Celebrities Riding Tractors

Chuck Zimmerman June 8, 2008

My latest road trip ended at the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race in Nashville, TN. So this week’s program has been produced there and includes an event wrap-up with Michael.

Michael Peterson has become a good friend after I’ve had so many opportunities to work with him since this event started 3 years ago. Today he got the crowd fired up as they enjoyed the competition and seeing some of their favorite artists get up on a tractor and for the most part, do real well.

Michael got on the tractor himself at one point so I recorded that so you can watch him drive. I think his time was actually the fastest but he can’t win.

Special thanks go out to not only Michael but also Gene Hemphill and Dawn Fox at New Holland as well as Holly Fritz at H.B. Fritz & Associates who did so much work to put this event on.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 174 (8 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:zimmcast174-6-8-08.mp3

2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes

Audio, New Holland, Tractor, Video, ZimmCast

Joe Jobe Competes in Celebrity Tractor Race

Chuck Zimmerman June 8, 2008

Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board (left) and Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones (right) were two of the competitors out here at the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race today.

I spoke to both of them before their competition runs and will post my interview with Chuck later. In this post you can watch Joe give it all he had this year, which was good but just a tad short. I’m betting he’ll be back though. He really commends Michael Peterson for being such an advocate for renewable fuels like biodiesel (the tractor was running on B20) and also New Holland for their support. He says that this country music audience is a great one to expose to the message.

Listen to my interview with Joe: cma-08-joe-jobe.mp3

Watch Joe ride:

2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:

Ag Groups, Audio, Biodiesel, New Holland, Video

Darby Ledbetter Wins Celebrity Tractor Race

Chuck Zimmerman June 8, 2008

The winner of the 2008 Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race is Darby Ledbetter with a time of 47 seconds. He pretty much blew away the competition. Here’s Darby on the New Holland tractor with Michael Peterson (left).

I interviewed Darby right afterward and he was still pretty excited about his win. He’s a National Guard supporter and really appreciates what Micheal Peterson and New Holland and the Army have done to support our troops.

I’m not sure the final count for contestants of today’s race but there were a lot and we were all glad that it was under a tent with the extreme heat. That made it a little challenging for us photographers though.

Listen to Darby the race winner here: cma-08-darby-ledbetter.mp3

2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:

Audio, New Holland

AgWired Live TV From Celebrity Tractor Race

Chuck Zimmerman June 8, 2008

If you missed it then you missed it. AgWired Live TV broadcast today’s Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race from the Chevy Zone at the CMA Music Fest.

We had people tuning in and out of the broadcast which stretched over several hours today. I’m in the process of editing some pictures, audio and video to post here this afternoon from the hotel. Tomorrow I’ll be heading back to ZimmComm World Headquarters.

The photo album is up to date.

2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:

New Holland

Helping the Media at WPX

Cindy Zimmerman June 7, 2008

A well-run media center can make all the difference in the world when it comes to covering an event – and the World Pork Expo media center was exceptional.

The main reason for that is Leah Schomburg of TriLix Marketing Group, who has been handling this event for seven years now. She was attentive to the needs of the media, calm – if not always cool, especially today when it was pretty humid – and always had a smile on her face. She and the rest of the staff were more than helpful and pleasant. The last time I saw her today she was offering to give me a ride in the golf cart if I needed it.

Leah tells me that 75-100 media register for WPX each year, with another 50-60 often coming in “depending on the dignitary who shows up for the event.” This year that was Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner and one interview Leah set up with him was for MSNBC.

The best part about the media room was good wireless internet access and a quiet, comfortable atmosphere. At the high point on Thursday afternoon, I would say there were as many as 35 reporters working at the same time in different booths in the center and yet there seemed to be a very low noise level. I think the curtains provided good soundproofing.

Listen to my interview with Leah here: wpx08-media-leah.mp3

Or download here:
Leah Schomburg Interview (3:00 min MP3)

World Pork Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo is sponsored by:

Audio, Media, Novus International, World Pork Expo

FFA Working in New Holland Booth

Chuck Zimmerman June 7, 2008

Laura posted a video clip with Dustin Delp, seated on the right, the other day at the start of the CMA Music Fest parade. Today I sat down with him at the New Holland booth where he and other FFA members are helping out.

It’s a great project and some of the ones here this year were also here last year.

We talked about his chapter and what he thinks of Fan Fair. He’s ready to come back: cma-08-ffa.mp3

2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:

Ag Groups, Audio, New Holland

Michael Peterson on Chevy Music Stage

Chuck Zimmerman June 7, 2008

The first band on the Chevy Music Stage this morning here at Fan Fair was Michael Peterson’s. He attracted a big crowd. The seats were filled and people gravitated there since you could hear the music up and down the street. Last year Michael performed on the Riverfront Stage.

I recorded a video clip of the band performing “Marriage is the Leading Cause of Divorce” which you can watch here:

You can also watch Michael talk about the song on his website.

2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:

Video

Agriblogging in Nashville

Chuck Zimmerman June 7, 2008

I’ve tag teamed with Laura McNamara, seen here busily agriblogging, at the CMA Music Fest where we’ve got some global warming going on. Thank goodness for air conditioning since it’s about 92 degrees out.

I think Laura’s done a great job this week here and you’ll be seeing her covering a number of other events during the coming months.

I spoke with Cindy a little while ago and I think she’s wrapping up her coverage of the World Pork Expo. We sure appreciate Novus International sponsoring her coverage.

2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:

New Holland

Hog Stampede at WPX

Cindy Zimmerman June 7, 2008

About 100 Harley Davidson motorcycles cruised down the main drag at World Pork Expo Saturday morning – the annual “Cruisin’ with the Hogs” event. Gotta appreciate the tie-in there. Harley Davidson has actually been quite prominent around the expo this week I noticed.

I wondered why the NAMA Bombers and Leah Guffey weren’t here – it was certainly an event they could appreciate! Maybe next year guys…put it on your calendar.

Enjoy the video of the WPX hog cruisers:

World Pork Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo is sponsored by:

Novus International, Video, World Pork Expo

Celebrate Food the Slow Way

Laura McNamara June 7, 2008

San Francisco is hosting the largest celebration of American food in U.S. history. Slow Food Nation is expected to attract tens of thousands in an experience that highlights the connections between plate and planet. The celebration is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, August 29 through September 1, 2008.

The majority of Slow Food Nation’s events will be free and open to the public; certain events are ticketed. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 4 at http://www.slowfoodnation.org/.

“Slow Food Nation will catalyze a huge shift in how Americans perceive and prioritize food. Through the four-day event, we hope to build momentum and demand for an American food system that is safer, healthier and more socially just,” said Anya Fernald, Executive Director of Slow Food Nation.

Participants will savor food from across the U.S. at Taste, a 50,000 square foot pavilion; meet farmers and producers at a marketplace surrounding a 10,000 square foot newly-planted urban garden in the heart of the City; and learn from visionary speakers. Slow Food Nation will also feature a music festival, workshops, films, dinners, hikes and journeys.

Slow Food Nations is a part of the international Slow Food movement. The movement says it is dedicated to creating a framework for deeper environmental connection to our food. It aims to inspire and empower Americans to build a food system that is sustainable, healthy and delicious.

Ag Groups, Environment, Food

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