I’m thinking they would be very comfortable in the woods this November.
You can listen to my interview with Reece here: dixie-deer-classic-porta-climb.mp3
Porta Climb® tree stands are made with an all steel, welded construction. Their durable design makes them sturdy enough to last through many seasons of hunting wear and tear. The Cadillac Stand and the Convertible Stand can both have carrying straps added for ease of transport through the woods.
The Atlanta Motor Speedway is declaring Sunday, March 8, as “Georgia Peanut Farmer Appreciation Day” during the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race in recognition of Georgia’s official state crop.
It’s a show of support to Georgia-based peanut farmers who have been suffering due to the recent difficulties facing the industry, with the whole salmonella in peanut products problem.
The Georgia Peanut Commission will have a trackside billboard advertising Georgia peanuts, sampling opportunities on race day and a role in the Kobalt Tools 500 pre-race festivities. In addition, the Commission will have a sampling location and display in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Display Lot.
It is important to note here that the peanut industry is working closely with the Food and Drug Administration to address the salmonella issue and make sure that any tainted products are found and recalled. It is unfortunate that the actions of one company, the Peanut Corporation of America – which knowingly released a product with potential salmonella contamination into the food supply – is causing our good farmers to suffer. But – they will prevail and ultimately win this race. Go peanuts!!!
There’s been a lot of talk lately about how the media room of today should be configured and managed. I just thought I’d throw out some ideas to help move the conversation along. These are some random thoughts I had on the drive to the airport this morning. I’ve been in more media rooms than I can count with all types of organizations and venues and budgets. So feel free to weigh in with your comments. I’m just offering these ideas as a way to help foster better relationships and more productive work environments for both sides. I think all of us in media and public relations (yes they do go together) really appreciate the efforts that so many companies and groups go to in providing on-site media rooms.
1. How about our ag communications organizations consider this topic as a way to provide a benefit to their members by creating suggested guidelines to companies and organizations who run media rooms at which the members will be attending? For example, perhaps AAEA, LPC, IFAJ and NAFB could create some suggestions in written form and publish them as an aid to meeting planners. I have to believe this would add credibility and weight to the ideas.
2. Internet Access: This is critical to today’s media. We need wireless and we need it in more than just a single room. How about in press rooms and perhaps all meeting rooms at a convention? If that’s too expensive then the general session rooms would be a big help. Many of us are trying to post “live” and this will only enhance the coverage that a company or group will get from the media. Ethernet cables are more stable sometimes but then you create a competitive environment if you’ve got a lot of media attending and that creates problems and hard feelings.
3. Provide sufficient work space. If you’re going to have a lot of media attending they’ll need space to work to spread out with plenty of electrical outlets. Not enough space does the same thing as only providing ethernet cables and not having at least one for everybody.
4. Food. Not all media rooms I participate in supply food. However, it’s really nice when we don’t have the time to go eat. Many of us are working 6a-10p and that’s just the reality of it. We don’t have time to go to the food booth or a local restaurant and stand in line. If we don’t have food we’ll survive but it is a nice feature. At least some beverages and snacks is a good thing. If we could do without something this would be the first way to save some dollars maybe.
5. Definition of Media: How many times have you seen me write or heard me say the lines are blurring? One one hand I think we’re all media today. I know corporate bloggers who are doing more multimedia work than a lot of traditional journalists I know and have a bigger audience. Are they media? Not by a traditional definition and I’m not suggesting we need that massive of a change (yet). However, I do believe that sales people and public relations people are integral to the whole process of gathering and distributing news and information. How many media can afford to attend a convention without advertiser or sponsor support? On location we need easy access and the ability to confer with these folks. They shouldn’t get “free” registrations but at least they shouldn’t have any problems interacting with their own staff or journalists who are open to their information. Where this is very open I don’t see many problems.
Well, I hope that gets the conversation going. TIme to board a plane and find out if the venue I’m going to has a media room. I’ll let you know.
The Cooperative Communicators Association will be meeting in Kansas City in June. You can download the program here (pdf).
Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) is an organization of 350 professionals who communicate for cooperatives. Our organization is unique in both its mission and membership. We work toward helping members excel in communications – from writing, photography, and editing to video, layout, and design. Just as important, we emphasize ideas and strategies aimed at making communications more successful for cooperatives.
If you’re involved in co-op communications, you belong in CCA! Founded more than 55 years ago, CCA recognizes the differences in the markets co-ops serve and in the audiences we must reach. We understand cooperatives have a slightly different story to tell. And we appreciate the role communications plays in contributing to the success of the cooperative.
This monster planter was too big for the John Deere booth at Commodity Classic this year, but it was still the talk of the town.
The DB120, as the name implies, is a 120 foot planter – the biggest ever. It was introduced at the National Farm Machinery Show last month (see previous post), but it was still too big to be unfolded all the way in the booth. At the Classic, John Deere seed division marketing manager Rob Rippchen took some time to introduce the big boy to the media and point out some of its features.
“It’s 48 row units, 30 inch centers and 120 foot wide,” Rob says. “The picture doesn’t do it justice to how big it really is, it’s just flat amazing how long and wide it is.”
“The planter is 33 percent larger than the DB90 introduced five years ago, which means about 33 percent more productivity for the grower,” he says. Base equipment on the planter includes: CCS w/Refuge Plus™, Variable Rate Drive, RowCommand™, SeedStar™ 2 Monitoring, Pneumatic Down Force, Rubber Tire Closing, and Walking Gauge Wheels.
The price tag is $345,000 – which means it’s not for every grower, but Rob says it is a market John Deere wants to lead with.
Listen to Rob talk about the DB120 here: cc09-jd-rippchen.MP3
