NAMA Withdrawal

Chuck Zimmerman

Wild West at NAMAYes, things were getting a little out of hand at the Best of NAMA Awards this week. This is one of my favorite pictures from the Conference.

I think this convention will rank right up there as one of the busiest and best I’ve been to. Having almost 1,100 people there is awesome. If I didn’t get to chat then I apologize. I wish I could have done so with every person who attended.

Between blogging here, on the NAMA Blog, AgWired Mobile, Twittering, shooting pics, doing audio and video interviews (they’ll be posted periodically over the next week or so), exhibiting, selling, partying, learning, talking and traveling, it was a Conference to remember. Thanks to all the people who have already subscribed to AgWired Mobile. We’re going to be developing it further and you’ll find more news coming through after this “get started” week.

BTW. Dave Anderson told me that Tom Davis has been to 30 consecutive Conferences now. That’s incredible. He’s one of the biggest supporters of NAMA that I know. Anyone else attend more consecutive Conferences?

I’m about unpacked and getting ready to pack up for the Alltech Symposium which I’ll be heading out to in the morning. Look for posts from that event beginning Sunday.

2008 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

NAMA

Audio Recorders

Chuck Zimmerman

I’ve been asked by so many ag journalists which digital audio recorder to buy that I thought I’d do a post on it so I can just send the link the next time I get the request. I have multiple recorders and usually travel with 2 of them. I’ll list them in the order of my favorites here with a few comments.

1. Marantz PMD620: Feels solid and is simple to use. It just took Marantz a while to come out with their small form factor. I also have a PMD660 which is probably the best digital recorder made but it’s just too big for my pack anymore.

2. Edirol R-9: This is a great recorder too. Very close in size and ease of use to the Marantz.

3. Zoom H2: This recorder is less expensive than the two above but delivers just as good quality in my opinion. I’m sure you extreme technophiles will disagree after checking the full s/n ratios, etc. but I don’t hear it for interviews. It comes with some handy accessories too like a stand.

4. Tascam DR-1: I haven’t tried this one but it looks good. I always liked the Tascam equipment I’ve used in the past.

5. Olympus DS-50: I haven’t tried this one but it looks good.

One of the best places to buy (although I’d Google around) is Broadcast Supply West. I recommend re-chargeable AA batteries and have been using the same set of 12 for almost 3 years with no problems. A 1GB SD card is plenty of memory. I record at 64K, MP3, Mono (normally). Edit with Audition (PC) or Soundbooth (Mac). I sure wish they made Audition for the Mac!

I hope this helps.

Media

Postcards From Kansas City

Chuck Zimmerman

Once again this year, Carol Anderson is helping keep NAMA members who can’t attend the conference up to date on what’s happening with a daily email called, “Postcards from Kansas City.”

Here’s the copy from yesterday’s:

Greetings from Kansas City!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

The 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference in underway at Kansas City’s Hyatt Regency Hotel. Nearly 1,100 agrimarketers are in attendance at this year’s conference – the largest crowd since 2000.

KFRM’s Kyle Bauer and Northern Ag Network’s Taylor Brown emceed Wednesday evening’s Best of NAMA awards ceremony. Out of 1,271 entries that advanced through regional and national competition, three entries emerged as Best of Show winners at last night’s ceremony. Best of Show winners were: Read More

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Guess Whose Boots

Chuck Zimmerman

Guess Whose BootsWhile you’re looking through AgWired coverage of the NAMA Convention try to guess whose boots these are.

They were seen at Howl at the Moon last night. I know it was kind of dark inside but you should be able to figure this one out pretty quickly.

The first person to correctly guess by posting a comment here gets an “I’ve Been Blogged by AgWired” t-shirt.

Post Update: Dave Mehlhaff correctly guessed Sally Behringer.

2008 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

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Brownfield Howls

Chuck Zimmerman

Brownfield PartyThe happy faces of Brownfield greeted NAMA members last night at Howl at the Moon. I’ve been to more than a few Brownfield NAMA parties and this one ranks up near the top of my list. I think the piano players made out very well. If you had been there you would understand that.

