I got to associate with Jerry Stoller, CEO and President of Stoller Group, today at his 16th annual U. S. Ag Associates Conference in Houston, TX. I am on location with the John Deere Drive Green Utility Tractor Show but had time to stop by and speak to Jerry during their lunch break today. Patricia Lawson, Hondo Group, was kind enough to snap a picture of me interviewing Jerry with my iPhone.
Jerry says he’s been conducting this Conference for 16 years now after 7 people got together for the first one.
University professors, researchers, growers, crop consultants and Stoller Group representatives will join in an effort to learn from one another. With individuals from many different backgrounds contributing, results from various experiments and observations from the past year are presented at this technical meeting. Highlights of the conference include discussions on product development and strategies to increase crop yields. Some of the work presented is theoretical; however, most are practical studies that have been obtained through university research and field trials.
There are representatives attending this year’s Conference from 40 countries. Maybe it will need to be re-named with the word “International” after this! Jerry is also a blog fan. He says, “I think there’s tremendous potential using the internet, these blog sites, in order to teach.” You have to listen to this interview. He’s got some great anecdotes like an analogy of a crop to a woman. It’s great. You can hear why he makes a good teacher.
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Steve S. Myers, an 18-year veteran at Busey Ag Services, LeRoy, Il, has been named Farm Manager of the Year by the 
My main man, 
It looks like Mike Parry has 
It is often overlooked that the female in a farming operation plays a crucial role in the success of that business. This ranch partner wears many hats including: hired hand, meals-on-wheels service, chauffer, maid, errands-runner, fix-it gal and chore help. She can be found in the kitchen, in the feedyard, on a tractor or in a repair shop. She keeps the books, takes care of paperwork and makes sure the kids get to band practice and basketball games. She maintains several full-time jobs: housewife, farmer, career woman, mom and wife. She is a super hero; She is a ranch wife.
Top Producer magazine has published it’s annual 
I guess that 
Lessing-Flynn, a marketing communications firm based in Des Moines, Iowa, has added Jordan Bloodsworth to its creative/client service team. Bloodsworth is a recent graduate from Central College in Pella, Iowa. Prior to graduating from Central, Bloodsworth worked as an intern at Vermeer Corporation. She also served as a creative intern at Hatch Creative in London, England. In her new position, Bloodsworth will work with Lessing-Flynn clients in a newly created dual “hybrid” role as account coordinator and graphic designer.
Here’s a sign of the viability of online communications in agriculture. I think we’re going to see more of this at time goes on and travel budgets get tighter.