Florida Farm to Fuel Summit

Chuck Zimmerman July 31, 2008

Cindy and I got up early this morning and left Tampa for Orlando where we’re attending the Florida Farm to Fuel Summit. I think this is the third one.

We missed our old friend Charlie Bronson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, although he’ll be here later this afternoon. We did see him on video though.

Right now our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, is speaking. I’ll add a link to some audio after his remarks and press availability. The Secretary is here to speak on Food, Conservation and the Energy Act of 2008.

I’ll be traveling home later today but we’re getting to spend the morning here which is when all the very important people are speaking anyway.

Energy, USDA

One Big Farm Media Convention

Chuck Zimmerman July 30, 2008

During the AMS InfoExpo session, one of the people I spoke with was John Deere’s Barry Nelson. Cindy was right near by to take a picture.

Barry says that we’re starting to transition to 360 degree media. He says that editors used to write for just magazines but some are now producing video which means they’re now farm broadcasters. He says he can see a day where the AMS combines all the elements of the farm media in one big convention.

Barry says that companies are still trying to figure out the new social media mechanisms and meetings like this help them do that.

You can listen to my interview with Barry here: ams-08-nelson-media.mp3

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, Audio, BASF, John Deere

IFAJ Congress 2009 Planning

Chuck Zimmerman July 30, 2008

The planning committee for the IFAJ Congress 2009 met this morning for several hours. The event will be held in conjunction with next year’s AMS in Ft. Worth, TX.

Today’s meeting was very well attended. Mike Wilson, Greg Lamp and Diane Johnson have this thing well organized. We had quite a few people who had not been assigned to a committee but that got corrected and I’m happy to say that my marketing and communications committee now has more than two members and we came up with some great ideas that included incorporating some new social networking tools in our efforts.

If you haven’t had a chance to get involved then let one of the folks mentioned above know. I’m sure we could still use more volunteers. This is going to be a great place to showcase American agriculture to a world audience.

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, BASF, IFAJ

World Ag Expo Camera Giveaway

Chuck Zimmerman July 30, 2008

At this morning’s AMS finale meeting of the IFAJ/AMS 2009 Planning Committee the World Ag Expo held a drawing for a Canon EOS Rebel xTi with extra lens and bag. That’s a very cool giveaway! A lot of the InfoExpo exhibitors had drawings but I don’t know the results of those.

The winner of the camera was Janice Keene, McCormick Company, pictured in the center between, Stacey Beachey and Steve Knudsen, World Ag Expo.

We’ll be expecting to see some high quality digital photography Janice. Send me some examples sometime.

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, BASF

AMS Awards and Memories

Cindy Zimmerman July 30, 2008

The Ag Media Summit 10th Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday night was an evening of fond memories and awards for achievement and service.

Among the awards presented were the AAEA Lifetime Achievement Award to Claude Gifford, long time associate editor of Farm Journal and USDA director of information, and to the late Larry Harper, editor of the Missouri Ruralist.

The AAEA Distinguished Service Award went to Dwayne Best of SD State University’s Dakota Lakes Research Farm. LPC’s Headliner Award was presented to Bud Snidow, Jr., with American Hereford Association for 32 years and currently serving at the organization historian at the age of 90.

LPC’s Hall of Fame award was given to Greg Henderson of Drovers, the first chairman of AMS in 1999. And the Andy Markwart Horizon Award winner was Corey Geiger, Hoards Dairyman.

A power point presentation showed 10 years of memories, some of them bittersweet, and a salute to American agriculture. We hope to get that posted here at some point.

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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ACN, Ag Media Summit, BASF, LPC

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort July 30, 2008

Don Laughlin, a long-time American Angus Association regional manager from Guilford, Mo., has been named director of member services for the Association. He’ll step into the role immediately. His primary responsibilities will include assisting members and affiliates with registrations, transfers, memberships and other daily activities. He will schedule the work flow through the office while explaining and enforcing Association rules and policies. Laughlin will also administer the Association’s parent verification program and monitor the genetic defect program.
Steve Weaver, a pork producer from Elk Grove, Calif., has been elected president of the National Pork Board. Members of the board also elected Tim Bierman, a producer from Larrabee, Iowa, vice president. Both officer terms are for one year on the board that administers all Pork Checkoff programs. Weaver and Bierman were elected during the board’s summer meeting at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Their terms begin immediately.
Becker Underwood announces a significant expansion in the production capacity of its St. Joseph, Mo., facility to meet the increasing demand for inoculants for soybeans, peanuts, peas and lentils grown in North America. They are currently installing new state-of-the-art fermentation units.

Zimfo Bytes

AMS 10 Year Anniversary Celebration

Chuck Zimmerman July 29, 2008

Well the party is over. For most people anyway.

Tonight we had the 10th Anniversary Celebration for AMS and joint awards ceremonies for AAEA and LPC. The photo album has been updated.

Tomorrow morning (this morning) we’ll finish things up here with a planning meeting for next year’s combined AMS and IFAJ Congress. I’ll be there somehow.

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, BASF

Propane Running All Around My Brain

Cindy Zimmerman July 29, 2008

From propane-powered irrigation systems to tankless water heaters and pickup trucks, today’s propane innovations are helping farmers save money and the environment.

Here at the Ag Media Summit, the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) was talking about the green benefits of propane and some of their upcoming events where they will be showcasing new propane innovations for agriculture. PERC will be sponsoring AgWired’s coverage of two big farm shows in the next few months – Farm Progress show and the Sunbelt Ag Expo.

You can listen to my interview with Brandon here: ams-08-propane.mp3

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, Audio, BASF, Farm Shows, Propane

Ag CommuniGators of Tommorrow

Cindy Zimmerman July 29, 2008

There are over 80 students in attendance at the Ag Media Summit this week with high hopes of making a career in this fabulous field.

Being Gator alumni ourselves, we have a special affection for the contingent from the University of Florida. I think they said there are 15 or 16 of them here and I did get most of them lined up for this photo. Most of these young people are majoring in Ag Journalism. Chuck and I actually majored in Broadcasting many moons ago (1980), and it was purely fate that we ended up in this field. But, we are more than happy that our lives took us in this direction because these are some of the greatest people in the world and they love to mentor the future of our industry, as these kids will attest.

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, BASF

Dive In Movie

Cindy Zimmerman July 29, 2008

“Caddy Shack” was the feature film at the Ag Media Summit party by the pool Monday night.

For those of you who have seen the movie, you will likely recall the classic “doodie” in the pool scene. Organizer Diane Johnson, however, had never seen the flick – so when someone asked her yesterday if there would be Baby Ruth candy bars in the pool, she had no idea what they were talking about. That someone did see to it that there were candy bars in the pool – and Diane had the courage to actually play Bill Murray and take a bite.

Fun for all – until the hotel personnel told us to keep the food out of the pool!

Post Update: Diane informs me that the hotel people actually didn’t tell us to keep the food out of the pool – they just wanted to know how long to keep the bars open. Not being “party poopers” after all!

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, BASF

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