We heard about the Illinois earthquake this morning and I’m just hoping we didn’t cause it last night, or should I say this morning?

The Conference photo album has been updated with contributions from Denny Eilers and includes some photos from last night (although not all).

2008 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

NAMA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Celebrate 70 colorful years of the Appaloosa Horse Club by joining us in Jackson, Miss., for the 2008 Youth World Championship June 23-28, followed by the National Show June 28-July 5. Visit the Web site for more information.
  • The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) would like to congratulate Calizona ApHC as the 2007 Exemplary Appaloosa Regional Club winner! Calizona ApHC will receive $500, along with a certificate and an award proclaiming their Exemplary Appaloosa Regional Club title.
  • Corn and soybean growers have a new option for selective postemergence control of tough broadleaf weeds in corn and soybeans with new Cadet™ herbicide from FMC Corporation. Cadet delivers superior control of velvetleaf, pigweed, lambsquarters, waterhemp and nightshade.
  • Dr. Leonard Bull, professor of animal science and associate director of the Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center, North Carolina State University, was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture. A complete list of elected officers can be found on the Web site.
Zimfo Bytes

Gator NAMA Wins Student NAMA Competition

Chuck Zimmerman

Gator NAMAI’m a graduate of the University of Florida and “How ’bout them Gators?”

The Gator NAMA chapter is the winner of the National Student Marketing Competition.

Cindy’s with them now to take more pictures and get an interview. They will all receive “I’ve Been Blogged by AgWired” t-shirts.

2008 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

NAMA

Pimp My Combine

Laura McNamara

Rock and Roll BuffaloWe’ve mentioned the Rock and Roll Buffalo on AgWired.com before… but, Chuck ran into Melissa Daugherty with MachineryLink here at the 2008 NAMA “Leading the Charge” Agri-marketing Conference and she told us more about the tricked out combine featured in the company’s Smarter Harvest Tour. Machinery Link wrapped their own John Deere 9770 with a special buffalo wrap and are displaying the machine at trade shows across the country.

I spoke with Melissa about the unique decor and about what MachineryLink is hoping to accomplish with the buffalo on wheels. You can listen to my interview with Melissa here:

nama08-melissa-daugherty.mp3

Be sure to check out the video of the Smarter Harvest Tour on Youtube:

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Iowa State Gets Crazy with Crazy Wings

Laura McNamara

Crazy faces for Crazy Wings. Student competitors from Iowa State University are in the spotlight before NAMA judges as we speak, or shall I say as I type, presenting what they hope is a winning pitch for Crazy Wings, a pork version of the chicken drumstick.

I spoke with the Iowa State Marketing Team Director Josie Rudolphi (pictured second from left) just before the students headed into their final pitch and asked them about their product and what it took to get this far into the NAMA competition. You can listen to my interview with Josie here.

nama08-josie-rudolphi.mp3

2008 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Education, Food, NAMA

NAMA Marketer of the Year

Cindy Zimmerman

Dave Rhylander NAMA AwardA 32-year veteran of Monsanto was honored with the NAMA Marketer of the Year award on Thursday in Kansas City.

Dave Rhylander was presented with the award, sponsored by AgriMarketing Magazine, for being “a visionary leader and highly innovative marketer not only within the ranks of his own company but also throughout the agribusiness industry.” He currently serves as Monsanto’s Marketing Lead for Delta & Pine Land.

Because of Dave Rhylander’s strong support and vision, Monsanto is a pioneer and leader in the use of Word of Mouth Marketing strategies throughout the agricultural marketplace. He deserves to be recognized as NAMA’s Marketer of the Year because of the credible, grower-friendly, high-impact and measurable return on investment these WOMM strategies have generated for producer participants as well as Monsanto’s business.

Congratulations, Dave!

2008 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

NAMA